USA Today Crossword Answers Today

Crunch Time

By Michael Drusedum & Jason Reuben · Edited by Amie Walker

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Across

  1. 1Like the deity Xipe TotecAZTEC
  2. 6Bubble bath stuffSUDS
  3. 10Rankings above corporals (Abbr.)SGTS
  4. 14"Put me in, ___!"COACH
  5. 15Raindrop soundPLOP
  6. 16VoyageTRIP
  7. 17"Same here!"SODOI
  8. 18Skin conditionACNE
  9. 19Italian meat-based sauceRAGU
  10. 20Program designed to prevent "burn-in"SCREENSAVER
  11. 23Pittsburgh football playerSTEELER
  12. 26Handy typesDIYERS
  13. 27Rice dish with saffronPAELLA
  14. 28U-turn from NNWSSE
  15. 29Sicilian peakETNA
  16. 30"Yeah, su-u-ure"IBET
  17. 33"Everywhere you want to be" cardsVISAS
  18. 38Trash serviceWASTEMANAGEMENT
  19. 41Scornful lookSNEER
  20. 42An apple for Apple, e.g.LOGO
  21. 43Bread often served with hummusPITA
  22. 44It's "just a number"AGE
  23. 46Warmup bandOPENER
  24. 48West Texas cityELPASO
  25. 52Made it to the Olympic podiumMEDALED
  26. 54Person who helps mediate disputesPEACEKEEPER
  27. 56Toolbar headingEDIT
  28. 57Pop-ups' pathsARCS
  29. 58RestlessANTSY
  30. 63Toaster waffle brandEGGO
  31. 64Puerto ___RICO
  32. 65Photographer ArbusDIANE
  33. 66Crystal ball userSEER
  34. 67___ USATEAM
  35. 68Trade fairsEXPOS

Down

  1. 1Cooling systems, for shortACS
  2. 2Metaphor for a chaotic placeZOO
  3. 3SmidgenTAD
  4. 4___ mode (hybrid vehicle setting, often)ECO
  5. 5Wedge-shaped hand toolCHISEL
  6. 6Result from picking up a 7-10 splitSPARE
  7. 7Stomach soreULCER
  8. 8OverDONE
  9. 9Doesn't saveSPENDS
  10. 10Wander off courseSTRAY
  11. 11"Take This to Your ___" (Fall Out Boy album)GRAVE
  12. 12Tony the ___ (Frosted Flakes mascot)TIGER
  13. 13Victor Wembanyama's 67-AcrossSPURS
  14. 21Insurance filingCLAIM
  15. 22Kitchen tool with holes, or a metaphorical faulty memorySIEVE
  16. 23The DevilSATAN
  17. 24High-strungTENSE
  18. 25Fill with joyELATE
  19. 27Church benchesPEWS
  20. 28Doe's mateSTAG
  21. 31Unit of hayBALE
  22. 32"Discreet Music" artist BrianENO
  23. 34Push into actionIMPEL
  24. 35River that served as a backdrop for the 2024 Olympics' opening ceremonySEINE
  25. 36Paid for some cardsANTED
  26. 37One of an estimated 100-400 billion in the Milky WaySTAR
  27. 39Dry-___ markerERASE
  28. 40"Imagine Me & You" star MatthewGOODE
  29. 45Racing vehicleGOKART
  30. 47Pride Month celebration with floatsPARADE
  31. 48Many fencing bladesEPEES
  32. 49Climber's resting areaLEDGE
  33. 50WNBA player BueckersPAIGE
  34. 51Performer in a playACTOR
  35. 52Hajj destinationMECCA
  36. 53___ saltsEPSOM
  37. 55Lake named after an Indigenous peopleERIE
  38. 59VetoNIX
  39. 60Keg componentTAP
  40. 61___-coneSNO
  41. 62Hai, in EnglishYES

