Crossword Clues Starting with A

789 crossword clues, each with the answer plus links to play the puzzles they appear in.

A short piece of writing on a particular subject

ESSAY (5)

A short story, typically with animals as characters, conveying a moral.

FABLE (5)

A traditional story sometimes popularly regarded as historical but unauthenticated.

LEGEND (6)

A large group of states or countries under one ruler

EMPIRE (6)

A group of instrumentalists, especially one combining string, woodwind, brass, and percussion sections.

ORCHESTRA (9)

A custom or belief passed down through generations

TRADITION (9)

A dramatic work set to music

OPERA (5)

A long poem, typically one derived from ancient oral tradition, narrating the deeds and adventures of heroic or legendary figures.

EPIC (4)

A specialist who predicts a suspects behavior and traits

PROFILER (8)

Atoms of the same element with different numbers of neutrons

ISOTOPE (7)

A large round object that circles a star

PLANET (6)

A claim that one was elsewhere when a crime occurred

ALIBI (5)

A small rocky body orbiting the sun

ASTEROID (8)

A play for theater, radio, or television.

DRAMA (5)

An action that is against the law

CRIME (5)

A classic game of toss and retrieve.

FETCH (5)

Antarctic flightless bird

PENGUIN (7)

A solution that resists changes in pH

BUFFER (6)

A play with songs and dances

MUSICAL (7)

A big 'son' of the plains, often seen near Yellowstone.

BISON (5)

An extra performance at the end of a show

ENCORE (6)

A quick left-right track sequence designed to slow cars down.

CHICANE (7)

Actor who shocked Vegas attendees with a bearded return

EVANS (5)

A plant with a long thin stem that grows along the ground

VINE (4)

An invitation to play in the tournament.

BID (3)

A popular style of frozen dessert from Italy

GELATO (6)

A flat metal container used for frying

PAN (3)

A movie genre with magic and mythical creatures

FANTASY (7)

A single tone of definite pitch made by a musical instrument or the human voice.

NOTE (4)

A device for making music

INSTRUMENT (10)

Actor turned acclaimed director of 'Unforgiven'

EASTWOOD (8)

An illegal deceptive move by the guy on the rubber

BALK (4)

A peaceful state, oddly, for well-being.

ZEN (3)

A genre of popular music that originated in its modern form in the mid-1950s

POP (3)

A contrasting section that connects the verse and chorus

BRIDGE (6)

A new show born from the ashes of an old favorite.

SPINOFF (7)

A vast dry grassland that sounds like a single stair

STEPPE (6)

An autonomous entity that acts upon its environment

AGENT (5)

All the animals of a region, a 'fun A' description.

FAUNA (5)

A smooth and creamy seasoned soup of French origin based on crustacean broth

BISQUE (6)

Also known as Farsi

PERSIAN (7)

A person who shifts into a large wolf to protect the tribe

WEREWOLF (8)

A two wheeled vehicle pulled by horses in ancient battles

CHARIOT (7)

Ancient region of France, a painful place for Romans.

GAUL (4)

A climbing vine that often grows up the walls of buildings

IVY (3)

Atom with the same number of protons but different neutrons

ISOTOPE (7)

Ancient Roman tongue

LATIN (5)

A Texas city where it was all a dream

DALLAS (6)

A revived ancient tongue now spoken in the Middle East

HEBREW (6)

A purebred competitor's documented lineage

PEDIGREE (8)

Australian mutant portrayer who constantly trades friendly jabs with Reynolds.

HUGH (4)

A dramatic work set to music for singers and instrumentalists

OPERA (5)

A piece of metal used as money in ancient trade

COIN (4)

A large area covered chiefly with trees and undergrowth

FOREST (6)

An ancient physical and mental practice from India

YOGA (4)

Another world genre, where 'I' seek 'ai'.

ISEKAI (6)

Another word for a picture or visual representation

IMAGE (5)

A composition for an instrumental soloist, often with piano accompaniment, typically in several movements.

SONATA (6)

Afternoon break in a match

TEA (3)

A feeling of great pleasure and happiness

JOY (3)

A priest or priestess acting as a medium for prophecy

ORACLE (6)

A single continuous recording made by a camera

SHOT (4)

A measure of how much 'stuff' is in an object

MASS (4)

Actress vanishing into the role of Sue Storm

KIRBY (5)

A piece of ground used for growing flowers, fruit, or vegetables.

GARDEN (6)

A mathematical function describing the location of an electron

ORBITAL (7)

Any of the eight small bones that make up the wrist

CARPAL (6)

A composite particle made of quarks held together by the strong force

HADRON (6)

A team's turn to bat

INNINGS (7)

A hot poppy, perhaps, describes land features.

TOPOGRAPHY (10)

Aesthetic plan, 'signs' rearranged.

DESIGN (6)

A quick, informal photograph

SNAPSHOT (8)

A basic unit of text such as a word or subword for an LLM

TOKEN (5)

Advanced analytics database that historically predicts the champion based on efficiency.

KENPOM (6)

A harmless lie in a capsule

PLACEBO (7)

A six-carbon aromatic ring structure

BENZENE (7)

A common protein often featured in popular cooking shows.

CHICKEN (7)

A microscopic travel agent for disease

PATHOGEN (8)

A 'so' mix for a decorative pattern.

MOSAIC (6)

A crisp round fruit that can be red or green

APPLE (5)

A material like paper made from a water plant

PAPYRUS (7)

A custom or belief passed down over time

TRADITION (9)

A crimson timber that reaches for the clouds

REDWOOD (7)

A clever but false argument used to deceive

SOPHISM (7)

A set of rules for a processor to follow during problem solving

ALGORITHM (9)

A separate line of development in version control

BRANCH (6)

A religious or other solemn ceremony or act

RITE (4)

A brass musical instrument with a flared bell and a bright tone

TRUMPET (7)

A three-leafed plant used as a symbol for Saint Patricks Day

SHAMROCK (8)

A plastic device used to amplify and resonate a hunter's bugle

TUBE (4)

A matchstick girl in the kitchen

JULIENNE (8)

A team's ranking in their region, from 1 to 16.

