USA Today Crossword hints and answers for July 21, 2026
A hint and the answer for every clue, each behind its own button. Nothing is revealed until you tap.
Clues78
Across39
Down39
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
Off-road rides, for short (4)
Starts with A, ends with SATVS→
5A
Passing fancies (5)
Starts with W, ends with SWHIMS→
10A
"Mamma Mia!" quartet (4)
Starts with A, ends with AABBA→
14A
Enjoy some taffy (4)
Starts with C, ends with WCHEW→
15A
Cady ___ ("Mean Girls" protagonist whose last name is a type of bird) (5)
Starts with H, ends with NHERON→
16A
"Up" protagonist (4)
Starts with C, ends with LCARL→
17A
Backstory (4)
Starts with L, ends with ELORE→
18A
Make a speech (5)
Starts with O, ends with EORATE→
19A
Tie the ___ (get hitched) (4)
Starts with K, ends with TKNOT→
20A
*City hub (11)
Starts with U, ends with RURBANCENTER→
24A
Spanish for "aunt" (3)
Starts with T, ends with ATIA→
25A
Hunter constellation (5)
Starts with O, ends with NORION→
27A
Movie chain (3)
Starts with A, ends with CAMC→
30A
"You have a point" (4)
Starts with T, ends with ETRUE→
33A
Pieces of food for a pet, say (6)
Starts with S, ends with SSCRAPS→
36A
*Bit of unfinished business (8)
Starts with L, ends with DLOOSEEND→
38A
"___ been that long?" (5)
Starts with H, ends with THASIT→
40A
"Alien" genre (5)
Starts with S, ends with ISCIFI→
43A
"Game of Thrones" star Headey (4)
Starts with L, ends with ALENA→
44A
South American mountain range (5)
Starts with A, ends with SANDES→
46A
*Career revival (8)
Starts with C, ends with KCOMEBACK→
48A
Loud noise (6)
Starts with R, ends with TRACKET→
50A
Warty amphibian (4)
Starts with T, ends with DTOAD→
51A
Fill in ___ blank (3)
Starts with T, ends with ETHE→
52A
To be, in Spanish (5)
Starts with E, ends with RESTAR→
54A
"Golly ___" (3)
Starts with G, ends with EGEE→
56A
MPG part (3)
Starts with P, ends with RPER→
58A
64A
Plow-pulling pair (4)
Starts with O, ends with NOXEN→
66A
Bottled water brand (5)
Starts with E, ends with NEVIAN→
67A
Discipline with cobra pose (4)
Starts with Y, ends with AYOGA→
68A
___ /neuter program (4)
Starts with S, ends with YSPAY→
69A
"Sondheim's Old Friends," e.g. (5)
Starts with R, ends with EREVUE→
70A
Collectible '90s discs (4)
Starts with P, ends with SPOGS→
71A
Feature of a bagel (4)
Starts with H, ends with EHOLE→
72A
Winter vehicles (5)
Starts with S, ends with SSLEDS→
73A
Horse gait (4)
Starts with T, ends with TTROT→
Down
1D
Rights org. for over 100 years (4)
Starts with A, ends with UACLU→
2D
Marvel superhero (4)
Starts with T, ends with RTHOR→
3D
Action word (4)
Starts with V, ends with BVERB→
4D
Sit in a sauna (5)
Starts with S, ends with TSWEAT→
5D
"Big whoop" (8)
Starts with W, ends with SWHOCARES→
6D
"___, There and Everywhere" (4)
Starts with H, ends with EHERE→
7D
Home to the Azadi Tower (4)
Starts with I, ends with NIRAN→
8D
Saying (5)
Starts with M, ends with OMOTTO→
9D
Derisive looks (6)
Starts with S, ends with SSNEERS→
10D
Exclamation in a "Cathy" comic (3)
Starts with A, ends with KACK→
11D
Fruit-shaped bike accessory (10)
Starts with B, ends with TBANANASEAT→
12D
Einstein ___ Bagels (4)
Starts with B, ends with SBROS→
13D
Secondary social media accounts, for short (4)
Starts with A, ends with SALTS→
21D
Late time, in ads (4)
Starts with N, ends with ENITE→
22D
Like red velvet cake (4)
Starts with R, ends with HRICH→
26D
Dental care brand (5)
Starts with O, ends with BORALB→
27D
Place to exchange vows (5)
Starts with A, ends with RALTAR→
28D
Disney heroine with a sidekick named Pua (5)
Starts with M, ends with AMOANA→
29D
Breakfast option such as Trix or Chex, e.g. (10)
Starts with C, ends with LCOLDCEREAL→
31D
Chapel Hill school (Abbr.) (3)
Starts with U, ends with CUNC→
32D
Official decree (5)
Starts with E, ends with TEDICT→
34D
Tiny bit, in recipes (5)
Starts with P, ends with HPINCH→
37D
Tries to find (5)
Starts with S, ends with SSEEKS→
41D
___ Fighters (rock band) (3)
Starts with F, ends with OFOO→
42D
Fantasizes (8)
Starts with I, ends with SIMAGINES→
45D
Wimbledon divisions (4)
Starts with S, ends with SSETS→
47D
Biblical garden (4)
Starts with E, ends with NEDEN→
49D
Narrows gradually (6)
Starts with T, ends with STAPERS→
53D
Have a ball (5)
Starts with R, ends with LREVEL→
55D
Country home to Luxor and Cairo (5)
Starts with E, ends with TEGYPT→
56D
___ Spice (Victoria Beckham's nickname) (4)
Starts with P, ends with HPOSH→
57D
Trade show (4)
Starts with E, ends with OEXPO→
59D
Not prerecorded (4)
Starts with L, ends with ELIVE→
60D
Praise highly (4)
Starts with L, ends with DLAUD→
61D
Crude person (4)
Starts with B, ends with RBOOR→
62D
Frozen waffle brand (4)
Starts with E, ends with OEGGO→
63D
Right on a map (4)
Starts with E, ends with TEAST→
65D
Bill ___ the Science Guy (3)
Starts with N, ends with ENYE→
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 21, 2026?+
78 clues: 39 Across and 39 Down.
What are some answers in today’s USA Today Crossword?+
For example: Off-road rides, for short (ATVS); Passing fancies (WHIMS); "Mamma Mia!" quartet (ABBA).
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.
