USA Today Crossword Answers Today

Bury the Lede

By Ron Ammirante · Edited by Amie Walker

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Across

  1. 1Big name in luxury perfumesDIOR
  2. 5"Hey, you!"PSST
  3. 9Woodwind instrument featured in "Kiss From a Rose"OBOE
  4. 13Snowballs or water balloonsAMMO
  5. 14Vanish into the ___ETHER
  6. 16Radiologist's imageXRAY
  7. 17Palindromic address with an apostropheMAAM
  8. 18"Mystical Magical" singer BensonBOONE
  9. 19Olden timesYORE
  10. 20Offerings at many hotel breakfast buffetsSCRAMBLEDEGGS
  11. 23World Cup criesOLES
  12. 24FibLIE
  13. 25SlenderSVELTE
  14. 29Left and right turn indicators, e.g.SIGNALS
  15. 33Home for an eagleAERIE
  16. 34"Big Mistakes" character played by Mark IvanirIVAN
  17. 36___ chiTAI
  18. 37Charred vegetable often paired with tahiniGRILLEDEGGPLANT
  19. 41Key next to F1ESC
  20. 42"Lovely ___" (Beatles song)RITA
  21. 43Size above mediumLARGE
  22. 44Scallops, shrimp, etc.SEAFOOD
  23. 47Adorable onesCUTIES
  24. 48Surgeons' workplaces, for shortORS
  25. 49Period in officeTERM
  26. 51Money put into a bank account via smartphoneMOBILEDEPOSIT
  27. 57Radio knobDIAL
  28. 59Great Plains nationOSAGE
  29. 60General feelingVIBE
  30. 61Move like a sci-fi blobOOZE
  31. 62IdentifiedNAMED
  32. 63Limbs on cactiARMS
  33. 64Fed a line toCUED
  34. 65Coin ___TOSS
  35. 66"It's on my to-do ___" ("I haven't forgotten about that")LIST

Down

  1. 1Beavers' creationsDAMS
  2. 2Computer whose original model featured a translucent blue exteriorIMAC
  3. 3Representative IlhanOMAR
  4. 4Italy's capital, in ItalianROMA
  5. 5Tiny rockPEBBLE
  6. 6Took without permissionSTOLE
  7. 7Loafers and sneakersSHOES
  8. 8___ to (take care of)TEND
  9. 9Element in waterOXYGEN
  10. 10DudesBROS
  11. 11Rower's toolOAR
  12. 12"___ of the Tiger"EYE
  13. 15UnsteadyREELING
  14. 21Place to stayMOTEL
  15. 22___ economyGIG
  16. 25Wise peopleSAGES
  17. 26Part of a poemVERSE
  18. 27"Fear of Flying" author JongERICA
  19. 28Rapper ___ KimLIL
  20. 29Super-long storySAGA
  21. 30Asteroids game developerATARI
  22. 31"Tootsie" Oscar winner JessicaLANGE
  23. 32Web locationsSITES
  24. 34"___ it my way"IDID
  25. 35Doc that gives pet scans?VET
  26. 38Process of wearing awayEROSION
  27. 39Fluff, like pillowsPLUMP
  28. 40Back muscle, for shortLAT
  29. 45"Ha, I ___ you!" ("Gotcha!")FOOLED
  30. 46Spherical objectORB
  31. 47DoctrinesCREEDS
  32. 49"I love you," in SpanishTEAMO
  33. 50Outer boundariesEDGES
  34. 51Puzzle with an exitMAZE
  35. 52Future atty.'s examLSAT
  36. 53Shape of some nailsOVAL
  37. 54Apple assistantSIRI
  38. 55Certain PCsIBMS
  39. 56Midterm or finalTEST
  40. 57Physician, for shortDOC
  41. 58Promise of paymentIOU

