Today's Parseword cryptic clue lands on Thursday, and this puzzle uses a classic container technique with straightforward wordplay elements.
Created by Josh Wardle, Parseword challenges you to decode one cryptic clue each day. We've got progressive hints to guide you.
How Parseword Works
Parseword delivers one cryptic clue per day. Each clue contains a definition (the answer's meaning) plus wordplay instructions that guide you to construct the answer.
You'll encounter techniques like anagrams, containers, deletions, reversals, and substitutions.
The game offers three modes: Learn (with hints), Play (hints hidden), and Challenge (word length hidden). New puzzles drop daily at 6:00 AM EDT.
Today's Cryptic Clue
"Ugly ring stuck in skin by us"
Answer length: 7 letters
Progressive Hints (Stop When Ready)
Hint 1 (The Definition): The definition word describes an aesthetic quality - something visually unappealing.
Hint 2 (The Technique): This clue uses a container technique - one element placed inside another.
Hint 3 (The Breakdown): You need to take a single letter representing a circular object and insert it into a combination of two other words.
Hint 4 (The Letters): Starts with H, ends with S. Contains 7 letters total.
Hint 5 (Near-Giveaway): Extremely unattractive or repulsive in appearance.
Quick Clues Reference
First Letter: H
Last Letter: S
Vowels Present: I, E, O, U
Rhymes With: RIDICULOUS, TREACHEROUS, DANGEROUS
Today's Parseword Answer
Last chance to solve it yourself. The answer is directly below.
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Today's Parseword answer is: HIDEOUS
The Cryptic Clue Decoded
The Clue: "Ugly ring stuck in skin by us"
Step 1: Identify the definition. "Ugly" directly defines the answer HIDEOUS.
Step 2: Parse the wordplay elements. "Ring" = O (the letter O represents a ring shape). "Skin" = HIDE (synonym for skin). "By" = join indicator, so HIDE + US = HIDEUS.
Step 3: Recognize the container indicator. "Stuck in" tells you to insert one element into another.
Final Assembly: Insert O (ring) into HIDEUS → HIDEOUS. The container technique places O inside HIDEUS to form the answer.
Difficulty Assessment
Difficulty: 2 / 5
Technique Complexity: LOW - The container technique is straightforward with clear indicators
Definition Clarity: OBVIOUS - "Ugly" directly defines HIDEOUS without ambiguity
This puzzle offers accessible cryptic solving with a single container operation. The wordplay elements use common synonyms and clear indicators, making it ideal for beginners learning container techniques.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
A new Parseword cryptic clue drops tomorrow at 6:00 AM EDT. Today's "Ugly ring stuck in skin by us" required container technique with letter substitution.
Every puzzle sharpens your cryptic solving instincts for the next one.
