USA Today Crossword Answers Today

Bear Down

By Brian Callahan

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Across

  1. 1Siamese's sleeping spotCATBED
  2. 7Rideshare alternativeCAB
  3. 10Hi-___ imageRES
  4. 13Grandma, in SpanishABUELA
  5. 14FussADO
  6. 15Estadio Azteca shoutOLE
  7. 16Hold on toRETAIN
  8. 17Texter's "I'm gonna be real . . ."IMHO
  9. 18Tree that sounds like a female sheepYEW
  10. 19"It's all a ___" ("I'm having trouble remembering")BLUR
  11. 20He plays Viktor Hargreeves on "The Umbrella Academy"ELLIOTPAGE
  12. 23Nosy?NASAL
  13. 25Place for wine or root veggiesCELLAR
  14. 26Chocolate beanCACAO
  15. 29Tech co. with an 8-bar logoIBM
  16. 31SunrisesDAWNS
  17. 32Activity for reducing cognitive fatigueBRAINBREAK
  18. 35"Even then . . ."YET
  19. 36Dojo leaderSENSEI
  20. 37___ seco (dry rub in Puerto Rican cooking)ADOBO
  21. 39Enjoyed a Crunchwrap SupremeATE
  22. 40FlubERR
  23. 42Where to find remote workers?SOFAS
  24. 45Western watering holeSALOON
  25. 48Company with a spokesduckAFLAC
  26. 50SuperfanSTAN
  27. 52What Burr wins in "Hamilton"DUEL
  28. 54"Documentary Now!" actor HaderBILL
  29. 55Some Alaskan nativesALEUTS
  30. 57Doctor ___ Cortex (Crash Bandicoot villain)NEO
  31. 58This, in SpanishESTO
  32. 59Grammy-nominated Sabrina Carpenter singleMANCHILD
  33. 61Clarifying wordsTHATIS
  34. 63"From what I gather . . ."ITSEEMS
  35. 64PeacefulSERENE
  36. 65Sweet ___ ("It's Always Sunny" nickname)DEE
  37. 66Word with "bath" or "wrestle"MUD
  38. 67Restaurateur and humanitarian JoseANDRES

Down

  1. 1Bread or riceCARB
  2. 2Cain's brotherABEL
  3. 3Ballet garmentTUTU
  4. 4Egg-based steak toppingBEARNAISESAUCE
  5. 5___5 ("Explain Like I'm Five" acronym)ELI
  6. 6Great ___ (dogs that are actually from Germany)DANES
  7. 7Sleeveless topCAMI
  8. 8Committee typeADHOC
  9. 9TossedBOOTED
  10. 10Sovereign's pronounROYALWE
  11. 11RefinedELEGANT
  12. 12Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' homesSEWERS
  13. 17"Hit me up whenever"ILLBEAROUND
  14. 21HideoutLAIR
  15. 22Look sported by many an NHL player in late springPLAYOFFBEARD
  16. 24Top-shelfAONE
  17. 26"The Late Show With Stephen Colbert" networkCBS
  18. 27ZoneAREA
  19. 28"I just ___ even right now"CANT
  20. 30AngryMAD
  21. 33"Candy" actress JessicaBIEL
  22. 34Boxing endings, for shortKOS
  23. 38Drag brunch accessoryBOA
  24. 41PoleROD
  25. 43Red carpet VIPALISTER
  26. 44Cracker often paired with soupSALTINE
  27. 46"O Canada," for CanadaANTHEM
  28. 47Once namedNEE
  29. 49ShutsCLOSES
  30. 50Shade of graySLATE
  31. 51What adding "-ed" might changeTENSE
  32. 53Many o'LOTSA
  33. 55Surrounded byAMID
  34. 56"Avengers: Doomsday" actor LiuSIMU
  35. 60AcidLSD
  36. 62Layer in a coopHEN

