Cryptic crossword clue
Flounder, perhaps, as resistance falls away in chaotic first half

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

I've seen this crossword clue in Independent
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The straight part
We know that "Flounder, perhaps" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case flounder, perhaps = flatfish.
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 FLATFISH mean?

FLATFISH noun
  1. A fish of the order Pleuronectiformes, the adults of which have both eyes on one side and usually swim with the other side down, such as a flounder, a halibut, or a sole.

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