Obscure to protect privacy, perhaps

WaPo Crossword Clue

Crossword Answer

Obscure to protect privacy, perhaps

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Thursday, July 16, 2026

By Elizabeth Duker-Gold & Devon Moffat · Edited by Patti Varol

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WaPo Crossword Clues

Across

  1. 1Kiddie pool filler
  2. 5Admin. aide
  3. 9General feelings
  4. 14The big screen?
  5. 15Burrowing rodent
  6. 16Vinegary sauce
  7. 17Southern region of South America
  8. 19Puts up for sale
  9. 20Herbal medicines?
  10. 22Crew blade
  11. 23Covers in goo
  12. 24Obscure to protect privacy, perhaps
  13. 27Amer. capital
  14. 28Affectionate text
  15. 29Glasgow refusal
  16. 30Veggie dogs?
  17. 35Lost
  18. 36Chabert of the "Crossword Mysteries" series
  19. 37Hosp. scan
  20. 38Dancer and choreographer Ailey
  21. 39Olympic archer?
  22. 40Green new deal?
  23. 42NLE rival of NYM
  24. 43Any of the Tetons: Abbr.
  25. 44Arabic for "son of"
  26. 45The "T" of T.S. Eliot
  27. 47Not great
  28. 49System of connected PCs, for short
  29. 52Unexceptional, or an apt description of 20-, 30-, and 40-Across?
  30. 55Energy-channeling healing technique
  31. 57Cloudburst
  32. 58"WandaVision" star Elizabeth
  33. 59"Dibs!"
  34. 60Shorten, in a way
  35. 61Our, in French
  36. 62Some cold brews
  37. 63"What is it?"

Down

  1. 1In on
  2. 2Nebraska home of the College World Series
  3. 3Forest figure of myth
  4. 4Skills assessment
  5. 5State fruit of California
  6. 6Ocean waves?
  7. 7Ignores a "wet floor" sign, maybe
  8. 8Steeped brews
  9. 9Silicon __
  10. 10"Could not stop laughing!"
  11. 11Brazilian music genre
  12. 12SNAP system
  13. 13"Mayday!" letters
  14. 18Manages
  15. 21Browser links
  16. 25"Quiet, you"
  17. 26Wee
  18. 27Four Corners Natives
  19. 28Colorful ring
  20. 30Sheepish cry?
  21. 31Mars neighbor
  22. 32Many a climate change expert
  23. 33Wolverine's cohort
  24. 34Historical period
  25. 35"Wichita Lineman" singer Campbell
  26. 38Shady areas
  27. 40Condition that may be treated with SSRIs
  28. 41Medicinal 8-Down
  29. 43Of the sea
  30. 46Word with peace or pace
  31. 47SpongeBob's pet, for one
  32. 48Just like ewe
  33. 49Currency in West Africa
  34. 50Interior courtyards
  35. 51Forest figure of myth
  36. 53Humorist Bombeck
  37. 54Wee
  38. 55"This Is Us" Emmy winner __ Cephas Jones
  39. 56"Evil Woman" rock gp.

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Across

  1. 1. Kiddie pool filler — Answer: HOSE
  2. 5. Admin. aide — Answer: ASST
  3. 9. General feelings — Answer: VIBES
  4. 14. The big screen? — Answer: IMAX
  5. 15. Burrowing rodent — Answer: VOLE
  6. 16. Vinegary sauce — Answer: ADOBO
  7. 17. Southern region of South America — Answer: PATAGONIA
  8. 19. Puts up for sale — Answer: LISTS
  9. 20. Herbal medicines? — Answer: THYMECAPSULES
  10. 22. Crew blade — Answer: OAR
  11. 23. Covers in goo — Answer: TARS
  12. 24. Obscure to protect privacy, perhaps — Answer: REDACT
  13. 27. Amer. capital — Answer: USD
  14. 28. Affectionate text — Answer: ILY
  15. 29. Glasgow refusal — Answer: NAE
  16. 30. Veggie dogs? — Answer: BEETBOXERS
  17. 35. Lost — Answer: GONE
  18. 36. Chabert of the "Crossword Mysteries" series — Answer: LACEY
  19. 37. Hosp. scan — Answer: MRI
  20. 38. Dancer and choreographer Ailey — Answer: ALVIN
  21. 39. Olympic archer? — Answer: EROS
  22. 40. Green new deal? — Answer: PEASTREATY
  23. 42. NLE rival of NYM — Answer: ATL
  24. 43. Any of the Tetons: Abbr. — Answer: MTN
  25. 44. Arabic for "son of" — Answer: IBN
  26. 45. The "T" of T.S. Eliot — Answer: THOMAS
  27. 47. Not great — Answer: SOSO
  28. 49. System of connected PCs, for short — Answer: LAN
  29. 52. Unexceptional, or an apt description of 20-, 30-, and 40-Across? — Answer: GARDENVARIETY
  30. 55. Energy-channeling healing technique — Answer: REIKI
  31. 57. Cloudburst — Answer: RAINSTORM
  32. 58. "WandaVision" star Elizabeth — Answer: OLSEN
  33. 59. "Dibs!" — Answer: MINE
  34. 60. Shorten, in a way — Answer: SNIP
  35. 61. Our, in French — Answer: NOTRE
  36. 62. Some cold brews — Answer: ALES
  37. 63. "What is it?" — Answer: YEAH

