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.
322
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Sharing (words) is caring
Each across clue is actually multiple cryptic clues written in succession. Each pair of successive clues has one shared word, which functions as the last word of one clue and the first word of the ...
- 69.4k
14
votes
1
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Cryptic crossword – identify the unusual clues!
Nine clues are not like the others. Solvers must identify the unusual clues and highlight the corresponding answers in the grid. To help with this task, the grid has two unclued entries which hint at ...
- 69.4k
9
votes
1
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Scandal's beginnings
Across
6. A sign that it's time to stop payment: Serious warning signal (9,4)
8. Nonconformist man is in good shape (6)
9. Sorriest broken component (8)
10. Child keeping King softly in grip (5,3)
12. ...
- 69.4k
14
votes
1
answer
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A 4-D Cryptic Crossword
An entry in Fortnightly Topic Challenge #43: Variety Crossword Grids
This puzzle is a cryptic crossword, but with a twist...literally! The grid presented is a 2-dimensional representation of the ...
- 25.5k
15
votes
1
answer
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Six Directions of Cryptic Cluebulence
An entry in Fortnightly Topic Challenge #43: Variety Crossword Grids
This crossword is a tribute to the 2002 album Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence by Dream Theater. No knowledge of the music itself ...
- 69.4k
10
votes
4
answers
2k
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Could a non-native English speaker work out cryptic crossword puzzles?
I am fond of puzzles related to mathematics, and I am very keen to solve cryptic crosswords. However, the main obstacle is that they seem to require superb linguistics background knowledge/skills. As ...
- 103
12
votes
1
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A Cryptic Hourglass
An entry in Fortnightly Topic Challenge #43: Variety Crossword Grids
The answers to ten cryptic clues need to be entered in the grid below. Words start in their numbered rectangles, and proceed down ...
- 25.5k
18
votes
1
answer
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3D cryptic brain melter
An entry in Fortnightly Topic Challenge #43: Variety Crossword Grids
This is a three-dimensional cryptic crossword. The seven squares in the picture depict the layers of a 7x7x7 cube. The "away&...
- 69.4k
15
votes
1
answer
360
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Gladys's Gapped Cryptic
An entry in Fortnightly Topic Challenge #43: Variety Crossword Grids
This is part 10 of the puzzle series. Part 1 is here.
Dear Puzzling,
They say there's no place like home, but for people who love ...
- 69.4k
13
votes
1
answer
553
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a cryptic beehive
Each numbered clue clues a six-letter answer to be entered consecutively (i.e., either clockwise or counterclockwise) in the six squares around the square so numbered.
1. Perhaps a laborist and ...
- 11.3k
11
votes
1
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What do "(מ)" and "(ש)" mean in an Israeli cryptic?
I was looking at the Hebrew cryptic crosswords in a recent copy of the Israel newspaper ידיעות אחרונות, and I noticed that some of the clues had "(מ)" or "(ש)" — or sometimes both —...
- 11.3k
9
votes
1
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249
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Gladys's Mismatching Cryptic
This is part 9 of the puzzle series. Part 1 is here.
Dear Puzzling,
Today I'm visiting a small town to marvel at some fantastic examples of Renaissance architecture. Sadly, this is also the last ...
- 69.4k
6
votes
1
answer
214
views
Gladys's Double-Letter Cryptic
This is part 8 of the puzzle series. Part 1 is here.
Dear Puzzling,
Today I'm enjoying some quiet time after a long flight. As you know I'm at least as much a fan of places of worship as the next ...
- 69.4k
7
votes
1
answer
327
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The Man That Was Used Up
I have to apologize for this puzzle. It lacks symmetry, and occasionally has two unchecked squares in succession. (Chalk it up to my inexperience in making crosswords.) To make it up to you, I ...
- 11.3k
7
votes
1
answer
352
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Gladys's Word Search Cryptic
This is part 7 of the puzzle series. Part 1 is here.
Dear Puzzling,
I have to say that I didn't quite get enough of the sun and sea in my last stop, so I've decided to come to another place that has ...
- 69.4k
19
votes
1
answer
541
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What is a Cryptic Cross Word™?
Glad you asked! Here is an example of a cryptic crossword.
Across
1. Lady losing head for man (4)
3. Sink back to bottom and be covered by extensive dirt surfaces (5)
9. To a larger extent, gritty ...
- 69.4k
11
votes
1
answer
325
views
Gladys's Letter-Dropping Cryptic
This is part 6 of the puzzle series. Part 1 is here.
Dear Puzzling,
My today's destination is a bit more of a mainstream tourist spot than some of the other stops on my journey. I'm definitely going ...
