Downsides
Editorially verified for the Oct 12, 2026
55 Down
Scroll down for rest of crossword answers
Clue explained
Cons are disadvantages or downsides—the negative side of a choice. The word is often paired with “pros” in the familiar pros-and-cons list, a quick way to weigh benefits against drawbacks before deciding.
- Clue type:
- Definition
USA Today Crossword
This clue's Monday, October 12, 2026 appearance
Tap a square to reveal a letter.
Or reveal one clue at a time with the Hint and Answer buttons below.
Across
Down
The answer to “Downsides” in the USA Today crossword is CONS — a 4-letter word. It most recently appeared in the USA Today crossword on October 12, 2026, a Monday puzzle, at 55-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.
“Downsides” answer
CONS (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 CONS.
What does CONS mean?
Reading the plain dictionary sense of CONS is often the fastest way to see why it answers this clue.
(verb)
- persuade (someone) to do or believe something by lying to them
When else has “Downsides” 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 12, 2026 (most recent) → CONS. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.
Frequently asked questions
What is the answer to “Downsides”?
The answer is CONS, a 4-letter word. It most recently appeared in the USA Today crossword on October 12, 2026.
How many letters is the answer to “Downsides”?
4 letters: CONS.
When did this clue appear?
Most recently in the USA Today crossword on October 12, 2026 (a Monday puzzle), at 55-Down.
Can “Downsides” 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 12, 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.
Crossword Clues
Looking up a clue? Jump into today's answers and clue help from top puzzles.