Beat dry heat! (7)
Minute Cryptic clue · November 8, 2026 · answer and full explanation
The Minute Cryptic clue “Beat dry heat!” (7) was set for Sunday, November 8, 2026. Below is the answer — blurred until you tap — followed by the definition, the wordplay and why the letters land where they do.
Minute Cryptic · November 8, 2026
Beat dry heat!
(7)
The answer isHYDRATE
No spoilers — the answer stays blurred until you tap.
Letters 7Device AnagramSet by Bluejay (community)Par 3Solvers 18,437
The clue, colour-coded
Beat dry heat!
DefinitionWordplay / fodderLinking words
How this clue works
The definition
Beat dry heat!
This clue is an &lit, meaning that the whole clue is both definition and wordplay. Our definition here is 'Beat dry heat!', and our answer will be a way of doing that.The wordplay
dry heat!
This clue's fodder is 'dry heat!'. We'll use these letters to construct our answer, as guided by the clue's indicator(s).The answer
HYDRATE
The clue reads “Beat dry heat!” (7). The definition part — “Beat dry heat!” — points straight at HYDRATE, and the rest of the clue builds it with anagram wordplay.
Minute Cryptic publishes a short walkthrough for this clue — watch Bluejay’s own explanation →
This clue’s puzzle day
This clue was the Minute Cryptic for Sunday, November 8, 2026. Open the November 8, 2026 puzzle page for that day’s write-up, or browse the full Minute Cryptic archive.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the answer to “Beat dry heat!”?
The answer is HYDRATE (7 letters). Tap the reveal button above to see it in the answer card.
How do I read a cryptic clue like this?
Every cryptic clue has two halves: a straight definition (at the start or the end) and a piece of wordplay that builds the same word letter by letter. Find the definition first, count the letters from the enumeration, then work out which trick the rest of the clue is playing.
Is there a new Minute Cryptic every day?
Yes — one cryptic clue a day at minutecryptic.com, plus community-set clues. We publish each day’s answer and breakdown here shortly after it goes live.