SEED (4)

A coiled fossil that once swam in circles

AMMONITE (8)

Aggressive shot hit hard and high, often without much technique

SLOG (4)

A horizontal support across the top of a door or window

LINTEL (6)

A musician who tried to rescue his wife from death

ORPHEUS (7)

A style of bowling where the ball rotates and turns

SPIN (4)

A flowery substance that ignited a war of trade and addiction

OPIUM (5)

A locomotive way to prepare for a marathon

TRAIN (5)

A discrete packet of electromagnetic radiation or light

PHOTON (6)

A place to display photographs

GALLERY (7)

A city in Syria's eastern desert where shadow forces regroup.

MADI (4)

A serious play with a sad or disastrous ending

TRAGEDY (7)

A performance or broadcast

SHOW (4)

A picture made from small colored pieces of glass or tile

MOSAIC (6)

A parameter in a neural network

WEIGHT (6)

An error in a program

BUG (3)

A living god who spent his life preparing for a tomb

PHARAOH (7)

A tree that stays sharp all winter

CONIFER (7)

A small object from which a new plant can grow.

SEED (4)

A large unit of the Roman army

LEGION (6)

A desert plant with spines and no leaves.

CACTUS (6)

A cloud of gas and dust in outer space

NEBULA (6)

A go-ay, perhaps, for flexibility.

YOGA (4)

A flat-topped table where giants might dine

MESA (4)

Ancient invention, turns things around.

WHEEL (5)

A piece of writing that expresses emotions, ideas, or experiences in an imaginative style.

POEM (4)

An arched brick or stone ceiling or roof

VAULT (5)

A small file that can be used to track web sessions

COOKIE (6)

Actress ___ Burns, who delivered the legendary line

HEATHER (7)

A distinctive mode of pronunciation typical of a particular locality

ACCENT (6)

Area of the body that might hold tension for a fixed earth sign

NECK (4)

Arid land with sparse vegetation

DESERT (6)

An orchestral piece at the beginning of an opera

OVERTURE (8)

A self-portrait photo

SELFIE (6)

A term relating to the moon

LUNAR (5)

A serious play, often with intense conflict.

DRAMA (5)

A stony pointed reminder of a pharaoh's ego

PYRAMID (7)

A group of citizens who decide the verdict

JURY (4)

A famous actor or performer

STAR (4)

A ranking number from 1 to 16, though a No. 5 has historically never won the national title.

SEED (4)

A serpent-haired woman whose gaze turns men to stone

MEDUSA (6)

Adjective for the former president's frequently bandaged hand.

BRUISED (7)

An account of a real person's life written by someone else

BIOGRAPHY (9)

A narrative of events or happenings.

TALE (4)

A long, loose outer garment

ROBE (4)

A long fictional story, often found in classic literature.

NOVEL (5)

Animal often associated with the logo

BULL (4)

Atomic or cellular core

NUCLEUS (7)

A small section or part of an act

SCENE (5)

Automated machine often used in factories

ROBOT (5)

A statement of intent to cause harm or pain

THREAT (6)

Ancient order the child once trained with

JEDI (4)

A tall woody grass that is the primary food for pandas

BAMBOO (6)

A sequence of events, or a captivating show.

SERIES (6)

A judgment that a person is not guilty

ACQUITTAL (9)

A piece of land that is surrounded by its own reflection

ISLE (4)

All the actors in a play

CAST (4)

An autonomous entity that perceives and acts

AGENT (5)

A named storage location

VARIABLE (8)

An interval of eight notes

OCTAVE (6)

A colorful, delicate part of a flower.

PETAL (5)

A statement of an intention to inflict pain or injury

THREAT (6)

A lively style of dance and music from Latin America

SALSA (5)

A follow-up entry, like the recently announced Until Dawn 2.

SEQUEL (6)

A dealer in small items for sewing or mens clothing

HABERDASHER (11)

A formal examination of evidence in a court

TRIAL (5)

A helpful dime dropped right before a bucket.

ASSIST (6)

A team's matching shirt, shorts, and socks

KIT (3)

Audiophile's hardware used to spin recent Record Store Day acquisitions.

TURNTABLE (9)

A supernatural creature that drinks blood and has pale skin

VAMPIRE (7)

A man who performs a character in a play or movie

ACTOR (5)

A humorous imitation or parody of something serious.

SPOOF (5)

Audio output device

SPEAKER (7)

Acronym for a popular utility vehicle like the GLS

SUV (3)

A sea flower, often a 'nem o' one.

ANEMONE (7)

A separate composition or set of compositions by a particular composer, usually numbered

OPUS (4)

All-tongue, like a sauce that shines brightly and optimistically.

PANGLOSS (8)

A restart kick taken from the intersection of the touchline and goal line

CORNER (6)

A speller might ask for this word history to help figure out the root.

ETYMOLOGY (9)

An item worn over the face during a masquerade ball or Venice festival

MASK (4)

A powerful software component

ENGINE (6)

A person who works for a government department like the FBI

AGENT (5)

A traditional story sometimes popularly regarded as historical

LEGEND (6)

A data type with two possible values: true or false

BOOLEAN (7)

A person who has committed a crime

CRIMINAL (8)

A genre of imaginative fiction involving magic and adventure, especially in a setting other than the real world.

FANTASY (7)

A main division of a play

ACT (3)

A cold system of labor where millions were frozen out of time

GULAG (5)

A systematic review of security measures

AUDIT (5)

A large ensemble of instrumentalists playing classical music

ORCHESTRA (9)

Assessments of popularity, often for television.

RATINGS (7)

A small black or green Mediterranean fruit frequently sliced on top.

OLIVE (5)

A three-legged stand for a camera

TRIPOD (6)

A weapon carried by agents for protection

GUN (3)

A burst of light used in dark conditions

FLASH (5)

Agency currently celebrating the 45th anniversary of this historic program.

NASA (4)

A cute duck built a Roman water bridge.

AQUEDUCT (8)

A shot drained from beyond the three-point arc.

TRIPLE (6)

A group of people chosen to give advice or make laws

COUNCIL (7)

A small sample of the truth under the microscope

BIOPSY (6)

A starchy tuber often confused with a sweet potato in American markets

YAM (3)

A magical trinket, or one of the marshmallow shapes in a famous cereal

CHARM (5)

A hidden microphone or a gritty Baltimore system

WIRE (4)

A compact SUV model name

GLC (3)

An act that is against the law

CRIME (5)

A turn at batting

INNINGS (7)

A machine designed to work safely alongside human colleagues

COBOT (5)

An ancient language origin that gives us the 'ph' spelling for the 'f' sound.

