Puts down protest – determined to make comeback (7)
I believe the answer is:
demotes
'puts down' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are verbs in their -s form, I don't see how one could define the other.
'protest determined to make comeback' is the wordplay.
'protest' becomes 'demo' (demonstration).
'determined' becomes 'set' (similar in meaning).
'to make comeback' is a reversal indicator (I've seen 'making comeback' mean this).
'set' back-to-front is 'tes'.
'demo'+'tes'='DEMOTES'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Another definition for demotes that I've seen is " Lowers in rank".)