Trope starter

Latest answer — October 10, 2026

10 Down

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A heliotrope plant with clusters of small purple flowers.

Clue explained

The clue points to “heliotrope”: HELIO- starts the word, and TROPE is its ending. A heliotrope is a flowering plant whose name comes from Greek roots meaning “sun” and “turn,” a nod to the way some varieties turn toward sunlight. Here, “trope” is part of the plant’s name, not a familiar literary convention.

Clue type:
Pun or wordplay

WaPo Crossword

This clue's Saturday, October 10, 2026 appearance

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The answer to “Trope starter” in the The Washington Post crossword is HELIO — a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Washington Post crossword on October 10, 2026, a Saturday puzzle, at 10-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.

“Trope starter” answer

HELIO (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 HELIO.

When else has “Trope starter” 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 10, 2026 (most recent) → HELIO. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Trope starter”?

The answer is HELIO, a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Washington Post crossword on October 10, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Trope starter”?

5 letters: HELIO.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the The Washington Post crossword on October 10, 2026 (a Saturday puzzle), at 10-Down.

Can “Trope starter” 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 10, 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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