GREEK (5)

A person who performs in plays or movies

ACTOR (5)

A colorful cup-shaped flower often associated with spring

TULIP (5)

A building or room containing collections of books

LIBRARY (7)

A hexed domestic bliss across the decades

WANDAVISION (11)

A city where the education was a real battle

SPARTA (6)

An entire cinematic universe of connected films, spin-offs, and merchandise.

FRANCHISE (9)

A long, accompanied song for a solo voice, typically in an opera or oratorio.

ARIA (4)

A distinct event, part of a longer series.

EPISODE (7)

An arrangement of flowers or leaves in a circle

WREATH (6)

Athenian high city.

ACROPOLIS (9)

A stone bridge built to carry water into cities

AQUEDUCT (8)

A teething puppy's favorite destructive activity involving your shoes.

CHEW (4)

Ancient cultural and linguistic roots shared by the Irish, Scottish, and Welsh.

CELTIC (6)

A tight squeeze for twenty percent of global crude flows.

HORMUZ (6)

A tier in, for the eye's light-sensitive layer.

RETINA (6)

A vulnerability that is attacked before a fix is available

ZEROYDAY (8)

A large natural stream, re-IV-er, flows through many parks.

RIVER (5)

A public officer appointed to decide cases in a law court

JUDGE (5)

A physical or digital device used for two factor authentication

TOKEN (5)

A woodwind instrument with a high-pitched sound, played by blowing across a hole

FLUTE (5)

An account of imaginary or real people and events told for entertainment.

STORY (5)

An investor who expects prices to fall

BEAR (4)

A grueling race covering exactly 26.2 miles

MARATHON (8)

A serious crime usually involving violence

FELONY (6)

A strategic tap of the bat rather than a full swing

BUNT (4)

A key design principle of the brand

ELEGANCE (8)

A white liquid often poured over cereal

MILK (4)

A motherly machine for a reluctant pilot

EVA (3)

Ancient pursuit of turning base metals into gold.

ALCHEMY (7)

A play dealing with tragic events and having an unhappy ending.

TRAGEDY (7)

Acronym for the massive models trained on vast datasets

LLM (3)

A large ensemble of instrumentalists

ORCHESTRA (9)

A flowery home for a clown

ANEMONE (7)

A comedic stunt or physical bit of humor.

GAG (3)

A composition for an instrumental soloist, often with piano accompaniment

SONATA (6)

A document ordering a witness to attend court

SUBPOENA (8)

A person who performs in plays or films

ACTOR (5)

A quick four-game victory that brings out the brooms.

SWEEP (5)

A gradual increase in loudness in a piece of music

CRESCENDO (9)

A symbolic figure or character in a writing system

GLYPH (5)

A framework of rafters and posts supporting a roof

TRUSS (5)

A naval unit like the Kurdistan, targeted in Bandar Abbas.

ASSET (5)

A deceptive maneuver designed to hide the truth.

RUSE (4)

A professional who represents clients in legal matters

LAWYER (6)

A single unit of ownership in a corporation

SHARE (5)

A unique fixed length string representing a piece of data

HASH (4)

A stone cold way to make a print

LITHOGRAPH (10)

A contrasting section that prepares for the return of the original material

BRIDGE (6)

A short story that teaches a moral lesson often with animals

FABLE (5)

Aviation pioneer whose surname graces the venue of the French Open.

GARROS (6)

A piece of land surrounded by water like Royale

ISLE (4)

Adolphe's brassy woodwind hybrid

SAXOPHONE (9)

A musical slicer that plays with fingers

MANDOLINE (9)

Artist who released 'THIS MUSIC MAY CONTAIN HOPE.' in March 2026.

RAYE (4)

Automated machine

ROBOT (5)

A unit of 'dos' out for the artist's space.

STUDIO (6)

A 'master' piece of work, truly exceptional.

MASTERPIECE (11)

A daily record of news and events of a personal nature; a diary.

JOURNAL (7)

A Japanese style breadcrumb that is flakier and airier than the standard version

PANKO (5)

A waterproof jacket or a boring person

ANORAK (6)

Area protected from direct sunlight

SHADE (5)

A principle or set of principles laid down by an authority as incontrovertibly true

DOGMA (5)

A French bread with a high egg and butter content giving it a rich crumb

BRIOCHE (7)

A person whose occupation is to investigate and solve crimes

DETECTIVE (9)

A limb growing out from a tree trunk

BRANCH (6)

A wooden paddle serving up several small tasting glasses for the indecisive.

FLIGHT (6)

An idea that spreads rapidly online, like a certain curly-haired singer on the thirtieth of April.

MEME (4)

A good one of these in the passenger seat is crucial for sharing the driving.

COMPANION (9)

A covering for the face, often used in ceremonies

MASK (4)

A specific legal matter or dispute

CASE (4)

A best-of-seven showdown between two playoff contenders.

SERIES (6)

A building where movies are shown

THEATER (7)

A wood chipper's cold outcome in Minnesota

FARGO (5)

Anton ___, 18th-century pioneer of modern beekeeping born on May 20

JANSA (5)

A short promotional clip hinting at next year's drama.

TEASER (6)

A large meal typically held to celebrate a special occasion

FEAST (5)

A set piece taken from the flag after a defender knocks it out of bounds.

CORNER (6)

A final performance or concluding narrative arc.

SWANSONG (8)

A group of close-knit, interrelated families

CLAN (4)

A hot worker, creating power from water's breath.

STEAMENGINE (11)

A short, flared ruffle attached at the waistline of a jacket or bodice.

PEPLUM (6)

A grand depression that is anything but sad

CANYON (6)

A photograph of a person

PORTRAIT (8)

An instance of a class

OBJECT (6)

A nickname for the American football field

GRIDIRON (8)

Airborne celebration that concludes the event

TOSS (4)

An arena for track cycling events

VELODROME (9)

A fragile silence that everyone wants but few truly trust.

CEASEFIRE (9)

Ancient paper, a spy runs back to us.

PAPYRUS (7)

African team that shocked critics by qualifying for the 2026 Super 8s

ZIMBABWE (8)

An internal itch that can only be scratched by crime

COMULSION (9)

An aggressive move toward the basket

DRIVE (5)

Another highly extensible text editor

EMACS (5)

A nice snare, S.A., rebirth of art.

