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The Cryptic Word: free cryptic crosswords

British cryptic crosswords to solve online, laid out as a newspaper: 114 puzzles across 4 difficulties and 18 themed subjects. Every clue comes with its working, word by word, and every answer you earn comes with a cutting — what the word means, where it comes from, and something worth knowing about it.

New to cryptics? How to solve a cryptic crossword takes you through the definition, the wordplay and the twelve kinds of clue, each with a worked example. Or try Onesies: one cryptic clue at a time.

Four difficulties

  • Gentle cryptic crosswords — A short 9x9 with transparent wordplay. The way in. 5 puzzles.
  • Standard cryptic crosswords — An 11x11 daily. The full range of devices, fairly signposted. 6 puzzles.
  • Cryptic cryptic crosswords — A full 13x13. Devious definitions and layered wordplay. 6 puzzles.
  • Toughie cryptic crosswords — The full 15x15, set hard. Nothing is signposted. 55 puzzles.

Themed cryptic crosswords

In a themed puzzle every long answer belongs to one subject.

  • History
  • Geography
  • Science
  • Literature
  • Music
  • Cinema
  • Mythology
  • Food & Drink
  • Sport
  • Astronomy
  • Natural World
  • Art & Architecture
  • Harry Potter
  • The Lord of the Rings
  • Shakespeare
  • The Sea
  • Detective Fiction
  • Games & Pastimes

