The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 5 letter word WORST
I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
W
O
R
S
T
More clues leading to the result WORST
- Best to reconnoitre plot? Nothing could be more awful
- Best way to follow revolutionary argument
- Best? Au contraire
- Poorest quality terrace put up on street
- Most unpleasant in defeat
- Paradoxically, it could be best!
- Best? Quite the contrary
- Principals in women’s organisations routinely sacked, that’s most unacceptable
- Not the best way to beat an opponent?
- Make mincemeat of Eliot’s argument in review
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Best? Au contraire" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case best? au contraire = worst.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 WORST mean?
WORST adjective- Unfavorable; negative; not good.
- Not suitable or fitting.
- Not appropriate, of manners etc.
- Unhealthy; liable to cause health problems.
- Sickly, unhealthy, unwell.
- Not behaving; behaving badly; misbehaving; mischievous or disobedient.
- Tricky; stressful; unpleasant.
- Evil; wicked.
- Faulty; not functional.
- (of food) Spoiled, rotten, overripe.
- (of breath) Malodorous; foul.
- False; counterfeit; illegitimate.
- Unskilled; of limited ability; not good.
- Of poor physical appearance.
- Bold and daring.
- Good, superlative, excellent, cool.
- (of a need, want, or pain) Severe, urgent.
- Overly promiscuous, licentious.
- (of a draft/check) Not covered by funds on account.
- Evil; wicked (of people).
- Morally reprehensible (of behaviour etc.); blameworthy.
- Indicative of unkind or malevolent intentions; harsh, cruel.
- Unpropitious, unkind, faulty, not up to reasonable standard.
- Unwell in terms of health or physical condition; sick.
- Having an urge to vomit.
- (hip-hop slang) Sublime, with the connotation of being so in a singularly creative way.
- Extremely bad (bad enough to make one ill). Generally used indirectly with to be.
- Unwise; not a good idea.
- Something or someone that is the worst
- To make worse.
- To grow worse; to deteriorate.
- To outdo or defeat, especially in battle.
- Superlative of bad
- Superlative of ill