Melodic passage

Editorially verified for the Oct 18, 2026

68 Down

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An opera singer performs a melodic solo passage onstage.

Clue explained

An arioso is a short, songlike passage in an opera or other vocal work—more lyrical than ordinary recitative, but less formally structured than a full aria. The Italian word means “in the manner of a song,” and the musical style lets a singer pause the forward motion of the story for a more expressive melodic moment.

Clue type:
Definition

WaPo Crossword

This clue's Sunday, October 18, 2026 appearance

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  1. 37Wee
  2. 61Fin
  3. 65Cut

The answer to “Melodic passage” in the The Washington Post crossword is ARIOSO — a 6-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Washington Post crossword on October 18, 2026, a Sunday puzzle, at 68-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.

“Melodic passage” answer

ARIOSO (6 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 ARIOSO.

What does ARIOSO mean?

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

(noun)

  • (especially in opera and oratorio) vocal music that is more melodic than recitative but less formal than an aria

When else has “Melodic passage” 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 18, 2026 (most recent) → ARIOSO. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Melodic passage”?

The answer is ARIOSO, a 6-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Washington Post crossword on October 18, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Melodic passage”?

6 letters: ARIOSO.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the The Washington Post crossword on October 18, 2026 (a Sunday puzzle), at 68-Down.

Can “Melodic passage” 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 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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