Questions tagged [cryptic-crosswords]

Cryptic crosswords are a special type of crossword puzzle where clues combine a definition with wordplay. Use [crosswords] where the clues don't obey the conventions of cryptic crosswords; [cryptic-clues] or [crossword-clues] for clues not assembled into whole crosswords.

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Cryptic crossword: trading places

This is a cryptic crossword. Each clue contains an extra letter which must be removed before the clue is solved, leaving real words in place. Solvers may find a use for these letters. Each ...
Narushiteli's user avatar
7 votes
1 answer
809 views

Before the Common Era

This is part 39 of the puzzle series Around the World in Many Days. Each part is solvable on its own. Dear Puzzling, The grid on the left-hand side is a KenKen puzzle. Fill the grid so that every row ...
Jafe's user avatar
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20 votes
1 answer
842 views

Transform a (very small) crossword

This puzzle is part of the Monthly Topic Challenge #14: Think inside the (very small) box!. Solve on Penpa+ (no answer check) The only way to fill this grid is to make it ____. Across 1. Republican ...
Jafe's user avatar
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9 votes
1 answer
443 views

Cryptic crossword: blended dawn hue

This is a cryptic crossword. Solvers, to obtain the green tick, must solve the crossword, explain the clues, locate the first seven words of a quotation in the grid, and write the full quotation out ...
Narushiteli's user avatar
12 votes
1 answer
551 views

Musk Oxen and Arctic Foxen

This is part 37 of the puzzle series Around the World in Many Days. Each part is solvable on its own. Dear Puzzling, This is an Aquarium puzzle. The grid is divided into “rooms”. Shade some cells in ...
Jafe's user avatar
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8 votes
1 answer
1k views

When in Rome... or perhaps Ankh-Morpork?

This is a cryptic crossword despite appearances. On the left is a five-by-five grid with no bars; on the right are five colour-coded slats one cell wide and a varying number of cells deep. The clues ...
Narushiteli's user avatar
16 votes
1 answer
647 views

Cryptic jigsaw crossword puzzle

This is a cryptic jigsaw crossword: no clue numbers are provided in the grid; solvers must instead fit the answers in wherever they can. The solution is unique, and the green tick mark goes to ...
Narushiteli's user avatar
9 votes
1 answer
575 views

Same college class: topology

This puzzle is toroidal. That is, every answer that hits the bottom (or right) of the puzzle continues in the same line from the top (respectively left). Across 1. Improvise a dance with extremely ...
msh210's user avatar
  • 11.6k
8 votes
1 answer
359 views

oAlt worked overtime

This is a cryptic crossword. The check mark will go to the first person who submits an answer with 1) an image of the completed crossword and 2) explanations for all clue answers. For users who cannot ...
oAlt's user avatar
  • 5,686
12 votes
1 answer
466 views

Tropical Rhythms

This is part 29 of the puzzle series Around the World in Many Days. Each part is solvable on its own. Dear Puzzling, This is a diagramless crossword. The clues are not numbered according to their ...
Jafe's user avatar
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12 votes
1 answer
383 views

Protected Schooling

This is part 26 of the puzzle series Around the World in Many Days. Each part is solvable on its own. Dear Puzzling, This is a Shakashaka puzzle. Mark some cells half-shaded along a diagonal (one ...
Jafe's user avatar
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10 votes
1 answer
946 views

Ticking Off Boxes

This is part 25 of the puzzle series Around the World in Many Days. Each part is solvable on its own. Dear Puzzling, This is a Y’s Are Wild crossword. That means any instances of the letter Y in the ...
Jafe's user avatar
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15 votes
1 answer
466 views

Changing Landscape

This is part 24 of the puzzle series Around the World in Many Days. Each part is solvable on its own. Dear Puzzling, Today I am at a place high up in the mountains that I would have loved to visit 20 ...
Jafe's user avatar
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10 votes
2 answers
1k views

Spell at days to circumference globe (6)

I'm not very happy with this cryptic clue that appeared on Lovatt's Cryptic Crossword for 22 May 2023: Spell at days to circumference globe (6) The answer was: But I don't like it because the clue ...
Jeremy Hunt's user avatar
13 votes
1 answer
973 views

Sardines and Octopi

This is part 21 of the puzzle series Around the World in Many Days. Each part is solvable on its own. Dear Puzzling, The thick black lines in this grid form a LITS puzzle. Shade an orthogonally ...
Jafe's user avatar
  • 75.6k
10 votes
1 answer
674 views

Singles, Doubles, Triples

This is part 20 of the puzzle series Around the World in Many Days. Each part is solvable on its own. Dear Puzzling, The circled numbers in this grid form a Kurodoko puzzle. Shade some cells in the ...
Jafe's user avatar
  • 75.6k
14 votes
1 answer
816 views

