USA Today Crossword Answers Today
Fringe Benefits
By Jake Halperin
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USA Today Crossword Clues
Across
Down
Crossword clues, hints, and answers
Across
- 1. Symptom of a repetitive strain injury — Answer: ACHE. Hint: It’s the nagging discomfort that can build up after overusing a muscle or joint. 🩹
- 5. "This is my ___!" ("Shrek" line) — Answer: SWAMP. Hint: Think of the ogre’s beloved muddy, marshy home 🐸
- 10. Parm-by-the-pound place — Answer: DELI. Hint: Think of a shop where you can order sliced meats and cheeses by weight 🧀
- 14. Croat, e.g. — Answer: SLAV. Hint: Think of the broad ethnic and linguistic family that includes Croats and several neighboring peoples. 🌍
- 15. Nest that can literally weigh a ton — Answer: AERIE. Hint: Think of a lofty, rocky home where a powerful bird might raise its young. 🦅
- 16. x or y, on a graph — Answer: AXIS. Hint: It’s one of the two reference lines used to locate points on a coordinate plane. 📈
- 17. Actress Winslet — Answer: KATE. Hint: Think of the Oscar-winning star who played Rose in Titanic 🎬
- 18. Second-generation boxer Ali — Answer: LAILA. Hint: She followed her famous father into the ring and became an undefeated champion herself 🥊
- 19. Lab worker, for short — Answer: TECH. Hint: A casual abbreviation for someone who works with experiments and equipment in a laboratory 🧪
- 20. Old-school payment with a routing number — Answer: PERSONALCHECK. Hint: A paper payment you might write when cash or cards aren’t the plan 📝
- 23. Wok, for one — Answer: PAN. Hint: It’s a versatile cooking vessel used for frying or sautéing. 🍳
- 24. Cathartic music genre — Answer: EMO. Hint: A moody music style known for pouring intense feelings into songs. 🎸
- 25. Attempt again — Answer: RETRY. Hint: Give it another go, and don’t let the first try have the final word! 🔁
- 28. Enthusiast — Answer: FAN. Hint: This person is always cheering from the sidelines! 🎉
- 31. "We should do this more ___" — Answer: OFTEN. Hint: This word means “more frequently” and encourages making it a habit. 😉
- 35. "Garfield" dog — Answer: ODIE. Hint: Garfield’s lovable, not-too-bright canine sidekick 🐶
- 36. Paltry amounts — Answer: IOTAS. Hint: Think of quantities so small they’re barely worth counting. 🐜
- 38. Liver fluid — Answer: BILE. Hint: This digestive liquid helps break down fats. 🧪
- 39. Behinds — Answer: BUMS. Hint: Casual slang for the parts you sit on 🍑
- 40. Song's wind-down — Answer: OUTRO. Hint: It’s the musical closing section that brings a song to its finish. 🎵
- 41. Result of research, maybe — Answer: INFO. Hint: It could be a fact or finding you uncover while investigating something 🔎
- 42. "Downtown" singer — Answer: PETULACLARK. Hint: Think of the British pop star behind a classic hit celebrating the city center 🎤
- 45. Lions' heads of hair — Answer: MANES. Hint: A lion’s impressive crown is known by this name. 🦁
- 46. Aquatic furball — Answer: OTTER. Hint: Picture a playful, whiskered swimmer that loves floating on its back. 🐾
- 48. Bitmap image editor whose name is an apt anagram of "paint" — Answer: PINTA. Hint: Think of a lightweight, open-source drawing program for editing pixel-based images. 🎨
- 49. Flung — Answer: THREW. Hint: A past-tense way to say you tossed something through the air. 🥎
- 51. "___ in trouble?" — Answer: AMI. Hint: The speaker is nervously asking whether they’re about to face consequences. 🤔
- 52. "Mamma ___!" — Answer: MIA. Hint: Think of the ABBA-filled musical about a bride searching for her father 🎶
- 55. Tuna type that's often seared — Answer: AHI. Hint: This sushi-bar favorite is prized for its rosy center when quickly seared. 🍣
- 57. Lamb's sound — Answer: BAA. Hint: Think of the simple bleat a young sheep makes when calling out 🐑
- 58. One might sell stamps — Answer: POSTOFFICECLERK. Hint: Think of the helpful counter worker who assists with mailing letters and buying postage 📬
- 62. This, in Spanish — Answer: ESTA. Hint: A Spanish speaker uses this word for a nearby feminine noun. 🇪🇸
