Premier Crossword Answers Today

Q: Is the Premier Crossword free to play?

Yes — it's free online at games.washingtonpost.com/games/premier-crossword and arkadium.com/games/premier-crossword-kingsfeatures, with no subscription, and it runs in Sunday print editions of papers that carry King Features. Our answers and clues are free too.

INTREPID INSECTS

By Frank A. Longo

Tap a square to reveal a letter.

Or reveal one clue at a time with the Hint and Answer buttons below.

Premier Crossword Clues

Across

Down

1Church seats
2Certain recording of underwater depth
3Driver’s fury
4Blasting aid
5Ad -- committee
6Pale blue hue
7Extremist sect
8Veiled
9Climbing vine
10Opposite of paleo-
11Watery porridge
12Patio lounge
13Kettle quaff
14Lay to rest
15More destitute
16Kvetchers’ cries of woe
17Greater than 90 degrees, as an angle
18Continue
19Tiny letter flourishes
24Alley- -- (hoops play)
29Make a quick visit, as to a grocery store
32Joan -- (French martyr)
33Potato chip brand
34Examine before robbing, as a building
35“So-o-o cute!”
36Luau garland
37Actors Asner and Harris
38Nashville-based awards org.
39Monogram letters: Abbr.
40Emperor before Galba
44“That’s my goal”
45Org. for an air marshal
46Hit 1990s PC game
50Aug. follower
51-- -pitch softball
52Tint
53Browbeat
54Fashion trend
56In motion
57Top-secret govt. org.
58Frigid
59Taken -- (caught by surprise)
60Vegas wager
61Grasps tightly
62“Ditto!”
63Talons, e.g.
68Bit of land in la mer
69Foot bottom
70“-- Beso” (Paul Anka hit)
71Crustacean used for soup
74At a distance
75Worn-down pencil, e.g.
77“After -- said and done ...”
78Jessica of “The Sinner”
81Maker of Monopoly
82Sch. URL ender
83Give lip to
84Broncos legend John
89National park of California
90Spicy Thai chili sauce
91“Minimum” has three
92Handful
93Unexpected visitors
95Bogey beater
96Aussie bird
97Garden pond fish
98Meditation incantation
99Flavorings in licorices
100Great throw for a QB
101Cost to run a promo
102Allow to look at
106Grandmas
107Note equivalent to F sharp
108Medico
111Eggnog spice
112Cheers for a matador
114“Hey ... over here”
116Fish eggs
118Chimp, e.g.
119Shred
12022nd letter
121Choose
122Tarnish

