Trampled (on)

TROD

["**Hint:** Think of the past tense of a verb meaning to step heavily or walk on something.\n\n*(This hint directs the solver toward the verb \"tread\" and its past tense form without explicitly stating \"trod.\")*"]

The clue **"Trampled (on)"** leads to the answer **"TROD"** through the following wordplay: 1. **"Trampled"** suggests the action of stepping heavily or walking over something, which relates to the past tense of the verb **"tread."** 2. The word **"tread"** in its past tense form is **"trod"** (e.g., "He trod on the grass"). 3. The parenthetical **"(on)"** reinforces the idea of stepping on something, further hinting at the verb form. Thus, **"TROD"** is the correct answer as it directly means "trampled" in the past tense. The clue cleverly uses the definition of the word while subtly guiding the solver toward the correct verb form.