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Across

  1. 1. Like the deity Xipe Totec — Answer: AZTEC. Hint: This adjective describes the Mesoamerican culture associated with that deity. 🗿
  2. 6. Bubble bath stuff — Answer: SUDS. Hint: These frothy bubbles make bathwater fun. 🛁
  3. 10. Rankings above corporals (Abbr.) — Answer: SGTS. Hint: These military ranks outrank corporals. 🎖️
  4. 14. "Put me in, ___!" — Answer: COACH. Hint: A player might call this out from the bench. 🏀
  5. 15. Raindrop sound — Answer: PLOP. Hint: It is the soft sound of a drop hitting a surface. 🌧️
  6. 16. Voyage — Answer: TRIP. Hint: A journey from one place to another can be called this. 🧳
  7. 17. "Same here!" — Answer: SODOI. Hint: This playful reply means you feel the same way. 🙂
  8. 18. Skin condition — Answer: ACNE. Hint: This troublesome skin issue often shows up during teenage years! 😬
  9. 19. Italian meat-based sauce — Answer: RAGU. Hint: This savory sauce is often served over pasta. 🍝
  10. 20. Program designed to prevent "burn-in" — Answer: SCREENSAVER. Hint: It protects an idle monitor with moving images. 💻
  11. 23. Pittsburgh football player — Answer: STEELER. Hint: This athlete plays for the team known for black and gold. 🏈
  12. 26. Handy types — Answer: DIYERS. Hint: These people enjoy tackling home projects themselves. 🔨
  13. 27. Rice dish with saffron — Answer: PAELLA. Hint: This colorful Spanish dish often includes seafood or meat. 🥘
  14. 28. U-turn from NNW — Answer: SSE. Hint: Turn completely around from that compass direction to find this one. 🧭
  15. 29. Sicilian peak — Answer: ETNA. Hint: Think of a famous volcano that might give you a warm reception! 🌋
  16. 30. "Yeah, su-u-ure" — Answer: IBET. Hint: This response can express playful skepticism about a claim. 😏
  17. 33. "Everywhere you want to be" cards — Answer: VISAS. Hint: These cards can help you cross borders or pay for purchases. 🌍
  18. 38. Trash service — Answer: WASTEMANAGEMENT. Hint: A company with this name hauls away household refuse. 🗑️
  19. 41. Scornful look — Answer: SNEER. Hint: This facial expression conveys contempt without saying a word. 😏
  20. 42. An apple for Apple, e.g. — Answer: LOGO. Hint: It is a recognizable symbol representing a brand. 🍎
  21. 43. Bread often served with hummus — Answer: PITA. Hint: This round, pocketed flatbread is a classic dip companion. 🫓
  22. 44. It's "just a number" — Answer: AGE. Hint: It marks how many years someone has lived. 🎂
  23. 46. Warmup band — Answer: OPENER. Hint: This musical act performs before the headliner. 🎸
  24. 48. West Texas city — Answer: ELPASO. Hint: This border city sits across from Ciudad Juárez. 🌵
  25. 52. Made it to the Olympic podium — Answer: MEDALED. Hint: An athlete who finished among the top three achieved this. 🥇
  26. 54. Person who helps mediate disputes — Answer: PEACEKEEPER. Hint: This neutral go-between helps opposing sides reach calm. 🕊️
  27. 56. Toolbar heading — Answer: EDIT. Hint: This common menu label is for changing or modifying content. 🖊️
  28. 57. Pop-ups' paths — Answer: ARCS. Hint: These curved trajectories can describe the movement of bouncing pop-ups. 🌀
  29. 58. Restless — Answer: ANTSY. Hint: Someone feeling this may be unable to sit still. 🪑
  30. 63. Toaster waffle brand — Answer: EGGO. Hint: A familiar frozen breakfast brand makes toaster-ready waffles. 🧇
  31. 64. Puerto ___ — Answer: RICO. Hint: This Caribbean destination is famous for its rich culture and beautiful beaches! 🇵🇷
  32. 65. Photographer Arbus — Answer: DIANE. Hint: This photographer was known for striking portraits of people on society's margins. 📷
  33. 66. Crystal ball user — Answer: SEER. Hint: A fortune-teller who claims to glimpse the future fits this description. 🔮
  34. 67. ___ USA — Answer: TEAM. Hint: The blank completes a patriotic athletic slogan. 🇺🇸
  35. 68. Trade fairs — Answer: EXPOS. Hint: These large events let industries display products and make connections. 🏢

