Purposeful

Archive answer — August 17, 2026

51 Down

Scroll down for the rest of the crossword answers

Clue explained

“UTILE” is the published 5-letter fill for 51 Down. Use the crossing letters in the grid below to verify how it fits.

Clue type:
Crossword fill

Washington Post Crossword

This clue’s Monday, August 17, 2026 appearance

Tap a square to reveal or hide a letter.

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

36 clues
  1. 1Magic: The Gathering fan's collection
  2. 6"You are __": map message
  3. 10Slugger Sammy
  4. 14Capital of Ghana
  5. 15Yemen neighbor
  6. 16Birds associated with wisdom
  7. 17Attraction in a neighborhood park
  8. 19Skewed view
  9. 20Flow slowly
  10. 21General idea
  11. 22Lobby group for seniors
  12. 25Illuminating item in an emergency kit
  13. 29Word before metal and music
  14. 31Buoyant
  15. 32Kitchen tool needed for some potato dishes
  16. 34Commuter's fee
  17. 35Garden implement
  18. 38Phone history list
  19. 40Fail to show up for
  20. 42Streaming interruptions
  21. 43Argentine author Jorge __ Borges
  22. 45Italian town with a namesake coast
  23. 46"Go Birds!" NFL team
  24. 48Iron alloy
  25. 49Outing for two couples
  26. 53Literary governess Jane
  27. 54Up to
  28. 55Love, in Spanish
  29. 57Actor Estrada
  30. 58Consecutive, or a hint to what can follow the first parts and precede the second parts of 17-, 25-, 38-, 40-, and 49-Across
  31. 64Country singer Lovett
  32. 65Shrek, for one
  33. 66Nintendo's The Legend of __
  34. 67Notices
  35. 68Some small dogs
  36. 69Official order

Down

42 clues
  1. 1Lid
  2. 2Knee surgery target, for short
  3. 3Color TV pioneer
  4. 4Unproductive period
  5. 5Mint family herb
  6. 6Fuss
  7. 7Down Under bird
  8. 8Appeared in print
  9. 9Cease
  10. 10"That's that, then"
  11. 11In debt
  12. 12Cut drastically, as prices
  13. 13Valuable quality
  14. 18Gridiron official
  15. 21Ski races with gates
  16. 22Pet welfare org.
  17. 23On track to win
  18. 24Film spools
  19. 26Away from the bow, on a boat
  20. 27Untidy one
  21. 28Say hi, in slang
  22. 30Dishy memoir
  23. 33Cheek colorer
  24. 35Like moth-eaten clothing
  25. 36Buyer's proposal
  26. 37Submit taxes online
  27. 39__ the lily: add unnecessary decor
  28. 41Sloshy mattress
  29. 44Salty expanse
  30. 46Chargeable two-wheelers
  31. 47Poles in a tomato garden
  32. 49Old-fashioned showdowns
  33. 50Sandwich request
  34. 51PurposefulUTILE
  35. 52First responder: Abbr.
  36. 56Flow slowly
  37. 58Droid
  38. 59In the past
  39. 60Get weepy
  40. 61"__ Baba and the Forty Thieves"
  41. 62Public health agcy.
  42. 63Dennings of "WandaVision"

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. Magic: The Gathering fan's collection

