Big picture?

Archive answer — August 16, 2026

9 Down

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Clue explained

“MURAL” is the published 5-letter fill for 9 Down. Use the crossing letters in the grid below to verify how it fits.

Clue type:
Crossword fill

The Atlantic Crossword

This clue’s Sunday, August 16, 2026 appearance

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Crossword solution grid

Select a square to hide or reveal its letter in the 15 by 15 crossword grid.

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Across

36 clues
  1. 1"I'm not going to spell it out"
  2. 13Organization that received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2012
  3. 15Do again, say
  4. 17Word with <i>fire</i> or <i>farm</i>
  5. 18What some bills become
  6. 19Swim-bike-run event, for short
  7. 21What the yellow part of the New Jersey license plate represents, to haters
  8. 24Set
  9. 25Certain subatomic particle
  10. 26Pepper-spray maker
  11. 27___ <i>Technica</i> (news website)
  12. 28Turned way up
  13. 29"___ Sweet Day" (Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men hit)
  14. 30"___ This Mess" (phrase on some kitschy home decor)
  15. 32Large, in Starbucks jargon
  16. 33Hack off
  17. 35First U.S. state, alphabetically
  18. 37Runs away to Las Vegas, maybe
  19. 38Put the kibosh on
  20. 39Spy novelist Deighton
  21. 40Material for some luxe pillowcases
  22. 41Surname of the NFL's J.J. or T.J.
  23. 43Smear
  24. 44Aspect of the sun visible during a total solar eclipse
  25. 46Indigenous people of the Labrador Peninsula
  26. 47Last hurrah
  27. 50Start of a proposal, maybe
  28. 52The <i>C</i> of <i>TLC</i>
  29. 53Shangri-la, e.g.
  30. 55Light German brew, briefly
  31. 56Alamo alternative
  32. 57Sign in an apartment window, maybe
  33. 58Before, poetically
  34. 59Things in a pillbox, for short
  35. 60Grazes
  36. 61Came together

Down

36 clues
  1. 1"___ Blues" (Beatles song)
  2. 2French assent
  3. 3Vessel that holds <i>Survivor</i> votes
  4. 4Part of a treatment plan
  5. 5Taking orders, say
  6. 6Milk conveyor
  7. 7"Scruffy-looking nerf herder" of the <i>Star Wars</i> franchise
  8. 8Like a Möbius strip
  9. 9Big picture?MURAL
  10. 10Fresh
  11. 11Supplemental income, for some
  12. 12Gardener's implement
  13. 14Country music?
  14. 16French fish dish sometimes served <i>en amandine</i>
  15. 20Naan event?
  16. 21Classic fireside fare
  17. 22"Thrilla in ___" (legendary Ali-versus-Frazier match)
  18. 23Leopardlike creature
  19. 24Test for some aspiring Ph.D.s
  20. 25Commoner, casually
  21. 27<i>Force Majeure</i> setting
  22. 30___ Aires, Argentina
  23. 31Seasonal-delivery driver?
  24. 32Type of shot, for short
  25. 34Awesomeosity
  26. 36Awesome
  27. 41Soup dumpling
  28. 42Wool from rabbits
  29. 43___ <i>de los Muertos</i> (<i>fiesta tradicional de México</i>)
  30. 45Overthrows
  31. 47Catfish, for example
  32. 48Silent goodbye
  33. 49Desertlike
  34. 50Get some shut-eye?
  35. 51___ off
  36. 54Bench-press target, for short

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Every clue links to a dedicated answer page. Use the list below to scan the complete fill without opening the interactive board.

Across

  1. 1. "I'm not going to spell it out"

    Answer: YOUDOTHEMATH

  2. 13. Organization that received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2012

    Answer: EUROPEANUNION

  3. 15. Do again, say

    Answer: RINSEANDREPEAT

  4. 17. Word with <i>fire</i> or <i>farm</i>

    Answer: ANT

  5. 18. What some bills become

    Answer: LAWS

  6. 19. Swim-bike-run event, for short

    Answer: TRI

  7. 21. What the yellow part of the New Jersey license plate represents, to haters

    Answer: SMOG

  8. 24. Set

    Answer: GEL

  9. 25. Certain subatomic particle

    Answer: PION

  10. 26. Pepper-spray maker

    Answer: MACE

  11. 27. ___ <i>Technica</i> (news website)

    Answer: ARS

  12. 28. Turned way up

    Answer: LOUD

  13. 29. "___ Sweet Day" (Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men hit)

    Answer: ONE

  14. 30. "___ This Mess" (phrase on some kitschy home decor)

    Answer: BLESS

  15. 32. Large, in Starbucks jargon

    Answer: VENTI

  16. 33. Hack off

    Answer: RILEUP

  17. 35. First U.S. state, alphabetically

    Answer: ALABAMA

  18. 37. Runs away to Las Vegas, maybe

    Answer: ELOPES

  19. 38. Put the kibosh on

    Answer: NIX

  20. 39. Spy novelist Deighton

    Answer: LEN

  21. 40. Material for some luxe pillowcases

    Answer: SATIN

  22. 41. Surname of the NFL's J.J. or T.J.

