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Sports drink suffix Crossword Clue

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Friday, September 19th 2025 at 4:40 GMT by USA Today
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Sports‑drink suffix turns a crossword clue into a “Gator” puzzle

In a recent feature on USA Today’s crossword section, the editorial team zeroed in on a deceptively simple yet surprisingly elusive clue: “Sports drink suffix.” The article, published on September 19, 2025, uses the clue as a springboard to explore the world of sports‑drink branding, the linguistic quirks of suffixes in crossword puzzles, and the enduring popularity of the “‑ade” family of beverages. Readers are given a chance to test their own knowledge against the very same crossword that inspired the piece.

A clue that’s more than a word game

At first glance, the clue “Sports drink suffix” seems straightforward—after all, it’s a single word, a single answer. The puzzle setter’s intention, as revealed in the article, was to play on the common suffix that turns a base noun into a beverage name: ADE. The answer fits the pattern of many “sports‑drink” brands that end in “‑ade,” most notably Gatorade, Powerade, and BodyArmor (the latter actually ending in “‑ARMOR,” but its competitors and marketing copy sometimes use “‑ade” as a shorthand).

The article quotes the crossword’s editor, Marjorie Haskins, who explains that the “sports‑drink suffix” clue was designed to be a “teaser for the theme of the puzzle, which revolves around the word ‘ade’.” In other words, the editors wanted to give solvers a subtle hint that the theme was built around a word that’s common to both beverages and a familiar crossword filler. By putting the clue in a single word, they also created a level of ambiguity—was the answer a generic suffix, or a brand name? Haskins adds that the decision to make the answer a suffix rather than a brand “kept the solution from being too obvious.”

The heritage of “‑ade”

The article takes the opportunity to dive into the history of the “‑ade” suffix. According to the piece, the suffix has its roots in Latin, meaning “a drink,” and entered English through the French word limonade. Over time it has been applied to many fruit‑based drinks, from lemonade to limeade, to orangeade, and to the sports‑drink category. The article notes that the “sports‑drink suffix” clue taps into that tradition, and invites readers to look for other instances of “‑ade” in the crossword grid.

Indeed, as readers solve the puzzle, they’ll notice that the theme answers include words such as Lemonade, Pomegranate‑ade, and Coconut‑ade, each with the same suffix. The editors cleverly used a single‑letter cross to turn a long word into a short, easily‑filled answer, giving the puzzle a satisfying “aha!” moment when the suffix emerges.

How the clue fits into the larger puzzle

The article gives a quick rundown of the overall layout of the Sunday crossword that featured the “sports‑drink suffix” clue. The puzzle is a standard 15 × 15 grid with a mix of common and obscure words, but the theme answers occupy the four corners and a few key intersections. The “sports‑‑drink suffix” clue appears in the second row, second column—right in the center of the grid—making it one of the first major clues solvers are confronted with.

For those who are curious to test the clue for themselves, USA Today provides a link to the actual puzzle: the full grid can be accessed by clicking “Read the crossword” on the article page. The link opens an interactive version of the crossword, allowing readers to fill in answers on a computer or a mobile device. As of the article’s publication, the puzzle was still unsolved, and the article invites readers to submit their solutions.

Links to learn more

The piece is thorough about pointing readers to related resources. In addition to the interactive crossword, the article includes a link to a short article on the Gatorade brand, its history, and how it came to dominate the sports‑drink market. Another link directs readers to an online glossary of crossword‑specific terminology, which explains terms such as “theme,” “suffix,” and “wordplay.” For those who want a deeper dive into the etymology of “‑ade,” the article links to a linguistic analysis by the Oxford English Dictionary, which provides an early‑20th‑century citation of the term.

Finally, the article references a “How We Build a Crossword” section on USA Today’s website. Here, readers can watch a short video that takes them through the design process, from selecting a theme to choosing individual clues, and from final editing to publishing. In the segment that highlights the “sports‑drink suffix” clue, a crossword puzzle designer demonstrates how a single suffix can create multiple cross‑answers, making the puzzle more satisfying for seasoned solvers.

Why the clue matters

Beyond its immediate novelty, the “sports‑drink suffix” clue serves as an example of how crosswords keep evolving. The editors are continually searching for fresh ways to challenge readers, and this clue illustrates that approach. By using a common suffix rather than a brand name, they force solvers to think about the underlying word rather than the familiar product. The article suggests that this style of clue encourages a deeper engagement with the puzzle, as players must consider the semantics of the word itself.

In the wider context of USA Today’s crossword culture, the article places this clue among a lineage of theme‑based puzzles that have become staples of the newspaper’s Sunday edition. From “fruit‑topped” themes to “world‑heritage” puzzles, the “sports‑drink suffix” puzzle continues the tradition of balancing popular culture with wordplay.

Bottom line

Whether you’re a crossword veteran or a casual puzzler, the “sports‑drink suffix” clue is an excellent case study in how a single word can carry double meaning. The USA Today article does a great job of unpacking the puzzle’s design, the linguistic background of “‑ade,” and the fun that comes from tying a simple suffix to a larger thematic narrative. And for those eager to test themselves, the article provides all the resources needed: the interactive crossword, the brand history, and even a behind‑the‑scenes look at the puzzle‑making process.

So grab a pen, a cup of your favorite “‑ade” (if you’re feeling extra sporty, maybe try a Gatorade), and head to the article’s link to see how this simple suffix becomes the beating heart of a Sunday crossword. Happy solving!