USA Today Crossword Answers - Jul 29
Knives Out
By Enrique Henestroza Anguiano
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USA Today Crossword Clues
Across
Down
Crossword clues, hints, and answers
Across
- 1. Like a crisp day — Answer: BRISK. Hint: A sharp, lively kind of weather that wakes you up 🌬️
- 6. Covered in grease — Answer: OILY. Hint: Shiny in the kind of way you’d rather wash off 😅
- 10. Leave out — Answer: OMIT. Hint: Sometimes it's best to skip something entirely! ✂️
- 14. "I'm jumping for joy . . ." — Answer: OHFUN. Hint: A cheerful outburst that sounds like pure delight in motion 🎉
- 15. Hightail it — Answer: FLEE. Hint: Dash away in a hurry from danger or trouble 🏃
- 16. "Pink" in Spanish — Answer: ROSA. Hint: A rose by any other language still wears this color 🌹
- 17. Hip-hop collective — Answer: POSSE. Hint: A tight crew that moves together on and off the beat 🤝
- 18. Like 58-Across that have been open for a while — Answer: FLAT. Hint: A long-open one can lose its puff and lie low. 🫧
- 19. Legal rights org. — Answer: ACLU. Hint: Civil liberties watchdog in the U.S. 🏛️
- 20. Manhattan neighborhood with a fiery-sounding name — Answer: HELLSKITCHEN. Hint: A famously lively New York neighborhood whose name sounds far more dangerous than it usually is 🔥
- 23. iOS assistant — Answer: SIRI. Hint: Apple’s voice helper who answers when you call out for it 🍏
- 26. Votes in favor — Answer: YEAS. Hint: Affirmative votes in a roll call, not the loud kind 🗳️
- 27. Top-tier celebs — Answer: ALIST. Hint: The most elite names on the marquee get this label ✨
- 28. Exec who oversees DevOps — Answer: CTO. Hint: Top tech boss who keeps the software and operations teams in sync 🤝
- 29. Ice cube container — Answer: TRAY. Hint: A shallow holder that keeps frozen cubes neatly in place ❄️
- 30. Opposite of SSW — Answer: NNE. Hint: A compass point that sits across from the south-southwest direction 🧭
- 31. Calls it a day . . . or a career — Answer: RETIRES. Hint: Wraps up the working chapter and heads for life’s next act 🏁
- 33. Wooden pin — Answer: PEG. Hint: A small dowel that keeps things together in a crafty sort of way 🔩
- 34. Place to get pampered — Answer: SPA. Hint: A relaxing spot where people go to unwind and be treated well 💆
- 37. "Nobody can beat me!" — Answer: IRULE. Hint: A boastful way to say you’re the champion of the room 🏆
- 38. Microwaveable turnover that resembles a calzone — Answer: HOTPOCKET. Hint: A cheesy handheld meal that lives in the freezer and makes lunch feel like a shortcut 😋
- 41. Monopoly game role — Answer: BANKER. Hint: The one who keeps the cash flowing and makes the game possible 💰
- 43. Khao Niew cuisine — Answer: LAO. Hint: Think of the country where sticky rice is a staple on the table 😊
- 44. Person who saves the day — Answer: HERO. Hint: The one who swoops in when things look bleak and makes it right again 🦸
- 45. Fig. on an airport monitor — Answer: ETD. Hint: A travel screen number that tells you when departure is expected ✈️
- 46. Pay attention to — Answer: HEED. Hint: A polite way to say “listen up” when someone wants you to take note 👂
- 48. Got really popular really fast — Answer: BLEWUP. Hint: Took off in a big way almost overnight 🚀
- 50. Sets of TV episodes — Answer: SEASONS. Hint: They come in batches, and each one keeps a show rolling 📺
- 52. Lowest choral voice — Answer: BASS. Hint: The deepest voice in a choir carries the low end 🎵
- 53. Sandwich cookie with wafers and a creamy filling — Answer: NUTTERBUTTER. Hint: A peanut-buttery sandwich cookie that’s famous for its nutty crunch 🥜
- 58. Soft drinks — Answer: SODAS. Hint: Bubbly beverages you might grab with a burger or pizza 🍹
- 61. Purple berry — Answer: ACAI. Hint: Tiny superfruit often blended into smoothie bowls and praised for its antioxidant punch 🍇
- 62. Cooing bird — Answer: DOVE. Hint: A gentle bird often linked with peace and soft coos 🕊️
- 63. Tossing and turning, say — Answer: AWAKE. Hint: Like a mind that won’t settle down at night 😵💫
- 64. "Don't use that ___ with me!" — Answer: TONE. Hint: The way you say it can make a simple phrase sound sharp or sweet 🎵
- 65. Diva's moment — Answer: ARIA. Hint: A showpiece solo lets the diva shine 🌟
- 66. Many TikTok posts — Answer: MEMES. Hint: Viral little jokes that spread like wildfire online 😄
- 67. Concludes — Answer: ENDS. Hint: Wraps things up at the finish line 🎯
- 68. Puppy's cry — Answer: YELP. Hint: A tiny dog's sharp little call when it wants attention 🐶
Down
