The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 5 letter word WHELK
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More clues leading to the result WHELK
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Pimple/what the most incompetent will fail to shift" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case pimple/what the most incompetent will fail to shift = whelk.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 WHELK mean?
WHELK noun- Certain edible sea snails, especially, any one of numerous species of large marine gastropods belonging to Buccinidae, much used as food in Europe.
- Pimple
- A stripe or mark; a ridge; a wale.