- 63. Alabama city in civil rights history — Answer: SELMA. Hint: Think of the Alabama city famous for a pivotal 1965 voting-rights march. ✊
- 64. Macaroni art need — Answer: GLUE. Hint: It’s the sticky stuff that holds a pasta masterpiece together 🧑🎨
- 65. Scratchy-throated voice — Answer: RASP. Hint: Think of a rough, grating voice that sounds a bit like sandpaper on your throat 🎙️
- 66. Hooting baby bird — Answer: OWLET. Hint: This young nighttime flyer is practicing its call from the nest. 🦉
- 67. Swiss range — Answer: ALPS. Hint: These iconic European peaks stretch across Switzerland and several neighboring countries. 🏔️
Down
- 1. Seek a "yes" or "no," say — Answer: ASK. Hint: Put this question to someone when you want a simple affirmative or negative reply. 🤔
- 2. Keep the beat with your hands — Answer: CLAP. Hint: Make rhythmic applause to stay in time. 👏
- 3. Despise — Answer: HATE. Hint: Feel intense dislike toward someone or something. 😠
- 4. Always around — Answer: EVERPRESENT. Hint: Constantly there, whether noticed or not. 👀
- 5. Workplace for a manicurist — Answer: SALON. Hint: It’s where nails get polished and pampered. 💅
- 6. Transition away from breast milk, say — Answer: WEAN. Hint: It means gradually replacing nursing with other foods. 👶
- 7. Moment to shine for Lise Davidsen — Answer: ARIA. Hint: This opera singer’s big solo is her chance to command the stage 🎶
- 8. Rumor ___ — Answer: MILL. Hint: This completes the phrase for a place where gossip gets processed and passed around. 🗣️
- 9. "Toodles" — Answer: PEACE. Hint: A breezy farewell is being expressed here, often with a cheerful wave 👋
- 10. Driver's license stat — Answer: DATEOFBIRTH. Hint: It’s the personal calendar detail on your ID that records when you entered the world. 🗓️
- 11. HQ heavyweight — Answer: EXEC. Hint: This top brass figure might be calling the shots at headquarters. 🏢
- 12. Smooch from a pooch — Answer: LICK. Hint: A dog’s affectionate greeting might land right on your cheek 🐶
- 13. "Mostly" — Answer: ISH. Hint: Think of a casual way to say “more or less.” 🙂
- 21. "Whatever you ___" — Answer: SAY. Hint: Complete the phrase with the verb for expressing something aloud. 🗣️
- 22. Medical insurance group (Abbr.) — Answer: HMO. Hint: Think of a managed-care plan that helps coordinate your doctors and coverage. 🩺
- 25. Take from — Answer: ROB. Hint: To steal from someone is to do this. 🕵️
- 26. End of Yale's URL — Answer: EDU. Hint: Think of the academic web-domain suffix commonly associated with universities like Yale. 🎓
- 27. Percussion players who might use felt mallets — Answer: TIMPANISTS. Hint: Think of the orchestra members who create deep, rolling thunder on kettle drums 🎼
- 28. Like a terrible stench — Answer: FOUL. Hint: Think of a strong, unpleasant odor that might clear the room. 🤢
- 29. Flour used to make roti — Answer: ATTA. Hint: This whole-wheat staple is the classic base for Indian flatbread. 🌾
- 30. Tattletale — Answer: NARC. Hint: This person is quick to report someone else’s mischief to the authorities. 🕵️
- 32. "___ and the Lost Treasure" (movie in the "Disney Fairies" franchise) — Answer: TINKERBELL. Hint: Picture the feisty fairy who first flew into fame beside Peter Pan 🧚
- 33. Any one of Santa's helpers — Answer: ELF. Hint: Think of the small magical workers who help Santa prepare and deliver gifts 🎁
- 34. New start? — Answer: NEO. Hint: Think of the prefix used for something modern or newly revived. ✨
- 36. "The money's coming" notes — Answer: IOUS. Hint: These are promises to pay later rather than cash in hand. 💸
- 37. Alone — Answer: SOLO. Hint: Think of doing something by yourself, without a partner or group. 🧍
- 43. Spanish for "I love you" — Answer: TEAMO. Hint: A heartfelt phrase you might say to someone special in Spain ❤️
- 44. Room that might be dusty — Answer: ATTIC. Hint: Look overhead for a storage space where forgotten boxes gather dust. 🕸️
- 45. Brunch cocktail — Answer: MIMOSA. Hint: This bubbly citrus drink is a brunch classic often made with orange juice. 🍊
- 47. Stand on hind legs — Answer: REARUP. Hint: Rise onto your back legs, as a playful animal might 🐕
