Crossword Genius

Damn solution absorbing solver primarily (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

curse

'damn' is the definition.
(synonyms)

'solution absorbing solver primarily' is the wordplay.
'solution' becomes 'cure' (cure can mean a solution or treatment).
'absorbing' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'primarily' says to take the initial letters.
The initial letter of 'solver' is 's'.
'cure' going around 's' is 'CURSE'.

(Other definitions for curse that I've seen before include "Anathema" , "Utter obscenities" , "Invocation of evil; swear" , "Imprecation or oath" , "Invoke evil upon" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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