"That's a real thinker"

Latest answer — August 14, 2026

40 Down

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Clue explained

HMM is a thoughtful hesitation or considering sound, naturally uttered when something is “a real thinker.” The quotation marks indicate spoken dialogue rather than a literal object or action.

Clue type:
Phrase or idiom
A person pausing with a thoughtful expression

USA Today Crossword

This clue's Friday, August 14, 2026 appearance

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Across

  1. 1"One ___ this time" ("Cha Cha Slide" instruction)
  2. 4Really fun time
  3. 9Technology similar to echolocation
  4. 14Say "I'm grood" instead of "I'm great" or "I'm good," say
  5. 15Taylor Swift album with "Paper Rings"
  6. 16Savory flavor
  7. 17"Without further ___ . . ."
  8. 18"I ___ you" ("You're my favorite")
  9. 19Very fast
  10. 20Crunched some data
  11. 23Mambo legend Puente
  12. 24"Hi, it's me, your cat"
  13. 25Tic-tac-___
  14. 28Poked around
  15. 32"Big yikes"
  16. 34Like an extravagant ball
  17. 37Round dwellings
  18. 38Auto accessory for AM/FM pickup
  19. 40Marriott competitor
  20. 42Signs
  21. 44Pirate's besties
  22. 46Quench
  23. 49"Case of the Ex" singer who performed at Lilith Fair in 1999
  24. 50Reptar or Yoshi, for short
  25. 53Smartphone forerunners
  26. 54Insects that build nests inside wood
  27. 59Summer camp treat
  28. 61"All kidding ___ . . ."
  29. 62"r u picking me up soon"
  30. 63High points
  31. 64Party all night long, perhaps
  32. 6526-Down alternative, at a coffee shop
  33. 66Band instruments that don't fit in backpacks
  34. 67Like a cold expression
  35. 68"Help us!," to ABBA

Down

  1. 1"Less than 3" symbols
  2. 2Make official
  3. 3"ASAP!"
  4. 4Unexciting
  5. 5Mine deposit
  6. 6Cosmetics brand once sold door-to-door
  7. 7Part of a skin care routine
  8. 8HBO series set in New Orleans
  9. 9"Fine, I'm in"
  10. 10Congresswoman Ilhan
  11. 11Music-sharing service for millennials, once
  12. 12"___ hearing you right?"
  13. 13Get ___ of (toss)
  14. 21"Sorry, you missed out"
  15. 22Halloween greeting
  16. 26Granola grain
  17. 27Where some nurses work (Abbr.)
  18. 29Evening shift, perhaps?
  19. 30"Casino Royale" star Green
  20. 31Rackets
  21. 33Punny La Pirata Brewing offering
  22. 35Pig's home
  23. 36Skirt borders
  24. 38Underground burial site
  25. 39Chicago Bulls org.
  26. 40"That's a real thinker"
  27. 41"Sweet!"
  28. 43Blue Pixar character
  29. 45Taste
  30. 47"Made your mark on me, a golden ___"
  31. 48Writing assignments
  32. 51Gets closer
  33. 52It's a start
  34. 55Zone
  35. 56Early DVR brand
  36. 57"The Middle" star Sher
  37. 58___ on (trust in)
  38. 59Took a chair
  39. 60Franchise that includes "Ms. Marvel" (Abbr.)

The answer to “"That's a real thinker"” in the USA Today crossword is HMM — a 3-letter word. It most recently appeared in the USA Today crossword on August 14, 2026, a Friday 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.

“"That's a real thinker"” answer

HMM (3 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 HMM.

What does HMM mean?

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

(interjection)

  • used to express reflection, uncertainty, or hesitation

When else has “"That's a real thinker"” 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 14, 2026 (most recent) → HMM. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “"That's a real thinker"”?

The answer is HMM, a 3-letter word. It most recently appeared in the USA Today crossword on August 14, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “"That's a real thinker"”?

3 letters: HMM.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the USA Today crossword on August 14, 2026 (a Friday puzzle), at 40-Down.

Can “"That's a real thinker"” 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 14, 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.

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