USA Today Crossword Answers Today

There Are Two Sides to Every Story

By Max Schlenker · Edited by Amanda Rafkin

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Across

  1. 1Mario Kart character with a mushroomlike headTOAD
  2. 5___ Evolution (powerful Pokemon form)MEGA
  3. 9ScorchesSEARS
  4. 14Just chillin'IDLE
  5. 15Leap for Alysa LiuAXEL
  6. 16Measurement of gold purityKARAT
  7. 17Easy to understandSELFEXPLANATORY
  8. 20Payment to the IRSTAX
  9. 21Other, in SpanishOTRA
  10. 22"Gotcha"ISEE
  11. 23"Let me fix myself up before guests arrive"IMAMESS
  12. 26Good ones are considered politeMANNERS
  13. 28Very seriousSOLEMN
  14. 29___ Coladice (board game)PINA
  15. 30"Fine by me!"AOK
  16. 31Like Druidry and WiccaPAGAN
  17. 33Video segmentsCLIPS
  18. 38Particle physics conceptSTRINGTHEORY
  19. 40Prefix for "present" and "vore"OMNI
  20. 43She liked a bad appleEVE
  21. 44Like a bad appleROTTEN
  22. 45Weaving devicesLOOMS
  23. 47Fashion designer SaabELIE
  24. 49Alcohol made from riceSAKE
  25. 50Silent ___ (parties with headphone-wearing dancers)DISCOS
  26. 52___ car smellNEW
  27. 54Forest or coral reefHABITAT
  28. 57Hajj religionISLAM
  29. 62Where you might keep snowboards and winter coats in JulySTORAGEFACILITY
  30. 65VulgarLEWD
  31. 66DEA investigatorNARCO
  32. 67ElideOMIT
  33. 68Mama in the Mamas & the PapasCASS
  34. 69Machines in casinosSLOTS
  35. 70Aesthetic with black clothingGOTH

Down

  1. 1"Quite so"TIS
  2. 2Poem of celebrationODE
  3. 3Lacking follow-throughALLTALK
  4. 4SlanderDEFAME
  5. 5At mostMAX
  6. 6Convention center gatheringsEXPOS
  7. 7Hanukkah coinsGELT
  8. 8Causing worryALARMING
  9. 9Precursor to reggaeSKA
  10. 10Make dinner at homeEATIN
  11. 11Came to lightAROSE
  12. 12Less commonRARER
  13. 13They're real eye soresSTYES
  14. 18Off the hookEXEMPT
  15. 19Bread often served with saag paneerNAAN
  16. 23"The Pitt" actress BrionesISA
  17. 24"Greetings, fellow cow"MOO
  18. 25Drum set essentialSNARE
  19. 27Cheese-topped chipNACHO
  20. 29Comic Con eventPANEL
  21. 32"___ it your best shot!"GIVE
  22. 34"I say we go for it!"LETS
  23. 35CrumbIOTA
  24. 36Class that might have circle timePREK
  25. 37"Auld Lang ___"SYNE
  26. 38Smartphone insertsSIMCARDS
  27. 39It may grow up and branch out?TREE
  28. 40AntiquatedOLD
  29. 41"You're accusing me?!"MOI
  30. 42AbsenteesNOSHOWS
  31. 46Japanese noodle often served coldSOBA
  32. 48WholeINTACT
  33. 51OmensSIGNS
  34. 53Successor to the GameCubeWII
  35. 55Color in peacock feathersTEAL
  36. 56Hairstyle for Angela DavisAFRO
  37. 58ToilSLOG
  38. 59Luxurious prom rentalLIMO
  39. 60Butting headsATIT
  40. 61"We only use 10% of our brains," e.g.MYTH
  41. 62Utah's capital (Abbr.)SLC
  42. 63Coffee alternative that's actually more likely to stain teethTEA
  43. 64Trig ratioCOS

