Pain in the neck WSJ Crossword Clue

By Narcissa Kh /

Crossword Answer

1 ? P
2 ? E
3 ? S
4 ? T
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Interactive Solver for Pain in the neck Crossword Clue

Drag letters from the pool into “Your Answer”, then reorder them to match the solution.

Your Answer 4 Letter
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      Hint 1

      hint
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      Think of a tiny creature that often disrupts your peace and quiet.

      Hint 2

      meaning
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      ????: An annoying or troublesome person, animal, or thing.

      Hint 3

      explanation
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      The phrase 'pain in the neck' is a common idiom used to describe someone or something that is annoying or troublesome. In this context, '????' is a synonym for an annoying person or nuisance, fitting the clue's figurative meaning.

      Hint 4

      another clue
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      Wild European rabbit in Australia, e.g., Mouse or mosquito, Gnat or nit, "Ramona the ___" (Beverly Cleary book), Pain in the butt

      Clue Analysis

      The clue “Pain in the neck” is a classic crossword staple, frequently appearing in puzzles like the WSJ crossword. For the puzzle dated April 4 2026, the definitive 4-letter answer is: PEST.

      Expert Tip: When you’re stuck, try to analyze the structure of the clue itself. Is it a direct definition, a pun, a fill-in-the-blank, or a pop culture reference? Identifying the type of clue you’re dealing with is a key skill for improving your solving speed.

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      Pain in the neck Crossword Clue