Today's Minute Cryptic Answer, Explained - October 13, 2026

Minute Cryptic Answers And Hints - October 13, 2026 Solve today's Minute Cryptic with our step-by-step explanation. Published Oct 12, 2026, 9:31 AM EDT Allyson Cochran is a Chicago-based Editor at TheGamer who has worked as a journalist since 2020 and in games journalism since 2022. She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism and focuses primarily on guides, previews, and developer interviews, with particular expertise in cozy indie games and live-service FPS titles. She has interviewed numerous game directors, including those of games like Overwatch and Dead by Daylight. Allyson has written and edited thousands of guides, and she genuinely loves every minute of it. Today's Minute Cryptic is here to put your wordplay skills to the test. These clues might look like ordinary sentences at first glance, but there's usually plenty going on beneath the surface. If you're staring at today's clue wondering how on earth you're supposed to get from the wording to an answer, don't worry. We've got you covered. This guide breaks the clue down piece by piece, explaining the definition, fodder, and indicators and how they work together. If you're still stuck, you'll also find an extra hint to nudge you in the right direction before we reveal the full answer and explain exactly how everything comes together. Hints For Today's Minute Cryptic Clue (October 13, 2026) Today's clue is 'I threw contaminated waste away (6)'. Below, we'll break down everything you need to solve it, from the Indicator, Fodder, and Definition to an extra hint if you're still stuck. What Is The Indicator? Instead of giving away the answer immediately, let this section do a little cryptic detective work first. Take a peek below if you want a nudge toward what the clue is asking you to do. The indicator is “contaminated”, which signals an anagram. The nearby fodder has been “tainted”, telling us to rearrange its letters to find the answer. What Is The Fodder? We've identified what the clue wants you to do, now it's time to figure out what you're supposed to do it to. This points you toward the exact fodder you need. The fodder is “I threw". What Is The Definition? Need a little help figuring out the definition? We've got you covered! This part of the clue points you toward the meaning of the answer. The definition is “waste away”, so we’re looking for a synonym that fits. Answer Hints This hint gets you considerably closer to today's answer without dropping the whole thing in your lap, so you can still enjoy that little ohhhh moment when everything clicks. Think of a word meaning to shrivel up or lose strength over time. If the clue has completely defeated you, we reveal the answer and explain exactly how it all comes together below. Expand the spoiler below for the answer and a breakdown of how the definition, fodder, and indicator all come together. The answer is 'wither'. “I threw” is the fodder, giving us the letters we need to construct our answer. “Contaminated” is the anagram indicator, telling us to rearrange the letters of I THREW to form a new word. Rearranging these letters gives us WITHER. The definition, “waste away,” means to become weak, thin, or shrivelled, making WITHER a fitting answer.