Wet blanket

Latest answer — October 05, 2026

12 Down

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Clue explained

A downer is something or someone that dampens the mood or enthusiasm of others, much like a “wet blanket.” The clue uses the expression figuratively.

Clue type:
Phrase or idiom
A person looking subdued while others socialize.

WaPo Crossword

This clue's Monday, October 05, 2026 appearance

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Across

  1. 1Tiny trims
  2. 6"Tár" Oscar nominee Blanchett
  3. 10Jar topper
  4. 13Art studio stand
  5. 14Chocolate-flavored latte
  6. 15Fuss
  7. 16Playful back-and-forth
  8. 18Church seating
  9. 19Messy person
  10. 20Word with ocean or eye
  11. 21Skim through
  12. 22Wear away
  13. 24Sprawling property
  14. 26Workstation option since the 1980s
  15. 30Rainbow maker
  16. 31Attempted
  17. 32Bath rug
  18. 33Old hoops org.
  19. 36Genetic material
  20. 37Polo shirt, e.g.
  21. 40Power strip switch
  22. 42Not exactly, informally
  23. 44Ticket pickup location
  24. 49Battery terminals
  25. 50Punchiness
  26. 51See 58-Across
  27. 52Crown for a prom queen
  28. 54Wanes
  29. 58With 51-Across, dance accessory for Fred Astaire
  30. 59Time off that may coincide with a new calendar year, or what can be found in 16-, 26-, and 44-Across
  31. 61Connecticut Ivy Leaguer
  32. 62Derive
  33. 63Possibly dangerous
  34. 64Cozy burrow
  35. 65Composer Stravinsky
  36. 66River mammal

Down

  1. 1Does some alterations
  2. 2Place for cuticle oil
  3. 3Analogy words
  4. 4Spots where dogs may sit, lie down, and roll over
  5. 5Clever
  6. 6Meet over coffee, perhaps
  7. 7Entr'__
  8. 8Eerie electronic instrument
  9. 9Musical proclivity
  10. 10Affectionate feline
  11. 11Brainstorm
  12. 12Wet blanket
  13. 14Some hotel employees
  14. 17Move like the wind
  15. 21Small earring
  16. 23Fiction subgenre
  17. 25"I didn't quite catch that"
  18. 26Typing speed: Abbr.
  19. 27401(k) alternative
  20. 28Minor quibble
  21. 29Chicago airport code
  22. 34Not-so-humble bragging
  23. 35Old gridiron org.
  24. 37Feature of many a Wile E. Coyote trap, for short
  25. 38"__ to Joy": highlight of Beethoven's Ninth
  26. 39Golf course standard
  27. 40Ye __ Shoppe
  28. 41Pool raft, e.g.
  29. 43Receive, as a bequest
  30. 44Squandered
  31. 45Take a deep breath
  32. 46Copy on an email reply
  33. 47Apple pie-making tool
  34. 48Minnesota representative Ilhan
  35. 53Deets
  36. 55Triumph over
  37. 56Make a cake, say
  38. 57Icelandic dairy product similar to yogurt
  39. 59Nintendo console released in 2006
  40. 60Certain sib

The answer to “Wet blanket” in the The Washington Post crossword is DOWNER — a 6-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Washington Post crossword on October 5, 2026, a Monday puzzle, at 12-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.

“Wet blanket” answer

DOWNER (6 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 DOWNER.

What does DOWNER mean?

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

(noun)

  • a depressant or tranquillizing drug, especially a barbiturate
  • a dispiriting or depressing experience or factor
  • a cow or other animal that has fallen down and cannot get to its feet unaided

When else has “Wet blanket” 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 5, 2026 (most recent) → DOWNER. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Wet blanket”?

The answer is DOWNER, a 6-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Washington Post crossword on October 5, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Wet blanket”?

6 letters: DOWNER.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the The Washington Post crossword on October 5, 2026 (a Monday puzzle), at 12-Down.

Can “Wet blanket” 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 5, 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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