Fried squid dish

Latest answer — August 24, 2026

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Clue explained

CALAMARI is the Italian-derived culinary name for squid, especially squid that is fried and served as a dish. The answer is a food noun.

Clue type:
Definition
A plate of fried calamari rings.

USA Today Crossword

This clue's Monday, August 24, 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. 1___ pet (1970s fad)
  2. 5Tropical tree
  3. 9Best Casting, for one
  4. 14Provide free of charge
  5. 15Bhutan's continent
  6. 16Chicago hub
  7. 17Wham-O toy with some serious bounce
  8. 19Peeled
  9. 20Sources of precious metals
  10. 21Kenai Fjords National Park state
  11. 23Floating aimlessly
  12. 25Camp bed
  13. 2612/24 and 12/31
  14. 29"Lady Marmalade" singer LaBelle
  15. 30"___: The Art of Creative Knotting"
  16. 32Sticky substance
  17. 33Sparkly headpiece
  18. 35"This instant!"
  19. 36School safety exercise
  20. 39Ziploc product
  21. 42Searches for
  22. 43Insurance company named for a volcano
  23. 47'90s Nickelodeon show with Kenan Thompson
  24. 49___ Gras
  25. 50"Sounds good to me!"
  26. 51WNBA's Sky, on scoreboards
  27. 53Automatic alternative
  28. 54Ready for takeoff or landing
  29. 56Nickname for a longtime Yankee
  30. 57Polite refusal
  31. 59Burning the midnight oil
  32. 63Vote into office
  33. 64"I solved it!"
  34. 65Condescending Wonka, e.g.
  35. 66To-do list items
  36. 67Negroni liquor
  37. 68"NBA Countdown" network

Down

  1. 1Includes on an email chain
  2. 2Astros, on scoreboards
  3. 3Potato chips, for Art Vandelay
  4. 4Drink before dinner
  5. 5Blue Ribbon brewer
  6. 6Happy ___ clam
  7. 7Pale purple flower
  8. 8Seasonal Nabisco cookies featuring graham cracker and chocolate
  9. 9"That was clumsy of me!"
  10. 10Salt dispenser
  11. 11Group of travelers
  12. 12"What ___ you up to?"
  13. 13Shiraz, e.g.
  14. 18Put a fresh surface on
  15. 22Pong maker
  16. 23World Party Day mo.
  17. 24"Lost" star Daniel ___ Kim
  18. 27Angsty music genre
  19. 28Work with a Singer
  20. 31Fried squid dish
  21. 33Sprouts canines
  22. 34"Not sure," for short
  23. 37Show emotion, say
  24. 38Bill Withers song with the lyric "I'm right up the road / I'll share your load"
  25. 39Chesapeake, e.g.
  26. 40Part of IPA
  27. 41Part of a Meg Griffin costume
  28. 44Plods
  29. 45Confidentiality doc
  30. 46Homophone of 40-Down
  31. 48Sudden feeling that kills romantic attraction
  32. 52Item on a dog's collar
  33. 53Like Tulum
  34. 55Theater and painting, for two
  35. 57After expenses
  36. 58"___, como vai?"
  37. 60Sushi tuna
  38. 61Diamond expert?
  39. 62Pig holder

