Rivals

Archive answer — September 7, 2026

26 Down

Scroll down for the rest of the crossword answers

Clue explained

“FOES” is the published 4-letter fill for 26 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, September 7, 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

35 clues
  1. 1Owl sound
  2. 5Blue-green hue used in color printing
  3. 9Pet that can be laser-focused?
  4. 12__ committee
  5. 14Volcano's output
  6. 15Task list heading
  7. 16Citrus garnish for many a cocktail
  8. 18Toiling away
  9. 19Manipulate, as bread dough
  10. 20Playground fixture with a ladder
  11. 21"SportsCenter" network
  12. 24Driver's rush-hour headache
  13. 27Ice cream servings
  14. 29Cut (off)
  15. 30Donkey
  16. 31Little bite
  17. 32Least hospitable
  18. 35Tom Wolfe book about Project Mercury, or an apt description of the ends of 16-, 24-, 47-, and 56-Across
  19. 39Moves like a crab
  20. 40Mistake
  21. 42Canyon edge
  22. 45Scooby-__
  23. 46Fast-casual bakery franchise
  24. 47Budget chain owned by Choice Hotels
  25. 51Genesis garden
  26. 52West Point student
  27. 53Sloshed through water
  28. 55Field of study
  29. 56Average guy
  30. 61Sound like a 9-Across
  31. 62Fencing sword
  32. 63Familiar theme
  33. 64Oft-redacted ID
  34. 65Pen points
  35. 66Moisturizer brand

Down

41 clues
  1. 1Actor Holbrook
  2. 2Tribute poem
  3. 3Unit of resistance
  4. 4Didn't count on one's memory in class
  5. 5See-through
  6. 6When repeated, "and so on"
  7. 7The "A" of GPA: Abbr.
  8. 8Scottish "no"
  9. 9Crumbly Mexican cheese
  10. 10Nike rival
  11. 11Sacred tribal carvings
  12. 13"Erin Burnett OutFront" channel
  13. 15Very soft mineral
  14. 17Moistens
  15. 20Enjoys gossip without adding to it, in slang
  16. 21"C'__ la vie!"
  17. 22"Buzz off!"
  18. 23Swanky
  19. 25Darts around
  20. 26RivalsFOES
  21. 28August birthstone
  22. 32Shelter made of compressed snow
  23. 33"Weekend Update" comic Michael
  24. 34Gave up one's amateur status, perhaps
  25. 36Pop sensation
  26. 37Mister Rogers
  27. 38Golfer's warning shout
  28. 41Hightailed it
  29. 42"Previously on ... " segments
  30. 43Son of Daedalus
  31. 44Contemporary
  32. 46Spa treatment for feet, briefly
  33. 48At hand
  34. 49Dorky one
  35. 50Elements that make up most of the atmosphere
  36. 54Telephone no. addition
  37. 56MS NOW's "The Briefing With __ Psaki"
  38. 57Nail polish brand
  39. 58Pioneering ISP
  40. 59Fig. figuring figures
  41. 60__ lime pie

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. Owl sound

    Answer: HOOT

  2. 5. Blue-green hue used in color printing

    Answer: CYAN

  3. 9. Pet that can be laser-focused?

    Answer: CAT

  4. 12. __ committee

    Answer: ADHOC

  5. 14. Volcano's output

    Answer: LAVA

  6. 15. Task list heading

    Answer: TODO

  7. 16. Citrus garnish for many a cocktail

    Answer: LEMONWEDGE

  8. 18. Toiling away

    Answer: ATIT

  9. 19. Manipulate, as bread dough

    Answer: KNEAD

  10. 20. Playground fixture with a ladder

    Answer: SLIDE

  11. 21. "SportsCenter" network

    Answer: ESPN

  12. 24. Driver's rush-hour headache

    Answer: TRAFFICJAM

  13. 27. Ice cream servings

    Answer: SCOOPS

  14. 29. Cut (off)

    Answer: LOP

  15. 30. Donkey

    Answer: ASS

  16. 31. Little bite

    Answer: TASTE

  17. 32. Least hospitable

    Answer: ICIEST

  18. 35. Tom Wolfe book about Project Mercury, or an apt description of the ends of 16-, 24-, 47-, and 56-Across

