The Independent's Cryptic Crossword Clue Answers Revealed for 18th March 2024
by Abisha
Updated Mar 18, 2024
Engaging in crossword puzzles will foster your problem-solving skills and also help you to focus. They can benefit you by expanding your vocabulary and general knowledge. It is a gateway of learning more information and unknown words. If you can’t solve today’s The Independent's Cryptic on your own, here you can find answers for the clues
Bachelor getting hot drink
Ans: BRANDY
bachelor refers to a single man, and hot drink refers to a type of alcoholic beverage that is often consumed warm. Brandies are distilled spirits made from fermented fruit juice, typically served as a hot drink in certain cocktails or for sipping.
Ran around rubbish to be discarded
Ans: SCRAPPED
Ran around rubbish to be discarded suggests an action of running (ran) around discarded items or waste (rubbish), indicating an activity related to discarding or disposing of something. Scrapped fits this description, meaning to get rid of something by throwing it away or removing it from use.
Liars busy travelling to Cathedral city
Ans: SALISBURY
Liars busy travelling to Cathedral city indicates that individuals who are untruthful (liars) are occupied with traveling to a city known for its cathedral. Salisbury is a city in England famous for its stunning cathedral, making it a suitable answer.
Letter covered in skin and bone
Ans: FEMUR
The question suggests that a single letter from the alphabet is hidden within the words skin and bone. The letter E is found in both skin and bone, and it's also the third letter in femur, a bone in the human body.
Fortunate and brave having lost head
Ans: LUCKY
This clue indicates a person who is fortunate (lucky) and courageous (brave) but has lost the initial letter (head) of their description. Lucky fits this description as it means fortunate or favored by chance.
A rook sang about marsupials
Ans: KANGAROOS
A rook sang about marsupials implies that a bird called a rook is singing or expressing itself about a group of mammals known for carrying their young in a pouch. Kangaroos are marsupials found in Australia, known for their distinctive method of reproduction.
Dog crossing line is pioneer
Ans: SETTLER
Canine (dog) is moving across or intersecting a boundary or limit, indicating an action similar to pioneering or leading the way. A settler is a person who moves to an uninhabited area to establish a new community or civilization, fitting the concept of crossing lines and pioneering.
Speak fondly about carbon plant
Ans: COCO
Speak fondly suggests expressing affection or warmth towards something. Carbon plant refers to a plant known for its carbonaceous properties, commonly associated with coconuts. Coco is a casual term for coconut, which fits the clue.
Judge going to posh party for sport
Ans: JUDO
Judge refers to a person who presides over legal proceedings or competitions. Posh party suggests an elegant or upscale gathering. Sport indicates a physical activity or game. Judo is a sport involving grappling and throwing techniques, which fits the context of the clue.
Male assistant returning note to intervene
Ans: MEDIATE
Male assistant suggests a person who helps or supports. Returning note indicates reversing the order of a written message. Intervene means to come between or mediate in a situation. Mediate is a word that means to intervene or facilitate a resolution between parties.
Teacher's vehicle with fine accessory
Ans: HEADSCARF
Teacher's vehicle refers something associated with a teacher or instructor. Fine accessory refers to an item worn for adornment. Headscarf is an accessory worn on the head, often by teachers or instructors, which fits the context of the clue.
Reject try in game
Ans: BINGO
Reject means to refuse or dismiss. Try in this context refers to an attempt or effort. Game indicates a recreational activity or competition. Bingo is a game where players mark off numbers on cards as they are randomly called out, fitting the clue.
Female name changing daily
Ans: LYDIA
Female name refers to a girl's given name. Changing daily indicates that the name is altered or modified regularly. Lydia is a girl's name that fits the context of the clue.
One point harangue is rootless
Ans: ITINERANT
One point suggests a single focus or direction. Harangue means a lengthy and aggressive speech. Rootless indicates lacking a fixed location or home. Itinerant describes a person who travels from place to place, often without a permanent residence, which fits the clue.
Company network independent entrant reworked
Ans: INTRANET
Company network means a private computer network used within an organization. Independent entrant reworked indicates that the letters of entrant are rearranged. Intranet is a private network that is only accessible to authorized users within an organization, fitting the context of the clue.
