Today's Minute Cryptic Answer, Explained - October 22, 2026

Minute Cryptic Answers And Hints - October 22, 2026 Solve today's Minute Cryptic clue, "Donation boxes are said to be a scam". Published Oct 21, 2026, 8:03 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 22, 2026) Today's clue is 'Donation boxes are said to be a scam (5)'. 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. This clue's indicators are 'boxes' and 'said'. 'Boxes' is a containment indicator, telling us to place some fodder inside other fodder. 'Said' is a homophone indicator, telling us to replace some neighboring fodder with a word that sounds the same. 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. This clue's fodder is 'donation' and 'are'. We'll need to find substitutes for both words, then use them to construct our answer as directed by the clue's indicators. 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 here is 'a scam', so our answer will be a synonym for that. 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. It's a scammy word that proves not every gift is given in good faith. 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 'grift'. “Donation” is the fodder, but we need a short substitute for it rather than using the whole word. Gift works as a synonym for donation. “Said” is the homophone indicator, telling us to consider how the neighboring word sounds. Are sounds like the letter R. “Boxes” is the containing indicator, telling us to place R inside GIFT. Putting R inside GIFT gives us GRIFT. The definition, “a scam,” means a dishonest scheme or swindle, making GRIFT a fitting synonym.