"Unfortunately ..."

Latest answer — August 26, 2026

6 Across

Scroll down for rest of crossword answers

Clue explained

“Alas” is an interjection used to express sorrow, regret, or dismay—much like saying “Unfortunately ... .” The quotation marks signal a spoken exclamation rather than a literal definition.

Clue type:
Phrase or idiom
A person showing regret or disappointment.

USA Today Quick Crossword

This clue's Wednesday, August 26, 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. 1Epidermis
  2. 5Not wild
  3. 6"Unfortunately ..."
  4. 7____ of kin

Down

  1. 1Musial of baseball
  2. 2Leafy vegetable
  3. 3Big screen type
  4. 4Bird bungalow

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Across

  1. 1. Epidermis — Answer: SKIN. Hint: This is the body’s outer protective covering. 🧴
  2. 5. Not wild — Answer: TAME. Hint: A domesticated animal is the opposite of this. 🐾
  3. 6. "Unfortunately ..." — Answer: ALAS. Hint: Choose the old-fashioned interjection expressing regret or dismay. 😔
  4. 7. ____ of kin — Answer: NEXT. Hint: Complete the phrase for a person most closely related to you. 👪

Down

  1. 1. Musial of baseball — Answer: STAN. Hint: Recall the first name of the legendary Cardinals slugger. ⚾
  2. 2. Leafy vegetable — Answer: KALE. Hint: Think of the sturdy green often used in salads and smoothies. 🥬
  3. 3. Big screen type — Answer: IMAX. Hint: Picture the movie format famous for enormous screens and immersive sound. 🎬
  4. 4. Bird bungalow — Answer: NEST. Hint: A feathered family might build its home here. 🐦

The answer to “"Unfortunately ..."” in the USA Today Quick Cross crossword is ALAS — a 4-letter word. It most recently appeared in the USA Today Quick Cross crossword on August 26, 2026 at 6-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.

“"Unfortunately ..."” answer

ALAS (4 letters)

Use the reveal tiles above to uncover the solution one letter at a time if you'd rather nudge yourself toward it than see the whole word at once. Prefer the full answer straight away? It's ALAS.

What does ALAS mean?

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

(interjection)

  • used to express grief, pity, or concern

When else has “"Unfortunately ..."” appeared?

USA Today Quick Cross 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 26, 2026 (most recent) → ALAS. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “"Unfortunately ..."”?

The answer is ALAS, a 4-letter word. It most recently appeared in the USA Today Quick Cross crossword on August 26, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “"Unfortunately ..."”?

4 letters: ALAS.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the USA Today Quick Cross crossword on August 26, 2026, at 6-Across.

Can “"Unfortunately ..."” have a different answer?

Yes — USA Today Quick Cross 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 today's USA Today Quick answers?

Every clue and answer from that day's puzzle is linked above, and the full grid is on the USA Today Quick answers page.

Crossword Clues

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