Independent Cryptic #12282

2026-02-18

Solve on Independent →

Across

1a

Align IT launch badlyit’s an AI problem (13)

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8a

Pot-holder about to exhaust last of incense (7)

Generating...

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

RE- (=about, regarding) + TIRE (=exhaust) + <incens> E (“last of” means last letter only); as the beneficiary of a pension pot, a retiree could be described as a “pot-holder”!

9a

Pitch master showing alto line in repetitive composition (7)

Generating...

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

[A (=alto, in music) + L (=line)] in RONDO (=repetitive composition, in poetry); Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo could be described as a “(football) pitch master”!

11a

Join up components of eleven Rolexes (5)

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12a

High-flying business quickly capturing asteroid (9)

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14a

In pursuit of wife this Duke would be capital (9)

Generating...

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

W (=wife) + ELLINGTON (=Duke, i.e. American jazz pianist (1899-1974) = WELLINGTON (=capital, of New Zealand);

16a

Oik rounds on upper-class twit (5)

Generating...

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

YAH (=upper-class twit) + O O (=rounds, i.e. 2 x O (=round, i.e. pictorially)

17a

Asian devouring starter of lentils and curry selection (5)

Generating...

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

L <entils> (“starter of” means first letter only) in THAI (=Asian); a thali is a set meal of a variety of curry dishes with rice or chapatis, hence “curry selection”

19a

Speaker’s fooled after Tories press together (9)

Generating...

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

CONS (=Tories, i.e. Conservatives) + homophone (“speaker’s”) of “tricked (=fooled)”

21a

Not quite coming out unknown character's crisis (9)

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23a

Left for good nitwit is unattached (5)

Generating...

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

G OOSE (=nitwit, fool); “ left (=L) for good (=G)” means letter “l” replaces “g”

24a

Flapper disturbing stray papers (7)

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26a

A lot of aged Spanish gold provided aperitif (7)

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27a

Doctor created tragic picture for smokers (13)

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Down

1d

Hack potentially taking down Leavitt’s fake news (13)

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2d

... as aside a casual farewell to Gore? (7)

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3d

One cross-channel article and another occupying leasing firm (11)

Generating...

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

UN (=cross-channel article, i.e. a French word for a ) + [LE (=cross-channel article, i.e. a French word for the ) in RENTING (=leasing)]; unrelenting is firm, as an adjective, steadfast

4d

Moulded plasticine not initially stiff (9)

Generating...

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

<p> LASTICINE ; “not initially” means last letter is dropped from anagram, indicated by “moulded”

5d

Ignoring the face more beautiful frame (5)

Generating...

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

<f> AIRER (=more beautiful); “ignoring the face” means first letter is dropped

6d

House of Scandinavian clearing external angle (3)

Generating...

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

<f> INN <ish> (=Scandinavian); “clearing external angle (=(to) fish)” means the letters “fish” at the beginning and end of the word are dropped

7d

Big guy turning tail bitten by pig (7)

Generating...

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

TAIL in HOG (=pig); “turning” indicates reversal

10d

Final order for AA lobbyist? (13)

Generating...

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

An “AA (=Automobile Association) lobbyist” is “one (lobbying) for the road”!; “one for the road” tends to be a customer’s final order in a bar’!

13d

Cut solo on soundstage for familiar actor (11)

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15d

Maybe she’ll bleat or nag crazily with Tannoy (9)

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18d

A non-believer’s caught out cleanly (7)

Generating...

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

A + S <c> EPTIC (=non-believer; “ caught (=C, on cricket scorecard) out” means letter “c” is dropped)

20d

Flowers one penny each with powder inside (7)

Generating...

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

OMO (=(washing) powder, laundry detergent) in [I (=one) + P (=penny) + EA (=each)]; ipomoea is a plant of the jalap and morning glory genus

22d

Minimum bill permitted in Northern Ireland (5)

Generating...

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

AD (=bill, poster, i.e. advert) in [N (=Northern) + IR (=Ireland)]; if a nadir is the lowest point of something, then it could be the mininum (level)

25d

Scrap of fish chucked up (3)

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