    Answer: WATT

  23. 43. Smear

    Answer: DAUB

  24. 44. Aspect of the sun visible during a total solar eclipse

    Answer: CORONA

  25. 46. Indigenous people of the Labrador Peninsula

    Answer: INNU

  26. 47. Last hurrah

    Answer: SWANSONG

  27. 50. Start of a proposal, maybe

    Answer: WHATIF

  28. 52. The <i>C</i> of <i>TLC</i>

    Answer: CARE

  29. 53. Shangri-la, e.g.

    Answer: UTOPIA

  30. 55. Light German brew, briefly

    Answer: HEF

  31. 56. Alamo alternative

    Answer: AVIS

  32. 57. Sign in an apartment window, maybe

    Answer: TORENT

  33. 58. Before, poetically

    Answer: ERE

  34. 59. Things in a pillbox, for short

    Answer: MEDS

  35. 60. Grazes

    Answer: SNACKS

  36. 61. Came together

    Answer: MET

Down

  1. 1. "___ Blues" (Beatles song)

    Answer: YER

  2. 2. French assent

    Answer: OUI

  3. 3. Vessel that holds <i>Survivor</i> votes

    Answer: URN

  4. 4. Part of a treatment plan

    Answer: DOSAGE

  5. 5. Taking orders, say

    Answer: OPEN

  6. 6. Milk conveyor

    Answer: TEAT

  7. 7. "Scruffy-looking nerf herder" of the <i>Star Wars</i> franchise

    Answer: HAN

  8. 8. Like a Möbius strip

    Answer: ENDLESS

  9. 9. Big picture?

    Answer: MURAL

  10. 10. Fresh

    Answer: ANEW

  11. 11. Supplemental income, for some

    Answer: TIPS

  12. 12. Gardener's implement

    Answer: HOE

  13. 14. Country music?

    Answer: NATIONALANTHEM

  14. 16. French fish dish sometimes served <i>en amandine</i>

    Answer: TROUTMEUNIERE

  15. 20. Naan event?

    Answer: INDIANBUFFET

  16. 21. Classic fireside fare

    Answer: SMORES

  17. 22. "Thrilla in ___" (legendary Ali-versus-Frazier match)

    Answer: MANILA

  18. 23. Leopardlike creature

    Answer: OCELOT

  19. 24. Test for some aspiring Ph.D.s

    Answer: GRE

  20. 25. Commoner, casually

    Answer: PLEB

  21. 27. <i>Force Majeure</i> setting

    Answer: ALPS

  22. 30. ___ Aires, Argentina

    Answer: BUENOS

  23. 31. Seasonal-delivery driver?

    Answer: SANTA

  24. 32. Type of shot, for short

    Answer: VAX

  25. 34. Awesomeosity

    Answer: EPICNESS

  26. 36. Awesome

    Answer: LIT

  27. 41. Soup dumpling

    Answer: WONTON

  28. 42. Wool from rabbits

    Answer: ANGORA

  29. 43. ___ <i>de los Muertos</i> (<i>fiesta tradicional de México</i>)

    Answer: DIA

  30. 45. Overthrows

    Answer: ROUTS

  31. 47. Catfish, for example

    Answer: SCAM

  32. 48. Silent goodbye

    Answer: WAVE

  33. 49. Desertlike

    Answer: ARID

  34. 50. Get some shut-eye?

    Answer: WINK

  35. 51. ___ off

    Answer: HATS

  36. 54. Bench-press target, for short

    Answer: PEC

The answer to “Big picture?” in the The Atlantic Crossword is MURAL — a 5-letter word. It appears in our available data for August 16, 2026 at 9-Down. Below you can reveal the fill one letter at a time, check the full puzzle, and open every related clue page.

“Big picture?” answer

MURAL(5 letters)

Prefer a nudge first? Use the letter tiles above to hide and reveal individual characters, or use the focused grid to confirm the crossing letters.

Why does MURAL fit?

MURAL is the published 5-letter answer at 9-Down. The highlighted path in the puzzle shows exactly where the entry sits.

When else has “Big picture?” appeared?

The same clue can return on another date, sometimes with a different fill. These are the matching appearances in the recent published records available through the Answers API.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Big picture?”?

The answer is MURAL.

How many letters are in the answer?

5 letters: MURAL.

When did this clue appear?

It appears in the The Atlantic Crossword for August 16, 2026 at 9-Down.

Can this clue have a different answer?

Yes. Crossword clues may be reused with a different fill depending on the grid. Recent matching appearances are listed above when available.

Where can I find the rest of this day’s answers?

Open the The Atlantic answers page for August 16, 2026 for the full grid and every clue.

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