Cryptic crossword clue
Polluted area put in shade by journalist 7

The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 7 letter word TAINTED

T
A
I
N
T
E
D

Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "Polluted" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case polluted = tainted.
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 TAINTED mean?

TAINTED verb
  1. To contaminate or corrupt (something) with an external agent, either physically or morally.
  2. To spoil (food) by contamination.
  3. To be infected or corrupted; to be touched by something corrupting.
  4. To be affected with incipient putrefaction.
  5. To mark (a variable) as unsafe, so that operations involving it are subject to additional security checks.
  6. To invalidate (a share capital account) by transferring profits into it.
TAINTED verb
  1. To damage, as a lance, without breaking it; also, to break, as a lance, but usually in an unknightly or unscientific manner.
  2. To hit or touch lightly, in tilting.
  3. To thrust ineffectually with a lance.
TAINTED adjective
  1. Corrupted or filled with imperfections.
  2. (of data) Originating from an untrusted source.

Latest crossword clues with full explanations