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Share hints and solve daily puzzles, including Wordle-style games and brain teasers, on the Puzzles board. You can also visit Mumsnet Puzzles for today's puzzles and challenges.

Original poster

Parseword - for those who would like to be better at cryptic crosswords!

407 replies

UnaOfStormhold · 15/03/2026 10:27

I am definitely not good at cryptic crosswords but feel this is both fun and a good way to get better

www.parseword.com/

OP posts:
drspouse · 03/08/2026 09:45

Both pretty quick today!
Minute Cryptic - 3 August, 2026
"Nothing in vault where gold should be - it's a bit of a shock" (4)
🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣
🏆 0 hints – 1 under the community par (82,368 solvers so far).
https://www.minutecryptic.com/?utm_source=share

Parseword #187
⏱️ 1m36s
✅ 1 Assist

Minute Cryptic

Minute Cryptic is a free daily cryptic crossword clue. Solve today's puzzle, learn how cryptic clues work with free guided courses, and build your solving streak.

https://www.minutecryptic.com

Willow12345 · 02/08/2026 12:07

Oh my goodness I struggled with that!
And it took me ages to work out that clue 😆

Parseword #186
⏱️ 4m10s
✅ 6 Assists
🥚 Learn Mode

drspouse · 02/08/2026 11:47

Struggled with both today!

Minute Cryptic - 2 August, 2026
"Tinkle all over the place after surprise entry... Maybe knock first?" (6,1)
⚪️⚪️⚪️🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣
🤝 3 hints – matched the community par (72,483 solvers so far).
https://www.minutecryptic.com/?utm_source=share

Parseword #186
⏱️ 8m40s
✅ 9 Assists

Minute Cryptic

Minute Cryptic is a free daily cryptic crossword clue. Solve today's puzzle, learn how cryptic clues work with free guided courses, and build your solving streak.

https://www.minutecryptic.com

Twasasurprise · 02/08/2026 09:37

Parseword #186
⚡️ 56s
💎 Perfect

Minute Cryptic - 2 August, 2026
"Tinkle all over the place after surprise entry... Maybe knock first?" (6,1)
⚪️⚪️🟡🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣
🤝 3 hints – matched the community par (57,988 solvers so far).
www.minutecryptic.com/?utm_source=share

Midlifeshenanigans · 01/08/2026 17:36

Parseword #185
⚡️ 27s
💎 Perfect

Willow12345 · 01/08/2026 16:32

@drspouse
To turn off learn mode, go into settings and click on ‘play’ mode - you won’t get told the definition word.
After many attempts in play mode, I’ve gone back to learn mode as I’m still rubbish at this 😊

xParseword #185
⏱️ 2m17s
⭐️ No Assists
🥚 Learn Mode

drspouse · 01/08/2026 10:49

Does anyone know of a scratchpad type app that shuffles letters like in Minute Cryptic?
I don't want a solver, just an equivalent to a piece of paper and a pencil!

drspouse · 01/08/2026 10:46

Minute Cryptic - 1 August, 2026
"Ran out of ranch dressing as we went back for something to snack on" (6)
⚪️🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣
🤝 1 hints – matched the community par (77,400 solvers so far).
https://www.minutecryptic.com/?utm_source=share

Parseword #185
⚡️ 52s
💎 Perfect

I got about 4 clues in yesterday's Times Quick Cryptic (there isn't one on Sat) and had to look up a very technical term so I sent the definition to my dad!

Minute Cryptic

Minute Cryptic is a free daily cryptic crossword clue. Solve today's puzzle, learn how cryptic clues work with free guided courses, and build your solving streak.

https://www.minutecryptic.com

Twasasurprise · 01/08/2026 09:35

Parseword #185
⏱️ 1m4s
⭐️ No Assists

Minute Cryptic - 1 August, 2026
"Ran out of ranch dressing as we went back for something to snack on" (6)
⚪️⚪️🟡🟡🟡🟣🟣🟣🟣
🏋 5 hints – 4 over the community par (70,000 solvers so far).
https://www.minutecryptic.com/?utm_source=share

I was really set on the wrong thing for too long.

