Grinding tooth

Editorially verified for the Aug 23, 2026

11 Down

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An educational illustration of a human molar tooth.

Clue explained

A molar is a broad grinding tooth at the back of the mouth, used to crush food. “Grinding” describes its function.

Clue type:
Definition

WaPo Crossword

This clue's Sunday, August 23, 2026 appearance

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The answer to “Grinding tooth” in the The Washington Post crossword is MOLAR — a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Washington Post crossword on August 23, 2026, a Sunday puzzle, at 11-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.

“Grinding tooth” answer

MOLAR (5 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 MOLAR.

What does MOLAR mean?

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

(noun)

  • a grinding tooth at the back of a mammal's mouth

When else has “Grinding tooth” 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.

August 23, 2026 (most recent) → MOLAR. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Grinding tooth”?

The answer is MOLAR, a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Washington Post crossword on August 23, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Grinding tooth”?

5 letters: MOLAR.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the The Washington Post crossword on August 23, 2026 (a Sunday puzzle), at 11-Down.

Can “Grinding tooth” 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 August 23, 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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