USA Today Crossword Answers - Aug 3

Kinetic Sand

By CJ Tan

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USA Today Crossword Clues

Across

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Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Across

1. "Billions" actor Giamatti — Answer: PAUL. Hint: Think of the actor who played determined U.S. Attorney Chuck Rhoades in the financial drama 📺
5. Big brass instrument — Answer: TUBA. Hint: Think of the deep, booming brass instrument often heard anchoring a marching band. 🎺
9. School fundraising grps. — Answer: PTAS. Hint: These parent-led organizations often raise money for classrooms and activities. 🎓
13. Debussy's "Clair de ___" — Answer: LUNE. Hint: Complete this dreamy Debussy title with the French word for “moon.” 🌙
14. Bicep exercises — Answer: CURLS. Hint: These arm-building moves are often done with dumbbells or a barbell. 💪
15. Great Lake closest to the equator — Answer: ERIE. Hint: Think of the Great Lake sitting farthest south among the five. 🌎
16. ___ Minor (constellation) — Answer: URSA. Hint: Look to the northern sky for the Little Bear, celestial companion to the Great Bear. 🐻
17. Extremely kind person — Answer: ANGEL. Hint: This person is so wonderfully kind, they seem almost heavenly 😇
18. "Is This Thing On?" actress Laura — Answer: DERN. Hint: Think of the acclaimed actress who appeared in Jurassic Park and Big Little Lies 🎬
19. "Looks practically untouched now!" — Answer: GOODASNEW. Hint: A cheerful way to say something has been restored to its original condition ✨
21. Parts of rotary phones — Answer: DIALS. Hint: They’re the round components you turn to enter a number on old-fashioned telephones. ☎️
22. Offline, for short — Answer: IRL. Hint: A brief abbreviation for being present in person rather than online. 🌐
23. "Barbie" actress Issa — Answer: RAE. Hint: This talented actress is known not just for her role in 'Barbie' but also for her brilliant work on a hit HBO series! 🎬
24. Sydneysider or Melburnian — Answer: AUSSIE. Hint: A casual term for someone from Australia, whether they hail from its harbor city or cultural capital. 🇦🇺
25. Zenith's opposite — Answer: NADIR. Hint: Think of the lowest point, directly opposite the skyward peak. 🌍
27. Romantic thing to "drop" — Answer: LBOMB. Hint: It’s the three-word declaration that can make a romance suddenly feel serious. 💘
30. College, to Brits — Answer: UNI. Hint: Across the pond, this is the casual term for a university 🎓
31. Down in the dumps — Answer: LOW. Hint: Feeling gloomy or discouraged describes this state 😔
33. Fury — Answer: IRE. Hint: A fiery burst of intense anger 🔥
34. Metal deposit — Answer: ORE. Hint: A mine may be dug to extract this valuable natural resource. ⛏️
35. "Yes," "No" or "Maybe," e.g. — Answer: ONEWORDANSWER. Hint: It’s a brief reply that can express agreement, disagreement, or uncertainty. 🤔
39. "No more seats" letters — Answer: SRO. Hint: When every seat is taken, think of the theater abbreviation meaning only standing space remains. 🎭
40. ___-slapper (funny joke) — Answer: KNEE. Hint: A hilarious joke can make you smack this joint in delight. 😂
41. "___ make myself clear?" — Answer: DOI. Hint: Think of the brief two-word opener that checks whether your explanation landed. 🤔
42. Gracefully flexible — Answer: LITHE. Hint: Think of a ballerina’s elegant, bendable movement. 🩰
44. Fourths of a gallon (Abbr.) — Answer: QTS. Hint: Think of the abbreviated liquid measures that divide a gallon into four equal parts. 🥛
46. Takes five — Answer: RESTS. Hint: Pauses briefly for a quick break 🛋️
50. "That's a bad hiding spot!" — Answer: ISEEYOU. Hint: A hiding place that leaves you plainly visible earns this playful remark. 👀
52. Night before — Answer: EVE. Hint: The day immediately preceding a special occasion is known by this name 🎉
54. Dance like Juanita Pitts — Answer: TAP. Hint: Think of a rhythmic dance style where your shoes become percussion instruments. 👞
55. Italian city where tourists pose like they're pushing a tower — Answer: PISA. Hint: Think of the Tuscan city famous for its famously leaning tower 📸
56. ". . . ish" — Answer: KINDASORTA. Hint: This casual phrase means “more or less” or “approximately.” 🙂
59. Symbol on Vietnam's flag — Answer: STAR. Hint: Look for the bold celestial emblem at the center of Vietnam’s national flag. ⭐
60. Opera solos — Answer: ARIAS. Hint: These are the dramatic solo numbers sung by opera characters 🎶
61. Follow, like advice — Answer: HEED. Hint: Take this counsel seriously and act on it. 👂
62. Ballpark officials — Answer: UMPS. Hint: These officials make the calls from behind home plate. ⚾
63. Pasta often served "alla vodka" — Answer: PENNE. Hint: Think of the short, tube-shaped pasta that pairs perfectly with a creamy tomato-vodka sauce 🍝
64. Queen of the Olympians — Answer: HERA. Hint: Think of the powerful goddess who rules beside Zeus on Mount Olympus. 👑
65. Nickname for Jose — Answer: PEPE. Hint: This familiar Spanish nickname for José has a playful, repeated-syllable sound. 😉
66. Mid-March, for Caesar — Answer: IDES. Hint: Think of the famous March date that spelled trouble for Julius Caesar. 🗡️
67. Teensy — Answer: ITSY. Hint: Think of a playful word for something incredibly tiny. 🤏

