Daily mini crossword

USA Today MidGrid
Answers Today

Today’s USA Today MidGrid answers for October 20, 2026, with the 9×9 mini crossword grid, across clues, down clues, and spoiler-safe reveal controls.

October 20, 2026What's So Funny?32 cluesUpdated daily

Today’s USA Today MidGrid answers for October 20, 2026 are hidden below with the full mini crossword grid, across clues, and down clues. Reveal a clue answer only when you are ready, or open the full grid at the end.

MidGrid is USA Today’s compact daily crossword. Use the numbered grid to match each clue, solve the short entries first, and let crossing letters confirm the longer answers.

Solved grid and clues

Reveal today’s MidGrid answers

Use the numbered grid for October 20, 2026, then reveal across or down answers only when you want a spoiler.

1F2A3K4E5S6J7U8G9ATEAM10ERA11ROTTE12NEGG13EMO14LOPES15BLT16S17C18ARY19B20A21M22OLFAC23TORY24FOR25AWAIT26AGO27TORAH

Across

01PhoniesFAKES
06Milk containerJUG
09Elite squadATEAM
10Historic spanERA
11Poultry product with a funny scentROTTENEGG
13Moody rock genreEMO
14Bounding gaitsLOPES
15Crunchy sandwich served at Crown Candy KitchenBLT
16Like ghost storiesSCARY
19"Kapow!"BAM
22Relating to organs that detect funny scentsOLFACTORY
24Up ___ grabsFOR
25Apt rhyme for "anticipate"AWAIT
26Many years ___AGO
27Rabbi's scrollTORAH

Down

01Bus costFARE
02Molecule partATOM
03Low-carb dietKETO
04Have some Limburger and durianEAT
05"Friends" song about a feline with a funny scentSMELLYCAT
06Compass automakerJEEP
07ImpulseURGE
08Reacts to a foul scentGAGS
12"___ to worry!"NOT
15"Nursing" garmentBRA
16CouchSOFA
17Shoe called a klomp in DutchCLOG
18Hairstyle for Garnet on "Steven Universe"AFRO
19Wild pigBOAR
20Solo such as "Nessun dorma"ARIA
21False notion that may be "busted"MYTH
23Number of Mario brothersTWO

Today’s USA Today MidGrid answers (October 20, 2026): Across — 01 FAKES, 06 JUG, 09 ATEAM, 10 ERA, 11 ROTTENEGG, 13 EMO, 14 LOPES, 15 BLT, 16 SCARY, 19 BAM, 22 OLFACTORY, 24 FOR, 25 AWAIT, 26 AGO, 27 TORAH. Down — 01 FARE, 02 ATOM, 03 KETO, 04 EAT, 05 SMELLYCAT, 06 JEEP, 07 URGE, 08 GAGS, 12 NOT, 15 BRA, 16 SOFA, 17 CLOG, 18 AFRO, 19 BOAR, 20 ARIA, 21 MYTH, 23 TWO.

Mini crossword help

MidGrid tips and tricks

Treat MidGrid like a small crossword where every crossing matters. A single confirmed short answer can unlock several clues at once.

Start with the cleanest short clue

MidGrid entries are compact, so a short answer you know immediately can unlock several crossing letters.

Use the theme title

The daily MidGrid title often hints at a shared idea or playful clue angle.

Check crossings before revealing

If one answer feels uncertain, compare it against the down or across entries that share its letters.

Reveal one clue at a time

Open only the clue that is blocking you so the rest of the mini crossword stays spoiler-light.

Recent minis

Recent MidGrid answers

Open a previous date to review earlier MidGrid clue answers.

