What is the answer to the USA Today Crossword clue "Like fish in need of scraping" from October 7, 2026?

Crossword clue

“Like fish in need of scraping”

This clue appeared as 53-Across in the USA Today Crossword on Wednesday, October 7, 2026. The answer has 5 letters.

Answer · 5 lettersFirst appearance

SCALY

Letters5

Starts withS

Ends withY

Vowels1

Where this clue has appeared

USA Today Crossword
Oct 7, 20265 letters→

About this clue

The clue “Like fish in need of scraping” ran in the USA Today Crossword on October 7, 2026 as 53-Across. Its answer is a 5-letter word that starts with S and ends with Y, with only 1 vowel, so think abbreviations or consonant clusters.

See every answer from the puzzle on the USA Today Crossword page for October 7, 2026, or learn how clues like this work in our guide to crossword clue types.

More clues from this puzzle

1AOnline forum admins, for short4 letters 5AGoals4 letters 9ASpeck in the sea4 letters 13ABitter-smelling5 letters 15AHurdle for an aspiring atty.4 letters 16AReady to receive a pass4 letters 17A"Nifty!"5 letters 18A"Just doing my best"4 letters

FAQ

What is the answer to the “Like fish in need of scraping” clue?+

The answer is SCALY (5 letters), from the USA Today Crossword of October 7, 2026.

Where has this clue appeared?+

We have seen it 1 time in the USA Today Crossword.

How do I find other USA Today Crossword answers?+

Open the full list of answers for October 7, 2026, or browse every date on the USA Today Crossword hub.