5/14/26
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
___ and circumstance (elaborate production)
POMP
5A
Texting format of most phones: Abbr.
SMS
8A
Fuel that’s mined in Kentucky
COAL
12A
It can be tied into a messy bun
HAIR
13A
Woodpecker’s sound
TAP
14A
Style also known as a “natural”
AFRO
15A
2025 Alex Warren single that was #1 on the Adult Pop Airplay chart for a record-setting 30 weeks
ORDINARY
17A
Push down tightly
TAMP
18A
“Give us this day ___ daily bread …”
OUR
19A
Fluid that could be changed at Jiffy Lube
OIL
21A
2023 Nate Smith single that was #1 on the Country Airplay chart for a record-tying 10 weeks: 3 wds.
WORLD ON FIRE
26A
“Good ___ you!”
FOR
27A
Reed who sang “Walk on the Wild Side”
LOU
28A
Removes, as cream
SKIMS
30A
Breadmaker’s product
LOAF
32A
Movie studio with a lion mascot
MGM
34A
Cavaliers center Mobley
EVAN
35A
Race that’s longer than a marathon, for short
ULTRA
37A
“___ Dark Materials” (2019-2022 HBO fantasy series)
HIS
39A
Run a fever, perhaps
AIL
40A
2017 Portugal. The Man single that was #1 on the Alternative Airplay chart for a record-tying 20 weeks: 3 wds.
FEEL IT STILL
43A
Ballplayer’s hat
CAP
44A
Wallop
HIT
45A
Clean and ___ (weightlifting moves)
JERK
48A
2024 Shaboozey single subtitled “(Tipsy)” that was #1 on the Radio Songs chart for a record-setting 27 weeks: 3 wds.
A BAR SONG
One Clue Crossword
WordBrain
WordBubbles!
Word Whizzle
Words Crush
53A
Shape of some faces
OVAL
54A
Hummus, for example
DIP
55A
“Stranger Things” actress Hawke
MAYA
56A
“What’s Going On” singer Marvin
GAYE
57A
Distress call from the high seas
SOS
58A
___ out (just barely manages)
EKES
1D
Vietnamese rice-noodle soup
PHO
2D
Propeller seen on a lake
OAR
3D
___-century modern (20th-century design movement)
MID
4D
Earlier in time
PRIOR
5D
What an aspiring Hollywood actor dreams of
STARDOM
6D
Scuff up
MAR
7D
Secretly monitor: 2 wds.
SPY ON
8D
Impressively quick, as reflexes
CATLIKE
9D
On the horns ___ dilemma: 2 wds.
OF A
10D
What a stick might represent on a snowman
ARM
11D
___-eared rabbit (animal with ears that droop)
LOP
16D
___ and void (invalid)
NULL
20D
What-___ (uncertainties)
IFS
21D
Virginia who wrote “Orlando” and “To the Lighthouse”
WOOLF
22D
Deliver a formal speech
ORATE
23D
“This ___ to be good!”
OUGHT
24D
Close competitor
RIVAL
25D
Microsoft Outlook message
EMAIL
26D
Seasonal respiratory virus
FLU
29D
Sketch series whose UK version began in March 2026: Abbr.
SNL
31D
Small spot on the skin
FRECKLE
33D
Unlucky accidents
MISHAPS
36D
In the style of: 2 wds.
ALA
38D
Blend with a wooden spoon
STIR
41D
Apple tablets that debuted in 2010
IPADS
42D
“Hi, I’m the problem, ___” (Taylor Swift lyric): 2 wds.
ITS ME
45D
Run at an easy pace
JOG
46D
Actress Marcille of the BET+ series “All the Queen’s Men”
EVA
47D
Beam of sunlight
RAY
49D
Science of natural life, for short
BIO
50D
Wood in bourbon barrels
OAK
51D
Science educator Bill who once competed on “The Masked Dancer”
NYE
52D
It’s purchased at a pump
GAS