- 69.4k
11
votes
1
answer
519
views
No Holds – a barred crossword
Across
1. Country girls finally returning home after being swallowed by snake (6)
6. Strong desire to omit essential part in writing important text (1,5)
11. Error usually eliminated within split ...
- 69.4k
15
votes
1
answer
335
views
Gladys's Extra Word Cryptic
This is part 5 of the puzzle series. Part 1 is here.
Dear Puzzling,
This is my most remote destination so far. The views out here are breathtaking, although from what I hear this place is even more ...
- 69.4k
22
votes
1
answer
1k
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Suspected felicide in the Schrödinger household
Police officers entered the home of Dr. Erwin Schrödinger. The neighbours had reported that the doctor had locked his cat in a box and was subjecting it to "particle physics", whatever ...
- 69.4k
6
votes
1
answer
245
views
Gladys's Scrambled Cryptic
This is part 4 of the puzzle series. Part 1 is here.
Dear Puzzling,
Today I'm visiting a wonderful old castle surrounded by picturesque woodland. You may have noticed that I'm not exactly taking the ...
- 69.4k
7
votes
1
answer
152
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Olympic host covered in advertisement
Across
1. Plug in the hybrid and relax (7,2)
6. Croquet, essentially? (5)
9. Characteristic of backstabber: striking the back repeatedly (5)
10. Vessels for mixing basil cereal (9)
11. He made a list ...
- 69.4k
8
votes
1
answer
299
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Gladys's Gridless Cryptic
This is part 3 of the puzzle series. Part 1 is here.
Dear Puzzling,
Today I'm visiting a place that has been completely abandoned for centuries. That may sound dreary and depressing, but this place ...
- 69.4k
8
votes
1
answer
195
views
Gladys's Misprinted Cryptic
This is part 2 of the puzzle series. Part 1 is here.
Dear Puzzling,
Today, I'm taking a tour of historic sites in an ancient city. The crossword has 24 clues containing an extra letter, which you ...
- 69.4k
9
votes
1
answer
445
views
Gladys's Clashing Cryptic
Dear Puzzling,
Remember me? I have some exciting news for you. I'm starting on a new journey to visit a few wonderful landmarks around the world.
In case you want to follow my travels, I'll send you a ...
- 69.4k
10
votes
1
answer
341
views
Never fear, Friday's cryptic is here!
Nineteen thematic answers have "in-universe" definitions. For example, Scrooge McDuck could be defined as "famous billionaire" rather than "Disney character".
Across
1. ...
- 69.4k
9
votes
1
answer
471
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Missing words? In *my* crossword?
Some clues are missing one of four different five-letter words, marked A, B, C and D. The missing words are included in the grid as the unclued entries 16a, 35a, 22d and 23d, not necessarily in that ...
- 69.4k
7
votes
2
answers
439
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An Ancient Cryptic Puzzle
Here's a variety cryptic for your puzzling pleasure. The clues are cryptic, but as you can see below, the grid is unusual. Axial clues are entered from the outside in. Around clues are entered in ...
- 25.5k
5
votes
1
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Left-looking organization
Plaintext grid
Across
7. Fly comes flying around place near North Carolina, showing certain smugness (4-11)
9. ISIS fighters maybe capture one town's leader and, among others, foremost loyal people ...
- 69.4k
3
votes
1
answer
112
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Catch a wave, you'll be sittin' on top of the world
"OK, stand down...report!"
"Captain Singh! The science section reports we encountered a rogue gravity wave from the Tau Ceti sector. Life support, hull integrity, shields and weapons ...
- 25.5k
7
votes
1
answer
537
views
Kenya's army is not to be messed with
Grid in plaintext
Across
1. Standing in front of a dark, large entrance of estate that can be rented (8)
5. County worker, perhaps seen near border (6)
10. Wife of Abraham Lincoln (5)
11. Staunched, ...
- 69.4k
7
votes
1
answer
201
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Cryptic crossword: the time is now
This is a letters-latent cryptic crossword: an equal number of Across and Down clues have one extra letter in the wordplay that should be removed and noted down. These letters spell out a phrase ...
user40528
7
votes
1
answer
347
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A Lazy Sunday Cryptic Crossword
For those of you lazing in the summer heat (or winter cold for my ANZAC friends!), a cryptic crossword. I would like to acknowledge using Crossword Compiler for help in creating the grid, but all ...
- 25.5k
6
votes
1
answer
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When you give a cat a crossword
There I was, in the PSE lounge, polishing up my math-crossword. The only test-solver available was the Cryptic Cat. I think you see where this is going.
