Beach problem
Crossword Answer — July 31, 2026
Thomas Joseph Crossword
Friday, July 31, 2026
By Thomas Joseph
Tap a square to reveal a letter.
Or reveal one clue at a time with the Hint and Answer buttons below.
Crossword clues, hints, and answers
Across
- 1. Valentine trim — Answer: LACE. Hint: A delicate fabric that adds a romantic touch to cards, gifts, or lingerie. 🧵
- 5. Blubber — Answer: BAWL. Hint: To do this is to cry loudly and noisily. 😭
- 9. Curaçao’s neighbor — Answer: ARUBA. Hint: Think of the nearby Dutch Caribbean island that shares the ABC island group with Curaçao. 🏝️
- 11. Homer work — Answer: ILIAD. Hint: Think of Homer’s epic tale of the Trojan War 📜
- 13. Fishhook features — Answer: BARBS. Hint: These sharp little projections help keep a catch from slipping free. 🎣
- 14. Slowly, in scores — Answer: LENTO. Hint: Look for the musical direction telling performers to take their time. 🎼
- 15. Kimono sash — Answer: OBI. Hint: This traditional Japanese garment belt is tied around the waist of a kimono 🎎
- 16. In pristine condition — Answer: LIKENEW. Hint: A phrase describing something that looks untouched and fresh from the store ✨
- 18. Mob makeup — Answer: RIOTERS. Hint: These unruly crowd members might be stirring up trouble in the streets. 😈
- 20. Roadhouse — Answer: INN. Hint: A cozy stop where weary travelers can grab a meal and stay the night 🛏️
- 21. Makes sound — Answer: CURES. Hint: Think of a verb meaning to restore someone to health, with the clue using a less familiar sense. 🩺
- 22. Casino acts — Answer: BETS. Hint: What gamblers place when they’re feeling lucky 🎲
- 23. Dine late — Answer: SUP. Hint: Think of an old-fashioned verb for having a light meal late in the evening. 🍽️
- 24. Lynx or lion — Answer: CAT. Hint: Think of the familiar four-legged predator that can be wild or domestic. 🐾
- 25. Cooking mint — Answer: SAGE. Hint: This fragrant herb is a classic partner for poultry and stuffing. 🌿
- 27. One of Chekhov’s “Three Sisters” — Answer: MASHA. Hint: Think of the sister whose forbidden love for Vershinin adds extra drama to the play. 🎭
- 29. Kicker’s aid — Answer: TEE. Hint: A football player may place the ball on this small stand before a kickoff 🏈
- 30. Sells — Answer: MARKETS. Hint: Offers goods or services to buyers, often in a marketplace. 🛍️
- 32. Beach problem — Answer: EROSION. Hint: Waves and weather can slowly wear the shoreline away over time 🌊
- 34. Chest muscle, for short — Answer: PEC. Hint: A gym-goer might flex this upper-body muscle 💪
- 35. Like some online videos — Answer: VIRAL. Hint: These videos spread rapidly from viewer to viewer. 📹
- 36. Cheering loudly — Answer: AROAR. Hint: Making a thunderous, enthusiastic noise like an excited crowd 📣
- 38. National bird — Answer: EAGLE. Hint: Think of the majestic bird often associated with American pride and soaring high above the landscape. 🦅
- 39. Unfettered — Answer: LOOSE. Hint: Free from restraints, like a horse running without reins 🐎
- 40. Lusty look — Answer: LEER. Hint: A suggestive gaze that can feel more creepy than charming 😏
- 41. Sound of relief — Answer: WHEW. Hint: An exclamation you might let out when a stressful moment finally passes 😌
Down
- 1. Toil away — Answer: LABOR. Hint: Work steadily, even when the task feels like a grind 💪
- 2. Middle East language — Answer: ARABIC. Hint: This widely spoken language connects countries from Egypt to Saudi Arabia. 🌍
- 3. Monkey in kids’ books — Answer: CURIOUSGEORGE. Hint: This endlessly inquisitive little primate is a beloved picture-book troublemaker. 🐒
- 4. Subside — Answer: EBB. Hint: Think of what the tide does when it gradually pulls back 🌊
- 5. Overcharges — Answer: BILKS. Hint: Charges someone more than is fair, often by taking advantage of them. 💸
- 6. Out of the wind — Answer: ALEE. Hint: Look for a nautical term meaning sheltered from the wind. ⛵
- 7. Bear in kids’ books — Answer: WINNIETHEPOOH. Hint: Think of the honey-loving, red-shirted bear from the Hundred Acre Wood. 🐻
- 8. Hidden — Answer: LATENT. Hint: Present beneath the surface, even when not yet visible. 🔍
- 10. Out — Answer: ASLEEP. Hint: Not awake or available, perhaps after a long day 😴