RENAISSANCE (11)

Anna saves a grassy plain

SAVANNA (7)

All-Father prayed to in the second teaser

ODIN (4)

A brief appearance by the director in their own film

CAMEO (5)

A repeated rhythmic phrase or song

CHANT (5)

A kick used to turn over possession of the ball downfield

PUNT (4)

Another word for a picture or photograph

IMAGE (5)

A limb of a tree extending from the trunk.

BRANCH (6)

A person skilled in sports or physical exercise

ATHLETE (7)

All the actors in a production

CAST (4)

A circular stage where the audience decided who lived or died

COLOSSEUM (9)

A group of musicians, or developers conducting intelligent systems?

ORCHESTRA (9)

A pigment of your imagination found in onions and apples

QUERCETIN (9)

American Theatre ___ (organization behind the Tonys)

WING (4)

A set of related TV shows or movies

SERIES (6)

A part of an act in a play

SCENE (5)

Austroasiatic language that uses a Latin based script

VIETNAMESE (10)

A predictable sequence of actions that brings security

ROUTINE (7)

Abundance of valuable possessions governed by the house of values

WEALTH (6)

Aristocratic-sounding middle moniker.

FAUNTLEROY (10)

A gas, oddly, for long tale.

SAGA (4)

A photo taken of yourself

SELFIE (6)

A flower with a yellow center and white petals

DAISY (5)

A rare four-leafed mutation of this plant is considered highly fortunate

CLOVER (6)

A dramatic clash between the bright and the shadowed

CHIAROSCURO (11)

Acclaimed actress Sandra, joining the cast of the 2026 adaptation.

HULLER (6)

A dissociative state where the shadow takes control

TRANCE (6)

A fluid's resistance to flowing

VISCOSITY (9)

A musical piece sung in a show

SONG (4)

A mischievous practical joke played on an unsuspecting friend.

PRANK (5)

A long poem narrating the deeds of heroic figures

EPIC (4)

A fierce, often local rivalry match between two familiar clubs.

DERBY (5)

A three-dimensional work of art carved from stone or wood

STATUE (6)

A book, document, or piece of music written by hand

MANUSCRIPT (10)

Animated art, seen in a mine, perhaps.

ANIME (5)

A stringed musical instrument, the highest-pitched of the violin family

VIOLIN (6)

Auric treasure guarded by a mythical sprite

GOLD (4)

A spiritual manifestation that stays by your side

STAND (5)

A realm that promised a millennium but delivered a decade of ruin

REICH (5)

A bracket-____ is an unexpected win that ruins your predictions.

BUSTER (6)

Adjective for the sixteen teams that survive the first weekend

SWEET (5)

A person who writes books

AUTHOR (6)

A pointed summit, or a moment of greatest intensity.

PEAK (4)

A vehicle used to travel into outer space

ROCKET (6)

A mythical creature often represented by a long puppet in Chinese New Year

DRAGON (6)

A decorated platform on wheels used in a parade

FLOAT (5)

A person who writes poems.

POET (4)

A 2-3 or 1-3-1 defensive scheme, rather than man-to-man

ZONE (4)

A dramatic performance

PLAY (4)

A large chip, perhaps, makes up this island group.

ARCHIPELAGO (11)

A potential danger that could exploit a vulnerability

THREAT (6)

A wooden-sounding support for your lower back

LUMBAR (6)

A simplified speech used for communication between different groups

PIDGIN (6)

A ribbon of syrup woven throughout the tub

SWIRL (5)

A movie genre meant to make you laugh

COMEDY (6)

Arankingnumberfrom1to16assignedtoateambytheselectioncommittee.

SEED (4)

A scary movie designed to frighten viewers

HORROR (6)

A woodwind instrument with a double-reed mouthpiece.

OBOE (4)

A place where professional photos are often taken

STUDIO (6)

A trio born from the exact same pregnancy.

TRIPLETS (8)

A decorated container filled with sweets to be broken

PIATA (5)

"All systems ___" (2026 WWDC official tagline).

GLOW (4)

A traditional story, often involving supernatural beings

MYTH (4)

A pass that leads directly to a score

ASST (4)

A common transition effect in film

FADE (4)

A self replicating program that spreads across networks

WORM (4)

A dream on, a spiral galaxy (anag)

ANDROMEDA (9)

An evergreen tree with needles and cones.

PINE (4)

A book for holding photographs

ALBUM (5)

A small, green plant that grows in dense clumps, often on rocks.

MOSS (4)

Actress Kidman who co-chaired the 2026 spectacle

NICOLE (6)

A rich pea, go for a group of islands!

ARCHIPELAGO (11)

Air-conditioned tent often hosting punk, Latin, and indie rock

SONORA (6)

An automatic or at-large invitation to the tournament

BID (3)

A measure of disorder or randomness in a physical system

ENTROPY (7)

A stringed musical instrument of treble pitch, played with a horsehair bow

VIOLIN (6)

A small, devoted group, often for a niche show.

CULT (4)

A woolly wanderer saying goodbye to its son

BISON (5)

A component in a transmission

GEAR (4)

A play characterized by its humorous or satirical tone and its depiction of amusing incidents.

COMEDY (6)

A figure that is completely stone-faced

STATUE (6)

A legendary monkey king who loves a good meal

GOKU (4)

A supportive friend outside the community who stands up for equality

ALLY (4)

A long fictional story, often found in a book

NOVEL (5)

A high-flying slam that hypes up the crowd.

DUNK (4)

A day of festivity or recreation when no work is done

HOLIDAY (7)

A deserving team that gets surprisingly left out by the committee.

SNUB (4)

A quantity having direction as well as magnitude

VECTOR (6)

A sequence of matches played between two teams

SERIES (6)

A devastating collision of alternate Earths

INCURSION (9)

A system of religious veneration and devotion directed toward a particular figure or object

CULT (4)

AI research company behind Claude

ANTHROPIC (9)

A place where a dead person is buried

TOMB (4)

A massive system of stars and gas clouds

GALAXY (6)

A secret word or phrase used to gain access

PASSWORD (8)

A deep gorge, can you imagine one without water?

CANYON (6)

A linear dream or a desert mirage in the Tabuk Province.

