Storyline trajectories

Latest answer — August 09, 2026

44 Across

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Clue decoded

ARCS are the trajectories or progressions that storylines follow, such as a character arc or a plot arc. The plural matches “trajectories.”

Clue type:
Definition

USA Today Crossword

This clue's Sunday, August 09, 2026 appearance

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Across

  1. 1Flower holders
  2. 6The "one" in a one-two punch
  3. 9Oyster sauce amount (Abbr.)
  4. 13"Before Sunrise," "Before Sunset" and "Before Midnight" star Hawke
  5. 14The Cab genre
  6. 15Athletic trainer
  7. 16___ apso
  8. 17"Interesting . . ."
  9. 18Reversed
  10. 19"I'm in awe!"
  11. 22WSW opposite
  12. 23Mauna ___ (Hawaiian volcano)
  13. 24Gameplay environment, in gaming
  14. 25Two peas ___ pod
  15. 27Little bits
  16. 29Strongly advised
  17. 31Basics
  18. 32Like the goddess Saraswati
  19. 34People also known as the Muscogee
  20. 35Visual media company known for stock photos
  21. 38"___ Disposition" (The Temper Trap song)
  22. 40Kind of protest
  23. 41"The Babadook" director Jennifer
  24. 42___ pad (notebook)
  25. 44Storyline trajectories
  26. 48Songwriter Tamposi
  27. 49Place for a hearing aid
  28. 50Calligraphy liquid
  29. 52Enjoy some hopia
  30. 53Like a VR experience that feels completely real
  31. 57Pad krapow gai herb
  32. 58"The Golden Girls" star Arthur
  33. 59"I'm flattered!"
  34. 60Cornmeal cake
  35. 61Goof up
  36. 62Moon-related
  37. 63Famous Scottish loch
  38. 64With 65-Across, concert song lineups
  39. 65See 64-Across

Down

  1. 1Upscale fabric
  2. 2Minerva's Greek counterpart
  3. 3Didn't keep everything for oneself
  4. 4"No sweat!"
  5. 5Slow-moving gastropod
  6. 6Game show whose "think music" was originally a lullaby
  7. 7Love, in Spanish
  8. 8"Rent" song "La Vie ___"
  9. 9"Beloved" author Morrison
  10. 10Negative energy
  11. 11Astronomy or epidemiology, e.g.
  12. 12Certain grad school degree
  13. 15Verge
  14. 20___ Everest
  15. 21Bummed
  16. 26___.com (search engine that officially closed on May 1, 2026)
  17. 28Mattress covering
  18. 30False appearance
  19. 31Sporting venue
  20. 33Wednesday Addams' cousin
  21. 34Sci-fi FX
  22. 35Whizzes
  23. 36Gas-station store
  24. 37Make things right
  25. 38Jamaican music genre
  26. 39TANF, e.g.
  27. 42Articulate
  28. 43Cherokee and Pueblo, for two
  29. 45Serves as ruler
  30. 46Warning
  31. 47Takes the wheel
  32. 49"Yellowjackets" star Purnell
  33. 51"Big Mouth" star Nick
  34. 54Body parts that can be "sealed"
  35. 55"A ___ technicality!"
  36. 56Feng ___
  37. 57Forbid

