Decryptic #19 - 16th July 2026
Solution & wordplay explained · Published 16 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
1A
L
A
R
2M
3S
H
4E
L
5L
A
6C
N
A
P
X
A
U
7A
U
8T
O
G
R
A
P
H
9W
A
P
R
M
U
A
B
10R
E
E
N
A
C
11T
12M
I
N
C
E
E
N
I
E
D
A
D
13C
O
14M
E
A
N
D
G
O
R
E
H
A
R
R
E
15V
I
A
L
S
16A
S
17U
N
D
E
R
E
N
C
N
E
18L
E
T
19A
D
20I
N
T
E
R
I
21M
O
L
R
N
I
A
22P
A
Y
B
A
C
K
23E
R
R
E
D
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Across
1 Across Warning from a marl deposit, disturbed (5) → ALARM Anagram
Rearrange the letters of “a marl”.
3 Across Lacquer concealed in she'll act convincingly (7) → SHELLAC Hidden word
The answer is hidden inside “she'll act”.
7 Across Car diagram — celebrity's signature (9) → AUTOGRAPH Charade
Join two pieces end to end, 4 and 5 letters long.
9 Across Mobile protocol from paw sent back (3) → WAP Reversal
Reverse a run of letters to build the answer, which begins with “W”.
10 Across Perform again — chemical response surrounding printer's unit (7) → REENACT Container
Put a 2-letter run inside a 5-letter word.
12 Across Chopped meat from grinder, trimmed (5) → MINCE Deletion
Remove 1 letter from the end of a longer word.
13 Across Be transient, as found in income and goods distribution (4,3,2) → COME AND GO Hidden word
The answer is hidden inside “income and goods”.
15 Across Bottles, primarily from very impressive ancient laboratory samples (5) → VIALS Initialism
Take the first letter of each: very, impressive, ancient, laboratory, samples.
16 Across Nursed a broken limb apart (7) → ASUNDER Anagram
Rearrange the letters of “nursed a”.
18 Across Obstruction found in sole trader arrangement (3) → LET Hidden word
The answer is hidden inside “sole trader”.
19 Across Temporarily filling in: admire tin, mixed up (2,7) → AD INTERIM Anagram
Rearrange the letters of “admire tin”.
22 Across Reimburse by a pack, rearranged (3,4) → PAY BACK Anagram
Rearrange the letters of “by a pack”.
23 Across Went wrong - spotted in some beer, red-faced (5) → ERRED Hidden word
The answer is hidden inside “beer red”.
Down
1 Down Collection of quotes: article before a note (3) → ANA Charade
Join two pieces end to end, 2 and 1 letters long.
2 Down Molten rock from gamma rearranged (5) → MAGMA Anagram
Rearrange the letters of “gamma”.
3 Down Health resort for small dad (3) → SPA Charade
Join two pieces end to end, 1 and 2 letters long.
4 Down Former philosopher, five hundred - dug up (7) → EXHUMED Charade
Join three pieces end to end, 2, 4 and 1 letters long.
5 Down Discipline? Warlord Dean scrambled (3,3,5) → LAW AND ORDER Anagram
Rearrange the letters of “warlord Dean”.
6 Down Server at a feast scrambles pure brace (9) → CUPBEARER Anagram
Rearrange the letters of “pure brace”.
8 Down Chantry lent out, redesigned sharply (11) → TRENCHANTLY Anagram
Rearrange the letters of “CHANTRYLENT”.
10 Down Improve the area with a loved peer somehow rearranged (9) → REDEVELOP Anagram
Rearrange the letters of “loved peer”.
11 Down Crown with one embraced by ancient Irish hill (5) → TIARA Container
Put a 1-letter run inside a 4-letter word.
14 Down Mother finds a mark, a cosmetic for lashes (7) → MASCARA Charade
Join three pieces end to end, 2, 4 and 1 letters long.
17 Down Free a captive, almost tied up (5) → UNTIE Deletion
Remove 1 letter from the end of a longer word.
20 Down Writing fluid, initially in nature's keeping (3) → INK Initialism
Take the first letter of each: in, nature's, keeping.
21 Down Crazy barrier recalled (3) → MAD Reversal
Reverse a run of letters to build the answer, which begins with “M”.