NEOM (4)

A religious or solemn ceremony performed regularly

RITUAL (6)

Amphibian known for jumping

FROG (4)

A filmmaker's first outing, eligible for a specific golden prize

DEBUT (5)

Actor who traded a high-tech iron suit for a green cloak

DOWNEY (6)

Annoyingly rough, like cheese treatment

GRATE (5)

A dramatic work in one or more acts, set to music for singers and instrumentalists

OPERA (5)

A single part of a movie that takes place in one location

SCENE (5)

Advanced learning method, often paired with 'neural'

DEEP (4)

A seasoning, or the British Girl Power group that paved the way for late nineties pop.

SPICE (5)

A champion show dog's father

SIRE (4)

Afternoon screening that usually offers a slightly cheaper admission fee.

MATINEE (7)

A shout to the umpire asking for a player to be out

APPEAL (6)

A group of similar data points identified in unsupervised learning

CLUSTER (7)

A long projecting beam fixed at only one end

CANTILEVER (10)

An imagined place where everything is perfect

UTOPIA (6)

An artistic dance form performed to music using precise and highly formalized set steps and gestures

BALLET (6)

A phone connection

LINE (4)

A machine capable of carrying out complex actions automatically

ROBOT (5)

An instrument used to see distant objects in space

TELESCOPE (9)

Aerodynamic advantage behind another car

SLIPSTREAM (10)

A three legged stand used to hold a camera steady

TRIPOD (6)

A unique act done by a criminal to satisfy emotional needs

SIGNATURE (9)

Atom with a different number of neutrons

ISOTOPE (7)

A person trained to travel in a spacecraft

ASTRONAUT (9)

A 'pin' at, for aged surface.

PATINA (6)

A motor that provides precise control of angular position

SERVO (5)

A famous moniker often preceded by Dark.

KNIGHT (6)

A chemical speed skater that never wears out

CATALYST (8)

A person who performs in a play

ACTOR (5)

A large meal, often part of a celebration

FEAST (5)

A story, often passed down through generations

TALE (4)

An aromatic evergreen tree often used to make chests and closets

CEDAR (5)

A whiffed at-bat resulting in a 'K' on the scorecard

STRIKEOUT (9)

A stringed instrument of the violin family, larger than a viola.

CELLO (5)

An excessive indulgence, often with a remote control.

BINGE (5)

Alkaline compound

BASE (4)

A period of learning, or the moral taken away from it

LESSON (6)

A measure of a section of the stock market

INDEX (5)

A sanctuary named for a holy hill

ZION (4)

A long strip of cloth with a design or message

BANNER (6)

An ionized state of matter often found in stars

PLASMA (6)

A celestial body of hot gases that emits light

STAR (4)

A specialized cell designed to transmit nerve impulses

NEURON (6)

Able to bend, or easily persuaded.

FLEXIBLE (8)

A person who writes books or articles.

AUTHOR (6)

A single tone in music

NOTE (4)

A loose outer garment worn by citizens of ancient Rome

TOGA (4)

A small river, or how you watch content online now.

STREAM (6)

A musical performance by a soloist

RECITAL (7)

A computer program or device that provides functionality for other programs

SERVER (6)

A person who writes music, especially as a professional occupation.

COMPOSER (8)

A 'sum' for me, oddly, in a grand building.

MUSEUM (6)

A festive gathering of friends, which this spring holiday encourages.

PARTY (5)

A small protuberance on a plant that develops into a flower or leaf.

BUD (3)

A sunken pot where the mountain used to be

CALDERA (7)

A rich marriage of cream and cocoa

GANACHE (7)

A chesty listener that keeps the heart in check

STETHOSCOPE (11)

A military ruler in a feudal Japanese epic

SHOGUN (6)

A multi-film cinematic universe that dominates the box office

FRANCHISE (9)

A razor-sharp solution for the head of state

GUILLOTINE (10)

A two-headed monster on your upper arm

BICEPS (6)

All of space and time and their contents

UNIVERSE (8)

A number from 1 to 16 assigned by the selection committee

SEED (4)

An indoor room where professional photos are taken

STUDIO (6)

A small dome-like structure on top of a larger roof or tower

CUPOLA (6)

A live musical performance

CONCERT (7)

Air-conditioned, club-like enclosure for house and techno fans.

YUMA (4)

A grassy plain where one might find a girl and a city combined

SAVANNA (7)

A devious bit of mischief or secret maneuvering.

SHENANIGAN (10)

A session where testimony and arguments are heard

HEARING (7)

A series of contests between a number of competitors

TOURNAMENT (10)

A category of artistic composition, like fantasy or mystery

GENRE (5)

A famous temple in Rome with a large circular dome

PANTHEON (8)

A tearful goodbye to beloved characters.

FAREWELL (8)

A person thought to be able to predict the future

ORACLE (6)

A badge of honor for a game that refuses to launch on rival systems.

EXCLUSIVE (9)

Alternative desktop environment, often paired with Plasma

KDE (3)

Apple's video calling service

FACETIME (8)

A popular flower with thorns and fragrant petals.

ROSE (4)

A lonely hill that sounds like it has a reservation

BUTTE (5)

Automated sequence of commands

SCRIPT (6)

A narrow view of the world needing correction

MYOPIA (6)

A commander whose name means thunder, silenced in a Beirut strike.

RAAD (4)

A collection of symptoms that define a deviant type

SYNDROME (8)

"A partnership that ___s us all" (2026 World Bee Day theme word)

SUSTAIN (7)

A slippery shocker hidden in the crevices

EEL (3)

A main division of a book

CHAPTER (7)

A loan made by an investor to a government or firm

BOND (4)

A written legal argument submitted to a court

BRIEF (5)

A soft round flat hat often associated with France

BERET (5)

A point for wanderers, but not in a storm.

COMPASS (7)

A gorgon whose gaze could turn men to stone

MEDUSA (6)

An official invitation to join the 68-team field.

BID (3)

A region that sounds like it needs a time-out

BADLANDS (8)

A garment worn by women or girls

DRESS (5)

A musical number in a show

SONG (4)

An organic compound derived from ammonia

AMINE (5)

A fundamental constituent of matter found in protons

QUARK (5)

An herb that tastes like soap to a certain percentage of the population

CILANTRO (8)

A score of zero runs for a batter

DUCK (4)

A tiny dot that makes up a digital image

PIXEL (5)

A head case in the sculpture department?

