Box that's unexpectedly popular?

Latest answer — September 18, 2026

20 Across

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Clue explained

A sleeper is something unexpectedly successful or popular, while a carton is a box; together, SLEEPER CARTON humorously makes a box that becomes a surprise hit. The question mark marks the compound-word joke.

Clue type:
Pun or wordplay
A cardboard carton representing a box with an unexpectedly successful twist

WaPo Crossword

This clue's Friday, September 18, 2026 appearance

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Or reveal one clue at a time with the Hint and Answer buttons below.

Across

  1. 1Band
  2. 6Primer lesson
  3. 10Printer refills
  4. 14Provençal sauce
  5. 15Bread from a tandoor
  6. 16Many a techie or Trekkie
  7. 17Fruit with a thick rind
  8. 18Thing that has away with words?
  9. 20Box that's unexpectedly popular?
  10. 22Raft
  11. 23Fish that's a symbol of Children's Day in Japan
  12. 24Lazy way to soothe hurt feelings?
  13. 33"Wow, nice!"
  14. 34Approach
  15. 35Rite answer
  16. 36Constant critic
  17. 37Like fresh nail polish
  18. 38Bridget's daughter in the "Bridget Jones" series
  19. 40"Big" and "Bang Bang" singer Rita
  20. 41"Happy now?"
  21. 42Old Spanish coin
  22. 43Take tiny crustaceans out for a stroll?
  23. 47Scand. land
  24. 48Routine
  25. 49Getting heavier, or an apt title for this puzzle
  26. 56One who's in it for the money
  27. 57Nebraska rail hub
  28. 59Fun run distance, for short
  29. 60Foil kin
  30. 61Piercing site
  31. 62Aloo mutter ingredients
  32. 63Playful growl
  33. 64__ City: Pittsburgh

Down

  1. 1Waterston in the American Theater Hall of Fame
  2. 2Binds
  3. 3Craps turn
  4. 4Succulent with lace and tiger tooth varieties
  5. 5Misses terribly
  6. 6Like llamas
  7. 7Boxer Max
  8. 8Course after trig
  9. 9Slip past
  10. 10"No need to explain"
  11. 11"Middle Cyclone" Grammy nominee Case
  12. 12Acute
  13. 13Hit high in the air
  14. 19Pants, slangily
  15. 21Spa treatment
  16. 24Emphatic refusal
  17. 25Catherine of "The Studio"
  18. 26Eight-related
  19. 27Rival
  20. 28Clear the cobwebs, say
  21. 29Down
  22. 30Bhutan neighbor
  23. 31Poetic opening
  24. 32"The Odyssey" director
  25. 37Tiny
  26. 38Points out
  27. 39"Fire away"
  28. 41Masonic order member in a fez
  29. 42Fitness app stat
  30. 442026 NBA champions
  31. 45Mood
  32. 46One who's often going through the motions
  33. 49__ therapy
  34. 50Sod layer's calculation
  35. 51County east of Sonoma
  36. 52Got taller
  37. 53B-school entry req.
  38. 54Give birth to
  39. 55"Hot Girl Summer" rapper Megan __ Stallion
  40. 56Unruly head of hair
  41. 58100%

The answer to “Box that's unexpectedly popular?” in the The Washington Post crossword is SLEEPERCARTON — a 13-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Washington Post crossword on September 18, 2026, a Friday puzzle, at 20-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.

“Box that's unexpectedly popular?” answer

SLEEPERCARTON (13 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 SLEEPERCARTON.

When else has “Box that's unexpectedly popular?” appeared?

The Washington Post 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 18, 2026 (most recent) → SLEEPERCARTON. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Box that's unexpectedly popular?”?

The answer is SLEEPERCARTON, a 13-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Washington Post crossword on September 18, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Box that's unexpectedly popular?”?

13 letters: SLEEPERCARTON.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the The Washington Post crossword on September 18, 2026 (a Friday puzzle), at 20-Across.

Can “Box that's unexpectedly popular?” have a different answer?

Yes — The Washington Post 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 WaPo Crossword answers?

The full grid for September 18, 2026 is on the WaPo Crossword answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

The Washington Post 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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