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Across

1. Western Australia’s capital — Answer: PERTH. Hint: This sunny city sits on Australia’s west coast, far from Sydney and Melbourne. 🌏
6. Longing (for) — Answer: ACHING. Hint: What you may feel when you deeply yearn for someone or something 💭
12. Salmon varieties — Answer: CHINOOKS. Hint: These Pacific salmon are prized for their rich flavor and impressive size. 🐟
20. -- Lodge (motel chain) — Answer: ECONO. Hint: This motel chain is known for keeping overnight stays easy on the wallet. 🛏️
21. Shake, as from fear — Answer: QUIVER. Hint: Think of the involuntary trembling your body can do when you’re scared. 😨
22. Nectar collector — Answer: HONEYBEE. Hint: This buzzing pollinator visits flowers to gather sweet nectar 🐝
23. Start of a riddle — Answer: WHATCOULDYOU. Hint: It’s the opening phrase that invites someone to ponder a puzzling question. 🤔
25. One bearing witness — Answer: ATTESTER. Hint: Someone who confirms that an event or statement is true might fill this role. 👀
26. Grassy turf — Answer: SOD. Hint: Think of a square or roll of grass-covered earth used to create a lawn 🌱
27. Certain cereal grass — Answer: OAT. Hint: Think of the grain commonly rolled into a hearty breakfast bowl. 🥣
28. Tweaked text — Answer: EDITED. Hint: This describes writing that has been revised or corrected for clarity. ✍️
30. Major news agcy., once — Answer: UPI. Hint: This former wire service once delivered major headlines to newspapers worldwide. 📰
31. Collection — Answer: GROUP. Hint: Think of several items gathered together in one place. 🧺
34. Riddle, part 2 — Answer: CALLASERIESOF. Hint: For the sequel, imagine a phone command asking someone to contact a sequence of things. ☎️
38. Make skillfully — Answer: CRAFT. Hint: Create something with care and practiced skill 🛠️
39. Bowled over — Answer: INAWE. Hint: This describes feeling utterly amazed or impressed. 🤩
41. Vikings’ milieu — Answer: SEA. Hint: Think of the vast natural expanse their longships crossed on raids. 🌊
42. Paradises — Answer: EDENS. Hint: Think of the lush biblical gardens often imagined as perfect havens. 🌿
43. Riddle, part 3 — Answer: MAGAZINESWITH. Hint: Think of periodicals followed by a word that signals company or association. 📰
46. Bride’s new title — Answer: MRS. Hint: A newly married woman may use this form of address. 💍
47. One “A” of AAA: Abbr. — Answer: AMER. Hint: Think of the first word in the name of the familiar roadside-assistance organization, shortened for a crossword grid. 🚗
48. Bicycle roller — Answer: TIRE. Hint: It’s the rubber ring that grips the road and keeps your ride rolling 🚲
49. Actress Spacek — Answer: SISSY. Hint: Think of the Oscar-winning actress who portrayed Loretta Lynn in Coal Miner’s Daughter. 🎬
52. “NCIS: Origins” airer — Answer: CBS. Hint: This crime-show prequel airs on a major broadcast network famous for its eye logo and primetime hits 📺
55. Riddle, part 4 — Answer: CARTOONPANELSABOUT. Hint: What subject do comic-strip frames focus on? 🗯️
61. Maker of the Yukon SUV — Answer: GMC. Hint: Think of the automaker behind this full-size SUV, not the vehicle’s model name. 🚙
64. The “S” of OS: Abbr. — Answer: SYS. Hint: Think of the operating-system abbreviation’s component that refers to the system itself. 💻
65. Mil. show sponsor — Answer: USO. Hint: This organization is famous for bringing entertainment and support to troops overseas. 🎭
66. Protruding gut — Answer: POTBELLY. Hint: Think of a noticeable, rounded tummy that juts forward. 🫃
67. Kindled anew — Answer: RELIT. Hint: Set a flame going again 🔥
