LA Times Crossword Answers - Aug 20

By Jeffrey Wechsler · Edited by Patti Varol

M
I
S
S
T
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C
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A
C
K
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M
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N
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D
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M
O
N
D
S
A
M
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P
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Y
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H
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R
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F
F
R
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K
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C
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P
A
Y
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R
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D
E
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F
D
A
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O
A
L
C
O
H
O
L
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C
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K
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B
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H
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H
M
E
A
D
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L
A
P
T
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B
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N
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J
A
W
B
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K
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D
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K
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Across

  1. 1ErrorMISSTEP
  2. 8Radio static soundCRACKLE
  3. 15Do the same asIMITATE
  4. 16Peaceful getaway spotRETREAT
  5. 17Hard stuff in ringsNATURALDIAMONDS
  6. 19"You said it!"AMEN
  7. 20IgnitedLIT
  8. 21Small floral bundlePOSY
  9. 22Robin Hood foeSHERIFF
  10. 26Hard stuff in schoolROCKETSCIENCE
  11. 32Gets even withREPAYS
  12. 33Relativity, for oneTHEORY
  13. 35Bucks and doesDEER
  14. 36Org. that oversees food recallsFDA
  15. 39Half a sextetTRIO
  16. 40Hard stuff in a barALCOHOLICDRINKS
  17. 45Utterly exhaustedBONETIRED
  18. 46"How amusing"HEH
  19. 49__ culpaMEA
  20. 50Marina __ Rey, CaliforniaDEL
  21. 51ProperAPT
  22. 54FumingIRATE
  23. 56Nocturnal flapperBAT
  24. 58Word with circle and tubeINNER
  25. 60Hard stuff for a sweet toothJAWBREAKERCANDY
  26. 63Doesn't just assumeASKS
  27. 64Licoricelike herbANISE
  28. 65Ore-rich veinSEAM
  29. 66Appliance alertBEEP
  30. 67Numbers for lettersRENTS
  31. 68Tollbooth pricing unitAXLE

Down

  1. 1Sports analyst KimesMINA
  2. 2Mosque leaderIMAM
  3. 3PlaceSITE
  4. 4Leave speechlessSTUN
  5. 5Fossil-preserving gunkTAR
  6. 6Unreliable stat from the fashionably lateETA
  7. 7Bit of hamster foodPELLET
  8. 8One who always gives star treatment?CRITIC
  9. 9Belfast-born actor StephenREA
  10. 10Bread machineATM
  11. 11Trim, as a photoCROP
  12. 12Casino gameKENO
  13. 13BoyosLADS
  14. 14Marketplace with personalized giftsETSY
  15. 18NNE, SSW, etc.DIRS
  16. 22Contrail locationSKY
  17. 23Bucks, but not doesHES
  18. 24In shapeFIT
  19. 25Dismissive syllableFEH
  20. 26Bit of fishing gearREEL
  21. 27Well-financed gp.?OPEC
  22. 28Chocolate substituteCAROB
  23. 29Online access username within universities, brieflyNETID
  24. 30Grain ground to make masaCORN
  25. 31"The Devil in the White City" writer LarsonERIK
  26. 32Nutritional amt.RDA
  27. 34Casual hellosYOS
  28. 36Flowering plant once believed to repel pestsFLEABANE
  29. 37E, in Morse codeDIT
  30. 38Rigorous evaluationACIDTEST
  31. 41Big hit at the ballparkHOMER
  32. 42Unspecified personONE
  33. 43Hip-hop pioneer Dr. __DRE
  34. 44Thing of the pastRELIC
  35. 46Muslim headscarfHIJAB
  36. 47Create a clean slate?ERASE
  37. 48Ethan of the "Before" trilogyHAWKE
  38. 51Secondary structureANNEX
  39. 52"Bike faster!"PEDAL
  40. 53Defiant response to a threatTRYME
  41. 55Ingredient meas.TBSP
  42. 57Similar (to)AKIN
  43. 59Mars rover org.NASA
  44. 61"My conscience whispers in your __": "King John"EAR
  45. 62High or low follower, in graphicsRES

