USA Today Crossword Answers Today

Gift Guide

By Pam Klawitter · Edited by Amanda Rafkin

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Across

  1. 1Little fightSPAT
  2. 5Apple on a teacher's desk?IMAC
  3. 9Chills outRESTS
  4. 14Low-pitched hornTUBA
  5. 15Threads and WhatsApp parent companyMETA
  6. 16". . . well, I could be mistaken"ORNOT
  7. 17Visa competitorAMEX
  8. 18Counterparts of consPROS
  9. 19Winged origami creationCRANE
  10. 20One power source for a hybrid vehicleBATTERYPACK
  11. 23Tacked-on costFEE
  12. 24Person to look up toIDOL
  13. 25RidiculousABSURD
  14. 27Bit of a faux pasSLIPUP
  15. 30Ear passageCANAL
  16. 32Siri's platformIOS
  17. 33"Bridgerton" titleEARL
  18. 35Doritos ___ CheeseNACHO
  19. 39Handheld lunch stuffed with romaine, croutons and dressingCAESARSALADWRAP
  20. 43Prepare to prayKNEEL
  21. 44Miles offAFAR
  22. 45Enjoyed a 39-AcrossATE
  23. 46Did some undercover work?SLEPT
  24. 48No longer frozenTHAWED
  25. 51College-level H.S. science classAPCHEM
  26. 54Takes advantage ofUSES
  27. 55Small pal of PoohROO
  28. 56"Let's check out that replay!"ROLLTHETAPE
  29. 62GreenlightingOKING
  30. 64Prefix for "pilot" or "correct"AUTO
  31. 65"No phones at the table," e.g.RULE
  32. 66Disorderly fightMELEE
  33. 67Andrajos or goulashSTEW
  34. 68Exam that's hard to cheat onORAL
  35. 69Burning desire?ARSON
  36. 70Women's telehealth platformHERS
  37. 71MentionsSAYS

Down

  1. 1AttemptSTAB
  2. 2Athletic brand that makes the SpeedcatPUMA
  3. 3Help with a heistABET
  4. 4Advice from a CPATAXTIP
  5. 5InappropriateIMPROPER
  6. 6Streep who voiced Insect Queen in "Hoppers"MERYL
  7. 7Perched uponATOP
  8. 8"Mi ___ es su ___"CASA
  9. 9Pink Floyd or Black SabbathROCKBAND
  10. 10Take a wrong turn, sayERR
  11. 11Big fiascoSNAFU
  12. 12Canon filler?TONER
  13. 13Jouster's horseSTEED
  14. 21Academic URL endingEDU
  15. 22Tuna containerCAN
  16. 26Shredded barbecue sideSLAW
  17. 27"Awesome!"SICK
  18. 28Offering that must be paid backLOAN
  19. 29"Ah, now it makes sense!"ISEE
  20. 30Create new equipment in a video gameCRAFT
  21. 31Pasta ___ carbonaraALLA
  22. 34"Make it snappy!"ASAP
  23. 36Sticking pointCRAW
  24. 37Can't standHATE
  25. 38Angled column?OPED
  26. 40Short meeting?SESH
  27. 41Cat hair or pollenALLERGEN
  28. 42Many gallery eventsARTSHOWS
  29. 47Broody music genreEMO
  30. 49___ haw (donkey's sound)HEE
  31. 502017 and 2022 World Series championsASTROS
  32. 51Enticing scent from a bakeryAROMA
  33. 52Fireplace utensilPOKER
  34. 53They're tightly woundCOILS
  35. 54Say aloudUTTER
  36. 57Mascara targetLASH
  37. 58Bard's stringsLUTE
  38. 59A person's general vibeAURA
  39. 60"Angels in America," e.g.PLAY
  40. 61Disney's Flotsam and Jetsam, for exampleEELS
  41. 63"The Matrix" roleNEO