Sneaks and Addlers

This is part 18 of the puzzle series Around the World in Many Days. Each part is solvable on its own. Deаr Puzzling, This is an I Have No Idea What I’m Doing crossword. The clues are a mix of 10 ...
Jafe's user avatar
  • 75.6k
11 votes
1 answer
730 views

Problem Solving in Freefall

This is part 16 of the puzzle series Around the World in Many Days. Each part is solvable on its own. Deаr Puzzling, Ten clues in this crossword contain one extra letter, which must be removed before ...
Jafe's user avatar
  • 75.6k
9 votes
1 answer
803 views

Paranormal Activity

This is part 15 of the puzzle series Around the World in Many Days. Each part is solvable on its own. Deаr Puzzling, The numbers in blue here form a Nurikabe puzzle. Shade some cells in the grid so ...
Jafe's user avatar
  • 75.6k
7 votes
1 answer
872 views

True Lies and Slumdog Millionaire

Across 1/4. He casts spells to assault marine mammal, having gained power (5,6) 8. Rose, who sings about Christ, is extremely antisocial (3) 10. The third of Tolkien's three works appears truly great, ...
Jafe's user avatar
  • 75.6k
11 votes
1 answer
447 views

Multidimensional Travel

This is part 11 of the puzzle series Around the World in Many Days. Each part is solvable on its own. Deаr Puzzling, This is a three-dimensional crossword. The five squares in the picture represent ...
Jafe's user avatar
  • 75.6k
7 votes
1 answer
334 views

Napoleon I and some chemicals

This is a cryptic crossword. The check mark will go to the first person who submits an answer with 1) an image of the completed crossword and 2) explanations for all clues. For users who cannot use ...
oAlt's user avatar
  • 5,686
11 votes
1 answer
409 views

Kings of Centuries Past

This is part 7 of the puzzle series Around the World in Many Days. Each part is solvable on its own. Deаr Puzzling, This time I have a shingoki puzzle for you. Draw a single loop that passes through ...
Jafe's user avatar
  • 75.6k
10 votes
1 answer
462 views

Colourful Candy Cane Carousel

This is part 2 of the puzzle series Around the World in Many Days. Each part is solvable on its own. Deаr Puzzling, Today I walked in an unbelievable tropical palm forest. I have seen black parrots, ...
Jafe's user avatar
  • 75.6k
18 votes
2 answers
458 views

PSE Advent Calendar 2022 (Day 10): A Cryptmas Carol

This puzzle is part of the Puzzling Stack Exchange Advent Calendar 2022. The accepted answer to this question will be awarded a bounty worth 50 reputation.< Previous Door Next Door > The final ...
Jeremy Dover's user avatar
  • 25.8k
8 votes
1 answer
591 views

Politicians and revolutionaries

Solve on Penpa+ Across 1. Jokes for children (4) 3. Key figures starting a religious service; they're often found in churches (6) 7. Where one might see Homer making Odyssey's ending shorter, for ...
Jafe's user avatar
  • 75.6k
25 votes
1 answer
1k views

Across and… um, no

Across Where one eats chiefly men and women (3) Bulldog's run backward, endless miles (3) Ferrari with rear end replaced by young mechanic? I'm concerned, principally, of perhaps causing a breakdown (...
msh210's user avatar
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8 votes
1 answer
381 views

Generally Occult-Themed Horrifyingly Infernal Cryptic Crossword

This is a themed cryptic crossword, with the theme in either the clue or the answer. The theme is loosely 'gothic horror', with some exceptions for other spooky stuff that fit well. Beware! There is ...
PuzzlingFerret's user avatar
7 votes
1 answer
316 views

Gathering for fraternities and sororities

This puzzle is part of the Monthly Topic Challenge #4: Cross-*non*-words I've already got two crosswords for the challenge. Recently, the fraternities, the sororities and I worked together to make a ...
Scratch---Cat's user avatar
6 votes
1 answer
249 views

Hexagonal Topline Crossword

This puzzle is part of the Monthly Topic Challenge #4: Cross-*non*-words This crossword is a hexagonal one, and it uses a cipher mainly used in geocaching instead of English letters. The grid ...
Scratch---Cat's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
310 views

What does the neo-futurist poetry mean?

This puzzle is part of the Monthly Topic Challenge #4: Cross-*non*-words May 4 be in 6. May the ...
Scratch---Cat's user avatar
7 votes
1 answer
664 views

Miller's manager was not amused

Solve on Penpa+ Across 1. Communist revolutionary's injector – in short, it might move water from the tap into a sprayer (8) 6. Bone in the arm of cool American shown around India (6) 7. European ...
Jafe's user avatar
  • 75.6k
9 votes
1 answer
499 views

Once in a lifetime – A letter from Richard

This geography-themed standalone crossword has five thematic answers, which are places, sights or landmarks in or around a certain location (a city). Each thematic answer is notable enough to have its ...
Jafe's user avatar
  • 75.6k
11 votes
2 answers
364 views

