Crossword answer
HOAX
4 letters · Used for 21 different clues · 33 appearances · Last seen NYT Midi, September 6, 2026
Letter pattern
HOAX
Clues that lead to HOAX
Most recent firstClueLettersPuzzleLast seen
April Fools' Day undertaking4NYT MidiSep 6, 2026
Ruse4USA TodaySep 4, 2026
News item that is revealed as fake or a joke4Everyday Puzzles MiniJul 24, 2026
Elaborate trick4New York TimesMay 27, 2026
Big prank on April Fools Day4Crosswords With FriendsMay 21, 2026
Chess-playing Mechanical Turk of 1770, for one4New York TimesApr 30, 2026
Deception4Evening StandardApr 13, 2026
Elaborate prank4NYT MidiMar 13, 2026
Trick husband with old guitar from America4The IndependentOct 31, 2025
Deliberate false alarm4Daily ThemedSep 20, 2025
Elaborate deception4NewsdayMay 19, 2025
Humbug4NewsdayMay 10, 2025
News of an alien landing, probably4New York TimesJan 14, 2025
Public prank4Daily ThemedDec 7, 2024
Call some taxis to a house as a prank4Evening StandardOct 22, 2024
Dupe4Evening StandardFeb 21, 2024
Debunker's target4Daily ThemedMay 12, 2023
Intentional false alarm?4Daily ThemedDec 24, 2021
Act of deception4Daily ThemedSep 27, 2021
Like some UFO sightings4Daily ThemedAug 11, 2021
Trick4Evening StandardAug 26, 2019
About HOAX in crosswords
HOAX is a 4-letter answer that has appeared 33 times in our database across 21 different clues. It was most recently the answer to “April Fools' Day undertaking” in the NYT Midi crossword on September 6, 2026.
Other 4-letter answers
ANNA"Naked Attraction" host Richardson
AHEMThroat-clearing sound
HALOSaintly ring
TRAMOn-road train
AFARWay, way off
HAREOverconfident one, in an Aesop's fable
TREEHistoric actor-manager who went bare in winter?
TIPSWaitperson's rewards
WARS"Star ___ Theme/Cantina Band," instrumental cover by Meco of a sci-fi film theme, which reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100
ACUE"Grab me ___, would you?" (pool game words): 2 wds.
BEAREndure
NERF"It's ___ or Nothin'!" (alliterative toy brand slogan)
TOSSThrow
AKINSimilar
Every appearance of HOAX (33)
Click to expand · newest first
Sep 6, 2026
April Fools' Day undertaking · NYT Midi · 7 Down
Sep 4, 2026
Ruse · USA Today · 55 Down
Jul 24, 2026
News item that is revealed as fake or a joke · Everyday Puzzles Mini · 9
May 27, 2026
Elaborate trick · New York Times · 57 Down
May 21, 2026
Big prank on April Fools Day · Crosswords With Friends · 38
Apr 30, 2026
Chess-playing Mechanical Turk of 1770, for one · New York Times · 31 Down
Apr 13, 2026
Deception · Evening Standard · 14 Across
Mar 13, 2026
Elaborate prank · NYT Midi · 12 Across
Oct 31, 2025
Trick husband with old guitar from America · The Independent · 14 Across
Sep 20, 2025
Deliberate false alarm · Daily Themed · 22 Down
May 19, 2025
Elaborate deception · Newsday · Down
May 10, 2025
Humbug · Newsday · Down
Jan 22, 2025
Elaborate deception · Newsday · Across
Jan 14, 2025
News of an alien landing, probably · New York Times · 40 Across
Dec 7, 2024
Public prank · Daily Themed · 37 Down
Oct 22, 2024
Call some taxis to a house as a prank · Evening Standard · 19 Across
Feb 21, 2024
Dupe · Evening Standard · 6 Across
Jan 2, 2024
Deception · Eugene Sheffer · 53 Across
Aug 12, 2023
Deception · Eugene Sheffer · 11 Down
May 12, 2023
Debunker's target · Daily Themed · 60 Across
Sep 8, 2022
Deliberate false alarm · Daily Themed · 56 Across
Sep 7, 2022
Deception · Eugene Sheffer · 25 Across
Aug 16, 2022
Deception · Evening Standard · 27 Across
Aug 5, 2022
Deception · Eugene Sheffer · 26 Down
Dec 24, 2021
Intentional false alarm? · Daily Themed · 30 Down
Dec 8, 2021
Deception · Eugene Sheffer · 49 Down
Sep 27, 2021
Act of deception · Daily Themed · 60 Across
Aug 11, 2021
Like some UFO sightings · Daily Themed · 8 Down
Jan 14, 2021
Deception · Evening Standard · 14 Across
Mar 17, 2020
Deception · Eugene Sheffer · 50 Across
Aug 26, 2019
Trick · Evening Standard · 19 Across
Jul 26, 2018
Call some taxis to a house as a prank · Evening Standard · 19 Across
Jan 24, 2018
Dupe · Evening Standard · 6 Across