BUST (4)

A disturbance that transfers energy

WAVE (4)

A god who might trade his eyes for half a life

SHINIGAMI (9)

Ancient coffin of stone

SARCOPHAGUS (11)

A unique and repetitive behavior left at every crime scene

SIGNATURE (9)

Award many directors aspire to win

OSCAR (5)

A tree known for its thin white peeling bark

BIRCH (5)

A fee paid to use certain expressways or bridges.

TOLL (4)

A person who practices or studies law

LAWYER (6)

A genre with magic and imaginary worlds

FANTASY (7)

A human connection assistant

OPERATOR (8)

Adventurer who travels to unknown places.

EXPLORER (8)

A woodwind instrument with a single reed, used in orchestras and bands

CLARINET (8)

A utopia of red sandstone and narrow slots

ZION (4)

A playoff matchup that can stretch up to seven games.

SERIES (6)

Artificial hair worn by actors

WIGS (4)

A common hardwood tree that produces acorns

OAK (3)

A highly successful film, often a big hit.

BLOCKBUSTER (11)

A person who sees an event happen firsthand

WITNESS (7)

A stolen memento used to relive the thrill

TROPHY (6)

A double-digit seed making a fairy tale run.

CINDERELLA (10)

Animal mascot of the popular browser

FOX (3)

A legal case brought by one person against another

LAWSUIT (7)

A woodwind instrument with a double reed, known for its distinctive sound

OBOE (4)

A group of people with common ancestry and culture

TRIBE (5)

Ancient impact basins visible without magnification.

CRATERS (7)

A public performance

SHOW (4)

A yearly cycle of television programming.

SEASON (6)

A grassy river that flows forever

EVERGLADES (10)

A massive system of stars gas and dust held together by gravity

GALAXY (6)

Ancient rolled document

SCROLL (6)

A regular or repeated way in which something happens or is done

PATTERN (7)

A soft landing for a high flyer

PARACHUTE (9)

A wet spot in a dry argument

OASIS (5)

A unique language isolate spoken in the Pyrenees mountains

BASQUE (6)

Alphabet used for Russian, Bulgarian, and Serbian

CYRILLIC (8)

A male sovereign

KING (4)

A transparent object that refracts light into a spectrum

PRISM (5)

A term relating to the sun

SOLAR (5)

A place where stocks are bought and sold

MARKET (6)

A stranger in the blood that triggers a defensive reaction

ANTIGEN (7)

Actressreturningtoherteen-idolrootsforahighlyanticipated2026special[1.1].

MILEY (5)

A space entirely devoid of matter

VACUUM (6)

A quantity having direction and magnitude, or a data array

VECTOR (6)

A brass wind instrument that has a conical body and is played with a single-reed mouthpiece

SAX (3)

A person involved in a lawsuit

LITIGANT (8)

A powerful software component, like a recommendation one

ENGINE (6)

Aurora cable access host who loves Bohemian Rhapsody and his buddy Garth.

WAYNE (5)

A preview of an upcoming movie

TRAILER (7)

A woody part of a tree that grows out from the trunk

BRANCH (6)

A tiny unit of heat that makes your clothes shrink

CALORIE (7)

Any competitive activity

SPORT (5)

A natural earthy material that is plastic when wet

CLAY (4)

A place where legal cases are heard and judged

COURT (5)

An expedition to observe animals in the African wild

SAFARI (6)

A musical performance given in public

CONCERT (7)

A glowing insect or a space western cut short

FIREFLY (7)

A part of an act in a play during which the action takes place in a single location.

SCENE (5)

Ancient Celtic alphabet where letters are formed by lines on a central seam.

OGHAM (5)

A number indicating a franchise's playoff ranking.

SEED (4)

A large stringed instrument of the violin family, played between the legs

CELLO (5)

A long sequence of columns joined by their entablature

COLONNADE (9)

Adjustable part of a car's wing

FLAP (4)

A cartilaginous predator that must keep moving

SHARK (5)

A musical direction meaning 'fast and lively'

ALLEGRO (7)

A person thought to be guilty of a crime

SUSPECT (7)

An anthropologist who sees right through you

BONES (5)

A Brazilian dance style famous at Rio Carnival

SAMBA (5)

A person who performs a featured part alone

SOLOIST (7)

A free, playable taste of a game sometimes shadow-dropped during a show.

DEMO (4)

Ancient Greek poet credited with 'The Iliad'.

HOMER (5)

A composition for an instrumental soloist, often with a piano accompaniment, typically in several movements

SONATA (6)

A period for growing, or a run of shows.

SEASON (6)

An objective-driven space expedition, like STS-1.

MISSION (7)

A piece of data processed by a language model

TOKEN (5)

A large, elaborate meal

FEAST (5)

A category of artistic composition, as in music or literature, marked by a particular style.

GENRE (5)

A large painting applied directly to a wall or ceiling

MURAL (5)

Adorable quality, a sound of regret.

MOE (3)

A musical number in a movie

SONG (4)

A sweet, tropical fruit that sparks fierce debates on a Hawaiian order.

PINEAPPLE (9)

A killer's unnecessary but compulsive flourish

SIGNATURE (9)

Ankle bone or a pile of rocky debris

TALUS (5)

A light and airy baked dish that might collapse if you slam the oven door

SOUFFLE (7)

A valley or creek bottom where elk often seek water and thick cover

DRAINAGE (8)

A short sighted way of looking at things

MYOPIA (6)

A standard for measuring

METRIC (6)

A short message sent digitally

TEXT (4)

A cold blooded vertebrate that starts life in the water

AMPHIBIAN (9)

A part of a play or film where the action happens in one place

SCENE (5)

Annual Washington celebration drawing over a million visitors.

FESTIVAL (8)

A person who prepares written material for publication.

EDITOR (6)

Association members who get hit up for donations

ALUMNI (6)

A pure substance like gold or oxygen

ELEMENT (7)

A building where movies are shown on a large screen

CINEMA (6)

A massive sea of cheering music lovers.

CROWD (5)

Acidic building blocks that are anything but basic

AMINO (5)

A literal womb mate.

TWIN (4)

A team's numerical ranking heading into the playoffs.

SEED (4)

A team of sailors, or those behind the cameras.

CREW (4)

A great victory or achievement

TRIUMPH (7)

A statue with the body of a lion and a human head

SPHINX (6)

A plant whose leaves, seeds, or flowers are used for flavoring, food, medicine, or perfume.