    Answer: CARDS

  2. 6. "You are __": map message

    Answer: HERE

  3. 10. Slugger Sammy

    Answer: SOSA

  4. 14. Capital of Ghana

    Answer: ACCRA

  5. 15. Yemen neighbor

    Answer: OMAN

  6. 16. Birds associated with wisdom

    Answer: OWLS

  7. 17. Attraction in a neighborhood park

    Answer: PLAYGROUND

  8. 19. Skewed view

    Answer: BIAS

  9. 20. Flow slowly

    Answer: SEEP

  10. 21. General idea

    Answer: SENSE

  11. 22. Lobby group for seniors

    Answer: AARP

  12. 25. Illuminating item in an emergency kit

    Answer: FLASHLIGHT

  13. 29. Word before metal and music

    Answer: SHEET

  14. 31. Buoyant

    Answer: AFLOAT

  15. 32. Kitchen tool needed for some potato dishes

    Answer: PEELER

  16. 34. Commuter's fee

    Answer: TOLL

  17. 35. Garden implement

    Answer: HOE

  18. 38. Phone history list

    Answer: CALLLOG

  19. 40. Fail to show up for

    Answer: BLOWOFF

  20. 42. Streaming interruptions

    Answer: ADS

  21. 43. Argentine author Jorge __ Borges

    Answer: LUIS

  22. 45. Italian town with a namesake coast

    Answer: AMALFI

  23. 46. "Go Birds!" NFL team

    Answer: EAGLES

  24. 48. Iron alloy

    Answer: STEEL

  25. 49. Outing for two couples

    Answer: DOUBLEDATE

  26. 53. Literary governess Jane

    Answer: EYRE

  27. 54. Up to

    Answer: UNTIL

  28. 55. Love, in Spanish

    Answer: AMOR

  29. 57. Actor Estrada

    Answer: ERIK

  30. 58. Consecutive, or a hint to what can follow the first parts and precede the second parts of 17-, 25-, 38-, 40-, and 49-Across

    Answer: BACKTOBACK

  31. 64. Country singer Lovett

    Answer: LYLE

  32. 65. Shrek, for one

    Answer: OGRE

  33. 66. Nintendo's The Legend of __

    Answer: ZELDA

  34. 67. Notices

    Answer: SEES

  35. 68. Some small dogs

    Answer: TOYS

  36. 69. Official order

    Answer: EDICT

Down

  1. 1. Lid

    Answer: CAP

  2. 2. Knee surgery target, for short

    Answer: ACL

  3. 3. Color TV pioneer

    Answer: RCA

  4. 4. Unproductive period

    Answer: DRYSPELL

  5. 5. Mint family herb

    Answer: SAGE

  6. 6. Fuss

    Answer: HOOPLA

  7. 7. Down Under bird

    Answer: EMU

  8. 8. Appeared in print

    Answer: RAN

  9. 9. Cease

    Answer: END

  10. 10. "That's that, then"

    Answer: SOBEIT

  11. 11. In debt

    Answer: OWING

  12. 12. Cut drastically, as prices

    Answer: SLASH

  13. 13. Valuable quality

    Answer: ASSET

  14. 18. Gridiron official

    Answer: REF

  15. 21. Ski races with gates

    Answer: SLALOMS

  16. 22. Pet welfare org.

    Answer: ASPCA

  17. 23. On track to win

    Answer: AHEAD

  18. 24. Film spools

    Answer: REELS

  19. 26. Away from the bow, on a boat

    Answer: AFT

  20. 27. Untidy one

    Answer: SLOB

  21. 28. Say hi, in slang

    Answer: HOLLA

  22. 30. Dishy memoir

    Answer: TELLALL

  23. 33. Cheek colorer

    Answer: ROUGE

  24. 35. Like moth-eaten clothing

    Answer: HOLEY

  25. 36. Buyer's proposal

    Answer: OFFER

  26. 37. Submit taxes online

    Answer: EFILE

  27. 39. __ the lily: add unnecessary decor

    Answer: GILD

  28. 41. Sloshy mattress

    Answer: WATERBED

  29. 44. Salty expanse

    Answer: SEA

  30. 46. Chargeable two-wheelers

    Answer: EBIKES

  31. 47. Poles in a tomato garden

    Answer: STAKES

  32. 49. Old-fashioned showdowns

    Answer: DUELS

  33. 50. Sandwich request

    Answer: ONRYE

  34. 51. Purposeful

    Answer: UTILE

  35. 52. First responder: Abbr.

    Answer: EMT

  36. 58. Droid

    Answer: BOT

  37. 59. In the past

    Answer: AGO

  38. 60. Get weepy

    Answer: CRY

  39. 61. "__ Baba and the Forty Thieves"

    Answer: ALI

  40. 62. Public health agcy.

    Answer: CDC

  41. 63. Dennings of "WandaVision"

    Answer: KAT

The answer to “Purposeful” in the Washington Post Crossword is UTILE — a 5-letter word. It appears in our available data for August 17, 2026 at 51-Down. Below you can reveal the fill one letter at a time, check the full puzzle, and open every related clue page.

“Purposeful” answer

UTILE(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 UTILE fit?

UTILE is the published 5-letter answer at 51-Down. The highlighted path in the puzzle shows exactly where the entry sits.

When else has “Purposeful” 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 “Purposeful”?

The answer is UTILE.

How many letters are in the answer?

5 letters: UTILE.

When did this clue appear?

It appears in the Washington Post Crossword for August 17, 2026 at 51-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 Washington Post answers page for August 17, 2026 for the full grid and every clue.

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