Another paradise – A letter from Gladys

Letters from Gladys are geography-themed standalone crosswords. Each puzzle has five thematic answers, which are places, sights or landmarks in or around a certain location (in this case, a group of ...
Jafe's user avatar
  • 75.6k
5 votes
1 answer
205 views

Barred crossword

Across 1 47 Across writer's signature train (6) 6 A letter to Ms. White (not Ms. Landers) shows initial spirit (6) 11 You call this a party? You are sad (4) 13 Don't need anything crazy (4) 15 ...
msh210's user avatar
  • 11.6k
10 votes
1 answer
271 views

Volcano express – A letter from Gladys

Letters from Gladys are geography-themed standalone crosswords. Each puzzle has five thematic answers, which are places, sights or landmarks in or around a certain location (in this case, a chain of ...
Jafe's user avatar
  • 75.6k
14 votes
1 answer
754 views

You have my sword – A signed letter from Gladys

Letters from Gladys are geography-themed standalone crosswords. Each puzzle has five thematic answers, which are places, sights or landmarks in or around a certain location (in this case, an ...
Jafe's user avatar
  • 75.6k
7 votes
1 answer
530 views

Fifty countries – A letter from Gladys

Letters from Gladys are geography-themed standalone crosswords. Each puzzle has five thematic answers, which are places, sights or landmarks in or around a certain location (in this case, a desert). ...
Jafe's user avatar
  • 75.6k
11 votes
1 answer
499 views

Sun, sea and sand – A letter from Gladys

Letters from Gladys are geography-themed standalone crosswords. Each puzzle has five thematic answers, which are places, sights or landmarks in or around a certain location (in this case, a country). ...
Jafe's user avatar
  • 75.6k
9 votes
1 answer
370 views

Present and future – A letter from Gladys

Letters from Gladys are geography-themed standalone crosswords. Each puzzle has five thematic answers, which are places, sights or landmarks in or around a certain location (in this case, an island). ...
Jafe's user avatar
  • 75.6k
7 votes
1 answer
495 views

Husbands and wives – A letter from Gladys

Letters from Gladys are geography-themed standalone crosswords. Each puzzle has five thematic answers, which are places, sights or landmarks in or around a certain location (in this case, a state). ...
Jafe's user avatar
  • 75.6k
4 votes
0 answers
241 views

Is there a name for crosswords where the surface of the vertical clues resemble the solutions to the horizontal and vice versa?

Occasionally a crossword (often cryptic ones) would have a twist to them, such as being a 'nina': A Nina is a special feature of the crossword grid: a word, words or phrase hidden within a pattern of ...
PuzzlingFerret's user avatar
7 votes
1 answer
156 views

Turquoise waters – A letter from Gladys

Letters from Gladys are geography-themed standalone crosswords. Each puzzle has five thematic answers, which are places, sights or landmarks in or around a certain location (in this case, a peninsula)....
Jafe's user avatar
  • 75.6k
8 votes
1 answer
267 views

Island hopping – A letter from Gladys

Letters from Gladys are geography-themed standalone crosswords. Each puzzle has five thematic answers, which are places, sights or landmarks in or around a certain location (in this case, an ...
Jafe's user avatar
  • 75.6k
9 votes
1 answer
403 views

Change of pace – A letter from Gladys

Letters from Gladys are geography-themed standalone crosswords. Each puzzle has five thematic answers, which are places, sights or landmarks in or around a certain location (in this case, a city). ...
Jafe's user avatar
  • 75.6k
7 votes
2 answers
301 views

Bikini life – A letter from Gladys

Letters from Gladys are geography-themed standalone crosswords. Each puzzle has five thematic answers, which are places, sights or landmarks in or around a certain location (in this case, a city). ...
Jafe's user avatar
  • 75.6k
11 votes
1 answer
356 views

Wintering – A letter from Gladys

Letters from Gladys are geography-themed standalone crosswords. Each puzzle has five thematic answers, which are places, sights or landmarks in or around a certain location (in this case, a province). ...
Jafe's user avatar
  • 75.6k
6 votes
1 answer
366 views

Just thought of you – A letter from Gladys

Letters from Gladys are geography-themed standalone crosswords. Each puzzle has five thematic answers, which are places, sights or landmarks in or around a certain location (in this case, a city). ...
Jafe's user avatar
  • 75.6k
13 votes
1 answer
493 views

PSE Advent Calendar 2021 (Day 23): Gee, I Really Wonder Where We'll Land

This puzzle is part of the Puzzling StackExchange Advent Calendar 2021. The accepted answer to this question will be awarded a bounty worth 50 reputation.< Previous Door Next Door > To fully ...
samm82's user avatar
  • 6,673
12 votes
1 answer
440 views

It was someone else

Across 1. "In coordination and cooperation"? The New Yorker uses these strange terms all over article (6) 6. Try to capture a cow, perhaps abruptly – it stands outside (6) 12. Presents ...
Jafe's user avatar
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