Leader of Russia set about a religious adherent

Latest answer — August 03, 2026

6 Across

Think of a Jamaican religious follower closely associated with reggae and dreadlocks. 🎶

Scroll down for rest of crossword answers

Times Cryptic Crossword

This clue's Monday, August 03, 2026 appearance

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Across

  1. 1Exclusive phenomenon in school with drug problem?
  2. 6Leader of Russia set about a religious adherent
  3. 9Simple argument ignored by litigant
  4. 10Refuse pile of cash forged with paper
  5. 11Aristotle unsure about high-stakes game
  6. 13Founder of company drinks, we hear
  7. 14Advice to acrobat parting with one dog?
  8. 16Embarrassed to secure victory, prepare to play again?
  9. 18Encouraged her detox breaks
  10. 21Show herald checking boat motor for Prince of Wales, perhaps
  11. 23Warnings on course to stop creature in national park
  12. 25Finish off second young boxer, for example
  13. 26Agent turning back to bury note in battlefield
  14. 27Sang to plug quiet houses close to Oxford

Down

  1. 1Excitable letters from wealthy person
  2. 2Artisan back from calling girl on phone
  3. 3Lingo in American bar
  4. 4Criminal boy is breaking paintings, say
  5. 5She reduced space for drug supplier
  6. 6Check on regular beat
  7. 7Take action against tribe’s broadcast
  8. 8Perceive collar
  9. 12Drunk lost footing, striking leader’s mum
  10. 13Aren’t City developing confidence?
  11. 15Will individual suit and uniform spoil climbing?
  12. 17Anxious over sun exploding
  13. 19One rowing with old guy supporting Arsenal’s front three
  14. 20Supporters skipping starter for dessert
  15. 22Surprise attack captures head of Persian fleet
  16. 24Conscious after being shelled in combat

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Across

  1. 1. Exclusive phenomenon in school with drug problem? — Answer: HIGHCLASS. Hint: Think of an elite school facing a narcotic problem. 🏫
  2. 6. Leader of Russia set about a religious adherent — Answer: RASTA. Hint: Think of a Jamaican religious follower closely associated with reggae and dreadlocks. 🎶
  3. 9. Simple argument ignored by litigant — Answer: PLAIN. Hint: Think of something clear, uncomplicated, and easy to understand. 🙂
  4. 10. Refuse pile of cash forged with paper — Answer: SCRAPHEAP. Hint: Picture a messy heap where discarded odds and ends are tossed away. 🗑️
  5. 11. Aristotle unsure about high-stakes game — Answer: RUSSIANROULETTE. Hint: Think of a deadly game of chance where a spinning chamber makes every turn nerve-racking. 🎲
  6. 13. Founder of company drinks, we hear — Answer: COLLAPSE. Hint: Listen for a sound-alike phrase where a business founder and beverages point to something falling in on itself. 🥂
  7. 14. Advice to acrobat parting with one dog? — Answer: BEAGLE. Hint: Look for gymnastic advice that becomes a dog breed when “one” departs. 🐕
  8. 16. Embarrassed to secure victory, prepare to play again? — Answer: REWIND. Hint: Think of the button you’d press to go back before an awkward moment and try the scene again. 🔄
  9. 18. Encouraged her detox breaks — Answer: EXHORTED. Hint: Think of a forceful synonym for encouraged, meaning urged strongly. 💪
  10. 21. Show herald checking boat motor for Prince of Wales, perhaps — Answer: AIRCRAFTCARRIER. Hint: Think of a massive naval vessel designed to launch and recover military planes. ⚓
  11. 23. Warnings on course to stop creature in national park — Answer: NEWFOREST. Hint: Picture a famous Hampshire woodland known for its ponies and ancient trees. 🌳
  12. 25. Finish off second young boxer, for example — Answer: MOPUP. Hint: Think of a phrase meaning to completely finish what remains after the main work is done. 🧹
  13. 26. Agent turning back to bury note in battlefield — Answer: YPRES. Hint: Think of a Belgian town etched into the history of World War I’s muddy battlefields. ⚔️
  14. 27. Sang to plug quiet houses close to Oxford — Answer: SERENADED. Hint: Imagine a tender song performed for someone, with “quiet” and “plug” helping assemble the word. 🎵

