Daily word search puzzle

USA Today Word Round Up
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Today’s USA Today Word Round Up answers and hints for October 20, 2026, with the daily grid, clue groups, hidden words, and spoiler-safe reveal controls.

October 20, 202617 answersUpdated daily

Today’s USA Today Word Round Up answers for October 20, 2026 are hidden below so you can use the daily clues without seeing every word at once. Start with the clue groups, scan the grid, then reveal only the answers you want.

Word Round Up works like a themed word search. Each clue points to a small set of related words, and the answers can run across, down, or diagonally through the letter grid.

Clues, grid, answers

Reveal today’s Word Round Up answers

Use the clue list for October 20, 2026, then open one answer group at a time.

SJROBINELNWMHEBMNLSRIXAARDARAIIHCELCAUELONPMRLRAVBSPZLADAAUWEPRTOKDTNHSINOJDRROMEWZTPEAGLEEGRETH

The grid stays visible. Highlighting appears only when you reveal an answer group.

Clue 1

Six aquatic mammals

6 answers

Answer 1Answer 2Answer 3Answer 4Answer 5Answer 6

Clue 2

Six five-letter birds

6 answers

Answer 1Answer 2Answer 3Answer 4Answer 5Answer 6

Clue 3

Three four-letter country capitals

3 answers

Answer 1Answer 2Answer 3

Clue 4

Oxide on iron

1 answer

Answer 1

Clue 5

%22Dances ____ Wolves%22

1 answer

Answer 1

Search smarter

Word Round Up tips and tricks

Treat the puzzle like a word-search with stronger clue logic. The clue tells you what to hunt for; the grid tells you which spelling and direction is correct.

Start with the shortest clue group

A clue with only one or two answers gives you a fast anchor in the grid before you hunt for larger sets.

Check all eight directions

Word Round Up answers may read horizontally, vertically, or diagonally, so scan outward from the first letter instead of only left to right.

Use repeated endings

If a clue points to a category, shared endings or prefixes can make several answers easier to spot together.

Mark found words mentally

Once you find one answer, treat those letters as a solved path and use the unused areas for the remaining clues.

Reveal one clue at a time

Open a single group when you are stuck. You still keep the rest of the puzzle intact and spoiler-light.

Recent grids

Recent Word Round Up answers

Open a date to review the clue groups and answer list from earlier puzzles.

October 19, 202616 answers

Five four-letter words ending with LP: HELP, YELP, KELP, GULP, PULPFive six-letter countries: CANADA, CYPRUS, ANGOLA, ZAMBIA, POLANDThree crustaceans: LOBSTER, SHRIMP, CRABTwo words with AIR in the middle: HAIRY, DAIRYIo orbits it: JUPITER

October 17, 202619 answers

Nine land formations: CANYON, VALLEY, GORGE, GULCH, CLIFF, RIDGE, HILL, MESA, DELLFive four-letter mammals: BEAR, BOAR, MINK, HARE, GOATTwo parts of an atom: ELECTRON, PROTONMaker of the Whopper: ____ ____: BURGER, KINGLease: RENT

October 16, 202615 answers

John ____: TRAVOLTA, GOODMAN, DENVER, RITTER, LENNON, CANDY, WAYNE, HURTThree Canadian provinces: ALBERTA, ONTARIO, QUEBECTwo related mammals: ZEBRA, HORSEHome to Tallahassee: FLORIDA____ of Gibraltar: STRAIT

October 15, 202616 answers

Six words related to golf: BIRDIE, GREEN, SCORE, CLUB, HOLE, SHOTFour oceans: ATLANTIC, PACIFIC, INDIAN, ARCTICFour five-letter mammals: CAMEL, MOUSE, MOOSE, OTTERIt borders Estonia: LATVIA____ Cod: CAPE

October 14, 202616 answers

Six birthstones: SAPPHIRE, DIAMOND, EMERALD, GARNET, OPAL, RUBYSix five-letter fruits: GUAVA, MANGO, APPLE, PEACH, OLIVE, LEMONOpposing directions: EAST, WESTSouth African leader Nelson: MANDELACapital of Norway: OSLO

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