Psychological barrier (6,5)
Latest answer — August 12, 2026
18 Across
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Clue decoded
A MENTAL BLOCK is a psychological barrier that prevents someone from thinking clearly or progressing. The two-word phrase is entered without its space.
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- Definition
Guardian Quick Crossword
This clue's Wednesday, August 12, 2026 appearance
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Crossword clues, hints, and answers
Across
- 5. Adulation (4-7) — Answer: HEROWORSHIP. Hint: This kind of praise treats someone like a legend. 🌟
- 7. Play thing? - rugby forward (4) — Answer: PROP. Hint: Think of a stage-supporting object that also names a front-row rugby player. 🏉
- 8. Reserve - space (8) — Answer: DISTANCE. Hint: Think of the gap you keep between yourself and someone else. 📏
- 9. ____ Fennell, English actor and filmmaker - Mr. Adele (anag) (7) — Answer: EMERALD. Hint: Think of the first name of the English actor and filmmaker who wrote and directed Promising Young Woman. 🎬
- 11. Not precise (5) — Answer: VAGUE. Hint: When details are fuzzy rather than exact, this word fits. 🌫️
- 13. Intense (5) — Answer: ACUTE. Hint: Describes something extremely severe or sharply felt. 🔥
- 14. Source of the National Trust's logo (3,4) — Answer: OAKTREE. Hint: Think of the sturdy tree featured in the National Trust emblem 🌳
- 16. Ran slowly (8) — Answer: TRICKLED. Hint: Moved at a gentle, unhurried pace, like water from a leaky tap. 💧
- 17. Put a coin in here (4) — Answer: SLOT. Hint: A vending machine opening awaits your coin. 🪙
- 18. Psychological barrier (6,5) — Answer: MENTALBLOCK. Hint: A thought-based obstacle that can keep you from moving forward. 🧠
Down
- 1. Give up (an idea) or mention (a name) (4) — Answer: DROP. Hint: You might do this to an idea you no longer support or to a name in conversation. 💡
- 2. This makes no sense (7) — Answer: TWADDLE. Hint: This describes silly, meaningless talk or writing. 🤪
- 3. Bit of fried potato (5) — Answer: CRISP. Hint: A crunchy, golden morsel fresh from the fryer might be described this way. 🍟
- 4. Long-tailed (when male) game bird (8) — Answer: PHEASANT. Hint: Think of a colorful game bird whose male sports an impressively long tail 🐦
- 5. Irresponsible, haphazard (5-6) — Answer: HARUMSCARUM. Hint: Think of a playful phrase describing behavior that is wildly careless and disorganized. 🎲
- 6. Illustrated publication (7,4) — Answer: PICTUREBOOK. Hint: A publication where images do most of the storytelling, often enjoyed by children 📚
- 10. Unforthcoming (8) — Answer: RETICENT. Hint: Describes someone who keeps their thoughts and feelings to themselves 🤐
- 12. Money owed that's unlikely to be repaid (3,4) — Answer: BADDEBT. Hint: A creditor may write this off when repayment seems like a fantasy. 💸
- 15. Delight in another's misfortune - or one's own success (5) — Answer: GLOAT. Hint: Take smug pleasure in a rival’s setback—or proudly savor your own triumph 😏
- 17. One's hard-going - or hard work (4) — Answer: SLOG. Hint: Think of a tiring, laborious effort that feels like a real trek. 🥵
Recent Guardian Quick Answers
The last 7 days of solutions
The answer to “Psychological barrier (6,5)” in the The Guardian Quick crossword is MENTALBLOCK — a 11-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Guardian Quick crossword on August 12, 2026, a Wednesday puzzle, at 18-Across. Below you'll find why that fill fits, every other answer we've recorded for this clue, and links into the puzzle it came from.
“Psychological barrier (6,5)” answer
MENTALBLOCK (11 letters)
Reveal the solution one letter at a time with the tiles above if you'd rather nudge yourself toward it than see the whole word at once. Just want it outright? The answer is MENTALBLOCK.
When else has “Psychological barrier (6,5)” appeared?
The Guardian Quick reuses clues across dates, sometimes with a different answer depending on the grid. Here's where this exact clue has shown up, and what the answer was each time — handy when you're checking whether today's fill is the only one.
August 12, 2026 (most recent) → MENTALBLOCK. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.
More clues from the Guardian Quick Crossword on August 12, 2026
Stuck elsewhere in the grid? Here are some of the crossing and nearby clues from the same puzzle — tap any for its answer and explanation.
- Irresponsible, haphazard (5-6) → HARUMSCARUM
- Illustrated publication (7,4) → PICTUREBOOK
- Unforthcoming (8) → RETICENT
- Money owed that's unlikely to be repaid (3,4) → BADDEBT
- Delight in another's misfortune - or one's own success (5) → GLOAT
- One's hard-going - or hard work (4) → SLOG
- Put a coin in here (4) → SLOT
- Ran slowly (8) → TRICKLED
Want every clue in one place? The full The Guardian Quick answer list for August 12, 2026 is on that day's grid page, and today's live Guardian Quick answers are always one tap from the today page.
About the Guardian Quick Crossword
The Guardian Quick Crossword is a British straight-definition daily (typically around 13×13) — no cryptic wordplay, just clean definitions and abbreviations. This page covers a Wednesday puzzle. Because answers favour common UK vocabulary and short fill, seeing a confirmation once makes the next appearance easy to spot.
Frequently asked questions
What is the answer to “Psychological barrier (6,5)”?
The answer is MENTALBLOCK, a 11-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Guardian Quick crossword on August 12, 2026.
How many letters is the answer to “Psychological barrier (6,5)”?
11 letters: MENTALBLOCK.
When did this clue appear?
Most recently in the The Guardian Quick crossword on August 12, 2026 (a Wednesday puzzle), at 18-Across.
Can “Psychological barrier (6,5)” have a different answer?
Yes — The Guardian Quick sometimes reuses a clue with a different solution to fit the grid. The answers we've recorded for each date it appeared are listed above when available.
Where can I find the rest of this day's Guardian Quick answers?
The full grid for August 12, 2026 is on the Guardian Quick answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.
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