USA Today Crossword hints and answers for September 20, 2026
A hint and the answer for every clue, each behind its own button. Nothing is revealed until you tap.
Clues74
Across38
Down36
DaySunday
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
"Right now, please!" (4)
Starts with A, ends with PASAP→
5A
Island strings, for short (3)
Starts with U, ends with EUKE→
8A
Engrave in glass (4)
Starts with E, ends with HETCH→
12A
Conga formation (4)
Starts with L, ends with ELINE→
13A
"The end is ___" (4)
Starts with N, ends with HNIGH→
15A
Spiced latte choice (4)
Starts with C, ends with ICHAI→
16A
Spot to boogie (10)
Starts with D, ends with RDANCEFLOOR→
19A
___ browns (4)
Starts with H, ends with HHASH→
20A
"Yours truly is fully committed!" (7)
Starts with I, ends with NIMALLIN→
21A
Country inside South Africa (7)
Starts with L, ends with OLESOTHO→
23A
___-country (music genre) (3)
Starts with A, ends with TALT→
24A
Snuck a quick look (6)
Starts with P, ends with DPEEKED→
25A
Makeup for a model? (5)
Starts with B, ends with ABALSA→
28A
Ballpark snacks that usually require a lot of napkins (9)
Starts with C, ends with SCHILIDOGS→
31A
Flames that have since fizzled (4)
Starts with E, ends with SEXES→
32A
___ rather than later (6)
Starts with S, ends with RSOONER→
33A
Time period worthy of a name (3)
Starts with E, ends with AERA→
34A
Like an awesome party (3)
Starts with L, ends with TLIT→
35A
"I Think You Should Leave" star Robinson (3)
Starts with T, ends with MTIM→
36A
World Series mo. (3)
Starts with O, ends with TOCT→
37A
Lose to gravity (3)
Starts with S, ends with GSAG→
38A
The "L" of UCLA (3)
Starts with L, ends with SLOS→
39A
"No, actually . . ." (6)
Starts with I, ends with TIMEANT→
41A
Bread for a gyro (4)
Starts with P, ends with APITA→
42A
"Good decision!" (9)
Starts with S, ends with ESMARTMOVE→
44A
Lavishes affection (5)
Starts with D, ends with SDOTES→
45A
"Only Murders in the Building" star Gomez (6)
Starts with S, ends with ASELENA→
46A
Frame, for short (3)
Starts with B, ends with DBOD→
47A
Quebec's time zone (7)
Starts with E, ends with NEASTERN→
49A
"How adorbs!" (7)
Starts with T, ends with ETOOCUTE→
53A
Water at a taqueria (4)
Starts with A, ends with AAGUA→
54A
"Oh, I didn't want it anyway" attitude (10)
Starts with S, ends with SSOURGRAPES→
56A
Final Four matchup (4)
Starts with S, ends with ISEMI→
57A
"This is so much fun!" (4)
Starts with W, ends with EWHEE→
58A
Put your foot down (4)
Starts with S, ends with PSTEP→
59A
Idyllic locale (4)
Starts with E, ends with NEDEN→
60A
"You there!" (3)
Starts with H, ends with YHEY→
61A
One of 11 for "Hamilton" (4)
Starts with T, ends with YTONY→
Down
1D
Discount grocery chain (4)
Starts with A, ends with IALDI→
2D
Thailand, once (4)
Starts with S, ends with MSIAM→
3D
"___ Karenina" (Tolstoy novel) (4)
Starts with A, ends with AANNA→
4D
H.S. course you wouldn't say is no sweat (7)
Starts with P, ends with SPECLASS→
5D
Not qualified (5)
Starts with U, ends with TUNFIT→
6D
Oven that turns clay into ceramics (4)
Starts with K, ends with NKILN→
7D
A big one might be fragile (3)
Starts with E, ends with OEGO→
8D
Reverberated (6)
Starts with E, ends with DECHOED→
9D
"Enough!" (10)
Starts with T, ends with TTHATDOESIT→
10D
Dough or lettuce (4)
Starts with C, ends with HCASH→
11D
___! Cherry-O (4)
Starts with H, ends with OHIHO→
14D
Result of a gorgeous drive (9)
Starts with H, ends with EHOLEINONE→
17D
"___ Enchanted" (Anne Hathaway film) (4)
Starts with E, ends with AELLA→
18D
Put back in office (7)
Starts with R, ends with TREELECT→
22D
Go around (5)
Starts with S, ends with TSKIRT→
24D
Soup that might be served with Thai basil and cilantro (3)
Starts with P, ends with OPHO→
25D
___ and whistles (5)
Starts with B, ends with SBELLS→
26D
It's a given (5)
Starts with A, ends with MAXIOM→
27D
"So, hypothetically . . ." (10)
Starts with L, ends with ELETSASSUME→
28D
"You've gotta be kidding me!" (9)
Starts with C, ends with WCOMEONNOW→
29D
Feature of many fireplaces (5)
Starts with G, ends with EGRATE→
30D
Sprawling stories (5)
Starts with S, ends with SSAGAS→
32D
Gets ready to bubble (7)
Starts with S, ends with SSIMMERS→
35D
Spine feature (5)
Starts with T, ends with ETITLE→
40D
"Selma" director DuVernay (3)
Starts with A, ends with AAVA→
41D
"Office Ladies," for one (7)
Starts with P, ends with TPODCAST→
43D
Hold on to (6)
Starts with R, ends with NRETAIN→
44D
It's always stuck in a jamb (dad joke) (4)
Starts with D, ends with RDOOR→
46D
Two more than a birdie (5)
Starts with B, ends with YBOGEY→
47D
Mitigate (4)
Starts with E, ends with EEASE→
48D
Like some cheese (4)
Starts with A, ends with DAGED→
49D
It has bark but no bite (4)
Starts with T, ends with ETREE→
51D
What you are for seven years of your life (4)
Starts with T, ends with NTEEN→
52D
One of seven for Simone Biles (4)
Starts with E, ends with YESPY→
55D
"Not sure . . ." (3)
Starts with U, ends with HUHH→
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 September 20, 2026?+
74 clues: 38 Across and 36 Down.
What are some answers in today’s USA Today Crossword?+
For example: "Right now, please!" (ASAP); Island strings, for short (UKE); Engrave in glass (ETCH).
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.