Down

  1. 1. Excitable letters from wealthy person — Answer: HYPER. Hint: Think of a word describing someone intensely energetic or easily excited. ⚡
  2. 2. Artisan back from calling girl on phone — Answer: GLASSBLOWER. Hint: Think of a craftsperson who shapes molten material into delicate, transparent creations. 🔥
  3. 3. Lingo in American bar — Answer: CANTINA. Hint: Picture a casual American bar with a distinctly Spanish-sounding name. 🍻
  4. 4. Criminal boy is breaking paintings, say — Answer: ARSONIST. Hint: Think of a criminal whose signature offense involves setting things ablaze. 🔥
  5. 5. She reduced space for drug supplier — Answer: SHROOM. Hint: Think of a slang term for a psychedelic fungus, with the wording offering a playful disguise 🍄
  6. 6. Check on regular beat — Answer: REPULSE. Hint: Think of a forceful way to reject or drive something back. 🛑
  7. 7. Take action against tribe’s broadcast — Answer: SUE. Hint: Think of a legal move against someone that sounds like a Native American tribe’s name when spoken aloud. ⚖️
  8. 8. Perceive collar — Answer: APPREHEND. Hint: This verb can mean both grasping an idea and taking someone into custody. 🚓
  9. 12. Drunk lost footing, striking leader’s mum — Answer: TIGHTLIPPED. Hint: Think of someone staying very quiet—the clue’s “mum” points to the definition. 🤫
  10. 13. Aren’t City developing confidence? — Answer: CERTAINTY. Hint: It’s the feeling of being completely sure, with no doubts creeping in. 🎯
  11. 15. Will individual suit and uniform spoil climbing? — Answer: EXECUTOR. Hint: Look for the person legally charged with carrying out someone’s will. ⚖️
  12. 17. Anxious over sun exploding — Answer: NERVOUS. Hint: Think of the uneasy feeling you might have while worrying that the sun could explode. ☀️
  13. 19. One rowing with old guy supporting Arsenal’s front three — Answer: OARSMAN. Hint: Picture the person propelling a boat, with a vintage fellow tucked under Arsenal’s opening trio. 🚣
  14. 20. Supporters skipping starter for dessert — Answer: AFTERS. Hint: Think of a sweet course, with the wordplay involving something that supports a roof. 🍰
  15. 22. Surprise attack captures head of Persian fleet — Answer: RAPID. Hint: Think of a sudden assault transformed by a Persian leader into something swift. ⚡
  16. 24. Conscious after being shelled in combat — Answer: WAR. Hint: Think of a word meaning conscious after its outer shell is removed, with a battlefield twist 🪖

The answer to “Leader of Russia set about a religious adherent” in the The Times Cryptic crossword is RASTA — a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Times Cryptic crossword on August 3, 2026, a Monday puzzle, at 6-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.

“Leader of Russia set about a religious adherent” answer

RASTA (5 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 RASTA.

Why the answer is RASTA

Think of a Jamaican religious follower closely associated with reggae and dreadlocks. 🎶

When else has “Leader of Russia set about a religious adherent” appeared?

The Times 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.

August 3, 2026 (most recent) → RASTA. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

More clues from the Times Cryptic Crossword on August 3, 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.

Want every clue in one place? The full The Times Cryptic answer list for August 3, 2026 is on that day's grid page, and today's live Times Cryptic answers are always one tap from the today page.

About the Times Cryptic Crossword

The Times Cryptic Crossword has been The Times' flagship daily since 1 February 1930, when farmer and writer Adrian Bell set Crossword No. 1 after ten days' notice. It is a 15×15 of fair British cryptic wordplay — every clue has a definition plus a second layer (anagram, charade, double definition, and so on) — with traditionally anonymous setters. This page covers a Monday puzzle. Many solvers find later weekdays tougher than Monday even without an official difficulty ladder; confirming one long answer usually opens the crossings around it.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Leader of Russia set about a religious adherent”?

The answer is RASTA, a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Times Cryptic crossword on August 3, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Leader of Russia set about a religious adherent”?

5 letters: RASTA.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the The Times Cryptic crossword on August 3, 2026 (a Monday puzzle), at 6-Across.

Can “Leader of Russia set about a religious adherent” have a different answer?

Yes — The Times 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 Times Cryptic answers?

The full grid for August 3, 2026 is on the Times Cryptic answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

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