Words to live by

Editorially verified for the Oct 18, 2026

116 Across

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A page listing principles or beliefs to live by.

Clue explained

A tenet is a principle or belief that guides someone’s thinking or conduct, which makes it a “word to live by.” A tenet might be a central belief in a philosophy, religion, or organization—or simply a personal rule someone tries to follow.

Clue type:
Definition

WaPo Crossword

This clue's Sunday, October 18, 2026 appearance

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Across

Down

  1. 37Wee
  2. 61Fin
  3. 65Cut

The answer to “Words to live by” in the The Washington Post crossword is TENET — a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Washington Post crossword on October 18, 2026, a Sunday puzzle, at 116-Across. 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.

“Words to live by” answer

TENET (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 TENET.

What does TENET mean?

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

(noun)

  • a principle or belief, especially one of the main principles of a religion or philosophy

When else has “Words to live by” 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 18, 2026 (most recent) → TENET. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Words to live by”?

The answer is TENET, a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Washington Post crossword on October 18, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Words to live by”?

5 letters: TENET.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the The Washington Post crossword on October 18, 2026 (a Sunday puzzle), at 116-Across.

Can “Words to live by” 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 18, 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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