- 1. Catchy song — Answer: BOP. Hint: A tune that makes you want to tap your feet and bob along 🎵
- 2. 17th Greek letter — Answer: RHO. Hint: It sounds like a rough breath and shows up in math a lot 📐
- 3. "No ___, ands or buts!" — Answer: IFS. Hint: It’s the tiny conditional that makes a statement less certain. 🤔
- 4. Food served with wasabi — Answer: SUSHI. Hint: A Japanese bite that often comes with a spicy green kick 🍣
- 5. Midleg joint — Answer: KNEE. Hint: The bend that lets your leg fold like a hinge 🚶
- 6. Like a dog park where pets run free — Answer: OFFLEASH. Hint: Describes a place where the leash stays off and the pups get to roam freely 🐕
- 7. "Tell me about it!" — Answer: ILLSAY. Hint: A very chatty way to agree with someone’s gripe 😏
- 8. Pipe problems — Answer: LEAKS. Hint: Tiny troubles that make plumbing drip and cause a mess 💧
- 9. Abominable snowman — Answer: YETI. Hint: A shaggy Himalayan legend that loves icy hide-and-seek ❄️
- 10. Prophet — Answer: ORACLE. Hint: A wise voice people consult for guidance and predictions 🔮
- 11. Chewy rice cake — Answer: MOCHI. Hint: A sweet Japanese treat that’s soft, springy, and satisfyingly chewy 🍡
- 12. Dots in the ocean — Answer: ISLES. Hint: Tiny land patches scattered like specks in a vast blue expanse 🌊
- 13. Jeer at — Answer: TAUNT. Hint: Give someone a hard time with teasing words 😏
- 21. Instrument with a distinct U-shape — Answer: LYRE. Hint: Ancient stringed instrument often seen in mythology and art 🎶
- 22. Dance with boleos and ganchos — Answer: TANGO. Hint: A dramatic partner dance with sharp kicks and sweeping leg hooks 💃
- 23. Official copyists — Answer: SCRIBES. Hint: They’re the folks who hand-recorded everything before keyboards took over ✍️
- 24. Do something repeatedly — Answer: ITERATE. Hint: Try it again and again, improving a little each time 🔁
- 25. Circular building — Answer: ROTUNDA. Hint: A round architectural favorite with a grand, echoey feel 🎡
- 29. Backyard perches that might have "Kids Only!" signs — Answer: TREEHOUSES. Hint: Up high in the yard, these little hideouts are for the younger crowd to rule. 🌳
- 30. Successful folks who can't claim to be entirely self-made — Answer: NEPOBABIES. Hint: Rich kids with a famous family boost, not just pure hustle. 🎬
- 32. Type — Answer: ILK. Hint: A sort of tribe or category of the same kind 🙂
- 33. K-12 school org. — Answer: PTA. Hint: Parents and teachers teaming up to support the school 🏫
- 34. Bias or distort — Answer: SKEW. Hint: To bias something is to give it a tilt off center 🎯
- 35. Machu Picchu's country — Answer: PERU. Hint: Home to the famous Incan citadel high in the Andes 🇵🇪
- 36. Resting above — Answer: ATOP. Hint: Perched on the very top, like a crown on a head. 🏔️
- 39. "Oh, this ___ thing?" — Answer: OLD. Hint: A familiar way to say something is ancient or well-worn 😄
- 40. Pec-focused gym session — Answer: CHESTDAY. Hint: A workout centered on the upper torso, popular with lifters chasing that mirror look 💪
- 42. Tenant's payment — Answer: RENT. Hint: What you owe for living in someone else’s place 🏠
- 47. Expansive property — Answer: ESTATE. Hint: A big spread of land or property to call your own 🏡
- 49. "Geaux Tigers!" sch. — Answer: LSU. Hint: Louisiana State’s battle cry belongs to this school’s fans 🐯
- 51. Cobra or mamba — Answer: SNAKE. Hint: A slithery reptile with a serious hiss problem 🐍
- 52. Word before "new" or "loyalty" — Answer: BRAND. Hint: A familiar label can come before both “new” and “loyalty” in common phrases. 🏷️
- 54. MBA subject — Answer: ECON. Hint: It’s the study of money, markets, and how people make choices 📈
- 55. Ripped up — Answer: TORE. Hint: Past tense of tearing something apart, like paper in a hurry 🪓
- 56. Like a stereotypical villain — Answer: EVIL. Hint: The kind of trait that twirls a mustache and laughs menacingly 😈
- 57. "You ___ what you sow" — Answer: REAP. Hint: What you harvest comes from what you put in 🌾
- 58. "Bust Down" comedian Jay — Answer: SAM. Hint: A quick-hit comic with a smooth, simple name 😄
- 59. Carry a debt — Answer: OWE. Hint: What you do when a favor or payment is still hanging around 💸
- 60. Hydropower structure — Answer: DAM. Hint: A barrier that holds back a river to make electricity or a reservoir 😊
Here are the USA Today Crossword answers for Wednesday, July 29, 2026 — every solution for that day's mid-size 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 July 29?” 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 USA Today Crossword answers page.
