The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 5 letter word AWFUL
I've seen this crossword clue in Independent
A
W
F
U
L
More clues leading to the result AWFUL
- Answer with almost complete rubbish
- Legal to be guillotined, though dreadful
- Permissible to have left off pants
- Topless constitutional? Horrific!
- Permitted to remove top, very bad
- Legitimate banning learner driver that’s very bad
- Pollarding allowed – that’s terrible
- Okay by the cops to bump off leading liberal? That’s terrible!
- Terrible actor was famously useless Lear first of all
- Ugly and allowed to go topless
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "terrible" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case terrible = awful.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 AWFUL mean?
AWFUL adjective- Very bad.
- Exceedingly great; usually applied intensively.
- Causing fear or horror; appalling, terrible.
- Inspiring awe; filling with profound reverence or respect; profoundly impressive.
- Struck or filled with awe.
- Terror-stricken.
- Worshipful; reverential; law-abiding.
- Awfully; dreadfully; terribly.
- Very, extremely.