Tlc
By Matthew Luter
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USA Today Crossword Clues
Across
- 1Opposite of dusk
- 5Cotton-tipped tool
- 9Throws for a loop
- 14Soothing succulent
- 15Fruit that might be poached
- 16Orange ___ tea
- 17Photography gear that can show a flower growing in seconds
- 20Prez on the penny
- 21D.C. summer hours
- 22Distort
- 23App with Reels, for short
- 25Bay Area university city
- 29Curious toddler's question
- 30Warring Olympian
- 31Animal such as a bonobo
- 32Solo that ends on a high note?
- 34"___ what ___ . . ."
- 35Part of a plan
- 36Dessert that's soaked in a trio of dairy products
- 39There are two in "Company"
- 40Loch with a cryptid
- 41Tints
- 42___ capita
- 43Chess or Go
- 44"Let there be light" speaker
- 45Unassertive type, metaphorically
- 47Come up
- 50Quick look
- 51"Rhythm ___ Dancer" ('90s hit)
- 52Actress Longoria
- 54Shamrock
- 59___ pan (circular baking tool with a hole)
- 60Civil rights icon Parks
- 61Fender bender result
- 62Pile up
- 63Low-quality AI-generated material
- 64Laryngitis docs
Down
- 1Statistical info
- 2"I was at a crossword tournament when it happened!," e.g.
- 3"20th Century ___" (Mike Mills film)
- 4Word before a birth name
- 5Self-care outing
- 6Shed tears
- 7Versatile batteries
- 8Where pilsners are made
- 9L.A.'s WNBA team
- 10Sun Devils' city
- 11Luau instrument, for short
- 12Negative conjunction
- 13Poseidon's realm
- 18"___ Weapon" (action movie franchise)
- 19Stroke gently
- 24Holey cheese
- 25Gift including body wash, a loofah, lotion, etc.
- 26Fried Hanukkah treat
- 27Some swords
- 28"You bet!"
- 32Flew in a curved path
- 33Like chiptune music
- 34Some freezer fixtures
- 35___ Arabia
- 36Noisy dance style
- 37Hardest substance in the human body
- 38Composed for a group of singers
- 43Welcomes
- 44It gets tightened after filling up
- 46Hot takes in newspapers
- 48"___ Nation Army"
- 49Caterer's gig
- 51"Should that happen . . ."
- 53The "A" of MFA
- 54"Details to come" letters
- 55Use a kazoo, say
- 56Modern vaccine molecule
- 57Early ISP
- 58Poetic tribute
Crossword clues, hints, and answers
Across
- 1. Opposite of dusk — Answer: DAWN
- 5. Cotton-tipped tool — Answer: SWAB
- 9. Throws for a loop — Answer: STUNS
- 14. Soothing succulent — Answer: ALOE
- 15. Fruit that might be poached — Answer: PEAR
- 16. Orange ___ tea — Answer: PEKOE
- 17. Photography gear that can show a flower growing in seconds — Answer: TIMELAPSECAMERA
- 20. Prez on the penny — Answer: ABE
- 21. D.C. summer hours — Answer: EDT
- 22. Distort — Answer: WARP
- 23. App with Reels, for short — Answer: INSTA
- 25. Bay Area university city — Answer: BERKELEY
- 29. Curious toddler's question — Answer: WHY
- 30. Warring Olympian — Answer: ARES
- 31. Animal such as a bonobo — Answer: APE
- 32. Solo that ends on a high note? — Answer: ARIA
- 34. "___ what ___ . . ." — Answer: ITIS
- 35. Part of a plan — Answer: STEP
- 36. Dessert that's soaked in a trio of dairy products — Answer: TRESLECHESCAKE
- 39. There are two in "Company" — Answer: ACTS
- 40. Loch with a cryptid — Answer: NESS
- 41. Tints — Answer: HUES
- 42. ___ capita — Answer: PER
- 43. Chess or Go — Answer: GAME
- 44. "Let there be light" speaker — Answer: GOD
- 45. Unassertive type, metaphorically — Answer: DOORMAT
- 47. Come up — Answer: ARISE
- 50. Quick look — Answer: PEEK
- 51. "Rhythm ___ Dancer" ('90s hit) — Answer: ISA
- 52. Actress Longoria — Answer: EVA
- 54. Shamrock — Answer: THREELEAFCLOVER
- 59. ___ pan (circular baking tool with a hole) — Answer: BUNDT
- 60. Civil rights icon Parks — Answer: ROSA
- 61. Fender bender result — Answer: DENT
- 62. Pile up — Answer: AMASS
- 63. Low-quality AI-generated material — Answer: SLOP
- 64. Laryngitis docs — Answer: ENTS
Down
- 1. Statistical info — Answer: DATA
- 2. "I was at a crossword tournament when it happened!," e.g. — Answer: ALIBI
- 3. "20th Century ___" (Mike Mills film) — Answer: WOMEN
- 4. Word before a birth name — Answer: NEE
- 5. Self-care outing — Answer: SPADAY
- 6. Shed tears — Answer: WEPT
- 7. Versatile batteries — Answer: AAS
- 8. Where pilsners are made — Answer: BREWERIES
- 9. L.A.'s WNBA team — Answer: SPARKS
- 10. Sun Devils' city — Answer: TEMPE
- 11. Luau instrument, for short — Answer: UKE
- 12. Negative conjunction — Answer: NOR
- 13. Poseidon's realm — Answer: SEA
- 18. "___ Weapon" (action movie franchise) — Answer: LETHAL
- 19. Stroke gently — Answer: CARESS
- 24. Holey cheese — Answer: SWISS
- 25. Gift including body wash, a loofah, lotion, etc. — Answer: BATHSET
- 26. Fried Hanukkah treat — Answer: LATKE
- 27. Some swords — Answer: EPEES
- 28. "You bet!" — Answer: YEP
- 32. Flew in a curved path — Answer: ARCED
- 33. Like chiptune music — Answer: RETRO
- 34. Some freezer fixtures — Answer: ICEMAKERS
- 35. ___ Arabia — Answer: SAUDI
- 36. Noisy dance style — Answer: TAP
- 37. Hardest substance in the human body — Answer: ENAMEL
- 38. Composed for a group of singers — Answer: CHORAL
- 43. Welcomes — Answer: GREETS
- 44. It gets tightened after filling up — Answer: GASCAP
- 46. Hot takes in newspapers — Answer: OPEDS
- 48. "___ Nation Army" — Answer: SEVEN
- 49. Caterer's gig — Answer: EVENT
- 51. "Should that happen . . ." — Answer: IFSO
- 53. The "A" of MFA — Answer: ARTS
- 54. "Details to come" letters — Answer: TBA
- 55. Use a kazoo, say — Answer: HUM
- 56. Modern vaccine molecule — Answer: RNA
- 57. Early ISP — Answer: AOL
- 58. Poetic tribute — Answer: ODE
Looking for today's USA Today Crossword answers? The full solution to today's puzzle — dated July 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.
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 Today | NYT / LA Times | |
|---|---|---|
| Difficulty curve | Consistent every day | Ramps through the week |
| Theme | Every puzzle is themed | Themed early week, themeless late |
| Vocabulary | Modern, inclusive, current | More traditional |
| Cost | Free | NYT paid; LA Times free |
| Editor | Erik Agard | Will 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 (July 7, 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.