Render topless boyfriend, maybe retaining speed about it

Latest answer — August 20, 2026

13 Down

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Clue explained

DECAPITATE means render headless or behead. The ending comes from DATE, meaning a boyfriend perhaps, made topless as ATE; the remaining middle is supplied by P, “speed” in the drug sense, enclosed by IT, with the surrounding “about” components producing DECA. The answer is a verb.

Clue type:
Word form
A stark silhouette warning graphic depicting decapitation

Times Cryptic Crossword

This clue's Thursday, August 20, 2026 appearance

Tap a square to reveal a letter.

Or reveal one clue at a time with the Hint and Answer buttons below.

Across

  1. 1On the counter, it’s cutting through dirt?
  2. 5Pop star Simon admits, finally, Garfunkel wrote in a distinct way
  3. 9Stop being humble after abandoning second island country
  4. 10Relative Strangers employing Baranski ultimately for body
  5. 11This clue is featured in channel eventually
  6. 12Plump one is repeatedly clinging to society for positivity
  7. 14Tube driver perhaps ruined station in a rage
  8. 17Failing to read ahead in agreement?
  9. 21Hero said to adjust former state
  10. 23Make unpleasant fruit fancy on the outside
  11. 25Rabbit periodically ignored grass
  12. 26Who introduces Mike and Daisy after perfectly introducing son?
  13. 27Offend one following tense row
  14. 28Cod sandwich shop informally closing

Down

  1. 1Shuffle diamonds, with more out there
  2. 2Dubious unique selling point adopted by religious group
  3. 3Travel from place to place, furious about something of a fork
  4. 4Lecher caught hugging American
  5. 5Characters from Greece and America taking in someone sitting with an ape
  6. 6Lack of interest continues somehow to overlook terrible cost
  7. 7Composer almost climbed biblical mount, losing acceleration
  8. 8English newspaper of yore originally erected American national park
  9. 13Render topless boyfriend, maybe retaining speed about it
  10. 15Oscar phoned employee of publisher, missing cover’s drink
  11. 16Certainly mean to carry Australian creature away from the south
  12. 18Measure around outside of uniform’s pocket
  13. 19Earl unfortunately let slip cutting line in letter
  14. 20Cross as your old and new wife stripped together
  15. 22New partner no longer mounted paintings?
  16. 24High shot of centre stage

The answer to “Render topless boyfriend, maybe retaining speed about it” in the The Times Cryptic crossword is DECAPITATE — a 10-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Times Cryptic crossword on August 20, 2026, a Thursday puzzle, at 13-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.

“Render topless boyfriend, maybe retaining speed about it” answer

DECAPITATE (10 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 DECAPITATE.

What does DECAPITATE mean?

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

(verb)

  • cut off the head of (someone)

When else has “Render topless boyfriend, maybe retaining speed about it” 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 20, 2026 (most recent) → DECAPITATE. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Render topless boyfriend, maybe retaining speed about it”?

The answer is DECAPITATE, a 10-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Times Cryptic crossword on August 20, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Render topless boyfriend, maybe retaining speed about it”?

10 letters: DECAPITATE.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the The Times Cryptic crossword on August 20, 2026 (a Thursday puzzle), at 13-Down.

Can “Render topless boyfriend, maybe retaining speed about it” 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 20, 2026 is on the Times Cryptic answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

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

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