The clue "Had a zoom session?" uses a pun with "zoom" implying speed rather than the video platform. Thus, "Had a zoom session" cleverly refers to moving quickly or speeding. The past tense form of "speed" is "SPED," making it the correct answer.
Across
The answer is LISP because a lisp is a speech quality or impediment that specifically affects sibilant sounds, such as "s" and "z." People with a lisp may pronounce these sounds differently, often substituting them with "th" sounds, making it directly tied to sibilants.
5BBS???✨ See Why
In A Christmas Story, Ralphie's dream gift is a Red Ryder BB gun. BBs are the small metal pellets (ammo) used in BB guns, making "BBS" the correct answer. The clue directly references the type of ammunition for his desired gift.
8ARLO????✨ See Why
The clue "Son of Woody" refers to Arlo Guthrie, the son of iconic folk musician Woody Guthrie. Arlo Guthrie is a folk singer-songwriter known for continuing his father's musical legacy. Hence, the answer is ARLO.
9AAH???✨ See Why
The clue "Ooh and ___" is prompting a common pair of exclamations expressing awe or amazement. "AAH" complements "Ooh," forming the familiar phrase "Ooh and Aah," often used for reactions to something impressive or delightful, such as fireworks or stunning views. It's a spoken, expressive answer.
10ROOT????✨ See Why
The answer "ROOT" fits because tree roots often grow beneath sidewalks and can expand with enough force to crack the concrete above them. The clue’s use of "might" suggests this is a possibility rather than a certainty, making "ROOT" an apt, logical solution.
11GRU???✨ See Why
GRU, the bald, lanky, and round-nosed character from the "Despicable Me" movies, shares a physical resemblance with Nikola Jokić, an NBA player known for his similar facial features and stature. The clue's playful tone and pop culture reference connect GRU to Jokić.
12GNUS????✨ See Why
The answer is GNUS because wildebeests are large antelope species native to Africa, and another name for them is "gnus." This is a straightforward synonym clue, as both terms refer to the same animal. No additional wordplay or trickery is involved.
13URN???✨ See Why
In John Keats’ "Ode on a Grecian Urn," the urn is described as a "Sylvan historian" because its carved scenes tell timeless, pastoral stories of nature and life. "Sylvan" refers to forests or woods, while the urn "historically" preserves these bucolic images, making URN the apt answer.
14EIGHTEEN????????✨ See Why
The clue references a specific event: Game 3 of the 2025 World Series, which went into extra innings. Historical or fictional context within the puzzle makes "eighteen" the correct answer, as the game lasted 18 innings, beyond the standard nine innings in baseball games.
16CHORTLE???????✨ See Why
CHORTLE is the solution because Lewis Carroll invented this term in his poem "Jabberwocky," blending "chuckle" and "snort" to describe a gleeful, hearty laugh. It's an example of a portmanteau, a linguistic blend that Carroll creatively used throughout his writing.
17STATED??????✨ See Why
The clue "Put into words" asks for a term that means expressing something verbally or explicitly. "STATED" fits perfectly as it refers to saying, declaring, or articulating an idea clearly in words. It's a straightforward synonym for the phrase in the clue.
18SPED????✨ See Why
The clue "Had a zoom session?" uses a pun with "zoom" implying speed rather than the video platform. Thus, "Had a zoom session" cleverly refers to moving quickly or speeding. The past tense form of "speed" is "SPED," making it the correct answer.
Down
1LARGE?????✨ See Why
The answer "LARGE" is a humorous play on words. At Chipotle, "large" commonly refers to portion sizes for orders. The Reductress joke suggests the worker is still "at large," meaning they haven't been caught or corrected, while tying back to the setting of Chipotle.
2IRONIC??????✨ See Why
The answer "IRONIC" refers to Alanis Morissette's hit song "Ironic." Critics argue its title is inapt since the song's examples (e.g., rain on your wedding day) often describe bad luck or coincidences rather than true irony, which typically involves incongruity or unexpected outcomes.
