USA Today Crossword hints and answers for July 30, 2026
A hint and the answer for every clue, each behind its own button. Nothing is revealed until you tap.
Clues75
Across40
Down35
DayThursday
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
It twinkles in the night sky (4)
Starts with S, ends with RSTAR→
5A
Fancy neckwear (5)
Starts with A, ends with TASCOT→
10A
Rounded hairstyle (4)
Starts with A, ends with OAFRO→
14A
Part of a book (4)
Starts with P, ends with EPAGE→
15A
Gave out light (5)
Starts with S, ends with ESHONE→
16A
Gunky buildup (4)
Starts with C, ends with DCRUD→
17A
Company leader, for short (4)
Starts with E, ends with CEXEC→
18A
"Frida" actor Hayek (5)
Starts with S, ends with ASALMA→
19A
Signaled (4)
Starts with C, ends with DCUED→
21A
Respected community member (5)
Starts with E, ends with RELDER→
22A
Disencumbers (4)
Starts with R, ends with SRIDS→
23A
"Hold on!" (6)
Starts with I, ends with CINASEC→
25A
Openly queer (3)
Starts with O, ends with TOUT→
26A
Drifts through the air (5)
Starts with W, ends with SWAFTS→
28A
Za'atar and ___ (classic pairing in a dip) (8)
Starts with O, ends with LOLIVEOIL→
33A
Sound heard in a dog park (3)
Starts with A, ends with FARF→
34A
"Sagwa, the Chinese ___ Cat" (cartoon feline with a colorpoint coat) (7)
Starts with S, ends with ESIAMESE→
37A
Medication-approving org. (3)
Starts with F, ends with AFDA→
38A
Compete (3)
Starts with V, ends with EVIE→
39A
Unjust (7)
Starts with N, ends with RNOTFAIR→
40A
"Waterfalls" girl group (3)
Starts with T, ends with CTLC→
41A
"___ the Pearl" (nickname for basketball player Monroe) (4)
Starts with E, ends with LEARL→
43A
Highlighter colors (5)
Starts with N, ends with SNEONS→
44A
Singular or plural pronoun (4)
Starts with T, ends with YTHEY→
45A
Break a fast (3)
Starts with E, ends with TEAT→
47A
Recipient of many returns (3)
Starts with I, ends with SIRS→
48A
Forest frolicker (3)
Starts with D, ends with EDOE→
49A
Comment made with a wink (8)
Starts with H, ends with THINTHINT→
52A
Central character in Toni Morrison's "Jazz" (6)
Starts with V, ends with TVIOLET→
55A
Itty-bitty mint (6)
Starts with T, ends with CTICTAC→
56A
Make like new (7)
Starts with R, ends with ERESTORE→
57A
Part of a canopy (7)
Starts with T, ends with PTREETOP→
59A
Newsroom figures (7)
Starts with A, ends with SANCHORS→
60A
Surfaces and Zenbooks (3)
Starts with P, ends with SPCS→
61A
One-___-million chance (3)
Starts with I, ends with AINA→
62A
Cow's greeting (3)
Starts with M, ends with OMOO→
63A
Colorado time zone, for short (3)
Starts with M, ends with TMST→
64A
Tax ID (3)
Starts with S, ends with NSSN→
65A
Texting format (3)
Starts with S, ends with SSMS→
Down
2D
New York ___ Workers Alliance (drivers' union) (4)
Starts with T, ends with ITAXI→
3D
Features of May-December relationships (14)
Starts with A, ends with SAGEDIFFERENCES→
4D
Not that long ago (6)
Starts with R, ends with TRECENT→
5D
Obnoxious people (5)
Starts with A, ends with SASSES→
6D
Fossil-yielding rock (5)
Starts with S, ends with ESHALE→
7D
Something that offers little consolation (11)
Starts with C, ends with TCOLDCOMFORT→
8D
"This one's ___!" (4)
Starts with O, ends with EONME→
9D
Eye drop? (4)
Starts with T, ends with RTEAR→
10D
Amass over time (6)
Starts with A, ends with EACCRUE→
11D
Underwear brand whose logo is often misremembered as featuring a cornucopia (14)
Starts with F, ends with MFRUITOFTHELOOM→
12D
Deeply regretted (4)
Starts with R, ends with DRUED→
13D
Likelihood (4)
Starts with O, ends with SODDS→
24D
The "A" of PTA (Abbr.) (4)
Starts with A, ends with NASSN→
25D
Not obsessed with anymore (4)
Starts with O, ends with ROVER→
26D
Shore sight (4)
Starts with W, ends with EWAVE→
27D
"___ Code" (opera podcast) (4)
Starts with A, ends with AARIA→
30D
Egyptian goddess (4)
Starts with I, ends with SISIS→
31D
Doing nothing (4)
Starts with I, ends with EIDLE→
32D
Like some lingerie (4)
Starts with L, ends with YLACY→
35D
Tiny charged particle (3)
Starts with I, ends with NION→
36D
Didn't dine out (5)
Starts with A, ends with NATEIN→
42D
Frothy lavender drink, perhaps (5)
Starts with L, ends with ELATTE→
44D
Fairy's under-the-pillow find (5)
Starts with T, ends with HTOOTH→
46D
"In other words . . ." (6)
Starts with T, ends with STHATIS→
48D
Nightclubs with mirrored balls (6)
Starts with D, ends with SDISCOS→
49D
Letters before :// (4)
Starts with H, ends with PHTTP→
50D
"Unless I'm mistaken . . .," in a text (4)
Starts with I, ends with CIIRC→
51D
Clickable desktop images (5)
Starts with I, ends with SICONS→
52D
Viper's secretion (5)
Starts with V, ends with MVENOM→
53D
Makes a mistake (4)
Starts with E, ends with SERRS→
54D
It may require bubbling in answers (4)
Starts with T, ends with TTEST→
56D
Male sheep (4)
Starts with R, ends with SRAMS→
58D
Prefix with "sexual" (3)
Starts with P, ends with NPAN→
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 30, 2026?+
75 clues: 40 Across and 35 Down.
What are some answers in today’s USA Today Crossword?+
For example: It twinkles in the night sky (STAR); Fancy neckwear (ASCOT); Rounded hairstyle (AFRO).
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.