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Across

  1. 1. Flower holders — Answer: VASES
  2. 6. The "one" in a one-two punch — Answer: JAB
  3. 9. Oyster sauce amount (Abbr.) — Answer: TBSP
  4. 13. "Before Sunrise," "Before Sunset" and "Before Midnight" star Hawke — Answer: ETHAN
  5. 14. The Cab genre — Answer: EMO
  6. 15. Athletic trainer — Answer: COACH
  7. 16. ___ apso — Answer: LHASA
  8. 17. "Interesting . . ." — Answer: OOH
  9. 18. Reversed — Answer: UNDID
  10. 19. "I'm in awe!" — Answer: VERYIMPRESSIVE
  11. 22. WSW opposite — Answer: ENE
  12. 23. Mauna ___ (Hawaiian volcano) — Answer: LOA
  13. 24. Gameplay environment, in gaming — Answer: MAP
  14. 25. Two peas ___ pod — Answer: INA
  15. 27. Little bits — Answer: TADS
  16. 29. Strongly advised — Answer: URGED
  17. 31. Basics — Answer: ABCS
  18. 32. Like the goddess Saraswati — Answer: HINDU
  19. 34. People also known as the Muscogee — Answer: CREEK
  20. 35. Visual media company known for stock photos — Answer: GETTYIMAGES
  21. 38. "___ Disposition" (The Temper Trap song) — Answer: SWEET
  22. 40. Kind of protest — Answer: SITIN
  23. 41. "The Babadook" director Jennifer — Answer: KENT
  24. 42. ___ pad (notebook) — Answer: STENO
  25. 44. Storyline trajectories — Answer: ARCS
  26. 48. Songwriter Tamposi — Answer: ALI
  27. 49. Place for a hearing aid — Answer: EAR
  28. 50. Calligraphy liquid — Answer: INK
  29. 52. Enjoy some hopia — Answer: EAT
  30. 53. Like a VR experience that feels completely real — Answer: FULLYIMMERSIVE
  31. 57. Pad krapow gai herb — Answer: BASIL
  32. 58. "The Golden Girls" star Arthur — Answer: BEA
  33. 59. "I'm flattered!" — Answer: OHGEE
  34. 60. Cornmeal cake — Answer: AREPA
  35. 61. Goof up — Answer: ERR
  36. 62. Moon-related — Answer: LUNAR
  37. 63. Famous Scottish loch — Answer: NESS
  38. 64. With 65-Across, concert song lineups — Answer: SET
  39. 65. See 64-Across — Answer: LISTS

Down

  1. 1. Upscale fabric — Answer: VELVET
  2. 2. Minerva's Greek counterpart — Answer: ATHENA
  3. 3. Didn't keep everything for oneself — Answer: SHARED
  4. 4. "No sweat!" — Answer: EASY
  5. 5. Slow-moving gastropod — Answer: SNAIL
  6. 6. Game show whose "think music" was originally a lullaby — Answer: JEOPARDY
  7. 7. Love, in Spanish — Answer: AMOR
  8. 8. "Rent" song "La Vie ___" — Answer: BOHEME
  9. 9. "Beloved" author Morrison — Answer: TONI
  10. 10. Negative energy — Answer: BADVIBES
  11. 11. Astronomy or epidemiology, e.g. — Answer: SCIENCE
  12. 12. Certain grad school degree — Answer: PHD
  13. 15. Verge — Answer: CUSP
  14. 20. ___ Everest — Answer: MOUNT
  15. 21. Bummed — Answer: SAD
  16. 26. ___.com (search engine that officially closed on May 1, 2026) — Answer: ASK
  17. 28. Mattress covering — Answer: SHEET
  18. 30. False appearance — Answer: GUISE
  19. 31. Sporting venue — Answer: ARENA
  20. 33. Wednesday Addams' cousin — Answer: ITT
  21. 34. Sci-fi FX — Answer: CGI
  22. 35. Whizzes — Answer: GENIUSES
  23. 36. Gas-station store — Answer: MINIMART
  24. 37. Make things right — Answer: ATONE
  25. 38. Jamaican music genre — Answer: SKA
  26. 39. TANF, e.g. — Answer: WELFARE
  27. 42. Articulate — Answer: SAY
  28. 43. Cherokee and Pueblo, for two — Answer: TRIBES
  29. 45. Serves as ruler — Answer: REIGNS
  30. 46. Warning — Answer: CAVEAT
  31. 47. Takes the wheel — Answer: STEERS
  32. 49. "Yellowjackets" star Purnell — Answer: ELLA
  33. 51. "Big Mouth" star Nick — Answer: KROLL
  34. 54. Body parts that can be "sealed" — Answer: LIPS
  35. 55. "A ___ technicality!" — Answer: MERE
  36. 56. Feng ___ — Answer: SHUI. Hint: This ancient practice harmonizes your environment for better energy flow! 🌱
  37. 57. Forbid — Answer: BAN

Recent USA Today Answers

The last 7 days of solutions

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The answer to “Storyline trajectories” in the USA Today crossword is ARCS — a 4-letter word. It most recently appeared in the USA Today crossword on August 9, 2026, a Sunday puzzle, at 44-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.

“Storyline trajectories” answer

ARCS (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 ARCS.

When else has “Storyline trajectories” 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 9, 2026 (most recent) → ARCS. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

More clues from the USA Today Crossword on August 9, 2026

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Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Storyline trajectories”?

The answer is ARCS, a 4-letter word. It most recently appeared in the USA Today crossword on August 9, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Storyline trajectories”?

4 letters: ARCS.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the USA Today crossword on August 9, 2026 (a Sunday puzzle), at 44-Across.

Can “Storyline trajectories” 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 9, 2026 is on the USA Today answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

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