Down

  1. 1. Cooling systems, for short — Answer: ACS. Hint: These appliances keep rooms comfortable in hot weather. ❄️
  2. 2. Metaphor for a chaotic place — Answer: ZOO. Hint: A wildly disorderly scene might be compared to this animal-filled attraction. 🦁
  3. 3. Smidgen — Answer: TAD. Hint: A tiny amount, just enough to barely notice. 🤏
  4. 4. ___ mode (hybrid vehicle setting, often) — Answer: ECO. Hint: A fuel-saving setting helps your vehicle use less energy. 🌿
  5. 5. Wedge-shaped hand tool — Answer: CHISEL. Hint: This carving tool bites into wood or stone with a hammer’s help. 🪵
  6. 6. Result from picking up a 7-10 split — Answer: SPARE. Hint: In bowling, clearing all the pins on a second try earns this. 🎳
  7. 7. Stomach sore — Answer: ULCER. Hint: This painful lesion can form in the stomach lining. 🩺
  8. 8. Over — Answer: DONE. Hint: A task is this when no more work remains. ✅
  9. 9. Doesn't save — Answer: SPENDS. Hint: Someone who uses money rather than setting it aside does this. 💸
  10. 10. Wander off course — Answer: STRAY. Hint: To drift away from the path is to do this. 🧭
  11. 11. "Take This to Your ___" (Fall Out Boy album) — Answer: GRAVE. Hint: The album title suggests keeping something secret until burial. 🎵
  12. 12. Tony the ___ (Frosted Flakes mascot) — Answer: TIGER. Hint: This cereal mascot is known for being grrrreat. 🥣
  13. 13. Victor Wembanyama's 67-Across — Answer: SPURS. Hint: This young basketball star plays for San Antonio’s team. 🏀
  14. 21. Insurance filing — Answer: CLAIM. Hint: You submit this request when seeking payment for a covered loss. 📄
  15. 22. Kitchen tool with holes, or a metaphorical faulty memory — Answer: SIEVE. Hint: It strains food and can also describe something that lets details slip through. 🍝
  16. 23. The Devil — Answer: SATAN. Hint: This figure is the classic embodiment of evil. 😈
  17. 24. High-strung — Answer: TENSE. Hint: Feeling nervous and wound tight describes this mood. 😬
  18. 25. Fill with joy — Answer: ELATE. Hint: To make someone extremely happy is to do this. 😊
  19. 27. Church benches — Answer: PEWS. Hint: Worshippers sit on these long wooden seats. ⛪
  20. 28. Doe's mate — Answer: STAG. Hint: In the deer family, this male partners with a doe. 🦌
  21. 31. Unit of hay — Answer: BALE. Hint: Farmers bundle hay into one of these compact packages. 🌾
  22. 32. "Discreet Music" artist Brian — Answer: ENO. Hint: This British musician is known for ambient and experimental work. 🎹
  23. 34. Push into action — Answer: IMPEL. Hint: To drive someone or something forward is to do this. 🚀
  24. 35. River that served as a backdrop for the 2024 Olympics' opening ceremony — Answer: SEINE. Hint: Paris’s spectacular ceremony unfolded along this famous waterway. 🚤
  25. 36. Paid for some cards — Answer: ANTED. Hint: In poker, this is the money put in before the deal begins 🃏
  26. 37. One of an estimated 100-400 billion in the Milky Way — Answer: STAR. Hint: Our galaxy contains an astonishing number of these shining celestial objects ✨
  27. 39. Dry-___ marker — Answer: ERASE. Hint: This kind of marker leaves ink that can be wiped away 🖊️
  28. 40. "Imagine Me & You" star Matthew — Answer: GOODE. Hint: This British actor played a romantic lead in a film about an unexpected love triangle 🎬
  29. 45. Racing vehicle — Answer: GOKART. Hint: This small track vehicle is steered from a low seat 🏁
  30. 47. Pride Month celebration with floats — Answer: PARADE. Hint: Marchers, music, and colorful floats make this a festive procession 🏳️‍🌈
  31. 48. Many fencing blades — Answer: EPEES. Hint: These French-style fencing swords have broad, triangular blades 🤺
  32. 49. Climber's resting area — Answer: LEDGE. Hint: A narrow shelf of rock can offer a weary climber a pause 🧗
  33. 50. WNBA player Bueckers — Answer: PAIGE. Hint: Her first name is also a common word for a book leaf 📖
  34. 51. Performer in a play — Answer: ACTOR. Hint: This stage professional portrays a character before an audience 🎭
  35. 52. Hajj destination — Answer: MECCA. Hint: Muslim pilgrims travel to this holy city during the Hajj 🕋
  36. 53. ___ salts — Answer: EPSOM. Hint: These bath salts are often used to soothe sore muscles 🛁
  37. 55. Lake named after an Indigenous people — Answer: ERIE. Hint: This Great Lake honors the name of a historic Indigenous people 🌊
  38. 59. Veto — Answer: NIX. Hint: As a verb, this means to reject or cancel something 🚫
  39. 60. Keg component — Answer: TAP. Hint: This fixture lets a beverage flow from a keg 🍺
  40. 61. ___-cone — Answer: SNO. Hint: Complete this wintery word for a flavored frozen treat ❄️
  41. 62. Hai, in English — Answer: YES. Hint: This greeting translates to an affirmative response in English 🙂