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Across

  1. 1. ___ pet (1970s fad) — Answer: CHIA. Hint: Complete the name of the terracotta planter that sprouts greenery 🌱
  2. 5. Tropical tree — Answer: PALM. Hint: Picture a leafy tree lining a sunny beach 🏝️
  3. 9. Best Casting, for one — Answer: OSCAR. Hint: This is a coveted golden film award 🏆
  4. 14. Provide free of charge — Answer: COMP. Hint: To give someone a complimentary upgrade or admission is to do this 🎁
  5. 15. Bhutan's continent — Answer: ASIA. Hint: Bhutan sits in the mountainous region containing the Himalayas 🗺️
  6. 16. Chicago hub — Answer: OHARE. Hint: This major airport serves the Windy City ✈️
  7. 17. Wham-O toy with some serious bounce — Answer: SUPERBALL. Hint: Think of a small rubber toy famous for bouncing wildly 🎾
  8. 19. Peeled — Answer: PARED. Hint: A fruit or vegetable can be stripped of its outer layer this way 🍎
  9. 20. Sources of precious metals — Answer: ORES. Hint: Mines yield these mineral-bearing materials ⛏️
  10. 21. Kenai Fjords National Park state — Answer: ALASKA. Hint: This rugged northern state is home to the park’s glaciers 🧊
  11. 23. Floating aimlessly — Answer: ADRIFT. Hint: A boat without a course may be carried along by the water 🌊
  12. 25. Camp bed — Answer: COT. Hint: A simple portable bed often used while camping. 🏕️
  13. 26. 12/24 and 12/31 — Answer: EVES. Hint: These are the nights just before major holidays. 🎉
  14. 29. "Lady Marmalade" singer LaBelle — Answer: PATTI. Hint: This powerhouse vocalist fronted LaBelle and sang a famous New Orleans-set hit. 🎤
  15. 30. "___: The Art of Creative Knotting" — Answer: MACRAME. Hint: This decorative craft turns knotted cord into artistic designs. 🧶
  16. 32. Sticky substance — Answer: RESIN. Hint: This sticky material can come from trees or harden into jewelry. 🌲
  17. 33. Sparkly headpiece — Answer: TIARA. Hint: A glittering crown-like accessory suits royalty or pageants. 👑
  18. 35. "This instant!" — Answer: NOW. Hint: This word points to the present moment. ⏱️
  19. 36. School safety exercise — Answer: FIREDRILL. Hint: Students practice this emergency routine to prepare for flames. 🚨
  20. 39. Ziploc product — Answer: BAG. Hint: This resealable container is a familiar kitchen staple. 🛍️
  21. 42. Searches for — Answer: SEEKS. Hint: This verb means looks or hunts for something. 🔎
  22. 43. Insurance company named for a volcano — Answer: AETNA. Hint: This insurer takes its name from a fiery Sicilian peak. 🌋
  23. 47. '90s Nickelodeon show with Kenan Thompson — Answer: ALLTHAT. Hint: Kenan Thompson got an early Nickelodeon showcase on this sketch-comedy series. 📺
  24. 49. ___ Gras — Answer: MARDI. Hint: It precedes “Gras” in the name of a famous carnival celebration. 🎭
  25. 50. "Sounds good to me!" — Answer: YEAH. Hint: A casual affirmative can express enthusiastic agreement. 👍
  26. 51. WNBA's Sky, on scoreboards — Answer: CHI. Hint: On a scoreboard, Chicago is often reduced to this abbreviation. 🏀
  27. 53. Automatic alternative — Answer: MANUAL. Hint: When automation is unavailable, choose the hands-on option. ✋
  28. 54. Ready for takeoff or landing — Answer: SEATED. Hint: Passengers should be in this position before a plane moves. ✈️
  29. 56. Nickname for a longtime Yankee — Answer: AROD. Hint: This former Yankee slugger was often identified by a distinctive nickname. ⚾
  30. 57. Polite refusal — Answer: NOSIR. Hint: A courteous but firm negative reply adds a touch of formality. 🙅
  31. 59. Burning the midnight oil — Answer: STAYINGUP. Hint: This means remaining awake late into the night. 🌙
  32. 63. Vote into office — Answer: ELECT. Hint: Think about the process of choosing leaders in a democratic setting! 🗳️
  33. 64. "I solved it!" — Answer: AHA. Hint: A sudden flash of understanding often sounds like this 💡
  34. 65. Condescending Wonka, e.g. — Answer: MEME. Hint: This kind of internet joke travels widely through repeated images or captions 😂
  35. 66. To-do list items — Answer: TASKS. Hint: These are the individual chores waiting on your checklist ✅
  36. 67. Negroni liquor — Answer: GIN. Hint: This juniper-forward spirit is classic in a Negroni 🍸
  37. 68. "NBA Countdown" network — Answer: ESPN. Hint: This sports-media network airs the familiar basketball countdown show 🏀