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Across

  1. 1. Mario Kart character with a mushroomlike head — Answer: TOAD. Hint: Look for the cheerful racer whose name is also a common amphibian 🏁
  2. 5. ___ Evolution (powerful Pokemon form) — Answer: MEGA. Hint: This prefix signals a powerful, oversized upgrade 💥
  3. 9. Scorches — Answer: SEARS. Hint: A blazing heat source does this to whatever it touches 🔥
  4. 14. Just chillin' — Answer: IDLE. Hint: This describes someone resting without taking action 😎
  5. 15. Leap for Alysa Liu — Answer: AXEL. Hint: This famous skating jump launches forward and adds a half rotation ⛸️
  6. 16. Measurement of gold purity — Answer: KARAT. Hint: Jewelers use this unit to state how much of an item is pure gold 💍
  7. 17. Easy to understand — Answer: SELFEXPLANATORY. Hint: No explanation is needed because its meaning is clear on its own 💡
  8. 20. Payment to the IRS — Answer: TAX. Hint: It’s the government-bound payment that can shrink a paycheck 💸
  9. 21. Other, in Spanish — Answer: OTRA. Hint: Think of a word that means 'another' in a language that's often spoken in sunny places! ☀️
  10. 22. "Gotcha" — Answer: ISEE. Hint: This brief reply shows that you understand. 👀
  11. 23. "Let me fix myself up before guests arrive" — Answer: IMAMESS. Hint: A disheveled host might confess this before tidying up for company 🧹
  12. 26. Good ones are considered polite — Answer: MANNERS. Hint: These courteous habits help show respect to others 🤝
  13. 28. Very serious — Answer: SOLEMN. Hint: A grave mood or ceremony can be described this way 🎭
  14. 29. ___ Coladice (board game) — Answer: PINA. Hint: Its missing word is Spanish for a familiar tropical fruit 🍍
  15. 30. "Fine by me!" — Answer: AOK. Hint: It’s a cheerful way to say you’re completely agreeable 👍
  16. 31. Like Druidry and Wicca — Answer: PAGAN. Hint: These belief systems are associated with pre-Christian or nature-centered traditions 🌿
  17. 33. Video segments — Answer: CLIPS. Hint: Short portions of a recording are often shared online as these 🎞️
  18. 38. Particle physics concept — Answer: STRINGTHEORY. Hint: One hypothesis pictures fundamental particles as tiny vibrating strands 🧵
  19. 40. Prefix for "present" and "vore" — Answer: OMNI. Hint: This prefix conveys the idea of all or everywhere 🌐
  20. 43. She liked a bad apple — Answer: EVE. Hint: According to Genesis, she shared the forbidden fruit with Adam 🍎
  21. 44. Like a bad apple — Answer: ROTTEN. Hint: Past its prime and no longer good to eat 🍎
  22. 45. Weaving devices — Answer: LOOMS. Hint: Frames that interlace threads into fabric 🧵
  23. 47. Fashion designer Saab — Answer: ELIE. Hint: A celebrated Lebanese couturier with elegant red-carpet gowns ✨
  24. 49. Alcohol made from rice — Answer: SAKE. Hint: A Japanese rice-based drink 🍶
  25. 50. Silent ___ (parties with headphone-wearing dancers) — Answer: DISCOS. Hint: Dance events where everyone hears music through headphones 🎧
  26. 52. ___ car smell — Answer: NEW. Hint: That fresh-from-the-dealer aroma 🚗
  27. 54. Forest or coral reef — Answer: HABITAT. Hint: A natural home for plants and animals 🌿
  28. 57. Hajj religion — Answer: ISLAM. Hint: The faith practiced by pilgrims visiting Mecca 🕋
  29. 62. Where you might keep snowboards and winter coats in July — Answer: STORAGEFACILITY. Hint: A rented place for belongings you do not currently need 📦
  30. 65. Vulgar — Answer: LEWD. Hint: Crude or offensively indecent 😬
  31. 66. DEA investigator — Answer: NARCO. Hint: A federal agent who pursues illegal drug activity 🕵️
  32. 67. Elide — Answer: OMIT. Hint: To leave something out ✂️
  33. 68. Mama in the Mamas & the Papas — Answer: CASS. Hint: The singer who lent her first name to the group’s maternal nickname 🎤
  34. 69. Machines in casinos — Answer: SLOTS. Hint: Gambling devices with spinning symbols 🎰
  35. 70. Aesthetic with black clothing — Answer: GOTH. Hint: A dark, dramatic style often paired with heavy eyeliner 🖤

