Independent Cryptic #12206

2025-11-21

Solve on Independent →

Across

1a

Finish hosting mass dance (5)

Generating...

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

STOP (finish) around or ‘hosting’ M (mass)

4a

Ancient President continues to mock interrupted by a couple of fellows (9)

Generating...

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

JEERS ON (continues to mock) around or ‘interrupted by’ FF (couple of fellows)

9a

Scoundrels seizing a popular firm making protective clothing (9)

Generating...

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

RATS (scoundrels) around or ‘seizing’ IN (popular) CO (firm)

10a

Accept new tenantshow kindness forgetting name (5)

Generating...

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

RELE n T (show kindness) without or ‘forgetting’ ‘n’ (name)

11a

Inventor backed team never taking a different direction (6)

Generating...

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

SIDE (team) reversed or ‘backed’ + NO (never) reversed or ‘taking a different direction’

12a

Frankly a German writer has penned a word in French after reflection (8)

Generating...

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

MANN (German writer) around or ‘penning’ a reversal (‘after reflection’) of A MOT (‘word’ in French)

14a

Risky to accept dangerous order creating difference of opinion (9)

Generating...

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

DICY (risky) around or ‘accepting’ HOT (dangerous) OM (‘order’ – of merit)

16a

Fate indicated by doctor having troubled air (5)

flowerflowerflower
18a

Instructions regarding Cambridge University (5)

flowerflowerflower
20a

New train set handled roughly is not lasting long (9)

Generating...

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

An anagram (‘handled roughly’) of N (new) TRAIN SET

22a

Source of medicine rapid to limit damage (8)

flowerflowerflower
23a

Copper’s having volume reduced in usual approach (6)

Generating...

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

CU’S (copper’s) and TOM e (volume) missing last letter or ‘reduced’

26a

Precise over author Levi (5)

Generating...

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

PRIM (precise) O (over)

27a

Brave figure drunk throttling working judge (9)

Generating...

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

LIT (drunk) around or ‘throttling’ ON (working) HEAR (judge)

28a

Main tempo disrupted in theatrical performance (9)

flowerflowerflower
29a

Rock star duly abandoning core network (5)

Generating...

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

D ul Y (missing the middle letters or ‘abandoning core’) LAN (network)

Down

1d

Increasingly guaranteed to suppress tear in cessation of hostilities? (9)

flowerflowerflower
2d

Antelope pen erected supplied with electric current (5)

flowerflowerflower
3d

Officer in photo with old wind instrument (7)

Generating...

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

COL (officer) in PIC (photo) O (old)

4d

Not a real Pope - just one acting nobly at the outset (4)

Generating...

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

First letters or ‘at the outset’ of Just One Acting Nobly – we had to check this. Pope Joan is now widely considered to be fictional apparently according to AI and Wiki.

5d

Concern about one shabby economic period (10)

Generating...

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

FEAR (concern) round I (one) SCALY (shabby)

6d

Regret picking up half the letters for nuclear organisation (7)

Generating...

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

RUE (regret) reversed or ‘picking up’ + A TO M (half the letters in the alphabet)

7d

Confirm Elon M is whirling in empty space (9)

Generating...

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

An anagram (‘whirling’) of ELON M IS in S pac E (first and last letters only or ’empty’)

8d

Midday about time? It’s impracticable (5)

Generating...

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

NOON (midday) around or ‘about’ T (time)

13d

Reserve litre during finishing off beer production dismissing no good source of artwork (10)

Generating...

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

ICE (reserve) L (litre) inside or ‘during’ BOTTLI ng (‘finishing off beer production’) without or ‘dismissing’ ‘ng’ (no good)

15d

Conservative head bracketing MP with a colleague (9)

Generating...

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

C (conservative) ONION (head) around or ‘bracketing’ MP and A

17d

Accepted French article about fruit is something powered by AI? (9)

Generating...

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

A (accepted) UN (French article) around TOMATO (fruit)

19d

Sandbar a grave by itself first of ships being lost (7)

flowerflowerflower
21d

Kept quiet and all but closed garden building (7)

flowerflowerflower
22d

Work appearing in youngster’s website feature (5)

flowerflowerflower
24d

Follower crossing river path (5)

Generating...

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

TAIL (follower) around or ‘crossing’ R (river)

25d

Increasingly upsetting most of Catholicism? (4)

Generating...

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

ROME (Catholicism) with the first three letters or ‘most of it’ reversed or ‘upset’