Crossword Challenge Puzzle 1085 Clues and Answers
This page covers all 29 clues of Crossword Challenge Puzzle 1085, an 8×10 grid that mixes picture clues with short word clues.
Short answers dominate here: 9 of 29 fit in one or two squares. 3 clues are pictures, and 2 of those ask you to fill the gaps in a word printed on the image; 2 clues want only the initials of the clue words; 2 want just the first letter of a single word; 2 clues are fill-ins, and 1 of them needs only the missing letters. The longest answer runs 9 letters and belongs to “Not optional”.
Start at the edges. The first letters of the 7 answers hanging from the top row spell the answer to the picture clue in the left column, and the first letters of the 9 answers along the left edge spell the answer to “Not optional”. Solve one of those two and every edge clue starts with a known letter.
Hints and answers, clue by clue
Clues look the way they do in the game. Tap Hint for a nudge or Answer to see the letters. The fully solved grid is below the hints.
Top row
These sit along the top edge and every answer runs down.
NOT OPTIONAL
1Not optional
Top row 1/7 · 9 letters · down
M _ _ D _ _ O _ _. The sixth square is also part of “Tablet”.
MANDATORY
PER YEAR
2Per year
Top row 2/7 · 5 letters · down
A _ _ U _. Solving “Broke ground” first gives you its fourth letter.
ANNUM
THANK GOD
3Thank god
Top row 3/7 · 2 letters · down
Shorten the clue to its first letters: 2 squares.
TG
s---a
4Picture clue
Top row 4/7 · 3 letters · down
Picture word minus “sa” gives the answer. First letter: A.
ALS
OWNER'S PROOF
5Owner's proof
Top row 5/7 · 4 letters · down
Starts with D; pattern D _ _ _. “OB____IVE” crosses it at the third square.
DEED
AFTER N
6After n
Top row 6/7 · 1 letter · down
Recite the alphabet up to N; the answer is its next letter.
O
NOT EASILY AFFECTED
7Not easily affected
Top row 7/7 · 9 letters · down
Starts with R; pattern R _ _ I _ _ A _ _. Its sixth letter is shared with “Apple or banana”.
RESISTANT
Left column
These sit down the left edge and every answer runs across.
8Picture clue
Left column 1/9 · 7 letters · across
Describe the picture in one word that fits M _ _ A _ _ R. Solving “Owner's proof” first gives you its fifth letter.
MATADOR
SLANT
9Slant
Left column 2/9 · 5 letters · across
A _ _ L _. Its fourth letter is shared with the picture clue in the top row.
ANGLE
cha--el
10Picture clue
Left column 3/9 · 2 letters · across
The image carries “cha--el”. Name the picture and keep only the letters hidden behind the dashes, beginning with N.
NN
BROKE GROUND
11Broke ground
Left column 4/9 · 3 letters · across
Begins with D. “Holiday surprises” crosses it at the third square.
DUG
BETWIXT
12Betwixt
Left column 5/9 · 4 letters · across
Fits A _ _ _. Its third letter is shared with “Holiday surprises”.
AMID
TABLET
13Tablet
Left column 6/9 · 1 letter · across
Only one square: take the initial of Tablet.
T
MANY TIMES
14Many times
Left column 7/9 · 5 letters · across
Fits O _ _ E _. Check the fourth letter against “Evening wear”.
OFTEN
LANGUAGE OF TOLSTOY
15Language of tolstoy
Left column 8/9 · 7 letters · across
Starts with R; pattern R _ _ S _ _ N. Check the fifth letter against “Single entity”.
RUSSIAN
YES OR NO
16Yes or no
Left column 9/9 · 2 letters · across
Begins with Y. Check the second letter against “Pleasure”.
YN
Inside the grid
Split squares hold two clues: the top half runs across, the bottom half runs down.
ELEVATOR
17Elevator
Row 3, col 7 · 1 letter · across
Write the first letter of Elevator, nothing more.
E
GAME BEFORE A FINAL
18Game before a final
Row 3, col 7 · 4 letters · down
Shape: S _ _ _. Solving “Multiple sclerosis” first gives you its third letter.
SEMI
OB____IVE
19OB____IVE
Row 4, col 4 · 4 letters · across
Fill the gap in “OB____IVE”, but leave out the letters already shown. Starts with S.
SESS
HOLIDAY SURPRISES
20Holiday surprises
Row 4, col 4 · 5 letters · down
Shape: G _ _ T _. “Many times” crosses it at the fourth square.
GIFTS
___ GRATIA
21___ GRATIA
Row 5, col 5 · 3 letters · across
The missing word in “___ GRATIA” starts with D.
DEI
EVENING WEAR
22Evening wear
Row 5, col 5 · 5 letters · down
Starts with D; pattern D _ _ S _. The fourth square is also part of “Language of tolstoy”.
DRESS
MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS
23Multiple sclerosis
Row 6, col 6 · 2 letters · across
Initials: the first letter of each word in “Multiple sclerosis”.
MS
SINGLE ENTITY
24Single entity
Row 6, col 6 · 4 letters · down
U _ _ _. Solving “Language of tolstoy” first gives you its third letter.
UNIT
APPLE OR BANANA
25Apple or banana
Row 7, col 3 · 5 letters · across
F _ _ I _. “Game before a final” crosses it at the fourth square.
FRUIT
PLEASURE
26Pleasure
Row 7, col 3 · 3 letters · down
Fits F _ _. Solving “Yes or no” first gives you its third letter.
FUN
MUSICAL NOTE
27Musical note
Row 8, col 7 · 1 letter · across
A single letter or symbol answers “Musical note”.
A
DOUBLE A
28Double a
Row 8, col 7 · 2 letters · down
Begins with A. Its second letter is shared with “Data point”.
AA
DATA POINT
29Data point
Row 10, col 4 · 4 letters · across
Starts with S; pattern S _ _ _. The third square is also part of “Double a”.
STAT
Crossword Challenge Level 1085 Solved Grid
Hide the letters to check your own board against the empty grid.
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Puzzle 1085 solved
Thanks for working through Puzzle 1085 with us. Puzzle 1086 is next, with 30 clues on a 8×10 board.