USA Today Crossword hints and answers for August 12, 2026
A hint and the answer for every clue, each behind its own button. Nothing is revealed until you tap.
Clues78
Across37
Down41
DayWednesday
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
Witnessed (3)
Starts with S, ends with WSAW→
4A
Triumph (3)
Starts with W, ends with NWIN→
7A
Brazilian dances (6)
Starts with S, ends with SSAMBAS→
13A
"Watch this space!" letters (3)
Starts with T, ends with ATBA→
16A
Not too bright? (6)
Starts with C, ends with YCLOUDY→
17A
Outdated (8)
Starts with O, ends with EOBSOLETE→
19A
Reacted to injustice (6)
Starts with R, ends with DRIOTED→
20A
Chain reaction in which small actions create a big impact (12)
Starts with R, ends with TRIPPLEEFFECT→
22A
Southwestern formations (5)
Starts with M, ends with SMESAS→
23A
___ Sremmurd (hip-hop duo) (3)
Starts with R, ends with ERAE→
24A
"The Silence of the Lambs" org. (3)
Starts with F, ends with IFBI→
27A
Experiment spot (3)
Starts with L, ends with BLAB→
30A
"Frozen" snowman (4)
Starts with O, ends with FOLAF→
31A
The "L" of LACMA (3)
Starts with L, ends with SLOS→
34A
Young horses (5)
Starts with F, ends with SFOALS→
36A
"The March King" (5)
Starts with S, ends with ASOUSA→
37A
High-fiber baked good (15)
Starts with A, ends with NAPPLEBRANMUFFIN→
40A
Cries out in surprise (5)
Starts with Y, ends with SYELPS→
41A
Cookie-selling group (5)
Starts with T, ends with PTROOP→
42A
Travel by plane (3)
Starts with F, ends with YFLY→
43A
Stretches of timelines (4)
Starts with E, ends with SERAS→
44A
Grape ___ (rhyming drink) (3)
Starts with A, ends with EAPE→
45A
One sample ___ customer (3)
Starts with P, ends with RPER→
47A
Pet that might have ruby-colored eyes (3)
Starts with R, ends with TRAT→
48A
He's generally associated with chicken? (3)
Starts with T, ends with OTSO→
49A
"Brooklyn Nine-Nine" detective Diaz (4)
Starts with R, ends with AROSA→
52A
People who work behind the scenes (12)
Starts with S, ends with FSUPPORTSTAFF→
57A
Person-shaped board game token (6)
Starts with M, ends with EMEEPLE→
60A
Chilaquiles ingredient (8)
Starts with T, ends with ATORTILLA→
62A
Notion (4)
Starts with I, ends with AIDEA→
63A
"I'm ___" ("Ready to hear the gossip") (3)
Starts with S, ends with TSAT→
64A
Dry spell (5)
Starts with S, ends with PSLUMP→
65A
Visionary (4)
Starts with S, ends with RSEER→
66A
Versatile card (3)
Starts with A, ends with EACE→
Down
1D
Seattle WNBA team (5)
Starts with S, ends with MSTORM→
2D
"Jack Ryan" actress Cornish (5)
Starts with A, ends with EABBIE→
3D
Paper nest builders (5)
Starts with W, ends with SWASPS→
4D
They might be hidden behind portraits (9)
Starts with W, ends with SWALLSAFES→
5D
Carbonated frozen drink (4)
Starts with I, ends with EICEE→
6D
Late hours, in ads (4)
Starts with N, ends with ENITE→
7D
___ Queen (horror icon) (6)
Starts with S, ends with MSCREAM→
8D
Disney girl with a surreal imagination (5)
Starts with A, ends with EALICE→
9D
Irrelevant (4)
Starts with M, ends with TMOOT→
10D
"He's a 10, ___ . . ." (3)
Starts with B, ends with TBUT→
11D
Refreshing drink suffix (3)
Starts with A, ends with EADE→
12D
"The Bear" chef (3)
Starts with S, ends with DSYD→
15D
"4 sure!" (3)
Starts with D, ends with FDEF→
18D
Birthstone for some Libras (4)
Starts with O, ends with LOPAL→
21D
Red chili pepper (6)
Starts with F, ends with OFRESNO→
24D
Marshmallow ___ (5)
Starts with F, ends with FFLUFF→
25D
Caprese salad ingredient (5)
Starts with B, ends with LBASIL→
26D
". . . though none may exist" (5)
Starts with I, ends with YIFANY→
28D
Animated dad who loves making burgers (3)
Starts with B, ends with BBOB→
29D
Harsh light (5)
Starts with G, ends with EGLARE→
30D
"Yikes" (3)
Starts with O, ends with FOOF→
31D
Wedding cake part (5)
Starts with L, ends with RLAYER→
32D
"The Phantom of the ___" (5)
Starts with O, ends with AOPERA→
33D
Water balloon sound (5)
Starts with S, ends with TSPLAT→
35D
Music genre with striking visuals (6)
Starts with A, ends with PARTPOP→
36D
Highly successful person (9)
Starts with S, ends with RSUPERSTAR→
38D
Vinyl records (3)
Starts with L, ends with SLPS→
39D
Floor-cleaning tool (3)
Starts with M, ends with PMOP→
44D
Source of many matches (5)
Starts with A, ends with NASPEN→
46D
___ canai (flatbread) (4)
Starts with R, ends with IROTI→
48D
Blooming bulb (5)
Starts with T, ends with PTULIP→
50D
It might be a dip, or include a dip (5)
Starts with S, ends with ASALSA→
51D
Duck sound in some insurance ads (5)
Starts with A, ends with CAFLAC→
52D
Unwanted texts, e.g. (4)
Starts with S, ends with MSPAM→
53D
R&B singer Redding (4)
Starts with O, ends with SOTIS→
54D
Participated in RAGBRAI (4)
Starts with R, ends with ERODE→
55D
44-Down, e.g. (4)
Starts with T, ends with ETREE→
56D
What meeting your soulmate might feel like (4)
Starts with F, ends with EFATE→
57D
"Mr. and ___. Smith" (3)
Starts with M, ends with SMRS→
58D
Slippery fish (3)
Starts with E, ends with LEEL→
59D
Australian bird (3)
Starts with E, ends with UEMU→
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 12, 2026?+
78 clues: 37 Across and 41 Down.
What are some answers in today’s USA Today Crossword?+
For example: Witnessed (SAW); Triumph (WIN); Brazilian dances (SAMBAS).
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.
