Doubtful epic acts were carried out by local leader (9)
I believe the answer is:
sceptical
'doubtful epic acts were carried out by local leader' is the definition.
I know that 'doubtful' relates to this answer.
'doubtful epic acts were' is the wordplay.
'doubtful' is an anagram indicator.
'were' becomes 'l' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should believe this answer much more).
'epic'+'acts'='epicacts'
'epicacts' anagrammed gives 'sceptica'.
'sceptica'+'l'='SCEPTICAL'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for sceptical that I've seen before include "Doubtful" , "Inclined to doubt accepted opinions" , "Doubting or disbelieving" , "Inclined not to believe" , "Given to doubt" .)