Times Cryptic Crossword Answers Today
Times Cryptic No 29651
Across
Down
Looking for today's Times Cryptic Crossword answers? Every across and down solution for today's puzzle — dated September 18, 2026 — is at the top of this page, updated as soon as The Times releases it. The Times Cryptic has been the paper's flagship daily since 1 February 1930, when Adrian Bell set Crossword No. 1: a 15×15 of fair cryptic wordplay with anonymous setters, still the gold standard of the British cryptic. Whether you're checking a finished grid or stuck on a single clue, the full answers are below.
Full Times Cryptic Crossword answer list for today
Every clue from today's grid next to its solution — the same answers as the board above, in one plain list you can scan without tapping.
Across
| # | Clue | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Italian drinking with assistant | NUMBERTWO |
| 8 | First-class setter beginning to take plunge | PLUMMET |
| 10 | Hide scam with proof of authenticity for auditor | CONCEAL |
| 11 | Eighty winks? An indefinite number? Thirteen? | LONGDOZEN |
| 12 | Deny Nick in London has lost weight | NEGATE |
| 15 | Phoebe’s granddaughter uncovered difficult Times cryptic | ARTEMIS |
| 16 | Designer’s outlay? I’m not sure that is right | COSTUMIER |
| 19 | Dialect in Barking is exactly the same | IDENTICAL |
| 20 | Maybe Trump snubbed new tanning agent | MELANIN |
| 22 | Label unknown spirit | BRANDY |
| 23 | Athenian statesman in capital, powerless to lead trends | ARISTIDES |
| 25 | City’s fashionable past | CHICAGO |
| 27 | Watery discharge contains nickel and another metal | RHENIUM |
| 28 | Soldier on a grave | PERSEVERE |
Down
Today's Times Cryptic answers
Today's full solution appears above, organised into Across and Down exactly as the puzzle numbers them. If you only need one answer, each is listed separately so you can reveal the clue that's blocking you and keep solving the rest. The grid is confirmed and refreshed daily as soon as The Times publishes it on Times Puzzles.
About the Times Cryptic Crossword
The Times Cryptic has run since 1 February 1930, when farmer and writer Adrian Bell set Crossword No. 1 after just ten days' notice — he had never compiled a crossword before, and went on to produce nearly 5,000 for the paper. It became the gold standard of the British cryptic: a 15×15 grid, fair clueing (every clue has a definition plus wordplay), and a tradition of anonymous setters so the battle is between you and the puzzle, not a named byline. A Times subscription (or Times Puzzles access) is required to play online, which is why solvers often look up a single stubborn clue here. Prefer a gentler cryptic? See our Times Quick Cryptic answers.
Cryptic vs Quick Cryptic
Where the flagship puzzle sits next to its Monday–Friday sibling:
| Times Cryptic | Quick Cryptic | |
|---|---|---|
| Grid | 15×15 | 13×13 |
| Schedule | Daily (incl. weekend prize editions) | Monday–Friday only |
| Setter credit | Anonymous | Named pseudonym (Jalna, Wurm, …) |
| Difficulty | Full cryptic; often tougher later in the week | Gentler stepping stone (launched 2014) |
| Best for | Experienced cryptic solvers | Newer solvers or a quicker daily solve |
How to break a stubborn Times Cryptic clue
- Split definition from wordplay. In a fair British cryptic, one end of the clue defines the answer; the rest builds it (anagram, charade, hidden word, double definition, and so on).
- Trust the crossings. Three or four letters from easier neighbours usually crack a long entry you cannot see yet.
- Watch indicator words. Words like “broken,” “mixed,” or “oddly” often flag anagrams; “in” or “held by” can mean a hidden answer.
- Mind the day. Many solvers find Monday friendlier and Friday tougher, even though the paper does not publish an official difficulty ladder like the NYT.
- Reveal one answer only. Our crossword solver can confirm a single clue from your known letters without spoiling the rest of the grid.
Browse past Times Cryptic answers
Every previous Times Cryptic is archived on this page by date, with its complete across and down solutions — the fastest way to check yesterday's grid or a clue that has been nagging you. The archive updates automatically each day as the next puzzle publishes. 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 Times Cryptic Crossword answers?
Every across and down answer for today's puzzle (September 18, 2026) is listed at the top of this page, updated as soon as The Times releases it.
What time does the Times Cryptic Crossword come out?
The daily Cryptic goes live at midnight UK time with the rest of Times Puzzles. We post the answers as soon as that day's grid is listed.
When did the Times Cryptic Crossword start?
The daily Times Crossword began on 1 February 1930, set by farmer and writer Adrian Bell after just ten days' notice. He went on to compile nearly 5,000 puzzles for the paper and helped establish its distinctive cryptic style.
Who sets the Times Cryptic?
The Times Cryptic is traditionally anonymous — unlike the Quick Cryptic, the setter's name is not printed with the puzzle. The battle is between you and the grid.
How is the Times Cryptic different from the Quick Cryptic?
The Cryptic is a full 15×15. The Quick Cryptic (launched March 2014) is a smaller 13×13 Monday–Friday puzzle with named setters, designed as a gentler stepping stone into cryptics.
Does difficulty increase through the week?
Unlike the NYT, The Times does not publish an official difficulty ladder — but many solvers find Monday friendlier and later weekdays tougher. Trust the crossings and fair cryptic structure either way.
Where can I find past Times Cryptic answers?
Every previous puzzle is in the archive on this page, listed by date with full solutions, updated automatically each day.
The Times Cryptic Crossword is published by The Times; WordHint is an independent site and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the publisher.