USA Today Crossword hints and answers for August 17, 2026
A hint and the answer for every clue, each behind its own button. Nothing is revealed until you tap.
Clues76
Across37
Down39
DayMonday
Today’s USA Today Crossword clues, hints & answers
Every clue from this puzzle with a hint and the answer behind separate buttons, so you only see what you need. Click a clue for its own page.
Across
1A
Dirty haze in a city (4)
Starts with S, ends with GSMOG→
5A
___ off (prunes) (4)
Starts with L, ends with SLOPS→
9A
Flower symbolizing faith and wisdom (4)
Starts with I, ends with SIRIS→
13A
Seed holder on a pine (4)
Starts with C, ends with ECONE→
14A
Actress Halle (5)
Starts with B, ends with YBERRY→
15A
Insignificant (4)
Starts with M, ends with EMERE→
16A
Training place for puppies (15)
Starts with O, ends with LOBEDIENCESCHOOL→
19A
Triangular part of a shark (3)
Starts with F, ends with NFIN→
20A
Fiend in Dante's "Inferno" (5)
Starts with S, ends with NSATAN→
21A
"Taskmaster" creator Alex (5)
Starts with H, ends with EHORNE→
22A
Southwest offering (6)
Starts with F, ends with TFLIGHT→
24A
Hezly Rivera's Olympic team (3)
Starts with U, ends with AUSA→
26A
Hip-hop's Run-___ (3)
Starts with D, ends with CDMC→
27A
"The Fugitive" actress Ward (4)
Starts with S, ends with ASELA→
28A
Tree with trembling leaves (5)
Starts with A, ends with NASPEN→
30A
Have some laziji (3)
Starts with E, ends with TEAT→
31A
Hidden stockpile (5)
Starts with S, ends with HSTASH→
34A
Snacks for squirrels (6)
Starts with A, ends with SACORNS→
36A
Supposedly private but widely known matter (10)
Starts with O, ends with TOPENSECRET→
38A
Reared, like a child (6)
Starts with R, ends with DRAISED→
40A
Some SoundCloud uploads (3)
Starts with E, ends with SEPS→
41A
Touch lightly (3)
Starts with T, ends with PTAP→
44A
Give it your ___ (3)
Starts with A, ends with LALL→
45A
Sparkly crown (5)
Starts with T, ends with ATIARA→
47A
Segments of a timeline (4)
Starts with E, ends with SERAS→
49A
Best of the best (7)
Starts with T, ends with RTOPTIER→
51A
Move rapidly and forcefully (6)
Starts with H, ends with EHURTLE→
53A
Key skill in archery (3)
Starts with A, ends with MAIM→
54A
Squares on a calendar (5)
Starts with D, ends with SDATES→
57A
Fox pup's shelter (3)
Starts with D, ends with NDEN→
58A
Game played on a board shaped like a six-pointed star (15)
Starts with C, ends with SCHINESECHECKERS→
62A
Cousin's mom (4)
Starts with A, ends with TAUNT→
63A
Spy's scoop (5)
Starts with I, ends with LINTEL→
64A
Pinnacle (4)
Starts with A, ends with EACME→
65A
Animal hospital patients (4)
Starts with P, ends with SPETS→
66A
Pens with troughs (5)
Starts with S, ends with SSTIES→
67A
Bathrooms, to an Aussie (4)
Starts with L, ends with SLOOS→
Down
1D
Shows contempt (6)
Starts with S, ends with SSCOFFS→
2D
Decoration above a crib (6)
Starts with M, ends with EMOBILE→
3D
Low soccer score (6)
Starts with O, ends with LONENIL→
4D
H.S. diploma equivalent (3)
Starts with G, ends with DGED→
5D
Period after Mardi Gras (4)
Starts with L, ends with TLENT→
6D
Whale known for beaching itself to hunt (4)
Starts with O, ends with AORCA→
7D
Doc outlining assets before marriage (6)
Starts with P, ends with PPRENUP→
8D
___ admin (IT pro) (3)
Starts with S, ends with SSYS→
9D
"if u ask me . . ." (4)
Starts with I, ends with OIMHO→
