Alternatives to acrylics

Latest answer — October 10, 2026

54 Across

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A gel manicure being cured under a nail lamp.

Clue explained

Gel nails are a popular alternative to acrylic nails. Gel products are applied to the nails and typically hardened under a UV or LED lamp; the result can be a manicure or an extension, depending on the technique.

Clue type:
Definition

USA Today Crossword

This clue's Saturday, October 10, 2026 appearance

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Across

  1. 1Room beneath the rafters
  2. 6Cows' mouthfuls
  3. 10Assist a jewel thief
  4. 14Not as moist
  5. 15Magnum ___
  6. 16In real time
  7. 17Soft-serve treat with a chocolate shell
  8. 19Like testimony in court
  9. 20Back muscle, for short
  10. 21Bit of April 1st mischief
  11. 22Dorm fixtures
  12. 23Grilled corn snacks
  13. 25Beer that's heavy on hops
  14. 27Dog's first trick, often
  15. 29Habitat for kelp forests
  16. 30Benson Boone's vocal range
  17. 32The night before
  18. 33"The store ___ opened yet"
  19. 36Followed orders
  20. 38At a later date
  21. 40Chain with bread bowls
  22. 42Steady hands, for a watchmaker
  23. 43Place to roll over a 401(k)
  24. 44"These ___ ripe yet"
  25. 46"House" actor Omar
  26. 50Pistachio or pecan
  27. 51X
  28. 52Pull from the soil
  29. 54Alternatives to acrylics
  30. 56Deepest river in the world
  31. 59Cheer at Las Ventas
  32. 60Artistic inspiration
  33. 61"House of Lies" star
  34. 63Shania Twain's vocal range
  35. 64Vicinity
  36. 65Like many Moroccan courtyards
  37. 66"Not my cup of tea"
  38. 67Flat-topped hill
  39. 68Vehicles with runners

Down

  1. 1Confound
  2. 2Courtroom events
  3. 3Walk sneakily
  4. 4Document that provides a custom learning plan (Abbr.)
  5. 5Pancake often filled with Nutella
  6. 6Plant with stimulating leaves
  7. 7"___ further review . . ."
  8. 8___ Donuts
  9. 9Opposite of NNW
  10. 10Spiky plant with fleshy leaves
  11. 11Red chili added to Thai curry
  12. 12Far from forthcoming
  13. 13No. on a business card
  14. 18Some medical pros
  15. 22Doll with a Dreamhouse
  16. 24Second-deepest lake in the U.S.
  17. 26Places with diving boards
  18. 28"Chopped" host Allen
  19. 30Demolition letters
  20. 31"Boyhood" actor Hawke
  21. 34"Gosh darn it!"
  22. 35Drum used for drum rolls
  23. 37"The door's open!"
  24. 38Procedures that help determine ancestry
  25. 39Is in French?
  26. 40Map marker
  27. 41Salad green often paired with prosciutto
  28. 45"Play another song!"
  29. 47National dog of France
  30. 48Surveyed
  31. 49Knights' horses
  32. 52"How gross!"
  33. 53Writers of haiku
  34. 55Most August babies
  35. 57Binary digits
  36. 58Sweet 16 org.
  37. 60State park handout
  38. 61Hoover or Xiluodu, e.g.
  39. 62Have a malady

The answer to “Alternatives to acrylics” in the USA Today crossword is GELS — a 4-letter word. It most recently appeared in the USA Today crossword on October 10, 2026, a Saturday puzzle, at 54-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.

“Alternatives to acrylics” answer

GELS (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 GELS.

What does GELS mean?

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

(verb)

  • (of a liquid or semi-liquid substance) set or become more solid
  • (of a project or idea) take a definite form or begin to work well
  • apply gel to (the hair)

When else has “Alternatives to acrylics” appeared?

USA Today 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.

October 10, 2026 (most recent) → GELS. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Alternatives to acrylics”?

The answer is GELS, a 4-letter word. It most recently appeared in the USA Today crossword on October 10, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Alternatives to acrylics”?

4 letters: GELS.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the USA Today crossword on October 10, 2026 (a Saturday puzzle), at 54-Across.

Can “Alternatives to acrylics” have a different answer?

Yes — USA Today 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 USA Today answers?

The full grid for October 10, 2026 is on the USA Today answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

USA Today Crossword is published by USA Today; WordHint is an independent site and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the publisher.

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