What does the cryptic crossword clue "Sting to appear heartless — cocky type (5-4)" mean?

The definition is "c". The wordplay uses a deletion. SMART (synonym="Sting") + AR (synonym="AR") + SE (synonym="appear") = SMARTARSE The answer is SMARTARSE.

Sting to appear heartless — cocky type (5-4)

Guardian Cryptic #29061 | 6 Down | 2023-05-04 flower

← Back to puzzle

Visit Guardian's puzzle site →