69. Most hackneyed — Answer: STALEST. Hint: The most worn-out and unoriginal of the bunch—like a joke told far too many times. 🥱
72. Reef ring — Answer: ATOLL. Hint: Picture a circular coral formation enclosing a calm lagoon in tropical waters 🪸
73. Language of Rome, in Rome — Answer: ITALIANO. Hint: It’s what you’d call the local tongue while chatting in the Eternal City. 🇮🇹
76. Burnt residue — Answer: ASH. Hint: What remains after wood or paper finishes burning? 🔥
77. One rival of 52-Across — Answer: ABC. Hint: Think of a major American broadcast network competing with another familiar one. 📺
79. Certain cereal grass — Answer: RYE. Hint: This hardy grain often appears in dark bread and gives some whiskey its distinctive flavor 🌾
80. Riddle, part 5 — Answer: POWERFULHEROESLIKE. Hint: Think of a phrase that introduces examples of mighty champions. 🦸
85. “Send help!” — Answer: SOS. Hint: A brief distress signal used when immediate rescue is needed. 🚨
86. Draw -- on (aim at) — Answer: ABEAD. Hint: Think of the small aiming mark you line up with when taking a shot 🎯
87. 1984 Daytona 500 winner Yarborough — Answer: CALE. Hint: This legendary NASCAR driver's four-letter first name is the key. 🏁
88. Disintegrate, as a cell — Answer: LYSE. Hint: Think of what happens when a cell’s membrane breaks apart in the lab 🧫
92. Four-term U.S. prez — Answer: FDR. Hint: Think of the president who guided America through the Great Depression and most of World War II. 🇺🇸
94. Riddle, part 6 — Answer: SUPERSILKWORM. Hint: Think of a larger-than-life caterpillar with a talent for making luxurious thread. 🐛
98. Alma -- — Answer: MATER. Hint: A fond or formal term for the school or university you attended 🎓
101. Edmonton’s prov. — Answer: ALB. Hint: Think of the Canadian province where Edmonton is the capital 🗺️
103. Rack up — Answer: AMASS. Hint: Think of steadily collecting more and more, like points or possessions. 📈
104. Desert haven — Answer: OASIS. Hint: A lush, refreshing refuge surrounded by endless sand is this. 🏝️
105. End of the riddle — Answer: ANDWONDERGRUB. Hint: Think of the quirky phrase that brings a riddle to its close. 🧩
108. Handyman, informally — Answer: DIYER. Hint: This person tackles home repairs without calling in a professional. 🔧
109. Puppy’s bite — Answer: NIP. Hint: A tiny doggy chomp that’s more playful than painful 🐶
110. Included in — Answer: PARTOF. Hint: Think of a phrase meaning contained within something else. 🧩
111. Cow cry — Answer: MOO. Hint: It’s the familiar sound made by a cow in the pasture 🐄
113. GPS display — Answer: MAP. Hint: It shows roads, places, and your route from above. 🧭
115. Empresses of old Russia — Answer: TSARINAS. Hint: These female rulers held the highest throne in imperial Russia. 👑
117. Riddle’s answer — Answer: LARVALCOMICS. Hint: Think of humorous illustrated stories starring immature insects. 🐛
123. Ring out — Answer: RESONATE. Hint: To ring out is to echo with a rich, lingering sound. 🔔
124. Per each unit — Answer: APIECE. Hint: Think of a slightly old-fashioned phrase meaning “for every one.” 😉
125. Walkways — Answer: PATHS. Hint: Routes you might follow on foot through a park or neighborhood 🚶
126. Person who is levied — Answer: ASSESSEE. Hint: Think of the person who receives the tax bill rather than sends it. 💰
127. Conical tents — Answer: TEPEES. Hint: Think of the portable cone-shaped homes traditionally used by some Indigenous peoples of the Great Plains. ⛺
128. Yummy tidbit — Answer: TREAT. Hint: A small, delicious surprise you might enjoy as a reward 🍬