When I got my crossword back, the little bugger ...
- 10k
19
votes
1
answer
503
views
Just a little adventure in cylindrical crosswordland
Grid in plaintext
This is a cylindrical cryptic crossword. Some "across" clues go beyond the right-hand edge of the grid and continue from the left-hand side. The black part between the two ...
- 69.4k
13
votes
1
answer
521
views
It's in the past, in the past
Note: The clues are a mix of printer's devilry and normal cryptic clues.
Across
1. Pillars bend within seconds (6)
6. Essentially elevate temperature in volcanic matter, forming a river (6)
11. ...
- 69.4k
12
votes
1
answer
282
views
Holding top trophy
Across
1. Gershwin recalled a song (4)
5. Musical intervals the net has essentially ignored (6)
12. Scavenger of old is trapped in darkness – poor lad (7)
13. Rearranged 1 across missing a distinctive ...
- 69.4k
6
votes
1
answer
456
views
Seconds of constant funk
This is a themed cryptic crossword, with five answers sticking to the theme.
ACROSS
2/29d. Guitarist for 20-down (or Radiohead), content in retiring, achieved $1000 (4, 4)
4. Reactions of surprise ...
- 5,139
12
votes
1
answer
386
views
Guess my dream holiday destination!
Because there is too much space in the grid for some words, eight cells are initially left empty. Once the grid is complete, solvers must find a way to fill the empty cells, keeping all entries as ...
- 69.4k
5
votes
1
answer
217
views
Cryptic crossword - letters latent
"Whose idea was it to say that we'd answer every complaint we received?" Svetlana was sat at Coldport City Council's Complaints desk staring at a sheet of paper. Bob, her colleague, looked ...
user40528
16
votes
1
answer
556
views
Friday's the most cryptic day of the week
Across
1. War paint for alien entering from space station's entrance (9)
6. An island country's capital, Praia, devastated after the loss of republic's leader (4)
10. Search "engine oil" at first… Got ...
- 69.4k
10
votes
2
answers
404
views
Cryptic Exile by Sir Featherwait
Just the other day I met Sir Featherwait in the professional aviators' lounge, where he instructed me to guess his favorite anime. Unfortunately, it seems that every guess I made went further and ...
- 10.4k
10
votes
1
answer
171
views
Equipped for sailing
Grid in plaintext
Across
1/13/20. State of Colorado engaged in attempt to pursue mostly American parties, often involving heroin (10,8,2,3,5)
10. "Terminal engineer, too, must… (7)
11. …ultimately ...
- 69.4k
7
votes
1
answer
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views
A cryptic crossword
No theme, nothing special, just a cryptic crossword to tide you over until @jafe's Friday release. I hope you enjoy!
Plaintext version
ACROSS
1. Ten Roman dances for festive ball (8)
8. Every ...
- 25.5k
8
votes
1
answer
222
views
Dwellings of a cryptic nature
Grid in plaintext
Across
1. Oakley, California finally resettled nine (5)
4. Stupor produced by rotten nectar (6)
9. After revolutionary conflict, conceal leather material (7)
10. Ugly leaders and a ...
- 69.4k
4
votes
1
answer
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Explain the solution to a cryptic clue for ORIGAMI
Cryptic crossword clue 21 down from Telegraph puzzle #29,363.
Sort of art foundation almost inspiring amateur (7)
We have the letters O_I_A_I. We believe the ...
- 415
5
votes
1
answer
128
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Canning white meat
Across
1. Singing is temporarily entertaining tenor (4)
3. Old Levantine-American from Arizona (10)
10. Striking hard, a pharaoh mutilated a tribe's member (7)
11. Small sound – crying? (7)
12. ...
- 69.4k
7
votes
1
answer
194
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Base compromised
Grid in plaintext
The nine highlighted cells contain multiple letters: two or more letters from the down clue, and two or more letters from the across clue (where applicable). The letters in each of ...
- 69.4k
4
votes
1
answer
167
views
Arrangements put you in money
Grid in plaintext
Note: Eleven clues are printer's devilry with thematic answers.
Across
1. By the 1980s, his style of music hanged (4)
3. They had the hammer my bricks as the mason was absent (6)
9....
- 69.4k
14
votes
2
answers
494
views
Zany misunderstanding
Grid in plaintext
Across
1. Top metal band has a trademark for honorific title (7)
5. Smear fellow according to Spooner's scheme (6,4)
10. Money paid for releasing Welsh footballer, reportedly (4)
14....
- 69.4k