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Across

  1. 1. Siamese's sleeping spot — Answer: CATBED. Hint: It’s the cozy place where a feline might curl up for a nap. 🐱
  2. 7. Rideshare alternative — Answer: CAB. Hint: A traditional street-hailed option for getting across town 🚕
  3. 10. Hi-___ image — Answer: RES. Hint: This describes a sharp, detailed picture with lots of visual clarity. 🖼️
  4. 13. Grandma, in Spanish — Answer: ABUELA. Hint: Think of the affectionate Spanish word for your mother’s or father’s mom. 👵
  5. 14. Fuss — Answer: ADO. Hint: A little unnecessary excitement over something minor 😅
  6. 15. Estadio Azteca shout — Answer: OLE. Hint: A classic soccer cheer you might hear echoing through Mexico City’s famous stadium. ⚽
  7. 16. Hold on to — Answer: RETAIN. Hint: Keep something in your possession instead of letting it go. 🤝
  8. 17. Texter's "I'm gonna be real . . ." — Answer: IMHO. Hint: A candid way to introduce your personal take in a text message. 💬
  9. 18. Tree that sounds like a female sheep — Answer: YEW. Hint: Think of an evergreen whose name echoes the sound made by a female sheep 🐑
  10. 19. "It's all a ___" ("I'm having trouble remembering") — Answer: BLUR. Hint: This describes a memory that feels indistinct and hard to recall. 🌫️
  11. 20. He plays Viktor Hargreeves on "The Umbrella Academy" — Answer: ELLIOTPAGE. Hint: This actor also starred in Juno and Inception before joining the superpowered sibling ensemble. 🎬
  12. 23. Nosy? — Answer: NASAL. Hint: Think of a playful pun involving the body part associated with prying into others’ business. 👃
  13. 25. Place for wine or root veggies — Answer: CELLAR. Hint: Think of a cool storage space beneath a house where bottles and potatoes can wait. 🍷
  14. 26. Chocolate bean — Answer: CACAO. Hint: This tropical seed is the source of cocoa and chocolate 🍫
  15. 29. Tech co. with an 8-bar logo — Answer: IBM. Hint: Think of the longtime computing giant whose famous blue logo is made of eight horizontal stripes. 💻
  16. 31. Sunrises — Answer: DAWNS. Hint: They mark the beginning of each new day 🌅
  17. 32. Activity for reducing cognitive fatigue — Answer: BRAINBREAK. Hint: A brief pause to refresh your mind can be just the ticket 🧠
  18. 35. "Even then . . ." — Answer: YET. Hint: A compact word meaning “nevertheless” or “up to that time” fits here. 💡
  19. 36. Dojo leader — Answer: SENSEI. Hint: This respectful title is used for the person guiding martial-arts students. 🥋
  20. 37. ___ seco (dry rub in Puerto Rican cooking) — Answer: ADOBO. Hint: Think of the savory spice blend used to season meats in Puerto Rican cuisine. 🌶️
  21. 39. Enjoyed a Crunchwrap Supreme — Answer: ATE. Hint: That fast-food favorite was something you did more than merely admire 🌯
  22. 40. Flub — Answer: ERR. Hint: To do this is to make a mistake or mess something up. 😅
  23. 42. Where to find remote workers? — Answer: SOFAS. Hint: Think of the comfy living-room spot where many home-office heroes clock in with a remote nearby 🛋️
  24. 45. Western watering hole — Answer: SALOON. Hint: Picture the classic Old West spot where cowboys grab a drink and swap stories 🍻
  25. 48. Company with a spokesduck — Answer: AFLAC. Hint: Think of the insurance company famous for its quacking mascot. 🦆
  26. 50. Superfan — Answer: STAN. Hint: A fiercely devoted admirer who knows every detail is this kind of fan. 🎤
  27. 52. What Burr wins in "Hamilton" — Answer: DUEL. Hint: Think of the dramatic face-off where Aaron Burr gets the upper hand. ⚔️
  28. 54. "Documentary Now!" actor Hader — Answer: BILL. Hint: This comedian also became famous for his memorable characters on Saturday Night Live. 🎭
  29. 55. Some Alaskan natives — Answer: ALEUTS. Hint: These Indigenous islanders inhabit the windswept chain stretching southwest from Alaska. 🏝️
  30. 57. Doctor ___ Cortex (Crash Bandicoot villain) — Answer: NEO. Hint: Think of the Crash Bandicoot villain whose short name evokes something new and futuristic. 🧠
  31. 58. This, in Spanish — Answer: ESTO. Hint: A Spanish demonstrative points to something nearby. 🇪🇸
  32. 59. Grammy-nominated Sabrina Carpenter single — Answer: MANCHILD. Hint: This playful pop hit calls out a guy who never quite grew up. 🎵
  33. 61. Clarifying words — Answer: THATIS. Hint: These words are often used to restate something more plainly. 🧠
  34. 63. "From what I gather . . ." — Answer: ITSEEMS. Hint: Use this phrase when sharing an uncertain conclusion drawn from the available information. 🤔
  35. 64. Peaceful — Answer: SERENE. Hint: Think of a calm, untroubled mood like a quiet lake at dawn. 🕊️
  36. 65. Sweet ___ ("It's Always Sunny" nickname) — Answer: DEE. Hint: Think of the nickname for the gang’s birdlike member on this irreverent sitcom. 🐦
  37. 66. Word with "bath" or "wrestle" — Answer: MUD. Hint: Think of the messy stuff associated with both a spa soak and a grappling match. 🛁
  38. 67. Restaurateur and humanitarian Jose — Answer: ANDRES. Hint: Think of the celebrity chef known for bringing inventive Spanish cuisine and disaster relief to the table. 🍽️

