Jumble Answers for 09/16/2026

CARTOON ANSWER:

“WRITE”
AT HOME
⬇️ SCROLL DOWN FOR MORE ⬇️

WELCOME BACK,

PUZZLE PLAYERS!

✍️ DOWN TO BUSINESS

Today’s cartoon brings us to a basement home office, where we see an author hard at work writing what he hopes will turn out to be a new best-cellar. He’s got everything a writer could ask for: a desk, shelves full of books, a hot beverage and enough peace and quiet to keep the words flowing. Between the comforts upstairs and the creativity flowing downstairs, he’s got the perfect setup to keep the pages turning.

🧩 CLUE WORD BREAKDOWN

ORTAI = RATIO

Needed an extra glance.

Last used: 04/11/2023 as TOARI

MRPEI = PRIME

Instantly visible.

Last used: 05/25/2023 as MIREP

LEWLFO = FELLOW

No trouble at all.

Last used: 04/23/2025 as EFLWOL

RUFTOH = FOURTH

My pick for hardest. Came quickly though.

Last used: 04/08/2024 as RTUFOH

🔎 Jumble Jeff’s Jems

➤ THE WRITE STUFF

The author is seated in an office chair behind his desk, typing at his computer. He’s wearing glasses, a short-sleeved shirt and a goatee. A hot beverage sits beside him, along with a notepad covered in squiggly lines serving as notes and a pen.

➤ A STEP ABOVE

His wife is standing at the top of the basement stairs with her hair pulled back in a ponytail. She leans over the railing as she checks in on him from the main floor.

➤ BELOW GROUND, ABOVE BOARD

The basement office is modestly furnished, with a shorter bookcase filled with books and a decorative vase on top. Through the ground-level window, we can see grass, shrubbery and the family dog passing by.

🧠 FINAL SOLVE

The final answer was an 11-letter anagram that solved into a “5” + 2 + 4 layout. Our Hump Day puzzle brought us a bit of wordplay in quotes, but the way the cartoon’s sentence was worded, I knew I EDIT in the bag. With the cartoon identifying our character as an author, “WRITE” came to mind instantly. With all the clue words solved in a jiffy and those letters crossed out, AT HOME was no trouble to see in the remainder to close the book on this one. If today’s puzzle slowed you down, our biggest nudges were the author, shown comfortably seated in his basement workspace with all the amenities to make him feel RIGHT AT HOME, with the fact that he was an author and busy working on his latest chapter giving us “WRITE” for the wordplay finish.

🏠 Click-To-Reveal Facts*: About Basements

➤ What percentage of U.S. residences have a basement?
About 43.5% of residences nationwide have a basement. Basements are much more common in colder regions, where foundations typically need to extend farther below ground.
SOURCE
➤ What percentage of new single-family homes started nationwide in 2024 had a full or partial basement?
Only 17% were built with a full or partial basement. Slab foundations were far more common, accounting for 73% of new single-family homes started that year.
SOURCE
➤ About how much does it cost to finish a basement?
The average cost is about $32,000, with most projects falling between $15,000 and $75,000. Size, materials and how elaborate you make the finished space can move that total considerably.
SOURCE
➤ What addition do homeowners want most for their basement projects?
A bathroom tops the list, requested by about 26% of homeowners. Bedrooms follow at 19%, with storage at 13% and laundry rooms at 11%.
SOURCE

*For entertainment purposes only. Consult reliable sources for critical use.

💬 SAY WHAT?

“There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort.” — Jane Austen

🗳️ GET A CLUE*
(ABOUT EACH OTHER!)

Solving the puzzle might be the main event, but connecting with one another is just as fun. Here’s a quick poll to share your perspective and see where you land among your fellow players.

*For entertainment purposes only. Consult reliable sources for critical use.

