Looking for a fun way to boost your brainpower? The USA TODAY Crossword is your perfect daily fit! This puzzle offers a mix of modern clues and straightforward answers in a compact grid. Whether you’re a pro solver or just starting your crossword journey, we’re here to help you cross the finish line. Below are the clues and solutions for today’s USA TODAY Crossword for November 9, 2025.

“Hopping Mad” Today's USA TODAY Crossword Answers: December 12, 2025 - 1

USA TODAY Crossword Clues for November 9, 2025

Grab your pencil or device and your sharpest wits! Here are the clues for today’s puzzle.

Across Clues: ➡️

  • 1A: Unspoken, yet understood — Starts with the letter “T”
  • 6A: Another name for a wildebeest — Starts with the letter “G”
  • 9A: ___ report (“Office Space” task now used to connote pointless paperwork) — Starts with the letter “T”
  • 12A: Show some feeling! — Starts with the letter “E”
  • 13A: Digits in a sock — Starts with the letter “T”
  • 14A: Traditionally red garment at a wedding — Starts with the letter “S”
  • 15A: Like Frigg and Odin — Starts with the letter “N”
  • 16A: Linens ‘n’ things? — Starts with the letter “H”
  • 18A: Reward for a good dog — Starts with the letter “T”
  • 19A: Self-image — Starts with the letter “E”
  • 20A: Bohr-ing subject? — Starts with the letter “A”
  • 21A: Part of a unicycle — Starts with the letter “W”
  • 23A: Crispy sandwiches, for short — Starts with the letter “B”
  • 24A: “Superman” star Brosnahan — Starts with the letter “R”
  • 27A: Message that should have stayed in the drafts, perhaps — Starts with the letter “E”
  • 29A: Reverberate — Starts with the letter “E”
  • 30A: Place to say “I do” — Starts with the letter “A”
  • 32A: ___ A Sketch — Starts with the letter “E”
  • 36A: Get exactly right — Starts with the letter “N”
  • 37A: Sounds from happy cats — Starts with the letter “P”
  • 38A: Like pad woon sen — Starts with the letter “T”
  • 39A: Prong on a fork — Starts with the letter “T”
  • 40A: “Ain’t no way I’m gonna screw up now that I know what’s at ___ here” — Starts with the letter “S”
  • 41A: My girlfriend’s — Starts with the letter “H”
  • 42A: 11-year-old, e.g. — Starts with the letter “T”
  • 44A: The Eras Tour venues — Starts with the letter “A”
  • 46A: “___ Afraid of Little Old Me?” — Starts with the letter “W”
  • 47A: Satisfies — Starts with the letter “S”
  • 49A: It’s not looking too good! — Starts with the letter “G”
  • 50A: “Thx” counterpart — Starts with the letter “P”
  • 51A: Fishy offers — Starts with the letter “S”
  • 55A: Heavily sampled 1969 percussion loop — Starts with the letter “A”
  • 57A: Temple text — Starts with the letter “T”
  • 58A: “She Paints Me Blue” or “Dark Blue” — Starts with the letter “S”
  • 59A: The “A” of STEAM — Starts with the letter “A”
  • 60A: Wipe away — Starts with the letter “E”
  • 61A: Jerk — Starts with the letter “A”
  • 62A: Expected to arrive — Starts with the letter “D”
  • 63A: Owed amounts — Starts with the letter “D”

Down Clues: ⬇️

  • 1D: Shelter with a zipper — Starts with the letter “T”
  • 2D: Love, in Spanish — Starts with the letter “A”
  • 3D: Apple’s center — Starts with the letter “C”
  • 4D: “Too complicated to get into” — Starts with the letter “I”
  • 5D: Grow molars — Starts with the letter “T”
  • 6D: Helpful online tool for learning a new language — Starts with the letter “G”
  • 7D: “You think you can do these things, but you just can’t, ___!” (“Finding ___” quote) — Starts with the letter “N”
  • 8D: Employ — Starts with the letter “U”
  • 9D: Cantina snacks — Starts with the letter “T”
  • 10D: Dance for juniors and seniors — Starts with the letter “P”
  • 11D: Knight’s title — Starts with the letter “S”
  • 13D: You, once — Starts with the letter “T”
  • 14D: Get revenge — Starts with the letter “S”
  • 17D: Surrealist Salvador — Starts with the letter “D”
  • 22D: Ticks away — Starts with the letter “E”
  • 23D: High chair? — Starts with the letter “B”
  • 24D: “Take Me or Leave Me” musical — Starts with the letter “R”
  • 25D: Smoothie bowl berry — Starts with the letter “A”
  • 26D: ___ rest (violin attachment) — Starts with the letter “C”
  • 28D: Asterisk, e.g. — Starts with the letter “M”
  • 31D: Ren Faire instrument — Starts with the letter “L”
  • 33D: Now’s partner — Starts with the letter “T”
  • 34D: Performer Alessia — Starts with the letter “C”
  • 35D: Snake’s sound — Starts with the letter “H”
  • 43D: Uterus — Starts with the letter “W”
  • 45D: Took a break — Starts with the letter “R”
  • 46D: Cactus ___ (Arizona birds) — Starts with the letter “W”
  • 48D: Seeks consent — Starts with the letter “A”
  • 49D: Biotech crops — Starts with the letter “G”
  • 50D: Where Carmen Sandiego was when she “stole the beans from Lima” — Starts with the letter “P”
  • 52D: Like many Qataris — Starts with the letter “A”
  • 53D: It holds a sail — Starts with the letter “M”
  • 54D: First word in a “Barbie” tagline — Starts with the letter “S”
  • 55D: Center of a simile — Starts with the letter “A”
  • 56D: Cool — Starts with the letter “R”

Finished solving? Check your answers right here below!

