A fine mess? Crossword Clue

We have the 15-letter answer for A fine mess? crossword clue, last seen in the The Atlantic Crossword March 22, 2026 puzzle. Let us help you solve the crossword clue that has you stumped so you can finish the puzzle.

A fine mess? Crossword Answer

↓5.

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Hint 1: Clue Definitions

FINE (noun)
1. money extracted as a penalty
FINE (adverb)
1. an expression of agreement normally occurring at the beginning of a sentence
2. in a delicate manner
FINE (verb)
1. issue a ticket or a fine to as a penalty
FINE (adjective)
1. being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition
2. characterized by elegance or refinement or accomplishment
MESS (noun)
1. informal terms for a difficult situation
2. a state of confusion and disorderliness
MESS (verb)
1. make a mess of or create disorder in
2. eat in a mess hall

More The Atlantic Crossword (3/22/2026) Answers

Across

1. Symbols on some sarcophagi

5. Quaff that despite its name is actually nondairy

13. __ butter

14. Has forward momentum?

15. No longer in the Drafts folder

16. Born to Run closing track, which is on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time

17. Big name in fleecy footwear

18. First in a series

19. Chicago's Frank Lloyd Wright–designed ___ House

20. Sleeps with friends?

23. Pride and envy, e.g.

24. You might find them in the brush?

25. Spirit often compared to tequila and mezcal

27. Iron Chef America personality ___ Cora

28. Letter-shaped fasteners

30. Things designed to reel you in

32. Person who doesn't like to commit for a bit?

35. ___ Roset (French luxury-furniture brand)

36. Inefficient workflows, in office jargon

38. Pop hit?

41. Awaits resolution

43. Exudes happiness

45. File extension for a Libby loaner

47. Person likely to identify as a Cheesehead

49. Chintzy

51. Location of some Swiss banks?

52. _ong-_erm _volution (wireless tech that predates 5G)

53. Hot commodities?

55. Speck

56. Responsible for the bill, maybe

57. Suffragist and socialist ___ Milholland

58. Respond to a strike

59. Cough up, say

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Down

1. That being the case

2. Nanny

3. Emperors and their kin?

4. Did some modeling, maybe

6. Like many a white elephant

7. Course for some expats: abbr.

8. Maintain

9. Greek vacation isle where some of Bugonia was filmed

10. One of six official languages of the United Nations

11. Pacific weather phenomenon believed to make things a little weird

12. Lady Mary, among the Downton Abbey daughters

14. Wise guys?

16. Aachen affirmatives

18. Component of a litmus test

21. Unusual partner?

22. Bubbly mixers

26. Casual-apparel brand whose logo depicts a feline

29. Frat whose badge has a skull-and-crossbones symbol

31. Lists on Depop, maybe

33. City that's home to the largest stadium in the United States

34. High profile?

37. Like a housefly that's been taken down

38. Plaster paintings similar to frescoes

39. Notable tech debut of 2007

40. Musician Tito, who played himself in The Mambo Kings

42. Blue-tongued reptile

44. Blessed act?

46. Rome's ___ of Caracalla

48. Nip in the bud

50. U.K.-based sandwich-shop chain, familiarly

54. Opposite of "Huh?"

55. Open ___ (free-for-all event)

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