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Across

  1. 1. Big name in luxury perfumes — Answer: DIOR. Hint: This French fashion house is also a famed fragrance label. 🌹
  2. 5. "Hey, you!" — Answer: PSST. Hint: A whispered call can be used to catch someone’s attention. 🤫
  3. 9. Woodwind instrument featured in "Kiss From a Rose" — Answer: OBOE. Hint: This double-reed instrument has a distinctive, reedy sound. 🎶
  4. 13. Snowballs or water balloons — Answer: AMMO. Hint: In a playful battle, these become the projectiles. 🎯
  5. 14. Vanish into the ___ — Answer: ETHER. Hint: The phrase suggests disappearing into a formless, otherworldly expanse. 🌌
  6. 16. Radiologist's image — Answer: XRAY. Hint: A doctor may study this penetrating diagnostic image. 🩻
  7. 17. Palindromic address with an apostrophe — Answer: MAAM. Hint: This courteous form of address looks identical backward and forward. 🔄
  8. 18. "Mystical Magical" singer Benson — Answer: BOONE. Hint: He shares a surname with a famous frontier folk hero. 🎤
  9. 19. Olden times — Answer: YORE. Hint: A storybook way to refer to long-ago days. 🏰
  10. 20. Offerings at many hotel breakfast buffets — Answer: SCRAMBLEDEGGS. Hint: This buffet staple is made by gently stirring beaten eggs as they cook. 🍳
  11. 23. World Cup cries — Answer: OLES. Hint: Soccer supporters may shout this Spanish celebration after a great play. ⚽
  12. 24. Fib — Answer: LIE. Hint: Sometimes it's just a little white one to avoid hurting feelings! 🤫
  13. 25. Slender — Answer: SVELTE. Hint: Describes someone trim, graceful, and fashionably thin ✨
  14. 29. Left and right turn indicators, e.g. — Answer: SIGNALS. Hint: These dashboard controls tell other drivers which way you plan to turn. 🚗
  15. 33. Home for an eagle — Answer: AERIE. Hint: An eagle’s nest is often perched high above the ground. 🦅
  16. 34. "Big Mistakes" character played by Mark Ivanir — Answer: IVAN. Hint: In the film, this character shares a first name with the actor who portrays him. 🎬
  17. 36. ___ chi — Answer: TAI. Hint: Complete this martial-arts phrase with the word before “chi” 🥋
  18. 37. Charred vegetable often paired with tahini — Answer: GRILLEDEGGPLANT. Hint: This smoky vegetable is often blended into baba ghanoush 🍆
  19. 41. Key next to F1 — Answer: ESC. Hint: On a keyboard, this key backs you out of a menu or cancels an action ⌨️
  20. 42. "Lovely ___" (Beatles song) — Answer: RITA. Hint: The Beatles sang about this woman’s lovely qualities in a famous song 🎵
  21. 43. Size above medium — Answer: LARGE. Hint: On a clothing rack, choose this size when medium feels too snug 👕
  22. 44. Scallops, shrimp, etc. — Answer: SEAFOOD. Hint: These ocean delicacies often appear together on a restaurant platter 🦐
  23. 47. Adorable ones — Answer: CUTIES. Hint: A sweet nickname for an especially charming group 😊
  24. 48. Surgeons' workplaces, for short — Answer: ORS. Hint: These hospital rooms are where operations take place, abbreviated 🏥
  25. 49. Period in office — Answer: TERM. Hint: An elected official serves one of these before facing reelection 🏛️
  26. 51. Money put into a bank account via smartphone — Answer: MOBILEDEPOSIT. Hint: This app-based banking feature lets you deposit a paper check without visiting a branch 📱
  27. 57. Radio knob — Answer: DIAL. Hint: Turn this control to tune across stations 📻
  28. 59. Great Plains nation — Answer: OSAGE. Hint: This Indigenous nation has historic ties to the Great Plains 🪶
  29. 60. General feeling — Answer: VIBE. Hint: The overall atmosphere or impression of a place can be called this ✨
  30. 61. Move like a sci-fi blob — Answer: OOZE. Hint: A gelatinous alien might travel by slowly spreading across the floor 👽
  31. 62. Identified — Answer: NAMED. Hint: Once recognized and labeled, something has been this 🔎
  32. 63. Limbs on cacti — Answer: ARMS. Hint: These branching appendages give a saguaro its distinctive silhouette 🌵
  33. 64. Fed a line to — Answer: CUED. Hint: In a performance, an actor may be given a prompt just before speaking 🎭
  34. 65. Coin ___ — Answer: TOSS. Hint: For a simple decision, let a spinning coin choose between two options 🪙
  35. 66. "It's on my to-do ___" ("I haven't forgotten about that") — Answer: LIST. Hint: The missing word is where unfinished tasks are recorded 📝

