USA Today Up & Down Words October 12, 2026 Answers

MEMaya EllisonPuzzle Editor · Verified answers

The complete Monday word chain — 7 two-word answers, each linking into the next. Puzzle by David L. Hoyt.

Monday7 answersUSA Today

The Chain

1 Starchy staple BROWN RICE

2 It's also called a paddy RICE FIELD

3 Small rodent FIELD MOUSE

4 1997 Nathan Lane comedy MOUSE HUNT

5 "The ____ ____ Red October" HUNT FOR

6 Recreationally FOR FUN

7 "Go treat yourself!" cash FUN MONEY

About this puzzle

This page lists the complete answer chain for the USA Today Up & Down Words published on October 12, 2026. Each answer is a two-word phrase, and the second word of every answer is the first word of the next one down. Tap any clue to open that answer's own page.