USA Today Crossword hints and answers for July 18, 2026
A hint and the answer for every clue, each behind its own button. Nothing is revealed until you tap.
Clues78
Across39
Down39
DaySaturday
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
Like mint green (4)
Starts with P, ends with EPALE→
5A
Back muscle, for short (3)
Starts with L, ends with TLAT→
8A
"Women Are Not Roses" author Castillo (3)
Starts with A, ends with AANA→
11A
It might be furrowed (4)
Starts with B, ends with WBROW→
12A
Ginger ___ (3)
Starts with A, ends with EALE→
13A
"Stay ___, Ponyboy" (4)
Starts with G, ends with DGOLD→
15A
When dinosaurs roamed (14)
Starts with J, ends with DJURASSICPERIOD→
19A
"___ in a Bottle" (5)
Starts with G, ends with EGENIE→
20A
Monopolize (3)
Starts with H, ends with GHOG→
21A
Make a love letter better, maybe (4)
Starts with E, ends with TEDIT→
23A
What rhinos wallow in (3)
Starts with M, ends with DMUD→
24A
___ and ___ (start of some envelope addresses) (3)
Starts with M, ends with SMRS→
26A
Fruits with navels (7)
Starts with O, ends with SORANGES→
30A
"Foodtastic" garment (5)
Starts with A, ends with NAPRON→
32A
"Sounds about right" (3)
Starts with Y, ends with PYUP→
33A
Dalai ___ (4)
Starts with L, ends with ALAMA→
34A
Savings plan letters (3)
Starts with I, ends with AIRA→
35A
Great Basin people (3)
Starts with U, ends with EUTE→
37A
Primary social media images, for short (11)
Starts with P, ends with SPROFILEPICS→
41A
"This ___!" (3)
Starts with G, ends with YGUY→
42A
Where some RNs work (3)
Starts with E, ends with SERS→
43A
Traditional Polynesian dance (4)
Starts with H, ends with AHULA→
46A
Story trajectory (3)
Starts with A, ends with CARC→
49A
Hot, chocolaty drink (5)
Starts with C, ends with ACOCOA→
51A
Pay respect to (5)
Starts with H, ends with RHONOR→
52A
"Nuh-uh" response (7)
Starts with Y, ends with HYEAHHUH→
54A
The Toasters genre (3)
Starts with S, ends with ASKA→
57A
Currency in Malta (4)
Starts with E, ends with OEURO→
58A
Site for a certain facial piercing (3)
Starts with L, ends with PLIP→
60A
Person (5)
Starts with H, ends with NHUMAN→
62A
Soda campaign whose 2026 iteration featured a polar bear rejecting Coca-Cola (14)
Starts with P, ends with EPEPSICHALLENGE→
66A
Part of a cruise ship (4)
Starts with D, ends with KDECK→
67A
Sense of self (3)
Starts with E, ends with OEGO→
68A
Versatile blackjack cards (4)
Starts with A, ends with SACES→
69A
Rolled board game item (3)
Starts with D, ends with EDIE→
70A
"___ is me" (3)
Starts with W, ends with EWOE→
Down
1D
School lunch staple (3)
Starts with P, ends with JPBJ→
2D
Bitter salad green (7)
Starts with A, ends with AARUGULA→
3D
Worldbuilding overload, in a fantasy novel (8)
Starts with L, ends with PLOREDUMP→
4D
Actor McGregor (4)
Starts with E, ends with NEWAN→
5D
Tool used in some facials (5)
Starts with L, ends with RLASER→
6D
"Leave the World Behind" actor Mahershala (3)
Starts with A, ends with IALI→
7D
The "T" in STEM (Abbr.) (4)
Starts with T, ends with HTECH→
8D
Survey categories (9)
Starts with A, ends with SAGEGROUPS→
9D
Neither here ___ there (3)
Starts with N, ends with RNOR→
10D
E.T., for one (5)
Starts with A, ends with NALIEN→
14D
Sketchy, to a Brit (5)
Starts with D, ends with YDODGY→
16D
The ___ (game with a "rosebud" cheat code) (4)
Starts with S, ends with SSIMS→
17D
"___ Unfortunate Souls" (4)
Starts with P, ends with RPOOR→
18D
"Mon ___!" (4)
Starts with D, ends with UDIEU→
22D
Small recipe amt. (3)
Starts with T, ends with PTSP→
23D
Bad, in Spanish (3)
Starts with M, ends with LMAL→
25D
Wrapped garment (4)
Starts with S, ends with ISARI→
27D
Pro counterpart (4)
Starts with A, ends with IANTI→
29D
Tequila cocktail, casually (4)
Starts with M, ends with GMARG→
31D
Diet that avoids dairy (5)
Starts with P, ends with OPALEO→
34D
"Go for it" (9)
Starts with I, ends with EIFYOULIKE→
36D
Reverberate (4)
Starts with E, ends with OECHO→
38D
"Hurtful!" (4)
Starts with O, ends with HOUCH→
39D
Periods in Taylor Swift's career (4)
Starts with E, ends with SERAS→
40D
"If I Had Legs I'd Kick You" film festival (8)
Starts with S, ends with ESUNDANCE→
44D
Relaxing airport spaces (7)
Starts with L, ends with SLOUNGES→
45D
"___ we good?" (3)
Starts with A, ends with EARE→
46D
32-Across, on a ship (3)
Starts with A, ends with EAYE→
47D
Sign on again (4)
Starts with R, ends with PREUP→
48D
Was invested (5)
Starts with C, ends with DCARED→
50D
Shabby ___ (interior design style) (4)
Starts with C, ends with CCHIC→
51D
Halloween bounty (4)
Starts with H, ends with LHAUL→
53D
"I ___ you'd say that" (5)
Starts with H, ends with DHOPED→
55D
"Kourtney and ___ Take Miami" (5)
Starts with K, ends with EKHLOE→
59D
"Glad that's done" (4)
Starts with P, ends with WPHEW→
61D
Core of an argument (4)
Starts with M, ends with TMEAT→
63D
The "S" in STEM (Abbr.) (3)
Starts with S, ends with ISCI→
64D
A while ___ (3)
Starts with A, ends with OAGO→
65D
Superlative suffix (3)
Starts with E, ends with TEST→
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 July 18, 2026?+
78 clues: 39 Across and 39 Down.
What are some answers in today’s USA Today Crossword?+
For example: Like mint green (PALE); Back muscle, for short (LAT); "Women Are Not Roses" author Castillo (ANA).
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.
