Defamed a large number and got into a row (8)
I believe the answer is:
maligned
'defamed' is the definition.
(maligning is a kind of defaming)
'a large number and got into a row' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'a' is found in the answer.
'large' could be 'l' (eg in clothes sizes) and 'l' is located in the answer.
'number' could be 'm' (M is an example) and 'm' is found within the answer.
'and' could be 'n' (common abbreviation for 'and') and 'n' is found within the answer.
This explanation may well be incorrect...
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for maligned that I've seen before include "Unjustly slandered" , "stigmatised" , "Vilified" , "Spoken ill of" , "Defamed" .)