Crossword Clues Starting with S

“Substance with a pH less than 7”

ACID (4)

“Smallest unit of matter”

ATOM (4)

“Step-by-step procedure for calculations”

ALGORITHM (9)

“Small white or brown grains that are a staple food”

RICE (4)

“Short sword used by Roman soldiers”

GLADIUS (7)

“Substance that speeds up a chemical reaction”

CATALYST (8)

“Stark daughter with a killer instinct”

ARYA (4)

“Sacred ads run wild for holy wars.”

CRUSADES (8)

“Starting position for the fastest qualifier”

POLE (4)

“Single page within a browser window”

TAB (3)

“Short, fast run”

SPRINT (6)

“Soft drop of "snow" in late April”

PETAL (5)

“Sweet creation, a form of fiction perhaps?”

CONFECTION (10)

“Software update designed to fix a security vulnerability”

PATCH (5)

“Science that tracks the precise timing of syzygy and apogee.”

ASTRONOMY (9)

“Strong metal made mostly of iron that magnets can attract”

STEEL (5)

“Securing the ball after a missed attempt”

REBOUND (7)

“Split apart, like the world referenced in 2026's IMD motto”

DIVIDED (7)

“Stone coffin, a rough caps us.”

SARCOPHAGUS (11)

“Sounds like prophet, but it means the money earned above costs”

PROFIT (6)

“Skeletal division of the limbs and their girdles”

APPENDICULAR (12)

“Shock absorber system, 'spins on us' to steady.”

SUSPENSION (10)

“Sounds like flower, but you use it to bake bread”

FLOUR (5)

“Spanish word for pleasure, used when meeting someone new”

PLACER (6)

“Sounds like not, but it's a tangled loop in a rope”

KNOT (4)

“Spanish word for the summer season”

VERANO (6)

“Swiss artist who cracked "The Code" in 2024”

NEMO (4)

“System using radio waves to detect distant objects”

RADAR (5)

“Silken custard dessert that feels gourmet but remains highly approachable for beginners.”

FLAN (4)

“Safe place that protects an animal from weather or predators”

SHELTER (7)

“Sam, director of 'American Beauty' and '1917'”

MENDES (6)

“Spanish question word meaning how, normally written with an accent”

COMO (4)

“Small green plant that grows in damp carpets”

MOSS (4)

“Spanish word meaning so or such, used in a casual greeting”

TAL (3)

“Sacrificing a turn to swap your letters”

EXCHANGE (8)

“Spanish word for table”

MESA (4)

“Small, shiny embellishment designed to catch the paparazzi's camera flashes.”

SEQUIN (6)

“System using radio waves to detect objects”

RADAR (5)

“Self-governance, a growing trait of AI agents in code creation.”

AUTONOMY (8)

“Software programs downloaded onto a smartphone”

APPS (4)

“Sweet tomato-based topping for fries and links”

KETCHUP (7)

“Spanish word for Mrs. or a married woman, normally spelled with an enye”

SENORA (6)

“Snow, a prominent character”

JON (3)

“Sweet floral reward that gets turned into gold”

NECTAR (6)

“Season of renewal marked by blooming flora”

SPRING (6)

“Standards by which something is judged”

CRITERIA (8)

“System using pressurized liquid to generate mechanical power”

HYDRAULIC (9)

“Solemn promise, often to a lord or king”

OATH (4)

“Soak meat in a flavored liquid”

MARINATE (8)

“Symbols used to show a review score”

STARS (5)

“Software that enables a user to obtain secret information about another's computer activities”

SPYWARE (7)

“Sounds like tale, but it's the part an animal wags”

TAIL (4)

“Sword fighter, a glad riot, perhaps.”

GLADIATOR (9)

“Software downloaded to a smartphone”

APP (3)

“Skeletal division of the skull, vertebral column, and rib cage”

AXIAL (5)

“Speed and direction”

VELOCITY (8)

“Speed metric for your player, typically set to 33 or 45.”

RPM (3)

“Second place metal”

SILVER (6)

“Sporting venue”

ARENA (5)

“Stringed instrument prominently featured on Norwegian Wood.”

SITAR (5)

“Small piece of silicon that acts as the computer brain”

CHIP (4)

“Spanish master of the Cubist movement”

PICASSO (7)

“Silent but highly intelligent claymation beagle who loves knitting.”