Down

  1. 1. "Quite so" — Answer: TIS. Hint: A quaint way to strongly agree 👍
  2. 2. Poem of celebration — Answer: ODE. Hint: A lyrical tribute written in praise 🎶
  3. 3. Lacking follow-through — Answer: ALLTALK. Hint: Big promises without matching action 🗣️
  4. 4. Slander — Answer: DEFAME. Hint: When someone tarnishes your reputation with false words, they might be trying to do this to you! 🗣️
  5. 5. At most — Answer: MAX. Hint: The greatest possible amount 📈
  6. 6. Convention center gatherings — Answer: EXPOS. Hint: Large public events featuring displays and exhibitors 🏢
  7. 7. Hanukkah coins — Answer: GELT. Hint: Traditional holiday money, often made of chocolate 🪙
  8. 8. Causing worry — Answer: ALARMING. Hint: Something that raises your anxiety can be described this way. 😟
  9. 9. Precursor to reggae — Answer: SKA. Hint: This upbeat Jamaican style paved the way for reggae. 🎶
  10. 10. Make dinner at home — Answer: EATIN. Hint: Choose a casual two-word phrase for dining in rather than going out. 🍽️
  11. 11. Came to light — Answer: AROSE. Hint: Use a verb meaning appeared or became known. 💡
  12. 12. Less common — Answer: RARER. Hint: This comparative describes something more unusual than another. 🔍
  13. 13. They're real eye sores — Answer: STYES. Hint: These tender eyelid bumps can be quite irritating. 👁️
  14. 18. Off the hook — Answer: EXEMPT. Hint: Someone free from a rule or obligation fits this description. 🪝
  15. 19. Bread often served with saag paneer — Answer: NAAN. Hint: This soft, pillowy Indian flatbread is perfect for scooping up curry. 🫓
  16. 23. "The Pitt" actress Briones — Answer: ISA. Hint: Her first name is a short, classic name. 🎬
  17. 24. "Greetings, fellow cow" — Answer: MOO. Hint: Imagine a bovine saying hello in its signature farmyard voice. 🐄
  18. 25. Drum set essential — Answer: SNARE. Hint: A drummer needs this crisp, rattling part of the kit. 🥁
  19. 27. Cheese-topped chip — Answer: NACHO. Hint: This crunchy snack is often loaded with melted cheese. 🧀
  20. 29. Comic Con event — Answer: PANEL. Hint: At a convention, guests gather for one of these discussions. 🎤
  21. 32. "___ it your best shot!" — Answer: GIVE. Hint: The missing verb encourages someone to try their hardest. 💪
  22. 34. "I say we go for it!" — Answer: LETS. Hint: This phrase enthusiastically suggests moving forward. 🚀
  23. 35. Crumb — Answer: IOTA. Hint: Think of the tiniest possible amount. 🤏
  24. 36. Class that might have circle time — Answer: PREK. Hint: This early-learning classroom comes before kindergarten. 🧸
  25. 37. "Auld Lang ___" — Answer: SYNE. Hint: This word completes the familiar New Year’s song about remembering old times. 🎶
  26. 38. Smartphone inserts — Answer: SIMCARDS. Hint: These tiny subscriber cards connect phones to mobile networks. 📱
  27. 39. It may grow up and branch out? — Answer: TREE. Hint: Picture a woody plant developing from a sapling into something larger. 🌳
  28. 40. Antiquated — Answer: OLD. Hint: Something from a bygone era can be described this way. 🕰️
  29. 41. "You're accusing me?!" — Answer: MOI. Hint: A French speaker might use this emphatic word for “me.” 🇫🇷
  30. 42. Absentees — Answer: NOSHOWS. Hint: These are people who fail to appear for an appointment or event. 👻
  31. 46. Japanese noodle often served cold — Answer: SOBA. Hint: This buckwheat noodle is delicious with a chilled dipping sauce. 🍜
  32. 48. Whole — Answer: INTACT. Hint: Something undamaged and complete remains this way. ✅
  33. 51. Omens — Answer: SIGNS. Hint: Fortune-teller clues or warnings can be called these. 🔮
  34. 53. Successor to the GameCube — Answer: WII. Hint: This Nintendo console became famous for its motion-sensitive controllers. 🎮
  35. 55. Color in peacock feathers — Answer: TEAL. Hint: Picture the rich blue-green shade found among those shimmering feathers. 🦚
  36. 56. Hairstyle for Angela Davis — Answer: AFRO. Hint: Think of her iconic large, rounded natural hairstyle. 💇🏾‍♀️
  37. 58. Toil — Answer: SLOG. Hint: To work through something difficult and tiring is to do this. 💪
  38. 59. Luxurious prom rental — Answer: LIMO. Hint: A glamorous stretch vehicle might whisk students to the dance. 🚘
  39. 60. Butting heads — Answer: ATIT. Hint: People in a heated disagreement may be doing this. 🤼
  40. 61. "We only use 10% of our brains," e.g. — Answer: MYTH. Hint: A popular claim with no solid basis belongs in this category. 🤔
  41. 62. Utah's capital (Abbr.) — Answer: SLC. Hint: Use the standard three-letter abbreviation for Utah’s capital city. 🏙️
  42. 63. Coffee alternative that's actually more likely to stain teeth — Answer: TEA. Hint: This popular hot drink can leave a surprisingly stubborn smile stain. ☕
  43. 64. Trig ratio — Answer: COS. Hint: In a right triangle, this ratio uses the adjacent side and the hypotenuse. 📐