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Across

  1. 1. Little fight — Answer: SPAT. Hint: A brief quarrel can be called this. 🥊
  2. 5. Apple on a teacher's desk? — Answer: IMAC. Hint: Think of a fruit-themed classroom computer joke. 🍎
  3. 9. Chills out — Answer: RESTS. Hint: Takes it easy and relaxes. 😌
  4. 14. Low-pitched horn — Answer: TUBA. Hint: This large brass instrument supplies deep notes. 🎺
  5. 15. Threads and WhatsApp parent company — Answer: META. Hint: This tech giant owns both social platforms. 🌐
  6. 16. ". . . well, I could be mistaken" — Answer: ORNOT. Hint: A hesitant qualifier meaning perhaps otherwise. 🤔
  7. 17. Visa competitor — Answer: AMEX. Hint: A familiar credit-card brand competes with Visa. 💳
  8. 18. Counterparts of cons — Answer: PROS. Hint: These are the advantages on the other side of a debate. ⚖️
  9. 19. Winged origami creation — Answer: CRANE. Hint: Folded paper traditionally takes the shape of this bird. 🐦
  10. 20. One power source for a hybrid vehicle — Answer: BATTERYPACK. Hint: A rechargeable unit can help power a mixed-drive car. 🔋
  11. 23. Tacked-on cost — Answer: FEE. Hint: An extra charge added to a purchase is this. 💰
  12. 24. Person to look up to — Answer: IDOL. Hint: Someone greatly admired may be placed on a pedestal. 🌟
  13. 25. Ridiculous — Answer: ABSURD. Hint: So wildly unreasonable that it belongs in a comedy sketch 🤪
  14. 27. Bit of a faux pas — Answer: SLIPUP. Hint: A small embarrassing mistake fits this description. 😅
  15. 30. Ear passage — Answer: CANAL. Hint: This tunnel carries sound toward the eardrum. 👂
  16. 32. Siri's platform — Answer: IOS. Hint: Think of Apple's mobile operating system 📱
  17. 33. "Bridgerton" title — Answer: EARL. Hint: A noble rank central to the period drama 🎩
  18. 35. Doritos ___ Cheese — Answer: NACHO. Hint: This cheesy snack is a party favorite that's perfect for sharing! 🥳
  19. 39. Handheld lunch stuffed with romaine, croutons and dressing — Answer: CAESARSALADWRAP. Hint: A portable salad tucked inside a tortilla 🌯
  20. 43. Prepare to pray — Answer: KNEEL. Hint: Lower yourself onto your knees 🙏
  21. 44. Miles off — Answer: AFAR. Hint: At a distant location 🌌
  22. 45. Enjoyed a 39-Across — Answer: ATE. Hint: Had a meal or snack 🍽️
  23. 46. Did some undercover work? — Answer: SLEPT. Hint: Spent the night beneath the blankets 🛏️
  24. 48. No longer frozen — Answer: THAWED. Hint: Melted or defrosted 🧊
  25. 51. College-level H.S. science class — Answer: APCHEM. Hint: A rigorous secondary-school course focused on reactions and elements 🧪
  26. 54. Takes advantage of — Answer: USES. Hint: Employs something for one's benefit 🛠️
  27. 55. Small pal of Pooh — Answer: ROO. Hint: A young kangaroo friend from the Hundred Acre Wood 🦘
  28. 56. "Let's check out that replay!" — Answer: ROLLTHETAPE. Hint: Cue the recording again 📼
  29. 62. Greenlighting — Answer: OKING. Hint: Giving official approval ✅
  30. 64. Prefix for "pilot" or "correct" — Answer: AUTO. Hint: A prefix meaning self or automatic 🤖
  31. 65. "No phones at the table," e.g. — Answer: RULE. Hint: A household guideline 📵
  32. 66. Disorderly fight — Answer: MELEE. Hint: A chaotic brawl 💥
  33. 67. Andrajos or goulash — Answer: STEW. Hint: A hearty dish with ingredients simmered together 🍲
  34. 68. Exam that's hard to cheat on — Answer: ORAL. Hint: A spoken test with answers given aloud 🗣️
  35. 69. Burning desire? — Answer: ARSON. Hint: Illegal fire-setting 🔥
  36. 70. Women's telehealth platform — Answer: HERS. Hint: A women-focused online health service 💻
  37. 71. Mentions — Answer: SAYS. Hint: A verb for stating something aloud. 🗣️

