___ mortal
Editorially verified for the Oct 12, 2026
7 Down
Scroll down for rest of crossword answers
Clue explained
A mere mortal is an ordinary human, especially when contrasted with a god, hero, or other extraordinary being. Here, “mere” means nothing more than or simply.
- Clue type:
- Phrase or idiom
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 “___ mortal” in the USA Today crossword is MERE — a 4-letter word. It most recently appeared in the USA Today crossword on October 12, 2026, a Monday puzzle, at 7-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.
“___ mortal” answer
MERE (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 MERE.
What does MERE mean?
Reading the plain dictionary sense of MERE is often the fastest way to see why it answers this clue.
(adjective)
- used to emphasize how small or insignificant someone or something is
When else has “___ mortal” 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) → MERE. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.
Frequently asked questions
What is the answer to “___ mortal”?
The answer is MERE, a 4-letter word. It most recently appeared in the USA Today crossword on October 12, 2026.
How many letters is the answer to “___ mortal”?
4 letters: MERE.
When did this clue appear?
Most recently in the USA Today crossword on October 12, 2026 (a Monday puzzle), at 7-Down.
Can “___ mortal” 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.