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 ()

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, Institute = I, Hotel = H, Million = M