Crossword puzzles are not just fun, they are like brain exercise. By solving them, you will become a pro. Many do crosswords daily to increase their smartness. Give these puzzles a try and test your skills. Find the answers and explanations below if you feel it is difficult to solve.
Hot air’s circulating to plug musical release (9)
“Hot air’s circulating” suggests an anagram, where “hot air” is the definition for the word “CATHARSIS” and “circulating” indicates that the letters need to be rearranged.
When we rearrange the letters in “hot air’s,” we get “CATHARSIS,” which can mean a release of emotions, similar to how a musical release (album) can be a cathartic experience for listeners.
Fronts for thieving racketeers announce massive price hike (5)
TRAMP
“Fronts for thieving racketeers” suggests taking the first letters of “thieving racketeers,” which are “TR,” and combining them with “announce” to get “TRAMP,” which can mean a person who travels on foot, often with connotations of poverty or homelessness.
Perhaps seventh word in a limerick’s too long for it (7)
ORDINAL
In a limerick, which is a type of poem with a specific rhyme scheme (AABBA), the seventh word would be the first word of the last line.
This clue suggests that this word is “too long for it,” indicating that it’s longer than the expected length for a word in a limerick. The word “ORDINAL” itself means relating to or denoting a numerical order or sequence (like the order of words in a limerick).
Christmas visitor possibly taking other end of weighty decoration (5)
INLAY
“Christmas visitor possibly” suggests SANTA, and “taking other end of weighty decoration” suggests removing the last letter (the other end) of “SANTA,” which leaves “SANT,” and combining this with “decoration” gives us “INLAY,” which is a decorative technique of inserting pieces of contrasting, often colored materials into depressions in a base object to form patterns or pictures.
Lad very embarrassed to admit papa’s promised money (9)
SPONSORED
“Lad” is a boy (a son), “very embarrassed” indicates that something is hidden inside (“very” being an intensifier and “embarrassed” suggesting hiding), “to admit” indicates reversal (since we’re admitting something), and “papa’s promised money” suggests the word “papa” with “sponsored” inside (promised money being sponsorship).
Making a certain sound when stealing away (10)
ASPIRATING
“Making a certain sound” refers to the definition of the word.
“When stealing away” suggests that the word for “stealing” should be removed from “away” to form the answer. Removing “stealing” from “away” leaves “a” which, when combined with “sound,” gives “aspirating,” which means producing a sound by breathing in sharply, often as a speech sound.
Old men up for dancing with yours truly, Methuselah? (3,2,5)
NOM DE PLUME
“Old men” could be “nom,” reversed to “mon” (men up), “for dancing” is “de,” and “yours truly, Methuselah” suggests “plume” (as in a pen name, Methuselah being very old).
Masculine decoration catching zip has gotta hur t(9)
MOUSTACHE
“Masculine decoration” is a moustache. “Catching zip” suggests “caught” or contained within (“zip” is slang for zero or nothing), and “has gotta hurt” indicates an anagram of “has gotta” (anagram indicator) to get “hurt” which gives “moustache.”
Lioness grabs tail of unlucky antelope (5)
NYALA
“Lioness” suggests “Nya,” “grabs” indicates that “l” (tail of unlucky) should be added to “nya” to get “nyala,” which is a type of antelope.
Tory leader fills political address with extremely nebulous ideas (7)
NOTIONS
“Tory leader” suggests the first letter of “Tory,” which is “T.” “Fills” indicates that “T” is inside “political address” which is “NOTIONS,” meaning ideas.
Observe silicon and another element at work- (3,2,2)
SITINON
“Observe” is “SIT IN ON,” which can mean to attend as an observer. “Silicon” is the chemical element “Si,” and “another element” is “Tin,” which are both at work
Country torn asunder without old monarch (5)
SUDAN
“Country torn asunder” suggests the country Sudan. “Without old monarch” indicates removing the letter “L” (old monarch) from “S(ou)L”)dan).
