Independent Cryptic #12170

2025-10-10

Solve on Independent →

Across

1a

Attack set back during challenge with speed (10)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

( PUT [set] reversed [back] contained in [during] VIE [contest; challenge]) + RATE (speed)

6a

Friend accepting university theologian's study? (4)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

PAL (friend) containing (accepting) U

10a

Recalled popular German state… (5)

flowerflowerflower
11a

…and German city: weapons a little evident in Germany today at the outset (9)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

( ARMS [weapons] + TAD [a little]) contained in (evident in) ( D (International Vehicle Registration for Deutschland [Germany] + T [ first letter of {at the outset of} T oday])

12a

Immoderate document not initiated by engineers (7)

flowerflowerflower
13a

Gent with fake name turning and turning part of mill (7)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

( MR [mister; gentleman] + ALIAS [assumed or fake name]) all reversed (turning)

14a

Works on the land where income’s stored a long time (8)

flowerflowerflower
16a

Old Queen imprisoning tense religious victim (6)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

MARY R (Mary Regina, reference Queen Mary 1 who reigned in England from 1553 to 1558; old Queen) containing (imprisoning) T (tense)

18a

Drain segment containing uranium (6)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

SLICE (segment) containing (containing) U (chemical symbol for uranium)

19a

Comic character guy almost needing a crutch (8)

flowerflowerflower
22a

Article is certain to omit American responses (7)

flowerflowerflower
23a

Dry river in the current territory completely emptied (7)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

( R [river] contained in [in] THIS [the current thing referred to {?}]) + TY ( letters remaining in T erritor Y when all the central letters erritor are removed [empty])

25a

Magnet in quantity and quality? (9)

flowerflowerflower
26a

Motivate arrangement of Verdi (5)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

Anagram of (arrangement of) VERDI

27a

Prepare factory but running out of time (4)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

PLAN t (factory) excluding (running out of) T (time)

28a

Resolution in Hamlet ? (10)

flowerflowerflower

Down

1d

Artist familiarly note engaged in immorality not without love (7)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

( N [note] contained in [engaged in] VICE [immorality is a vice]) + N o T excluding (without) O (character representing zero [love score in tennis])

2d

Drunk female escaping from the dark? (5)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

T he n IGHT (dark time) excluding (escaping) HEN [female)

3d

Here’s spaceman floating about consuming European dairy product (14)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

Anagram of (floating about) HERE’S SPACEMAN containing (consuming) E (European)

4d

One saving crimson BMW after front’s lost (8)

flowerflowerflower
5d

Saint in a group turning up about religious education (6)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

( A + SET [group]) reversed (turning up; down entry) and containing (about) RE (religious education)

7d

A GM flower perhaps white and soft? (9)

flowerflowerflower
8d

Oxford 16 the writer’s brought in subsequently (7)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

I’M (the writer’s …) contained in (brought in) LATER (subsequently)

9d

Asia fast in dismantling scam? That’s healthy (14)

flowerflowerflower
15d

Distribution of USA aioli around Northern US state (9)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

Anagram of (distribution of) USA AIOLI containing (around) N (northern)

17d

King tucking into drink tucking into whisky leading to harm (8)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

( R [Rex; king] contained in [tucking into] TEA [a drink]) all contained in (tucking into) MALT (reference malt whisky)

18d

Shellfish concession receiving visit (7)

flowerflowerflower
20d

Unknown blokes coming in to touch for money? (7)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

( Y [letter frequently used to denote an unknown in equations] + MEN [blokes]) contained in (coming in to) PAT (touch)

21d

Remains on rock out of the ocean (6)

flowerflowerflower
24d

Occupy one zone within religious district (5)

Generating...