Down

1. Software add-on — Answer: PLUGIN. Hint: A little extra you install to give an existing program new powers 🧩
2. ___ borealis — Answer: AURORA. Hint: This natural light show paints colorful ribbons across polar skies ✨
3. Like goods still on the shelf — Answer: UNSOLD. Hint: A shopkeeper might describe these items as not yet purchased. 🛒
4. Main role — Answer: LEAD. Hint: Think of the starring position or primary function in a performance. 🎭
5. ___ vision (state of intense fixation) — Answer: TUNNEL. Hint: This intense focus can make everything outside your narrow field of attention disappear. 👀
6. It's hard to resist — Answer: URGE. Hint: Think of the powerful impulse that keeps pulling you toward something tempting. 😈
7. Huffed and puffed — Answer: BLEW. Hint: Think of what a gust of wind did—or what someone exhausted might have done. 💨
8. Communication system in "CODA" — Answer: ASL. Hint: Think of the visual language used by the deaf characters in the film. 🤟
9. Manis' counterparts — Answer: PEDIS. Hint: Think of the matching salon treatment for your toes rather than your fingers. 💅
10. Loot in a chest — Answer: TREASURE. Hint: What a pirate hopes to find after lifting the lid of a chest 🏴‍☠️
11. Large commercial plane — Answer: AIRLINER. Hint: Think of a passenger jet designed to carry lots of travelers on scheduled flights. ✈️
12. Martial arts teacher — Answer: SENSEI. Hint: This dojo mentor guides students through discipline, technique, and tradition. 🥋
14. House, in Spanish — Answer: CASA. Hint: Think of the simple Spanish word for the place where you live. 🏠
20. Button that might be used for scrolling — Answer: ARROWKEY. Hint: Think of the directional control that moves a page up, down, left, or right. ⬆️
21. "Sub" alternative, when watching anime — Answer: DUB. Hint: An English voice track can replace the original dialogue in this viewing option 🎙️
24. Formally revise — Answer: AMEND. Hint: To do this is to make an official change to a document or rule. 📝
26. ___-de-France (where Paris is) — Answer: ILE. Hint: This French region surrounds the capital and shares its name with a type of island. 🗺️
28. Bathroom fixture — Answer: BIDET. Hint: This bathroom fixture is often found beside the toilet in more luxurious homes 🚿
29. Pop singer Rita — Answer: ORA. Hint: This singer's name sounds like the first part of a common phrase for a time of day! 🌅
32. Triumphed — Answer: WON. Hint: This is what you do when you come out on top in a competition! 🏆
34. Kid's boo-boo — Answer: OWIE. Hint: A little injury might prompt this tearful exclamation. 🤕
35. "Am I the only one who feels that way?" — Answer: ORISITME. Hint: A self-questioning phrase wonders whether anyone else shares your opinion. 🤔
36. Program for reminders or apologies — Answer: NOTESAPP. Hint: A handy phone tool for jotting down to-dos or drafting a heartfelt apology 📝
37. Needed — Answer: REQUIRED. Hint: Something essential rather than optional fits this clue. 🔑
38. Sensitive spots — Answer: SORES. Hint: Tender places that may hurt when touched. 🤕
39. Accidentally blurts out a secret, say — Answer: SLIPSUP. Hint: Think of what happens when someone reveals confidential information by mistake. 🤭
43. Long black vehicle — Answer: HEARSE. Hint: A somber vehicle associated with a final journey ⚰️
45. Four-door cars — Answer: SEDANS. Hint: Think of the classic enclosed passenger car, roomy enough for a small family 🚗
47. Drive way? — Answer: STREET. Hint: Think about where cars go when they're not parked! 🚗
48. Spuds — Answer: TATERS. Hint: A casual nickname for potatoes you might order with dinner 🥔
49. Outing for self-restoration — Answer: SPADAY. Hint: A relaxing excursion devoted to pampering and unwinding awaits. 🧖
51. Zebra giraffe, by another name — Answer: OKAPI. Hint: This shy forest relative of the giraffe is famous for its zebra-like stripes. 🦒
53. Bouquet holder — Answer: VASE. Hint: It’s the container that keeps cut flowers standing tall on the table. 🌷
57. On cloud ___ — Answer: NINE. Hint: Feeling blissfully happy, as if floating high above the ground? ☁️
58. "Whoa, hey there!" — Answer: OHHI. Hint: It’s a startled little greeting that mixes surprise with friendliness 😲

