Cryptic crossword clue
Stop one old sailor getting worse 13

The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 13 letter word DETERIORATING

I've seen this crossword clue in The Daily Telegraph
D
E
T
E
R
I
O
R
A
T
I
N
G

Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "getting worse" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case getting worse = deteriorating.
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 DETERIORATING mean?

DETERIORATING verb
  1. To make worse; to make inferior in quality or value; to impair.
  2. To grow worse; to be impaired in quality; to degenerate.
DETERIORATING adjective
  1. Getting worse

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