Clue decoded
PUFFING describes breathing heavily or panting, as a companion such as a dog often does after running or playing. The -ING form fits the implied description of the companion’s current action.
- Clue type:
- Word form
More Clues
Wednesday, August 12, 2026
Puzzle 1
Puzzle 2
Puzzle 3
- composes a movie's music
- Andy Dalton's former team
- brouhahas
- panting companion, oftenPU-FF-ING
- blows out of proportion
- Mark Wahlberg football flick
- collectors' quests
Puzzle 4
The answer to “panting companion, often” in 7 Little Words is PUFFING — a 7-letter word from Puzzle 3 on Wednesday, August 12, 2026. If this is the one clue standing between you and a finished board, that's the word you need — and below you'll find why it fits, how to build it from that puzzle's tiles, and links to the day's other clues if more than one is giving you trouble.
“panting companion, often” answer
The 7 Little Words answer for “panting companion, often” (Wednesday, August 12, 2026, Puzzle 3) is:
PUFFING·7 letters
You can also reveal it one tile at a time above if you'd rather keep some of the challenge.
Why the answer is PUFFING
A tired runner or old locomotive may be doing this beside you. 🚂
How to build PUFFING from the tiles
In 7 Little Words you don't type the answer — you assemble it from the puzzle's shared tile bank, and every tile is used exactly once across all seven answers. Puzzle 3's tiles for August 12, 2026 are:
SC · OR · ES · BE · NG · ALS · RU · CKUS · ES · PU · FF · ING · EXAG · GER · ATES · INV · INCI · BLE · SE · TS
PUFFING is built by combining the tiles PU · FF · ING in order. Because those tiles come out of the shared bank, locking in PUFFING early also narrows what's left for the other six clues.
More clues from this puzzle
Stuck on another clue? Here are the rest of Puzzle 3's clues for August 12, 2026 — tap any for its answer and tile breakdown:
- composes a movie's music — 6 letters
- Andy Dalton's former team — 7 letters
- brouhahas — 8 letters
- blows out of proportion — 11 letters
- Mark Wahlberg football flick — 10 letters
- collectors' quests — 4 letters
Want all five puzzles in one place? The full day is on the August 12, 2026 answers page, and today's live answers are always one tap from the main 7 Little Words page.
About 7 Little Words
7 Little Words is a daily clue-and-tile puzzle from Blue Ox Technologies. Each board gives seven clues and a bank of two- and three-letter tiles; you spell every answer by combining tiles, using each tile exactly once. Five free puzzles publish every day, resetting at midnight Eastern Time. This was a Wednesday puzzle.
Frequently asked questions
What is the answer to “panting companion, often” in 7 Little Words?
The answer is PUFFING, a 7-letter word from Puzzle 3 on Wednesday, August 12, 2026.
How many letters is the answer to “panting companion, often”?
7 letters: PUFFING.
Which tiles spell PUFFING?
The tiles PU · FF · ING combine to spell PUFFING, drawn from Puzzle 3's shared tile bank.
Can “panting companion, often” have a different 7 Little Words answer?
Blue Ox can reuse a clue on another date, and the tile bank differs each day, so the answer that fits can change.
What time does 7 Little Words reset?
Every day at midnight Eastern Time. We post each day's answers as soon as the new puzzles go live.
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