Crossword Challenge Puzzle 1026 Clues and Answers
This page covers all 30 clues of Crossword Challenge Puzzle 1026, an 8×10 grid that mixes picture clues with short word clues.
Short answers dominate here: 9 of 30 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; 3 clues want only the initials of the clue words; 4 want just the first letter of a single word; 2 clues are fill-ins, and 2 of them need only the missing letters. The longest answer runs 9 letters and belongs to the picture clue in the top row.
Here is the shortcut for Puzzle 1026: read the first letters of the top-row answers and you get the answer to “Last name”. Read the first letters down the left edge and you get the answer to the picture clue in the top row. One of those two words unlocks the first letter of 15 others.
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.
1Picture clue
Top row 1/7 · 9 letters · down
Describe the picture in one word that fits S _ _ G _ _ O _ _. The sixth square is also part of “People”.
SINGAPORE
NOT SUITABLE
2Not suitable
Top row 2/7 · 5 letters · down
Shape: U _ _ I _. The fourth square is also part of “DI___AL”.
UNFIT
RESERVE BANK
3Reserve bank
Top row 3/7 · 2 letters · down
Shorten the clue to its first letters: 2 squares.
RB
-ebook
4Picture clue
Top row 4/7 · 3 letters · down
The image carries “-ebook”. Name the picture and keep only the letters hidden behind the dashes, beginning with N.
NOT
NERVE FIBER
5Nerve fiber
Top row 5/7 · 4 letters · down
Fits A _ _ _. Check the third letter against “Color shade”.
AXON
MENTHOL
6Menthol
Top row 6/7 · 1 letter · down
Only one square: take the initial of Menthol.
M
POETIC LAMENT
7Poetic lament
Top row 7/7 · 5 letters · down
Begins with E. Check the fourth letter against “Annoyer”.
ELEGY
Left column
These sit down the left edge and every answer runs across.
LAST NAME
8Last name
Left column 1/9 · 7 letters · across
S _ _ N _ _ E. Check the fifth letter against “Nerve fiber”.
SURNAME
EMAIL FOLDER
9Email folder
Left column 2/9 · 5 letters · across
Begins with I. The fourth square is also part of the picture clue in the top row.
INBOX
'NO FUNDS'
10'no funds'
Left column 3/9 · 2 letters · across
Shape: N _. “Not suitable” crosses it at the second square.
NF
DI___AL
11DI___AL
Left column 4/9 · 3 letters · across
“DI___AL” is a word with a gap. Type just the gap, which begins with G.
GIT
BASIC BIT
12Basic bit
Left column 5/9 · 4 letters · across
Begins with A. “Carved emblem” crosses it at the third square.
ATOM
PEOPLE
13People
Left column 6/9 · 1 letter · across
Only one square: take the initial of People.
P
ARIA SOURCE
14Aria source
Left column 7/9 · 5 letters · across
Fits O _ _ R _. Its fourth letter is shared with “Ethical matter”.
OPERA
REPEAT COMPETITION
15Repeat competition
Left column 8/9 · 7 letters · across
Begins with R. “Garden entry” crosses it at the fifth square.
REMATCH
w--k
16Picture clue
Left column 9/9 · 2 letters · across
The image carries “w--k”. Name the picture and keep only the letters hidden behind the dashes, beginning with E.
EE
Inside the grid
Split squares hold two clues: the top half runs across, the bottom half runs down.
LIKE
17Like
Row 3, col 7 · 1 letter · across
Only one square: take the initial of Like.
L
GRANDMA
18Grandma
Row 3, col 7 · 4 letters · down
Begins with N. Its third letter is shared with “New york”.
NANA
COLOR SHADE
19Color shade
Row 4, col 4 · 4 letters · across
T _ _ _. Check the third letter against “Grandma”.
TONE
CARVED EMBLEM
20Carved emblem
Row 4, col 4 · 5 letters · down
Starts with T; pattern T _ _ E _. Check the fourth letter against “Aria source”.
TOTEM
ANNOYER
21Annoyer
Row 5, col 5 · 3 letters · across
Begins with N. “Poetic lament” crosses it at the third square.
NAG
ETHICAL MATTER
22Ethical matter
Row 5, col 5 · 5 letters · down
Starts with M; pattern M _ _ A _. Solving “Repeat competition” first gives you its fourth letter.
MORAL
NEW YORK
23New york
Row 6, col 6 · 2 letters · across
Abbreviate “New york” to its initials.
NY
GARDEN ENTRY
24Garden entry
Row 6, col 6 · 4 letters · down
Shape: G _ _ _. Check the third letter against “Repeat competition”.
GATE
ANCIENT ROBE
25Ancient robe
Row 7, col 3 · 4 letters · across
Begins with T. Check the third letter against “Garden entry”.
TOGA
S___CH
26S___CH
Row 7, col 3 · 3 letters · down
Rebuild the word in “S___CH” and enter only the missing part, starting with P.
PEE
CURIOUS QUESTION
27Curious question
Row 7, col 8 · 3 letters · down
Starts with W; pattern W _ _. Its third letter is shared with “Tax amount”.
WHY
WEEKLY
28Weekly
Row 8, col 7 · 1 letter · across
Just the opening letter of Weekly.
W
CONTROL VALVE
29Control valve
Row 8, col 7 · 2 letters · down
Initials: the first letter of each word in “Control valve”.
CV
TAX AMOUNT
30Tax amount
Row 10, col 4 · 4 letters · across
Shape: L _ _ _. “Control valve” crosses it at the third square.
LEVY
Crossword Challenge Level 1026 Solved Grid
Hide the letters to check your own board against the empty grid.
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Puzzle 1026 solved
Thanks for working through Puzzle 1026 with us. Puzzle 1027 is next, with 32 clues on a 8×10 board.