The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 7 letter word PAINFUL
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
P
A
I
N
F
U
L
More clues leading to the result PAINFUL
- Bucketful of perverse fun, thus for the masochist?
- Harrowing tub farmers’ union’s invested in
- Agonising facts cut into me
- Arranged Cup Final doesn’t start — distressing
- Embarrassing facts mostly checked by NT writer
- Case of pneumonia’s almost entirely miserable
- Distressing father almost completely
- Messed up final — galling
- Inflamed single in fun with lap dancing
- Can having fun possibly be unpleasant?
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "thus for the masochist" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case thus for the masochist = painful.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 PAINFUL mean?
PAINFUL adjective- Causing pain or distress, either physical or mental.
- Afflicted or suffering with pain (of a body part or, formerly, of a person).
- Requiring effort or labor; difficult, laborious.
- Painstaking; careful; industrious.
- Very bad, poor.