Down

1. Church seats — Answer: PEWS. Hint: Look for the simple benches where a congregation sits during a service. ⛪
2. Certain recording of underwater depth — Answer: ECHOGRAM. Hint: This chart uses reflected sound waves to map what lies beneath the surface. 🌊
3. Driver’s fury — Answer: ROADRAGE. Hint: A heated temper that can flare up behind the wheel 🚗
4. Blasting aid — Answer: TNT. Hint: A powerful explosive often associated with demolition can provide the needed boom 💥
5. Ad -- committee — Answer: HOC. Hint: This Latin phrase describes a committee formed for one specific purpose. 🏛️
6. Pale blue hue — Answer: AQUA. Hint: Think of the light blue shade often associated with clear tropical water. 🌊
7. Extremist sect — Answer: CULT. Hint: A small group with intense beliefs and unsettling devotion might fit this description. 🕯️
8. Veiled — Answer: HID. Hint: Kept out of sight or concealed from view 🙈
9. Climbing vine — Answer: IVY. Hint: This leafy wall-crawler often decorates old castles. 🌿
10. Opposite of paleo- — Answer: NEO. Hint: Think of a modern twist on ancient things! 🆕
11. Watery porridge — Answer: GRUEL. Hint: Think of a thin, watery meal often served in old-timey stories. 🥣
12. Patio lounge — Answer: CHAISE. Hint: Picture a comfy outdoor seat where you can stretch out and soak up the sun. ☀️
13. Kettle quaff — Answer: HOTTEA. Hint: A steaming mugful that warms you from the inside out ☕
14. Lay to rest — Answer: INTER. Hint: Think of the formal verb for placing someone in a grave. ⚰️
15. More destitute — Answer: NEEDIER. Hint: This describes someone with even fewer financial resources than before 💸
16. Kvetchers’ cries of woe — Answer: OYS. Hint: Think of the short exclamations of misery favored by chronic complainers. 😩
17. Greater than 90 degrees, as an angle — Answer: OBTUSE. Hint: Think of an angle that opens wider than a right angle but stays below a straight line 📐
18. Continue — Answer: KEEPON. Hint: Don’t stop—carry on with what you’re doing. 🚶
19. Tiny letter flourishes — Answer: SERIFS. Hint: Look for the small finishing strokes that give printed letters their classic shape. ✒️
24. Alley- -- (hoops play) — Answer: OOP. Hint: It’s the high-flying basketball play where one player sends the ball up for a teammate to finish in midair. 🏀
29. Make a quick visit, as to a grocery store — Answer: DASHIN. Hint: Think of stopping by briefly to grab a few essentials. 🛒
32. Joan -- (French martyr) — Answer: OFARC. Hint: Think of the famous French heroine and military leader associated with Joan. ⚔️
33. Potato chip brand — Answer: UTZ. Hint: Look for a snack brand famous for its classic potato chips and cheerful red logo. 🥔
34. Examine before robbing, as a building — Answer: CASEOUT. Hint: Scout the place carefully before making your move. 🕵️
35. “So-o-o cute!” — Answer: AWW. Hint: A tiny expression of affectionate delight when something melts your heart 😊
36. Luau garland — Answer: LEI. Hint: Think of the fragrant flower necklace traditionally welcomed at a Hawaiian celebration. 🌺
37. Actors Asner and Harris — Answer: EDS. Hint: Both performers are known by the same brief first name. 🎬
38. Nashville-based awards org. — Answer: CMA. Hint: This organization celebrates the best in country music each year! 🎶
39. Monogram letters: Abbr. — Answer: INITS. Hint: These are the shortened letters that identify a person by name. ✍️
40. Emperor before Galba — Answer: NERO. Hint: This Roman ruler reigned immediately before Galba took the throne. 🏛️
44. “That’s my goal” — Answer: ITRY. Hint: A determined person might say this to express their intention to succeed. 🎯
45. Org. for an air marshal — Answer: TSA. Hint: Think of the U.S. agency that keeps air travel secure and employs federal air marshals. ✈️
46. Hit 1990s PC game — Answer: MYST. Hint: Think of the atmospheric island puzzle adventure that captivated PC players in the ’90s. 🏝️
50. Aug. follower — Answer: SEPT. Hint: Think of the month that comes immediately after August on the calendar 📅
51. -- -pitch softball — Answer: SLO. Hint: This relaxed version of softball lobs the ball rather than firing it fast. 🥎
52. Tint — Answer: COLOR. Hint: Think of the visual quality that makes something red, blue, or green 🎨
53. Browbeat — Answer: BULLY. Hint: To intimidate someone into submission is to do this. 😠
54. Fashion trend — Answer: STYLE. Hint: A popular way of dressing that’s currently in vogue 👗
56. In motion — Answer: ASTIR. Hint: Not sitting still, but lively and underway 🚶
57. Top-secret govt. org. — Answer: NSA. Hint: This federal intelligence agency is famously associated with monitoring communications. 🕵️
