Crossword Genius

Chance losing face when hugging old flame devoid of passion (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

asexual

'devoid of passion' is the definition.

'chance losing face when hugging old flame' is the wordplay.
'chance' becomes 'casual' (can be similar as in 'a chance encounter').
'losing face' means to remove the first letter.
'when hugging' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'old flame' becomes 'ex' (I've seen this in other clues).
'casual' with its first letter taken away is 'asual'.
'asual' going around 'ex' is 'ASEXUAL'.

(Other definitions for asexual that I've seen before include "Without functioning organs of reproduction" , "(Of reproduction) vegetative" , "Neuter" , "Neither male nor female" , "Parthenogenetic" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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