Crossword Genius

Slight pains: sore bum (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

aspersion

'slight' is the definition.

'pains sore bum' is the wordplay.
'bum' indicates an anagram (bum can mean faulty or wrong).
'pains'+'sore'='painssore'
'painssore' is an anagram of 'ASPERSION'.

(Other definitions for aspersion that I've seen before include "No praises (anag) - disparaging remark" , "Negative comment" , "Cast this slur" , "Slander" , "Defamatory suggestion" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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