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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
1Like the deity Xipe TotecAZTEC
6Bubble bath stuffSUDS
10Rankings above corporals (Abbr.)SGTS
14"Put me in, ___!"COACH
15Raindrop soundPLOP
16VoyageTRIP
17"Same here!"SODOI
18Skin conditionACNE
19Italian meat-based sauceRAGU
20Program designed to prevent "burn-in"SCREENSAVER
23Pittsburgh football playerSTEELER
26Handy typesDIYERS
27Rice dish with saffronPAELLA
28U-turn from NNWSSE
29Sicilian peakETNA
30"Yeah, su-u-ure"IBET
33"Everywhere you want to be" cardsVISAS
38Trash serviceWASTEMANAGEMENT
41Scornful lookSNEER
42An apple for Apple, e.g.LOGO
43Bread often served with hummusPITA
44It's "just a number"AGE
46Warmup bandOPENER
48West Texas cityELPASO
52Made it to the Olympic podiumMEDALED
54Person who helps mediate disputesPEACEKEEPER
56Toolbar headingEDIT
57Pop-ups' pathsARCS
58RestlessANTSY
63Toaster waffle brandEGGO
64Puerto ___RICO
65Photographer ArbusDIANE
66Crystal ball userSEER
67___ USATEAM
68Trade fairsEXPOS

Down

#ClueAnswer
1Cooling systems, for shortACS
2Metaphor for a chaotic placeZOO
3SmidgenTAD
4___ mode (hybrid vehicle setting, often)ECO
5Wedge-shaped hand toolCHISEL
6Result from picking up a 7-10 splitSPARE
7Stomach soreULCER
8OverDONE
9Doesn't saveSPENDS
10Wander off courseSTRAY
11"Take This to Your ___" (Fall Out Boy album)GRAVE
12Tony the ___ (Frosted Flakes mascot)TIGER
13Victor Wembanyama's 67-AcrossSPURS
21Insurance filingCLAIM
22Kitchen tool with holes, or a metaphorical faulty memorySIEVE
23The DevilSATAN
24High-strungTENSE
25Fill with joyELATE
27Church benchesPEWS
28Doe's mateSTAG
31Unit of hayBALE
32"Discreet Music" artist BrianENO
34Push into actionIMPEL
35River that served as a backdrop for the 2024 Olympics' opening ceremonySEINE
36Paid for some cardsANTED
37One of an estimated 100-400 billion in the Milky WaySTAR
39Dry-___ markerERASE
40"Imagine Me & You" star MatthewGOODE
45Racing vehicleGOKART
47Pride Month celebration with floatsPARADE
48Many fencing bladesEPEES
49Climber's resting areaLEDGE
50WNBA player BueckersPAIGE
51Performer in a playACTOR
52Hajj destinationMECCA
53___ saltsEPSOM
55Lake named after an Indigenous peopleERIE
59VetoNIX
60Keg componentTAP
61___-coneSNO
62Hai, in EnglishYES

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CostFreeNYT paid; LA Times free
EditorErik AgardWill Shortz / Patti Varol

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