GROMIT (6)

“Slippery creature, sounds like a letter.”

EEL (3)

“Summit reached after a grueling climb”

PEAK (4)

“Sounds like isle, but it's a walkway between rows of seats”

AISLE (5)

“Symbols used to show a high rating”

STARS (5)

“Stainless steel vessel that typically holds about fifteen and a half gallons.”

KEG (3)

“Soft round flat topped hat often linked to France”

BERET (5)

“Stiff, sheer cotton, a grandy organ.”

ORGANDY (7)

“Source of local static and morning shows between towns.”

RADIO (5)

“Sounds like meet, but you buy it at a butcher shop”

MEAT (4)

“Software that secretly monitors your digital activity”

SPYWARE (7)

“Sounds like see, but it's a large body of salt water”

SEA (3)

“Seeing with echoes in the dark”

RADAR (5)

“Systematic scientific investigation”

RESEARCH (8)

“Sideline strategist drawing up plays on a whiteboard.”

COACH (5)

“Spanish word for apple”

MANZANA (7)

“Solo speech, I LOU SLY Q.O.?”

SOLILOQUY (9)

“Showy, double-flowered variety named after a Japanese mountain.”

KWANZAN (7)

“Sounds like weak, but it means seven days”

WEEK (4)

“Simple machine that pivots on a fixed point to lift loads”

LEVER (5)

“Striped predator nicknamed the garbage can of the sea”

TIGER (5)

“Smooth, glassy black rock formed from quickly cooled lava”

OBSIDIAN (8)

“She was born from the foam of the sea”

APHRODITE (9)

“System of interconnected power lines”

GRID (4)

“Sanskrit word for peace, often chanted three times at the end of practice”

SHANTI (6)

“Spanish word for a female friend”

AMIGA (5)

“Small object from which a new plant grows”

SEED (4)

“Sing 'had' in the dark, for effect.”

SHADING (7)

“Small flat piece of metal used as money throughout history”

COIN (4)

“Screen border rumored to vanish entirely on future smartphone models.”

BEZEL (5)

“Short for microphone”

MIC (3)

“Spherical roof structure”

DOME (4)

“Susan Sarandon's outlaw character who drove a Thunderbird off a cliff with her bestie.”

LOUISE (6)

“Slippery surface where the Final is fought”

ICE (3)

“Small particles of rock, sand, or soil that settle and build up”

SEDIMENT (8)

“State of matter with a fixed shape and volume”

SOLID (5)

“Successor to the Gallardo, named for a bull”

HURACAN (7)

“State of matter with no fixed shape or volume”

GAS (3)

“Staff members working tirelessly behind the scenes.”

CREW (4)

“Something of value owned by a person or company”

ASSET (5)

“Spanish word for island, preceding Nublar and Sorna”

ISLA (4)

“Sci-fi legend Sigourney, who joined the 2026 cast”

WEAVER (6)

“Stringed instrument that serves as the official national emblem of Ireland.”

HARP (4)

“Sandy or rocky shore along an ocean or lake”

BEACH (5)

“Spanish word for fine or well”

BIEN (4)

“Seattle psychiatrist who moved from Boston to the radio”

FRASIER (7)

“Seven-time world champion Lewis”

HAMILTON (8)

“Small, quick flash caused by electricity jumping through the air”

SPARK (5)

“Splitting a number creates equal ___”

GROUPS (6)

“Second half of the 1933 act that quenched America's thirst before Prohibition fully ended.”

HARRISON (8)

“Seat of power in Westeros”

THRONE (6)

“Sedimentary rock often formed from shells and coral”

LIMESTONE (9)

“Small wooden pieces that sit on top of the stumps”

BAILS (5)

“Small pieces of colored paper thrown at celebrations”

CONFETTI (8)

“Spanish word for the winter season”

INVIERNO (8)

“Supernatural enchantment possessed by the wee folk”

MAGIC (5)

“Storyteller, TO RAN ROAR.”

NARRATOR (8)

“Suzanne whose name adorns the second-largest stadium at the venue.”

LENGLEN (7)

“Sounds like whether, but it means the conditions outside like rain or sun”

WEATHER (7)

“Short name for an automated software program”

BOT (3)

“Synonym for peaceful and calm”

TRANQUIL (8)

“Single-celled microbes”

BACTERIA (8)

“Sticks used to play stringed instruments like violins”

BOWS (4)

“Spanish verb meaning to travel”

VIAJAR (6)

“Stacked sleeping arrangement often fought over by kids.”

