Crossword Challenge Puzzle 2021 Clues and Answers
Stuck somewhere in Crossword Challenge Puzzle 2021? All 30 clues on this 8×10 grid are solved below, one card per clue.
Short answers dominate here: 11 of 30 fit in one or two squares. 5 clues are pictures; 2 clues want only the initials of the clue words; 2 want just the first letter of a single word; 5 clues are fill-ins, and 4 of them need only the missing letters. The longest answer runs 9 letters and belongs to “Academic debate”.
Start at the edges. The first letters of the 7 answers hanging from the top row spell the answer to “Make out”, and the first letters of the 9 answers along the left edge spell the answer to “Academic debate”. 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.
ACADEMIC DEBATE
1Academic debate
Top row 1/7 · 9 letters · down
Begins with D. Its sixth letter is shared with “Between t and v”.
DISCOURSE
INSIDE DIAMETER
2Inside diameter
Top row 2/7 · 2 letters · down
Abbreviate “Inside diameter” to its initials.
ID
3Picture clue
Top row 3/7 · 8 letters · down
Name the object in the picture. S _ _ U _ _ T _. Check the fifth letter against the picture clue in the left column.
SECURITY
4Picture clue
Top row 4/7 · 4 letters · down
One word for the picture, starting with C. Check the third letter against “Colgate rival”.
CART
GRAT_
5GRAT_
Top row 5/7 · 1 letter · down
Rebuild the word in “GRAT_” and enter only the missing part, starting with E.
E
ITCH CAUSE
6Itch cause
Top row 6/7 · 4 letters · down
Begins with R. The third square is also part of “Colgate rival”.
RASH
7Picture clue
Top row 7/7 · 3 letters · down
Look at the picture and fit it to N _ _. Solving “Colgate rival” first gives you its third letter.
NUT
Left column
These sit down the left edge and every answer runs across.
MAKE OUT
8Make out
Left column 1/9 · 7 letters · across
D _ _ C _ _ N. Its fifth letter is shared with “GRAT_”.
DISCERN
THOUGHT
9Thought
Left column 2/9 · 4 letters · across
I _ _ _. Its third letter is shared with the picture clue in the top row.
IDEA
AFTER R
10 after r
Left column 3/9 · 1 letter · across
The alphabet letter right after R.
S
11Picture clue
Left column 4/9 · 6 letters · across
Look at the picture and fit it to C _ _ T _ _. Its fourth letter is shared with the picture clue in the top row.
CRUTCH
12Picture clue
Left column 5/9 · 3 letters · across
What is shown in the image? Shape: O _ _. Solving the picture clue in the top row first gives you its third letter.
OAR
BETWEEN T AND V
13Between t and v
Left column 6/9 · 1 letter · across
The letter that sits between T and V.
U
SLITHERING DANGER
14Slithering danger
Left column 7/9 · 7 letters · across
Starts with R; pattern R _ _ T _ _ R. Its fifth letter is shared with “Rank level”.
RATTLER
SNEAKY
15Sneaky
Left column 8/9 · 3 letters · across
S _ _. Solving the picture clue in the top row first gives you its third letter.
SLY
ELASTIC INDEX
16Elastic index
Left column 9/9 · 2 letters · across
Fits E _. “___ RIGHT” crosses it at the second square.
EL
Inside the grid
Split squares hold two clues: the top half runs across, the bottom half runs down.
BE__TIFUL
17BE__TIFUL
Row 3, col 6 · 2 letters · across
Fill the gap in “BE__TIFUL”, but leave out the letters already shown. Starts with A.
AU
RANK LEVEL
18Rank level
Row 3, col 6 · 7 letters · down
Shape: E _ _ E _ _ N. Solving “Slithering danger” first gives you its fifth letter.
ECHELON
COLGATE RIVAL
19Colgate rival
Row 4, col 3 · 5 letters · across
Shape: C _ _ S _. Check the fourth letter against “Itch cause”.
CREST
RED ALERT
20Red alert
Row 4, col 3 · 2 letters · down
Take one letter from each word of the clue, in order.
RA
SCATTER, AS SEEDS
21Scatter, as seeds
Row 5, col 8 · 5 letters · down
Starts with S; pattern S _ _ E _. Solving “To a …" poem” first gives you its fourth letter.
STREW
NORT_
22NORT_
Row 6, col 5 · 1 letter · across
Only the hidden letters of “NORT_” go in the grid. First one: H.
H
GE__LEMAN
23GE__LEMAN
Row 6, col 5 · 2 letters · down
Rebuild the word in “GE__LEMAN” and enter only the missing part, starting with N.
NT
SUN
24Sun
Row 6, col 7 · 1 letter · across
Sun starts with the answer.
S
REMAKE
25Remake
Row 6, col 7 · 4 letters · down
Shape: R _ _ _. Check the third letter against “To a …" poem”.
REDO
NOT REACTING
26Not reacting
Row 7, col 3 · 5 letters · across
Shape: I _ _ R _. Check the fourth letter against “Remake”.
INERT
___ RIGHT
27___ RIGHT
Row 7, col 3 · 3 letters · down
Complete the phrase “___ RIGHT”. Shape: A _ _.
ALL
"TO A …" POEM
28"to a …" poem
Row 9, col 5 · 3 letters · across
Shape: O _ _. “Scatter, as seeds” crosses it at the third square.
ODE
SECTION
29Section
Row 9, col 5 · 1 letter · down
Section starts with the answer.
S
WHITE FLAKES
30White flakes
Row 10, col 4 · 4 letters · across
Shape: S _ _ _. Solving “Remake” first gives you its third letter.
SNOW
Crossword Challenge Level 2021 Solved Grid
Hide the letters to check your own board against the empty grid.
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Puzzle 2021 solved
Thanks for working through Puzzle 2021 with us. Puzzle 2022 is next, with 30 clues on a 8×10 board.