Pop sensation

Latest answer — September 07, 2026

36 Down

Scroll down for rest of crossword answers

Clue explained

An idol can be a pop sensation or celebrated star whom fans admire intensely.

Clue type:
Definition
A pop performer singing on a brightly lit stage

WaPo Crossword

This clue's Monday, September 07, 2026 appearance

Tap a square to reveal a letter.

Or reveal one clue at a time with the Hint and Answer buttons below.

Across

  1. 1Owl sound
  2. 5Blue-green hue used in color printing
  3. 9Pet that can be laser-focused?
  4. 12__ committee
  5. 14Volcano's output
  6. 15Task list heading
  7. 16Citrus garnish for many a cocktail
  8. 18Toiling away
  9. 19Manipulate, as bread dough
  10. 20Playground fixture with a ladder
  11. 21"SportsCenter" network
  12. 24Driver's rush-hour headache
  13. 27Ice cream servings
  14. 29Cut (off)
  15. 30Donkey
  16. 31Little bite
  17. 32Least hospitable
  18. 35Tom Wolfe book about Project Mercury, or an apt description of the ends of 16-, 24-, 47-, and 56-Across
  19. 39Moves like a crab
  20. 40Mistake
  21. 42Canyon edge
  22. 45Scooby-__
  23. 46Fast-casual bakery franchise
  24. 47Budget chain owned by Choice Hotels
  25. 51Genesis garden
  26. 52West Point student
  27. 53Sloshed through water
  28. 55Field of study
  29. 56Average guy
  30. 61Sound like a 9-Across
  31. 62Fencing sword
  32. 63Familiar theme
  33. 64Oft-redacted ID
  34. 65Pen points
  35. 66Moisturizer brand

Down

  1. 1Actor Holbrook
  2. 2Tribute poem
  3. 3Unit of resistance
  4. 4Didn't count on one's memory in class
  5. 5See-through
  6. 6When repeated, "and so on"
  7. 7The "A" of GPA: Abbr.
  8. 8Scottish "no"
  9. 9Crumbly Mexican cheese
  10. 10Nike rival
  11. 11Sacred tribal carvings
  12. 13"Erin Burnett OutFront" channel
  13. 15Very soft mineral
  14. 17Moistens
  15. 20Enjoys gossip without adding to it, in slang
  16. 21"C'__ la vie!"
  17. 22"Buzz off!"
  18. 23Swanky
  19. 25Darts around
  20. 26Rivals
  21. 28August birthstone
  22. 32Shelter made of compressed snow
  23. 33"Weekend Update" comic Michael
  24. 34Gave up one's amateur status, perhaps
  25. 36Pop sensation
  26. 37Mister Rogers
  27. 38Golfer's warning shout
  28. 41Hightailed it
  29. 42"Previously on ... " segments
  30. 43Son of Daedalus
  31. 44Contemporary
  32. 46Spa treatment for feet, briefly
  33. 48At hand
  34. 49Dorky one
  35. 50Elements that make up most of the atmosphere
  36. 54Telephone no. addition
  37. 56MS NOW's "The Briefing With __ Psaki"
  38. 57Nail polish brand
  39. 58Pioneering ISP
  40. 59Fig. figuring figures
  41. 60__ lime pie

The answer to “Pop sensation” in the The Washington Post crossword is IDOL — a 4-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Washington Post crossword on September 7, 2026, a Monday puzzle, at 36-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.

“Pop sensation” answer

IDOL (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 IDOL.

What does IDOL mean?

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

(noun)

  • an image or representation of a god used as an object of worship

When else has “Pop sensation” 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 7, 2026 (most recent) → IDOL. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Pop sensation”?

The answer is IDOL, a 4-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Washington Post crossword on September 7, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Pop sensation”?

4 letters: IDOL.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the The Washington Post crossword on September 7, 2026 (a Monday puzzle), at 36-Down.

Can “Pop sensation” 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 7, 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.

Crossword Clues

Looking up a clue? Jump into today's answers and clue help from top puzzles.