Most severe back issue resists treatment ultimately

Latest answer — September 28, 2026

9 Down

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Clue explained

STERNEST is the superlative form meaning “most severe”. It combines STERN, meaning the back of a vessel, with the superlative ending EST; “issue” provides the linking sense of the rear or back.

Clue type:
Word form
The stern, or rear, of a ship.

Telegraph Cryptic Crossword

This clue's Monday, September 28, 2026 appearance

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Across

  1. 1Short, giant, bizarre funfair attraction
  2. 6Begin to wake in prison
  3. 10Scoundrel with Irish accent losing face
  4. 11Dramatic beginning to grip learner
  5. 12Union flyer too rambling? Never!
  6. 14That man on vacation caught Oscar looking embarrassed and tormented
  7. 16On reflection, somewhat extol remarkable wine
  8. 18Insists upon laws following English vote
  9. 20Doctor points to somewhere you can expectorate
  10. 22Surprisingly win draught ale for relative
  11. 26Notice vehicle regularly that goes for profit
  12. 27Country right next to Russian river
  13. 28Nobleman contracted ahead of time
  14. 29Left Londoners worried for military hero

Down

  1. 1Chat about queen's dress
  2. 2Periodical in charge of Nature
  3. 3Article on extremely flagrant crime
  4. 4Hired guards seen occasionally felt bitter
  5. 5State what to say at the altar about a husband
  6. 7Unimportant court case imprisoning four
  7. 8Feeling sorry about river bird with metal leg in the end
  8. 9Most severe back issue resists treatment ultimately
  9. 13Hackneyed letters from Elizabeth read, bar endings
  10. 15Renovated house not surpassed
  11. 17Nurse with cracked lips, at first, damaged bit of hair
  12. 19Trembling, answer first couple of questions – this person's right
  13. 21Where hospital patients might be found at a point ahead
  14. 23Drug cheat with love for inspirational woman
  15. 24Big canal boat having left for capital of Bahrain
  16. 25Most of aircraft blueprint

The answer to “Most severe back issue resists treatment ultimately” in the The Telegraph Cryptic crossword is STERNEST — a 8-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Telegraph Cryptic crossword on September 28, 2026, a Monday puzzle, at 9-Down. 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.

“Most severe back issue resists treatment ultimately” answer

STERNEST (8 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 STERNEST.

What does STERNEST mean?

Reading the plain dictionary sense of STERNEST is often the fastest way to see why it answers this clue.

(adjective)

  • (of a person or their manner) serious and unrelenting, especially in asserting authority or exercising discipline
  • (of competition or opposition) putting someone or something under extreme pressure

When else has “Most severe back issue resists treatment ultimately” appeared?

The Telegraph Cryptic 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.

September 28, 2026 (most recent) → STERNEST. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Most severe back issue resists treatment ultimately”?

The answer is STERNEST, a 8-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Telegraph Cryptic crossword on September 28, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Most severe back issue resists treatment ultimately”?

8 letters: STERNEST.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the The Telegraph Cryptic crossword on September 28, 2026 (a Monday puzzle), at 9-Down.

Can “Most severe back issue resists treatment ultimately” have a different answer?

Yes — The Telegraph Cryptic 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 Telegraph Cryptic answers?

The full grid for September 28, 2026 is on the Telegraph Cryptic answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

The Telegraph Cryptic Crossword is published by The Telegraph; WordHint is an independent site and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the publisher.

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