Token of affection almost returned, but interrupted by fish and chips?- (4,5)
SIDEORDER
“Token of affection” is “S(affection)I(de) (almost)E(returned).” “But interrupted by fish and chips” suggests adding “ORD” (from “fish and chips”) to the end of “SIDE” to get “SIDE ORDER.”
Muppet CEO Kermit soon replaced (6,7)
COOKIE MBOLISM
“Muppet CEO” is COOKIE MONSTER, a character from “Sesame Street.” “Kermit soon replaced” suggests an anagram of “Kermit soon” which gives “MONSTER.”
After tango, snubbed stranger’s left in lurch (6)
TODDLE
“After tango” suggests “T,” “snubbed” suggests removing “T” from “stranger’s left” which is “ODDLE,” meaning to move in a leisurely or unsteady way.
Some irritating sound in my earhole? That does it! (6)
ANNOYS
“Some irritating sound” is a noise. “In my earhole” suggests the answer is “in” or inside “earhole,” which gives ANNOYS, meaning to irritate or bother.
Character who looms large in a seminar’s novel reading? (5,6)
SILAS MARNER
“Character who looms large” is Silas Marner, the protagonist of George Eliot’s novel “Silas Marner.” “In a seminar’s novel reading” suggests that this character is significant in the context of studying literature.
Beset by problems, I lob my soup over some art (9)
SYMBOLISM
“Beset by problems” suggests that there are issues (“ism”) around “my soup” (an anagram of “symbol”) which is lobbed “over some art.”
North African vessel sits in Arno now and then (8)
TUNISIAN
“North African” suggests Tunisia. “Vessel” can refer to a ship, which is “TUNIS” sitting “in Arno now and then” (the letters of “Arno” are rearranged).
Rock in more expansive bit of space always losing velocity (8)
ASTEROID
“Rock in more expansive bit of space” suggests an asteroid, which is a type of rock found in space. “Always losing velocity” suggests removing the “V” (velocity) from “asteroid” to get the answer.
Showing off, dropping name in front of male model- (8)
PARADIGM
“Showing off” suggests a display or example, which is a paradigm. “Dropping name” suggests removing “name” from “paradigm” to get “paradig,” and “in front of male model” suggests adding “m” to get “PARADIGM.”
One text contains just over a hundred mistakes (9)
SOLECISMS
“One text” suggests “SOL” (a text being a “book” in Latin, which is “Sol” backwards). “Contains” suggests putting “one” inside “SOL” to get “SOLECI,” and “just over a hundred mistakes” suggests adding “MS” (a hundred being 100 in Roman numerals) to get “SOLECISMS.”
Submariner beginning to navigate through twisted ocean plants (8)
ANEMONES
“Submariner” suggests “ANEMO” (as in anemometer, a device that measures wind speed). “Beginning to navigate” suggests the first letter of “navigate,” which is “N,” and “twisted ocean plants” suggests “ANEMONES.”
One got on … or came down? (8)
AMOUNTED
“One got on” suggests “AMOUNTED” as in boarded or got on something. “Or came down” suggests that this could also mean descended or came down.
Massage on vacation limited personal crisis (8)
MELTDOWN
“Massage on vacation” suggests “MELT,” and “limited personal crisis” suggests “DOWN,” which gives “MELTDOWN.”
During goalless game, reduced team’s rolling with punches (3-3)
ONETWO
“During goalless game” suggests “ONE,” and “reduced team’s rolling with punches” suggests “TWO,” which together form a “ONE-TWO,” a quick passing combination in sports like soccer.
Semi-retired US prison boss given notice (6)
WARNED
“Semi-retired US prison boss” could refer to a warden who is semi-retired. “Given notice” suggests a warning or notice, which is WARNED.
Relaxed, or wound up, blowing top (5)
EASED
“Relaxed” is EASED, which can mean to make something less tense or tight. “Or wound up, blowing top” suggests an anagram of “wound” (wound up) and “blowing top,” which gives EASED.Independent’s Cryptic Crossword
