Universal Crossword Today: Answers for October 21 2026

The complete list of answers to the Universal Crossword published on October 21 2026.

78
Total Clues
37
Total Across
41
Total Down

Clues Across (37 total)

(1)
Sleep on it!
The answer is:
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(4)
(10)
Mouth-related
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(14)
Place for a piercing
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(15)
Wore away
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(16)
Walk nervously
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(17)
(19)
Grew older
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(20)
Oz dog
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(21)
"You've Got Mail" co.
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(22)
Doing nothing
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(24)
Uses a straw
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(26)
Current state of affairs (... letters 3-7)
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(30)
To each ___ own
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(32)
Golf tee, e.g.
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(33)
"I can't with that"
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(34)
Create, as an architectural plan
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(37)
Venus de ___
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(38)
Goal of a PR stunt (... letters 2-7)
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(42)
Elaborate prank
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(43)
Appeared
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(44)
Mo. to enjoy pumpkin spice
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(45)
Speedometer stat
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(47)
Toboggans, e.g.
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(50)
Certain platonic admiration (... letters 4-7)
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(54)
Rain delay covers
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(56)
"One other thing ..."
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(57)
Purpose
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(59)
Indian wrap
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(60)
Great white shark predator
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(62)
Gym playlist ... or a theme hint
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(65)
"Excuse me?"
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(66)
Crisp beers
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(67)
Marvel's ___-Man
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(68)
Civil Rights pioneer Parks
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(69)
Two-channel sound system
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(70)
Filthy room
The answer is:
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Clues Down (41 total)

(1)
Defeats
The answer is:
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(2)
Eschew cooking, say
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(3)
Debbie Downer portrayer Rachel
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(4)
Centenarian Brooks
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(5)
Vicinity
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(6)
Brand symbols
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(7)
Do grown-up tasks, in slang
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(8)
Male name hidden in this clue
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(9)
It's full of pop-ups
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(10)
Iridescent gems
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(11)
Angrily leave a game
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(12)
Card worth 1 or 11 in blackjack
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(13)
Was ahead
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(18)
Bulbasaur and Charizard can be found in it
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(23)
Made a hole
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(25)
Address for a king
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(27)
___ of one's eye
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(28)
Not pretty
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(29)
Cry of amused surprise
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(31)
Genre for Lil Baby
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(35)
Jet Li's martial arts specialty
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(36)
Yam used to flavor desserts
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(37)
Iraq's region
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(38)
An ellipse has two of them
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(39)
Exhausting lifestyles
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(40)
WhatsApp chats, briefly
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(41)
Boston NBAer
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(42)
Person who doesn't share
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(45)
Roast hosts, for short
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(46)
Searches for prey
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(48)
"Squid Game" and "The White Lotus"
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(49)
Run like Usain Bolt
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(51)
Sacred animal in Inca culture
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(52)
Boot camp nickname
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(53)
Person on the Appalachian Trail
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(55)
Youngest sexagenarian's age
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(58)
Cry from an unsatisfied toddler
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(60)
Rower's need
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(61)
Letter after pi
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(63)
Granola grain
The answer is:
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(64)
Bob Hope's group, once: Abbr.
The answer is:
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More Universal Puzzles

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Event Date, October 2026

About the Universal Crossword

The Universal Crossword is the original crossword puzzle from Andrews McMeel Syndication. It features daily crosswords full of fresh clues in a 15x15 grid, with a larger 21x21 Sunday grid for more experienced and challenge-seeking word game enthusiasts.

Andrews McMeel Syndication is a content syndicate providing content for print, online, and mobile apps. They distribute daily puzzles and games seen in newspapers and media worldwide. Products include puzzles and games edited by David Steinberg and Pat Sajak, such as crosswords, Sudoku, jigsaw puzzles, and Jumble.

David Steinberg is the editor of the Universal Crossword. He's a puzzle enthusiast who first began publishing crosswords when he was just 14 years old. His first puzzle was featured in The New York Times, and he then went on to become a crossword editor for other publications before landing at Andrews McMeel Syndication. Steinberg has published several puzzles in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and USA Today.

Where to play

The Universal Crossword is a syndicated puzzle, so it's available to play on various websites, apps, and print media worldwide. To play the Universal Crossword direct, you can visit The Puzzle Society, a web service owned by Andrews McMeel Universal.

There's a new puzzle daily, but members can also unlock hundreds of additional levels and puzzle archives.

Tips for solving the Universal Crossword

Here are some tips to help you solve the Universal Crossword daily puzzle:

  1. Focus on fill-in-the-blank clues first because they are generally the easiest.
  2. Focus on one portion of the crossword puzzle at a time.
  3. Try to build off your current answers with letters you already know.
  4. Pay attention to the puzzle's theme, as this may give you hints to solve clues.
  5. Don't be afraid to look up an answer if you're stumped!