No 14823, Thursday 18 Jun 2026, Dr. X

Solution to 3D has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered only by a non-regular / novice commenter, with proper annotation. Those who have answered earlier in the week, please give others a chance.

Open for anyone to answer, if not solved by 1 PM.

ACROSS

1   Say plainly what one thinks of boy stealing top and denims slyly (5,4,4) SPEAK ONES MIND {S{PEAK}ON}{DENIMS*}

8   Vitality in bedroom, phenomenal (5) OOMPH [T]

9   In addition to iodine, uranium found in unusual chemical element (9) RUTHENIUM {THEN}{I}{U} in {RUM}

11 Speculating in article on crypto finally going up (10) THEORISING {THE}{c...tO}{RISING}

12 Roll with bit of cheese and cream (4) COIL {Ch...e}{OIL}

14 Quickly controls anger, being most dispassionate (7) FAIREST {FA{IRE}ST}

16 Vaguely stealthy, consuming ecstasy behind toilet (7) LOOSELY {S{E}LY}<=>{LOO}

17 Policeman's suggestion to catch international head of criminals (7) OFFICER {OFF{I}{Cr...s}ER}

19 Really skilful ball, trapping Australia's opener on hundred (2,5) DE FACTO {DEFT}{0} over {Au...a}{C}

21 A little kid painting small motor-racing vehicle (4) KART {Kid}{ART}

22 Bar-hopped in Peru on vacation and fought outside clubs (3-7) PUB-CRAWLED {PerU}{B{C}RAWLED}

25 Checking lump in body (9) THWARTING {TH{WART}ING}

26 India's top star in retreat getting close to hottie is engaged (2,3) IN USE {In...s}{SUN<=}{h...iE}

27 High-strung European overwhelmed by myalgic problem and high blood sugar in US (13) HYPERGLYCEMIA {HYPER}{GLYC{E}MIA*}

DOWN

2   Show that is about Italy's archaeological site (7) POMPEII {POMP}{IE<=}{I}

3   Hate blunder in retrospect, taken in by rogue on beach (10) A?H?R?E?C?  (Addendum - ABHORRENCE {ERR<=} in {ON+BEACH}* - See comments)

4   Root's run out, taken aback by abrupt leap (5) ORRIS {RO<=}{RISe}

5   Twisted knee after a little tumble in finale (9) ENTANGLED {ANGLE}<=>{Tu...e} in [END}

6   Patient beginning to moan with cry of fright (4) MEEK {Moan}{EEK}

7   Smelly moose in compound (7) NOISOME*

8   Where thief might take wallet, being without money (3,2,6) OUT OF POCKET [DD]

10 Awfully comely doll captivating daughter's baby (11) MOLLYCODDLE {COMELY+DOLL} over {D}

13 Wild animal mauled emir at compound (10) WOLFRAMITE {WOLF}{EMIR+AT}*

15 Distressing nonsense about code-breaker (9) TORTURING {ROT<=}{TURING}

18 Dreamy fellow beginning to attract women in a flash (7) FARAWAY {F} with {At...t}{W} in {A}{RAY}

20 Contact medicos at centre about copper getting kidney stones (7) CALCULI {CAL{CU}L}{medIcos}

23 Secretive Academy Award-winning actor concealing name (5) CAGEY CAGnEY

24 Real crazy brute killing bishop (4) TRUE bRUTE*

Reference List

Unusual = RUM, Ecstasy = E, Toilet = LOO, International = I, Hundred = C, Clubs = C, European = E, Italy = I, Run out = RO, Daughtr = D, Fellow = F, Women = W, Name = N, Bishop = B

No 14822, Wednesday 17 Jun 2026, Dr. X

Solution to 7D has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered only by a non-regular / novice commenter, with proper annotation. Those who have answered earlier in the week, please give others a chance.

Open for anyone to answer, if not solved by 1 PM.

ACROSS

1   Primarily sexy mate turned on bar girl immediately (4-4) SLAP-BANG {Sexy}{PAL<=}{BAN}{G}

5   Smuggles exotic snakes (6) SNEAKS*

10 & 6 What diligent geologists will do to make every possible effort (5,2,5,8) LEAVE NO STONE UNTURNED [C&DD]

11 Extorts a definite promise from foolish son-in-law stifling daughter (5,4) NAILS DOWN {SON IN LAW}* over {D}

12 Impression made by English nationalist ranting about Government (9) ENGRAVING {E}{N}{RAVING} over {G}

13 Young bird of duck, beginning to leap into water (5) OWLET {0}{W{Leap}ET}

14 Whispers of women going astray, enthralled by dope (6) ASIDES {AS{wIDE}S}

15 Rat is over top of rusted grille (7) TRELLIS {T{Ru...d}ELL}{IS}

18 Hamper in cabin, extremely large (7) SHACKLE {SHACK}{LargE}

20 Dog at home stops crook (6) CANINE {CAN{IN}E}

22 Start to examine decay over back of leg in fungal disease (5) ERGOT {Ex...e}{R{leG}OT}

24 Drug that arouses remarkable lust, mating endlessly (9) STIMULANT {LUST+MATINg}*

25 What may cause quivering lips to meet, expressing first sign of passion? (9) MISTLETOE {LIpS+TO+MEET}* Semi&lit

26 Overwhelmed by tackling a nasty parasitic disease of livestock (5) NGANA [T]

27 Director went up after drinking whiskey to sleep (6) DROWSE {D}{RO{W}SE}

28 Be able to lazily captivate date in a forthright manner (8) CANDIDLY {CAN}{IDLY} over {D}

DOWN

1   Collect rupees over large tray (6) SALVER {SA{L}VER}

2   Swilling ales again for relief of pain (9) ANALGESIA* 

3   American in wild bender lets loose after take-off for fun (4,3,8) BEER AND SKITTLES {A} in {BENDER}* with {LETS}*<=>{SKIT}

4   Sister thus returned to welcome hundred and one papal ambassadors (7) NUNCIOS {NUN}{SO<=} over {CI}

6   See 10 Across

7   Key left behind a parcel in retreat (5) A?O?L (Addendum - ATOLL {L}<=>{A}{LOT<=} - See comments))

8   Clean seats in compound outside institute (8) SANITISE {SEATS+IN}* over {I}

9   Gifted extraordinary toy (6) FIDGET*

16 Help design a hotel in property (4,1,4) LEND A HAND {END}{A}{H} in {LAND}

17 Admirable seed easily wins match, making a comeback (8) ESTEEMED {SEED}* over {MEET<=}

19 Phoney arrested by officers at Zurich (6) ERSATZ [T]

20 Fancy songstress captivating one million admirers at premiere (7) CHIMERA {CH{1}{M}ER}{At}

21 Regular boyfriend in filthy place, cuddling topless escort (6) STEADY {ST{lEAD}Y}

23 Relish breeze on top of observatory (5) GUSTO {GUST}{Ob...y}

Reference List

Girl = G, Daughter = D, English = E, Nationalist, Government = G, Women = W, Director = D, Whiskey = W, Date = D, Large = L, Hundrea and one = CI, Left = L, Institute = I, Hotel = H, Million = M