Middle set

Editorially verified for the Aug 22, 2026

28 Across

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An anatomical illustration highlighting the abdominal muscles

Clue explained

ABS are the abdominal muscles, often called the “middle” section of the body. The answer is the plural abbreviation for abdominals.

Clue type:
Abbreviation

WaPo Crossword

This clue's Saturday, August 22, 2026 appearance

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Across

  1. 1Camera setting with a moon icon
  2. 10Makes a run for it
  3. 15Like rocks and minerals
  4. 16"Farewell, mon amie"
  5. 17Literary figure who rings a bell
  6. 18Remote spots?
  7. 19Finesse
  8. 20Beach Soccer World Cup org.
  9. 21Overly caffeinated
  10. 22Nancy Drew chum
  11. 24Lab infestation
  12. 26"Foxy Brown" do
  13. 28Middle set
  14. 31Cousin with floor-length hair
  15. 32Heads out
  16. 33"Ugh, I'm so sorry!"
  17. 36Some transformations
  18. 37"I know, right?!"
  19. 38Mackey of "Ella McCay"
  20. 39"Ceci n'est pas __ pipe"
  21. 40Confidentiality doc
  22. 41One bro to another?
  23. 42Takes to heart
  24. 44Some "Call the Midwife" figures
  25. 48Exclaims
  26. 50Crushed
  27. 53Pause to catch up?
  28. 54Essential fatty __
  29. 55Avoid having to hoof it
  30. 57Things to avoid
  31. 58Like some high-flying performers
  32. 59Point of view
  33. 60Jargon in a video game chat, maybe

Down

  1. 1Muslim face covering
  2. 2Harden
  3. 3Nannies and kids
  4. 4Work wk. units
  5. 5Work wk. conclusion
  6. 6Term of affection para una chica
  7. 7Switch positions
  8. 8Celebrated, perhaps
  9. 9Italian scholar Umberto
  10. 10"On the __ of Sex": 2018 biopic
  11. 11Baking soda target
  12. 12Chi
  13. 13Cocktail party attire
  14. 14Kinda sketch
  15. 21Hydrate right after planting, as seedlings
  16. 23Source of siroccos
  17. 25Journalist Payne known as the "First Lady of the Black Press"
  18. 27German "east"
  19. 29Uncovered
  20. 30Hall of Fame figures
  21. 32First poet to perform at the Super Bowl
  22. 33Comparatively large band
  23. 34Theater section
  24. 35Mascara applicator
  25. 36Gathering that celebrates DC icons
  26. 37"Love that!"
  27. 42"Siddhartha" novelist
  28. 43"We __ because we care": Monsters, Inc. motto
  29. 45Bring together
  30. 46"Russian Doll" protagonist
  31. 47Mote
  32. 49Object of reverence
  33. 51Spielberg quartet
  34. 52Tends to a stain, maybe
  35. 54De Armas of "Ballerina"
  36. 55Actor Mineo
  37. 56Knock

The answer to “Middle set” in the The Washington Post crossword is ABS — a 3-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Washington Post crossword on August 22, 2026, a Saturday puzzle, at 28-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.

“Middle set” answer

ABS (3 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 ABS.

What does ABS mean?

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

(noun)

  • the abdominal muscles

When else has “Middle set” 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 22, 2026 (most recent) → ABS. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Middle set”?

The answer is ABS, a 3-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Washington Post crossword on August 22, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Middle set”?

3 letters: ABS.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the The Washington Post crossword on August 22, 2026 (a Saturday puzzle), at 28-Across.

Can “Middle set” 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 22, 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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