- 48. Origami necessity — Answer: PAPER. Hint: Look for the flat sheet that becomes a crane with a few clever folds. 🕊️
- 50. Concludes a nap — Answer: WAKES. Hint: What someone does when their snooze session is over 😴
- 53. "Should that happen . . ." — Answer: IFSO. Hint: Consider the conditions that might lead to different outcomes! 🤔
- 54. Not plenty — Answer: AFEW. Hint: Think of a small number of items rather than a large amount. 🔢
- 55. Cartoon TNT vendor — Answer: ACME. Hint: Think of the famously unreliable company that supplies a certain coyote with explosive gadgets 💥
- 56. What cayenne peppers add to food — Answer: HEAT. Hint: They bring a fiery kick that may send your taste buds reaching for water. 🌶️
- 59. Keep the beat with your feet — Answer: TAP. Hint: Make a little rhythmic sound by striking the floor with your shoes. 👞
- 60. Malady-stricken — Answer: ILL. Hint: Feeling under the weather is a good way to describe someone who’s not well 🤒
- 61. Airport served by MTA buses — Answer: LGA. Hint: Think of New York City’s major airport that’s reachable by city buses but has no subway stop of its own 🚌
Looking for today's USA Today Crossword answers? The full solution to today's puzzle — dated August 4, 2026 — is at the top of this page, updated the moment the new grid goes live. The USA Today crossword is free, themed, and refreshingly modern, which has made it one of the most-played daily puzzles in the country. Whether you want to check a finished grid, unlock one stubborn square, or see the whole answer key, every across and down solution is listed below.
Full USA Today 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 | Symptom of a repetitive strain injury | ACHE |
| 5 | "This is my ___!" ("Shrek" line) | SWAMP |
| 10 | Parm-by-the-pound place | DELI |
| 14 | Croat, e.g. | SLAV |
| 15 | Nest that can literally weigh a ton | AERIE |
| 16 | x or y, on a graph | AXIS |
| 17 | Actress Winslet | KATE |
| 18 | Second-generation boxer Ali | LAILA |
| 19 | Lab worker, for short | TECH |
| 20 | Old-school payment with a routing number | PERSONALCHECK |
| 23 | Wok, for one | PAN |
| 24 | Cathartic music genre | EMO |
| 25 | Attempt again | RETRY |
| 28 | Enthusiast | FAN |
| 31 | "We should do this more ___" | OFTEN |
| 35 | "Garfield" dog | ODIE |
| 36 | Paltry amounts | IOTAS |
| 38 | Liver fluid | BILE |
| 39 | Behinds | BUMS |
| 40 | Song's wind-down | OUTRO |
| 41 | Result of research, maybe | INFO |
| 42 | "Downtown" singer | PETULACLARK |
| 45 | Lions' heads of hair | MANES |
| 46 | Aquatic furball | OTTER |
| 48 | Bitmap image editor whose name is an apt anagram of "paint" | PINTA |
| 49 | Flung | THREW |
| 51 | "___ in trouble?" | AMI |
| 52 | "Mamma ___!" | MIA |
| 55 | Tuna type that's often seared | AHI |
| 57 | Lamb's sound | BAA |
| 58 | One might sell stamps | POSTOFFICECLERK |
| 62 | This, in Spanish | ESTA |
| 63 | Alabama city in civil rights history | SELMA |
| 64 | Macaroni art need | GLUE |
| 65 | Scratchy-throated voice | RASP |
| 66 | Hooting baby bird | OWLET |
| 67 | Swiss range | ALPS |
Down
| # | Clue | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seek a "yes" or "no," say | ASK |
| 2 | Keep the beat with your hands | CLAP |
| 3 | Despise | HATE |
| 4 | Always around | EVERPRESENT |
| 5 | Workplace for a manicurist | SALON |
| 6 | Transition away from breast milk, say | WEAN |
| 7 | Moment to shine for Lise Davidsen | ARIA |
| 8 | Rumor ___ | MILL |
| 9 | "Toodles" | PEACE |
| 10 | Driver's license stat | DATEOFBIRTH |
| 11 | HQ heavyweight | EXEC |
| 12 | Smooch from a pooch | LICK |
| 13 | "Mostly" | ISH |
| 21 | "Whatever you ___" | SAY |
| 22 | Medical insurance group (Abbr.) | HMO |
| 25 | Take from | ROB |
| 26 | End of Yale's URL | EDU |
| 27 | Percussion players who might use felt mallets | TIMPANISTS |
| 28 | Like a terrible stench | FOUL |
| 29 | Flour used to make roti | ATTA |
| 30 | Tattletale | NARC |
| 32 | "___ and the Lost Treasure" (movie in the "Disney Fairies" franchise) | TINKERBELL |
| 33 | Any one of Santa's helpers | ELF |
| 34 | New start? | NEO |
