Decryptic #6 - 3rd July 2026
Solution & wordplay explained · Published 3 July 2026
The solved grid and a clue-by-clue explanation of every piece of wordplay in this Decryptic daily. It's a past puzzle, and the archive lets you play older crosswords. Today's crossword is always free to play.
The solved grid
1C
E
2N
T
U
R
3Y
4I
S
5S
U
6E
A
A
E
M
P
V
7B
O
I
L
8E
R
P
L
A
T
E
E
L
L
V
G
E
E
9S
M
A
L
10L
M
I
N
D
E
11D
G
E
N
I
N
E
12R
E
T
A
G
N
13A
D
14M
I
T
A
E
E
T
U
R
15M
U
16D
S
L
I
N
G
I
N
G
A
E
I
O
S
C
17N
18S
I
Z
Z
19L
I
N
G
H
O
T
A
K
E
A
O
E
20M
U
S
E
D
21C
H
A
T
T
E
D
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Across
1 Across Cry tune broken for a hundred years (7) → CENTURY Anagram
Rearrange the letters of “cry tune”.
4 Across Result found in Artemis sues (5) → ISSUE Hidden word
The answer is hidden inside “Artemis sues”.
7 Across Standard text from heater and flat dish (11) → BOILERPLATE Charade
Join two pieces end to end, 6 and 5 letters long.
9 Across Petty sort mixed up Midlands elm (5,6) → SMALL MINDED Anagram
Rearrange the letters of “Midlands elm”.
12 Across Relabel, as seen in some more tags (5) → RETAG Hidden word
The answer is hidden inside “more tags”.
13 Across Let in - readmit without its leader (5) → ADMIT Deletion
Remove 2 letters from the start of a longer word.
15 Across Political smearing involves dirt and hurling abuse (11) → MUDSLINGING Charade
Join two pieces end to end, 3 and 8 letters long.
18 Across Scorching frying sound followed by warmth (8,3) → SIZZLING HOT Charade
Join two pieces end to end, 8 and 3 letters long.
20 Across Pondered as many unique sentinels emerge, delivering - initially (5) → MUSED Initialism
Take the first letter of each: many, unique, sentinels, emerge, delivering.
21 Across Talked after detach-t gets mixed up (7) → CHATTED Anagram
Rearrange the letters of “detach t”.
Down
1 Down Message hidden in local cable grammar (9) → CABLEGRAM Hidden word
The answer is hidden inside “local cable grammar”.
2 Down Punch - fasten with group (7) → NAILSET Charade
Join two pieces end to end, 4 and 3 letters long.
3 Down Yes, found in abbey episcopal records (3) → YEP Hidden word
The answer is hidden inside “abbey episcopal”.
4 Down Creative thinking from me, wise men, and country (11) → IMAGINATION Charade
Join three pieces end to end, 1, 4 and 6 letters long.
5 Down Pace achieved when deity leaves farewell wish (5) → SPEED Deletion
Remove 3 letters from the start of a longer word.
6 Down Night before every venture ends, initially (3) → EVE Initialism
Take the first letter of each: every, venture, ends.
8 Down Spread the gospel: note, vehicle, jelly, one, and last letter (11) → EVANGELIZED Charade
Join five pieces end to end, 1, 3, 3, 1 and 3 letters long.
10 Down Cloth found in Berlin enacted laws (5) → LINEN Hidden word
The answer is hidden inside “Berlin enacted”.
11 Down Lessened as redact Ted is scrambled (9) → DETRACTED Anagram
Rearrange the letters of “redact Ted”.
14 Down Police photo: fool takes a turn (3,4) → MUG SHOT Charade
Join two pieces end to end, 3 and 4 letters long.
16 Down Furniture items from heartless desktops (5) → DESKS Deletion
Remove 3 letters from the middle of a longer word.
17 Down Vietnam, informally, from man turning back (3) → NAM Reversal
Reverse a run of letters to build the answer, which begins with “N”.
19 Down Resin produced by leaders of local artists' collective (3) → LAC Initialism
Take the first letter of each: local, artists', collective.