Decryptic #26 - 23rd July 2026
Solution & wordplay explained · Published 23 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
1S
E
2T
U
3P
S
4H
O
P
5A
I
6R
H
H
E
N
A
7P
O
I
8A
T
R
O
9P
H
I
E
D
I
T
R
A
M
I
G
10H
U
M
A
11N
D
Y
N
A
M
O
E
E
A
A
I
L
O
12R
O
C
K
C
A
N
D
13Y
O
N
I
H
G
I
G
14H
O
15R
N
S
W
O
G
G
L
E
I
O
E
T
U
L
S
16L
I
F
E
S
T
17Y
L
E
18D
I
T
E
E
O
S
E
19S
I
R
20C
O
U
N
T
E
D
O
N
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Across
1 Across Establish a business when hops upset (3,2,4) → SET UP SHOP Anagram
Rearrange the letters of “hops upset”.
5 Across Atmosphere concealed in armchair (3) → AIR Hidden word
The answer is hidden inside “armchair”.
7 Across Hawaiian dish hides in spoiled food (3) → POI Hidden word
The answer is hidden inside “spoiled”.
8 Across Wasted away, as hot diaper oddly arranged (9) → ATROPHIED Anagram
Rearrange the letters of “hot diaper”.
10 Across Live wire, or a real ball of fire (5,6) → HUMAN DYNAMO Double definition
Look for two different meanings of the same word.
12 Across Cranky cod transformed into a classic sugary treat (4,5) → ROCK CANDY Anagram
Rearrange the letters of “cranky cod”.
14 Across Swindle involving brass and a scout's ring (11) → HORNSWOGGLE Charade
Join two pieces end to end, 5 and 6 letters long.
16 Across Existence with flair, the way one lives (9) → LIFESTYLE Charade
Join two pieces end to end, 4 and 5 letters long.
18 Across Dogs In Traffic initially made a short Morse signal (3) → DIT Initialism
Take the first letter of each: Dogs, In, Traffic.
19 Across Respectful title hidden in this irony (3) → SIR Hidden word
The answer is hidden inside “this irony”.
20 Across Relied upon, duct on one oddly rearranged (7,2) → COUNTED ON Anagram
Rearrange the letters of “duct on one”.
Down
2 Down To that place, time added to here (7) → THITHER Charade
Join two pieces end to end, 1 and 6 letters long.
3 Down Chaps at rims, all shaken up, dispense the drugs (11) → PHARMACISTS Anagram
Rearrange the letters of “chaps at rims”.
4 Down Hydrogen followed by hesitation, belonging to the woman (3) → HER Charade
Join two pieces end to end, 1 and 2 letters long.
5 Down Endless animal shows inner self (5) → ANIMA Deletion
Remove 1 letter from the end of a longer word.
6 Down Digital roos, all mixed up, become an imaging expert (11) → RADIOLOGIST Anagram
Rearrange the letters of “digital roos”.
7 Down Categorizes, or small compartments (11) → PIGEONHOLES Double definition
Look for two different meanings of the same word.
9 Down Disturbed by a gusty page in, describes a rent-paying lodger (6,5) → PAYING GUEST Anagram
Rearrange the letters of “gusty page in”.
11 Down Tex-Mex snack: Nice Aromatic Cheese Heats Oven, initially (5) → NACHO Initialism
Take the first letter of each: Nice, Aromatic, Cheese, Heats, Oven.
13 Down Gave in, as found within yield eddies (7) → YIELDED Hidden word
The answer is hidden inside “yield eddies”.
15 Down Official's hesitation when directing a case elsewhere (5) → REFER Charade
Join two pieces end to end, 3 and 2 letters long.
17 Down Female sheep, we hear, addressed directly (3) → YOU Homophone
The answer sounds like “ewe”.