BUNK (4)

“Short for a professional expert”

PRO (3)

“Springtime period hosting a rare double-feature in 2026.”

MAY (3)

“Sounds like ate, but it's the number after seven”

EIGHT (5)

“Sorceress obsessed with a specific dime.”

MAGICA (6)

“Status of a college player three years out of high school.”

ELIGIBLE (8)

“Symbol of stars and stripes that represents the United States”

FLAG (4)

“Standard sixteen-ounce serving size found in most American pubs.”

PINT (4)

“Scientific tests used in connection with the detection of crime”

FORENSICS (9)

“Sounds like heard, but it means a group of animals”

HERD (4)

“Sword cover, or a close-fitting dress”

SHEATH (6)

“Scavenger turned hero who adopted the Skywalker name.”

REY (3)

“Striped African equid”

ZEBRA (5)

“Starting arrangement of cars before a race”

GRID (4)

“Small stream flowing over stones”

CREEK (5)

“Spanish dance craze that took over every wedding reception”

MACARENA (8)

“Small white or brown grains grown in water”

RICE (4)

“Sounds like desert, but it's the sweet course after a meal”

DESSERT (7)

“Scoring shot that goes over the boundary without bouncing”

SIX (3)

“Simmered fruit sauce that makes a fancy alternative to syrup.”

COMPOTE (7)

“Steadfast Hobbit who literally carried his best friend up Mount Doom.”

SAMWISE (7)

“State of metabolic fuel-switching where sugar is persona non grata”

KETOSIS (7)

“South American empire that built Machu Picchu”

INCA (4) · INCAN (5)

“Start a tennis game”

SERVE (5)

“Seesaw-like obstacle on the course”

TEETER (6)

“Swiss resort town where Trump recently delivered a "controversial" speech.”

DAVOS (5)

“Star that warms the Earth”

SUN (3)

“Spiral-shaped, fluid-filled part of the inner ear that helps you hear”

COCHLEA (7)

“She emerged from sea foam as the goddess of beauty”

APHRODITE (9)

“Spanish word for night”

NOCHE (5)

“Set piece action, such as a free or corner”

KICK (4)

“Short story, a DOT NECA rearranges.”

ANECDOTE (8)

“Struggle between organisms for the same limited resources”

COMPETITION (11)

“Silent era icon who also directed many films”

CHAPLIN (7)

“Season 4 of this animated superhero series returned to Prime Video in March 2026.”

INVINCIBLE (10)

“Strict apparel shade mandated for all competitors.”

WHITE (5)

“Spiked footwear tearing up the basepaths”

CLEATS (6)

“Spanish word for autumn, normally spelled with an enye”

OTONO (5)

“Software update designed to fix bugs or improve security”

PATCH (5)

“Spatial computing operating system.”

VISIONOS (8)

“Something sworn not to be told to the parents.”

SECRET (6)

“S-shaped curve on a track”

CHICANE (7)

“Symbolic banner featuring a star bursting with new beginnings”

FLAG (4)

“Super-powered canine companion with a red collar”

KRYPTO (6)

“Short, fast race”

SPRINT (6)

“Solid natural material made of minerals”

ROCK (4)

“Sliced bread that has been browned by radiant heat”

TOAST (5)

“Street procession featuring floats and marching bands”

PARADE (6)

“Short-range wireless technology”

BLUETOOTH (9)

“Strongman who performed twelve legendary labors”

HERCULES (8)

“Simple photosynthetic organisms”

ALGAE (5)

“Storage compartment in the rear of the car”

TRUNK (5)

“Spanish word for library”

BIBLIOTECA (10)

“Small white or brown grains grown in paddies”

RICE (4)

“Sounds like serial, but it's a breakfast food made from grain”

CEREAL (6)

“Showing the traits of a particular group or kind”

TYPICAL (7)

“South African tribe, sounds like a 'zoo' with a 'loo'.”

ZULU (4)

“Sounds produced by instruments or voices, often heard at festivals”

MUSIC (5)

“Secure shell protocol”

SSH (3)

“Sloped ramp used to raise objects with less force”

INCLINE (7)

“Strategic board game that lends its name to a 2026 nominated revival”

CHESS (5)

“Square topper that shares its name with a bricklayers tool”

MORTARBOARD (11)

“Scoring guide that keeps expectations crystal clear”

RUBRIC (6)

“State where protests erupted after a recent federal agent shooting.”