Down

  1. 1. Attempt — Answer: STAB. Hint: Give it a try, even if success is uncertain! 🎯
  2. 2. Athletic brand that makes the Speedcat — Answer: PUMA. Hint: This sportswear company uses a leaping feline in its logo. 🐆
  3. 3. Help with a heist — Answer: ABET. Hint: To assist someone in carrying out a crime. 🕵️
  4. 4. Advice from a CPA — Answer: TAXTIP. Hint: A professional suggestion about deductions or filing. 🧾
  5. 5. Inappropriate — Answer: IMPROPER. Hint: Not suitable for the situation or occasion. 🚫
  6. 6. Streep who voiced Insect Queen in "Hoppers" — Answer: MERYL. Hint: This acclaimed actress shares a first name with Streep. 🎬
  7. 7. Perched upon — Answer: ATOP. Hint: Positioned directly on top of something. 🪶
  8. 8. "Mi ___ es su ___" — Answer: CASA. Hint: This familiar phrase says that my home is yours. 🏠
  9. 9. Pink Floyd or Black Sabbath — Answer: ROCKBAND. Hint: Either group performs guitar-driven music. 🎸
  10. 10. Take a wrong turn, say — Answer: ERR. Hint: To make a mistake or be incorrect. 🤔
  11. 11. Big fiasco — Answer: SNAFU. Hint: Military slang for a situation thoroughly messed up. 💥
  12. 12. Canon filler? — Answer: TONER. Hint: This printer supply keeps text appearing on the page. 🖨️
  13. 13. Jouster's horse — Answer: STEED. Hint: A knight would ride this noble mount. 🐎
  14. 21. Academic URL ending — Answer: EDU. Hint: This web suffix is associated with schools and universities. 🎓
  15. 22. Tuna container — Answer: CAN. Hint: It’s the small metal vessel you might open for a quick fishy lunch 🐟
  16. 26. Shredded barbecue side — Answer: SLAW. Hint: A cool cabbage salad often accompanies smoked meats. 🥬
  17. 27. "Awesome!" — Answer: SICK. Hint: A slangy way to praise something impressive. 🤩
  18. 28. Offering that must be paid back — Answer: LOAN. Hint: Borrowed money that comes with an obligation to repay. 💵
  19. 29. "Ah, now it makes sense!" — Answer: ISEE. Hint: An expression of sudden understanding. 💡
  20. 30. Create new equipment in a video game — Answer: CRAFT. Hint: Use gathered materials to make useful gear. 🛠️
  21. 31. Pasta ___ carbonara — Answer: ALLA. Hint: An Italian phrase meaning prepared in a particular style. 🍝
  22. 34. "Make it snappy!" — Answer: ASAP. Hint: A request for this means do it with maximum speed. ⚡
  23. 36. Sticking point — Answer: CRAW. Hint: This tiny irritation can keep progress from moving smoothly. 🪵
  24. 37. Can't stand — Answer: HATE. Hint: It describes intense dislike, not physical balance. 🙅
  25. 38. Angled column? — Answer: OPED. Hint: A tilted newspaper commentary might fit this playful description. 📰
  26. 40. Short meeting? — Answer: SESH. Hint: A casual abbreviation for a brief get-together. 🤝
  27. 41. Cat hair or pollen — Answer: ALLERGEN. Hint: Both seasonal dust and pet dander can trigger this. 🤧
  28. 42. Many gallery events — Answer: ARTSHOWS. Hint: Galleries may host several of these public exhibitions. 🖼️
  29. 47. Broody music genre — Answer: EMO. Hint: This style often channels intense feelings through alternative music. 🎸
  30. 49. ___ haw (donkey's sound) — Answer: HEE. Hint: It is the opening half of a familiar braying cry. 🫏
  31. 50. 2017 and 2022 World Series champions — Answer: ASTROS. Hint: This Houston baseball club claimed both of those titles. ⚾
  32. 51. Enticing scent from a bakery — Answer: AROMA. Hint: Warm pastries can fill a room with this inviting smell. 🥐
  33. 52. Fireplace utensil — Answer: POKER. Hint: This fireplace tool helps rearrange glowing logs. 🔥
  34. 53. They're tightly wound — Answer: COILS. Hint: Springs and telephone cords often take this tightly wound form. 🌀
  35. 54. Say aloud — Answer: UTTER. Hint: As a verb, it means to speak something aloud. 🗣️
  36. 57. Mascara target — Answer: LASH. Hint: Mascara is brushed onto this eye feature. 👁️
  37. 58. Bard's strings — Answer: LUTE. Hint: A medieval poet might accompany a song with this plucked instrument. 🎶
  38. 59. A person's general vibe — Answer: AURA. Hint: It is the intangible atmosphere someone seems to give off. ✨
  39. 60. "Angels in America," e.g. — Answer: PLAY. Hint: This work is written for actors to perform onstage. 🎭
  40. 61. Disney's Flotsam and Jetsam, for example — Answer: EELS. Hint: These slippery aquatic creatures appear as the sea witch's sidekicks. 🌊
  41. 63. "The Matrix" role — Answer: NEO. Hint: Keanu Reeves portrays this hacker-hero in the sci-fi film. 🕶️

