Backward live becomes wicked (4) cryptic crossword solution.

How the clue works

Backward instructs you to reverse LIVE, giving EVIL. The synonym match is EVIL = wicked.

Verification steps

1. Start with LIVE.
2. Backward is the reversal indicator.
3. Reverse LIVE to get EVIL.
4. Synonym: EVIL means wicked.
5. The answer fits the four-letter enumeration.

Why this answer is defensible

The answer EVIL is supported by three checks: the definition is wicked, the wordplay explains how the letters are produced, and the enumeration requires 4 letters. That combination is stronger than a dictionary match alone.

Clue type context

A reversal clue creates the answer by reading another word or abbreviation backwards. Directional indicators tell the solver when to reverse the letters.

Look for words such as backward, returned, rising, coming up, westbound, or reversed. In down clues, words like up or rising are often fairer than they are in across clues.

Common traps for this clue type

• Using an up-style indicator in an across clue without caution.
• Reversing the wrong word or phrase.
• Ignoring whether the reversed answer matches the definition.

When to be cautious

Confidence should be reduced if another answer fits the same enumeration and known letters better, if the definition is weaker than expected, or if the indicator does not fairly support the proposed wordplay. This page marks the current parse as high confidence.