58. Frigid — Answer: POLAR. Hint: Think of the icy extremes found near Earth’s poles. 🧊
59. Taken -- (caught by surprise) — Answer: ABACK. Hint: A sudden surprise can leave you momentarily stunned 😲
60. Vegas wager — Answer: BET. Hint: It’s what you might put on a roulette number or a winning team 🎰
61. Grasps tightly — Answer: GRIPS. Hint: Holds on firmly, as if unwilling to let go 🤝
62. “Ditto!” — Answer: METOO. Hint: A quick way to say you feel the same way. 🤝
63. Talons, e.g. — Answer: CLAWS. Hint: A bird of prey uses these sharp gripping appendages to seize its dinner. 🦅
68. Bit of land in la mer — Answer: ILE. Hint: Look for the French word meaning a small island, tucked into the clue’s language. 🏝️
69. Foot bottom — Answer: SOLE. Hint: It’s the part of your foot that touches the ground 👣
70. “-- Beso” (Paul Anka hit) — Answer: ESO. Hint: Fill in the Spanish word meaning “that” in Paul Anka’s catchy romantic hit title. 🎶
71. Crustacean used for soup — Answer: SHECRAB. Hint: Think of the female crab celebrated in a rich Southern soup. 🦀
74. At a distance — Answer: AFAR. Hint: A word describing something that happens far away. 🌌
75. Worn-down pencil, e.g. — Answer: NUB. Hint: It’s the little remnant left after something has been mostly used up. ✏️
77. “After -- said and done ...” — Answer: ALLIS. Hint: This phrase signals that everything has been considered and the matter is settled. ✅
78. Jessica of “The Sinner” — Answer: BIEL. Hint: Think of the actress who played Mary Camden on “7th Heaven.” 🎬
81. Maker of Monopoly — Answer: HASBRO. Hint: Think of the game company behind Monopoly and many other family favorites. 🎲
82. Sch. URL ender — Answer: EDU. Hint: Look for the website suffix commonly associated with schools and universities. 🎓
83. Give lip to — Answer: SASS. Hint: It means to answer disrespectfully, with a cheeky attitude. 😏
84. Broncos legend John — Answer: ELWAY. Hint: Think of the Hall of Fame quarterback who led Denver to two Super Bowl victories 🏈
89. National park of California — Answer: YOSEMITE. Hint: Think of California’s iconic park known for towering granite cliffs and spectacular waterfalls 🏞️
90. Spicy Thai chili sauce — Answer: SRIRACHA. Hint: This fiery condiment is often drizzled on noodles, eggs, and anything needing a kick 🌶️
91. “Minimum” has three — Answer: EMS. Hint: Look closely at the spelling of “minimum”—one letter appears three times. 🔍
92. Handful — Answer: FEW. Hint: Sometimes, less is more! 🌟
93. Unexpected visitors — Answer: DROPINS. Hint: Think of guests who show up without calling ahead. 🚪
95. Bogey beater — Answer: PAR. Hint: In golf, this score is one stroke better than a bogey. ⛳
96. Aussie bird — Answer: EMU. Hint: This flightless Australian runner is famous for its long legs and speedy stride. 🐦
97. Garden pond fish — Answer: KOI. Hint: These colorful carp are a classic sight in ornamental ponds. 🐟
98. Meditation incantation — Answer: MANTRA. Hint: A sacred phrase repeated to help quiet and focus the mind 🧘
99. Flavorings in licorices — Answer: ANISES. Hint: These aromatic spices give many licorice candies their distinctive sweet flavor 🌿
100. Great throw for a QB — Answer: TDPASS. Hint: It’s the kind of throw that puts points on the scoreboard for the quarterback’s team. 🏈
101. Cost to run a promo — Answer: ADRATE. Hint: Think of the fee charged for placing or running an advertisement. 💰
102. Allow to look at — Answer: LETSEE. Hint: Give someone permission to take a peek. 👀
106. Grandmas — Answer: NANAS. Hint: Think of the affectionate family nickname for more than one grandmother. 👵
107. Note equivalent to F sharp — Answer: GFLAT. Hint: Think of the enharmonic name for the black key between F and G on a piano. 🎹
108. Medico — Answer: DOC. Hint: A familiar short title for a physician. 🩺
111. Eggnog spice — Answer: MACE. Hint: Think of the warm, fragrant spice made from the outer covering of nutmeg seeds 🎄
112. Cheers for a matador — Answer: OLES. Hint: A bullfighting crowd might shout these Spanish cheers to celebrate a daring performance! 🐂
114. “Hey ... over here” — Answer: PSST. Hint: A quiet way to catch someone’s attention from nearby. 🤫
116. Fish eggs — Answer: ROE. Hint: Think of a delicacy often served on blinis or as a garnish! 🎣
118. Chimp, e.g. — Answer: APE. Hint: Think of a tailless primate closely related to humans 🐒
119. Shred — Answer: RIP. Hint: Think of what paper does when you pull it apart. 📄
120. 22nd letter — Answer: VEE. Hint: Think of the alphabet letter that comes right after U. 🔤
121. Choose — Answer: OPT. Hint: Select one possibility from the available options. 🎯
122. Tarnish — Answer: MAR. Hint: Think of a blemish that spoils either a surface or a reputation. ✨

