___ ice cap

Archive answer — August 9, 2026

42 Across

Scroll down for the rest of the crossword answers

Clue explained

“POLAR” is the published 5-letter fill for 42 Across. Use the crossing letters in the grid below to verify how it fits.

Clue type:
Crossword fill

Universal Crossword

This clue’s Sunday, August 9, 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.

Or reveal one clue at a time with the Hint and Answer buttons below.

Across

33 clues
  1. 1Elements used to create inert atmospheres
  2. 11IDs that can be assigned at birth
  3. 15"Yeah, there's definitely some weird noise"
  4. 16Sporty car roof
  5. 17Eats a bunch of pasta the night before a marathon, say
  6. 18Soothe
  7. 19Palindromic poetic preposition
  8. 20List on Facebook Marketplace
  9. 21Defeated, as Magnus Carlsen
  10. 22"... you get the idea": Abbr.
  11. 24Exuding joy
  12. 27"_appy _irth_ay!"
  13. 29iMessage messages
  14. 30Chocolate source
  15. 33"Relatable!"
  16. 37Toothbrush brand written with a hyphen
  17. 38Small, mischievous demon
  18. 39Household appliance brand
  19. 40Fashionable spots?
  20. 42___ ice capPOLAR
  21. 43In a bit
  22. 44Was ahead
  23. 45Cry upon reaching a destination
  24. 48Podcast installments, for short
  25. 51"Ish"
  26. 52Rise rapidly
  27. 54Greek H
  28. 56Conflict in Kristin Hannah's "The Nightingale," for short
  29. 57Like a parent carrying a sleeping baby, colloquially
  30. 60Helps
  31. 61"The math isn't mathing"
  32. 62Annoyance
  33. 63Features of some easy-to-open packages

Down

39 clues
  1. 1French city near Monaco
  2. 2Busiest Midwestern airport
  3. 3French hat
  4. 4Research site
  5. 5Greek Cupid
  6. 6Dystopian republic in "The Handmaid's Tale"
  7. 7Key ring?
  8. 8Buy time
  9. 95 p.m., in corporate lingo
  10. 10"Help!"
  11. 11State of secrecy for an early startup
  12. 12California's depicts Athena and a grizzly bear
  13. 13Olfactory organs
  14. 14Went too fast
  15. 21Custom collection of songs
  16. 23Creative who works outside
  17. 25Fitbit stat
  18. 26Dudes
  19. 28Treat with tapioca pearls
  20. 30"That's such a ___-out!"
  21. 31Person who prefers platonic relationships, for short
  22. 3260-Across in avoiding phone scams
  23. 33Nivea competitor
  24. 34Many an ambulance rider, for short
  25. 35Vaccine molecule
  26. 36Organ with a drum
  27. 41Moisture on grass
  28. 44Gets down
  29. 45Actor Mandel
  30. 46Pet rescue grp.
  31. 47Wind turbine blade
  32. 49Coke competitor
  33. 50Soak in a hot pot
  34. 51Trade
  35. 53River vehicle
  36. 55Sums
  37. 57Minor complaint
  38. 58Black church letters
  39. 59Brita competitor

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. Elements used to create inert atmospheres

    Answer: NOBLEGASES

  2. 11. IDs that can be assigned at birth

    Answer: SSNS

  3. 15. "Yeah, there's definitely some weird noise"

    Answer: IHEARITTOO

  4. 16. Sporty car roof

    Answer: TTOP

  5. 17. Eats a bunch of pasta the night before a marathon, say

    Answer: CARBOLOADS

  6. 18. Soothe

    Answer: EASE

  7. 19. Palindromic poetic preposition

    Answer: ERE

  8. 20. List on Facebook Marketplace

    Answer: SELL

  9. 21. Defeated, as Magnus Carlsen

    Answer: MATED

  10. 22. "... you get the idea": Abbr.

    Answer: ETC

  11. 24. Exuding joy

    Answer: ALLSMILES

  12. 27. "_appy _irth_ay!"

    Answer: HBD

  13. 29. iMessage messages

    Answer: TEXTS

  14. 30. Chocolate source

    Answer: CACAO

  15. 33. "Relatable!"

    Answer: BEENTHERE

  16. 37. Toothbrush brand written with a hyphen

    Answer: ORALB

  17. 38. Small, mischievous demon

    Answer: IMP

  18. 39. Household appliance brand

    Answer: AMANA

  19. 40. Fashionable spots?

