Rigorous evaluation

Latest answer — August 20, 2026

38 Down

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Clue decoded

An ACID TEST is a rigorous evaluation that determines whether something truly meets a standard. The phrase originated with a test using acid to distinguish real gold from base metal.

Clue type:
Phrase or idiom
A jeweler testing metal with acid to assess whether it is gold.

WaPo Crossword

This clue's Thursday, August 20, 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. 1Error
  2. 8Radio static sound
  3. 15Do the same as
  4. 16Peaceful getaway spot
  5. 17Hard stuff in rings
  6. 19"You said it!"
  7. 20Ignited
  8. 21Small floral bundle
  9. 22Robin Hood foe
  10. 26Hard stuff in school
  11. 32Gets even with
  12. 33Relativity, for one
  13. 35Bucks and does
  14. 36Org. that oversees food recalls
  15. 39Half a sextet
  16. 40Hard stuff in a bar
  17. 45Utterly exhausted
  18. 46"How amusing"
  19. 49__ culpa
  20. 50Marina __ Rey, California
  21. 51Proper
  22. 54Fuming
  23. 56Nocturnal flapper
  24. 58Word with circle and tube
  25. 60Hard stuff for a sweet tooth
  26. 63Doesn't just assume
  27. 64Licoricelike herb
  28. 65Ore-rich vein
  29. 66Appliance alert
  30. 67Numbers for letters
  31. 68Tollbooth pricing unit

Down

  1. 1Sports analyst Kimes
  2. 2Mosque leader
  3. 3Place
  4. 4Leave speechless
  5. 5Fossil-preserving gunk
  6. 6Unreliable stat from the fashionably late
  7. 7Bit of hamster food
  8. 8One who always gives star treatment?
  9. 9Belfast-born actor Stephen
  10. 10Bread machine
  11. 11Trim, as a photo
  12. 12Casino game
  13. 13Boyos
  14. 14Marketplace with personalized gifts
  15. 18NNE, SSW, etc.
  16. 22Contrail location
  17. 23Bucks, but not does
  18. 24In shape
  19. 25Dismissive syllable
  20. 26Bit of fishing gear
  21. 27Well-financed gp.?
  22. 28Chocolate substitute
  23. 29Online access username within universities, briefly
  24. 30Grain ground to make masa
  25. 31"The Devil in the White City" writer Larson
  26. 32Nutritional amt.
  27. 34Casual hellos
  28. 36Flowering plant once believed to repel pests
  29. 37E, in Morse code
  30. 38Rigorous evaluation
  31. 41Big hit at the ballpark
  32. 42Unspecified person
  33. 43Hip-hop pioneer Dr. __
  34. 44Thing of the past
  35. 46Muslim headscarf
  36. 47Create a clean slate?
  37. 48Ethan of the "Before" trilogy
  38. 51Secondary structure
  39. 52"Bike faster!"
  40. 53Defiant response to a threat
  41. 55Ingredient meas.
  42. 57Similar (to)
  43. 59Mars rover org.
  44. 61"My conscience whispers in your __": "King John"
  45. 62High or low follower, in graphics