- 12. Football plays — Answer: DOWNS. Hint: Think of the numbered attempts a team gets to advance the ball. 🏈
- 17. Schedule C org. — Answer: IRS. Hint: Think of the federal agency that handles income tax forms for freelancers and small businesses. 🧾
- 19. Faithful — Answer: TRUE. Hint: Think of something accurate, genuine, and not false. ✅
- 22. Soak up the sun — Answer: BASK. Hint: Enjoy some warm rays while lounging outdoors. ☀️
- 24. Fleshly — Answer: CARNAL. Hint: Think of something relating to the body rather than the spirit. 🧍
- 25. Carell of movies — Answer: STEVE. Hint: Think of the actor who played Michael Scott in The Office 🎬
- 26. Reception aid — Answer: AERIAL. Hint: This helps your radio or TV pick up a clearer signal. 📡
- 27. Great Leap Forward leader — Answer: MAO. Hint: Think of the Chinese Communist leader behind this ambitious 1950s campaign. 🏭
- 28. Comfortable — Answer: ATEASE. Hint: Feeling relaxed, calm, and free from worry describes this state. 😌
- 30. Track athlete — Answer: MILER. Hint: This runner specializes in the classic distance of four laps around a standard outdoor track 🏃
- 31. Propeller type — Answer: SCREW. Hint: Think of the propeller that advances a boat by twisting through the water. 🚤
- 33. Store come-on — Answer: SALE. Hint: A tempting bargain message shoppers love to see in a window 🛍️
- 37. Squabble — Answer: ROW. Hint: A minor argument can turn into one of these. 🗣️
The answer to “Beach problem” in the Thomas Joseph crossword is EROSION — a 7-letter word. This clue ran in the Thomas Joseph crossword on July 31, 2026, a Friday puzzle, at 32-Across. If it's the entry standing between you and a clean grid, that's the word you need — and below you'll find why it fits, plus links to the day's other clues if more than one square is giving you trouble.
“Beach problem” answer
EROSION (7 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 EROSION.
Why the answer is EROSION
Waves and weather can slowly wear the shoreline away over time 🌊
When else has “Beach problem” appeared?
Thomas Joseph reuses clues across dates, sometimes with a different answer depending on the grid. Here's where this exact clue has shown up before, and what the answer was each time — handy if you landed here from a puzzle on another date.
July 31, 2026 (this puzzle) → EROSION. We haven't indexed an earlier appearance of this exact clue yet.
More clues from the Thomas Joseph Crossword on July 31, 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.
- Monkey in kids’ books → CURIOUSGEORGE
- Fleshly → CARNAL
- Carell of movies → STEVE
- Reception aid → AERIAL
- Great Leap Forward leader → MAO
- Track athlete → MILER
- Store come-on → SALE
- Propeller type → SCREW
Want every clue in one place? The full Thomas Joseph answer list for July 31, 2026 is on that day's grid page, and today's live Thomas Joseph answers are always one tap from the today page.
About the Thomas Joseph Crossword
The Thomas Joseph Crossword is King Features Syndicate's compact daily, an 11×13 grid of about 50 clues that runs Monday through Saturday in newspapers and free online. This page covers a Friday puzzle. The byline is a syndicate pen name — it merges the first names of constructor Joseph LaFauci and his editor Thomas Sheehan — and the puzzle still follows the house style LaFauci set: straight-definition clues, short crossing-friendly fill, and no Monday-to-Saturday difficulty ramp. What trips solvers up is usually a dated reference rather than wordplay, and because the grid is small, one confirmed answer tends to finish the corner around it.
Frequently asked questions
What is the answer to “Beach problem”?
The answer is EROSION, a 7-letter word. It appeared in the Thomas Joseph crossword on July 31, 2026.
How many letters is the answer to “Beach problem”?
7 letters: EROSION.
Where did this clue appear?
In the Thomas Joseph crossword on July 31, 2026 (a Friday puzzle), at 32-Across.
Can “Beach problem” have a different answer?
Yes — Thomas Joseph 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 Thomas Joseph answers?
The full grid for July 31, 2026 is on the Thomas Joseph answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.