Italy's shape

Latest answer — September 20, 2026

41 Down

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Clue explained

Italy is famously shaped like a boot on a map, including its distinctive heel and toe. The clue uses a visual comparison rather than referring to footwear itself.

Clue type:
Pun or wordplay
Map of Italy showing its familiar boot-like outline.

WaPo Crossword

This clue's Sunday, September 20, 2026 appearance

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The answer to Italy's shape in the The Washington Post crossword is BOOT — a 4-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Washington Post crossword on September 20, 2026, a Sunday puzzle, at 41-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.

Italy's shape” answer

BOOT (4 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 BOOT.

What does BOOT mean?

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

(noun)

  • a sturdy item of footwear covering the foot and ankle, and sometimes also the lower leg
  • a hard kick
  • an enclosed space at the back of a car for carrying luggage or other goods

When else has “Italy's shape” 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 20, 2026 (most recent) BOOT. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Italy's shape”?

The answer is BOOT, a 4-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Washington Post crossword on September 20, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Italy's shape”?

4 letters: BOOT.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the The Washington Post crossword on September 20, 2026 (a Sunday puzzle), at 41-Down.

Can “Italy's shape” 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 20, 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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