Lays the groundwork?

Archive answer — August 14, 2026

18 Down

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Clue explained

“SODS” is the published 4-letter fill for 18 Down. Use the crossing letters in the grid below to verify how it fits.

Clue type:
Crossword fill

The Atlantic Crossword

This clue’s Friday, August 14, 2026 appearance

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Crossword solution grid

Select a square to hide or reveal its letter in the 9 by 9 crossword grid.

Or reveal one clue at a time with the Hint and Answer buttons below.

Across

14 clues
  1. 1<i>Now You See Me: Now You Don't</i> actor Fisher
  2. 5Leaves someone slack-jawed, maybe
  3. 9Geek ___ (aesthetic with a rhyming name)
  4. 10"That is absolutely not happening"
  5. 11"I agree with everything you just said"
  6. 13Stadium seating specifications
  7. 14<i>Tomodachi Life</i> avatar
  8. 16Most SAT takers
  9. 19Peru native
  10. 21As well
  11. 22"Heard"
  12. 25No-bake treat made with crushed cookies
  13. 26<i>___ Demoiselles d'Avignon</i> (Picasso work)
  14. 27Greek god who fathered the Amazons

Down

16 clues
  1. 1Like a shudder-inducing stare
  2. 2"That's all ___ wrote!"
  3. 3Content once called the "geek equivalent" of <i>Cosmo</i> cover lines
  4. 4Fruit whose name can be spelled with a cedilla
  5. 5Lorde who said, "Caring for myself is not self-indulgence"
  6. 6"Don't you think you deserve better?"
  7. 7U-turn from WSW
  8. 8Distress call
  9. 12Julius Randle, for one
  10. 14Product that might help with cramps
  11. 15Toughen
  12. 17Songs sung around a Christmas tree
  13. 18Lays the groundwork?SODS
  14. 20Actor Edebiri who jokes about her deep connection to Ireland
  15. 23Sports org. with a 48-minute game clock
  16. 24Tool whose name is a homophone of a conjunction

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Every clue links to a dedicated answer page. Use the list below to scan the complete fill without opening the interactive board.

Across

  1. 1. <i>Now You See Me: Now You Don't</i> actor Fisher

    Answer: ISLA

  2. 5. Leaves someone slack-jawed, maybe

    Answer: AWES

  3. 9. Geek ___ (aesthetic with a rhyming name)

    Answer: CHIC

  4. 10. "That is absolutely not happening"

    Answer: UHNO

  5. 11. "I agree with everything you just said"

    Answer: YESANDYES

  6. 13. Stadium seating specifications

    Answer: TIERS

  7. 14. <i>Tomodachi Life</i> avatar

    Answer: MII

  8. 16. Most SAT takers

    Answer: TEENS

  9. 19. Peru native

    Answer: INCA

  10. 21. As well

    Answer: TOO

  11. 22. "Heard"

    Answer: DULYNOTED

  12. 25. No-bake treat made with crushed cookies

    Answer: OREOBALLS

  13. 26. <i>___ Demoiselles d'Avignon</i> (Picasso work)

    Answer: LES

  14. 27. Greek god who fathered the Amazons

    Answer: ARES

Down

  1. 1. Like a shudder-inducing stare

    Answer: ICY

  2. 2. "That's all ___ wrote!"

    Answer: SHE

  3. 3. Content once called the "geek equivalent" of <i>Cosmo</i> cover lines

    Answer: LISTICLES

  4. 4. Fruit whose name can be spelled with a cedilla

    Answer: ACAI

  5. 5. Lorde who said, "Caring for myself is not self-indulgence"

    Answer: AUDRE

  6. 6. "Don't you think you deserve better?"

    Answer: WHYSETTLE

  7. 7. U-turn from WSW

    Answer: ENE

  8. 8. Distress call

    Answer: SOS

  9. 12. Julius Randle, for one

    Answer: NET

  10. 14. Product that might help with cramps

    Answer: MIDOL

  11. 15. Toughen

    Answer: INURE

  12. 17. Songs sung around a Christmas tree

    Answer: NOELS

  13. 18. Lays the groundwork?

    Answer: SODS

  14. 20. Actor Edebiri who jokes about her deep connection to Ireland

    Answer: AYO

  15. 23. Sports org. with a 48-minute game clock

    Answer: NBA

  16. 24. Tool whose name is a homophone of a conjunction

    Answer: OAR

The answer to “Lays the groundwork?” in the The Atlantic Crossword is SODS — a 4-letter word. It appears in our available data for August 14, 2026 at 18-Down. Below you can reveal the fill one letter at a time, check the full puzzle, and open every related clue page.

“Lays the groundwork?” answer

SODS(4 letters)

Prefer a nudge first? Use the letter tiles above to hide and reveal individual characters, or use the focused grid to confirm the crossing letters.

Why does SODS fit?

SODS is the published 4-letter answer at 18-Down. The highlighted path in the puzzle shows exactly where the entry sits.

When else has “Lays the groundwork?” appeared?

The same clue can return on another date, sometimes with a different fill. These are the matching appearances in the recent published records available through the Answers API.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Lays the groundwork?”?

The answer is SODS.

How many letters are in the answer?

4 letters: SODS.

When did this clue appear?

It appears in the The Atlantic Crossword for August 14, 2026 at 18-Down.

Can this clue have a different answer?

Yes. Crossword clues may be reused with a different fill depending on the grid. Recent matching appearances are listed above when available.

Where can I find the rest of this day’s answers?

Open the The Atlantic answers page for August 14, 2026 for the full grid and every clue.

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