Cryptic crossword clue
Most severe state sure to be troublesome 9

The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word AUSTEREST

I've seen this crossword clue in The Daily Telegraph
A
U
S
T
E
R
E
S
T

Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "Most severe" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case most severe = austerest.
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 AUSTEREST mean?

AUSTEREST adjective
  1. Grim or severe in manner or appearance
  2. Lacking decoration; trivial; not extravagant or gaudy

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