October 19, 2026Another Fine Mess · 32 clues

Across01 DOME, 05 FOWL, 09 EPEE, 10 LUAU, 11 JUNKYARDS, 13 ASS, 14 UPSET, 15 CCS, 16 BREAK, 19 BIC, 22 DIRTYDISH, 24 ACME, 25 IKEA, 26 YEAR, 27 PEEPDown01 DEJA, 02 OPUS, 03 MENS, 04 EEK, 05 FLAPS, 06 OURS, 07 WADE, 08 LUST, 12 YUCKY, 15 CATER, 16 BDAY, 17 RICE, 18 ERMA, 19 BIKE, 20 ISEE, 21 CHAP, 23 DIP

October 18, 2026Music to My Ears · 32 clues

Across01 BAWLS, 06 HAM, 09 ALIEN, 10 ALE, 11 BONGODRUM, 13 END, 14 AMMO, 15 SEC, 16 IDO, 17 HAT, 19 NSA, 22 RAINSTICK, 25 ACME, 26 ACAI, 27 WHEW, 28 BARNDown01 BABES, 02 ALONE, 03 WINDCHIME, 04 LEG, 05 SNO, 06 HARMONICA, 07 ALUM, 08 MEMO, 12 DAD, 16 ITS, 18 ANEW, 20 SCAR, 21 AKIN, 22 RAW, 23 ACH, 24 TAB

October 17, 2026Just Wing It · 32 clues

Across01 PSST, 05 ABBY, 09 UTAH, 10 GAPE, 11 LENO, 12 ALAS, 13 SAD, 14 EID, 15 EMPTYNEST, 19 IRE, 20 AYE, 21 DUPE, 23 OGRE, 24 ISEE, 25 ALUM, 26 MARS, 27 REPSDown01 PULSE, 02 STEAM, 03 SANDPIPER, 04 THO, 05 AGAIN, 06 BALDEAGLE, 07 BPA, 08 YES, 14 EYE, 16 TREES, 17 SYRUP, 18 TEEMS, 21 DIM, 22 USA, 23 OAR

October 16, 2026You Win Some, You Lose Some · 31 clues

Across01 HIS, 04 SAGS, 08 EDU, 09 WRAP, 10 ABE, 11 SAUTE, 12 REDRIBBON, 14 STEAL, 15 ART, 16 IVE, 18 RUNNERSUP, 24 ONE, 25 RAISE, 26 WOW, 27 SPEWDown01 HEARS, 02 IDBET, 03 SUEDE, 04 SWAB, 05 ARUBA, 06 GATOR, 07 SPENT, 11 SILVER, 13 RAIN, 17 ERAS, 18 ROW, 19 UNO, 20 NEW, 21 SIP, 22 USE, 23 PEW

October 15, 2026Play Ball · 32 clues

Across01 TOGA, 05 STEW, 09 OKRA, 10 CARE, 11 TAOS, 12 OGRE, 13 APU, 14 AUG, 15 LINEDRIVE, 19 DAD, 20 NIA, 21 EGOS, 23 EGOT, 24 TRUE, 25 RULE, 26 ARTS, 27 SPANDown01 TOTAL, 02 OKAPI, 03 GROUNDOUT, 04 AAS, 05 SCOUR, 06 TAGGINGUP, 07 ERR, 08 WEE, 14 ADD, 16 EASES, 17 VIOLA, 18 EATEN, 21 ETA, 22 GRR, 23 ERS

October 14, 2026Hand-Polished · 32 clues

Across01 SPA, 04 SNAP, 08 COAL, 09 TADA, 10 ALMA, 11 AIDS, 12 LAP, 13 ASL, 14 FRENCHTIP, 18 ROT, 19 EKE, 20 PAIR, 22 ACED, 23 TINT, 24 CHAI, 25 ARGH, 26 ASSDown01 SOLAR, 02 PAMPERING, 03 ALA, 04 STASH, 05 NAILTECHS, 06 ADD, 07 PAS, 08 CALF, 13 ACT, 15 NORTH, 16 IKEAS, 17 PEDI, 20 PTA, 21 AIR, 22 ACA

October 13, 2026I Have So Many Questions · 32 clues

Across01 MET, 04 WHITE, 09 ECO, 10 HOMER, 11 WHYBOTHER, 13 LOSES, 14 ONS, 15 NTH, 17 OWL, 20 HOHUM, 24 WHEREWASI, 26 EAGER, 27 HEM, 28 STOVE, 29 AREDown01 MEWL, 02 ECHO, 03 TOYS, 04 WHOSTHERE, 05 HOT, 06 IMHO, 07 TEEN, 08 ERRS, 12 BEN, 16 HOW, 17 OWES, 18 WHAT, 19 LEGO, 21 HAHA, 22 USER, 23 MIME, 25 REV

Keep playing