10D
Get more inventory (7)
Starts with R, ends with RREORDER→
11D
Participant in a certain triathlon (7)
Starts with I, ends with NIRONMAN→
12D
Chooses (7)
Starts with S, ends with SSELECTS→
14D
Apt rhyme for "defeat" (4)
Starts with B, ends with TBEAT→
17D
"More or less" (3)
Starts with I, ends with HISH→
18D
Roll of the dice (6)
Starts with C, ends with ECHANCE→
23D
Sounds of disbelief (5)
Starts with G, ends with SGASPS→
25D
Browns in a skillet (5)
Starts with S, ends with SSEARS→
28D
Donkey (3)
Starts with A, ends with SASS→
29D
Like a gauzy veil (5)
Starts with S, ends with RSHEER→
32D
Golfer's reservation (7)
Starts with T, ends with ETEETIME→
33D
"The Way Home" actress MacDowell (5)
Starts with A, ends with EANDIE→
35D
Marine mammal that uses its chest as a dining table (5)
Starts with O, ends with ROTTER→
36D
Medium for Rembrandt (8)
Starts with O, ends with TOILPAINT→
37D
Audit pro (3)
Starts with C, ends with ACPA→
38D
Inflatable rodent seen at strikes (3)
Starts with R, ends with TRAT→
39D
Lululemon rival (3)
Starts with A, ends with OALO→
42D
Style of Radio City Music Hall (7)
Starts with A, ends with OARTDECO→
43D
Largest city in Sicily (7)
Starts with P, ends with OPALERMO→
46D
Passionate (6)
Starts with A, ends with TARDENT→
48D
Smell and taste, for two (6)
Starts with S, ends with SSENSES→
50D
Eyelash treatments (5)
Starts with T, ends with STINTS→
51D
Shoes that add height (5)
Starts with H, ends with SHEELS→
52D
Tommy Trojan's sch. (3)
Starts with U, ends with CUSC→
55D
When Romeo meets Juliet (4)
Starts with A, ends with IACTI→
56D
You, in a hymnal (4)
Starts with T, ends with ETHEE→
58D
Camera lens protector (3)
Starts with C, ends with PCAP→
59D
Tone with a hex code (3)
Starts with H, ends with EHUE→
60D
Girl in the fam (3)
Starts with S, ends with SSIS→
61D
"House" actor Penn (3)
Starts with K, ends with LKAL→
How to solve the USA Today Crossword
Fill the grid so every Across and Down answer matches its clue. The title explains the theme. Our answer pages list every clue with its answer behind a reveal button, and link to an individual page for each clue.
Want the full method? Read our USA Today Crossword strategy and tips, or check how to play the USA Today Crossword on the hub.
USA Today Crossword tips for tomorrow
- The title is the theme. USA Today titles describe the theme plainly. Reread it once you have one long answer.
- Expect modern references. Agard's puzzles feature recent music, film and internet culture more than most newspapers.
- Solve the short fill fast. Difficulty is even all week, so three- and four-letter crossings are reliable gimmes.
Done for today? Try LA Times Crossword, Newsday Crossword, NYT Crossword, all with hints first and answers behind a reveal.
Previous USA Today Crossword puzzles
USA Today Crossword FAQ
How many clues are in the USA Today Crossword for August 17, 2026?+
76 clues: 37 Across and 39 Down.
What are some answers in today’s USA Today Crossword?+
For example: Dirty haze in a city (SMOG); ___ off (prunes) (LOPS); Flower symbolizing faith and wisdom (IRIS).
Who edits the USA Today Crossword?+
Erik Agard has edited the USA Today Crossword since 2020.
Where can I find past USA Today Crossword answers?+
Every puzzle in our archive has its own page with all answers and a page per clue.
