USA Today Crossword Answers Today: Tuesday, January 27, 2026
USA Today Crossword Answers Today: Tuesday, January 27, 2026
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Editorial Integrity: This daily guide for the “You’re the Best (Freestyle)” puzzle is part of our extensive NYT & USA Today Puzzle Archive.
Every answer is manually extracted from the official grid and verified by our crossword analysis team to maintain a 100% accuracy rate for our global community of solvers.
Every answer is manually extracted from the official grid and verified by our crossword analysis team to maintain a 100% accuracy rate for our global community of solvers.
Struggling with today’s grid? We’ve got you covered. The Tuesday, January 27, 2026 USA Today crossword offers a balanced mix of clever puns and straightforward trivia. Below, we’ve organized every solution into easy-to-read sections to help you finish your puzzle without a hitch.
Across Clues & Solutions
01. Greek poet whose home island is the source of the word “lesbian”
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SAPPHO
07. Postgrad creative writing degree
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MFA
10. Did a 5k
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RAN
13. More greasy
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OILIER
14. “I’m in my villain ___!”
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ERA
15. “A ___ of Two Cities”
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TALE
16. “Sounds like a you problem!”
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NOONECARES
18. Bris or baptism
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RITE
19. Sneaky
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SLY
20. Frozen water
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ICE
21. Asked, like a question
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POSED
22. Cuba, por ejemplo
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ISLA
25. Two times the radius
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DIAMETER
27. “That’s ___ news”
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OLD
29. Obtained
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GOT
30. Animator’s frame
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CEL
32. Help in reaching the top shelf
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STEPLADDER
37. Enclosure for pet birds
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CAGE
38. Early relationship phase when everything is blissful
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HONEYMOONPERIOD
40. Basics
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ABCS
41. Paranormal intuition
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SIXTHSENSE
42. So-so
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MEH
43. Chuckle syllable
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HEH
44. Place for a hot stone massage
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SPA
45. Road part that’s reserved for rescue services
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FIRELANE
49. Child
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KID
52. Mistake
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ERROR
53. Cast a ballot
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VOTED
56. Time sheet units, for short
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HRS
58. Letters, packages, etc.
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MAIL
59. “We have to face the facts!”
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LETSBEREAL
61. “August slipped away ___ a moment in time”
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INTO
62. Enjoyed a 63-Across
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ATE
63. Boomerang-shaped fruit
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BANANA
64. Boxing ruling, for short
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TKO
65. Allah, to Muslims
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GOD
66. Sarcastic and mocking
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SNARKY
Down Clues & Solutions
01. Steinway & ___
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SONS
02. Dip similar to mayo
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SHAM
03. Sneaky plans
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EMIT
04. Code for accessing an ATM
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AIOLI
05. Chuckle syllable
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TOBEFRANK
06. Folklore creature similar to a goblin
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PLOYS
07. “Thanks,” in French
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ENCHIRITO
08. Athlete who’s not contract-bound
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PIN
09. Small batteries
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LOPES
10. Make a huge scene
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ROLO
11. Secret identities
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HEE
12. Require
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ALLY
15. Moderate gait for a horse
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HER
17. Help out
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ORC
21. House cat, e.g.
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DAMSEL
23. Runs with long strides
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LAG
24. Supporter
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AID
26. Transforms, like some sci-fi creatures
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DOIHAVETO
28. Empowered ___ (character who is the agent of her own rescue)
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MERCI
31. News story intro
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DOX
32. Fake
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NOTED
33. “Honestly . . .”
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FREEAGENT
34. Trademarked Taco Bell offering with a portmanteau name
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ETS
35. “Is it absolutely necessary?”
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AAS
36. Expose online
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MORPHS
37. Sound made by old wood floors
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EBBS
39. Particularly, in a text
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PET
43. That girl
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ESP
46. Caramel-filled candy
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DEAN
47. “Gotcha”
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TROT
48. UFO pilots
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CREAK
50. “The rumor is . . .”
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RNA
51. Enjoyed some iced tea
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RAISECAIN
52. Give off
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IHEAR
54. Recedes
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ALTEREGOS
55. Head of some college departments
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DRANK
57. “That performance was iconic!” in ballroom culture
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NEED
59. Browser delay
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LEDE
60. Vaccine molecule
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SLAY