Wash vigorously

Editorially verified for the Sep 21, 2026

5 Across

Scroll down for rest of crossword answers

A person vigorously cleaning a surface with a brush

Clue explained

To SCRUB is to wash something vigorously, usually by rubbing it with force. The answer is the verb in the form used by the clue.

Clue type:
Definition

NYT Midi Crossword

This clue's Monday, September 21, 2026 appearance

Tap a square to reveal a letter.

Or reveal one clue at a time with the Hint and Answer buttons below.

Across

  1. 1Make a beeline, say
  2. 5Wash vigorously
  3. 10Skin care brand that dropped "Oil of" from its name
  4. 11Boston daily newspaper
  5. 12Standard
  6. 13Toothpaste containers
  7. 14Injury from a 25-Down
  8. 16Pigeon-loving character on "Sesame Street"
  9. 17Cries hysterically
  10. 19"So cute!"
  11. 22___ and call
  12. 24Nickname for New Orleans
  13. 28Home for a 25-Down
  14. 29Make a knot not?
  15. 30One of two 10-point tiles in Scrabble
  16. 31Necessities

Down

  1. 1Puts on, as clothing
  2. 2Many
  3. 3Garment commonly worn by Bangladeshi women
  4. 4Devotional songs
  5. 5"___ Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band"
  6. 6Raver's nightlife environment
  7. 7Cozy post-shower attire
  8. 8Lyft competitor
  9. 9Awards show superlative
  10. 15Desert whose temperatures can reach -40°F in the winter
  11. 18Underway
  12. 19Airport code of Greece's capital
  13. 20"Gee ___!"
  14. 21Contraction that sounds like a hair extension
  15. 23"Kiss Me, ___" (Cole Porter musical)
  16. 25Animal moving diagonally in this puzzle?
  17. 26___ Vicious, punk rock icon
  18. 27[Nods head]

The answer to “Wash vigorously” in the New York Times Midi crossword is SCRUB — a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times Midi crossword on September 21, 2026, a Monday puzzle, at 5-Across. 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.

“Wash vigorously” answer

SCRUB (5 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 SCRUB.

What does SCRUB mean?

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

(verb)

  • rub (someone or something) hard so as to clean them, typically with a brush and water
  • cancel or abandon (something)
  • use water to remove impurities from (gas or vapour)

When else has “Wash vigorously” appeared?

New York Times Midi 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.

September 21, 2026 (most recent) → SCRUB. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Wash vigorously”?

The answer is SCRUB, a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times Midi crossword on September 21, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Wash vigorously”?

5 letters: SCRUB.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the New York Times Midi crossword on September 21, 2026 (a Monday puzzle), at 5-Across.

Can “Wash vigorously” have a different answer?

Yes — New York Times Midi 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 NYT Midi answers?

The full grid for September 21, 2026 is on the NYT Midi answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

New York Times Midi Crossword is published by The New York Times; WordHint is an independent site and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the publisher.

Crossword Clues

Looking up a clue? Jump into today's answers and clue help from top puzzles.