MINNESOTA (9)

“Short for aerodynamic design”

AERO (4)

“Spanish powerhouse who secured the title in 2023.”

RAHM (4)

“Substance organisms absorb from food or soil to grow”

NUTRIENT (8)

“Subatomic particle with no charge”

NEUTRON (7)

“Self-published works that may breach copyright”

DOJINSHI (8)

“Spanish word for the color green”

VERDE (5)

“Salt-rimmed cocktail heavily poured in early springtime.”

MARGARITA (9)

“Self operating machines that follow a predetermined sequence”

AUTOMATA (8)

“Statesman who helped negotiate French support for the colonies”

FRANKLIN (8)

“Small four-stringed instrument played with a bow”

VIOLIN (6)

“Spanish word for dog”

PERRO (5)

“Sticky carbohydrate-packed packets consumed for mid-race energy.”

GELS (4)

“Siblings who directed 'The Matrix'”

WACHOWSKIS (10)

“Sense that lets you see using your eyes”

SIGHT (5)

“Spot kick awarded for a foul in the box”

PENALTY (7)

“Soft color palette dominating spring decorations”

PASTEL (6)

“Sounds like mussel, but it's tissue in the body that helps you move”

MUSCLE (6)

“Studying the prey to understand the hunter”

VICTIMOLOGY (11)

“Small data file stored by websites”

COOKIE (6)

“South American empire, a central one, perhaps.”

INCA (4)

“Spanish word for office”

OFICINA (7)

“Subatomic particle such as a proton or a neutron”

BARYON (6)

“Sharp objects a shark may lose and replace thousands of times”

TEETH (5)

“Sounds like bare, but it's a large furry animal”

BEAR (4)

“Subculture scene famous for drag houses and runway walks”

BALLROOM (8)

“Small, isolated hill with steep sides and a flat top”

BUTTE (5)

“Stored form of power found inside glucose”

ENERGY (6)

“Seeing the small, or a 'scope' for the 'micro' world.”

MICROSCOPE (10)

“Spanish word for shoe”

ZAPATO (6)

“Simplify a fraction down to its ___ terms”

LOWEST (6)

“Sounds like plane, but it means simple or ordinary”

PLAIN (5)

“Spanish word for the color red”

ROJO (4)

“Silver State where wrestling legacies are etched in gold this year.”

NEVADA (6)

“Study of organisms and their environment”

ECOLOGY (7)

“Software or data that takes advantage of a bug”

EXPLOIT (7)

“Sacred carving: holy gripe, huh?”

HIEROGLYPH (10)

“Spanish word for newspaper, normally written with an accent”

PERIODICO (9)

“Self-replicating malware that spreads across networks”

WORM (4)

“Small part a new plant can grow from”

SEED (4)

“Specialized high top footwear designed for court traction”

SNEAKERS (8)

“System of repetitive exercises often performed on a reformer”

PILATES (7)

“Sounds like thrown, but it's the chair a king or queen sits on”

THRONE (6)

“Sole chassis supplier for the NTT IndyCar Series.”

DALLARA (7)

“Small part that a new plant can sprout from”

SEED (4)

“Synonym for glad and joyful”

HAPPY (5)

“Short for a problem-solving process”

ALGO (4)

“Shared customs and arts honored during the festivities.”

CULTURE (7)

“Small graphic on a screen”

ICON (4)

“Spirit of Ecstasy, or 'scenery rolls' if broken down.”

ROLLSROYCE (10)

“Sudden-death extra hockey”

OVERTIME (8)

“Spanish title for an unmarried young woman, normally spelled with an enye”

SENORITA (8)

“Spanish word meaning greetings, often used to end a letter”

SALUDOS (7)

“Streaming service that evolved from iTunes, offering millions of songs to subscribers”

MUSIC (5)

“Status symbol, a great sip, perhaps.”

PRESTIGE (8)

“Safety connection that sends extra electric charge safely into the earth”

GROUND (6)

“Sounds like right, but it means to put words on paper”

WRITE (5)

“Simple sugar plants produce for energy”

GLUCOSE (7)

“Spanish word for health, said after someone sneezes”

SALUD (5)

“Spanish word for country or nation, normally written with an accent”

PAIS (4)

“Symbols used to rate a product or service”

STARS (5)

“Software program on a smartphone”

APP (3)

“Something given to another person during a holiday”

GIFT (4)

“Starting a cinematic series over from scratch, often with a fresh cast.”

