The Sunday Crossword No 3234, Sunday 25 Dec 2022

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Artwork by Prasanna

Rangoli by Gowri

ACROSS

1   Cleaner cut out unwillingness (10) RELUCTANCE*

6   Nag a swimmer (4) CARP [DD]

9   Monks party with pint-sized beers? (10) DOMINICANS {DO}{MINI CANS}

10 Everyman rues regularly being simple (4) MERE {ME}{RuEs}

11 Proficiently cook pungent almondy dessert (8,4) BAKEWELL TART {BAKE WELL}{TART}

15 Novelist related incomplete tale, not right (7) TOLSTOY {TOLd}{STOrY}

16 Showing signs of experience, worked from home? (5-2) LIVED-IN [DD]

17 Most frilly, encased in lilac – i.e., stimulating (7) LACIEST [T]

19 Not good, missing small cakes (7) MUFFINS {MUFFINg}{S}

20 Interbreed one's deer, did you say? I swear! (5,2,5) CROSS MY HEART {CROSS}{MY}{HEART}

23 Gently knocks back argument (4) SPAT<=

24 I avert their topless cavorting in Côte d'Azur etc (3,7) THE RIVIERA {I+AVERT+tHEIR}*

25 A collection of rabbits suffices (4) DOES [DD]

26 Air arrival (10) APPEARANCE [DD]

DOWN

1   Intruder, somewhat impolite (4) RUDE [T]

2   Large Incan metropolitan area (to begin with)? (4) LIMA Acrostic Semi&lit

3   Get through to little Leonard's way of seeing things (7,4) CONTACT LENS {CONTACT}{LEN'S}

4   Mischievous English rector with yen for sport (7) ARCHERY {ARCH}{E}{R}{Y}

5   Obscure, formerly, in California (7) CONCEAL {C{ONCE}AL}

7   Home to ancient Wonder, dramatic rain and density in Amazon's character (10) ALEXANDRIA {ALEX{RAIN+D}*A}

8   Bizarrely persistent charm (10) PRETTINESS*

12 Britpop anthem Fever Lover I remixed (4,7) LIVE FOREVER {FEVER+LOVER+I}*

13 Perversely idealistic and stressed, in a way (10) ITALICISED*

14 Somehow locate tree for pickers? (10) ELECTORATE*

18 Store trifles and beer ingredient (7) TOYSHOP {TOYS}{HOP}

19 'Exercise core, men': former tennis ace (7) MCENROE*

21 Carol heading north in Spanish city (4) LEON<=

22 With no coverage, support announced (4) BARE (~bear)

Reference List

Party = DO, Right = R, Good = G, Small = S, English = E, Rector = R, Yen = Y, California = CAL, Density = D