Word before "bubble" or "mattress"

Latest answer — July 16, 2026

38 Down

Think about what helps things float or provides cushioning! 🎈

Scroll down for rest of crossword answers

USA Today Crossword

This clue's Thursday, July 16, 2026 appearance

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Across

  1. 1Prom night ride
  2. 5___ electricity
  3. 11Take more than your share of
  4. 14"Milk's Favorite Cookie"
  5. 15Beach hut
  6. 16Hawaiian for "fire"
  7. 17That's fishy!
  8. 19Metal in bronze, often
  9. 20Short musical projects, for short
  10. 21Say grace, say
  11. 22Some ballet wear
  12. 24Corned beef sandwich with Russian dressing
  13. 26Stop
  14. 27Tegan's twin
  15. 28Field covering
  16. 31Healing item in many a video game
  17. 32"Meet the Parents" star Polo
  18. 34Matter being discussed
  19. 36_andom _umber _enerator
  20. 37That's phishy!
  21. 40___/her (pronoun pair)
  22. 43Frisbees, essentially
  23. 44Southwest art haven
  24. 47Bleep out
  25. 49And so on and so forth (Abbr.)
  26. 51Ergo
  27. 53Instrument with pipes and stops
  28. 54Feel bitter about
  29. 56Idled
  30. 58Bratty person
  31. 60Hosp. scan
  32. 61___ straits
  33. 62That's Phish-y!
  34. 65Stops
  35. 66Show such as "Witch Hat Atelier" or "One Piece"
  36. 67Tiny ___ Concerts (NPR show)
  37. 68Bug repellent ingredient
  38. 69Recorded on VHS
  39. 70Notices

Down

  1. 1They didn't get the win
  2. 2"Once more for emphasis . . ."
  3. 3Bar of music
  4. 4"That sucks"
  5. 5Shows contempt
  6. 6"There you have it!"
  7. 7Second-highest international scorer in soccer Wambach
  8. 8Mathematician and Fields Medal winner Terence
  9. 9Still competing
  10. 10Tricolor feline that is almost always female
  11. 11It might be caused by wearing a helmet
  12. 12"Them's fighting words!"
  13. 13Root used in samgye-tang
  14. 18Midwestern interjection
  15. 23Figure out
  16. 25___naked Ladies (rock band)
  17. 29___ Spunkmeyer (baked goods distribution company)
  18. 30Sweet, in an Italian pastry shop
  19. 31Photograph, for short
  20. 33"Finished!"
  21. 35Quiet "Over here!"
  22. 38Word before "bubble" or "mattress"
  23. 39Gymnastics cushions
  24. 40Reprimanded
  25. 41Scout Finch or Mulan, e.g.
  26. 42Them's fighting words!
  27. 45"No way!!!"
  28. 46Lighting up?
  29. 48Least risky
  30. 50Bragged
  31. 52Reeks
  32. 55GPS fig.
  33. 57"Darn it!"
  34. 58Use scissors, say
  35. 59It might make someone entitled, say
  36. 63Ni ___ Menos (grassroots feminist movement)
  37. 64NFL gains

The answer to “Word before "bubble" or "mattress"” in the USA Today crossword is AIR — a 3-letter word. It most recently appeared in the USA Today crossword on July 16, 2026, a Thursday puzzle, at 38-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.

“Word before "bubble" or "mattress"” answer

AIR (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 AIR.

Why the answer is AIR

Think about what helps things float or provides cushioning! 🎈

What does AIR mean?

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

(noun)

  • the invisible gaseous substance surrounding the earth, a mixture mainly of oxygen and nitrogen
  • an impression of a quality or manner given by someone or something
  • a tune or short melodious song

When else has “Word before "bubble" or "mattress"” 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.

July 16, 2026 (most recent) → AIR. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Word before "bubble" or "mattress"”?

The answer is AIR, a 3-letter word. It most recently appeared in the USA Today crossword on July 16, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Word before "bubble" or "mattress"”?

3 letters: AIR.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the USA Today crossword on July 16, 2026 (a Thursday puzzle), at 38-Down.

Can “Word before "bubble" or "mattress"” 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 July 16, 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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