Cryptic crossword clue
Ban is such as to make one fearful 5

The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 5 letter word UNMAN

I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
U
N
M
A
N

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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 UNMAN mean?

UNMAN verb
  1. To castrate; to remove the manhood of.
  2. To sap (a person) of the strength, whether physical or emotional, required to deal with a situation.
  3. To deprive of men.

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