USA Today Crossword answers for July 29, 2026
The full solution for the July 29 USA Today 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 Wednesday, July 29.
Full USA Today Crossword answer list for July 29, 2026
Every clue from the July 29 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 | Like a crisp day | BRISK |
| 6 | Covered in grease | OILY |
| 10 | Leave out | OMIT |
| 14 | "I'm jumping for joy . . ." | OHFUN |
| 15 | Hightail it | FLEE |
| 16 | "Pink" in Spanish | ROSA |
| 17 | Hip-hop collective | POSSE |
| 18 | Like 58-Across that have been open for a while | FLAT |
| 19 | Legal rights org. | ACLU |
| 20 | Manhattan neighborhood with a fiery-sounding name | HELLSKITCHEN |
| 23 | iOS assistant | SIRI |
| 26 | Votes in favor | YEAS |
| 27 | Top-tier celebs | ALIST |
| 28 | Exec who oversees DevOps | CTO |
| 29 | Ice cube container | TRAY |
| 30 | Opposite of SSW | NNE |
| 31 | Calls it a day . . . or a career | RETIRES |
| 33 | Wooden pin | PEG |
| 34 | Place to get pampered | SPA |
| 37 | "Nobody can beat me!" | IRULE |
| 38 | Microwaveable turnover that resembles a calzone | HOTPOCKET |
| 41 | Monopoly game role | BANKER |
| 43 | Khao Niew cuisine | LAO |
| 44 | Person who saves the day | HERO |
| 45 | Fig. on an airport monitor | ETD |
| 46 | Pay attention to | HEED |
| 48 | Got really popular really fast | BLEWUP |
| 50 | Sets of TV episodes | SEASONS |
| 52 | Lowest choral voice | BASS |
| 53 | Sandwich cookie with wafers and a creamy filling | NUTTERBUTTER |
| 58 | Soft drinks | SODAS |
| 61 | Purple berry | ACAI |
| 62 | Cooing bird | DOVE |
| 63 | Tossing and turning, say | AWAKE |
| 64 | "Don't use that ___ with me!" | TONE |
| 65 | Diva's moment | ARIA |
| 66 | Many TikTok posts | MEMES |
| 67 | Concludes | ENDS |
| 68 | Puppy's cry | YELP |
Down
| # | Clue | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catchy song | BOP |
| 2 | 17th Greek letter | RHO |
| 3 | "No ___, ands or buts!" | IFS |
| 4 | Food served with wasabi | SUSHI |
| 5 | Midleg joint | KNEE |
| 6 | Like a dog park where pets run free | OFFLEASH |
| 7 | "Tell me about it!" | ILLSAY |
| 8 | Pipe problems | LEAKS |
| 9 | Abominable snowman | YETI |
| 10 | Prophet | ORACLE |
| 11 | Chewy rice cake | MOCHI |
| 12 | Dots in the ocean | ISLES |
| 13 | Jeer at | TAUNT |
| 21 | Instrument with a distinct U-shape | LYRE |
| 22 | Dance with boleos and ganchos | TANGO |
| 23 | Official copyists | SCRIBES |
| 24 | Do something repeatedly | ITERATE |
| 25 | Circular building | ROTUNDA |
| 29 | Backyard perches that might have "Kids Only!" signs | TREEHOUSES |
| 30 | Successful folks who can't claim to be entirely self-made | NEPOBABIES |
| 32 | Type | ILK |
| 33 | K-12 school org. | PTA |
| 34 | Bias or distort | SKEW |
| 35 | Machu Picchu's country | PERU |
| 36 | Resting above | ATOP |
| 39 | "Oh, this ___ thing?" | OLD |
| 40 | Pec-focused gym session | CHESTDAY |
| 42 | Tenant's payment | RENT |
| 47 | Expansive property | ESTATE |
| 49 | "Geaux Tigers!" sch. | LSU |
| 51 | Cobra or mamba | SNAKE |
| 52 | Word before "new" or "loyalty" | BRAND |
| 54 | MBA subject | ECON |
| 55 | Ripped up | TORE |
| 56 | Like a stereotypical villain | EVIL |
| 57 | "You ___ what you sow" | REAP |
| 58 | "Bust Down" comedian Jay | SAM |
| 59 | Carry a debt | OWE |
| 60 | Hydropower structure | DAM |
Hints for the July 29 puzzle
Not ready for the full answer? Here are lighter, spoiler-free nudges for that day's grid, above the solutions. The July 29 USA Today puzzle was, like every USA Today crossword, themed — and, unlike the older broadsheet puzzles, it didn't get harder just because of the weekday: USA Today keeps a consistent, accessible difficulty every day. What changed on Wednesday was the theme, not the toughness, so that day's theme is usually what solvers were looking up. 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 USA Today Crossword answers on July 29, 2026?
Every answer for the Wednesday, July 29, 2026 USA Today Crossword is listed at the top of this page — the confirmed grid as published that day.
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