Easy, Medium or Hard: choose your crossword clues

NewsWords changes the clues, not the answers. Easy, Medium and Hard all use the same shared 9×9 grid.

Easy: a direct way in.

Easy clues aim for a straightforward definition or recognisable fact. This is a useful starting point if you are new to crosswords, have only a few minutes, or would rather spend your time exploring the linked news stories.

Medium: one step removed.

Medium clues are less direct, with a little more playful phrasing. The aim is to make you connect the dots without needing a different set of specialist facts.

Hard: read it a different way.

Hard clues lean into wordplay and misdirection. They are cryptic-adjacent rather than a full traditional cryptic crossword. Look for a second meaning or another way to read the phrase, then test it against the crossing letters.

Keep your progress when you switch.

The solution does not change when you select another difficulty. The same letters you have already entered still belong to the same answers. Everyone playing that edition has the same grid, whichever clue setting they prefer.

What if a clue feels off?

Difficulty is partly personal: a familiar name can be easy for one solver and unfamiliar to another. An editor reviews the puzzle before it is published, including automated findings about clue quality and a complete skim. Read our editorial standards for the process.

Three ways to reach one answer.

These are the exact three clues for a single entry in the September 7 edition. They illustrate the different routes a clue can offer; which feels easiest will depend on what you know.

A clue level is a starting point, not a test you must pass. Try a different setting when another angle would help, and keep the crossing letters you have already found.