Punch sound

Editorially verified for the Oct 19, 2026

52 Down

57 Down

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Bold comic-style lettering spelling KAPOW to suggest a punch impact.

Clue explained

“Kapow!” is a comic-book sound effect for a punch or other forceful impact. Its exaggerated spelling turns the noise into something you can almost see splashed across a panel, often beside a burst or star shape.

Clue type:
Definition

WaPo Crossword

This clue's Monday, October 19, 2026 appearance

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

Across

  1. 1Weeper's output
  2. 6Aid and __: help on a heist
  3. 10Miles away
  4. 14Planetary path
  5. 15Puzzle cube creator Rubik
  6. 16Tiny, in tech
  7. 17Long-lived desert plants
  8. 18Enjoy a prime position
  9. 20Ration out
  10. 22"America's Got Talent" judge Mandel
  11. 23Cramped areas under some houses
  12. 27African antelope
  13. 29Turned down
  14. 30Sci-fi blasters
  15. 32Grill briquettes
  16. 33Ukraine's capital
  17. 35Be a bookworm
  18. 36Ben E. King hit that begins "When the night has come / And the land is dark"
  19. 39Danish shoe company
  20. 42Soft throw
  21. 43Solemn promises
  22. 47Ivy League school in Ithaca, New York
  23. 49Extremists
  24. 50Classic Pontiac muscle car
  25. 51Biopic about Johnny Cash and June Carter
  26. 54Many a middle schooler
  27. 56Actress Tyler who voices Lana Kane on "Archer"
  28. 57Slow-but-steady progress, or the progression found at the starts of 18-, 23-, 36-, and 51-Across
  29. 59Swedish stores with flatpack furniture
  30. 63Petri dish gelatin
  31. 64Stratford's river
  32. 65Release
  33. 66"A __ formality"
  34. 67Colorful amphibian
  35. 68Future JDs' exams

Down

  1. 1List of chapters at the front of a book: Abbr.
  2. 2Chapter in history
  3. 3Alphabet starter
  4. 4Actress and philanthropist who has co-produced films with Tom Hanks
  5. 5Most calm
  6. 6Greek fable writer
  7. 7Water filter brand
  8. 8Sinus MD
  9. 9Likely to tip over
  10. 10Over again
  11. 11Exhaustion
  12. 12Insect's feeler
  13. 13"You Got It" singer Orbison
  14. 19Pink, as cheeks
  15. 21Psychedelics study subj.
  16. 23Public health agcy.
  17. 24__ Speedwagon
  18. 25"Knives Out" actress de Armas
  19. 26Nursery beds
  20. 28Amer. currency
  21. 31North American quintet depicted on the Michigan quarter
  22. 33Grassy mound
  23. 34Gridiron figs.
  24. 37Many a fan of the Hawks and the Dream
  25. 38Bump that indicates a lawn infestation
  26. 39Heartbeat check, for short
  27. 40Humble home
  28. 41Prying tool
  29. 44Uni- + bi-
  30. 45Chewie's co-pilot
  31. 46NNW reversal
  32. 48Meadow moms
  33. 49Syllables of uncertainty
  34. 52Punch sound
  35. 53Naysayer's quaint contraction
  36. 55Charlotte Brontë's "Jane __"
  37. 57Punch sound
  38. 58Night before
  39. 60Due-in hr.
  40. 61Writer's rep
  41. 62Distress letters

The answer to “Punch sound” in the The Washington Post crossword is KAPOW — a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Washington Post crossword on October 19, 2026, a Monday puzzle, at 52-Down. Other answers we've seen for this clue include BAM. 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.

“Punch sound” answer

KAPOW (5 letters) — most recent; also seen as BAM

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 KAPOW.

What does KAPOW mean?

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

(interjection)

  • used to represent the sound or effect of an explosion, gunshot, or blow (typically used in or associated with comic strips)

Other answers for “Punch sound”

The Washington Post has used this clue with more than one solution. Besides KAPOW, it has also been BAM. Every appearance we've indexed is listed below with the date it ran.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Punch sound”?

The answer is KAPOW, a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Washington Post crossword on October 19, 2026. Other answers for this clue include BAM.

How many letters is the answer to “Punch sound”?

5 letters: KAPOW. Earlier fills for this clue have also been BAM (3).

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the The Washington Post crossword on October 19, 2026 (a Monday puzzle), at 52-Down. Earlier appearances: October 19, 2026 → BAM.

Can “Punch sound” have a different answer?

Yes. Besides KAPOW, The Washington Post has also used BAM for this clue. Every date and answer is listed above.

Where can I find the rest of this day's WaPo Crossword answers?

The full grid for October 19, 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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