Down

  1. 1. Includes on an email chain — Answer: CCS. Hint: These recipients get a copy without being the main addressee ✉️
  2. 2. Astros, on scoreboards — Answer: HOU. Hint: This three-letter scoreboard code represents Houston’s baseball team ⚾
  3. 3. Potato chips, for Art Vandelay — Answer: IMPORTS. Hint: For a fictional importer, these goods would come from abroad 📦
  4. 4. Drink before dinner — Answer: APERITIF. Hint: This premeal drink is meant to awaken the appetite 🍹
  5. 5. Blue Ribbon brewer — Answer: PABST. Hint: This American lager brand is associated with a blue award ribbon 🍺
  6. 6. Happy ___ clam — Answer: ASA. Hint: It completes the saying describing someone as cheerful and content 🐚
  7. 7. Pale purple flower — Answer: LILAC. Hint: This spring bloom shares its name with a soft purple shade 🌸
  8. 8. Seasonal Nabisco cookies featuring graham cracker and chocolate — Answer: MALLOMARS. Hint: These seasonal treats pair a graham base and chocolate coating with a marshmallow center 🍪
  9. 9. "That was clumsy of me!" — Answer: OOPS. Hint: This brief exclamation admits a small mistake 🙈
  10. 10. Salt dispenser — Answer: SHAKER. Hint: This kitchen container sprinkles salt through a perforated top 🧂
  11. 11. Group of travelers — Answer: CARAVAN. Hint: Travelers moving together may form this wandering procession 🚐
  12. 12. "What ___ you up to?" — Answer: ARE. Hint: This verb completes the casual question about someone’s current activities 🤔
  13. 13. Shiraz, e.g. — Answer: RED. Hint: Shiraz is typically classified by this wine color 🍷
  14. 18. Put a fresh surface on — Answer: REFINISH. Hint: To restore a worn table, you might give it this treatment 🪑
  15. 22. Pong maker — Answer: ATARI. Hint: This pioneering game company brought an early paddle classic to arcades 🕹️
  16. 23. World Party Day mo. — Answer: APR. Hint: This month hosts a global celebration of parties. 🎉
  17. 24. "Lost" star Daniel ___ Kim — Answer: DAE. Hint: Supply the Korean-American actor’s short middle name. 🎬
  18. 27. Angsty music genre — Answer: EMO. Hint: This genre turns intense feelings into catchy songs. 🎸
  19. 28. Work with a Singer — Answer: SEW. Hint: Use a sewing machine to stitch fabric together. 🧵
  20. 31. Fried squid dish — Answer: CALAMARI. Hint: Order this popular breaded seafood appetizer at an Italian restaurant. 🦑
  21. 33. Sprouts canines — Answer: TEETHES. Hint: This is what a puppy does when its sharp new teeth emerge. 🐶
  22. 34. "Not sure," for short — Answer: IDK. Hint: Text-message shorthand for uncertainty fits here. 🤔
  23. 37. Show emotion, say — Answer: REACT. Hint: Respond visibly to something that happens. 😮
  24. 38. Bill Withers song with the lyric "I'm right up the road / I'll share your load" — Answer: LEANONME. Hint: Name the classic tune about supporting a friend through hard times. 🎶
  25. 39. Chesapeake, e.g. — Answer: BAY. Hint: This broad coastal inlet is larger than a cove. 🌊
  26. 40. Part of IPA — Answer: ALE. Hint: This beer style supplies the final word in a famous brewing acronym. 🍺
  27. 41. Part of a Meg Griffin costume — Answer: GLASSES. Hint: Wear these to capture the cartoon character’s signature look. 🤓
  28. 44. Plods — Answer: TRUDGES. Hint: Moves slowly and heavily, often through difficult terrain. 🚶
  29. 45. Confidentiality doc — Answer: NDA. Hint: A short agreement promising you won't share sensitive information. 🤫
  30. 46. Homophone of 40-Down — Answer: AIL. Hint: It sounds like a word meaning to trouble or make unwell. 🤒
  31. 48. Sudden feeling that kills romantic attraction — Answer: THEICK. Hint: A cringe-inducing realization can make a crush instantly vanish. 💔
  32. 52. Item on a dog's collar — Answer: IDTAG. Hint: This small label helps identify a lost pet. 🐕
  33. 53. Like Tulum — Answer: MAYAN. Hint: Describes the ancient civilization associated with this Mexican destination. 🏛️
  34. 55. Theater and painting, for two — Answer: ARTS. Hint: Both belong among creative disciplines. 🎨
  35. 57. After expenses — Answer: NET. Hint: What remains once costs have been subtracted. 💰
  36. 58. "___, como vai?" — Answer: OLA. Hint: Complete this Portuguese greeting meaning hello. 👋
  37. 60. Sushi tuna — Answer: AHI. Hint: This prized fish is often served raw over rice or tucked into rolls 🍣
  38. 61. Diamond expert? — Answer: UMP. Hint: On the baseball diamond, this official makes the calls behind home plate ⚾
  39. 62. Pig holder — Answer: PEN. Hint: A farm enclosure keeps this muddy animal from wandering off 🐷

The answer to “Fried squid dish” in the USA Today crossword is CALAMARI — a 8-letter word. It most recently appeared in the USA Today crossword on August 24, 2026, a Monday puzzle, at 31-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.

“Fried squid dish” answer

CALAMARI (8 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 CALAMARI.

What does CALAMARI mean?

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

(noun)

  • squid served as food

When else has “Fried squid dish” 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.

August 24, 2026 (most recent) → CALAMARI. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Fried squid dish”?

The answer is CALAMARI, a 8-letter word. It most recently appeared in the USA Today crossword on August 24, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Fried squid dish”?

8 letters: CALAMARI.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the USA Today crossword on August 24, 2026 (a Monday puzzle), at 31-Down.

Can “Fried squid dish” 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 August 24, 2026 is on the USA Today answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

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