REBOOT (6)

“"So What" singer and host of Broadway's biggest night in 2026”

PINK (4)

“Sweeping formal attire that often requires assistance on the museum stairs.”

GOWN (4)

“Sounds like brake, but it means to split something apart”

BREAK (5)

“Smooth Fox Terrier who won his group in 2026”

WAGER (5)

“Surname of the megalomaniacal CEO portrayed by Nicholas Hoult”

LUTHOR (6)

“See rice, perhaps, for physical activity.”

EXERCISE (8)

“Synonym for authentic and real”

GENUINE (7)

“Spanish word a man says meaning delighted to meet you”

ENCANTADO (9)

“Small structure inside a cell that does a specific job”

ORGANELLE (9)

“Sounds like sensor, but it means to remove unacceptable content”

CENSOR (6)

“Stretchy canine companion with a southern drawl.”

SLINKY (6)

“Scientific study of substances and their reactions”

CHEMISTRY (9)

“Spooky nickname for the chimaera, a deep-sea relative of sharks discovered off Costa Rica in 2026”

GHOST (5)

“Steps for changing floors”

STAIR (5)

“Sara co-starring in the stage adaptation of "Schmigadoon!".”

CHASE (5)

“Space devoid of matter.”

VACUUM (6)

“Senior academic administrator, just a step below the university president”

PROVOST (7)

“Sharon who set the women's course record in 2025 and returns to defend her title in 2026.”

LOKEDI (6)

“Settlers who originally brought the 'wafel' to the Americas.”

DUTCH (5)

“Speed and direction, in physics”

VELOCITY (8)

“Squared circle where the action takes place.”

RING (4)

“Specific location for an event”

VENUE (5)

“Shot taken while jumping backward”

FADEAWAY (8)

“Software used on a smartphone or tablet”

APP (3)

“State where the Miss United States competition is held in the movie”

TEXAS (5)

“Slanted text style used to set off titles of books or movies”

ITALICS (7)

“Subterranean diamond found by a snout”

TRUFFLE (7)

“Spanish for bull, a common theme”

TORO (4)

“Smoky outdoor cooking method central to the festivities”

BARBECUE (8)

“Systematic error in data or a model”

BIAS (4)

“Short name for a software application”

APP (3)

“Start of the game with a jump ball”

TIPOFF (6)

“Structure a bird builds to lay its eggs”

NEST (4)

“San Antonio team back in the mix thanks to a French phenom.”

SPURS (5)

“Stark girl with Needle”

ARYA (4)

“Sense that lets your tongue detect flavors in food”

TASTE (5)

“Scientific methods used in connection with crime investigation”

FORENSIC (8)

“Small piece of data stored in a browser that can be used for tracking”

COOKIE (6)

“Savory fried poultry famously paired with this dish in the American South.”

CHICKEN (7)

“Slow bowler who relies on turn and flight rather than speed”

SPINNER (7)

“Smallest unit of a chemical element”

ATOM (4)

“Sweet summer fruit staple at emancipation picnics”

WATERMELON (10)

“Style of time using a twenty four hour format instead of AM and PM”

MILITARY (8)

“Speed or velocity of a fast bowler's delivery”

PACE (4)

“Sounds like vein and vane, but it means too proud of your looks”

VAIN (4)

“Shredded cabbage side dish tossed in creamy dressing”

COLESLAW (8)

“Sounds like sun, but it means a boy compared to his parent”

SON (3)

“"Stars and Stripes" nation co-hosting the 48-team event”

USA (3)

“Single-celled organisms, often pathogenic”

BACTERIA (8)

“Slender lateral bone running beside the shin”

FIBULA (6)

“Sell V. E. S. A tube carrying fluids.”

VESSEL (6)

“Serbian center orchestrating Denver's offensive attack.”

JOKIC (5)

“Sign made of a dot, dash, and dot, meaning split into equal groups”

SYMBOL (6)

“Spiky-shelled king of the Koopas.”

