___ syndrome (feeling like a fraud)

Editorially verified for the Oct 13, 2026

40 Down

Scroll down for rest of crossword answers

A person considering an achievement while experiencing self-doubt.

Clue explained

The missing phrase is impostor syndrome: the feeling that your achievements are undeserved and that others will eventually expose you as a fraud. Psychologists Pauline Clance and Suzanne Imes introduced the term “impostor phenomenon” in 1978 after studying high-achieving women. It is now used more broadly, though it is not a formal psychiatric diagnosis.

Clue type:
Fill-in-the-blank

USA Today Crossword

This clue's Tuesday, October 13, 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. 1Riffs like Kim Cattrall in a viral video
  2. 6Roti flour
  3. 10Limbs used during lunges
  4. 14One might be hard to break
  5. 15"No ___ done"
  6. 16Villainous
  7. 17Tony winner Renee ___ Goldsberry
  8. 18One of the Great Lakes
  9. 19Trifling
  10. 20Disneyland attraction whose theme song celebrates global togetherness
  11. 23Pro who might clean their plate?
  12. 24Property claim
  13. 25Ore deposit
  14. 28President on a $5 bill, for short
  15. 31Awaiting a pitch
  16. 34Bonobo, for one
  17. 35Show such as "JoJo's Bizarre Adventure"
  18. 37Stuffed-up-sounding
  19. 39Her "Bridesmaids" character said "I fell off a cruise ship, but I'm back"
  20. 42Parts of some hats
  21. 43Maple ___ (product associated with Vermont)
  22. 44Billion-year period
  23. 45Colorado ski resort
  24. 47Opposite of norte
  25. 48Dino with short arms
  26. 49"We are the ___ we've been waiting for"
  27. 51Yahtzee cube
  28. 53Service for sending letters
  29. 60Make tweaks to
  30. 61Detergent brand
  31. 62Questioned
  32. 64Purina ___ Prime Cuts (dry dog food brand)
  33. 65"You Shook Me All Night Long" band
  34. 66Honking birds
  35. 67Rip
  36. 68Take a break
  37. 69Delete

Down

  1. 1"___'s My Handsome" (76th Street song)
  2. 2West Coast state, for short
  3. 3Marginally
  4. 4___ paper
  5. 5Old Faithful output
  6. 6"Excuse me . . ."
  7. 7"Josie and the Pussycats" star Reid
  8. 8Warbly sound
  9. 9Aviator Earhart
  10. 10Citrusy dessert square
  11. 11Happily ___ after
  12. 12"The ___ With the Dragon Tattoo"
  13. 13Snow day slider
  14. 21Extends across
  15. 22Moist towelette brand
  16. 25Apt rhyme for "ram"
  17. 26"Carmen," e.g.
  18. 27Places to get cold cuts
  19. 29Partiality
  20. 30"The Pitt" awards
  21. 32Daisy relative
  22. 33Lake near Reno
  23. 35Thumbs-up
  24. 36Color similar to beige
  25. 38Cat with tufted ears
  26. 40___ syndrome (feeling like a fraud)
  27. 41Poutine pieces
  28. 46Hummingbird food
  29. 48Short movie trailer
  30. 50Bad golf shot
  31. 52Reputation
  32. 53Remarkable deed
  33. 54Sitting around
  34. 55TV host Kelly
  35. 56States further
  36. 57Splinter group
  37. 58Swedish furniture chain
  38. 59A smaller amount
  39. 63Civil rights activist Ruby

The answer to “___ syndrome (feeling like a fraud)” in the USA Today crossword is IMPOSTOR — a 8-letter word. It most recently appeared in the USA Today crossword on October 13, 2026, a Tuesday puzzle, at 40-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.

“___ syndrome (feeling like a fraud)” answer

IMPOSTOR (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 IMPOSTOR.

What does IMPOSTOR mean?

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

(noun)

  • a person who pretends to be someone else in order to deceive others, especially for fraudulent gain

When else has “___ syndrome (feeling like a fraud)” 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 13, 2026 (most recent) → IMPOSTOR. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “___ syndrome (feeling like a fraud)”?

The answer is IMPOSTOR, a 8-letter word. It most recently appeared in the USA Today crossword on October 13, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “___ syndrome (feeling like a fraud)”?

8 letters: IMPOSTOR.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the USA Today crossword on October 13, 2026 (a Tuesday puzzle), at 40-Down.

Can “___ syndrome (feeling like a fraud)” 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 13, 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.