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 31, 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
1Mario Kart character with a mushroomlike headTOAD
5___ Evolution (powerful Pokemon form)MEGA
9ScorchesSEARS
14Just chillin'IDLE
15Leap for Alysa LiuAXEL
16Measurement of gold purityKARAT
17Easy to understandSELFEXPLANATORY
20Payment to the IRSTAX
21Other, in SpanishOTRA
22"Gotcha"ISEE
23"Let me fix myself up before guests arrive"IMAMESS
26Good ones are considered politeMANNERS
28Very seriousSOLEMN
29___ Coladice (board game)PINA
30"Fine by me!"AOK
31Like Druidry and WiccaPAGAN
33Video segmentsCLIPS
38Particle physics conceptSTRINGTHEORY
40Prefix for "present" and "vore"OMNI
43She liked a bad appleEVE
44Like a bad appleROTTEN
45Weaving devicesLOOMS
47Fashion designer SaabELIE
49Alcohol made from riceSAKE
50Silent ___ (parties with headphone-wearing dancers)DISCOS
52___ car smellNEW
54Forest or coral reefHABITAT
57Hajj religionISLAM
62Where you might keep snowboards and winter coats in JulySTORAGEFACILITY
65VulgarLEWD
66DEA investigatorNARCO
67ElideOMIT
68Mama in the Mamas & the PapasCASS
69Machines in casinosSLOTS
70Aesthetic with black clothingGOTH

Down

#ClueAnswer
1"Quite so"TIS
2Poem of celebrationODE
3Lacking follow-throughALLTALK
4SlanderDEFAME
5At mostMAX
6Convention center gatheringsEXPOS
7Hanukkah coinsGELT
8Causing worryALARMING
9Precursor to reggaeSKA
10Make dinner at homeEATIN
11Came to lightAROSE
12Less commonRARER
13They're real eye soresSTYES
18Off the hookEXEMPT
19Bread often served with saag paneerNAAN
23"The Pitt" actress BrionesISA
24"Greetings, fellow cow"MOO
25Drum set essentialSNARE
27Cheese-topped chipNACHO
29Comic Con eventPANEL
32"___ it your best shot!"GIVE
34"I say we go for it!"LETS
35CrumbIOTA
36Class that might have circle timePREK
37"Auld Lang ___"SYNE
38Smartphone insertsSIMCARDS
39It may grow up and branch out?TREE
40AntiquatedOLD
41"You're accusing me?!"MOI
42AbsenteesNOSHOWS
46Japanese noodle often served coldSOBA
48WholeINTACT
51OmensSIGNS
53Successor to the GameCubeWII
55Color in peacock feathersTEAL
56Hairstyle for Angela DavisAFRO
58ToilSLOG
59Luxurious prom rentalLIMO
60Butting headsATIT
61"We only use 10% of our brains," e.g.MYTH
62Utah's capital (Abbr.)SLC
63Coffee alternative that's actually more likely to stain teethTEA
64Trig ratioCOS

Today's USA Today Crossword answers

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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.

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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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  • Use the solver for one answer. Our crossword solver reveals a single clue's answer from your known letters, without spoiling the rest.

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Frequently asked questions

What are today's USA Today Crossword answers?

The full Across and Down solution for today's puzzle (August 31, 2026) is listed at the top of this page, updated as soon as it's released.

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