BOWSER (6)

“Symbols used to represent musical sounds”

NOTES (5)

“Small body of still fresh water”

POND (4)

“Shadow leader sitting in a leaf-shaded office”

HOKAGE (6)

“Shapes often used to rank the quality of a hotel”

STARS (5)

“Software specifically designed to disrupt or damage a computer system”

MALWARE (7)

“Small island, to a poet”

ISLE (4)

“Spool that held the magic of the Golden Age”

REEL (4)

“Spreading of particles from an area of high to low concentration”

DIFFUSION (9)

“State in which forces on an object cancel each other out”

BALANCE (7)

“Spiky succulent responsible for the party's signature liquor.”

AGAVE (5)

“Spanish word for beach”

PLAYA (5)

“Silent notification mode”

VIBRATE (7)

“Sony's broadcast format that delivers major PS5 updates.”

STATE (5)

“Shape of the browser's logo”

GEOMETRY (8)

“Scoreboard abbreviation for the 2026 ASG host city”

PHI (3)

“Star that gives Earth light and heat”

SUN (3)

“Spanish word for morning or tomorrow, normally spelled with an enye”

MANANA (6)

“Spanish word for city”

CIUDAD (6)

“Software designed to damage or disable computer systems”

MALWARE (7)

“Sticky powder kept in a small bag behind the rubber”

ROSIN (5)

“Sense that lets you detect sound using your ears”

HEARING (7)

“Spanish word for cat”

GATO (4)

“Small wooden pieces resting on top of the stumps”

BAILS (5)

“Seal or tuna, from the perspective of a hungry bull shark”

PREY (4)

“Starchy tuber that is a historical staple of the traditional Irish diet.”

POTATO (6)

“Software environment running on the company's desktop and laptop computers”

MACOS (5)

“Sour yellow citrus that thrives in warm climates and brightens up a glass of ice water.”

LEMON (5)

“Stage featuring 12 pools of four teams in 2026”

GROUP (5)

“System of interconnected computers”

NETWORK (7)

“Straight-line distance and direction between an object's start and end points”

DISPLACEMENT (12)

“Short for aerodynamics, crucial for speed”

AERO (4)

“She rose from the sea foam near Cyprus”

APHRODITE (9)

“Symbolic fire of the games”

FLAME (5)

“Sounds like male, but it's letters delivered to your house”

MAIL (4)

“Slithering creatures famously, and mythically, evicted from the Emerald Isle”

SNAKES (6)

“Short for the device that captures the footage”

CAM (3)

“Spiral shaped cavity in the inner ear responsible for hearing”

COCHLEA (7)

“Sue, sit for a group of similar cells.”

TISSUE (6)

“Speed in a given direction”

VELOCITY (8)

“Slithery fish, electric 'eel' for a shocker.”

EEL (3)

“Scientist's workplace, for short”

LAB (3)

“Soft, sticky earth used to make pottery”

CLAY (4)

“School professional who helps students with academic or personal issues”

COUNSELOR (9)

“Shot while jumping backward”

FADEAWAY (8)

“Stripped-down, unplugged performance style”

ACOUSTIC (8)

“Subatomic particle with very little mass”

NEUTRINO (8)

“Scientific tests used in connection with crime detection”

FORENSICS (9)

“Sounds like piece, but it means calm with no fighting”

PEACE (5)

“Spherical model of Earth”

GLOBE (5)

“Set of rules followed by a computer”

ALGORITHM (9)

“Sounds like waste, but it's the middle part of your body”

WAIST (5)

“Starting peg for a player's opening drive.”

TEE (3)

“Shot from the line, unguarded”

FREE (4)

“Sounds like bury, but it's a small juicy fruit”

BERRY (5)

“Supermarket manager who guides his sons Cory and Eric through life's lessons.”

MATTHEWS (8)

“Style of poached eggs perched on an English muffin.”

BENEDICT (8)

“Single bulb left burning to keep dark stages safe”

GHOSTLIGHT (10)

“Singing along to recorded music as entertainment”

KARAOKE (7)

“Sense that lets your skin feel pressure, texture, and temperature”

TOUCH (5)

“Spanish word meaning a kindness, part of the phrase for please”

FAVOR (5)

“SLC-40 or SLC-4E site from which rockets depart”

LAUNCHPAD (9)

“Sports network broadcasting the 2026 Eastern Conference Finals matchup.”

ESPN (4)

“Sticky surface rolled out before practice”

MAT (3)

“Slug-like alien crime lord species”

HUTT (4)

“Star guard Jalen, leading the charge for the Manhattan-based contenders”

BRUNSON (7)

“Sounds like course, but it means rough in texture”

COARSE (6)

“Season that officially begins at 10:46 AM EDT on March 20, 2026.”