| 36 | "The money's coming" notes | IOUS |
| 37 | Alone | SOLO |
| 43 | Spanish for "I love you" | TEAMO |
| 44 | Room that might be dusty | ATTIC |
| 45 | Brunch cocktail | MIMOSA |
| 47 | Stand on hind legs | REARUP |
| 48 | Origami necessity | PAPER |
| 50 | Concludes a nap | WAKES |
| 53 | "Should that happen . . ." | IFSO |
| 54 | Not plenty | AFEW |
| 55 | Cartoon TNT vendor | ACME |
| 56 | What cayenne peppers add to food | HEAT |
| 59 | Keep the beat with your feet | TAP |
| 60 | Malady-stricken | ILL |
| 61 | Airport served by MTA buses | LGA |
Today's USA Today Crossword answers
Today's solution appears above, split into Across and Down just as the puzzle numbers them. If you only need one word, each answer is listed separately so you can reveal the clue that's blocking you and keep solving the rest. The grid is confirmed and refreshed daily as soon as USA Today publishes it, so this is always the fastest place to check today's answers.
About the USA Today Crossword
The USA Today crossword is a free daily puzzle edited by Erik Agard, a celebrated constructor known for making crosswords more welcoming and inclusive. Unlike the older broadsheet puzzles, USA Today deliberately features contemporary vocabulary, diverse names and references, and a bright, modern voice — every puzzle is themed, and the themes are consistently clever without being cruel. It's a mid-size grid, quicker than the full NYT or LA Times, and it's earned a devoted following precisely because it feels fresh and fair rather than stuffy.
What makes the USA Today puzzle different
The biggest surprise for solvers coming from other papers is that USA Today doesn't follow the usual week-long difficulty ramp:
| USA Today | NYT / LA Times | |
|---|---|---|
| Difficulty curve | Consistent every day | Ramps through the week |
| Theme | Every puzzle is themed | Themed early week, themeless late |
| Vocabulary | Modern, inclusive, current | More traditional |
| Cost | Free | NYT paid; LA Times free |
| Editor | Erik Agard | Will Shortz / Patti Varol |
Tips for solving the USA Today Crossword
- Find the theme. Every USA Today puzzle is themed, and the long theme answers usually share a pattern — crack one and the others often follow.
- Lean on modern references. If a traditional-sounding answer isn't fitting, the intended answer is probably more contemporary — a current name, phrase, or bit of pop culture.
- Fill the blanks first. Fill-in-the-blank clues are fast points and give you crossing letters everywhere.
- Trust the crossings. A clue you can't get alone almost always falls once its crossing words are in.
- Use the solver for one answer. Our crossword solver reveals a single clue's answer from your known letters, without spoiling the rest.
Browse past USA Today answers
Every previous USA Today puzzle is archived on this page by date, with its complete across and down solutions. It's the quickest way to check yesterday's grid, revisit a theme you enjoyed, or find a clue that stumped you. The archive updates automatically each day — today's answers roll into it as the next puzzle publishes — so it stays complete without spoiling the current day.
Browse more puzzles on the crossword solver, or use it to crack any clue from any publication.
Frequently asked questions
What are today's USA Today Crossword answers?
The full Across and Down solution for today's puzzle (August 4, 2026) is listed at the top of this page, updated as soon as it's released.
Is the USA Today Crossword free?
Yes — it's free to play online every day, and our answers and clues are free too.
Does the USA Today Crossword get harder through the week?
No — unlike the NYT, it keeps a consistent, accessible difficulty every day. What changes daily is the theme, not the toughness.
How do I reveal just one answer?
Each answer is listed separately here, or use the crossword solver to reveal a single clue's answer from your known letters.
Where can I find past USA Today answers?
Every previous puzzle is in the archive on this page, listed by date with full solutions, updated automatically each day.