The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word DISMAYED
I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
D
I
S
M
A
Y
E
D
More clues leading to the result DISMAYED
- Unhappy when DIY’s made complicated
- Criticise girl said to be dejected
- Unhappy DIY’s made complicated
- Passed round edible tubers wrong way up and caused alarm
- Demoralised, like the Tories with Theresa gone?
- Confounded tubers coming up, passed round
- Alarmed, Pluto made move to bite Mickey’s bottom!
- Verbally abuse Tory minister? Party leader’s appalled
- Having lost hope, kicked the bucket around the beginning of spring
- Aghast, Lord Ismay edited, to some extent
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "caused alarm" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case caused alarm = dismayed.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 DISMAYED mean?
DISMAYED verb- To cause to feel apprehension; great sadness, or fear; to deprive of energy
- To render lifeless; to subdue; to disquiet.
- To take dismay or fright; to be filled with dismay.
- Having the emotion of dismay.