🎉 NATIONAL HOLIDAYS* – SEPTEMBER 16

National Cinnamon Raisin Bread Day — Celebrate the sweet and spicy combination of cinnamon and raisins baked into a loaf that’s just as welcome toasted for breakfast as it is straight from the bread box. SOURCE

National Guacamole Day — Grab the avocados and celebrate the creamy dip that’s become a favorite for chips, tacos, burritos and plenty of other dishes. SOURCE

National Play-Doh Day — Break out the colorful cans and celebrate the moldable modeling compound that has inspired generations of kids to roll, squish, shape and create. SOURCE

Mayflower Day — Remember the Mayflower’s historic 1620 voyage, which carried the Pilgrims across the Atlantic on their journey toward what would become Plymouth Colony. SOURCE

National Working Parents Day — Recognize parents who balance the responsibilities of raising a family with the demands of their jobs and everything else that comes with a busy household. SOURCE

National Step Family Day — Celebrate stepfamilies and the relationships that bring parents, stepparents, children and siblings together as one family. SOURCE

*For entertainment purposes only. Consult reliable sources for critical use.

🥄 VIRAL RECIPE

Chocolate Caramel Buttermilk Pie

This rich twist on classic buttermilk pie starts with a caramel base, then adds cocoa and a touch of espresso powder for a deeper chocolate flavor. The tangy buttermilk helps balance the richness, while a flaky pastry crust brings the whole pie together.

🛒 Daily Drops*

➤ Burger King’s Le Nugguette

Burger King has turned its chicken nuggets into a tiny accessory with the limited-edition Le Nugguette micro-purse. About the size of three chicken nuggets, the nugget-shaped bag has a small handle, zipper and BK logo, and comes with one of four sauce-themed charms. Limited batches are available through September 16.

SOURCE

➤ Applebee’s NFL Season Wing Ticket

Club Applebee’s members can sign up for the NFL Season Wing Ticket and receive a weekly code for six free boneless wings To Go with a qualifying food order. New codes are sent each Sunday and can be redeemed Sunday through Thursday throughout the promotion, which runs through January 10, 2027.

SOURCE

➤ Blue Bell White Chocolate Mocha

Blue Bell has a new limited-time White Chocolate Mocha ice cream made with coffee-flavored ice cream, white chocolate-flavored flakes and a vanilla-flavored whipped cream swirl. The new flavor is rolling out now in half-gallon and pint sizes at stores that carry Blue Bell.

SOURCE

*Prices and participation may vary. Retailers may alter or end promotions without notice. For entertainment purposes only.

🌒That’s A Wrap!

👀 WORD YOU LOOK AT THAT

(Click phrase to reveal its origin)

HOME SWEET HOME

Meaning: “Home sweet home” is a warm way of saying that no matter where you go, there’s something especially comforting about being back in your own home.

So, where did it come from? The expression was made famous by the 1823 song “Home! Sweet Home!”, with lyrics by American actor and playwright John Howard Payne and music by English composer Sir Henry Bishop. Written for the opera Clari, or the Maid of Milan, the song became enormously popular, and its celebration of the comforts of home helped turn “home sweet home” into the familiar expression we still use today.

SOURCE

🏆 Kudos to these players who are PROSE at this:

🖋️ Rpavenue

📚 LadyCrafty

⌨️ Keithbock

📝 Groovyphantom

📖 Warren

✒️ Postjoyfully

🪑 Krispy7832

🍫 Betty

🗒️ DTomassini

💻 HonestlyOff

📰 Charlie

🔖 EfpVideo

🪟 Mkratzert

🗃️ AceKincaid

📓 Alleytaj52

📇 Bergenhighland

🖥️ Jkorski

🖊️ Heartrainyafd

📕 Alan H.

📎 Smitty

🗄️ MateodeColón

📗 Butterflybarbi

🧾 Jeffritter3fb

🖇️ Usuallye4cc

📘 GHB8225

🗂️ Pink3CE

📙 Electricmusic

🗞️ Jhaverty

📒 Bobsteve9

📑 Inquislysprby

🗃️ Cheerful5D

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✨May your day be BRIGHT and your mind stay SHARP!✨

Jumble is a registered trademark of Tribune Content Agency, LLC. All rights to the original puzzle, characters, and artwork are owned by Tribune Content Agency. This site is an independent fan resource and solver’s guide, unaffiliated with the creators or syndicators. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are solely my own and do not reflect those of Tribune Content Agency or the puzzle’s creators. For entertainment purposes only. Consult reliable sources for critical use.

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