Every puzzle

  • Gentle No. 1 — 9×9, 19 clues
  • Gentle No. 2 — 9×9, 19 clues
  • Gentle No. 3 — 9×9, 22 clues
  • Gentle No. 4 — 9×9, 19 clues
  • Gentle No. 5 — 9×9, 19 clues
  • Standard No. 1 — 11×11, 28 clues
  • Standard No. 2 — 11×11, 28 clues
  • Standard No. 3 — 11×11, 29 clues
  • Standard No. 4 — 11×11, 28 clues
  • Standard No. 5 — 11×11, 30 clues
  • Standard No. 6 — 11×11, 28 clues
  • Cryptic No. 1 — 13×13, 36 clues
  • Cryptic No. 2 — 13×13, 35 clues
  • Cryptic No. 3 — 13×13, 35 clues
  • Cryptic No. 4 — 13×13, 32 clues
  • Cryptic No. 5 — 13×13, 34 clues
  • Cryptic No. 6 — 13×13, 35 clues
  • Toughie No. 1 — 15×15, 38 clues
  • Toughie No. 2 — 15×15, 41 clues
  • Toughie No. 3 — 15×15, 44 clues
  • Toughie No. 4 — 15×15, 41 clues
  • Toughie No. 5 — 15×15, 44 clues
  • Toughie No. 6 — 15×15, 40 clues
  • Toughie No. 7 — 15×15, 42 clues
  • Toughie No. 8 — 15×15, 40 clues
  • Toughie No. 9 — 15×15, 42 clues
  • Toughie No. 10 — 15×15, 40 clues
  • Toughie No. 11 — 15×15, 44 clues
  • Toughie No. 12 — 15×15, 42 clues
  • Toughie No. 13 — 15×15, 44 clues
  • Toughie No. 14 — 15×15, 42 clues
  • Toughie No. 15 — 15×15, 38 clues
  • Toughie No. 16 — 15×15, 42 clues
  • Toughie No. 17 — 15×15, 42 clues
  • Toughie No. 18 — 15×15, 38 clues
  • Toughie No. 19 — 15×15, 40 clues
  • Toughie No. 20 — 15×15, 38 clues
  • Toughie No. 21 — 15×15, 40 clues
  • Toughie No. 22 — 15×15, 40 clues
  • Toughie No. 23 — 15×15, 44 clues
  • Toughie No. 24 — 15×15, 42 clues
  • Toughie No. 25 — 15×15, 40 clues
  • Toughie No. 26 — 15×15, 40 clues
  • Toughie No. 27 — 15×15, 40 clues
  • Toughie No. 28 — 15×15, 38 clues
  • Toughie No. 29 — 15×15, 42 clues
  • Toughie No. 30 — 15×15, 42 clues
  • Toughie No. 31 — 15×15, 42 clues
  • Toughie No. 32 — 15×15, 40 clues
  • Toughie No. 33 — 15×15, 42 clues
  • Toughie No. 34 — 15×15, 40 clues
  • Toughie No. 35 — 15×15, 38 clues
  • Toughie No. 36 — 15×15, 38 clues
  • Toughie No. 37 — 15×15, 38 clues
  • Toughie No. 38 — 15×15, 40 clues
  • Toughie No. 39 — 15×15, 44 clues
  • Toughie No. 40 — 15×15, 40 clues
  • Toughie No. 41 — 15×15, 40 clues
  • Toughie No. 42 — 15×15, 40 clues
  • Toughie No. 43 — 15×15, 40 clues
  • Toughie No. 44 — 15×15, 40 clues
  • Toughie No. 45 — 15×15, 42 clues
  • Toughie No. 46 — 15×15, 38 clues
  • Toughie No. 47 — 15×15, 42 clues
  • Toughie No. 48 — 15×15, 38 clues
  • Toughie No. 49 — 15×15, 38 clues
  • Toughie No. 50 — 15×15, 44 clues
  • Toughie No. 51 — 15×15, 42 clues
  • Toughie No. 52 — 15×15, 40 clues
  • Toughie No. 53 — 15×15, 38 clues
  • Toughie No. 54 — 15×15, 40 clues
  • Toughie No. 55 — 15×15, 40 clues
  • Detective Fiction No. 1 — 11×11, 28 clues, Standard
  • Games & Pastimes No. 1 — 11×11, 29 clues, Standard
  • History No. 1 — 11×11, 28 clues, Standard
  • The Lord of the Rings No. 1 — 11×11, 27 clues, Standard
  • The Lord of the Rings No. 2 — 11×11, 29 clues, Standard
  • Music No. 1 — 11×11, 27 clues, Standard
  • Mythology No. 2 — 11×11, 29 clues, Standard
  • Natural World No. 2 — 11×11, 28 clues, Standard
  • Harry Potter No. 1 — 11×11, 29 clues, Standard
  • Harry Potter No. 2 — 11×11, 29 clues, Standard
  • Science No. 2 — 11×11, 28 clues, Standard
  • The Sea No. 1 — 11×11, 28 clues, Standard
  • Sport No. 1 — 11×11, 28 clues, Standard
  • Art & Architecture No. 1 — 13×13, 35 clues, Cryptic
  • Art & Architecture No. 2 — 13×13, 34 clues, Cryptic
  • Astronomy No. 1 — 13×13, 32 clues, Cryptic
  • Astronomy No. 2 — 13×13, 37 clues, Cryptic
  • Cinema No. 1 — 13×13, 34 clues, Cryptic
  • Cinema No. 2 — 13×13, 37 clues, Cryptic
  • Detective Fiction No. 2 — 13×13, 35 clues, Cryptic
  • Food & Drink No. 1 — 13×13, 37 clues, Cryptic
  • Food & Drink No. 2 — 13×13, 35 clues, Cryptic
  • Games & Pastimes No. 2 — 13×13, 37 clues, Cryptic
  • Geography No. 1 — 13×13, 37 clues, Cryptic
  • Geography No. 2 — 13×13, 35 clues, Cryptic
  • Literature No. 1 — 13×13, 35 clues, Cryptic
  • Literature No. 2 — 13×13, 37 clues, Cryptic
  • The Lord of the Rings No. 3 — 13×13, 35 clues, Cryptic
  • The Lord of the Rings No. 4 — 13×13, 35 clues, Cryptic
  • Harry Potter No. 3 — 13×13, 37 clues, Cryptic
  • Harry Potter No. 4 — 13×13, 37 clues, Cryptic
  • The Sea No. 2 — 13×13, 34 clues, Cryptic
  • Shakespeare No. 1 — 13×13, 32 clues, Cryptic
  • History No. 2 — 15×15, 38 clues, Toughie
  • The Lord of the Rings No. 5 — 15×15, 42 clues, Toughie
  • Music No. 2 — 15×15, 40 clues, Toughie
  • Mythology No. 1 — 15×15, 42 clues, Toughie
  • Natural World No. 1 — 15×15, 38 clues, Toughie
  • Harry Potter No. 5 — 15×15, 42 clues, Toughie
  • Science No. 1 — 15×15, 42 clues, Toughie
  • Shakespeare No. 2 — 15×15, 44 clues, Toughie
  • Sport No. 2 — 15×15, 44 clues, Toughie