Independent Cryptic #12252

2026-01-14

Solve on Independent →

Across

1a

Stopping assistant showing fracture to an audiencedead strange (9)

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8a

Sound of sneeze under discussion (7)

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10a

Coordinate muscles so taken aback by onset of spasms (7)

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11a

Perhaps Trump Epstein and Andrew repeatedly stripped to get massage (9)

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12a

Destiny of king is with Eccles given time (6)

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15a

People rowing in boat are dismal fiends at heart (7)

Generating...

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

OA R SM EN ( central letters [at heart] of each of b OA t, a R e, di SM al and fi EN ds)

16a

Conservative keeps calm but Henry shifting a long way to the right (9)

Generating...

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

H OLDS COOL (keeps calm) with H (henry [unit of inductance]) moving 6 places [a long way] to the right to form OLD SC H OOL )

19a

Quietly finish joke about supreme leader (9)

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20a

Mother bit old resistance fighter in ring (7)

Generating...

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

M A (mother) + TAD (a bit) + O (old) + R (resistance)

22a

Oscar studies European city (6)

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23a

Exchange these unusual plugs in kids' favourite store (9)

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25a

Some wine spilled over curvy figure (7)

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27a

Maybe opposed to firing West Indian one ace quits (7)

Generating...

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

ANTIGU a N (West Indian) excluding (quits) one of the As (ace)

28a

Rudely ran off in West End venue (9)

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Down

1d

In the House of Lords official support staff to take Latin (8)

Generating...

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

( BACK [support] containing [to take] L [Latin]) + ROD (staff)

2d

Cheeky exposed backside in Boston (3)

Generating...

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

s ASS y (impertinent; cheeky – this is also an American term) excluding the outer letters (exposed) S and Y .

3d

Reputation of artist consequently dropping hard (8)

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4d

After scratching head understand file (4)

Generating...

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

g RASP (comprehend; understand) excluding the first letter (after scratching head) G

5d

Nasty man aggressive; I must leave (10)

Generating...

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

MALE (man) + V i OLENT (aggressive) excluding (must leave) I

6d

Papers in a row relatively neat (6)

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7d

How to get lots of admirers hammered (6)

Generating...

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

BE A TEN (be marked perfectly [10/10] and get lots of admirers as a result)

9d

Damaged seat on British motor car that can be very noisy (10)

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13d

Passage that is concerning in songs performed in show (10)

Generating...

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

( ID EST [that is] + RE (with reference to; concerning]) contained in (in) SET (the items performed by a singer or band at a concert or show)

14d

Heart broken by politician man with need on vacation to make out (10)

Generating...

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

( CORE [heart] containing [broken by] MP [Member of Parliament; politician]) + HE (man) + ND ( letters remaining in N ee D when the central letters EE are removed [on vacation])

17d

With injured rib dawdle in the manner of a newly-wed (8)

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18d

Go before nine in the end following a decent cryptic (8)

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20d

Lose millions on Scottish island (6)

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21d

Thanks boring Italian magistrate in advancing years (6)

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24d

A uniform state (4)

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26d

Vegetable is mostly fruit (3)

Generating...

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

PEA r (fruit) excluding the final letter R (mostly)