Sponge bath
Latest answer — August 20, 2026
39 Across
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Clue explained
A loofa is a bath sponge used for scrubbing, with LOOFA being a standard variant spelling of “loofah.” The clue combines the object with its typical bath setting.
- Clue type:
- Definition
NYT Crossword
This clue's Thursday, August 20, 2026 appearance
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The answer to “Sponge bath” in the New York Times crossword is LOOFA — a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on August 20, 2026, a Thursday puzzle, at 39-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.
“Sponge bath” answer
LOOFA (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 LOOFA.
What does LOOFA mean?
Reading the plain dictionary sense of LOOFA is often the fastest way to see why it answers this clue.
(noun)
- the fibrous interior of a fruit that resembles a marrow, dried and used as a sponge for washing the body
- the tropical Old World climbing plant of the gourd family that produces loofahs, which are also edible
When else has “Sponge bath” appeared?
New York Times 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 20, 2026 (most recent) → LOOFA. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.
Frequently asked questions
What is the answer to “Sponge bath”?
The answer is LOOFA, a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on August 20, 2026.
How many letters is the answer to “Sponge bath”?
5 letters: LOOFA.
When did this clue appear?
Most recently in the New York Times crossword on August 20, 2026 (a Thursday puzzle), at 39-Across.
Can “Sponge bath” have a different answer?
Yes — New York Times 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 Crossword answers?
The full grid for August 20, 2026 is on the NYT Crossword answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.
New York Times Crossword is published by The New York Times; WordHint is an independent site and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the publisher.
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