SPRING (6)

“Shoes with studs on the bottom for better grip”

CLEATS (6)

“Star who famously transformed for the Miss United States competition”

BULLOCK (7)

“Swifties are not the only ones counting these broadcast periods”

ERAS (4)

“State of matter without definite shape or volume”

GAS (3)

“Steel type used for special swords”

VALYRIAN (8)

“Sitcom featuring six New Yorkers and a fountain”

FRIENDS (7)

“Spanish word for airport”

AEROPUERTO (10)

“Shapeshifting mutant stepping back into the spotlight”

MYSTIQUE (8)

“Small abrasive particles that need washing away”

GRIT (4)

“Sovereign ruler of an empire.”

EMPEROR (7)

“Steadfastly devoted to friends and partners”

LOYAL (5)

“Small graphic representing an application”

ICON (4)

“Spanish word for until, used in a common farewell phrase”

HASTA (5)

“Stylized crime genre favored by Fritz Lang”

NOIR (4)

“Spanish word for welcome, used to greet a male”

BIENVENIDO (10)

“Starting a franchise over with a new cast, like 2026's Masters of the Universe”

REBOOT (6)

“Solemn promise made by athletes”

OATH (4)

“Substances eaten to provide energy”

FOOD (4)

“Spike, known for 'Do the Right Thing'”

LEE (3)

“Sturdy cotton twill, often associated with blue jeans.”

DENIM (5)

“Systematic error in a model”

BIAS (4)

“Spiced ground pork often found scattered in crumbles on a supreme pie.”

SAUSAGE (7)

“Spanish verb meaning to work”

TRABAJAR (8)

“Sacred tree with red leaves and faces”

WEIRWOOD (8)

“Spanish question word meaning what, normally written with an accent”

QUE (3)

“Soft song intended to help children sleep”

LULLABY (7)

“Spanish word a woman says meaning delighted to meet you”

ENCANTADA (9)

“Spanish word for the color blue”

AZUL (4)

“Symbol of a particular movement or era, often famous.”

ICON (4)

“Symbols used to rank the quality of a product”

STARS (5)

“Specialized cell that detects a specific type of stimulus”

RECEPTOR (8)

“Sounds like principle, but it means the head of a school”

PRINCIPAL (9)

“Snitch to mom about a broken vase.”

TATTLE (6)

“Symbolic color of foods traditionally served at the gatherings”

RED (3)

“Surname of a barrel-tossing ape who originally clashed with Jumpman.”

KONG (4)

“Spanish word for family”

FAMILIA (7)

“Semi-sheen, half-glazed reduction.”

DEMIGLACE (9)

“Substance formed from two or more elements”

COMPOUND (8)

“Sticky, bone-in barbecue favorite slathered in sauce”

RIBS (4)

“Spanish word for chair”

SILLA (5)

“Someone who follows and watches a person obsessively”

STALKER (7)

“Sour fruit that sounds like a date with a tree”

TAMARIND (8)

“Spanish word for mountain, normally spelled with an enye”

MONTANA (7)

“Silvery metal that, like iron and cobalt, can be magnetized”

NICKEL (6)

“Screen or monitor”

DISPLAY (7)

“Sibling directors of "The Matrix"”

WACHOWSKI (9)

“Spanish word for school”

ESCUELA (7)

“Surprise 2024 semi-finalists who famously defeated Australia”

AFGHANISTAN (11)

“Starter course before the main meal”

APPETIZER (9)

“Softness from a goat in the Himalayas”

CASHMERE (8)

“Short, fast foot race”

SPRINT (6)

“Set of six balls bowled by one player”

OVERS (5)

“Spanish word for a place where meals are served”

RESTAURANTE (11)

“Swiss city where JJ took the 2025 crown”

BASEL (5)

“Square-topped symbol of scholarly achievement”

MORTARBOARD (11)

“Spanish word for afternoon”

TARDE (5)

“Second rock from the sun, serving as a breeding ground for space microbes.”

