Load-bearing machine?

Latest answer — August 08, 2026

5 Down

Scroll down for rest of crossword answers

Clue explained

A dryer is a “load-bearing” machine because it handles a load of laundry. The question mark signals the playful shift from a structural load to a household laundry load.

Clue type:
Pun or wordplay
A household clothes dryer containing a load of laundry.

WaPo Mini Crossword

This clue's Saturday, August 08, 2026 appearance

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Across

  1. 1String piece very few people ever play?
  2. 6Like fired-up fans
  3. 7Gardening, golfing, or gaming, frequently
  4. 8"Who'da thunk it!"
  5. 9Cause fuzzy vision in

Down

  1. 1Polite title for a man, in India
  2. 2Poppy or Branch, in a DreamWorks franchise
  3. 3California tree more commonly called a valley oak
  4. 4Limerick's rhyme scheme
  5. 5Load-bearing machine?

The answer to “Load-bearing machine?” in the The Washington Post Mini crossword is DRYER — a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Washington Post Mini crossword on August 8, 2026 at 5-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.

“Load-bearing machine?” answer

DRYER (5 letters)

Use the reveal tiles above to uncover the solution one letter at a time if you'd rather nudge yourself toward it than see the whole word at once. Prefer the full answer straight away? It's DRYER.

What does DRYER mean?

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

(noun)

  • a machine or device for drying something, especially the hair or laundry
  • a substance mixed with oil paint or ink to promote drying

When else has “Load-bearing machine?” appeared?

The Washington Post Mini 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 8, 2026 (most recent) → DRYER. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Load-bearing machine?”?

The answer is DRYER, a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Washington Post Mini crossword on August 8, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Load-bearing machine?”?

5 letters: DRYER.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the The Washington Post Mini crossword on August 8, 2026, at 5-Down.

Can “Load-bearing machine?” have a different answer?

Yes — The Washington Post Mini 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 today's WaPo Mini answers?

Every clue and answer from that day's puzzle is linked above, and the full grid is on the WaPo Mini answers page.

The Washington Post Mini Crossword is published by The Washington Post; WordHint is an independent site and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the publisher.

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