The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word NASTINESS
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
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More clues leading to the result NASTINESS
- When metal is found in loch, is this pollution?
- Northern idiot entertaining rogue in set showing spite
- Unpleasant sensations, lacking love
- Part for Sean Astin essential in Malevolence
- Unpleasant quality of wine going to the head after end of luncheon
- Unpleasant quality of inn’s seats wobbling about
- New wine kept overhead shows unsavouriness
- Horrible quality of unusual stain on head
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "pollution" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case pollution = nastiness.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 NASTINESS mean?
NASTINESS noun- Lack of cleanliness.
- Dirt, filth.
- Indecency; corruption; unkindness, meanness, spite, harshness, cruelty.
- Unpleasantness, disagreeableness (to the senses).
- A nasty action, object, quality, etc. (all senses of nasty).