The morning coffee has been poured, the brain cells are reluctantly stirring, and there, staring back from the page, is today’s contender for “most intriguing
crossword clue
“: “Finally break limb, a spiritual comeback (5)“. Oh, the sheer delight of a clue that seems to twist and turn, inviting you down one path only to reveal a clever misdirection!
This isn’t just any
crossword clue
; it’s a miniature mystery, a linguistic puzzle packed into a mere handful of words. Right off the bat, “Finally break limb” presents a rather stark, almost violent image, doesn’t it? Our minds immediately conjure up images of snapped branches, or perhaps even a trip to the emergency room. For those new to the art of solving crosswords, especially the cryptic variety, this literal interpretation can be a formidable barrier. Is it an instruction to remove letters? An anagram indicator? Or something far more subtle? The beauty of a well-crafted
crossword clue
lies in its ability to simultaneously define and obscure.
Then we hit the second part: “a spiritual comeback.” Now
that’s
an interesting pivot. From the physical, almost painful imagery of “break limb” to the ethereal, hopeful notion of a “spiritual comeback.” The contrast is stark, and it’s precisely this kind of unexpected juxtaposition that makes a
crossword puzzle
so utterly engaging. How does one reconcile a fractured limb with a return to spiritual vigor? This is where the magic of wordplay truly shines. This second phrase, “a spiritual comeback,” is clearly our definition. It tells us what kind of word we’re looking for – something related to revival, regeneration, or perhaps even resurrection in a non-literal sense. It hints at renewal, a fresh start, an emergence from a period of struggle or dormancy.
The numerical hint, (5), is our constant companion, reminding us of the precise length of our target word. Five letters. Not too long, not too short, just enough space for some clever manipulation. Many a seasoned solver will tell you that the shorter the word, the tighter the clue often needs to be. This particular
crossword clue
feels incredibly tight, where every single word and punctuation mark could hold a vital piece of the puzzle.
When approaching a
crossword clue
like this, it’s essential to put on your cryptic thinking cap. Forget the surface meaning for a moment. What could “Finally” truly imply in a cryptic context? Is it about the last letter of a word? And “break limb”? Is it an anagram indicator, asking us to ‘break’ up the letters of ‘limb’ and rearrange them with something else? Or could ‘limb’ itself be part of a larger wordplay construct? The best cryptic clues often combine a deceptively simple definition with an intricate wordplay mechanism that, once revealed, makes you smack your forehead and wonder how you didn’t see it sooner.
This isn’t just about filling in squares; it’s about the mental gymnastics, the parsing of language, the joy of the ‘aha!’ moment when the two seemingly disparate parts of the clue suddenly click into place. It’s about the satisfaction of unraveling a well-spun linguistic knot. So, take a moment. Ponder the possibilities. Consider the double meanings, the hidden instructions, the clever turns of phrase that make solving crosswords such an endlessly rewarding pursuit. This challenging
crossword clue
is a masterclass in elegant misdirection and precise definition, waiting for that moment of insight. What five-letter word bridges “Finally break limb” with “a spiritual comeback”? The answer, when it comes, is often as satisfying as the initial enigma was perplexing.
Available Answers:
KARMA.
Last seen on the crossword puzzle: Metro Cryptic Crossword Clues Thursday, 16 October 2025