USA Today Answers November 10, 2023
Author: by Nate Cardin
Across
| The ___ of my existence | BANE |
| Kiss, in Bristol | SNOG |
| Second-string squad | BTEAM |
| Spoken | ORAL |
| Currency in Malta | EURO |
| Bank offerings | LOANS |
| Shrek, for one | OGRE |
| Atlanta Dream’s org. | WNBA |
| Remove from an Instagram post | UNTAG |
| Tale of triumph | SUCCESSSTORY |
| Like someone with a short fuse | TESTY |
| Recede like the tide | EBB |
| Word aptly found backward in “tatami” | MAT |
| Puts under | SEDATES |
| The “C” of TLC | CARE |
| Place to enjoy a mineral bath | SPA |
| Fibber | LIAR |
| Power up, like an electric vehicle | CHARGE |
| Circumstance in which everyone triumphs | WINWINSITUATION |
| Convert into a cryptogram | ENCODE |
| Mario ___ (racing game) | KART |
| Whichever | ANY |
| Cavern sound effect | ECHO |
| Tournament favorite | ONESEED |
| Vietnamese soup | PHO |
| Take legal action | SUE |
| “The Princess Bride” actress Wright | ROBIN |
| Triumphant cry | VICTORYISMINE |
| “Body and Soul” singer Baker | ANITA |
| Serve coffee | POUR |
| Frozen drink | ICEE |
| Warlock’s creation | SPELL |
| Actress Purnell | ELLA |
| Word ___ (rhyming nickname for a crossword lover) | NERD |
| “r u kidding me?” | SRSLY |
| Many a high schooler, age-wise | TEEN |
| Decides | OPTS |
Down
| Increase | BOOST |
| Quarrel | ARGUE |
| Drug agents, for short | NARCS |
| Puts in office | ELECTS |
| Uses needle and thread | SEWS |
| Convent sisters | NUNS |
| Spheres | ORBS |
| Small pointed beard | GOATEE |
| Book jacket paragraph | BLURB |
| Award for “Hadestown” | TONY |
| Enjoy some kelewele, e.g. | EAT |
| Santa ___, California | ANA |
| Umami ingredient | MSG |
| Body part you might apply shadow to | EYELID |
| Not widely known | OBSCURE |
| Tennis star Sharapova | MARIA |
| Element used in fluorescent tubes | ARGON |
| Itty-bitty | TEENY |
| Go to a fancy restaurant | DINEOUT |
| Common batteries | AAS |
| Kid’s three-wheeler, for short | TRIKE |
| Lion or tiger (but not a bear) | CAT |
| Clean with a broom | SWEEP |
| “___ me!” (“I think I’m dreaming!”) | PINCH |
| Fishy pizza toppings | ANCHOVIES |
| They’re far from fans | HATERS |
| “Get hyped!” | WOO |
| Prof’s aides | TAS |
| Virtual animal such as a Kacheek | NEOPET |
| ___ effect (chain reaction) | DOMINO |
| Like a skink’s skin | SCALY |
| Muscle exercised by spider curls | BICEP |
| Chemically unreactive | INERT |
| Doesn’t just want | NEEDS |
| “___ never work!” | ITLL |
| Part in a play | ROLE |
| ___ log (wintertime cake) | YULE |
| Mashhad’s country | IRAN |
| Donkey | ASS |
| Network where Ayesha Rascoe hosts “Weekend Edition Sunday” | NPR |