The Independent's Cryptic Crossword Puzzle Answers Today March 20 2024
by Abisha
Updated Mar 20, 2024
Crosswords are mind cracking games which improves our IQ level and thinking ability. You can find crosswords on many newspapers and now here we are solving with “The Independent's Cryptic Crossword”. The answers for today’s clues are updated below, check them now.
How this puzzle was compiled: in a calculating manner, with no introduction (13) Letters
The Possible Solution is ATHEMATICALLY
The clue suggests that the puzzle was compiled in a methodical or calculated manner, without an introduction. The answer, with 13 letters, is ATHMATICALLY, which fits the description provided.
Big cat's claw quietly removed (5) Letters
The Possible Solution is OUNCE
Members of staff appear to backtrack over stratagem following closure of site (9) Letters
The Possible Solution is EMPLOYEES
Over stratagem following closure of site indicates using the word ploy (a stratagem) and removing the last letter (closure of site), leaving ploy. Placing ploy after elyes gives us Employees.
Confuse smart, woke colleagues (9) Letters
The Possible Solution is WORKMATES
The clue suggests causing confusion among intelligent and aware colleagues. The answer, with 9 letters, is WORKMATES. It fits the description provided, indicating colleagues who work together.
Love extremely good conclusion to series (5) Letters
The Possible Solution is OMEGA
This clue suggests finding a word meaning love that ends with the conclusion of the word series. In mathematics, omega represents the end or conclusion, and it also starts with the letter o, which is the first letter of extremely good (the word good being the first word of good conclusion).
Cantonese? (7) Letters
The Possible Solution is ROMANSH
Cantonese is a real language spoken in southern China and Hong Kong. However, the question mark implies a twist. ROMANSH is a real, but much less common, language spoken in a small region of Switzerland.
American chases lost sheep in ancient city (7) Letters
The Possible Solution is EPHESUS
The clue suggests that we are looking for the name of an ancient city. American could be represented by US, and lost sheep could be Ewes. If we combine US (American) with Ewes (lost sheep), we get Ephesus, which is indeed an ancient city.
Half-cut conservative tycoon oddly not prosperous (7) Letters
The Possible Solution is HALCYON
Halcyon primarily refers to a period of peace, tranquility, or prosperity.
Polish revolt about introduction of Leninism (7) Letters
The Possible Solution is SLICKEN
This clue suggests a term related to a Polish revolt involving Leninism. Introduction of Leninism indicates adding Leninism to a word, and Polish revolt hints at the word Slicken, which can describe the action of making something slippery or less resistant, resembling a revolt or change.
Pilgrim zips around inspiring Turkish port (5) Letters
The Possible Solution is IZMIR
The clue suggests a Turkish port city that could be considered inspiring. Pilgrim zips around indicates an anagram of Pilgrim with zips around it. The answer is IZMIR, which is a port city in Turkey.
React violently after some people initially spend a lot of money (6,3) Letters
The Possible Solution is SPLASHOUT
The clue indicates a reaction involving spending a lot of money. Some people initially suggests taking the first letters of Some people Violently react is synonymous with splash out, meaning to spend extravagantly. So, the answer is SPLASHOUT.
Hurry up! Agitated shark in swimming pool- (4,5) Letters
The Possible Solution is LOOKSHARP
This clue suggests a phrase meaning to hurry up or be alert. "Agitated shark" hints at being sharp or alert, and "swimming pool" suggests looking, as in keeping watch. The answer is "LOOKSHARP".
Content to snog a Tory backing southern region- (5) Letters
The Possible Solution is OTAGO
The clue suggests a southern region where someone might be content to snog (kiss) a Tory (member of the British Conservative Party). If we reverse "a Tory" (backing) and add it to "southern region", we get "OTAGO", which is a region in New Zealand.
Art house style changes like a prevailing breeze (5-8) Letters
The Possible Solution is SOUTH EASTERLY
This clue suggests a style or direction of wind that is associated with an art house style. "Changes like a prevailing breeze" implies an anagram of "style" and "prevailing". The answer is "SOUTH EASTERLY", which describes a wind coming from the southeast direction.
Process hides most of President's petulant display (7) Letters
The Possible Solution is TANTURM
"Process hides" implies removing some letters from the word "tantrum". If we remove most of the letters from "tantrum", we get "TANTURM", which fits the clue.
Flatbread sliced, as likely as not (4,5) Letters
The Possible Solution is EVENMONEY
This clue suggests a phrase meaning equally probable or even odds. "Flatbread sliced" hints at the word "even", which could mean flat or level, and "likely as not" implies "money". So, the answer is "EVEN MONEY".
Representative is mature, not heartless (5) Letters
The Possible Solution is AGENT
The clue suggests a word for a representative who is mature but not heartless. If we remove the word "heartless" from "agent", we get "AGENT", which fits the clue.
One million people who tweet possibly could be bots? (9) Letters
The Possible Solution is IMPOSTERS
"Possibly could be bots" indicates impostors or people pretending to be something they are not. "One million people" implies a large number. The answer is "IMPOSTERS".
Bother bishop over Filipino dish (5) Letters
The Possible Solution is ADOBO
"Filipino dish" hints at "Adobo", which is a popular Filipino cuisine. "Bother bishop over" suggests rearranging or combining letters from "Adobo". The answer is "ADOBO".
People with interest in property mostly want to stop falsehoods (7) Letters
The Possible Solution is LIENEES
"Interest in property mostly" could refer to "Lien", which is a legal claim against a property. "Want to stop falsehoods" suggests "Lienees", which are individuals against whom a lien is placed.
Forbids the low blows in fighting arena (8,5) Letters
The Possible Solution is BOSWORTH FIELD
Fools country about international slaughter (13) Letters
The Possible Solution is ASSASSINATION
"Fools" hints at "ASS", and "country about" suggests the word "ASSASSINATION", which means the act of killing a prominent person for political or ideological reasons.
Gives swimmer indication that a deal has been agreed (9) Letters
The Possible Solution is HANDSHAKE
"Swimmer indication" suggests a handshake, which is a common gesture used to seal a deal or agreement.
Welcomes quality bit of cold weather (9) Letters
The Possible Solution is HAILSTONE
"Quality bit of cold weather" hints at "HAILSTONE", which refers to a small, icy precipitation that falls during cold weather.
Father breaks into large car in river (7) Letters
The Possible Solution is LIMPOPO
"Father breaks into" hints at "LIMPOPO", which is a river in southern Africa that flows through Botswana, Mozambique, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.
Wise guy back to crack MAGA's problem with much of the Mexican border (4-3) Letters
The Possible Solution is KNOWALL
"MAGA's problem" implies a reference to the border security issue often associated with the MAGA (Make America Great Again) movement. "Wise guy back to crack" suggests "KNOWALL", which is someone who is regarded as excessively knowledgeable or clever.
Put back prop holding base (5) Letters
The Possible Solution is RESET
The clue suggests a term for putting something back to its original position, with a reference to a prop holding a base. "Prop holding base" hints at the word "REST", and "put back" indicates that it should be placed again, resulting in "RESET".
Deep Blue is following the Sicilian opening in Palermo (5) Letters
The Possible Solution is LAPIS
"Deep Blue" refers to the famous chess-playing computer, and "following the Sicilian opening in Palermo" implies "LAPIS", which is a deep blue stone often used in jewelry, derived from the Latin word "lapis lazuli".
