Conflict by Pointer

Puzzle explanation

Clues were given in the wrong order, leading to an initial grid (shown here) with six clashes but nonsense from the extra words. In the right order, the clues gave a different grid arrangement and the initials of extra words spelt “discarded letters should be used to form a synonym of the title”, namely STRIFE.

Clue explanations

Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal

No Extra word Answer Explanation
Across
1 Egyptian PARA PARASITE − SITE
5 Euclid’s HANDMILL H AND M + ILL
11 substitutes EVADES (s)E(r)V(e) A(s) D(r)E(s)S
13 spraying OINT INTO *
15 Halfback DIVED DIED around V
16 dormant RAY RALLY − LL
17 reel CAN CAN(can)
18 incites MILLHAND MILL + HAND
19 dish LENTIL LENS − S +TIL
21 bank YERKS (YORKERS − OR) *
23 embody ODES (c)ODES
25 tram TOOK TO + OK
26 Tourers RHEA HEAR with letters “cycled”
27 district REDS (hund)REDS
29 Lyle’s DOWNTURN DOWN + TURN
33 sports EMETIN MEETIN(g) *
36 cigars AESC (C(igarette)S + E(xtr)A) <
38 aspic FUMET FUMETTI − (s)TI(r)
39 uncle’s MAA A A M(ilne) <
40 Opener CON (s)C(ores) (f)O(ur) (o)N(ly)
41 rude TURN-DOWN NURD * in TOWN
42 Door NERVER NEVER around R
43 Labour SILLY SIMPLY with L for MP
44 environmentalists DREE DEER *
45 Specials DESK DESKILL − ILL
46 upper EAST EAT around S
Down
1 militia PEDALO PE + DO around (A + L)
2 thugs AVISE (p)AVISE
3 youngster RAVENED (AND EVER) *
4 outdoing ADEPTS A + DEPTHS − H
5 mother HERMIT HER + MIT
6 A4-sized ASCI ICSA <
7 Silver DOYLY DOYL(e) + (stor)Y
8 flooding MITHER (tsuna)MI THE R(oad)
9 overpower INCA MONSTERS, INC − MONSTERS + A
10 retort LANDS GLASS − (L AND S) = GAS
12 nursery FALLOW (OF WALL) *
14 youth DANKER pun on “bitte”, “danke”
20 never LION REBELLION − REBEL
22 Officers RHUS RHOMBUS − MOB *
24 ties DEMURER DEMURRER − R
27 Everton REFUND FUN in RED
28 octants STEEVE (SEVE(n) + TE(n)) *
29 headgear DIETED DIE + TED
30 episode’s NAANS (A + AN) in NS
31 Fiancé TEDDIE (DD + I) in TEE
32 thruway NONNY N in (NO + NY)
34 Dunant EMULE (R)E(d) + MULE
35 through KARKS KVASS with ARK for VAS
37 inner COWLS C(ans) O(nes) W(ith) L(ouvred) S(ides)
39 escalator MURE (ITERUM − IT) <
40 litres COLA (O + L) in CA
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