Quick crossword No 17,524
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Guardian Quick Crossword Clues
Across
- 1Dirty (6)
- 4Very tiny (6)
- 9Buried city (7)
- 10Capital of Ghana (5)
- 11Sluggishness (5)
- 12Diary (7)
- 13Somnambulist (11)
- 18Pasta twists (7)
- 20Rot (2,3)
- 22Nozzle - pontificate (5)
- 23Source of help via phone (7)
- 24Little shake (6)
- 25Drapes (anag) (6)
Down
- 1Factotum (6)
- 2Emasculate (5)
- 3It's a 'buzz' of activity! (7)
- 5Nasal accent (5)
- 6Bacterium, e.g. (7)
- 7Irritable (6)
- 8Bedroom brawl? (6,5)
- 14Limber (7)
- 15Glow - cheer (5,2)
- 16Counterbalance (6)
- 17Away from usual path - into combat (6)
- 19Draw (5)
- 21Propose - surmise (5)
Crossword clues, hints, and answers
Across
- 1. Dirty (6) — Answer: GRUBBY
- 4. Very tiny (6) — Answer: ATOMIC
- 9. Buried city (7) — Answer: POMPEII
- 10. Capital of Ghana (5) — Answer: ACCRA
- 11. Sluggishness (5) — Answer: ENNUI
- 12. Diary (7) — Answer: LOGBOOK
- 13. Somnambulist (11) — Answer: SLEEPWALKER
- 18. Pasta twists (7) — Answer: FUSILLI
- 20. Rot (2,3) — Answer: GOOFF
- 22. Nozzle - pontificate (5) — Answer: SPOUT
- 23. Source of help via phone (7) — Answer: HOTLINE
- 24. Little shake (6) — Answer: TREMOR
- 25. Drapes (anag) (6) — Answer: SPREAD
Down
- 1. Factotum (6) — Answer: GOPHER
- 2. Emasculate (5) — Answer: UNMAN
- 3. It's a 'buzz' of activity! (7) — Answer: BEEHIVE
- 5. Nasal accent (5) — Answer: TWANG
- 6. Bacterium, e.g. (7) — Answer: MICROBE
- 7. Irritable (6) — Answer: CRANKY
- 8. Bedroom brawl? (6,5) — Answer: PILLOWFIGHT
- 14. Limber (7) — Answer: LISSOME
- 15. Glow - cheer (5,2) — Answer: LIGHTUP
- 16. Counterbalance (6) — Answer: OFFSET
- 17. Away from usual path - into combat (6) — Answer: AFIELD
- 19. Draw (5) — Answer: LOTTO
- 21. Propose - surmise (5) — Answer: OPINE
Looking for today's Guardian Quick Crossword answers? Every across and down solution for today's puzzle — dated July 5, 2026 — is at the top of this page, updated the moment the new grid goes live. The Guardian Quick is a beloved British daily: straightforward one-word definition clues, no cryptic trickery, and a satisfying solve in a few minutes. Whether you're checking a finished grid or stuck on a single clue, the full answers are below.
Today's Guardian Quick answers
Today's solution appears above, split into Across and Down exactly as the puzzle numbers them. Each answer is listed separately, so if you only need one word you can reveal the clue that's blocking you and keep solving the rest. The grid is confirmed and refreshed daily as soon as it's published.
What is the Guardian Quick Crossword?
The Guardian Quick is the newspaper's daily non-cryptic crossword — the gentle counterpart to its famous (and fiendish) cryptic puzzle. Its clues are short, straight definitions rather than wordplay: you're simply matching a definition to a word of the right length. That makes it fast and approachable, a daily favourite for solvers who want a clean puzzle without the mental gymnastics of a cryptic. It's free to play on the Guardian's site and has a devoted following, particularly in the UK.
How the Guardian Quick differs from US puzzles
If you're used to American crosswords, a few things stand out:
| Guardian Quick | US puzzles (NYT / USA Today) | |
|---|---|---|
| Clue style | Straight one-word definitions | More wordplay and themes |
| Spelling | British (COLOUR, CENTRE) | American (COLOR, CENTER) |
| Grid | Often has more black squares | Fully interlocked (fewer blocks) |
| Cryptic sibling | Yes — the Guardian Cryptic | Rare in US dailies |
The British spelling matters when you're checking answers: if a word looks one letter off, the Guardian is almost certainly using the British form. And because the clues are pure definitions, the Guardian Quick is often the easiest of the major dailies to solve outright.
Browse past Guardian Quick answers
Every previous Guardian Quick is archived on this page by date, with its full across and down solutions — handy for checking yesterday's grid or one you set aside. The archive updates automatically each day, so it stays complete without spoiling the current day. Stuck on a single clue, our crossword solver will reveal just that answer.
Browse more puzzles on the crossword solver, or use it to crack any clue from any publication.
Frequently asked questions
What are today's Guardian Quick Crossword answers?
Every across and down answer for today's puzzle (July 5, 2026) is listed at the top of this page, updated as soon as it's released.
Is the Guardian Quick a cryptic crossword?
No — the Quick uses straight, one-word definition clues. The Guardian's cryptic crossword is a separate, much trickier puzzle.
Why do some answers use British spelling?
The Guardian is a British paper, so answers follow British spelling conventions (COLOUR, CENTRE, and so on) — worth remembering when a word looks a letter off.
Where can I find past Guardian Quick answers?
Every previous puzzle is in the archive on this page, listed by date with full solutions, updated automatically each day.