The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word REACTION
I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
R
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More clues leading to the result REACTION
- Backlash, possibly, with regard to lawsuit
- Response of engineers leading to conflict
- Editor's job, concealing Democrat opposition to political change
- Answer right, at once wrong, I assumed
- Corps joining battle in response to revolution
- Erotica stirred up new backlash
- Response to race in broadcast
- Somehow certain about old backlash
- An erotic novel produces feedback
- Backlash from Establishment with Conservative moving right
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "backlash" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case backlash = reaction.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 REACTION mean?
REACTION noun- An action or statement in response to a stimulus or other event.
- A transformation in which one or more substances is converted into another by combination or decomposition.
- Reactionary politics; a period in which reactionary thought or politics is resurgent or dominant.