The Hindu Cryptic on Sunday No 33, Sunday 07 Dec 2025, Dr. X

ACROSS

1   Pleasure-seeker is a bit overwhelmed by painful problem (8) GADABOUT {G{A}{DAB}OUT}

5   A small box containing phosphorus in hollow beneath fireplace (3-3) ASH-PIT {A}{S}{H{P}IT}

10 Restrain drunk grabbing maiden on island (5) LIMIT {LI{M}{I}T}

11 Took fresh sandwiches, cut of meat and vodka at centre (9) PURLOINED {PUR{LOIN}E}{voDka}

12 Flat in Seattle, fancy and extremely spacious (9) TASTELESS {SEATTLE}*}{Sp...uS}

13 Girl dumps male, stuffy and tempestuous (5) GUSTY {G}{mUSTY}

14 Bowl from ancient city stolen by youth (6) TUREEN {T{UR}EEN}

15 Learn about new company holding inauguration of industrial plant (7) SENECIO {SE{N}E}{C{In...l}O}

18 Element in starch, a bit atypical (7) HABITAT [T]

20 Ecstasy, heroin and marijuana finally found in flat (6) HEAVEN {H}{E{m...nA}VEN}

22 Article about India's foremost female bandit (5) THIEF {TH{In..a}E}{F}

24 Doctor finally ordered rest cure to revitalise (9) RESURRECT {d...oR}{REST+CURE}*

25 Offended by doctor, nurse left (9) RESENTFUL*

26 Very upset after onset of arthritis, getting help (5) AVAIL {V}{AIL}<=>{Ar...s}

27 Most pretty model breaking signal on street (6) CUTEST {CU{T}E}{ST}

28 Climber died in an incident on top of ridge (8) ASCENDER {A}{SCEN{D}E}{Ri..e}

DOWN

1   Fantastic gelato in American city (6) GOLETA*

2   Check quips about primarily boring anticlimax (4,5) DAMP SQUIB {DAM}{QUIPS*}{Bo...g}

3 & 7 Where bums might be using intuition (2,3,4,2,4,5) BY THE SEAT OF ONES PANTS [DD]

4   Plenty of university fellows receiving physical training on base (7) UMPTEEN {U}{M{PT}{E}EN}

6   Naughty nights with amour are ultimately leading to this? (7,8) SHOTGUN MARRIAGE {NIGHTS+AMOUR+ARE+l...nG} Semi&lit

7   See 3 Down

8   Current leader of band captivated by doll is British rebel of 1950's rock subculture (5,3) TEDDY BOY {T{EDDY}{Band}OY}

9   Emergency in Cuba with endless threat to lives (6) CRISIS {C}{RISk}{IS}

16 Most intelligent boy wins competition finally in American city (9) CLEVELAND {CLEVEr}{LA{c...oN}D}

17 Bombast of rich rogue consuming ecstasy with revolting degenerate (8) RHETORIC {RH{E}{ROT<=}IC*}

19 Tense disagreement about husband's frugality (6) THRIFT {T}{H}{RIFT}

20 Hurries as ruthless criminal runs away (7) HUSTLES rUTHLESS*

21 Tells about lacking energy, becoming more tired (6) STALER RELATeS<=

23 Smaller map of island close to Mykonos in pocket (5) INSET {I}{N{m...oS}ET}

Reference List

Small = S, Maiden = M, Island = I, Girl = G, Male = M, Ancient city = UR, New = N, Company = CO, Heroin = H, Female = F, Very = V, Model = T, Died = D, University = U, Base = E, Ecstasy = E, Tense = T, Husband = H, Runs = R, Energy = E