Times Cryptic Crossword Answers Today

Times Cryptic No 29613

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Across

  1. 1Poet program occupies most of exhibitSAPPHO
  2. 4Dish made with eggs — some sell better without any shellsOMELETTE
  3. 10Heroic tale of Ohio-born Liberal DemocratROBINHOOD
  4. 11Seize westbound drug boatBARGE
  5. 12Life force found within PinocchioCHI
  6. 13Compare story-telling with cartoon bear leading and jumping cross-leggedYOGICFLYING
  7. 14Combine core part of chimney and old fireplaceMINGLE
  8. 16Hunter — one regularly taking fewer trapsLIONESS
  9. 19Set fire to gas when there’s no energy left for elementLITHIUM
  10. 20Someone going through penance more quicklyFASTER
  11. 22Five nudes jumping over tree backwards — it’s a work of artVENUSDEMILO
  12. 25Love intervening for and on behalf of fatherPOP
  13. 26Muscle connector lacks density for part of jointTENON
  14. 27Honour the German church incorporating new submissivenessOBEDIENCE
  15. 28Revised name or term accommodating latest in technology?RETRONYM
  16. 29Go through curved opening at 135 degreesSEARCH

Down

  1. 1Buffeted small railway wagonSTRUCK
  2. 2Legal cases succeeded against local press agentPUBLICIST
  3. 3It’s perfect on top of yoghurt!HONEY
  4. 5Doctor claimed refurbished workspace next to riverMEDICALOFFICER
  5. 6Call in large loan agreements, causing reputational damageLIBELLOUS
  6. 7Every now and again swim past rocky peak in trunksTORSI
  7. 8Invigorate Frenchman upset with non-uniform appearanceENERGISE
  8. 9Note lines accompanying lengthy word for part of the brainLONGTERMMEMORY
  9. 15Laid songs out in series of notesGLISSANDO
  10. 17Something that reveals palpebral muscle?EYEOPENER
  11. 18Lift across the pond to reveal rocksELEVATOR
  12. 21Pretence regularly cloaked by quiet deliverySPEECH
  13. 23Group performing without safety device?NONET
  14. 24Bad egg turning greenOLIVE

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Across

  1. 1. Poet program occupies most of exhibit — Answer: SAPPHO. Hint: Think of an ancient lyric poet hidden by placing a computer program inside most of a display 🎭
  2. 4. Dish made with eggs — some sell better without any shells — Answer: OMELETTE. Hint: A fluffy breakfast favorite made by folding cooked eggs around tasty fillings—just skip the shell. 🍳
  3. 10. Heroic tale of Ohio-born Liberal Democrat — Answer: ROBINHOOD. Hint: Think of the legendary outlaw famous for taking from the rich to help the poor. 🏹
  4. 11. Seize westbound drug boat — Answer: BARGE. Hint: Picture a sturdy, flat-bottomed vessel used to carry cargo along rivers and canals. 🚢
  5. 12. Life force found within Pinocchio — Answer: CHI. Hint: Think of the Eastern concept for the vital energy flowing through every living thing. 🌟
  6. 13. Compare story-telling with cartoon bear leading and jumping cross-legged — Answer: YOGICFLYING. Hint: Picture a meditative, cross-legged leap rather than ordinary flight. 🧘
  7. 14. Combine core part of chimney and old fireplace — Answer: MINGLE. Hint: Look for a verb meaning “combine,” with a cozy old-fashioned hearth reference adding the wordplay. 🔥
  8. 16. Hunter — one regularly taking fewer traps — Answer: LIONESS. Hint: Think of the pride’s female big-cat hunter rather than its male counterpart. 🦁
  9. 19. Set fire to gas when there’s no energy left for element — Answer: LITHIUM. Hint: Think of the lightweight alkali metal found in rechargeable batteries and some mood-stabilizing medicines. 🔋
  10. 20. Someone going through penance more quickly — Answer: FASTER. Hint: Think of someone completing an act of repentance at increased speed. ⛪
  11. 22. Five nudes jumping over tree backwards — it’s a work of art — Answer: VENUSDEMILO. Hint: Think of the famous armless ancient Greek statue admired in the Louvre 🗿
  12. 25. Love intervening for and on behalf of father — Answer: POP. Hint: Let a tennis score meaning love slip into a casual word for father. 🎾
  13. 26. Muscle connector lacks density for part of joint — Answer: TENON. Hint: Think of the projecting piece in a woodworking joint, hinted at by a muscle connector with a tiny trim. 🪵
  14. 27. Honour the German church incorporating new submissiveness — Answer: OBEDIENCE. Hint: Think of the quality shown when someone willingly follows instructions or authority. 🙇
  15. 28. Revised name or term accommodating latest in technology? — Answer: RETRONYM. Hint: Think of a label invented to distinguish an older version after newer technology arrives. 🕰️
  16. 29. Go through curved opening at 135 degrees — Answer: SEARCH. Hint: Look carefully for something, as if exploring around a bend. 🔍