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Across

  1. 1. Error — Answer: MISSTEP. Hint: A mistake made while moving forward can be called this. 🚶
  2. 8. Radio static sound — Answer: CRACKLE. Hint: It is the rough, popping noise heard through a poor signal. 📻
  3. 15. Do the same as — Answer: IMITATE. Hint: Follow someone’s example rather than inventing your own approach. 👯
  4. 16. Peaceful getaway spot — Answer: RETREAT. Hint: A quiet place to withdraw and recharge fits this description. 🌿
  5. 17. Hard stuff in rings — Answer: NATURALDIAMONDS. Hint: These gemstones form deep underground and are prized for their hardness. 💎
  6. 19. "You said it!" — Answer: AMEN. Hint: A brief word of agreement often heard at the end of a prayer 🙏
  7. 20. Ignited — Answer: LIT. Hint: A candle is this once its flame catches. 🕯️
  8. 21. Small floral bundle — Answer: POSY. Hint: A petite bouquet makes a charming gift. 💐
  9. 22. Robin Hood foe — Answer: SHERIFF. Hint: Nottingham’s lawman is the famous outlaw’s adversary. 🏹
  10. 26. Hard stuff in school — Answer: ROCKETSCIENCE. Hint: This joking phrase describes an especially challenging subject. 🚀
  11. 32. Gets even with — Answer: REPAYS. Hint: Returns a favor or settles a score. ⚖️
  12. 33. Relativity, for one — Answer: THEORY. Hint: Einstein’s famous explanation belongs to this category. 🧠
  13. 35. Bucks and does — Answer: DEER. Hint: Both male and female members of this hoofed animal fit the clue. 🦌
  14. 36. Org. that oversees food recalls — Answer: FDA. Hint: This U.S. agency monitors food safety and product recalls. 🥫
  15. 39. Half a sextet — Answer: TRIO. Hint: If a group of six is too much for you, try a smaller number that sounds musical! 🎶
  16. 40. Hard stuff in a bar — Answer: ALCOHOLICDRINKS. Hint: Adults may order these when seeking something stronger than soda. 🍸
  17. 45. Utterly exhausted — Answer: BONETIRED. Hint: Completely worn out after a long day describes this state. 😴
  18. 46. "How amusing" — Answer: HEH. Hint: A brief, understated reaction to something funny. 😏
  19. 49. __ culpa — Answer: MEA. Hint: The Latin phrase means “my fault.” 🙈
  20. 50. Marina __ Rey, California — Answer: DEL. Hint: This missing word completes the name of a coastal city near Los Angeles. 🌴
  21. 51. Proper — Answer: APT. Hint: Suitable or fitting for the situation. ✅
  22. 54. Fuming — Answer: IRATE. Hint: Boiling with anger captures this mood. 😡
  23. 56. Nocturnal flapper — Answer: BAT. Hint: Think of a night-flying mammal that navigates by sound. 🦇
  24. 58. Word with circle and tube — Answer: INNER. Hint: This term describes a circle’s center and a pipe’s lining. ⭕
  25. 60. Hard stuff for a sweet tooth — Answer: JAWBREAKERCANDY. Hint: It’s a very hard confection that puts teeth to the test. 🍬
  26. 63. Doesn't just assume — Answer: ASKS. Hint: This person seeks information instead of taking things for granted. ❓
  27. 64. Licoricelike herb — Answer: ANISE. Hint: Look for a spice with a distinctive sweet, aromatic flavor. 🌿
  28. 65. Ore-rich vein — Answer: SEAM. Hint: It’s a geological layer containing valuable metal. ⛏️
  29. 66. Appliance alert — Answer: BEEP. Hint: Think of a short electronic warning sound. 🔔
  30. 67. Numbers for letters — Answer: RENTS. Hint: These are payments collected from occupants. 🏠
  31. 68. Tollbooth pricing unit — Answer: AXLE. Hint: A vehicle’s wheel-supporting shaft can determine the charge. 🚗

