Decryptic #1 - 28th June 2026
Solution & wordplay explained · Published 28 June 2026
The solved grid and a clue-by-clue explanation of every piece of wordplay in this Decryptic daily. Browse every past solution, or get the app to play the older crosswords yourself. Today's crossword is always free to play.
The solved grid
1M
2O
3U
4S
5E
6T
R
7A
8P
9D
10I
11M
12E
N
R
A
G
E
13R
E
14D
O
N
E
15T
U
N
D
R
A
16S
T
O
U
T
S
S
17E
R
18A
19U
M
B
R
A
20D
E
21A
L
T
22B
23O
N
I
T
O
24E
S
S
25S
P
I
N
S
B
26P
27A
28C
29T
30T
A
O
31S
32A
33C
34S
O
I
35L
36I
37N
N
38O
39C
T
O
P
I
40P
E
T
I
T
41S
H
A
R
K
42P
43S
I
C
44A
E
R
A
T
45E
46U
N
47E
48V
E
49N
50C
R
A
Y
O
N
51L
E
G
A
T
O
52S
E
T
53P
S
E
U
D
O
N
Y
M
Across
1 Across Trap for pests - steam pour broken (9) → MOUSETRAP Anagram
Anagram of “steam pour”.
9 Across Not bright - middle reversed (3) → DIM Reversal
MID reversed.
12 Across Infuriate - genera scrambled (6) → ENRAGE Anagram
Anagram of “genera”.
13 Across Revised - red with one (6) → REDONE Charade
RED + ONE.
15 Across Arctic plain - and rut broken (6) → TUNDRA Anagram
Anagram of “and rut”.
16 Across Dark beers in west outskirts (6) → STOUTS Hidden word
Hidden inside “west outskirts”.
17 Across Period - are rearranged (3) → ERA Anagram
Anagram of “are”.
19 Across Shadow - hesitation before bra (5) → UMBRA Charade
UM + BRA.
20 Across Distributed - delta rearranged (5) → DEALT Anagram
Anagram of “delta”.
22 Across Tropical fish from obi not rearranged (6) → BONITO Anagram
Anagram of “obi not”.
24 Across Curve hidden in the essay (3) → ESS Hidden word
Hidden inside “the essay”.
25 Across Rotation - pinches turned around (4) → SPIN Reversal
NIPS reversed.
26 Across Agreement found in compact (4) → PACT Hidden word
Hidden inside “compact”.
30 Across New Mexico town - oats rearranged (4) → TAOS Anagram
Anagram of “oats”.
34 Across Earth - oils mixed (4) → SOIL Anagram
Anagram of “oils”.
36 Across Pub concealed in spinning (3) → INN Hidden word
Hidden inside “spinning”.
38 Across Eight-armed creatures - topic O rearranged (6) → OCTOPI Anagram
Anagram of “topic O”.
40 Across Small - stroke it (5) → PETIT Charade
PET + IT.
41 Across Ocean predator - harks rearranged (5) → SHARK Anagram
Anagram of “harks”.
42 Across Greek letter in lapsing (3) → PSI Hidden word
Hidden inside “lapsing”.
44 Across Ventilate - tea are mixed (6) → AERATE Anagram
Anagram of “tea are”.
46 Across Irregular - UN before level (6) → UNEVEN Charade
UN + EVEN.
50 Across Artist's stick - note C, ray, and on (6) → CRAYON Charade
C + RAY + ON.
51 Across Smoothly played - ogle at rearranged (6) → LEGATO Anagram
Anagram of “ogle at”.
52 Across Group in upset (3) → SET Hidden word
Hidden inside “upset”.
53 Across Alias - spud money scrambled (9) → PSEUDONYM Anagram
Anagram of “spud money”.
Down
1 Down Came across in comet (3) → MET Hidden word
Hidden inside “comet”.
2 Down Burdens - on plus uses (6) → ONUSES Charade
ON + USES.
3 Down Vessel found in burn (3) → URN Hidden word
Hidden inside “burn”.
4 Down Unhappy - in crusade (3) → SAD Hidden word
Hidden inside “crusade”.
5 Down Wading bird - greet scrambled (5) → EGRET Anagram
Anagram of “greet”.
6 Down Rip - rate mixed up (4) → TEAR Anagram
Anagram of “rate”.
7 Down Backsides in scars (3) → ARS Hidden word
Hidden inside “scars”.
8 Down Flower - peanut I scrambled (7) → PETUNIA Anagram
Anagram of “peanut I”.
9 Down Uncertainty in redoubt (5) → DOUBT Hidden word
Hidden inside “redoubt”.
10 Down Beginnings found in paint rosette (6) → INTROS Hidden word
Hidden inside “paint rosette”.
11 Down Flat-topped hill in comes about (4) → MESA Hidden word
Hidden inside “comes about”.
14 Down Game piece - musical do, minimum, and zero (6) → DOMINO Charade
DO + MIN + O.
18 Down Core muscles in scabs (3) → ABS Hidden word
Hidden inside “scabs”.
20 Down Young socialite - bed turned over (3) → DEB Reversal
BED reversed.
21 Down Viper in clasp (3) → ASP Hidden word
Hidden inside “clasp”.
23 Down Choose - found in adopt (3) → OPT Hidden word
Hidden inside “adopt”.
27 Down Off course - a stray (6) → ASTRAY Charade
A + STRAY.
28 Down Hob - cook on top (7) → COOKTOP Charade
COOK + TOP.
29 Down Gratuity - pit reversed (3) → TIP Reversal
PIT reversed.
31 Down Be seated - in visit (3) → SIT Hidden word
Hidden inside “visit”.
32 Down Insect in grant (3) → ANT Hidden word
Hidden inside “grant”.
33 Down Stick together - company here (6) → COHERE Charade
CO + HERE.
35 Down Edge in tulip (3) → LIP Hidden word
Hidden inside “tulip”.
37 Down Subtle point - NE city scrambled (6) → NICETY Anagram
Anagram of “NE city”.
39 Down Gem weight - carta rearranged (5) → CARAT Anagram
Anagram of “carta”.
40 Down Yearned - conifer and Roman five hundred (5) → PINED Charade
PINE + D.
41 Down Bags - ship containing alternating current (4) → SACS Container
AC inside SS.
43 Down Philippine sea - Inuit blades reversed (4) → SULU Reversal
ULUS reversed.
45 Down Beings in lens (3) → ENS Hidden word
Hidden inside “lens”.
47 Down Self - note E and go (3) → EGO Charade
E + GO.
48 Down Vehicle in advance (3) → VAN Hidden word
Hidden inside “advance”.
49 Down Eat eagerly, hidden in gnome (3) → NOM Hidden word
Hidden inside “gnome”.
How this puzzle was checked
Every clue in this crossword was verified against its own wordplay by software, then the finished puzzle was read and edited by hand before publication: definitions, indicators, enumerations and surface readings all get looked at, and clues that don't hold up are rewritten. The editorial standards set out what that covers.
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