The solved grid
1S
E
2S
A
3M
E
S
4K
E
5M
P
6T
A
H
A
U
I
H
7S
H
A
R
K
8M
O
D
E
S
T
Y
H
W
E
A
Z
H
M
9A
L
L
O
W
10C
O
U
R
A
G
E
Y
A
H
P
S
11A
I
R
L
I
N
12E
R
S
13G
S
N
N
E
14J
U
S
T
15I
C
E
16D
U
17M
M
Y
E
A
D
R
E
O
S
18L
O
Y
A
L
T
Y
19M
O
N
T
E
L
E
E
I
D
R
20Y
A
R
D
S
21L
I
C
H
E
N
S
Across
1 Across Tahini seeds from a disturbed sea mess (7) → SESAMES Anagram
Anagram of “sea mess”.
4 Across Neat, hidden in trek emptied (5) → KEMPT Hidden word
Hidden inside “trek emptied”.
7 Across Predatory fish, south then listen up (5) → SHARK Charade
S + HARK.
8 Across Unassuming behavior from meds toy, shuffled (7) → MODESTY Anagram
Anagram of “meds toy”.
9 Across Permit everyone before a cry of pain (5) → ALLOW Charade
ALL + OW.
10 Across Held inside a cage, our bravery (7) → COURAGE Container
OUR inside CAGE.
11 Across Melody, ocean ships, passenger planes (9) → AIRLINERS Charade
AIR + LINERS.
14 Across Judge ensures fairness (7) → JUSTICE Double definition
Two separate definitions of the same word.
16 Across Leaders of dull, unattractive men mostly yawn, a decoy (5) → DUMMY Initialism
First letters of: dull, unattractive, men, mostly, yawn.
18 Across Faithfulness from a toy ally, scrambled (7) → LOYALTY Anagram
Anagram of “toy ally”.
19 Across Swindle hidden in salmon terrace (5) → MONTE Hidden word
Hidden inside “salmon terrace”.
20 Across Drays, shuffled, are units of length (5) → YARDS Anagram
Anagram of “drays”.
21 Across Moss-like growths hidden in garlic hens (7) → LICHENS Hidden word
Hidden inside “garlic hens”.
Down
1 Down Struts confidently, ash inside says (7) → SASHAYS Container
ASH inside SAYS.
2 Down Thicket and fifty make a wrap (5) → SHAWL Charade
SHAW + L.
3 Down Twisted weak arm, a clash (4,3) → MAKE WAR Anagram
Anagram of “weak arm”.
4 Down Antelope clutching Zulu, invasive vine (5) → KUDZU Container
Z inside KUDU.
5 Down Accidents concealed backwards in regrets, pah, similar views (7) → MISHAPS Hidden backwards
Hidden backwards inside “regrets pah similar”.
6 Down Herb lurking in filthy metal (5) → THYME Hidden word
Hidden inside “filthy metal”.
8 Down Apparatus from nary a chime, jumbled (9) → MACHINERY Anagram
Anagram of “nary chime”.
11 Down Metal tester concealed in compass Ayers carried (7) → ASSAYER Hidden word
Hidden inside “compass ayers”.
12 Down Transdermal medicine, gutted, native to a region (7) → ENDEMIC Deletion
ENDERMIC without R from the middle.
13 Down Hot springs from churned grey ess (7) → GEYSERS Anagram
Anagram of “grey ess”.
14 Down Wobbly dessert, middle of enjoy, bed, old, elf, eye (5) → JELLY Middle letters
Middle letters of: enjoy, bed, old, elf, eye.
15 Down Roman date holding litre, loafs about (5) → IDLES Container
L inside IDES.
17 Down Fashionable society from a wild demon (5) → MONDE Anagram
Anagram of “demon”.
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.
Spotted something wrong here? Email
badclues@decryptic.app and
this page will be corrected. See the
corrections policy.