Down

  1. 1. Sports analyst Kimes — Answer: MINA. Hint: The sports commentator with Kimes as her surname has this given name. 🎙️
  2. 2. Mosque leader — Answer: IMAM. Hint: This religious figure often leads prayers in a place of worship. 🕌
  3. 3. Place — Answer: SITE. Hint: Think of a location or spot. 📍
  4. 4. Leave speechless — Answer: STUN. Hint: To do this is to leave someone utterly unable to speak. 😲
  5. 5. Fossil-preserving gunk — Answer: TAR. Hint: This sticky black material can trap ancient remains. 🦴
  6. 6. Unreliable stat from the fashionably late — Answer: ETA. Hint: It’s a delayed arrival estimate that keeps changing. ⏰
  7. 7. Bit of hamster food — Answer: PELLET. Hint: Think of a small compressed morsel fed to a pocket pet. 🐹
  8. 8. One who always gives star treatment? — Answer: CRITIC. Hint: This reviewer may hand out ratings shaped like celestial objects. ⭐
  9. 9. Belfast-born actor Stephen — Answer: REA. Hint: He is the Belfast-born performer known for The Crying Game. 🎬
  10. 10. Bread machine — Answer: ATM. Hint: A cash dispenser can be jokingly described as a source of dough. 💵
  11. 11. Trim, as a photo — Answer: CROP. Hint: To do this is to cut away unwanted edges from an image. ✂️
  12. 12. Casino game — Answer: KENO. Hint: It’s a gambling game based on drawing numbers. 🎰
  13. 13. Boyos — Answer: LADS. Hint: Think of a casual British term for young men. 👬
  14. 14. Marketplace with personalized gifts — Answer: ETSY. Hint: This online craft marketplace is a favorite for custom creations. 🎁
  15. 18. NNE, SSW, etc. — Answer: DIRS. Hint: These are abbreviated points on a compass. 🧭
  16. 22. Contrail location — Answer: SKY. Hint: Look up to find where an airplane’s vapor trail appears. ✈️
  17. 23. Bucks, but not does — Answer: HES. Hint: These male deer are distinguished from their female counterparts. 🦌
  18. 24. In shape — Answer: FIT. Hint: Being healthy and physically capable puts you here. 💪
  19. 25. Dismissive syllable — Answer: FEH. Hint: This sound conveys a shrugging lack of interest. 🤷
  20. 26. Bit of fishing gear — Answer: REEL. Hint: A fisherman uses this to wind in the line. 🎣
  21. 27. Well-financed gp.? — Answer: OPEC. Hint: Think of an oil-producing group with plenty of revenue. 🛢️
  22. 28. Chocolate substitute — Answer: CAROB. Hint: This naturally sweet pod is often used instead of cocoa. 🍫
  23. 29. Online access username within universities, briefly — Answer: NETID. Hint: It is the campus login identifier used for online services. 💻
  24. 30. Grain ground to make masa — Answer: CORN. Hint: This staple grain becomes the basis for tortillas and tamales. 🌽
  25. 31. "The Devil in the White City" writer Larson — Answer: ERIK. Hint: Recall the author’s first name from this famous historical thriller. 📚
  26. 32. Nutritional amt. — Answer: RDA. Hint: This abbreviation refers to a recommended daily intake. 🥗
  27. 34. Casual hellos — Answer: YOS. Hint: These are ultra-informal greetings. 👋
  28. 36. Flowering plant once believed to repel pests — Answer: FLEABANE. Hint: Its traditional reputation involved keeping bothersome insects away. 🌼
  29. 37. E, in Morse code — Answer: DIT. Hint: In Morse code, this letter is represented by one dot. 📡
  30. 38. Rigorous evaluation — Answer: ACIDTEST. Hint: This phrase describes a demanding trial of quality or effectiveness. 🧪
  31. 41. Big hit at the ballpark — Answer: HOMER. Hint: A batter earns this when the ball leaves the playing field fairly. ⚾
  32. 42. Unspecified person — Answer: ONE. Hint: This pronoun can refer to an unnamed individual. 👤
  33. 43. Hip-hop pioneer Dr. __ — Answer: DRE. Hint: This legendary producer and rapper shared a stage name with a medical title 🎤
  34. 44. Thing of the past — Answer: RELIC. Hint: An old artifact or custom that has survived from another era 🏺
  35. 46. Muslim headscarf — Answer: HIJAB. Hint: This traditional covering is worn by many Muslim women 🧕
  36. 47. Create a clean slate? — Answer: ERASE. Hint: Wipe away what was written to start fresh 🧽
  37. 48. Ethan of the "Before" trilogy — Answer: HAWKE. Hint: He played Jesse opposite Julie Delpy in the romantic film trilogy 🎬
  38. 51. Secondary structure — Answer: ANNEX. Hint: An additional building or section attached to a main one 🏢
  39. 52. "Bike faster!" — Answer: PEDAL. Hint: That command urges a cyclist to push the foot-operated crank harder 🚲
  40. 53. Defiant response to a threat — Answer: TRYME. Hint: This bold retort dares the other person to follow through 😏
  41. 55. Ingredient meas. — Answer: TBSP. Hint: This kitchen abbreviation represents a tablespoon 🥄
  42. 57. Similar (to) — Answer: AKIN. Hint: Think of words that mean 'related' or 'like'! 👫
  43. 59. Mars rover org. — Answer: NASA. Hint: The U.S. space agency sends robotic explorers to the Red Planet 🚀
  44. 61. "My conscience whispers in your __": "King John" — Answer: EAR. Hint: The quotation describes a quiet voice heard beside your head 👂
  45. 62. High or low follower, in graphics — Answer: RES. Hint: This abbreviation refers to image detail, whether it is high or low 🖥️

Recent LA Times Answers

The last 7 days of solutions

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Here are the LA Times Crossword answers for Thursday, August 20, 2026 — every solution for that day's 15×15 (larger Sunday) puzzle, listed at the top of this page. Whether you're catching up on a puzzle you missed, settling a “what was the answer on August 20?” question, or checking a grid you finished that day, the complete clue-by-clue solution is right here. Looking for today's puzzle instead? Head to our live LA Times Crossword answers page.

