Top-tier

Latest answer — October 11, 2026

59 Down

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Top-level athletes competing in a high-level sporting event.

Clue explained

The elite are the top-ranking group in a field or society. As an adjective, “elite” describes something reserved for the best or most accomplished, such as an elite athletic team.

Clue type:
Definition

WaPo Crossword

This clue's Sunday, October 11, 2026 appearance

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The answer to “Top-tier” in the The Washington Post crossword is ELITE — a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Washington Post crossword on October 11, 2026, a Sunday puzzle, at 59-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.

“Top-tier” answer

ELITE (5 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 ELITE.

What does ELITE mean?

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

(noun)

  • a select group that is superior in terms of ability or qualities to the rest of a group or society
  • a size of letter in typewriting, with 12 characters to the inch (about 4.7 to the centimetre)

When else has “Top-tier” 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 11, 2026 (most recent) → ELITE. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Top-tier”?

The answer is ELITE, a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Washington Post crossword on October 11, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Top-tier”?

5 letters: ELITE.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the The Washington Post crossword on October 11, 2026 (a Sunday puzzle), at 59-Down.

Can “Top-tier” 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 11, 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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