Minute Cryptic

Minute Cryptic is a free daily cryptic crossword clue. Solve today's puzzle, learn how cryptic clues work with free guided courses, and build your solving streak.

https://www.minutecryptic.com

Twasasurprise · 31/07/2026 13:08

Minute Cryptic - 31 July, 2026
"Shouting “$&%#!” they crash loudly" (7)
⚪️🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣
🏆 1 hints – 2 under the community par (90,153 solvers so far).
https://www.minutecryptic.com/?utm_source=share

I picked the right hint MC for me today.

Parseword #184
⚡️ 38s
💎 Perfect

Minute Cryptic

Minute Cryptic is a free daily cryptic crossword clue. Solve today's puzzle, learn how cryptic clues work with free guided courses, and build your solving streak.

https://www.minutecryptic.com

drspouse · 31/07/2026 10:35

Minute Cryptic - 31 July, 2026
"Shouting “$&%#!” they crash loudly" (7)
⚪️⚪️🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣
🏆 2 hints – 1 under the community par (73,195 solvers so far).
https://www.minutecryptic.com/?utm_source=share

Parseword #184
⚡️ 32s
💎 Perfect
🥚 Learn Mode
(What happens when I switch off learn mode? How do I switch it off?)

Minute Cryptic

Minute Cryptic is a free daily cryptic crossword clue. Solve today's puzzle, learn how cryptic clues work with free guided courses, and build your solving streak.

https://www.minutecryptic.com

Twasasurprise · 30/07/2026 21:01

Willow12345 · 30/07/2026 20:53

My grandmother was the same @UnaOfStormhold
I wish I had been as good at cryptic crosswords as she was

Parseword #183
⚡️ 35s
💎 Perfect
🥚 Learn Mode

Brava! 35s was fantastic!

Willow12345 · 30/07/2026 20:53

My grandmother was the same @UnaOfStormhold
I wish I had been as good at cryptic crosswords as she was

Parseword #183
⚡️ 35s
💎 Perfect
🥚 Learn Mode

Twasasurprise · 30/07/2026 11:50

Parseword #183
⚡️ 51s
💎 Perfect

Midlifeshenanigans · 30/07/2026 08:38

Parseword #182
⏱️ 1m18s
⭐️ No Assists

Willow12345 · 30/07/2026 08:27

Parseword #182
⏱️ 1m40s
⭐️ No Assists
🥚 Learn Mode

Original poster
UnaOfStormhold · 29/07/2026 12:06

My granddad was a very skilled cryptic crossword solver, kept his brain active all his life. I wish I had done more with him!

OP posts:
Twasasurprise · 29/07/2026 12:06

I got today's Minute Cryptic on even par, 3 hints. I didn't know where to start without the hints, especially as the first indicator went completely over my head.

drspouse · 29/07/2026 10:41

If you are doing Minute Cryptic - I just got it but thought I was wrong because I spelled the answer wrong - if I had bothered to look at all the letters in the anagram I would have worked out what I was substituting but I didn't, I just randomly went "that looks right, it has some of the same letters".

drspouse · 29/07/2026 10:38

By the way, when I do crosswords with my dad, I look up synonyms or "words ending -ium" on my phone but he looks them up in his crossword dictionaries and thesaurus. Help with cryptic crosswords has an old and honourable history - my grandfather was born in 1910 and he did these things too.

drspouse · 29/07/2026 10:34

That's more like it

Parseword #182
⏱️ 1m27s
⭐️ No Assists
🥚 Learn Mode

Twasasurprise · 29/07/2026 09:57

Parseword #182
⚡️ 35s
💎 Perfect

Willow12345 · 28/07/2026 21:28

Agree @drspouse

Parseword #181
⏱️ 1m5s
💎 Perfect
🥚 Learn Mode

Twasasurprise · 28/07/2026 18:53

If I'd not inadvertently seen @drspouse post before playing the puzzle, I'd probably have been floundering too.

drspouse · 28/07/2026 15:11

I thought it was odd too - I've PMd you.

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