Down

  1. 1. Buffeted small railway wagon — Answer: STRUCK. Hint: Picture something being hit or jolted forcefully in the past tense. 💥
  2. 2. Legal cases succeeded against local press agent — Answer: PUBLICIST. Hint: Think of someone who promotes a person, product, or organization to the media. 📣
  3. 3. It’s perfect on top of yoghurt! — Answer: HONEY. Hint: This golden natural sweetener makes a delicious drizzle for a creamy breakfast treat 🍯
  4. 5. Doctor claimed refurbished workspace next to river — Answer: MEDICALOFFICER. Hint: Think of the formal job title for a doctor rather than the everyday name 🩺
  5. 6. Call in large loan agreements, causing reputational damage — Answer: LIBELLOUS. Hint: Think of a word describing statements that unfairly harm someone’s reputation. 📰
  6. 7. Every now and again swim past rocky peak in trunks — Answer: TORSI. Hint: Combine a rocky peak with every other letter of “swim” to get a plural body-part term. 🧩
  7. 8. Invigorate Frenchman upset with non-uniform appearance — Answer: ENERGISE. Hint: Think of a verb meaning to give someone fresh vitality and pep. ⚡
  8. 9. Note lines accompanying lengthy word for part of the brain — Answer: LONGTERMMEMORY. Hint: Think of the brain’s storage for information kept over an extended period. 🧠
  9. 15. Laid songs out in series of notes — Answer: GLISSANDO. Hint: Think of a pianist sweeping smoothly across the keys rather than playing each note separately 🎹
  10. 17. Something that reveals palpebral muscle? — Answer: EYEOPENER. Hint: Think of a surprising revelation that also helps lift a sleepy lid 👁️
  11. 18. Lift across the pond to reveal rocks — Answer: ELEVATOR. Hint: Think of the American term for what Britons call a lift. 🛗
  12. 21. Pretence regularly cloaked by quiet delivery — Answer: SPEECH. Hint: Think of what someone gives when addressing an audience, with a little wordplay tucked inside the clue. 🗣️
  13. 23. Group performing without safety device? — Answer: NONET. Hint: Think of a nine-member musical ensemble hiding behind a playful safety-related sound-alike 🎶
  14. 24. Bad egg turning green — Answer: OLIVE. Hint: Think of the small green fruit that adds a briny bite to salads and can be pressed for oil. 🫒

Looking for today's Times Cryptic Crossword answers? Every across and down solution for today's puzzle — dated August 5, 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

#ClueAnswer
1Poet program occupies most of exhibitSAPPHO
4Dish made with eggs — some sell better without any shellsOMELETTE
10Heroic tale of Ohio-born Liberal DemocratROBINHOOD
11Seize westbound drug boatBARGE
12Life force found within PinocchioCHI
13Compare story-telling with cartoon bear leading and jumping cross-leggedYOGICFLYING
14Combine core part of chimney and old fireplaceMINGLE
16Hunter — one regularly taking fewer trapsLIONESS
19Set fire to gas when there’s no energy left for elementLITHIUM
20Someone going through penance more quicklyFASTER
22Five nudes jumping over tree backwards — it’s a work of artVENUSDEMILO
25Love intervening for and on behalf of fatherPOP
26Muscle connector lacks density for part of jointTENON
27Honour the German church incorporating new submissivenessOBEDIENCE
28Revised name or term accommodating latest in technology?RETRONYM
29Go through curved opening at 135 degreesSEARCH

Down

#ClueAnswer
1Buffeted small railway wagonSTRUCK
2Legal cases succeeded against local press agentPUBLICIST
3It’s perfect on top of yoghurt!HONEY
5Doctor claimed refurbished workspace next to riverMEDICALOFFICER
6Call in large loan agreements, causing reputational damageLIBELLOUS
7Every now and again swim past rocky peak in trunksTORSI
8Invigorate Frenchman upset with non-uniform appearanceENERGISE
9Note lines accompanying lengthy word for part of the brainLONGTERMMEMORY
15Laid songs out in series of notesGLISSANDO
17Something that reveals palpebral muscle?EYEOPENER
18Lift across the pond to reveal rocksELEVATOR
21Pretence regularly cloaked by quiet deliverySPEECH
23Group performing without safety device?NONET
24Bad egg turning greenOLIVE

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 CrypticQuick Cryptic
Grid15×1513×13
ScheduleDaily (incl. weekend prize editions)Monday–Friday only
Setter creditAnonymousNamed pseudonym (Jalna, Wurm, …)
DifficultyFull cryptic; often tougher later in the weekGentler stepping stone (launched 2014)
Best forExperienced cryptic solversNewer 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 (August 5, 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.

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