    Answer: THERIGHTSTUFF

  19. 39. Moves like a crab

    Answer: SIDLES

  20. 40. Mistake

    Answer: ERROR

  21. 42. Canyon edge

    Answer: RIM

  22. 45. Scooby-__

    Answer: DOO

  23. 46. Fast-casual bakery franchise

    Answer: PANERA

  24. 47. Budget chain owned by Choice Hotels

    Answer: ECONOLODGE

  25. 51. Genesis garden

    Answer: EDEN

  26. 52. West Point student

    Answer: CADET

  27. 53. Sloshed through water

    Answer: WADED

  28. 55. Field of study

    Answer: AREA

  29. 56. Average guy

    Answer: JOESIXPACK

  30. 61. Sound like a 9-Across

    Answer: PURR

  31. 62. Fencing sword

    Answer: EPEE

  32. 63. Familiar theme

    Answer: TROPE

  33. 64. Oft-redacted ID

    Answer: SSN

  34. 65. Pen points

    Answer: NIBS

  35. 66. Moisturizer brand

    Answer: OLAY

Down

  1. 1. Actor Holbrook

    Answer: HAL

  2. 2. Tribute poem

    Answer: ODE

  3. 3. Unit of resistance

    Answer: OHM

  4. 4. Didn't count on one's memory in class

    Answer: TOOKNOTES

  5. 5. See-through

    Answer: CLEAR

  6. 6. When repeated, "and so on"

    Answer: YADDA

  7. 7. The "A" of GPA: Abbr.

    Answer: AVG

  8. 8. Scottish "no"

    Answer: NAE

  9. 9. Crumbly Mexican cheese

    Answer: COTIJA

  10. 10. Nike rival

    Answer: ADIDAS

  11. 11. Sacred tribal carvings

    Answer: TOTEMS

  12. 13. "Erin Burnett OutFront" channel

    Answer: CNN

  13. 15. Very soft mineral

    Answer: TALC

  14. 17. Moistens

    Answer: WETS

  15. 20. Enjoys gossip without adding to it, in slang

    Answer: SIPSTEA

  16. 21. "C'__ la vie!"

    Answer: EST

  17. 22. "Buzz off!"

    Answer: SCAT

  18. 23. Swanky

    Answer: POSH

  19. 25. Darts around

    Answer: FLITS

  20. 26. Rivals

    Answer: FOES

  21. 28. August birthstone

    Answer: PERIDOT

  22. 32. Shelter made of compressed snow

    Answer: IGLOO

  23. 33. "Weekend Update" comic Michael

    Answer: CHE

  24. 34. Gave up one's amateur status, perhaps

    Answer: TURNEDPRO

  25. 36. Pop sensation

    Answer: IDOL

  26. 37. Mister Rogers

    Answer: FRED

  27. 38. Golfer's warning shout

    Answer: FORE

  28. 41. Hightailed it

    Answer: RAN

  29. 42. "Previously on ... " segments

    Answer: RECAPS

  30. 43. Son of Daedalus

    Answer: ICARUS

  31. 44. Contemporary

    Answer: MODERN

  32. 46. Spa treatment for feet, briefly

    Answer: PEDI

  33. 48. At hand

    Answer: NEAR

  34. 49. Dorky one

    Answer: DWEEB

  35. 50. Elements that make up most of the atmosphere

    Answer: GASES

  36. 54. Telephone no. addition

    Answer: EXT

  37. 56. MS NOW's "The Briefing With __ Psaki"

    Answer: JEN

  38. 57. Nail polish brand

    Answer: OPI

  39. 58. Pioneering ISP

    Answer: AOL

  40. 59. Fig. figuring figures

    Answer: CPA

  41. 60. __ lime pie

    Answer: KEY

The answer to “Rivals” in the Washington Post Crossword is FOES — a 4-letter word. It appears in our available data for September 7, 2026 at 26-Down. Below you can reveal the fill one letter at a time, check the full puzzle, and open every related clue page.

“Rivals” answer

FOES(4 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 FOES fit?

FOES is the published 4-letter answer at 26-Down. The highlighted path in the puzzle shows exactly where the entry sits.

When else has “Rivals” 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 “Rivals”?

The answer is FOES.

How many letters are in the answer?

4 letters: FOES.

When did this clue appear?

It appears in the Washington Post Crossword for September 7, 2026 at 26-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 September 7, 2026 for the full grid and every clue.

Skip to main content