Down

  1. 1. Bread or rice — Answer: CARB. Hint: Either of these foods can provide energy-rich nutrients. 🍚
  2. 2. Cain's brother — Answer: ABEL. Hint: Think of the biblical brother whose story becomes the first sibling rivalry in Genesis. 📖
  3. 3. Ballet garment — Answer: TUTU. Hint: A stiff, airy skirt worn by dancers for twirls and leaps 🩰
  4. 4. Egg-based steak topping — Answer: BEARNAISESAUCE. Hint: This luxurious French steak topper is a buttery sauce whisked with egg yolks and often flavored with tarragon. 🥩
  5. 5. ___5 ("Explain Like I'm Five" acronym) — Answer: ELI. Hint: This acronym asks you to make a complex idea simple enough for a young child to understand. 🧸
  6. 6. Great ___ (dogs that are actually from Germany) — Answer: DANES. Hint: Think of a giant dog breed whose name points to a Scandinavian nationality, even though the breed originated elsewhere. 🐕
  7. 7. Sleeveless top — Answer: CAMI. Hint: Think of a light, casual top often worn under a cardigan or on its own. 👚
  8. 8. Committee type — Answer: ADHOC. Hint: Think of a temporary committee formed for one specific task. 📝
  9. 9. Tossed — Answer: BOOTED. Hint: Think of being sent packing, often after crossing a line. 🚪
  10. 10. Sovereign's pronoun — Answer: ROYALWE. Hint: Think of the possessive pronoun a monarch might use for something belonging to the crown. 👑
  11. 11. Refined — Answer: ELEGANT. Hint: Think of someone or something graceful, tasteful, and polished. ✨
  12. 12. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' homes — Answer: SEWERS. Hint: Look beneath the streets for the turtles’ underground hideaways. 🐢
  13. 17. "Hit me up whenever" — Answer: ILLBEAROUND. Hint: A casual promise that you’ll still be available whenever someone reaches out. 📱
  14. 21. Hideout — Answer: LAIR. Hint: A cozy den for a beast or a secretive type 🦁
  15. 22. Look sported by many an NHL player in late spring — Answer: PLAYOFFBEARD. Hint: Think of the famously fuzzy facial look grown during hockey’s postseason run 🏒
  16. 24. Top-shelf — Answer: AONE. Hint: Think of a phrase describing something of the very best quality. 🌟
  17. 26. "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert" network — Answer: CBS. Hint: This late-night favorite airs on a major American broadcast network 📺
  18. 27. Zone — Answer: AREA. Hint: Think of a space defined by boundaries and purpose! 📏
  19. 28. "I just ___ even right now" — Answer: CANT. Hint: Fill in the word that expresses being unable to cope or proceed. 😩
  20. 30. Angry — Answer: MAD. Hint: Think of a short word for feeling furious. 😠
  21. 33. "Candy" actress Jessica — Answer: BIEL. Hint: She portrayed Candy Montgomery in the miniseries about the infamous Texas case. 🎬
  22. 34. Boxing endings, for short — Answer: KOS. Hint: Think of the abbreviated results when a boxer finishes a bout by stopping the opponent cold 🥊
  23. 38. Drag brunch accessory — Answer: BOA. Hint: This feathery neckpiece adds instant glam to a performer’s brunch look. 🪶
  24. 41. Pole — Answer: ROD. Hint: Think of a long, slender stick used for support or leverage. 🪵
  25. 43. Red carpet VIP — Answer: ALISTER. Hint: Think of someone famous enough to receive the star treatment at a movie premiere. 🎬
  26. 44. Cracker often paired with soup — Answer: SALTINE. Hint: This crisp, lightly salted cracker is a classic companion for a warm bowl of soup. 🥣
  27. 46. "O Canada," for Canada — Answer: ANTHEM. Hint: It’s the patriotic song heard at Canadian ceremonies and sporting events. 🎵
  28. 47. Once named — Answer: NEE. Hint: A concise way to say someone was formerly known by another name. 🏷️
  29. 49. Shuts — Answer: CLOSES. Hint: It’s what a shop does when the day is done 🔒
  30. 50. Shade of gray — Answer: SLATE. Hint: Think of a cool, dark gray often seen on roofing tiles. 🏠
  31. 51. What adding "-ed" might change — Answer: TENSE. Hint: Adding this suffix can shift a verb from present action to something already completed. ⏳
  32. 53. Many o' — Answer: LOTSA. Hint: Think of this as a laid-back way to say “many.” 😊
  33. 55. Surrounded by — Answer: AMID. Hint: Think of a short preposition meaning in the middle of something. 🧩
  34. 56. "Avengers: Doomsday" actor Liu — Answer: SIMU. Hint: This Canadian actor portrayed Shang-Chi in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. 🎬
  35. 60. Acid — Answer: LSD. Hint: This psychedelic substance is known for vivid hallucinations and altered perception. 🌈
  36. 62. Layer in a coop — Answer: HEN. Hint: This feathered farm resident is responsible for laying eggs in the coop. 🐔

