Decryptic #33 - 30th July 2026
Solution & wordplay explained · Published 30 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
1H
A
2R
R
3U
M
4P
H
5S
6T
I
7E
E
E
N
E
H
I
A
8W
H
E
L
P
9C
A
R
E
F
O
R
N
E
I
F
L
10L
11A
N
G
I
12O
P
L
A
S
T
Y
A
C
F
L
B
13M
O
T
14J
I
F
F
Y
15A
N
I
E
E
E
N
R
16B
I
17O
F
E
E
D
B
18A
C
K
D
R
O
R
S
U
19A
T
H
E
I
S
20T
21P
O
S
E
22S
I
E
N
W
I
E
O
23N
O
D
24G
E
A
R
C
A
S
E
S
Advertisement
Across
1 Across Complains loudly about harsh rump, cooked (9) → HARRUMPHS Anagram
Rearrange the letters of “harsh rump”.
6 Across Part of satiety involves a draw (3) → TIE Hidden word
The answer is hidden inside “satiety”.
8 Across West wants aid, producing a pup (5) → WHELP Charade
Join two pieces end to end, 1 and 4 letters long.
9 Across Look after a ref caught between calcium and a choice (4,3) → CARE FOR Container
Put a 3-letter run inside a 4-letter word.
11 Across Vessel-widening procedure obtained by playing so at, oddly (11) → ANGIOPLASTY Anagram
Rearrange the letters of “playing so at”.
13 Across Many old tunes, initially, form a witty saying (3) → MOT Initialism
Take the first letter of each: Many, old, tunes.
14 Across Doubtful about a joule in a moment (5) → JIFFY Charade
Join two pieces end to end, 1 and 4 letters long.
15 Across Article followed by myself, a tropical bird (3) → ANI Charade
Join two pieces end to end, 2 and 1 letters long.
16 Across Life-based nourishment support system used in therapy (11) → BIOFEEDBACK Charade
Join three pieces end to end, 3, 4 and 4 letters long.
19 Across Sit heat oddly, like one denying God (7) → ATHEIST Anagram
Rearrange the letters of “sit heat”.
21 Across Typo sessions reveal awkward stances (5) → POSES Hidden word
The answer is hidden inside “typo sessions”.
23 Across Professor returning offers a slight bow (3) → NOD Reversal
Reverse a run of letters to build the answer, which begins with “N”.
24 Across Kit boxes are engine housings (9) → GEARCASES Charade
Join two pieces end to end, 4 and 5 letters long.
Down
1 Down Horse eats wheat, initially, to chop (3) → HEW Initialism
Take the first letter of each: Horse, Eats, Wheat.
2 Down Respond, holding a printer's space, to restage (7) → REENACT Container
Put a 2-letter run inside a 5-letter word.
3 Down Not fixed to a wooden pin, set free (5) → UNPEG Charade
Join two pieces end to end, 2 and 3 letters long.
4 Down Muscle found within special effects team (3) → PEC Hidden word
The answer is hidden inside “special”.
5 Down Quiet, by a small stream, with unknown quantity, piercingly (7) → SHRILLY Charade
Join three pieces end to end, 2, 4 and 1 letters long.
6 Down Stiff, rearranged, causes minor quarrels (5) → TIFFS Anagram
Rearrange the letters of “stiff”.
7 Down Part of a yearly birdcage check, worm-catcher? (5,4) → EARLY BIRD Hidden word
The answer is hidden inside “yearly birdcage”.
10 Down Disabled mastermind turns out to be a fool (9) → LAMEBRAIN Charade
Join two pieces end to end, 4 and 5 letters long.
12 Down Reference book grasping loud passage, killed (5) → OFFED Container
Put a 2-letter run inside a 3-letter word.
14 Down Scoffing and booing, both taunting (7) → JEERING Double definition
Look for two different meanings of the same word.
15 Down Smelly practices, start removed, are elephant goads (7) → ANKUSES Deletion
Remove 1 letter from the start of a longer word.
17 Down Old owl hunts every deer initially, exclaiming wonder (5) → OOHED Initialism
Take the first letter of each: Old, Owl, Hunts, Every, Deer.
18 Down Jelly found within clasp icons (5) → ASPIC Hidden word
The answer is hidden inside “clasp icons”.
20 Down Thanks, holding a watt, defunct airline (3) → TWA Container
Put a 1-letter run inside a 2-letter word.
22 Down This ostrich hides a call for help (3) → SOS Hidden word
The answer is hidden inside “this ostrich”.