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Across

  1. 1. Error — Answer: MISSTEP. Hint: A mistake made while moving forward can be called this. 🚶
  2. 8. Radio static sound — Answer: CRACKLE. Hint: It is the rough, popping noise heard through a poor signal. 📻
  3. 15. Do the same as — Answer: IMITATE. Hint: Follow someone’s example rather than inventing your own approach. 👯
  4. 16. Peaceful getaway spot — Answer: RETREAT. Hint: A quiet place to withdraw and recharge fits this description. 🌿
  5. 17. Hard stuff in rings — Answer: NATURALDIAMONDS. Hint: These gemstones form deep underground and are prized for their hardness. 💎
  6. 19. "You said it!" — Answer: AMEN. Hint: A brief word of agreement often heard at the end of a prayer 🙏
  7. 20. Ignited — Answer: LIT. Hint: A candle is this once its flame catches. 🕯️
  8. 21. Small floral bundle — Answer: POSY. Hint: A petite bouquet makes a charming gift. 💐
  9. 22. Robin Hood foe — Answer: SHERIFF. Hint: Nottingham’s lawman is the famous outlaw’s adversary. 🏹
  10. 26. Hard stuff in school — Answer: ROCKETSCIENCE. Hint: This joking phrase describes an especially challenging subject. 🚀
  11. 32. Gets even with — Answer: REPAYS. Hint: Returns a favor or settles a score. ⚖️
  12. 33. Relativity, for one — Answer: THEORY. Hint: Einstein’s famous explanation belongs to this category. 🧠
  13. 35. Bucks and does — Answer: DEER. Hint: Both male and female members of this hoofed animal fit the clue. 🦌
  14. 36. Org. that oversees food recalls — Answer: FDA. Hint: This U.S. agency monitors food safety and product recalls. 🥫
  15. 39. Half a sextet — Answer: TRIO. Hint: If a group of six is too much for you, try a smaller number that sounds musical! 🎶
  16. 40. Hard stuff in a bar — Answer: ALCOHOLICDRINKS. Hint: Adults may order these when seeking something stronger than soda. 🍸
  17. 45. Utterly exhausted — Answer: BONETIRED. Hint: Completely worn out after a long day describes this state. 😴
  18. 46. "How amusing" — Answer: HEH. Hint: A brief, understated reaction to something funny. 😏
  19. 49. __ culpa — Answer: MEA. Hint: The Latin phrase means “my fault.” 🙈
  20. 50. Marina __ Rey, California — Answer: DEL. Hint: This missing word completes the name of a coastal city near Los Angeles. 🌴
  21. 51. Proper — Answer: APT. Hint: Suitable or fitting for the situation. ✅
  22. 54. Fuming — Answer: IRATE. Hint: Boiling with anger captures this mood. 😡
  23. 56. Nocturnal flapper — Answer: BAT. Hint: Think of a night-flying mammal that navigates by sound. 🦇
  24. 58. Word with circle and tube — Answer: INNER. Hint: This term describes a circle’s center and a pipe’s lining. ⭕
  25. 60. Hard stuff for a sweet tooth — Answer: JAWBREAKERCANDY. Hint: It’s a very hard confection that puts teeth to the test. 🍬
  26. 63. Doesn't just assume — Answer: ASKS. Hint: This person seeks information instead of taking things for granted. ❓
  27. 64. Licoricelike herb — Answer: ANISE. Hint: Look for a spice with a distinctive sweet, aromatic flavor. 🌿
  28. 65. Ore-rich vein — Answer: SEAM. Hint: It’s a geological layer containing valuable metal. ⛏️
  29. 66. Appliance alert — Answer: BEEP. Hint: Think of a short electronic warning sound. 🔔
  30. 67. Numbers for letters — Answer: RENTS. Hint: These are payments collected from occupants. 🏠
  31. 68. Tollbooth pricing unit — Answer: AXLE. Hint: A vehicle’s wheel-supporting shaft can determine the charge. 🚗

