Caught in a tough spot Crossword Clue

We have the 5-letter answer for Caught in a tough spot crossword clue, last seen in the WSJ Crossword October 16, 2025 puzzle. Let us help you solve the crossword clue that has you stumped so you can finish the puzzle.

Caught in a tough spot Crossword Answer

→54.

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Helpful Hints

(adjective)
1. forced to turn and face attackers

Hint 2: Clue Definitions

TOUGH (adjective)
1. making great mental demands; hard to comprehend or solve or believe
2. very difficult; severely testing stamina or resolution
TOUGH (noun)
1. someone who learned to fight in the streets rather than being formally trained in the sport of boxing
2. an aggressive and violent young criminal
SPOT (noun)
1. a job in an organization
2. an act that brings discredit to the person who does it
SPOT (verb)
1. detect with the senses
2. make a spot or mark onto

Hint 3: Anagram

Unscramble the letters below to solve for today's answer.
DETER

More WSJ Crossword (10/16/2025) Answers

Across

1. Free of coarse bits

5. King Mongkut’s nation

9. Itinerary parts

13. Video game company worker

14. Quaint preposition

15. Over

16. City strays

17. Hipsters

18. Huskies’ org.

19. Sushi bar supply

20. Rankles

22. Cop’s badge

24. DMV document

25. “Boys Don’t Cry” subject Brandon

27. Set free

28. Org. that developed out of the Bureau of Labor Standards

30. Hot rod contests

31. Political campaigns

32. Mainstay

34. Pressure source, perhaps

36. Practical knowledge

38. Stings

42. U.S. agents

44. Song component

46. Be defensive in traffic, e.g.

50. Hotel room amenity

52. Break-even situation

53. Sister of Cordelia and Goneril

56. Hazmat suits, e.g.

57. Staunton of “The Crown”

59. Hardly refined

60. Mercurius et Mars, e.g.

61. Informal evening

62. Barricade, or something present in five answers (including this one)

64. Town square

66. Mend, as bones

67. Boarding area

68. Canine, for one

69. Doesn't play

70. Signed off on

71. Canons, perhaps

All Answers

Down

1. Divas, often

2. Talk about this, that or the other

3. Charge

4. 'Have a taste'

5. Gullible sort

6. Suddenly

7. It might result in a TD or int.

8. Terrarium growth

9. One part of a temperature oscillation

10. Yadda yadda yadda

11. Senator in a mask

12. Black suit

13. Tennis star Alcaraz

21. Exchange for cash?

23. Triumphant cry

26. A really long time

29. Second qtr. start

33. The Fountain of Youth, e.g.

35. Led the show

37. Challenge

39. Spreadsheet unit

40. Opening in the theater

41. Sextet in Clue

43. Do voice-overs

45. Emirati bigwig

46. Bar candidates?

47. Leah of “The King of Queens”

48. "No need to explain!"

49. Some hotel workers

51. Carried on like the Capulets and Montagues

55. Collector's items?

58. Ship bound for Colchis

63. Barrel material

65. “OMG, that’s a riot!”

All Answers