USA Today Crossword hints and answers for October 20, 2026
A hint and the answer for every clue, each behind its own button. Nothing is revealed until you tap.
Clues78
Across37
Down41
DayTuesday
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
Counter (5)
Starts with R, ends with TREBUT→
6A
Tiny human (3)
Starts with T, ends with TTOT→
9A
Lock of hair (5)
Starts with T, ends with STRESS→
14A
Musical in which Rachel Zegler sang "Don't Cry for Me Argentina" from an outdoor balcony (5)
Starts with E, ends with AEVITA→
15A
King Kong, e.g. (3)
Starts with A, ends with EAPE→
16A
Pixar robot (5)
Starts with W, ends with EWALLE→
17A
Comedian Wyatt (5)
Starts with C, ends with CCENAC→
18A
Word with "pal" or "name" (3)
Starts with P, ends with NPEN→
19A
Happen next (5)
Starts with E, ends with EENSUE→
20A
*Guess (13)
Starts with S, ends with KSHOTINTHEDARK→
23A
Sloth, but not koala (3)
Starts with S, ends with NSIN→
24A
Artist Yoko (3)
Starts with O, ends with OONO→
25A
*What? (10)
Starts with S, ends with NSAYITAGAIN→
31A
Service offered by the Vatican (4)
Starts with M, ends with SMASS→
35A
Colombian cornmeal cakes (6)
Starts with A, ends with SAREPAS→
36A
Street ___ (4)
Starts with C, ends with DCRED→
38A
Nuke in microwave (3)
Starts with Z, ends with PZAP→
39A
Animal similar to a buffalo (5)
Starts with B, ends with NBISON→
40A
Olympian Bird (3)
Starts with S, ends with ESUE→
41A
Inviting words on a Wonderland cake (5)
Starts with E, ends with EEATME→
43A
Olympian Sunisa (3)
Starts with L, ends with ELEE→
44A
Doe or buck (4)
Starts with D, ends with RDEER→
46A
"Challenge accepted!" (6)
Starts with G, ends with NGAMEON→
47A
"Actin' like you're somebody ___, gets me frustrated" (Avril Lavigne lyric) (4)
Starts with E, ends with EELSE→
49A
*Chicken (10)
Starts with S, ends with TSCAREDYCAT→
51A
Mrs., in Spanish (3)
Starts with S, ends with ASRA→
53A
Tolkien tree creature (3)
Starts with E, ends with TENT→
54A
*Butt (14)
Starts with G, ends with SGLUTEUSMAXIMUS→
62A
French painter Claude (5)
Starts with M, ends with TMONET→
63A
"There ___ to be another way" (3)
Starts with H, ends with SHAS→
64A
"Birds of Prey" performer Perez (5)
Starts with R, ends with EROSIE→
66A
Like Rome's Colosseum vis-a-vis Vegas' Colosseum (5)
Starts with O, ends with ROLDER→
67A
Portuguese for "year" (3)
Starts with A, ends with OANO→
68A
Vote into office (5)
Starts with E, ends with TELECT→
69A
Replay effect (5)
Starts with S, ends with OSLOMO→
70A
Variant of rummy (3)
Starts with G, ends with NGIN→
71A
Working-from-home purchases (5)
Starts with D, ends with SDESKS→
Down
1D
Suggestion, for short (3)
Starts with R, ends with CREC→
2D
Night before a big day (3)
Starts with E, ends with EEVE→
3D
Storage containers (4)
Starts with B, ends with SBINS→
4D
State with the first KFC franchise (4)
Starts with U, ends with HUTAH→
5D
Streetside spot that might offer al pastor (9)
Starts with T, ends with DTACOSTAND→
6D
TV studio session (6)
Starts with T, ends with GTAPING→
7D
Ready for business (4)
Starts with O, ends with NOPEN→
8D
Destination for a night out? (4)
Starts with T, ends with TTENT→
9D
Typical middle schooler, age-wise (5)
Starts with T, ends with NTWEEN→
10D
"So, that came out of nowhere . . ." (6)
Starts with R, ends with MRANDOM→
11D
Anna's sister in "Frozen" (4)
Starts with E, ends with AELSA→
12D
Fail to articulate (4)
Starts with S, ends with RSLUR→
13D
Look for (4)
Starts with S, ends with KSEEK→
21D
Aunts, en espanol (4)
Starts with T, ends with STIAS→
22D
Refine, like skills (4)
Starts with H, ends with EHONE→
25D
Cousin of a mink (5)
Starts with S, ends with ESABLE→
26D
She's got gadgets and gizmos a-plenty (5)
Starts with A, ends with LARIEL→
27D
Confirmations (5)
Starts with Y, ends with SYESES→
28D
NYSE debut (3)
Starts with I, ends with OIPO→
29D
Upscale Honda brand (5)
Starts with A, ends with AACURA→
32D
Follower of the xiuhpohualli calendar (5)
Starts with A, ends with CAZTEC→
33D
Ring-shaped Girl Scout cookie (5)
Starts with S, ends with ASAMOA→
34D
Totally pooped (5)
Starts with S, ends with TSPENT→
37D
Totally pooped (9)
Starts with D, ends with DDEADTIRED→
40D
Brief amount of time? (3)
Starts with S, ends with CSEC→
42D
Painter Sherald (3)
Starts with A, ends with YAMY→
45D
Name hidden in "awesomesauce" (4)
Starts with E, ends with UESAU→
46D
Pre-Millennial group (4)
Starts with G, ends with XGENX→
48D
Regard highly (6)
Starts with E, ends with MESTEEM→
50D
That makes sense! (6)
Starts with R, ends with NREASON→
52D
Back in style (5)
Starts with R, ends with ORETRO→
54D
Biotech crops (4)
Starts with G, ends with SGMOS→
55D
Laze around (4)
Starts with L, ends with LLOLL→
56D
Reverse (4)
Starts with U, ends with OUNDO→
57D
1970s-inspired haircut (4)
Starts with S, ends with GSHAG→
58D
Nail treatment, for short (4)
Starts with M, ends with IMANI→
59D
Deep-cover spy (4)
Starts with M, ends with EMOLE→
60D
Employs (4)
Starts with U, ends with SUSES→
61D
"Dope!" (4)
Starts with S, ends with KSICK→
65D
Aliens (Abbr.) (3)
Starts with E, ends with SETS→
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 October 20, 2026?+
78 clues: 37 Across and 41 Down.
What are some answers in today’s USA Today Crossword?+
For example: Counter (REBUT); Tiny human (TOT); Lock of hair (TRESS).
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.