Looking for the Premier Crossword answers? The full solution to the current puzzle — dated August 2, 2026 — is at the top of this page, along with that week's theme title, updated every Sunday as the new grid goes live. Premier is King Features' Sunday crossword, built by Frank A. Longo: a 21×21 grid of roughly 140 clues hung on a single running pun, and one of the largest puzzles in newspaper syndication. A grid that big is less about difficulty than stamina — it's usually two or three entries, not the whole thing, standing between you and a finished puzzle. Every across and down solution is listed below, clue by clue, so you can check just those.

Full Premier Crossword answer list for today

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

Across

#	Clue	Answer
1	Western Australia’s capital	PERTH
6	Longing (for)	ACHING
12	Salmon varieties	CHINOOKS
20	-- Lodge (motel chain)	ECONO
21	Shake, as from fear	QUIVER
22	Nectar collector	HONEYBEE
23	Start of a riddle	WHATCOULDYOU
25	One bearing witness	ATTESTER
26	Grassy turf	SOD
27	Certain cereal grass	OAT
28	Tweaked text	EDITED
30	Major news agcy., once	UPI
31	Collection	GROUP
34	Riddle, part 2	CALLASERIESOF
38	Make skillfully	CRAFT
39	Bowled over	INAWE
41	Vikings’ milieu	SEA
42	Paradises	EDENS
43	Riddle, part 3	MAGAZINESWITH
46	Bride’s new title	MRS
47	One “A” of AAA: Abbr.	AMER
48	Bicycle roller	TIRE
49	Actress Spacek	SISSY
52	“NCIS: Origins” airer	CBS
55	Riddle, part 4	CARTOONPANELSABOUT
61	Maker of the Yukon SUV	GMC
64	The “S” of OS: Abbr.	SYS
65	Mil. show sponsor	USO
66	Protruding gut	POTBELLY
67	Kindled anew	RELIT
69	Most hackneyed	STALEST
72	Reef ring	ATOLL
73	Language of Rome, in Rome	ITALIANO
76	Burnt residue	ASH
77	One rival of 52-Across	ABC
79	Certain cereal grass	RYE
80	Riddle, part 5	POWERFULHEROESLIKE
85	“Send help!”	SOS
86	Draw -- on (aim at)	ABEAD
87	1984 Daytona 500 winner Yarborough	CALE
88	Disintegrate, as a cell	LYSE
92	Four-term U.S. prez	FDR
94	Riddle, part 6	SUPERSILKWORM
98	Alma --	MATER
101	Edmonton’s prov.	ALB
103	Rack up	AMASS
104	Desert haven	OASIS
105	End of the riddle	ANDWONDERGRUB
108	Handyman, informally	DIYER
109	Puppy’s bite	NIP
110	Included in	PARTOF
111	Cow cry	MOO
113	GPS display	MAP
115	Empresses of old Russia	TSARINAS
117	Riddle’s answer	LARVALCOMICS
123	Ring out	RESONATE
124	Per each unit	APIECE
125	Walkways	PATHS
126	Person who is levied	ASSESSEE
127	Conical tents	TEPEES
128	Yummy tidbit	TREAT

