Crossword Genius

Alas, Persephone's content to vilify (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

asperse

'to vilify' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

'alas persephone's content' is the wordplay.
'content' indicates a hidden word (letters contained within the clue).
'ASPERSE' is hidden within 'alas persephone'.

(Other definitions for asperse that I've seen before include "See spar could slander oddly" , "Defame" , "Call names" , "Malign" , "Slander or calumniate" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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