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Looking for today's USA Today Crossword answers? The full solution to today's puzzle — dated August 7, 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

#ClueAnswer
1Siamese's sleeping spotCATBED
7Rideshare alternativeCAB
10Hi-___ imageRES
13Grandma, in SpanishABUELA
14FussADO
15Estadio Azteca shoutOLE
16Hold on toRETAIN
17Texter's "I'm gonna be real . . ."IMHO
18Tree that sounds like a female sheepYEW
19"It's all a ___" ("I'm having trouble remembering")BLUR
20He plays Viktor Hargreeves on "The Umbrella Academy"ELLIOTPAGE
23Nosy?NASAL
25Place for wine or root veggiesCELLAR
26Chocolate beanCACAO
29Tech co. with an 8-bar logoIBM
31SunrisesDAWNS
32Activity for reducing cognitive fatigueBRAINBREAK
35"Even then . . ."YET
36Dojo leaderSENSEI
37___ seco (dry rub in Puerto Rican cooking)ADOBO
39Enjoyed a Crunchwrap SupremeATE
40FlubERR
42Where to find remote workers?SOFAS
45Western watering holeSALOON
48Company with a spokesduckAFLAC
50SuperfanSTAN
52What Burr wins in "Hamilton"DUEL
54"Documentary Now!" actor HaderBILL
55Some Alaskan nativesALEUTS
57Doctor ___ Cortex (Crash Bandicoot villain)NEO
58This, in SpanishESTO
59Grammy-nominated Sabrina Carpenter singleMANCHILD
61Clarifying wordsTHATIS
63"From what I gather . . ."ITSEEMS
64PeacefulSERENE
65Sweet ___ ("It's Always Sunny" nickname)DEE
66Word with "bath" or "wrestle"MUD
67Restaurateur and humanitarian JoseANDRES

Down

#ClueAnswer
1Bread or riceCARB
2Cain's brotherABEL
3Ballet garmentTUTU
4Egg-based steak toppingBEARNAISESAUCE
5___5 ("Explain Like I'm Five" acronym)ELI
6Great ___ (dogs that are actually from Germany)DANES
7Sleeveless topCAMI
8Committee typeADHOC
9TossedBOOTED
10Sovereign's pronounROYALWE
11RefinedELEGANT
12Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' homesSEWERS
17"Hit me up whenever"ILLBEAROUND
21HideoutLAIR
22Look sported by many an NHL player in late springPLAYOFFBEARD
24Top-shelfAONE
26"The Late Show With Stephen Colbert" networkCBS
27ZoneAREA
28"I just ___ even right now"CANT
30AngryMAD
33"Candy" actress JessicaBIEL
34Boxing endings, for shortKOS
38Drag brunch accessoryBOA
41PoleROD
43Red carpet VIPALISTER
44Cracker often paired with soupSALTINE
46"O Canada," for CanadaANTHEM
47Once namedNEE
49ShutsCLOSES
50Shade of graySLATE
51What adding "-ed" might changeTENSE
53Many o'LOTSA
55Surrounded byAMID
56"Avengers: Doomsday" actor LiuSIMU
60AcidLSD
62Layer in a coopHEN

Today's USA Today Crossword answers

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USA TodayNYT / LA Times
Difficulty curveConsistent every dayRamps through the week
ThemeEvery puzzle is themedThemed early week, themeless late
VocabularyModern, inclusive, currentMore traditional
CostFreeNYT paid; LA Times free
EditorErik AgardWill Shortz / Patti Varol

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