3SLOUGHS???????✨ See Why
The clue "Sheds" refers to the act of getting rid of or removing something. "Sloughs" perfectly fits because it means to shed or cast off, such as shedding skin or something unwanted, aligning with the definition. It's a direct, plural form of the verb "to slough."
4POTSHOTS????????✨ See Why
The phrase "POTSHOTS" figuratively means casual or critical remarks aimed at someone or something, akin to "critiques." The phrase "lobbed at an easy target" reinforces this as potshots are often taken at those who are easy to criticize or attack.
5BAGUETTE????????✨ See Why
A jambon-beurre is a classic French sandwich made with ham (jambon) and butter (beurre). Traditionally, it is served on a baguette, a long, narrow loaf of French bread. The clue references the specific type of bread commonly used for this sandwich.
6BARRELED????????✨ See Why
The answer "BARRELED" works for the clue "Raced" because to "barrel" can mean to move very quickly or race forward, often in a forceful or uncontrolled manner. This aligns with the definition of "raced," making it a suitable synonym.
7SHUNNED???????✨ See Why
The clue "Eschewed" means to deliberately avoid or reject something. The word "SHUNNED" is synonymous with this definition as it also describes the act of purposefully avoiding or steering clear of someone or something. Thus, SHUNNED matches the meaning of "Eschewed."
15TRAP????✨ See Why
The answer is TRAP because it directly refers to the title of the 2024 psychological thriller starring Josh Hartnett. Crossword clues often use straightforward references to movie titles when they clearly fit the given description without requiring deeper wordplay.
Solving today’s The Atlantic Crossword Puzzle and stuck on the 4-letter answer to the Had a zoom session? clue? Don’t worry, Lady Puzzle Pro has you covered! Whether you want the answer right away, revealed letter by letter, or this wordplay seems too puzzling, keep reading for the explanation.
Had a zoom session? Answer Explained
The answer is SPED.
This clue relies on a clever bit of misdirection with the word zoom. At first glance, you might think of Zoom video calls, something many solvers are conditioned to expect in modern puzzles. But here, “zoom” is lowercase, signaling the verb meaning “to move quickly.” So someone who had a zoom session wasn’t video conferencing, they were moving fast. That action leads you to SPED, the past tense of “speed.” The clue’s humor lies in the double meaning, disguising a simple synonym behind a pandemic-era cultural reference.
Now that you've cracked the 18A Had a zoom session? clue, you're one step closer to completing today’s The Atlantic Crossword Puzzle! If you're still stuck on other clues, don't worry, we've got you covered. Explore more The Atlantic Crossword answers right here, or check out our tools for solving the Bracket City, Stacks, or NYT The Daily Crossword.
Today’s The Atlantic Crossword Highlights
Thursday’s Atlantic puzzle offers a satisfying midweek challenge, blending pop culture, literature, and current events. Solvers move from 19th-century poetry and Lewis Carroll’s playful language to modern headlines and sports references. The grid balances clever humor (like satirical media clues) with cultural range, from Despicable Me to baseball trivia. Wordplay leans on creative definitions rather than trickery, rewarding broad general knowledge. It’s a well-constructed, conversational puzzle that feels contemporary while still nodding to classic crossword traditions.
About The Atlantic Crossword and The Atlantic Games
A Daily Puzzle for Every Solver
The Atlantic Crossword is a daily digital crossword designed to challenge and delight solvers of all levels. It was launched in 2018 and has since become a standout offering among modern crosswords, with fresh clues and clever themes.
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Monday to Friday: The puzzle starts small on Monday and increases in size and difficulty throughout the week.
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Part of a Growing Puzzle Lineup
The crossword is just one part of The Atlantic’s puzzle suite. Other original games include:
Bracket City: The Atlantic’s fan-favorite game, where you solve nested clues to uncover events from that day in history. Need help solving the clues? Try our Bracket City Answers and Hints.
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Fluxis: A daily blend of language and logic, where the goal is to uncover a secret pattern. Try our Fluxis Solver!
Caleb’s Inferno: A monthly, high-difficulty puzzle from Caleb Madison that challenges even elite solvers.