Down

#	Clue	Answer
1	Church seats	PEWS
2	Certain recording of underwater depth	ECHOGRAM
3	Driver’s fury	ROADRAGE
4	Blasting aid	TNT
5	Ad -- committee	HOC
6	Pale blue hue	AQUA
7	Extremist sect	CULT
8	Veiled	HID
9	Climbing vine	IVY
10	Opposite of paleo-	NEO
11	Watery porridge	GRUEL
12	Patio lounge	CHAISE
13	Kettle quaff	HOTTEA
14	Lay to rest	INTER
15	More destitute	NEEDIER
16	Kvetchers’ cries of woe	OYS
17	Greater than 90 degrees, as an angle	OBTUSE
18	Continue	KEEPON
19	Tiny letter flourishes	SERIFS
24	Alley- -- (hoops play)	OOP
29	Make a quick visit, as to a grocery store	DASHIN
32	Joan -- (French martyr)	OFARC
33	Potato chip brand	UTZ
34	Examine before robbing, as a building	CASEOUT
35	“So-o-o cute!”	AWW
36	Luau garland	LEI
37	Actors Asner and Harris	EDS
38	Nashville-based awards org.	CMA
39	Monogram letters: Abbr.	INITS
40	Emperor before Galba	NERO
44	“That’s my goal”	ITRY
45	Org. for an air marshal	TSA
46	Hit 1990s PC game	MYST
50	Aug. follower	SEPT
51	-- -pitch softball	SLO
52	Tint	COLOR
53	Browbeat	BULLY
54	Fashion trend	STYLE
56	In motion	ASTIR
57	Top-secret govt. org.	NSA
58	Frigid	POLAR
59	Taken -- (caught by surprise)	ABACK
60	Vegas wager	BET
61	Grasps tightly	GRIPS
62	“Ditto!”	METOO
63	Talons, e.g.	CLAWS
68	Bit of land in la mer	ILE
69	Foot bottom	SOLE
70	“-- Beso” (Paul Anka hit)	ESO
71	Crustacean used for soup	SHECRAB
74	At a distance	AFAR
75	Worn-down pencil, e.g.	NUB
77	“After -- said and done ...”	ALLIS
78	Jessica of “The Sinner”	BIEL
81	Maker of Monopoly	HASBRO
82	Sch. URL ender	EDU
83	Give lip to	SASS
84	Broncos legend John	ELWAY
89	National park of California	YOSEMITE
90	Spicy Thai chili sauce	SRIRACHA
91	“Minimum” has three	EMS
92	Handful	FEW
93	Unexpected visitors	DROPINS
95	Bogey beater	PAR
96	Aussie bird	EMU
97	Garden pond fish	KOI
98	Meditation incantation	MANTRA
99	Flavorings in licorices	ANISES
100	Great throw for a QB	TDPASS
101	Cost to run a promo	ADRATE
102	Allow to look at	LETSEE
106	Grandmas	NANAS
107	Note equivalent to F sharp	GFLAT
108	Medico	DOC
111	Eggnog spice	MACE
112	Cheers for a matador	OLES
114	“Hey ... over here”	PSST
116	Fish eggs	ROE
118	Chimp, e.g.	APE
119	Shred	RIP
120	22nd letter	VEE
121	Choose	OPT
122	Tarnish	MAR

This week's Premier Crossword answers

The current solution appears above, laid out clue by clue — every Across answer followed by every Down answer, in the order the grid numbers them — with that week's theme title shown at the top. Premier only publishes on Sundays, so the same puzzle stands until the next one drops and this page shows it all week. Because a 21×21 shares so many crossings, one wrong letter can lock up a whole corner, which is why each answer is listed separately: reveal the one you need and keep working on the rest.

What is the Premier Crossword?

The Premier Crossword — also published as the Premier Sunday Crossword — is King Features Syndicate's weekly Sunday puzzle. It runs in the Sunday editions of newspapers that carry King Features, and it's free to play online at games.washingtonpost.com and arkadium.com, with no subscription. Every grid is a full Sunday-size 21×21 holding roughly 140 to 150 clues, which makes it one of the largest crosswords in general syndication — Arkadium bills it as one of its biggest and most challenging puzzles. Each week's puzzle is titled, and the title is a pun the long theme entries all play on.

