Expanded, as a search area

Latest answer — October 11, 2026

26 Down

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A map shows a search area being extended beyond its original boundary.

Clue explained

To widen a search area is to expand it, so an expanded search area has been widened. Investigators or search teams might widen their search when the initial area turns up no results.

Clue type:
Definition

WaPo Crossword

This clue's Sunday, October 11, 2026 appearance

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The answer to “Expanded, as a search area” in the The Washington Post crossword is WIDENED — a 7-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Washington Post crossword on October 11, 2026, a Sunday puzzle, at 26-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.

“Expanded, as a search area” answer

WIDENED (7 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 WIDENED.

What does WIDENED mean?

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

(verb)

  • make or become wider

When else has “Expanded, as a search area” 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.

October 11, 2026 (most recent) → WIDENED. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Expanded, as a search area”?

The answer is WIDENED, a 7-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Washington Post crossword on October 11, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Expanded, as a search area”?

7 letters: WIDENED.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the The Washington Post crossword on October 11, 2026 (a Sunday puzzle), at 26-Down.

Can “Expanded, as a search area” 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 October 11, 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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