HERB (4)

A glen, Tim, provides connective tissue.

LIGAMENT (8)

A historical entertainer who might have pulled a fast one on a king.

JESTER (6)

A large fragrant flower that often symbolizes purity

LILY (4)

A dedicated fan whose home is a sanctuary of ink

OTAKU (5)

A person who buys and sells stocks for others

BROKER (6)

A specific manufacturing batch of records, highly scrutinized by collectors.

PRESSING (8)

A small celestial body, like Pluto

DWARF (5)

A set of matching clothes worn by a sports team

UNIFORM (7)

A celebrated female singer

DIVA (4)

An infraction that forces an offending squad to play a man down

PENALTY (7)

A dance in triple time often associated with Strauss

WALTZ (5)

A traditional story, especially one concerning the early history of a people or explaining some natural or social phenomenon.

MYTH (4)

A flat topographical feature on a steep slope where elk frequently bed down

BENCH (5)

Artisan ensuring a celebrity's custom fit is flawless

TAILOR (6)

A story, especially an imaginary or incredible one.

TALE (4)

A set of six legal deliveries by a bowler

OVER (4)

A bright yellow root spice known for its anti inflammatory properties

TURMERIC (8)

A short run of related programs, mini-sized.

MINISERIES (10)

A musical composition for a solo instrument or instruments accompanied by an orchestra

CONCERTO (8)

An electronic musical instrument with keys

KEYBOARD (8)

A bridge like structure built to carry water to cities

AQUEDUCT (8)

A god in sis finds the identification of disease.

DIAGNOSIS (9)

Adorably cute, 'I' wait 'a' while for cuteness.

KAWAII (6)

A secret plan, or the storyline of a show.

PLOT (4)

A long distance messenger that never leaves the cell

AXON (4)

A genetic patchwork named after a Greek myth

CHIMERA (7)

An over in which absolutely no runs are scored off the bat

MAIDEN (6)

Ancient Egyptian king

PHARAOH (7)

Adds flavor, or a bit of zest to life

SPICE (5)

A fresh take on an old classic, like 2026's "Death of a Salesman"

REVIVAL (7)

A small island found within the pancreas

ISLET (5)

A utensil with tines used for eating

FORK (4)

A series of notes arranged in ascending or descending order of pitch

SCALE (5)

Air-cheating design, a 'mean dry coa' arrangement.

AERODYNAMIC (11)

A very successful and popular film

BLOCKBUSTER (11)

A building where plays are performed

THEATER (7)

All the actors in a film

CAST (4)

Air-conditioned indoor stage dedicated to underground house and techno

YUMA (4)

A long musical composition for a full orchestra

SYMPHONY (8)

Act of securing the ball after a missed jumper.

REBOUND (7)

A summer squash that can be spiraled into a low carb pasta alternative

ZUCCHINI (8)

A discrete packet of electromagnetic radiation

PHOTON (6)

Artist's greatest work

MASTERPIECE (11)

A public procession often featuring floats and marching bands

PARADE (6)

An official who enforces the rules in a game

REFEREE (7)

A master designer's private workshop or studio.

ATELIER (7)

An admired person, often for bravery

HERO (4)

A stable natural language developed from a mixture of others

CREOLE (6)

A device used to mark time by means of regular ticks

METRONOME (9)

A small type of planet, like Pluto

DWARF (5)

A piece of writing that uses rhythmic and often rhyming language.

POEM (4)

A lyrical poem, O.D.E. is a type of short work.

ODE (3)

A collection of information used to train a model

DATASET (7)

A stringed instrument, often strummed

GUITAR (6)

A new version of an old movie

REMAKE (6)

A nun's attire, or a usual practice

HABIT (5)

A brisk tempo, or ALL EGRO in disguise.

ALLEGRO (7)

An ethical hacker who helps strengthen security systems

WHITEHAT (8)

A rectangular column that projects slightly from a wall surface

PILASTER (8)

Afghan hound who ruled her group in 2026

ZAIDA (5)

Area where tires are changed and repairs occur

PITS (4)

A grand realm, prone to collapsing with time, or 'ripe' for change.

EMPIRE (6)

A calm piece of art by a master.

MASTERPIECE (11)

A set of rules or steps followed by a computer to solve a problem

ALGORITHM (9)

A stringed musical instrument, typically with six strings, played by plucking or strumming

GUITAR (6)

A large and luxurious country house for the wealthy

VILLA (5)

Ancient Greek teachers of rhetoric and persuasion

SOPHISTS (8)

A mobile phone, for short

CELL (4)

At maximum brightness, a prerequisite for the event in question.

FULL (4)

A circular opening in the center of a dome or wall

OCULUS (6)

An early model, quickly built with AI assistance, 'top rope' perhaps?

PROTOTYPE (9)

Award for a winner

MEDAL (5)

A biting remark made by acid on copper

ETCHING (7)

A thick stew from Louisiana traditionally thickened with okra or file powder

GUMBO (5)

A human barrier formed by defenders during a free kick

WALL (4)

A measurable property of an observed phenomenon

FEATURE (7)

A tasteful dinner party guest with a dark palate

HANNIBAL (8)

A sweeping, large-scale film, much like Nolan's latest summer offering

EPIC (4)

A pitch change that alters word meaning in Cantonese

TONE (4)

A floating bell named for a mythological gorgon

MEDUSA (6)

A dead body preserved by ancient Egyptian methods

MUMMY (5)

A large group of states or countries under a single supreme authority

EMPIRE (6)

A long, accompanied song for a solo voice, typically one in an opera or oratorio

ARIA (4)

A sour yellow citrus fruit

LEMON (5)

A trim line emphasizing sportiness and modernity

AVANTGARDE (10)

An additional performance requested by the audience

ENCORE (6)

A graphic tale from the East, a grass type perhaps?

MANGA (5)

A sequence of single notes that is musically satisfying

MELODY (6)

All existing matter and space as a whole

UNIVERSE (8)

A whole number data type

INTEGER (7)

A place where everybody knows your name

CHEEERS (7)

A practice session for the performers

REHEARSAL (9)

A serious play or show

DRAMA (5)

A stick that gets straight to the point

SKEWER (6)

A musical composition for voice

SONG (4)

A long fictional story written in prose

NOVEL (5)

Ancient copyist of manuscripts

SCRIBE (6)

Ancient liturgical language of Hinduism and the root of many Indian tongues

SANSKRIT (8)

A solemn promise to tell the truth

OATH (4)

An ancient roll of parchment or paper for writing or painting on

SCROLL (6)

A large area of land covered mostly by trees

FOREST (6)

Anadromous fish, 'man' gets 'sol' from its journey.

