Getting stuck on a crossword is part of the fun, but sometimes you just need that one word to break the grid open. At wordfindertips.com, we solve the USA Today crossword every morning as soon as it drops. We don’t use bots or scrapers; we sit down and solve it to make sure every hint and answer provided here is 100% accurate for the 2026-02-07 puzzle.
Today’s USA Today puzzle, themed “Inner Chi”, is a great example of how the editor uses daily trends to build a cohesive grid. It’s a 15×15 layout that balances easy “gimme” clues with a few tricky intersections that might require a second look.
How to Solve Today’s Grid
If you’re finding the “Inner Chi” theme a bit tough, try these tips:
Start with the Blanks: Look for “Fill-in-the-blank” clues. They are usually the most straightforward and help you get some letters on the board fast.
The Suffix Rule: Check your plural clues early. If the clue is plural, the answer almost always ends in ‘S’. This can help you reveal the starting or ending of crossing clues.
Cross-Check the Vowels: If a long Across word isn’t clicking, solve the 3-letter Down clues around it. USA Today loves using common 3-letter words (like ERA, ORE, or ANT) as anchors.
Theme Logic: Once you solve one or two theme clues, you’ll see a pattern related to “Inner Chi”. Use that logic to guess the remaining long entries.
28. Show that’s featured Kenan Thompson since 2003
Starts with “S” (3 letters)SNL
29. Mai ___ (cocktail)
Starts with “T” (3 letters)TAI
31. Since Jan. 1
Starts with “Y” (3 letters)YTD
32. Fate
Starts with “K” (6 letters)KISMET
34. Annual March 14 celebration
Starts with “P” (5 letters)PIDAY
36. Fruity frozen dessert
Starts with “P” (13 letters)PEACHICECREAM
40. Arias, e.g.
Starts with “S” (5 letters)SOLOS
41. Save from a dangerous situation
Starts with “R” (6 letters)RESCUE
43. Bro’s sibling, perhaps
Starts with “S” (3 letters)SIS
46. Greenwich Village sch.
Starts with “N” (3 letters)NYU
47. “The Golden Girls” actress Arthur
Starts with “B” (3 letters)BEA
48. Winter hrs. in Chicago
Starts with “C” (3 letters)CST
49. Pumped up
Starts with “A” (5 letters)AMPED
51. Prefix prefix
Starts with “P” (3 letters)PRE
52. Like a book about how to write a book
Starts with “M” (4 letters)META
53. Radio format that might feature De La Soul or Queen Latifah
Starts with “C” (13 letters)CLASSICHIPHOP
57. Instrument that plays a significant role in “Waltz of the Flowers”
Starts with “H” (4 letters)HARP
58. State of mind
Starts with “M” (4 letters)MOOD
59. Group of eight
Starts with “O” (5 letters)OCTAD
62. Online market for crafts
Starts with “E” (4 letters)ETSY
63. Feed the kitty
Starts with “A” (4 letters)ANTE
64. One of the five W’s
Starts with “W” (5 letters)WHERE
65. Casual shirts
Starts with “T” (4 letters)TEES
66. Corp. heads
Starts with “C” (4 letters)CEOS
67. Weighed down
Starts with “L” (5 letters)LADEN
Today’s Down Clues
01. Grammy category for Taylor Swift
Starts with “P” (3 letters)POP
02. Blackjack card
Starts with “E” (3 letters)EEK
03. “Finding Nemo” creature named Sheldon
Starts with “S” (6 letters)SACHET
04. Food with hard and soft shell varieties
Starts with “A” (3 letters)ACE
05. Once more
Starts with “G” (4 letters)GRIP
06. Like a car with a clutch pedal and gear stick
Starts with “I” (6 letters)IMLATE
07. Vote into office
Starts with “S” (8 letters)SEAHORSE
08. Place for a merit badge
Starts with “S” (6 letters)SPARSE
09. Opposed to
Starts with “T” (5 letters)TACOS
10. Common chalkboard material
Starts with “M” (3 letters)MAS
11. Ideal way to be regarded
Starts with “E” (5 letters)ESPYS
12. Like the musical “A Chorus Line”
Starts with “A” (4 letters)ANEW
13. Ran an experiment on
Starts with “S” (7 letters)SECONDS
21. Like some periodicals
Starts with “M” (7 letters)MONTHLY
22. Place to go on a run?
Starts with “I” (4 letters)IMAC
23. “Yikes!”
Starts with “M” (6 letters)MANUAL
24. What the spikes on luge gloves provide
Starts with “I” (3 letters)IOU
28. There are 60 in a minute
Starts with “C” (4 letters)CONE
29. Suit accessory
Starts with “E” (5 letters)ELECT
30. Intrusive spreading of promotional materials
Starts with “P” (3 letters)PCS
33. More, in Spanish
Starts with “P” (5 letters)PHOTO
34. Some laptops, for short
Starts with “S” (4 letters)SASH
35. “Absolutely!”
Starts with “T” (3 letters)TIE
37. Debtor’s letters
Starts with “B” (6 letters)BRIDES
38. Said yes to a proposal, say
Starts with “A” (4 letters)ANTI
39. Has to
Starts with “A” (7 letters)ADCREEP
42. LAX stat
Starts with “S” (7 letters)SKIAREA
43. Small scented pouch
Starts with “H” (4 letters)HOWL
44. “Omg, gotta run!”
Starts with “S” (5 letters)SLATE
45. Not dense
Starts with “Y” (3 letters)YES
47. Some weddings have two
Starts with “M” (5 letters)MOCHA
50. Awards won by Chloe Kim and Shaun White
Starts with “H” (6 letters)HIGHLY
51. Snapshot
Starts with “A” (8 letters)ACCEPTED
52. Chocolaty coffee
Starts with “O” (6 letters)ONEACT
54. Apple desktop
Starts with “M” (4 letters)MUST
55. Cup alternative
Starts with “A” (3 letters)ARE
56. Werewolf’s sound
Starts with “T” (6 letters)TESTED
60. “___ you okay?”
Starts with “E” (3 letters)ETA
61. Family room
Starts with “D” (3 letters)DEN
USA Today Crossword FAQ
Is today’s USA Today crossword hard?
Generally, USA Today crosswords are considered accessible for all skill levels. Today’s “Inner Chi” grid has a medium difficulty curve, making it perfect for both beginners and experienced solvers.
How are the answers verified?
Every solution you see on wordfindertips.com is checked manually. We solve the grid just like you do to ensure that every letter and intersection is correct before we publish.
What time does the USA Today crossword refresh?
The daily puzzle is typically updated at midnight ET. You can find our updated solver guide shortly after the new grid is released.
