Cryptic crossword clue
American politician entering lair before editor’s retarded 8

The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word DAMPENED

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The straight part
We know that "retarded" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case retarded = dampened.
The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.
This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.

What does DAMPENED mean?

DAMPENED verb
  1. To make damp or moist; to make slightly wet.
  2. To become damp or moist.
  3. To depress; to check; to make dull; to lessen.
  4. To become damped or deadened.

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