SALMON (6)

A person who poses for photographs

MODEL (5)

A soft pulp or a surgical unit in Korea

MASH (4)

Aerodynamic tow technique on the long straightaways.

DRAFTING (8)

A proposition, THE SIS-ter has a point.

THESIS (6)

A traditional story, especially one concerning the early history of a people

MYTH (4)

A short preview of a movie

TRAILER (7)

A piece of ground where people grow plants and flowers

GARDEN (6)

A director might ___ to be different

DARE (4)

A bizarre lineage with an adventurous spirit

JOJO (4)

A polite word or sign of welcome

GREETING (8)

A decorated platform built on a vehicle for a parade

FLOAT (5)

Audio device worn over ears

HEADSET (7)

A runaway box office success that exceeds all expectations

SMASH (5)

A substance that speeds up a reaction without being consumed

CATALYST (8)

Academic grounds the graduates are departing

CAMPUS (6)

A person trained to travel in space

ASTRONAUT (9)

A wide range of different identities and backgrounds

DIVERSITY (9)

A configurable value in an AI system

PARAMETER (9)

A person who sees an event or crime take place

WITNESS (7)

A slow tempo, or a slow movement in music.

ADAGIO (6)

Applying a touch of Midas to the frame

GILDING (7)

A hot-headed senior who blows off steam

GEYSER (6)

A system of communication used by a community

LANGUAGE (8)

A long musical composition for orchestra

SYMPHONY (8)

A book for storing photographs

ALBUM (5)

An act of welcoming someone

GREETING (8)

A repeated decorative design or sequence of events

PATTERN (7)

A haven in the desert; it's so hot, I say, confused

OASIS (5)

A tightly wrapped promise of a flower.

BUD (3)

Actor ___ Day, who voices the easily frightened, ghost-busting brother.

CHARLIE (7)

A public procession, especially for a celebration

PARADE (6)

A device that converts motion into a digital signal

ENCODER (7)

A feline form often found wearing maid attire

NEKO (4)

An armed fighter who entertained audiences in the arena

GLADIATOR (9)

A savory and spicy condiment originating from India made of fruits or vegetables

CHUTNEY (7)

A method of singing used by male singers to reach high notes

FALSETTO (8)

A large open area used for gladiator fights

ARENA (5)

A large ensemble of string brass woodwind and percussion

ORCHESTRA (9)

Argentine legend who finally lifted the cup in 2022

MESSI (5)

An acrobatic, overhead kick that requires going completely airborne.

BICYCLE (7)

A fat fate changed into a crisp fabric

TAFFETA (7)

A portion of company earnings paid to shareholders

DIVIDEND (8)

An alphabetical list of names or subjects at the back of a book

INDEX (5)

A streak of light in the sky caused by a burning rock

METEOR (6)

A repetitive control structure

LOOP (4)

A non-flowering plant with feathery fronds.

FERN (4)

A large outdoor arena for sports

STADIUM (7)

AI capability combining text, images, and audio, recently enhanced by OpenAI.

MULTIMODAL (10)

A sharp, pointed projection on the stem of some plants.

THORN (5)

A best-of-seven battle between two rivals.

SERIES (6)

A river that pays its respects to a larger one

TRIBUTARY (9)

A rebirth, often seen in art and the 'new' sense of things.

RENAISSANCE (11)

A short, fast run

SPRINT (6)

A substance with a molecular structure consisting of many similar units bonded together

POLYMER (7)

A tool used to see distant objects in space

TELESCO (7)

A score of zero, which no batter wants next to their name

DUCK (4)

A novel, play, or film dealing with a puzzling crime

MYSTERY (7)

A truck ride to a brand new life

ISEKAI (6)

A large outdoor fire built for a celebration

BONFIRE (7)

Academic leader heading a specific college

DEAN (4)

A musical entertainment given by a single performer or by two or more performers.

RECITALE (8)

A sweet nothing for the mind but not the body

PLACEBO (7)

A picture or symbol used in ancient Egyptian writing

HIEROGLYPH (10)

Audio accessory

HEADPHONE (9)

Adjective for the sixteen remaining squads in the regional semifinals.

SWEET (5)

A plate of color where artists mix their magic.

PALETTE (7)

A polite U, oddly, is an elevated flatland.

PLATEAU (7)

Author of The Republic and founder of the Academy

PLATO (5)

Ancient site of the games

OLYMPIA (7)

A sequence of characters

STRING (6)

Aplucky, low-seededteammakingamagicalandunexpectedrundeepintothetournament.

CINDERELLA (10)

A wooden frame used for holding an artist's work while painting

EASEL (5)

Artisanal approach to brewing that has exploded in popularity over recent decades.

CRAFT (5)

A large organized group of singers.

CHORUS (6)

A path that follows the scent of the feet

TRAIL (5)

A trained AI system, like GPT.

MODEL (5)

An attempt to compromise a computer system

ATTACK (6)

A medieval association of craftsmen or merchants

GUILD (5)

Amphitheatre, some lose cue, maybe.

COLOSSEUM (9)

AI systems that can perform complex tasks autonomously, a major focus for OpenAI.

AGENTS (6)

Ancient city known for its empire

ROME (4)

A tabletop for a giant in the desert

MESA (4)

Andrew who serves as the head curator of the institute

BOLTON (6)

A male elk, often the primary target for a trophy hunter

BULL (4)

A measure of inertia

MASS (4)

A monochromatic wolf of the waves

ORCA (4)

A musical tempo meaning slow and stately

ADAGIO (6)

A movie designed to keep you on the edge of your seat

THRILLER (8)

A low point between two peaks that serves as a natural travel corridor for elk

SADDLE (6)

A range of falling water or falling rocks

CASCADES (8)

A large meal, typically a celebratory one

FEAST (5)

A vampire who has recently been turned and has red eyes

NEWBORN (7)

A slow moving river of ice that carves through mountains

GLACIER (7)

A deep blue lake in a fallen summit

CRATER (6)

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