Scruff of the neck Crossword Clue

We have the 4-letter answer for Scruff of the neck crossword clue, last seen in the USA Today Crossword December 17, 2025 puzzle. Sometimes we all need some help finding the answer!

Scruff of the neck Crossword Answer

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NAPE

(4 letters)

Helpful Hints

(noun)
1. the back side of the neck

Hint 2: Clue Definitions

SCRUFF (noun)
1. the back side of the neck
NECK (verb)
1. kiss, embrace, or fondle with sexual passion
NECK (noun)
1. the part of an organism (human or animal) that connects the head to the rest of the body
2. an opening in a garment for the neck of the wearer; a part of the garment near the wearer’s neck

Hint 3: Other Answers Used in the Past

Nape
(4 letters)

Hint 4: Anagram

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

More USA Today Crossword (12/17/2025) Answers

Across

1. Wednesday Addams' cousin

4. 'Fancy' singer McEntire

8. Religious belief

13. Spotted

14. Dohas country

15. "Super Graphic ___ Modern Girl" (Chappell Roan song)

16. Poke bowl tuna

17. Parent's brother

18. Soda bottle size

19. What's never free of charge

20. ___ out (barely got)

21. Totally crushed it

22. "My ___ apologies!"

24. Person in charge

25. Habit wearer

26. Swindle

28. Kit ___ bar

31. Underground lava

33. Shrek or Fiona

34. Prefix for "tope" or "pod"

35. Related to birds

36. “___ a date!”

37. Prenatal test for short

39. ___ and yang

42. ___ Thee Stallion

43. Poetic tribute

44. Cause for some food recalls

46. Theater chain with a Nicole Kidman ad campaign

47. Founded: Abbr.

48. Places with line leaders

52. Artificial waterways

55. Powerful wind

56. Feathery accessory

57. Anxious feeling

58. Shinbone

59. Tattletale

60. Sega hedgehog

61. Harmonize

62. SNL alum Gasteyer

63. Banded gemstone

64. Have a chat

65. Nine-digit ID

All Answers

Down

1. To reiterate …

2. Largest alpine lake in North America

3. Like most commercial airplanes

4. Belt colors might signify these in some martial arts

5. ". . . and so on and so forth," for short

6. Like worn tires

7. “My hands ___ tied”

8. "Let's go as fast as possible!"

9. Pen name, for example

10. Teensy

11. Elm or oak

12. Difficult

14. Plant said to be named after an English monarch who loved fine needlework

21. Fly sky-high

23. Big cat

24. Pleads

27. Bellhop's workplace

28. Hooded snakes that primarily eat other snakes

29. Continent home to 28-Down

30. Kim Possible e.g.

31. Sriracha ___ (spicy, creamy condiment)

32. Passionate

36. Bygone Apple music device

38. Office reminder

41. There are five in "King Lear"

45. "The House of the Spirits" author Allende

47. Wipe out

49. Sound of touching champagne flutes

50. Financing options

51. Another name for Lucifer

52. ___ Amor (alternative villa in "Love Island")

53. Extremely eager

54. Singer Simone

55. ___ monster (large lizard)

58. Hashtag for an old pic

All Answers