Decryptic

Decryptic #33 - 30th July 2026

Solution & wordplay explained · Published 30 July 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

Across

1 Across Complains loudly when MP hurrahs erratically (9)HARRUMPHS Anagram Anagram of “MP hurrahs”.
6 Across Part of satiety involves a draw (3)TIE Hidden word Hidden inside “satiety”.
8 Across West wants aid, producing a pup (5)WHELP Charade W + HELP.
9 Across Look after a ref caught between calcium and a choice (4,3)CARE FOR Container REF inside CAOR.
11 Across Vessel-widening procedure obtained by playing so at, oddly (11)ANGIOPLASTY Anagram Anagram of “playing so at”.
13 Across Many old tunes, initially, form a witty saying (3)MOT Initialism First letters of: Many, old, tunes.
14 Across Doubtful about a joule in a moment (5)JIFFY Charade J + IFFY.
15 Across Article followed by myself, a tropical bird (3)ANI Charade AN + I.
16 Across Life-based nourishment support system used in therapy (11)BIOFEEDBACK Charade BIO + FEED + BACK.
19 Across Sit heat oddly, like one denying God (7)ATHEIST Anagram Anagram of “sit heat”.
21 Across Typo sessions reveal awkward stances (5)POSES Hidden word Hidden inside “typo sessions”.
23 Across Professor returning offers a slight bow (3)NOD Reversal DON reversed.
24 Across Kit boxes are engine housings (9)GEARCASES Charade GEAR + CASES.

Down

1 Down Horse eats wheat, initially, to chop (3)HEW Initialism First letters of: Horse, Eats, Wheat.
2 Down Respond, holding a printer's space, to restage (7)REENACT Container EN inside REACT.
3 Down Not fixed to a wooden pin, set free (5)UNPEG Charade UN + PEG.
4 Down Muscle found within special effects team (3)PEC Hidden word Hidden inside “special”.
5 Down Quiet, by a small stream, with unknown quantity, piercingly (7)SHRILLY Charade SH + RILL + Y.
6 Down Stiff, rearranged, causes minor quarrels (5)TIFFS Anagram Anagram of “stiff”.
7 Down Part of a yearly birdcage check, worm-catcher? (5,4)EARLY BIRD Hidden word Hidden inside “yearly birdcage”.
10 Down Disabled mastermind turns out to be a fool (9)LAMEBRAIN Charade LAME + BRAIN.
12 Down Reference book grasping loud passage, killed (5)OFFED Container FF inside OED.
14 Down Scoffing and booing, both taunting (7)JEERING Double definition Two separate definitions of the same word.
15 Down Smelly practices, start removed, are elephant goads (7)ANKUSES Deletion RANKUSES without its initial R.
17 Down Old owl hunts every deer initially, exclaiming wonder (5)OOHED Initialism First letters of: Old, Owl, Hunts, Every, Deer.
18 Down Jelly found within clasp icons (5)ASPIC Hidden word Hidden inside “clasp icons”.
20 Down Thanks, holding a watt, defunct airline (3)TWA Container W inside TA.
22 Down This ostrich hides a call for help (3)SOS Hidden word Hidden inside “this ostrich”.

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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