01
Crossword clue · 5 lettersShow the answer and explanation →
Like the skin of snakes and fish
Meaning cue
Use a five-letter adjective formed from the noun for the small plates covering these animals.
A different practice route each day
Clue Clinic · August 21, 2026
Today's set is organized by how each clue works, with the largest round focused on knowledge clues. Reveal any answer immediately or use its tailored cue first.
2 meaning warm-up · 2 language tricks · 4 knowledge clues
Meaning warm-up
Direct definitions and familiar senses to establish the day's solving rhythm.
02
Crossword clue · 5 lettersShow the answer and explanation →
Gentle musical melodies
Meaning cue
The singular is a four-letter word also used for a pleasantly rhythmic way of speaking.
Language tricks
Punctuation, double meanings, and clue turns that reward a second look.
03
Wordplay · 5 lettersOpen the answer and unpack the wordplay →
Bamboo-loving bear, or, when parsed in three parts, a feature of the answers to the starred clues
What to notice
Read the five letters as one letter, a conjunction, and another letter.
04
Wordplay · 3 lettersOpen the answer and unpack the wordplay →
What “every kiss begins with,” in jewelry ads
What to notice
Think of a three-letter jewelry-store name that sounds like the first letter in “kiss.”
Knowledge clues
Names, titles, places, and facts where one precise detail confirms the fill.
05
Name or title · 5 lettersOpen the answer and verify the reference →
Christina who played Wednesday Addams and appeared on "Wednesday"
Identity cue
Her five-letter surname belongs to the actor who played the character in the 1990s films.
06
Name or title · 4 lettersOpen the answer and verify the reference →
Home of Brunei and Bhutan
Identity cue
Think of the four-letter continent shared by a small Bornean sultanate and a Himalayan kingdom.
07
Name or title · 5 lettersOpen the answer and verify the reference →
Big name in brick phones
Identity cue
Think of a Finnish five-letter phone brand famous for durable handsets.
08
Name or title · 7 lettersOpen the answer and verify the reference →
Wisconsin's capital
Identity cue
The seven-letter city shares its name with the fourth U.S. president.