Barking beast

Latest answer — August 17, 2026

24 Down

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Clue explained

A SEAL is the barking beast: several seal species make sounds resembling barks. The clue’s wording is a straightforward description with a touch of animal-sound wordplay.

Clue type:
Pun or wordplay
A harbor seal resting on shore

Thomas Joseph Crossword

This clue's Monday, August 17, 2026 appearance

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Across

  1. 1Jousting need
  2. 6Stunned
  3. 11Group of top players
  4. 12Banish
  5. 13Aquarium fish
  6. 14Good judgment
  7. 15Peril
  8. 17Beanie or beret
  9. 18Standing stone
  10. 22Death notice, for short
  11. 23Wedding reception events
  12. 27Last inning, usually
  13. 29Cloth fold
  14. 30Liquid in Chinese cooking
  15. 32Brit’s “bye!”
  16. 33Blood bit
  17. 35Approves
  18. 38Den
  19. 39Parking pro
  20. 41Patriot Allen
  21. 45San Antonio landmark
  22. 46Roulette bet
  23. 47Abate
  24. 48Ignore the limit

Down

  1. 1Back muscle, for short
  2. 2Had a meal
  3. 3Tennis court divider
  4. 4Redhead, informally
  5. 5Some messages
  6. 6In-box setting
  7. 7Log chopper
  8. 8Brass ingredient
  9. 9“Frozen” queen
  10. 10Like an abyss
  11. 16Remain unused
  12. 18-- Blanc
  13. 19Theater award
  14. 20Ship of 1492
  15. 21Sleeveless garment
  16. 24Barking beast
  17. 25London museum
  18. 26RBI or ERA
  19. 28Lookout point
  20. 31Anaheim team, on scoreboards
  21. 34Layers
  22. 35Track shape
  23. 36Vitamin-rich green vegetable
  24. 37Thin board
  25. 40Outback bird
  26. 42Color
  27. 43Period of history
  28. 44Homer’s neighbor

The answer to “Barking beast” in the Thomas Joseph crossword is SEAL — a 4-letter word. It most recently appeared in the Thomas Joseph crossword on August 17, 2026, a Monday puzzle, at 24-Down. Below you'll find why that fill fits, every other answer we've recorded for this clue, and links into the puzzle it came from.

“Barking beast” answer

SEAL (4 letters)

Reveal the solution one letter at a time with the tiles above if you'd rather nudge yourself toward it than see the whole word at once. Just want it outright? The answer is SEAL.

What does SEAL mean?

Reading the plain dictionary sense of SEAL is often the fastest way to see why it answers this clue.

(noun)

  • a device or substance that is used to join two things together so as to prevent them from coming apart or to prevent anything from passing between them
  • a piece of wax, lead, or other material with an individual design stamped into it, attached to a document as a guarantee of authenticity
  • a thing regarded as a confirmation or guarantee of something

When else has “Barking beast” appeared?

Thomas Joseph reuses clues across dates, sometimes with a different answer depending on the grid. Here's where this exact clue has shown up, and what the answer was each time — handy when you're checking whether today's fill is the only one.

August 17, 2026 (most recent) → SEAL. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Barking beast”?

The answer is SEAL, a 4-letter word. It most recently appeared in the Thomas Joseph crossword on August 17, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Barking beast”?

4 letters: SEAL.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the Thomas Joseph crossword on August 17, 2026 (a Monday puzzle), at 24-Down.

Can “Barking beast” have a different answer?

Yes — Thomas Joseph sometimes reuses a clue with a different solution to fit the grid. The answers we've recorded for each date it appeared are listed above when available.

Where can I find the rest of this day's Thomas Joseph answers?

The full grid for August 17, 2026 is on the Thomas Joseph answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

Thomas Joseph Crossword is published by King Features Syndicate; WordHint is an independent site and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the publisher.

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