LA Times Crossword hints and answers for September 18, 2026

Every clue with a hint and the answer behind separate buttons, so nothing is spoiled until you tap.

Clues74
Across33
Down41
DayFriday

Today’s LA Times 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

•
Raft (3)
Starts with S, ends with ASEA→
•
"Big" and "Bang Bang" singer Rita (3)
Starts with O, ends with AORA→
•
Like fresh nail polish (3)
Starts with W, ends with TWET→
•
Constant critic (5)
Starts with H, ends with RHATER→
•
Rite answer (3)
Starts with I, ends with OIDO→
•
Approach (3)
Starts with W, ends with YWAY→
•
"Wow, nice!" (6)
Starts with O, ends with LOHCOOL→
•
•
•
"Happy now?" (3)
Starts with S, ends with ESEE→
•
Box that's unexpectedly popular? (13)
Starts with S, ends with NSLEEPERCARTON→
•
Thing that has away with words? (9)
Starts with D, ends with YDELETEKEY→
•
Fruit with a thick rind (5)
Starts with M, ends with NMELON→
•
Many a techie or Trekkie (4)
Starts with G, ends with KGEEK→
•
Bread from a tandoor (4)
Starts with N, ends with NNAAN→
•
Provençal sauce (5)
Starts with A, ends with IAIOLI→
•
Printer refills (4)
Starts with I, ends with SINKS→
•
Primer lesson (4)
Starts with A, ends with SABCS→
•
Foil kin (4)
Starts with E, ends with EEPEE→
•
__ City: Pittsburgh (5)
Starts with S, ends with LSTEEL→
•
Playful growl (4)
Starts with R, ends with RRAWR→
•
Aloo mutter ingredients (4)
Starts with P, ends with SPEAS→
•
Piercing site (5)
Starts with N, ends with LNAVEL→
•
Band (5)
Starts with S, ends with PSTRAP→
•
Fun run distance, for short (4)
Starts with O, ends with KONEK→
•
Nebraska rail hub (5)
Starts with O, ends with AOMAHA→
•
One who's in it for the money (9)
Starts with M, ends with YMERCENARY→
•
Routine (3)
Starts with A, ends with TACT→
•
Scand. land (3)
Starts with N, ends with RNOR→
•
Old Spanish coin (6)
Starts with P, ends with APESETA→

Down

•
Pants, slangily (4)
Starts with T, ends with UTROU→
•
Poetic opening (5)
Starts with O, ends with OODETO→
•
Bhutan neighbor (5)
Starts with T, ends with TTIBET→
•
Down (3)
Starts with E, ends with TEAT→
•
Clear the cobwebs, say (5)
Starts with S, ends with PSWEEP→
•
Rival (3)
Starts with F, ends with EFOE→
•
Eight-related (5)
Starts with O, ends with LOCTAL→
•
Catherine of "The Studio" (5)
Starts with O, ends with AOHARA→
•
Emphatic refusal (5)
Starts with N, ends with WNOHOW→
•
Spa treatment (4)
Starts with P, ends with LPEEL→
•
"The Odyssey" director (5)
Starts with N, ends with NNOLAN→
•
Hit high in the air (3)
Starts with S, ends with YSKY→
•
Acute (4)
Starts with K, ends with NKEEN→
•
"Middle Cyclone" Grammy nominee Case (4)
Starts with N, ends with ONEKO→
•
"No need to explain" (6)
Starts with I, ends with TIGETIT→
•
Slip past (7)
Starts with S, ends with YSNEAKBY→
•
Course after trig (4)
Starts with C, ends with CCALC→
•
Boxer Max (4)
Starts with B, ends with RBAER→
•
Like llamas (6)
Starts with A, ends with NANDEAN→
•
__ therapy (4)
Starts with G, ends with EGENE→
•
100% (3)
Starts with A, ends with LALL→
•
Unruly head of hair (3)
Starts with M, ends with PMOP→
•
"Hot Girl Summer" rapper Megan __ Stallion (4)
Starts with T, ends with ETHEE→
•
Give birth to (4)
Starts with H, ends with EHAVE→
•
B-school entry req. (4)
Starts with G, ends with TGMAT→
•
Got taller (4)
Starts with G, ends with WGREW→
•
County east of Sonoma (4)
Starts with N, ends with ANAPA→
•
Sod layer's calculation (4)
Starts with A, ends with AAREA→
•
Misses terribly (8)
Starts with P, ends with RPINESFOR→
•
One who's often going through the motions (6)
Starts with L, ends with RLAWYER→
•
Mood (4)
Starts with T, ends with ETONE→
•
2026 NBA champions (6)
Starts with K, ends with SKNICKS→
•
Fitness app stat (4)
Starts with P, ends with EPACE→
•
Masonic order member in a fez (7)
Starts with S, ends with RSHRINER→
•
"Fire away" (3)
Starts with A, ends with KASK→
•
Points out (8)
Starts with M, ends with SMENTIONS→
•
Tiny (3)
Starts with W, ends with EWEE→
•
•
Craps turn (4)
Starts with R, ends with LROLL→
•
Binds (4)
Starts with T, ends with STIES→
•

How to solve the LA Times Crossword

Fill the grid so that every Across and Down answer matches its clue. Monday to Thursday puzzles have three to five long theme entries sharing a gimmick; Friday and Saturday drop the theme and lean into longer answers and trickier cluing. Our answer pages list every clue in grid order with the answer behind a reveal button.

Want the full method? Read our LA Times Crossword strategy and tips, our guide to crossword clue types, or check how to play the LA Times Crossword on the hub.

LA Times Crossword tips for tomorrow

  • Start with the fills you know cold. Three- and four-letter answers anchor the grid and unlock the longer entries.
  • Look for question marks. A clue ending in “?” almost always signals a pun or non-literal definition.
  • Mind the tense and number. If the clue is plural, the answer is plural; if past tense, the answer ends in -ED or follows the verb's irregular form.

Done for today? Try NYT Crossword, Newsday Crossword, USA Today Crossword, all with hints first and answers behind a reveal.

Previous LA Times Crossword puzzles

LA Times Crossword FAQ

How many clues are in the LA Times Crossword for September 18, 2026?+

74 clues: 33 Across and 41 Down.

What are some answers in today’s LA Times Crossword?+

For example: Raft (SEA); "Big" and "Bang Bang" singer Rita (ORA); Bridget's daughter in the "Bridget Jones" series (MABEL).

When is the new LA Times Crossword posted?+

The LA Times Crossword publishes online at midnight Pacific Time. We post the full answer key shortly after release.

Where can I find yesterday’s LA Times Crossword answers?+

Every puzzle in our archive has its own page with all answers and a page per clue. Click any date above.

Today’s other puzzle answers

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