Pardon former copper before Senate evacuated

Latest answer — September 18, 2026

22 Across

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Clue explained

EXCUSE means pardon. It consists of EX, former, CU, the chemical abbreviation for copper, and SE, the outside letters of SenatE after the interior has been evacuated.

Clue type:
Abbreviation
A formal gesture or document conveying an apology or pardon.

Times Quick Cryptic Crossword

This clue's Friday, September 18, 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. 1City hospital that has its own church
  2. 4Small clubs turn and move around display
  3. 8Got together around post office for speed
  4. 9Legendary woman Mike and I dream about
  5. 10Wingless biting insects in meadow
  6. 11Moroccan and Argentine dancing
  7. 12Politicians mostly acknowledge Poles
  8. 13Head of Euro Millions bagging £25 in Peterlee?
  9. 16Meeting involving church’s withdrawal
  10. 18Organised funding for study having dropped case
  11. 19Provide weapons for group, and safety equipment
  12. 20Regularly envy Andrew’s escape
  13. 22Pardon former copper before Senate evacuated
  14. 23Auditor’s immediately in crisis

Down

  1. 1Pan lid upside-down
  2. 2Search odd magazine at back of store
  3. 3Filming celebrities’ heavenly bodies
  4. 5Journalist, or similar
  5. 6Nationality of some womanisers …
  6. 7… one of whom mad aliens fancy
  7. 9A lot of people like neck hair?
  8. 10Support is overdue to pass laws
  9. 14A peaceful state, Iran somehow restricting vehicle for transporting goods
  10. 15Rear female deer
  11. 17Funny man caught Greek character ignoring Ron
  12. 21Consume flesh, but start to be shunned

The answer to “Pardon former copper before Senate evacuated” in the The Times Quick Cryptic crossword is EXCUSE — a 6-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Times Quick Cryptic crossword on September 18, 2026, a Friday puzzle, at 22-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.

“Pardon former copper before Senate evacuated” answer

EXCUSE (6 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 EXCUSE.

What does EXCUSE mean?

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

(verb)

  • seek to lessen the blame attaching to (a fault or offence); try to justify
  • release (someone) from a duty or requirement

When else has “Pardon former copper before Senate evacuated” appeared?

The Times Quick 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 18, 2026 (most recent) → EXCUSE. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Pardon former copper before Senate evacuated”?

The answer is EXCUSE, a 6-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Times Quick Cryptic crossword on September 18, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Pardon former copper before Senate evacuated”?

6 letters: EXCUSE.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the The Times Quick Cryptic crossword on September 18, 2026 (a Friday puzzle), at 22-Across.

Can “Pardon former copper before Senate evacuated” have a different answer?

Yes — The Times Quick 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 Quick Cryptic answers?

The full grid for September 18, 2026 is on the Times Quick Cryptic answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

The Times Quick 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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