What the gullible might mistake for gulls?

Latest answer — September 05, 2026

6 Across

Scroll down for rest of crossword answers

Clue explained

TERNS are seabirds that can be mistaken for gulls by someone who is gullible—or simply unfamiliar with the birds. The clue’s question mark signals this playful use of “gullible” and “gulls.”

Clue type:
Pun or wordplay
Terns and gulls shown as similar-looking seabirds.

WaPo Mini Crossword

This clue's Saturday, September 05, 2026 appearance

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Across

  1. 1Nietzsche's "Thus ___ Zarathustra"
  2. 6What the gullible might mistake for gulls?
  3. 7Earn oneself a timeout, perhaps
  4. 8People in the service, but not leading it
  5. 9Lower strike zone boundary

Down

  1. 1Get ready to take down, as prey
  2. 2One of Texas's state symbols
  3. 3Jazz clarinetist Shaw
  4. 4Legendary football coach Rockne
  5. 5Some annual awards for plays

The answer to “What the gullible might mistake for gulls?” in the The Washington Post Mini crossword is TERNS — a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Washington Post Mini crossword on September 5, 2026 at 6-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.

“What the gullible might mistake for gulls?” answer

TERNS (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 TERNS.

What does TERNS mean?

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

(noun)

  • a seabird related to the gulls, typically smaller and more slender, with long pointed wings and a forked tail

When else has “What the gullible might mistake for gulls?” 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.

September 5, 2026 (most recent) → TERNS. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “What the gullible might mistake for gulls?”?

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

How many letters is the answer to “What the gullible might mistake for gulls?”?

5 letters: TERNS.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the The Washington Post Mini crossword on September 5, 2026, at 6-Across.

Can “What the gullible might mistake for gulls?” 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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