Crossword Genius

Tried a form of abuse (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

tirade

'abuse' is the definition.
(verbal abuse)

'tried a form' is the wordplay.
'form' is an anagram indicator (another form of the letters).
'tried'+'a'='trieda'
'trieda' anagrammed gives 'TIRADE'.

'of' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for tirade that I've seen before include "Loud harangue" , "A prolonged outburst of abuse" , "A tongue-lashing" , "Furious denunciation" , "lecture" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish News and The Globe and Mail.
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