VENUS (5)

“Spanish word for bad, the opposite of well”

MAL (3)

“Stan Fields asked Cheryl to describe her "perfect" version of this”

DATE (4)

“Spanish word for a male friend”

AMIGO (5)

“Spanish word for welcome, used to greet a female”

BIENVENIDA (10)

“State of calm attentiveness”

ZEN (3)

“Spanish word for a farewell or goodbye”

DESPEDIDA (9)

“Showing deep love and devotion for one's nation.”

PATRIOTIC (9)

“Swedish pop auteur with her ninth studio record, 'Sexistential', in March 2026.”

ROBYN (5)

“Small, low island, often sandy; C A Y, as in alphabet”

CAY (3)

“Sunny Florida host city selected for the 2026 tournament's third-place match.”

MIAMI (5)

“Small swelling on a branch that will soon become a leaf.”

BUD (3)

“Spanish word for the moon”

LUNA (4)

“Spanish word for house”

CASA (4)

“Stylistic genre mastered by directors like Billy Wilder”

NOIR (4)

“Small crustacean, often 'rip sh' apart when preparing.”

SHRIMP (6)

“Systematic reasoning used in programming”

LOGIC (5)

“Size or strength of a force or quantity”

MAGNITUDE (9)

“See 'la' in a relaxed support.”

EASEL (5)

“Spanish word for book”

LIBRO (5)

“Simple machine with a spiral ridge that holds things together”

SCREW (5)

“Scope for distance, 'see plot' transformed (anag)”

TELESCOPE (9)

“State of matter without fixed shape or volume”

GAS (3)

“Sarcastic data processor who bought a chick and a duck for his roommate Tribbiani.”

CHANDLER (8)

“Shot close to the basket”

LAYUP (5)

“Specific role and set of conditions a species needs to survive”

NICHE (5)

“Symbols used to show how good something is”

STARS (5)

“Sudden death extra hockey, required to settle Games 2 and 3”

OVERTIME (8)

“Sharp point on a plant stem”

THORN (5)

“Spanish verb meaning to study”

ESTUDIAR (8)

“State in which all forces acting on an object are balanced”

EQUILIBRIUM (11)

“Sounds like stationery, but it means not moving”

STATIONARY (10)

“Syllabic Japanese scripts like Hiragana and Katakana”

KANA (4)

“Sound indicating a phone's status”

TONE (4)

“Substances eaten for nutrition and enjoyment, often special at festivals”

FOOD (4)

“Spanish word for excuse me, literally meaning permission”

PERMISO (7)

“Starchy cousin of the banana that is typically fried or baked before consumption.”

PLANTAIN (8)

“Spanish word for pleasure or liking, part of a common introduction phrase”

GUSTO (5)

“Spanish word for goodbye, written with an accent over the O”

ADIOS (5)

“Simple machine shaped like a triangle used to split things apart”

WEDGE (5)

“Sweet treats given out during Halloween”

CANDY (5)

“Star-like floating creature protected by the watcher of the cosmos.”

LUMA (4)

“Sand hill, often found in deserts; a nud-e reversal”

DUNE (4)

“Squeezing of matter into a smaller volume”

COMPRESSION (11)

“Someone who writes”

WRITER (6)

“Scoring shot that reaches the boundary after bouncing”

FOUR (4)

“Sung parts of a song”

VOCALS (6)

“Sideways walker, often 'curb' in anagram.”

CRAB (4)

“Spacecraft designed to circle a celestial body”

ORBITER (7)

“Spiny creature, a 'rich un' of the sea.”

URCHIN (6)

“Scoreline where advantage is the next step.”

DEUCE (5)

“Sci-fi author who loves stranding his protagonists in space.”

WEIR (4)

“Spanish word for the sun”

SOL (3)

“Smallest controllable element of a digital image”

PIXEL (5)

“Slipcover placed on the platter, often made of cork, rubber, or felt.”

MAT (3)

“Stark son who becomes the Three-Eyed Raven”

BRAN (4)

“Smooth rock often used for statues and buildings”

MARBLE (6)

“Single force that represents the combined effect of two or more forces”

RESULTANT (9)

“Self-replicating program that spreads through a network without human help”

WORM (4)

“Sunken area where the conductor waves their baton.”

PIT (3)

“Sounds like compliment, but it means something that completes another thing”

COMPLEMENT (10)

“State hosting SLC-40 Starlink launches this month”

FLORIDA (7)

“Spanish word for later, used in a common farewell phrase”

LUEGO (5)

“State welcoming the women's tournament for the first time in 2026.”

ARIZONA (7)