Crossword Challenge Puzzle 1688 Clues and Answers
Stuck somewhere in Crossword Challenge Puzzle 1688? All 30 clues on this 8×10 grid are solved below, one card per clue.
Expect plenty of tiny answers, 11 of them only one or two letters. 3 clues are pictures; 5 clues want only the initials of the clue words; 2 want just the first letter of a single word; 3 clues are fill-ins, and 1 of them needs only the missing letters. The longest answer runs 9 letters and belongs to “Smallest amount”.
Start at the edges. The first letters of the 7 answers hanging from the top row spell the answer to “Baby rivers”, and the first letters of the 9 answers along the left edge spell the answer to “Smallest amount”. 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.
SMALLEST AMOUNT
1Smallest amount
Top row 1/7 · 9 letters · down
Fits S _ _ G _ _ E _ _. Solving “Before u” first gives you its sixth letter.
SLIGHTEST
2Picture clue
Top row 2/7 · 5 letters · down
One word for the picture, starting with T. Solving the picture clue in the left column first gives you its fourth letter.
TEARS
RETRY DELAY
3Retry delay
Top row 3/7 · 2 letters · down
Take one letter from each word of the clue, in order.
RD
AFTER D
4After d
Top row 4/7 · 1 letter · down
The alphabet letter right after D.
E
5Picture clue
Top row 5/7 · 8 letters · down
What is shown in the image? Shape: A _ _ E _ _ P _. Its fifth letter is shared with “OR ___!" (THREAT)”.
ANTELOPE
PRO___ION
6PRO___ION
Top row 6/7 · 3 letters · down
Only the hidden letters of “PRO___ION” go in the grid. First one: M.
MOT
MALL UNIT
7Mall unit
Top row 7/7 · 5 letters · down
Fits S _ _ R _. “Right” crosses it at the fourth square.
STORE
Left column
These sit down the left edge and every answer runs across.
BABY RIVERS
8Baby rivers
Left column 1/9 · 7 letters · across
Fits S _ _ E _ _ S. Check the fifth letter against the picture clue in the top row.
STREAMS
___ ZEPPELIN
9___ ZEPPELIN
Left column 2/9 · 3 letters · across
Which word finishes “___ ZEPPELIN”? It fits L _ _.
LED
INTERNET ACCESS
10Internet access
Left column 3/9 · 2 letters · across
Shorten the clue to its first letters: 2 squares.
IA
11Picture clue
Left column 4/9 · 5 letters · across
What is shown in the image? Shape: G _ _ V _. “As a whole” crosses it at the fourth square.
GRAVE
HIGH SCHOOL
12High school
Left column 5/9 · 2 letters · across
Shorten the clue to its first letters: 2 squares.
HS
BEFORE U
13Before u
Left column 6/9 · 1 letter · across
Recite the alphabet up to U; the answer is its previous letter.
T
GOT AWAY
14Got away
Left column 7/9 · 7 letters · across
E _ _ A _ _ D. Check the fifth letter against the picture clue in the top row.
ESCAPED
SMART CARD
15Smart card
Left column 8/9 · 2 letters · across
Shorten the clue to its first letters: 2 squares.
SC
CASH DRAWER
16Cash drawer
Left column 9/9 · 4 letters · across
Shape: T _ _ _. “Letter after k” crosses it at the third square.
TILL
Inside the grid
Split squares hold two clues: the top half runs across, the bottom half runs down.
NEGATIVE WORD
17Negative word
Row 3, col 5 · 3 letters · across
Fits N _ _. Solving “Mall unit” first gives you its third letter.
NOT
AS A WHOLE
18As a whole
Row 3, col 5 · 7 letters · down
O _ _ R _ _ L. Solving “Got away” first gives you its fifth letter.
OVERALL
"BEETLE BAILEY" DOG
19"beetle bailey" dog
Row 4, col 4 · 4 letters · across
Fits O _ _ _. “PRO___ION” crosses it at the third square.
OTTO
ANOMALY
20Anomaly
Row 4, col 4 · 1 letter · down
Write the first letter of Anomaly, nothing more.
A
RIGHT
21Right
Row 5, col 7 · 1 letter · across
Just the opening letter of Right.
R
USE MONEY
22Use money
Row 5, col 7 · 5 letters · down
Fits S _ _ N _. Check the fourth letter against “Give for use”.
SPEND
"OR ___!" (THREAT)
23"OR ___!" (THREAT)
Row 6, col 4 · 4 letters · across
Say “OR ___!" (THREAT)” out loud and the blank fills itself: E _ _ _.
ELSE
BATMAN PUBLISHER
24Batman publisher
Row 6, col 4 · 2 letters · down
Starts with D; pattern D _. The second square is also part of “Got away”.
DC
LET FALL
25Let fall
Row 7, col 3 · 4 letters · across
Shape: D _ _ _. The third square is also part of the picture clue in the top row.
DROP
CHEM. OR BIO.
26Chem. or bio.
Row 7, col 3 · 3 letters · down
Begins with S. The third square is also part of “Cash drawer”.
SCI
"SILENT SPRING" SPRAY
27"silent spring" spray
Row 7, col 8 · 3 letters · down
Begins with D. Solving “Down-town” first gives you its third letter.
DDT
GIVE FOR USE
28Give for use
Row 9, col 4 · 4 letters · across
L _ _ _. Solving “Use money” first gives you its third letter.
LEND
LETTER AFTER K
29Letter after k
Row 9, col 4 · 1 letter · down
The alphabet letter right after K.
L
DOWN-TOWN
30Down-town
Row 10, col 6 · 2 letters · across
Abbreviate “Down-town” to its initials.
DT
Crossword Challenge Level 1688 Solved Grid
Hide the letters to check your own board against the empty grid.
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Puzzle 1688 solved
Thanks for working through Puzzle 1688 with us. Puzzle 1689 is next, with 30 clues on a 8×10 board.