The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 7 letter word CUSHION
I've seen this crossword clue in Independent
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More clues leading to the result CUSHION
- Buffer opposed to accepting American greeting
- Hutchinson, exposed endlessly, with no time to absorb shock?
- Pad and copper ring used in climb
- Copper twisting on his pillow
- Nervous cousin calls husband in for support
- Starts to cry upon smelling Heather's incense on Nathan's pillow
- Oddball cousin acquiring hot pad
- Reduce the impact of Conservative Government leaving housing in a mess
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Reduce the impact of" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case reduce the impact of = cushion.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 CUSHION mean?
CUSHION noun- A soft mass of material stuffed into a cloth bag, used for comfort or support; for sitting on, kneeling on, resting one's head on etc.
- Something acting as a cushion, especially to absorb a shock or impact.
- A sufficient quantity of an intangible object (like points or minutes) to allow for some of those points, for example, to be lost without hurting one's chances for successfully completing an objective.
- A riotous dance, formerly common at weddings.
- To furnish with cushions.
- To seat or place on, or as on a cushion.
- To absorb or deaden the impact of.
- To conceal or cover up, as under a cushion.