LA Times Crossword answers for August 20, 2026

The full solution for the August 20 LA Times Crossword is shown above, laid out clue by clue — every Across answer followed by every Down answer, exactly as that day's grid read. Each answer is listed separately, so you can check just the clue you were stuck on and leave the rest. This is the confirmed grid as published on Thursday, August 20.

Full LA Times Crossword answer list for August 20, 2026

Every clue from the August 20 grid next to its solution — the same answers as the board above, in one plain list you can scan without tapping.

Across

#ClueAnswer
1ErrorMISSTEP
8Radio static soundCRACKLE
15Do the same asIMITATE
16Peaceful getaway spotRETREAT
17Hard stuff in ringsNATURALDIAMONDS
19"You said it!"AMEN
20IgnitedLIT
21Small floral bundlePOSY
22Robin Hood foeSHERIFF
26Hard stuff in schoolROCKETSCIENCE
32Gets even withREPAYS
33Relativity, for oneTHEORY
35Bucks and doesDEER
36Org. that oversees food recallsFDA
39Half a sextetTRIO
40Hard stuff in a barALCOHOLICDRINKS
45Utterly exhaustedBONETIRED
46"How amusing"HEH
49__ culpaMEA
50Marina __ Rey, CaliforniaDEL
51ProperAPT
54FumingIRATE
56Nocturnal flapperBAT
58Word with circle and tubeINNER
60Hard stuff for a sweet toothJAWBREAKERCANDY
63Doesn't just assumeASKS
64Licoricelike herbANISE
65Ore-rich veinSEAM
66Appliance alertBEEP
67Numbers for lettersRENTS
68Tollbooth pricing unitAXLE

Down

#ClueAnswer
1Sports analyst KimesMINA
2Mosque leaderIMAM
3PlaceSITE
4Leave speechlessSTUN
5Fossil-preserving gunkTAR
6Unreliable stat from the fashionably lateETA
7Bit of hamster foodPELLET
8One who always gives star treatment?CRITIC
9Belfast-born actor StephenREA
10Bread machineATM
11Trim, as a photoCROP
12Casino gameKENO
13BoyosLADS
14Marketplace with personalized giftsETSY
18NNE, SSW, etc.DIRS
22Contrail locationSKY
23Bucks, but not doesHES
24In shapeFIT
25Dismissive syllableFEH
26Bit of fishing gearREEL
27Well-financed gp.?OPEC
28Chocolate substituteCAROB
29Online access username within universities, brieflyNETID
30Grain ground to make masaCORN
31"The Devil in the White City" writer LarsonERIK
32Nutritional amt.RDA
34Casual hellosYOS
36Flowering plant once believed to repel pestsFLEABANE
37E, in Morse codeDIT
38Rigorous evaluationACIDTEST
41Big hit at the ballparkHOMER
42Unspecified personONE
43Hip-hop pioneer Dr. __DRE
44Thing of the pastRELIC
46Muslim headscarfHIJAB
47Create a clean slate?ERASE
48Ethan of the "Before" trilogyHAWKE
51Secondary structureANNEX
52"Bike faster!"PEDAL
53Defiant response to a threatTRYME
55Ingredient meas.TBSP
57Similar (to)AKIN
59Mars rover org.NASA
61"My conscience whispers in your __": "King John"EAR
62High or low follower, in graphicsRES

Hints for the August 20 puzzle

Not ready for the full answer? Here are lighter, spoiler-free nudges for that day's grid, above the solutions. The August 20 LA Times puzzle was a Thursday grid. The LA Times crossword is known for being friendly and accessible — smooth, fair cluing with a playful theme — so even its later-week puzzles tend to be gentler than the New York Times' toughest days. That day's theme usually tied the long answers together, so spotting it is often the key to the rest of the grid. Use the hints for the trickiest clues, then reveal the answers above only if you need them.

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Frequently asked questions

What were the LA Times Crossword answers on August 20, 2026?

Every answer for the Thursday, August 20, 2026 LA Times Crossword is listed at the top of this page — the confirmed grid as published that day.

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Today's live puzzle is on our LA Times Crossword answers today page, updated the moment each new grid goes live.

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