8/28/26
Top 40 Thursday
Are you stuck with the Crosswords With Friends Puzzle Today? Stuck No More. We offer complete solutions as well as “no spoiler” mode to give you that little extra push. Or simply use this cheat sheet to help you get the best and fastest completion time possible.
1A
Music genre that the Sugarhill Gang helped pioneer
RAP
4A
Place that may play New Age music in the background
SPA
7A
“Thar ___ blows!”
SHE
10A
Body parts sometimes called “the windows to the soul”
EYES
12A
“___ a Tramp” (song from a 1955 Disney movie)
HES
13A
Practice for a boxing match
SPAR
14A
It could be “home-cooked”
MEAL
15A
What could be avoided by paying for premium streaming plans
ADS
16A
Reid of the “Sharknado” movies
TARA
17A
Infielder who spent his entire career (1953-1971) with the Cubs and hit 512 homers: 2 wds.
ERNIE BANKS
20A
Remove, as a current mayor
UNSEAT
23A
Road-surfacing gunk
TAR
24A
With 35-Across, outfielder who spent his entire career (1951-1968) with the Yankees and hit 536 homers
MICKEY
25A
Pieces of leather used for sharpening razors
STROPS
29A
After-school support group: Abbr.
PTA
30A
Internet service provider since 1993
AOL
31A
Person waiting on tables
SERVER
35A
See 24-Across
MANTLE
38A
Ginger ___ (soda sometimes mixed with liquor)
ALE
39A
In whatever way
ANYHOW
40A
First baseman/outfielder who spent his entire career (1941-1963) with the Cardinals and hit 475 homers: 2 wds.
STAN MUSIAL
44A
“In the interest of saving ___ …”
TIME
45A
Vulcano of “Impractical Jokers”
SAL
46A
Unlatch
OPEN
One Clue Crossword
WordBrain
WordBubbles!
Word Whizzle
Words Crush
50A
Eye part that might be hazel
IRIS
51A
___ Young Band (“Love Ain’t” group)
ELI
52A
First line on many applications
NAME
53A
Top color on a stoplight
RED
54A
Tim Scott or Rick Scott, for example: Abbr.
SEN
55A
Almost empty, on a gas gauge
LOW
1D
“Shiny Happy People” band
REM
2D
Vote that’s similar to “yea”
AYE
3D
Split ___ soup
PEA
4D
Sailors’ song
SHANTY
5D
Mani-___ (beauty combination)
PEDI
6D
Things you own, like stocks and bonds
ASSETS
7D
Bridge’s length
SPAN
8D
“___! The Herald Angels Sing” (Christmas song)
HARK
9D
Historical periods sometimes named for rulers
ERAS
11D
Streamlined, like a sports car
SLEEK
13D
Beatles drummer Ringo
STARR
18D
2026 Grammy nominee Addison ___
RAE
19D
Animal that Dracula can turn into
BAT
20D
Home plate officials, for short
UMPS
21D
Nick at ___ (cable programming bloc)
NITE
22D
Mark left after an operation
SCAR
26D
Under ___ (having been sworn in, in court)
OATH
27D
Marco ___ (game in a swimming pool)
POLO
28D
Did in, as a dragon
SLEW
32D
Barn toppers that indicate wind direction
VANES
33D
Freddy Krueger’s street, in movies
ELM
34D
Finds another purpose for
REUSES
35D
___ ballot (vote sent via the post office): Hyph.
MAIL-IN
36D
Actress Ortiz of “Ugly Betty”
ANA
37D
Synthetic pantyhose material
NYLON
42D
Surrounded on all sides by
AMID
43D
Event for bargain hunters
SALE
47D
Amigo
PAL
48D
Music genre of Paramore
EMO
49D
___ Jersey
NEW