Down

  1. 1. In on — Answer: HIPTO
  2. 2. Nebraska home of the College World Series — Answer: OMAHA
  3. 3. Forest figure of myth — Answer: SATYR
  4. 4. Skills assessment — Answer: EXAM
  5. 5. State fruit of California — Answer: AVOCADO
  6. 6. Ocean waves? — Answer: SONAR
  7. 7. Ignores a "wet floor" sign, maybe — Answer: SLIPS
  8. 8. Steeped brews — Answer: TEAS
  9. 9. Silicon __ — Answer: VALLEY
  10. 10. "Could not stop laughing!" — Answer: IDIED
  11. 11. Brazilian music genre — Answer: BOSSANOVA
  12. 12. SNAP system — Answer: EBT
  13. 13. "Mayday!" letters — Answer: SOS
  14. 18. Manages — Answer: GETSBY
  15. 21. Browser links — Answer: URLS
  16. 25. "Quiet, you" — Answer: CANIT
  17. 26. Wee — Answer: TEENY
  18. 27. Four Corners Natives — Answer: UTES
  19. 28. Colorful ring — Answer: IRIS
  20. 30. Sheepish cry? — Answer: BLEAT
  21. 31. Mars neighbor — Answer: EARTH
  22. 32. Many a climate change expert — Answer: ECOLOGIST
  23. 33. Wolverine's cohort — Answer: XMEN
  24. 34. Historical period — Answer: ERA
  25. 35. "Wichita Lineman" singer Campbell — Answer: GLEN
  26. 38. Shady areas — Answer: ARBORS
  27. 40. Condition that may be treated with SSRIs — Answer: PTSD
  28. 41. Medicinal 8-Down — Answer: TISANES
  29. 43. Of the sea — Answer: MARINE
  30. 46. Word with peace or pace — Answer: MAKER
  31. 47. SpongeBob's pet, for one — Answer: SNAIL
  32. 48. Just like ewe — Answer: OVINE
  33. 49. Currency in West Africa — Answer: LEONE
  34. 50. Interior courtyards — Answer: ATRIA
  35. 51. Forest figure of myth — Answer: NYMPH
  36. 53. Humorist Bombeck — Answer: ERMA
  37. 54. Wee — Answer: ITSY
  38. 55. "This Is Us" Emmy winner __ Cephas Jones — Answer: RON
  39. 56. "Evil Woman" rock gp. — Answer: ELO

The answer to “Obscure to protect privacy, perhaps” in the The Washington Post crossword is REDACT — a 6-letter word. This clue ran in the The Washington Post crossword on July 16, 2026, a Thursday puzzle, at 24-Across. If it's the entry standing between you and a clean grid, that's the word you need — and below you'll find why it fits, plus links to the day's other clues if more than one square is giving you trouble.

“Obscure to protect privacy, perhaps” answer

REDACT (6 letters)

Reveal the solution one letter at a time with the tiles above if you'd rather nudge yourself toward it than see the whole word at once. Just want it outright? The answer is REDACT.

Why the answer is REDACT

REDACT is the 6-letter solution that fits "Obscure to protect privacy, perhaps" in the WaPo Crossword crossword on July 16, 2026 (24-Across). Use the letter tiles above if you'd rather reveal it one letter at a time.

When else has “Obscure to protect privacy, perhaps” appeared?

The Washington Post reuses clues across dates, sometimes with a different answer depending on the grid. Here's where this exact clue has shown up before, and what the answer was each time — handy if you landed here from a puzzle on another date.

July 16, 2026 (this puzzle) → REDACT. We haven't indexed an earlier appearance of this exact clue yet.

More clues from the WaPo Crossword crossword on July 16, 2026

Stuck elsewhere in the grid? Here are some of the crossing and nearby clues from the same puzzle — tap any for its answer and explanation.

Want every clue in one place? The full The Washington Post answer list for July 16, 2026 is on that day's grid page, and today's live WaPo Crossword answers are always one tap from the today page.

About the WaPo Crossword

The Washington Post Crossword is a classic American daily 15×15 (larger on Sunday), free to play online and known for fair, conversational cluing. This page covers a Thursday puzzle. Theme answers and mid-length fill trade places in importance; when a theme clue stalls you, a confirmed crossing entry usually breaks the corner open.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Obscure to protect privacy, perhaps”?

The answer is REDACT, a 6-letter word. It appeared in the The Washington Post crossword on July 16, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Obscure to protect privacy, perhaps”?

6 letters: REDACT.

Where did this clue appear?

In the The Washington Post crossword on July 16, 2026 (a Thursday puzzle), at 24-Across.

Can “Obscure to protect privacy, perhaps” have a different answer?

Yes — The Washington Post sometimes reuses a clue with a different solution to fit the grid. The answers we've recorded for each date it appeared are listed above when available.

Where can I find the rest of this day's WaPo Crossword answers?

The full grid for July 16, 2026 is on the WaPo Crossword answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

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