Down

  1. 1. Sports analyst Kimes — Answer: MINA. Hint: The sports commentator with Kimes as her surname has this given name. 🎙️
  2. 2. Mosque leader — Answer: IMAM. Hint: This religious figure often leads prayers in a place of worship. 🕌
  3. 3. Place — Answer: SITE. Hint: Think of a location or spot. 📍
  4. 4. Leave speechless — Answer: STUN. Hint: To do this is to leave someone utterly unable to speak. 😲
  5. 5. Fossil-preserving gunk — Answer: TAR. Hint: This sticky black material can trap ancient remains. 🦴
  6. 6. Unreliable stat from the fashionably late — Answer: ETA. Hint: It’s a delayed arrival estimate that keeps changing. ⏰
  7. 7. Bit of hamster food — Answer: PELLET. Hint: Think of a small compressed morsel fed to a pocket pet. 🐹
  8. 8. One who always gives star treatment? — Answer: CRITIC. Hint: This reviewer may hand out ratings shaped like celestial objects. ⭐
  9. 9. Belfast-born actor Stephen — Answer: REA. Hint: He is the Belfast-born performer known for The Crying Game. 🎬
  10. 10. Bread machine — Answer: ATM. Hint: A cash dispenser can be jokingly described as a source of dough. 💵
  11. 11. Trim, as a photo — Answer: CROP. Hint: To do this is to cut away unwanted edges from an image. ✂️
  12. 12. Casino game — Answer: KENO. Hint: It’s a gambling game based on drawing numbers. 🎰
  13. 13. Boyos — Answer: LADS. Hint: Think of a casual British term for young men. 👬
  14. 14. Marketplace with personalized gifts — Answer: ETSY. Hint: This online craft marketplace is a favorite for custom creations. 🎁
  15. 18. NNE, SSW, etc. — Answer: DIRS. Hint: These are abbreviated points on a compass. 🧭
  16. 22. Contrail location — Answer: SKY. Hint: Look up to find where an airplane’s vapor trail appears. ✈️
  17. 23. Bucks, but not does — Answer: HES. Hint: These male deer are distinguished from their female counterparts. 🦌
  18. 24. In shape — Answer: FIT. Hint: Being healthy and physically capable puts you here. 💪
  19. 25. Dismissive syllable — Answer: FEH. Hint: This sound conveys a shrugging lack of interest. 🤷
  20. 26. Bit of fishing gear — Answer: REEL. Hint: A fisherman uses this to wind in the line. 🎣
  21. 27. Well-financed gp.? — Answer: OPEC. Hint: Think of an oil-producing group with plenty of revenue. 🛢️
  22. 28. Chocolate substitute — Answer: CAROB. Hint: This naturally sweet pod is often used instead of cocoa. 🍫
  23. 29. Online access username within universities, briefly — Answer: NETID. Hint: It is the campus login identifier used for online services. 💻
  24. 30. Grain ground to make masa — Answer: CORN. Hint: This staple grain becomes the basis for tortillas and tamales. 🌽
  25. 31. "The Devil in the White City" writer Larson — Answer: ERIK. Hint: Recall the author’s first name from this famous historical thriller. 📚
  26. 32. Nutritional amt. — Answer: RDA. Hint: This abbreviation refers to a recommended daily intake. 🥗
  27. 34. Casual hellos — Answer: YOS. Hint: These are ultra-informal greetings. 👋
  28. 36. Flowering plant once believed to repel pests — Answer: FLEABANE. Hint: Its traditional reputation involved keeping bothersome insects away. 🌼
  29. 37. E, in Morse code — Answer: DIT. Hint: In Morse code, this letter is represented by one dot. 📡
  30. 38. Rigorous evaluation — Answer: ACIDTEST. Hint: This phrase describes a demanding trial of quality or effectiveness. 🧪
  31. 41. Big hit at the ballpark — Answer: HOMER. Hint: A batter earns this when the ball leaves the playing field fairly. ⚾
  32. 42. Unspecified person — Answer: ONE. Hint: This pronoun can refer to an unnamed individual. 👤
  33. 43. Hip-hop pioneer Dr. __ — Answer: DRE. Hint: This legendary producer and rapper shared a stage name with a medical title 🎤
  34. 44. Thing of the past — Answer: RELIC. Hint: An old artifact or custom that has survived from another era 🏺
  35. 46. Muslim headscarf — Answer: HIJAB. Hint: This traditional covering is worn by many Muslim women 🧕
  36. 47. Create a clean slate? — Answer: ERASE. Hint: Wipe away what was written to start fresh 🧽
  37. 48. Ethan of the "Before" trilogy — Answer: HAWKE. Hint: He played Jesse opposite Julie Delpy in the romantic film trilogy 🎬
  38. 51. Secondary structure — Answer: ANNEX. Hint: An additional building or section attached to a main one 🏢
  39. 52. "Bike faster!" — Answer: PEDAL. Hint: That command urges a cyclist to push the foot-operated crank harder 🚲
  40. 53. Defiant response to a threat — Answer: TRYME. Hint: This bold retort dares the other person to follow through 😏
  41. 55. Ingredient meas. — Answer: TBSP. Hint: This kitchen abbreviation represents a tablespoon 🥄
  42. 57. Similar (to) — Answer: AKIN. Hint: Think of words that mean 'related' or 'like'! 👫
  43. 59. Mars rover org. — Answer: NASA. Hint: The U.S. space agency sends robotic explorers to the Red Planet 🚀
  44. 61. "My conscience whispers in your __": "King John" — Answer: EAR. Hint: The quotation describes a quiet voice heard beside your head 👂
  45. 62. High or low follower, in graphics — Answer: RES. Hint: This abbreviation refers to image detail, whether it is high or low 🖥️

Recent WaPo Crossword Answers

The last 7 days of solutions

WaPo Crossword 19 August 2026WaPo Crossword 18 August 2026WaPo Crossword 17 August 2026WaPo Crossword 16 August 2026WaPo Crossword 15 August 2026WaPo Crossword 14 August 2026WaPo Crossword 13 August 2026

The answer to “Rigorous evaluation” in the The Washington Post crossword is ACIDTEST — a 8-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Washington Post crossword on August 20, 2026, a Thursday puzzle, at 38-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.

“Rigorous evaluation” answer

ACIDTEST (8 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 ACIDTEST.

When else has “Rigorous evaluation” 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 20, 2026 (most recent) → ACIDTEST. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

More clues from the WaPo Crossword on August 20, 2026

Stuck elsewhere in the grid? Here are some of the crossing and nearby clues from the same puzzle — tap any for its answer and explanation.

Want every clue in one place? The full The Washington Post answer list for August 20, 2026 is on that day's grid page, and today's live WaPo Crossword answers are always one tap from the today page.

About the WaPo Crossword

The Washington Post Crossword is a classic American daily 15×15 (larger on Sunday), free to play online and known for fair, conversational cluing. This page covers a Thursday puzzle. Theme answers and mid-length fill trade places in importance; when a theme clue stalls you, a confirmed crossing entry usually breaks the corner open.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Rigorous evaluation”?

The answer is ACIDTEST, a 8-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Washington Post crossword on August 20, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Rigorous evaluation”?

8 letters: ACIDTEST.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the The Washington Post crossword on August 20, 2026 (a Thursday puzzle), at 38-Down.

Can “Rigorous evaluation” 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 20, 2026 is on the WaPo Crossword answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

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