Who makes the Premier Crossword?

Frank A. Longo constructs every Premier Crossword for King Features. He's one of the most prolific constructors working in American puzzles — thousands of crosswords published since 1993, more than 90 books, regular appearances in the New York Times — and he's the person who created the NYT's Spelling Bee. His Premier grids are known for clean, wide-ranging fill rather than gimmicks: the theme carries the joke, and the rest of the puzzle rewards a broad vocabulary and a good memory for names.

How the Premier Crossword compares

It sits alongside the other Sunday-size grids rather than the weekday dailies:

	Premier	NYT Sunday	LA Times
Grid size	21×21	21×21	15×15 (larger Sunday)
How often	Sundays only	Sundays (daily 15×15 rest of week)	Every day
Cost	Free online	Games subscription	Free online
Signature	Titled pun theme, wide-ranging fill	Elaborate themes, tricky cluing	Conversational, accessible

Tips for solving the Premier Crossword

Crack the title first. The puzzle's title tells you what the pun is doing, and every long theme entry is a version of the same joke — get one and the others often follow.
Treat it as several small puzzles. A 21×21 is too big to solve front to back. Finish one corner completely, then use its crossings to walk into the next.
Fill in the three-letter glue. Sunday grids are full of short crossword-friendly entries. They're quick points and they hand you starting letters for the long answers.
Expect a wide reference range. Longo pulls from decades of pop culture, geography and brand names, so a clue that feels dated usually is — think older, not newer.
Use the solver for one entry. Our crossword solver reveals a single clue's answer from the letters you already have, without spoiling the rest of the grid.

Browse past Premier Crossword answers

Every Sunday we've covered is archived on this page by date, with its theme title and full across and down solutions — useful for a puzzle you set aside or a back issue you picked up late. Because Premier is weekly, the archive steps Sunday to Sunday, and it updates automatically as each new grid is syndicated. Stuck on a single clue, our crossword solver will reveal just that answer.

Browse more puzzles on the crossword solver, or use it to crack any clue from any publication.

Frequently asked questions

What are this week's Premier Crossword answers?

The full Across and Down solution for the current puzzle (August 2, 2026) is listed at the top of this page, along with that week's theme title, updated as soon as King Features releases the new grid.

When does a new Premier Crossword come out?

Premier is a weekly puzzle: one new grid every Sunday, in Sunday papers and online. There's no Monday-to-Saturday edition, so the same puzzle stands until the following Sunday — which is what this page shows the rest of the week.

Who writes the Premier Crossword?

Frank A. Longo, one of the most prolific constructors in American puzzles, builds every Premier Crossword for King Features Syndicate. He's also a regular New York Times contributor and the creator of the NYT's Spelling Bee.

How big is the Premier Crossword?

It's a full Sunday-size 21×21 grid — roughly 140 to 150 clues, about four times the fill of a weekday 15×15. That size is why it's billed as one of the largest and most challenging syndicated crosswords, and why most solvers only need a couple of answers confirmed rather than the whole thing.

Is the Premier Crossword free to play?

Yes — it's free with no subscription at games.washingtonpost.com and arkadium.com, and it runs in the Sunday print editions of papers that carry King Features. Our answers and clues are free too.

Is Premier Crossword the same as Premier Sunday Crossword?

Yes — the same King Features puzzle goes by both names. Newspapers and some sites call it the Premier Sunday Crossword because it only publishes on Sundays; the online version is usually labelled just Premier Crossword.

Where can I find past Premier Crossword answers?

Every previous Sunday we've covered is in the archive on this page, listed by date with its theme title and full solution, and it updates automatically each week.

NYT Crossword Answers NYT Mini Crossword Answers Wordle Hint Today Connections Hint Today Strands Hint Today Quordle Hint Today Contexto Hint Today Spotle Hint Today Minute Cryptic Answer Today Pips Hint Today Jumble Answers Today 7 Little Words Answers