Down

  1. 1. Beavers' creations — Answer: DAMS. Hint: Beavers build these wooden barriers across streams 🦫
  2. 2. Computer whose original model featured a translucent blue exterior — Answer: IMAC. Hint: Think of Apple’s colorful all-in-one desktop from the late 1990s 🖥️
  3. 3. Representative Ilhan — Answer: OMAR. Hint: This Minnesota congresswoman is known for her outspoken progressive voice 🏛️
  4. 4. Italy's capital, in Italian — Answer: ROMA. Hint: Use the Italian name for the Eternal City 🏛️
  5. 5. Tiny rock — Answer: PEBBLE. Hint: Think of a small, smooth stone found along a shore 🪨
  6. 6. Took without permission — Answer: STOLE. Hint: This past-tense verb means took something unlawfully 🕵️
  7. 7. Loafers and sneakers — Answer: SHOES. Hint: Loafers and sneakers are both examples of this everyday footwear 👟
  8. 8. ___ to (take care of) — Answer: TEND. Hint: Complete the phrase meaning to care for or look after someone 🤝
  9. 9. Element in water — Answer: OXYGEN. Hint: It makes up part of H₂O and supports breathing 💧
  10. 10. Dudes — Answer: BROS. Hint: Think of your close male friends who always have your back! 🤜🤛
  11. 11. Rower's tool — Answer: OAR. Hint: A boat-rowing implement with a broad blade gets you moving 🚣
  12. 12. "___ of the Tiger" — Answer: EYE. Hint: A classic rock anthem says this is “of the Tiger” 🎵
  13. 15. Unsteady — Answer: REELING. Hint: Describe something wobbling or lacking balance 🌊
  14. 21. Place to stay — Answer: MOTEL. Hint: Look for this roadside lodging when traveling by car 🚗
  15. 22. ___ economy — Answer: GIG. Hint: This labor market relies on short-term freelance jobs 💼
  16. 25. Wise people — Answer: SAGES. Hint: These respected thinkers are known for their wisdom 🦉
  17. 26. Part of a poem — Answer: VERSE. Hint: A poem’s lines may form this structural unit ✍️
  18. 27. "Fear of Flying" author Jong — Answer: ERICA. Hint: She wrote the provocative novel about a married woman’s aviation fears 📚
  19. 28. Rapper ___ Kim — Answer: LIL. Hint: This rapper’s stage name pairs a youthful nickname with Kim 🎤
  20. 29. Super-long story — Answer: SAGA. Hint: Think of an epic, sweeping narrative spanning many events 📖
  21. 30. Asteroids game developer — Answer: ATARI. Hint: This classic gaming company created the arcade hit Asteroids 🕹️
  22. 31. "Tootsie" Oscar winner Jessica — Answer: LANGE. Hint: This actress won an Oscar for her role in Tootsie 🎬
  23. 32. Web locations — Answer: SITES. Hint: These are the online destinations you visit through a browser 🌐
  24. 34. "___ it my way" — Answer: IDID. Hint: Complete the phrase with a concise claim that you handled things personally. 🙋
  25. 35. Doc that gives pet scans? — Answer: VET. Hint: Think of the animal-care professional who might examine a furry patient. 🐾
  26. 38. Process of wearing away — Answer: EROSION. Hint: Picture land or rock gradually being worn down by nature. 🌧️
  27. 39. Fluff, like pillows — Answer: PLUMP. Hint: Choose the verb meaning to make something fuller and puffier. 🛏️
  28. 40. Back muscle, for short — Answer: LAT. Hint: This muscle helps you pull things down and is often called the wings of your back! 🦇
  29. 45. "Ha, I ___ you!" ("Gotcha!") — Answer: FOOLED. Hint: This playful confession admits that someone was tricked. 😄
  30. 46. Spherical object — Answer: ORB. Hint: Think of a perfectly round object, like a tiny planet. 🌐
  31. 47. Doctrines — Answer: CREEDS. Hint: These are sets of beliefs or guiding principles. 📜
  32. 49. "I love you," in Spanish — Answer: TEAMO. Hint: Translate this familiar Spanish expression of affection. ❤️
  33. 50. Outer boundaries — Answer: EDGES. Hint: Think of the lines that mark where something stops and the outside begins. 🧭
  34. 51. Puzzle with an exit — Answer: MAZE. Hint: Find the winding challenge that tests your ability to get out. 🧩
  35. 52. Future atty.'s exam — Answer: LSAT. Hint: This test is a must for those aiming to attend law school! 📚
  36. 53. Shape of some nails — Answer: OVAL. Hint: Picture a rounded shape that is longer than it is wide. 💅
  37. 54. Apple assistant — Answer: SIRI. Hint: This digital helper might just answer your questions with a friendly tone! 🍏
  38. 55. Certain PCs — Answer: IBMS. Hint: Think of personal computers made by a well-known three-letter technology company. 💻
  39. 56. Midterm or final — Answer: TEST. Hint: This is an academic assessment given during or at the end of a course. 📝
  40. 57. Physician, for short — Answer: DOC. Hint: Use the familiar abbreviation for a medical doctor. 🩺
  41. 58. Promise of payment — Answer: IOU. Hint: Think of an informal written acknowledgment that money is owed. 💵