Lively day with broadcaster
Ans: FRISKY
Lively day refers a period of energetic activity or excitement. Broadcaster refers to someone who transmits information or entertainment. Frisky describes someone or something playful or full of energy, which fits the context of the clue.
Herb lives with King Serpent
Ans: BASILISK
Herb lives with King Serpent suggests a creature associated with an herb (basil) and a royal title (King). A basilisk is a mythical creature often depicted as a serpent or dragon with the power to kill with its gaze
Place everything over pet enclosure initially
Ans: ALLOCATE
Place indicates to put something in a particular position. Everything suggests all items or resources. Pet enclosure initially refers to the first letters of pet enclosure, which are PE. Together, allocate means to distribute or assign resources or tasks.
Dull chore taking seconds
Ans: DUSTY
Dull chore refers a boring or mundane task. Taking seconds indicates removing the first letters from seconds, which are S. Together, dusty describes something covered in dust or lacking in freshness.
Shout about international change initially relating to freezing
Ans: CRYONIC
Shout suggests making a loud noise. About indicates surrounding or encompassing. International change initially refers to the first letters of international change, which are IC. Together, cryonic relates to the freezing of living organisms for preservation.
Engaged a fun, flirty individual as new corporate entertainment director first of all
Ans: AFFIANCED
Engaged here means committed to marriage. A fun, flirty individual suggests someone charming or captivating. As new corporate entertainment director first of all refers to the first letters of new corporate entertainment director, which are NCE. Together, affianced describes someone who is engaged to be married.
Repeatedly clean up fluffy ball
Ans: POMPOM
Repeatedly clean up suggests arranging or tidying something multiple times. Fluffy ball refers to a decorative sphere often made of yarn or fabric. Pompom describes such a fluffy ball, often used in cheering or decorative contexts.
Pressure bandage placed across middle of thumb
Ans: DURESS
Pressure bandage suggests a tight wrapping applied to apply pressure. Placed across middle of thumb indicates that the word duress is found within the phrase middle of thumb. Duress refers to coercion or compulsion under threat of harm.
Underground venue changing poles for street performer
Ans: BUSKER
Underground venue suggests a location below ground level, such as a subway or metro station. Changing poles indicates rearranging or altering parts of a word. Street performer refers to someone who entertains in public places. Together, busker describes a street performer, with the word formed by rearranging sub (from subway) and ker (from performer).
French and Spanish agreements on article in LA state
Ans: LOUISIANA
French and Spanish agreements refers to historical treaties or settlements involving France and Spain. On article in LA state suggests the inclusion of the definite article the within a state abbreviation. Together, Louisiana is a state in the United States with historical ties to both French and Spanish colonial rule.
Contradicts remark in profits
Ans: GAINSAYS
Contradicts means to deny or oppose. Remark in profits suggests a statement or comment within financial gains. Together, gainsays describes the act of contradicting or disputing a statement.
Sincerely love duty being amended
Ans: DEVOUTLY
Sincerely suggests genuinely or earnestly. Love duty refers to a sense of obligation or responsibility towards affection. Being amended indicates rearranging or altering parts of a word. Together, devoutly describes acting sincerely or earnestly in matters of love or duty.
Give an opinion about a lake like a gemstone
Ans: OPALINE
Give an opinion suggests offering a viewpoint or assessment. About a lake refers to the setting of a body of water. Like a gemstone implies resembling a precious stone. Together, opaline describes something resembling or having the qualities of opal, a gemstone.
Miss popular baked good
Ans: MUFFIN
Miss popular suggests a beloved or favored person or thing. Baked good refers to a type of food prepared by baking. Together, muffin describes a popular type of baked good.
Dish is part of lunch I'll ignore
Ans: CHILLI
Dish refers to a type of food prepared for a meal. Part of lunch I'll ignore indicates removing or disregarding certain letters from lunch I'll. Together, chilli describes a spicy dish often served for lunch or dinner.
Outlaw group on appeal
Ans: BANDIT
Outlaw group suggests a criminal organization or gang. On appeal implies a word that means to attract or draw attention. Together, bandit describes a member of a criminal group or someone who engages in unlawful activities.
Dim carnivore eating head of lettuce
Ans: BLEAR
Dim suggests lacking brightness or clarity. Carnivore eating head of lettuce indicates the inclusion of the first letter of lettuce within a carnivorous animal. Together, blear describes something dim or blurry, often associated with the eyes or vision.
