Cryptic crossword clue
Madonna’s intro said to be hard to hear 8

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

I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
M
U
T
T
E
R
E
D

Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "hard to hear" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case hard to hear = muttered.
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 MUTTERED mean?

MUTTERED verb
  1. To utter words, especially complaints or angry expressions, indistinctly or with a low voice and lips partly closed; to say under one's breath.
  2. To speak softly and incoherently, or with imperfect articulations.
  3. To make a sound with a low, rumbling noise.

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