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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
1Big name in luxury perfumesDIOR
5"Hey, you!"PSST
9Woodwind instrument featured in "Kiss From a Rose"OBOE
13Snowballs or water balloonsAMMO
14Vanish into the ___ETHER
16Radiologist's imageXRAY
17Palindromic address with an apostropheMAAM
18"Mystical Magical" singer BensonBOONE
19Olden timesYORE
20Offerings at many hotel breakfast buffetsSCRAMBLEDEGGS
23World Cup criesOLES
24FibLIE
25SlenderSVELTE
29Left and right turn indicators, e.g.SIGNALS
33Home for an eagleAERIE
34"Big Mistakes" character played by Mark IvanirIVAN
36___ chiTAI
37Charred vegetable often paired with tahiniGRILLEDEGGPLANT
41Key next to F1ESC
42"Lovely ___" (Beatles song)RITA
43Size above mediumLARGE
44Scallops, shrimp, etc.SEAFOOD
47Adorable onesCUTIES
48Surgeons' workplaces, for shortORS
49Period in officeTERM
51Money put into a bank account via smartphoneMOBILEDEPOSIT
57Radio knobDIAL
59Great Plains nationOSAGE
60General feelingVIBE
61Move like a sci-fi blobOOZE
62IdentifiedNAMED
63Limbs on cactiARMS
64Fed a line toCUED
65Coin ___TOSS
66"It's on my to-do ___" ("I haven't forgotten about that")LIST

Down

#ClueAnswer
1Beavers' creationsDAMS
2Computer whose original model featured a translucent blue exteriorIMAC
3Representative IlhanOMAR
4Italy's capital, in ItalianROMA
5Tiny rockPEBBLE
6Took without permissionSTOLE
7Loafers and sneakersSHOES
8___ to (take care of)TEND
9Element in waterOXYGEN
10DudesBROS
11Rower's toolOAR
12"___ of the Tiger"EYE
15UnsteadyREELING
21Place to stayMOTEL
22___ economyGIG
25Wise peopleSAGES
26Part of a poemVERSE
27"Fear of Flying" author JongERICA
28Rapper ___ KimLIL
29Super-long storySAGA
30Asteroids game developerATARI
31"Tootsie" Oscar winner JessicaLANGE
32Web locationsSITES
34"___ it my way"IDID
35Doc that gives pet scans?VET
38Process of wearing awayEROSION
39Fluff, like pillowsPLUMP
40Back muscle, for shortLAT
45"Ha, I ___ you!" ("Gotcha!")FOOLED
46Spherical objectORB
47DoctrinesCREEDS
49"I love you," in SpanishTEAMO
50Outer boundariesEDGES
51Puzzle with an exitMAZE
52Future atty.'s examLSAT
53Shape of some nailsOVAL
54Apple assistantSIRI
55Certain PCsIBMS
56Midterm or finalTEST
57Physician, for shortDOC
58Promise of paymentIOU

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