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I threw contaminated waste away (6)

Minute Cryptic clue · October 13, 2026 · answer and full explanation
By Ahmed Hassan
Answer verified against the live puzzle

The Minute Cryptic clue “I threw contaminated waste away” (6) was set for Tuesday, October 13, 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 · October 13, 2026

I threw contaminated waste away

(6)

The answer isWITHER

No spoilers — the answer stays blurred until you tap.

Letters 6Device AnagramSet by Bluejay (community)Par 2Solvers 19,117

The clue, colour-coded

I threw contaminated waste away
DefinitionWordplay / fodderLinking words

How this clue works

The definition

waste away

Our definition here is 'waste away', and our answer will be another word for that.

The wordplay

I threw

This clue's fodder is 'I threw'. We'll use these letters to construct our answer, as guided by the clue's indicator(s).

The answer

WITHER

The clue reads “I threw contaminated waste away” (6). The definition part — “waste away” — points straight at WITHER, 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 Tuesday, October 13, 2026. Open the October 13, 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 “I threw contaminated waste away”?
The answer is WITHER (6 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.