Recent USA Today Answers

The last 7 days of solutions

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Looking for today's USA Today Crossword answers? The full solution to today's puzzle — dated August 16, 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
1Little fightSPAT
5Apple on a teacher's desk?IMAC
9Chills outRESTS
14Low-pitched hornTUBA
15Threads and WhatsApp parent companyMETA
16". . . well, I could be mistaken"ORNOT
17Visa competitorAMEX
18Counterparts of consPROS
19Winged origami creationCRANE
20One power source for a hybrid vehicleBATTERYPACK
23Tacked-on costFEE
24Person to look up toIDOL
25RidiculousABSURD
27Bit of a faux pasSLIPUP
30Ear passageCANAL
32Siri's platformIOS
33"Bridgerton" titleEARL
35Doritos ___ CheeseNACHO
39Handheld lunch stuffed with romaine, croutons and dressingCAESARSALADWRAP
43Prepare to prayKNEEL
44Miles offAFAR
45Enjoyed a 39-AcrossATE
46Did some undercover work?SLEPT
48No longer frozenTHAWED
51College-level H.S. science classAPCHEM
54Takes advantage ofUSES
55Small pal of PoohROO
56"Let's check out that replay!"ROLLTHETAPE
62GreenlightingOKING
64Prefix for "pilot" or "correct"AUTO
65"No phones at the table," e.g.RULE
66Disorderly fightMELEE
67Andrajos or goulashSTEW
68Exam that's hard to cheat onORAL
69Burning desire?ARSON
70Women's telehealth platformHERS
71MentionsSAYS

Down

#ClueAnswer
1AttemptSTAB
2Athletic brand that makes the SpeedcatPUMA
3Help with a heistABET
4Advice from a CPATAXTIP
5InappropriateIMPROPER
6Streep who voiced Insect Queen in "Hoppers"MERYL
7Perched uponATOP
8"Mi ___ es su ___"CASA
9Pink Floyd or Black SabbathROCKBAND
10Take a wrong turn, sayERR
11Big fiascoSNAFU
12Canon filler?TONER
13Jouster's horseSTEED
21Academic URL endingEDU
22Tuna containerCAN
26Shredded barbecue sideSLAW
27"Awesome!"SICK
28Offering that must be paid backLOAN
29"Ah, now it makes sense!"ISEE
30Create new equipment in a video gameCRAFT
31Pasta ___ carbonaraALLA
34"Make it snappy!"ASAP
36Sticking pointCRAW
37Can't standHATE
38Angled column?OPED
40Short meeting?SESH
41Cat hair or pollenALLERGEN
42Many gallery eventsARTSHOWS
47Broody music genreEMO
49___ haw (donkey's sound)HEE
502017 and 2022 World Series championsASTROS
51Enticing scent from a bakeryAROMA
52Fireplace utensilPOKER
53They're tightly woundCOILS
54Say aloudUTTER
57Mascara targetLASH
58Bard's stringsLUTE
59A person's general vibeAURA
60"Angels in America," e.g.PLAY
61Disney's Flotsam and Jetsam, for exampleEELS
63"The Matrix" roleNEO

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 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

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 16, 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.

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