The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word DISASTER
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
D
I
S
A
S
T
E
R
More clues leading to the result DISASTER
- SAS tried sorting out calamity
- Around South Africa, driest winds blow?
- Sad rites recollected a calamity
- Daughter is getting behind — almost a total failure?
- Special forces tired out containing catastrophe
- Sid’s snapped flower — calamity!
- Type of movie where star dies surprisingly?
- Horror story is seen in dead flower
- Catastrophe as in stride being disrupted
- Calamity of girl with bloomers back to front
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "a total failure" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case a total failure = disaster.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 DISASTER mean?
DISASTER noun- An unexpected natural or man-made catastrophe of substantial extent causing significant physical damage or destruction, loss of life or sometimes permanent change to the natural environment.
- An unforeseen event causing great loss, upset or unpleasantness of whatever kind.