    Answer: POLKADOTS

  20. 42. ___ ice cap

    Answer: POLAR

  21. 43. In a bit

    Answer: LATER

  22. 44. Was ahead

    Answer: LED

  23. 45. Cry upon reaching a destination

    Answer: HEREWEARE

  24. 48. Podcast installments, for short

    Answer: EPS

  25. 51. "Ish"

    Answer: SORTA

  26. 52. Rise rapidly

    Answer: SOAR

  27. 54. Greek H

    Answer: ETA

  28. 56. Conflict in Kristin Hannah's "The Nightingale," for short

    Answer: WWII

  29. 57. Like a parent carrying a sleeping baby, colloquially

    Answer: NAPTRAPPED

  30. 60. Helps

    Answer: AIDS

  31. 61. "The math isn't mathing"

    Answer: IMCONFUSED

  32. 62. Annoyance

    Answer: PEST

  33. 63. Features of some easy-to-open packages

    Answer: TEARSTRIPS

Down

  1. 1. French city near Monaco

    Answer: NICE

  2. 2. Busiest Midwestern airport

    Answer: OHARE

  3. 3. French hat

    Answer: BERET

  4. 4. Research site

    Answer: LAB

  5. 5. Greek Cupid

    Answer: EROS

  6. 6. Dystopian republic in "The Handmaid's Tale"

    Answer: GILEAD

  7. 7. Key ring?

    Answer: ATOLL

  8. 8. Buy time

    Answer: STALL

  9. 9. 5 p.m., in corporate lingo

    Answer: EOD

  10. 10. "Help!"

    Answer: SOS

  11. 11. State of secrecy for an early startup

    Answer: STEALTHMODE

  12. 12. California's depicts Athena and a grizzly bear

    Answer: STATESEAL

  13. 13. Olfactory organs

    Answer: NOSES

  14. 14. Went too fast

    Answer: SPED

  15. 21. Custom collection of songs

    Answer: MIXTAPE

  16. 23. Creative who works outside

    Answer: CHALKARTIST

  17. 25. Fitbit stat

    Answer: STEPS

  18. 26. Dudes

    Answer: MEN

  19. 28. Treat with tapioca pearls

    Answer: BOBATEA

  20. 30. "That's such a ___-out!"

    Answer: COP

  21. 31. Person who prefers platonic relationships, for short

    Answer: ARO

  22. 32. 60-Across in avoiding phone scams

    Answer: CALLERIDS

  23. 33. Nivea competitor

    Answer: BIORE

  24. 34. Many an ambulance rider, for short

    Answer: EMT

  25. 35. Vaccine molecule

    Answer: RNA

  26. 36. Organ with a drum

    Answer: EAR

  27. 41. Moisture on grass

    Answer: DEW

  28. 44. Gets down

    Answer: LEARNS

  29. 45. Actor Mandel

    Answer: HOWIE

  30. 46. Pet rescue grp.

    Answer: ASPCA

  31. 47. Wind turbine blade

    Answer: ROTOR

  32. 49. Coke competitor

    Answer: PEPSI

  33. 50. Soak in a hot pot

    Answer: STEEP

  34. 51. Trade

    Answer: SWAP

  35. 53. River vehicle

    Answer: RAFT

  36. 55. Sums

    Answer: ADDS

  37. 57. Minor complaint

    Answer: NIT

  38. 58. Black church letters

    Answer: AME

  39. 59. Brita competitor

    Answer: PUR

The answer to “___ ice cap” in the Universal Crossword is POLAR — a 5-letter word. It appears in our available data for August 9, 2026 at 42-Across. Below you can reveal the fill one letter at a time, check the full puzzle, and open every related clue page.

“___ ice cap” answer

POLAR(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 POLAR fit?

POLAR is the published 5-letter answer at 42-Across. The highlighted path in the puzzle shows exactly where the entry sits.

When else has “___ ice cap” 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 “___ ice cap”?

The answer is POLAR.

How many letters are in the answer?

5 letters: POLAR.

When did this clue appear?

It appears in the Universal Crossword for August 9, 2026 at 42-Across.

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 Universal answers page for August 9, 2026 for the full grid and every clue.

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