Today’s USA TODAY Crossword Answers for November 9, 2025

  • 1A: Unspoken, yet understood – TACIT

  • 6A: Another name for a wildebeest – GNU

  • 9A: ___ report (“Office Space” task now used to connote pointless paperwork) – TPS

  • 12A: Show some feeling! – EMOTE

  • 13A: Digits in a sock – TOES

  • 14A: Traditionally red garment at a wedding – SARI

  • 15A: Like Frigg and Odin – NORSE

  • 16A: Linens ‘n’ things? – HOMEDECOR

  • 18A: Reward for a good dog – TREAT

  • 19A: Self-image – EGO

  • 20A: Bohr-ing subject? – ATOM

  • 21A: Part of a unicycle – WHEEL

  • 23A: Crispy sandwiches, for short – BLTS

  • 24A: “Superman” star Brosnahan – RACHEL

  • 27A: Message that should have stayed in the drafts, perhaps – EMAIL

  • 29A: Reverberate – ECHO

  • 30A: Place to say “I do” – ALTAR

  • 32A: ___ A Sketch – ETCH

  • 36A: Get exactly right – NAIL

  • 37A: Sounds from happy cats – PURRS

  • 38A: Like pad woon sen – THAI

  • 39A: Prong on a fork – TINE

  • 40A: “Ain’t no way I’m gonna screw up now that I know what’s at ___ here” – STAKE

  • 41A: My girlfriend’s – HERS

  • 42A: 11-year-old, e.g. – TWEEN

  • 44A: The Eras Tour venues – ARENAS

  • 46A: “___ Afraid of Little Old Me?” – WHOS

  • 47A: Satisfies – SATES

  • 49A: It’s not looking too good! – GRIM

  • 50A: “Thx” counterpart – PLS

  • 51A: Fishy offers – SCAMS

  • 55A: Heavily sampled 1969 percussion loop – AMENBREAK

  • 57A: Temple text – TORAH

  • 58A: “She Paints Me Blue” or “Dark Blue” – SONG

  • 59A: The “A” of STEAM – ARTS

  • 60A: Wipe away – ERASE

  • 61A: Jerk – ASS

  • 62A: Expected to arrive – DUE

  • 63A: Owed amounts – DEBTS

  • 1D: Shelter with a zipper – TENT

  • 2D: Love, in Spanish – AMOR

  • 3D: Apple’s center – CORE

  • 4D: “Too complicated to get into – ITSAWHOLETHING “

  • 5D: Grow molars – TEETHE

  • 6D: Helpful online tool for learning a new language – GOOGLETRANSLATE

  • 7D: “You think you can do these things, but you just can’t, ___!” (“Finding ___” quote) – NEMO

  • 8D: Employ – USE

  • 9D: Cantina snacks – TACOS

  • 10D: Dance for juniors and seniors – PROM

  • 11D: Knight’s title – SIR

  • 13D: You, once – THEE

  • 14D: Get revenge – SETTLETHESCORE

  • 17D: Surrealist Salvador – DALI

  • 22D: Ticks away – ELAPSES

  • 23D: High chair? – BARSEAT

  • 24D: “Take Me or Leave Me” musical – RENT

  • 25D: Smoothie bowl berry – ACAI

  • 26D: ___ rest (violin attachment) – CHIN

  • 28D: Asterisk, e.g. – MARK

  • 31D: Ren Faire instrument – LUTE

  • 33D: Now’s partner – THEN

  • 34D: Performer Alessia – CARA

  • 35D: Snake’s sound – HISS

  • 43D: Uterus – WOMB

  • 45D: Took a break – RESTED

  • 46D: Cactus ___ (Arizona birds) – WRENS

  • 48D: Seeks consent – ASKS

  • 49D: Biotech crops – GMOS

  • 50D: Where Carmen Sandiego was when she “stole the beans from Lima” – PERU

  • 52D: Like many Qataris – ARAB

  • 53D: It holds a sail – MAST

  • 54D: First word in a “Barbie” tagline – SHES

  • 55D: Center of a simile – ASA

  • 56D: Cool – RAD

How did you fare with today’s USA TODAY Crossword? Did you cruise to victory or get briefly stumped?

Today’s USA TODAY Crossword Puzzle was a smooth and balanced solve that leaned slightly toward the easier side, making it a pleasant and quick morning challenge. Entries like HOME DECOR and AMEN BREAK added freshness to the grid, while solid fill and fair cluing kept the solving experience consistent. The puzzle flowed naturally with few slowdowns, offering a nice mix of modern and classic touches. Overall, it was a clean and satisfying crossword that delivered exactly what solvers expect from USA TODAY’s approachable style. Overall rating: 4 out of 5.

You can also check out today’s answers for other Crossword puzzles below:

  • NYT Mini Crossword Hints and Answers
  • Washington Post/LA Times Crossword Hints and Answers
  • LA Times Mini Crossword Hints and Answers
  • Washington Post Mini Meta Crossword
  • Boston Globe Mini Crossword Hints and Answers

How to Play the USA TODAY Crossword

Playing the USA TODAY Crossword is hassle-free and lightning-fast.

  • The Goal: The object is to completely fill the small grid with words that correctly answer the “Across” (horizontal) and “Down” (vertical) clues.
  • The Clues: Use the list of clues provided for each direction.
  • Word Length: The grid itself guides you on the length of the words. A correct letter in one direction will often give you a helpful starting letter for the intersecting word.
  • Intersections: Look for those crossing points! Solving an easy “Across” clue can provide key letters that make a tougher “Down” clue suddenly click.
  • Daily Refresh: A brand new USA TODAY Crossword is released every day, guaranteeing a fresh burst of puzzle fun daily.