Today’s puzzle

Guardian Cryptic Crossword Answer Today

Hints and a step-by-step reveal for August 31, 2026. Nothing is shown until you ask for it.
August 31, 2026Latest available August 31, 2026

Crossword clues and answers

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Across

16 clues
  1. 1Cultivate witticism about being adultGROWNUP
  2. 5Currency is part I contributed to swindleBITCOIN
  3. 9Small piece of advice about way to reassure your dog?PETIT
  4. 10USA Senate carve-up turns one’s stomachNAUSEATES
  5. 11Earl, unable to answer question, left to get some identificationEPASSPORT
  6. 12Less often confused with it when countingFEWER
  7. 13Heads of redbrick universities institute new standards for dilapidated buildingsRUINS
  8. 15Chief competitor, if losing run, would be matter of recordARCHRIVAL
  9. 18Left eager to get transformed and be happyFEELGREAT
  10. 19Issue dealt with in Pilgrim’s ProgressSPROG
  11. 21Close temperature when sun goes downNIGHT
  12. 23RAF’s doing badly, showing coolness under pressureSANGFROID
  13. 25Post on half of wage when things are developingGESTATION
  14. 26Giving lip in church is a sinCRIME
  15. 27Selfish people say Oscar is extremely tediousEGOISTS
  16. 28Moved quickly to protect place when stretchedSPLAYED

Down

16 clues
  1. 1Constantly talk equipment with Spooner in period before universityGAPYEAR
  2. 2CIA stores criminal blacklistOSTRACISE
  3. 3Records found when breaking up sofa?NOTES
  4. 4Criticise book about father being camp mother at ChristmasPANTODAME
  5. 5Plain type of sandwich has a French fillingBLUNT
  6. 6Sea birds circling coastal feature to find plantsTREEFERNS
  7. 7Regular cognition women get being dragged aroundONTOW
  8. 8Central parts of genome system purify cells forming air passageNOSTRIL
  9. 14In one sense, mufflers funny things to look atSIGHTGAGS
  10. 16Business has ten workers who share accommodationCOTENANTS
  11. 17Talking too much, manager almost overwhelmed by truthVERBOSITY
  12. 18Trick old horse to get into lineFINAGLE
  13. 20Without AI, diagnosed ruptures – it’s an unexpected benefitGODSEND
  14. 22Some plot suggestions raised, showing enthusiasmGUSTO
  15. 23Dirty place in ship where dumped material storedSKIPS
  16. 24Critical secondary characters in office come across major flawsFOCAL

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Every clue links to a dedicated answer page. Use the list below to scan the complete fill without opening the interactive board.

Across

  1. 1. Cultivate witticism about being adult

    Answer: GROWNUP

  2. 5. Currency is part I contributed to swindle

    Answer: BITCOIN

  3. 9. Small piece of advice about way to reassure your dog?

    Answer: PETIT

  4. 10. USA Senate carve-up turns one’s stomach

    Answer: NAUSEATES

  5. 11. Earl, unable to answer question, left to get some identification

    Answer: EPASSPORT

  6. 12. Less often confused with it when counting

    Answer: FEWER

  7. 13. Heads of redbrick universities institute new standards for dilapidated buildings

    Answer: RUINS

  8. 15. Chief competitor, if losing run, would be matter of record

    Answer: ARCHRIVAL

  9. 18. Left eager to get transformed and be happy

    Answer: FEELGREAT

  10. 19. Issue dealt with in Pilgrim’s Progress

    Answer: SPROG

  11. 21. Close temperature when sun goes down

    Answer: NIGHT

  12. 23. RAF’s doing badly, showing coolness under pressure

    Answer: SANGFROID

  13. 25. Post on half of wage when things are developing

    Answer: GESTATION

  14. 26. Giving lip in church is a sin

    Answer: CRIME

  15. 27. Selfish people say Oscar is extremely tedious

    Answer: EGOISTS

  16. 28. Moved quickly to protect place when stretched

    Answer: SPLAYED

Down

  1. 1. Constantly talk equipment with Spooner in period before university

    Answer: GAPYEAR

  2. 2. CIA stores criminal blacklist

    Answer: OSTRACISE

  3. 3. Records found when breaking up sofa?

    Answer: NOTES

  4. 4. Criticise book about father being camp mother at Christmas

    Answer: PANTODAME

  5. 5. Plain type of sandwich has a French filling

    Answer: BLUNT

  6. 6. Sea birds circling coastal feature to find plants

    Answer: TREEFERNS

  7. 7. Regular cognition women get being dragged around

    Answer: ONTOW

  8. 8. Central parts of genome system purify cells forming air passage

    Answer: NOSTRIL

  9. 14. In one sense, mufflers funny things to look at

    Answer: SIGHTGAGS

  10. 16. Business has ten workers who share accommodation

    Answer: COTENANTS

  11. 17. Talking too much, manager almost overwhelmed by truth

    Answer: VERBOSITY

  12. 18. Trick old horse to get into line

    Answer: FINAGLE

  13. 20. Without AI, diagnosed ruptures – it’s an unexpected benefit

    Answer: GODSEND

  14. 22. Some plot suggestions raised, showing enthusiasm

    Answer: GUSTO

  15. 23. Dirty place in ship where dumped material stored

    Answer: SKIPS

  16. 24. Critical secondary characters in office come across major flaws

    Answer: FOCAL

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