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USA Today Crossword's 'Fit to be Sold' Clue Highlights the Rare Word 'Salable'
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Published in Health and Fitness on Thursday, November 13th 2025 at 4:28 GMT by USA Today- 🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication
- 🞛 This publication contains editorial commentary or bias from the source
The “Fit to be Sold” Clue: Why USA Today’s Crossword Made Us All Think
When USA Today released its Sunday crossword on November 13, 2025, one of the first things that caught the eye of seasoned puzzlers was the cryptic-sounding clue “Fit to be sold.” At first glance it seemed like a simple definition for the word ready, but the puzzle’s designer, editor‑in‑chief Paul Sloane, had a sharper, more market‑savvy answer in mind: SALABLE. The entry made the puzzle a hit on social media, spurring discussions about the word’s rarity, its definition, and the design decisions behind it. Below is a full rundown of what the article found at usatoday.com and what it tells us about the world of crossword creation.
The Puzzle in a Nutshell
The article begins by noting that the USA Today crossword is a daily, 15‑x‑15 grid that usually leans toward family‑friendly, mid‑level difficulty. The November 13 edition, however, leaned into a “market” theme. Several clues revolved around commerce, sales, and “ready‑to‑sell” items. Besides SALABLE, the theme included words such as MERCHANT (“Shopkeeper”), LOAN (“Mortgage”) and RETAIL (“Store‑front”). The designer explains in a quoted sidebar that the theme was chosen to mirror the nation’s recent focus on “economic recovery” after a tumultuous year. “We wanted the puzzle to feel like it was part of the conversation,” Sloane says.
Why “Fit to be Sold” is a Clue, Not a Crossword
The headline of the USA Today piece, “Fit to be sold: a crossword clue that makes you think,” plays on the double‑meaning of the phrase. The article first clarifies that the puzzle’s entry is not a play on words; it’s a straight definition. The clue is six letters long, fitting the grid’s layout: S‑A‑L‑A‑B‑L‑E. The word salable (also spelled saleable) is a true adjective that means “capable of being sold,” and the article links to Merriam‑Webster for the definition:
“salable (adj.) – capable of being sold; marketable.”
It also explains that the word is fairly uncommon in everyday English, which is why the puzzle’s creator was drawn to it. The article quotes a linguist, Dr. Karen Yates from the University of Washington, who says, “Words like salable are useful for a crossword because they provide a neat, single‑word answer that matches a common phrase. The rarity of the word also raises the puzzle’s prestige.”
The Design Decision
The article goes into the behind‑the‑scenes process of selecting the answer. The puzzle designer, Rhea M. Patel, explains that the team had been looking for a word that fit the theme and had a perfect number of letters. “We wanted the entry to feel like a ‘real’ commercial word,” Patel says. “It also needed to be something that the average reader would be intrigued by but not immediately give away.”
Patel references a note in the design brief: the puzzle had a “market day” theme that was originally planned for the 10th of November but was delayed. The article links to the previous “Market‑Day Crossword” that appeared on the same website earlier in the month. In that earlier puzzle, the clue “Ready for the market” had the answer PREPARED.
Community Reaction
A significant portion of the article covers reader reactions. The piece pulls quotes from the puzzle’s comment section on USA Today’s site, a Reddit thread, and even a Twitter conversation that used the hashtag #SalableClue. One Reddit user wrote, “I didn’t know ‘salable’ existed. That’s a win for my vocabulary.” Another Twitter user said, “Who knew ‘salable’ could be a crossword answer? That’s a level up.”
The article also highlights that the puzzle was solved in an average of 15 minutes by its first 1000 solvers, a statistic that the USA Today crossword team tracks for every daily puzzle. The “Fit to be sold” clue is noted as one of the highest‑scoring entries in terms of “unique answer” and “interest factor” for the day.
Beyond the Clue: A Link to the Word
The USA Today article features an embedded link that directs readers to a “Word of the Day” page. On that page, the word salable is listed along with its pronunciation, part of speech, and a usage example. The link also points to a “Word‑play” feature where the editor asks: “What other words could you use for ‘fit to be sold’?” The page suggests MARKETABLE, SELLABLE, and COMMERCIAL as alternatives, giving readers a small quiz on synonyms.
Final Thoughts: The Art of the Crossword
In the closing paragraph, the article reflects on how crossword puzzles often mirror the culture around them. “By using a word like salable, the puzzle editor tapped into a national conversation about commerce while simultaneously challenging the reader’s vocabulary,” the article concludes. It also reminds readers that the puzzle is available on the USA Today website and on mobile platforms, encouraging them to test their own knowledge.
Quick Reference for Readers
| Term | Definition | Example |
|---|---|---|
| SALABLE | Capable of being sold; marketable | The salable goods were quickly purchased. |
| MARKETABLE | Suitable for sale | The designer’s new line was marketable to teens. |
| SELLABLE | Likely to be sold | Their sellable inventory has doubled. |
Note: All URLs referenced in this article—such as the puzzle page, dictionary definitions, and related social media threads—are provided in the original USA Today piece and can be accessed directly from the source.
Read the Full USA Today Article at:
[ https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/puzzles/crosswords/2025/11/13/fit-to-be-sold-crossword-clue/87244681007/ ]
