Subtraction Indicators

Words and phrases in a cryptic clue indicating that letters are to be removed.

Click on any word in the list to see the entry in the Crossword Dictionary.

Removal of first letter

AFTER COMMENCEMENT
BEGINNING TO GO
BEHEADED
BEHEADING
DECAPITATED
FIRST OFF
HEADLESS
HEAD OFF
INITIALLY LACKING
LEADERLESS
LOSING OPENER

MISSING THE FIRST
NEEDING NO INTRODUCTION
NOT BEGINNING
NOT COMMENCING
NOT STARTING
START OFF
START TO GO
SCRATCH THE HEAD
STRIKE THE HEAD
UNINITIATED
UNSTARTED

Removal of last letter

ABRIDGED
ALMOST
BACK OFF
CLIPPED
CURTAILED
CUT SHORT
DETAILED
EARLY CLOSING
ENDLESS
FALLING SHORT
FINISH OFF
FOR THE MOST PART
INCOMPLETE

INTERMINABLE
LACKING FINISH
MISSING THE LAST
MOST
MOSTLY
NEARLY
NOT COMPLETELY
NOT FULLY
NOT QUITE
TAILLESS
UNENDING
UNFINISHED
WITHOUT END

Removal of first and last letters

EDGES AWAY
LACKING WINGS
LIMITLESS
LOSING MARGINS
SHELLED

SIDES SPLITTING
TRIMMED
UNLIMITED
WINGLESS
WITHOUT LIMITS

Removal of central letter(s)

CORED
DISHEARTENED
EMPTIED
EMPTY
EVACUATED

FILLETED
GUTTED
HEARTLESS
HOLLOW
LOSING HEART

Removal of alternate letters

Or selection of alternate letters (which in effect is the same thing)

ALTERNATELY
EVENLY
EVENS OUT
EVERY OTHER
EVERY SECOND

NOT EVEN
ODDLY
ODDLY LACKING
ODDS
SECONDS OUT

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