Praying insects that prey WSJ Crossword Clue

By Narcissa Kh / January 29, 2026

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Crossword Answer

1 ? M

2 ? A

3 ? N

4 ? T

5 ? I

6 ? S

7 ? E

8 ? S

Hint

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

Your Answer 8 Letter

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Hint 1

hint

Reveal Hint

Think of a creature that appears pious but is actually a fierce hunter.

Hint 2

meaning

Reveal Hint

???????? are predatory insects known for their upright posture and folded front legs that resemble praying hands.

Hint 3

explanation

Reveal Hint

The clue is a play on words: 'praying' refers to the posture of the mantis, which looks like it's praying, while 'prey' hints at its predatory nature. ???????? are known for their distinctive front legs held together as if in prayer, and they are skilled hunters.

WSJ Crossword January 29 2026 Answers

Tap a cell to show its letter

1 ? C
2 ? U
3 ? K
4 ? E
5 ? I
6 ? M
7 ? A
8 ? R
9 ? I
10 ? T
11 ? S
12 ? P
13 ? S
14 ? A
? S
? I
? N
15 ? C
? A
? R
? O
? M
16 ? A
? Q
? U
? A
17 ? B
? U
? D
? D
18 ? Y
? I
? N
? G
? U
? P
19 ? G
? U
? L
? L
20 ? L
? A
? S
? S
? O
21 ? T
? O
? N
? I
22 ? C
23 ? A
? S
? A
24 ? E
? L
? I
25 ? W
26 ? W
? I
27 ? D
? E
? R
28 ? I
? D
? E
? D
29 ? S
30 ? I
? Z
? E
? S
31 ? S
? T
? U
? N
32 ? O
33 ? U
? T
? D
? A
? T
? E
34 ? D
35 ? Y
? E
? A
36 ? H
37 ? O
38 ? K
39 ? A
? S
? E
? C
40 ? S
? C
41 ? H
42 ? T
? Y
? R
? O
43 ? T
? A
? R
? A
44 ? W
45 ? A
46 ? C
? O
47 ? L
48 ? L
? I
? D
? E
? D
49 ? R
? A
? R
50 ? A
51 ? W
? O
? O
? E
? R
52 ? P
53 ? A
54 ? D
? D
? L
? E
? D
55 ? L
? O
? U
56 ? A
57 ? S
58 ? L
59 ? A
? X
? E
60 ? L
? A
? V
61 ? I
? E
62 ? P
63 ? I
? N
? T
? A
64 ? T
? I
? L
65 ? T
66 ? M
? I
? D
? D
67 ? L
? E
? A
? G
? E
? D
68 ? I
? O
? T
? A
69 ? A
? S
? E
? A
? T
70 ? M
? E
? R
? E
71 ? O
? M
? A
? N
72 ? P
? E
? S
? T
? S
73 ? B
? A
? N
? D

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Clue Analysis

The clue “Praying insects that prey” is a classic crossword staple, frequently appearing in puzzles like the WSJ crossword. For the puzzle dated January 29 2026, the definitive 8-letter answer is: MANTISES.

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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Your Questions, Answered by Experts.

At Daze Puzzle, we understand that every clue is a puzzle within a larger puzzle. Our team of dedicated human experts and puzzle lovers solves these challenges daily to help you succeed. Below, we answer common questions about this specific clue.

A: The most common and recent 8-letter answer for "Praying insects that prey" is MANTISES.

A: The clue is a play on words: 'praying' refers to the posture of the mantis, which looks like it's praying, while 'prey' hints at its predatory nature. Mantises are known for their distinctive front legs held together as if in prayer, and they are skilled hunters.

A: This clue was last seen in the WSJ Crossword on January 29, 2026.

A: Mantises are predatory insects known for their upright posture and folded front legs that resemble praying hands.

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Praying insects that prey WSJ Crossword Clue

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