crossword clue total – All Crossword Answers

More About "crossword clue total"

"Total" is a versatile word that can be used as a noun, an adjective, or a verb, which makes it a frequent and sometimes tricky clue in crosswords. As a noun, it refers to the whole amount or sum. For example, "What's the total for these groceries?" As an adjective, it means complete or absolute, like "a total disaster." When used as a verb, it means to amount to a particular number or sum, or to utterly destroy something, as in "the car was totaled."

In the context of crosswords, clues for "total" often lean towards its quantitative meanings—summation, entirety, or the final count. However, clever constructors might use its less common verbal or adjectival senses, requiring solvers to think more broadly. Understanding these different nuances is key to selecting the correct answer from the various options available, especially when several words might fit the letter count.

Always consider the other words in the clue for context. Is it asking for a "total" in a mathematical sense (e.g., "Grand ___"), a sense of completion (e.g., "Utter ___"), or perhaps an action (e.g., "To add ___")? The surrounding words and the puzzle's theme can provide vital hints to unlock the precise meaning the clue intends.

Tips For Your Next Puzzle

• Analyze the Clue's Part of Speech: Is "total" used as a noun, verb, or adjective in the clue? This will significantly narrow down the possible answers (e.g., "Sum" for a noun, "Complete" for an adjective, "Add up" for a verb phrase).
• Check Surrounding Words: Often, the word "total" is part of a phrase like "total amount," "total destruction," or "total up." These phrases offer more specific context for the intended answer.
• Consider Common Synonyms: Beyond the obvious, common crossword answers for "total" include words like WHOLE, ENTIRE, SUM, GRAND, and AGGREGATE. Keep a mental list of these frequent solutions.
• Count Letters Carefully: Once you have a potential answer in mind, ensure its letter count perfectly matches the required length in the crossword grid. This is a common way to eliminate incorrect guesses.

For more advice, visit our page on general crossword strategies.