Here are the USA Today Crossword answers for Monday, August 3, 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 August 3?” 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 August 3, 2026

The full solution for the August 3 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 Monday, August 3.

Full USA Today Crossword answer list for August 3, 2026

Every clue from the August 3 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	"Billions" actor Giamatti	PAUL
5	Big brass instrument	TUBA
9	School fundraising grps.	PTAS
13	Debussy's "Clair de ___"	LUNE
14	Bicep exercises	CURLS
15	Great Lake closest to the equator	ERIE
16	___ Minor (constellation)	URSA
17	Extremely kind person	ANGEL
18	"Is This Thing On?" actress Laura	DERN
19	"Looks practically untouched now!"	GOODASNEW
21	Parts of rotary phones	DIALS
22	Offline, for short	IRL
23	"Barbie" actress Issa	RAE
24	Sydneysider or Melburnian	AUSSIE
25	Zenith's opposite	NADIR
27	Romantic thing to "drop"	LBOMB
30	College, to Brits	UNI
31	Down in the dumps	LOW
33	Fury	IRE
34	Metal deposit	ORE
35	"Yes," "No" or "Maybe," e.g.	ONEWORDANSWER
39	"No more seats" letters	SRO
40	___-slapper (funny joke)	KNEE
41	"___ make myself clear?"	DOI
42	Gracefully flexible	LITHE
44	Fourths of a gallon (Abbr.)	QTS
46	Takes five	RESTS
50	"That's a bad hiding spot!"	ISEEYOU
52	Night before	EVE
54	Dance like Juanita Pitts	TAP
55	Italian city where tourists pose like they're pushing a tower	PISA
56	". . . ish"	KINDASORTA
59	Symbol on Vietnam's flag	STAR
60	Opera solos	ARIAS
61	Follow, like advice	HEED
62	Ballpark officials	UMPS
63	Pasta often served "alla vodka"	PENNE
64	Queen of the Olympians	HERA
65	Nickname for Jose	PEPE
66	Mid-March, for Caesar	IDES
67	Teensy	ITSY

Down

#	Clue	Answer
1	Software add-on	PLUGIN
2	___ borealis	AURORA
3	Like goods still on the shelf	UNSOLD
4	Main role	LEAD
5	___ vision (state of intense fixation)	TUNNEL
6	It's hard to resist	URGE
7	Huffed and puffed	BLEW
8	Communication system in "CODA"	ASL
9	Manis' counterparts	PEDIS
10	Loot in a chest	TREASURE
11	Large commercial plane	AIRLINER
12	Martial arts teacher	SENSEI
14	House, in Spanish	CASA
20	Button that might be used for scrolling	ARROWKEY
21	"Sub" alternative, when watching anime	DUB
24	Formally revise	AMEND
26	___-de-France (where Paris is)	ILE
28	Bathroom fixture	BIDET
29	Pop singer Rita	ORA
32	Triumphed	WON
34	Kid's boo-boo	OWIE
35	"Am I the only one who feels that way?"	ORISITME
36	Program for reminders or apologies	NOTESAPP
37	Needed	REQUIRED
38	Sensitive spots	SORES
39	Accidentally blurts out a secret, say	SLIPSUP
43	Long black vehicle	HEARSE
45	Four-door cars	SEDANS
47	Drive way?	STREET
48	Spuds	TATERS
49	Outing for self-restoration	SPADAY
51	Zebra giraffe, by another name	OKAPI
53	Bouquet holder	VASE
57	On cloud ___	NINE
58	"Whoa, hey there!"	OHHI

Hints for the August 3 puzzle

Not ready for the full answer? Here are lighter, spoiler-free nudges for that day's grid, above the solutions. The August 3 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 Monday 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 August 3, 2026?

Every answer for the Monday, August 3, 2026 USA Today Crossword is listed at the top of this page — the confirmed grid as published that day.

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