Unpleasant things one accepts because the alternatives are worse Crossword Clue
Looking for the answer to “Unpleasant things one accepts because the alternatives are worse” from the Washington Post Sunday crossword of September 14, 2025? It has 12 letters. Flip the tiles one at a time, try a hint first, or look through the rest of that puzzle.
Crossword answer
WASHINGTON POST SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2025
Tap a tile to see one letter, or show the whole answer.
NECESSARYEVILS is the answer to “Unpleasant things one accepts because the alternatives are worse”.
Hints
Three clues to the answer, gentle first. Open one at a time.
Hint 1 Meaning
A 12-letter answer that starts with N.
Hint 2 Anagram
Its letters, scrambled: ESRVSCSYINEAEL.
Hint 3 Another clue
It starts with N and ends with S.
More clues from the Washington Post Sunday (September 14, 2025)
Across
- 1. Sinister3 letters, starts with BBAD
- 4. Party spread cooked in a terrine4 letters, starts with PPATE
- 8. Some bridge positions5 letters, starts with EEASTS
- 13. Nocturnal newborn5 letters, starts with OOWLET
- 18. Fútbol fan's encouragement3 letters, starts with OOLE
- 19. Foreboding sign4 letters, starts with OOMEN
- 20. Obtain by intimidation6 letters, starts with EEXTORT
- 21. Get on one's soapbox5 letters, starts with OORATE
- 22. Getting a late start on the day8 letters, starts with SSLEEPINGIN
- 24. Neo dodging bullets and stopping bullets in "The Matrix," e.g.12 letters, starts with SSPECIALEFFECTS
- 26. Winery stoppers5 letters, starts with CCORKS
- 27. 1950s radical?5 letters, starts with NNEATO
- 29. Item that V leaves on each of his victims in "V for Vendetta"4 letters, starts with RROSE
- 30. "Have a ___"4 letters, starts with SSEAT
- 31. Loved one, to a loved one7 letters, starts with SSWEETIE
- 33. "Sorry to Bother You" actress Thompson5 letters, starts with TTESSA
- 35. Pitched shelter4 letters, starts with TTENT
- 37. Core workout targets3 letters, starts with AABS
- 38. Rewards for lying down, maybe6 letters, starts with TTREATS
- 40. Charcuterie board meat6 letters, starts with SSALAMI
- 44. Where people live10 letters, starts with HHOMEADDRESSES
- 49. Mad scientist's vessel4 letters, starts with VVIAL
- 51. "6 Months Later" singer Moroney5 letters, starts with MMEGAN
- 52. Turn signal?4 letters, starts with OODOR
- 53. Be abundant (with)4 letters, starts with TTEEM
- 54. Reveal, as an imported good, at customs7 letters, starts with DDECLARE
- 56. Envelope abbr.3 letters, starts with AAVE
- 57. Exchanged vows again5 letters, starts with RREWED
- 59. Catches a glimpse of6 letters, starts with EESPIES
- 61. "You've got the best girlfriend!"8 letters, starts with SSHESAKEEPER
- 63. Successful alley-oop pass, e.g.6 letters, starts with AASSIST
- 65. Contracted work directive?4 letters, starts with AATTN
- 66. Saturated substances, at times4 letters, starts with FFATS
- 67. Shipped off4 letters, starts with SSENT
- 68. Criticized harshly7 letters, starts with SSLAMMED
- 70. Most hairy, as a situation7 letters, starts with DDICIEST
- 72. "Who ___ could it be?"4 letters, starts with EELSE
- 75. Said "It's just what I wanted" after opening a terrible gift, say4 letters, starts with LLIED
- 76. Period beginning in late September4 letters, starts with FFALL
- 77. Have some trouble with one's balance6 letters, starts with TTEETER
- 81. Airborne streaks of water particles that fuel some conspiracy theories8 letters, starts with VVAPORTRAILS
- 83. Exercise done while suspended6 letters, starts with PPULLUP
- 85. Submit using TurboTax, say5 letters, starts with EEFILE
- 86. Folk singer DiFranco3 letters, starts with AANI
- 87. Makes hand over fist7 letters, starts with RRAKESIN
- 89. Share a border4 letters, starts with AABUT
- 91. "Some Kind of Beautiful" actress Jessica4 letters, starts with AALBA
- 92. Like the fog in a "pea soup"5 letters, starts with DDENSE
- 94. Leak out slowly4 letters, starts with SSEEP
- 95. Song sans singing10 letters, starts with IINSTRUMENTAL
- 97. Garden border6 letters, starts with EEDGING
- 99. "Danger-prone" sleuth in "Scooby-Doo"6 letters, starts with DDAPHNE
- 101. "Blueberries for ___" (children's book by Robert McCloskey)3 letters, starts with SSAL
- 102. Trounce in competition4 letters, starts with MMAUL
- 104. Feudal lord or vassal5 letters, starts with LLIEGE
- 105. Work on a Studio Ghibli film, say7 letters, starts with AANIMATE
- 110. Reason for cramming4 letters, starts with EEXAM
- 113. Goblin ___ (unapologetically self-indulgent behavior)4 letters, starts with MMODE
- 115. Newspaper company's openings?5 letters, starts with LLEDES
- 117. Hullabaloos5 letters, starts with TTODOS
- 118. Unpleasant things one accepts because the alternatives are worse12 letters, starts with NNECESSARYEVILS
- 121. Hotel room amenities that would aptly contain this puzzle's seven pint-size words?8 letters, starts with MMINIBARS
- 123. Remarks about a guest speaker, say5 letters, starts with IINTRO
- 124. Yarn coloration identification6 letters, starts with DDYELOT
- 125. Fateful day in "Julius Caesar"4 letters, starts with IIDES
- 126. TV ad on emergency preparedness, say3 letters, starts with PPSA
- 127. Aster family flower5 letters, starts with DDAISY
- 128. Moves merchandise5 letters, starts with SSELLS
- 129. Group on a play date?4 letters, starts with TTEAM
- 130. Christmas list listing3 letters, starts with TTOY
Down
- 1. Long-necked pears5 letters, starts with BBOSCS
- 2. "I'll ___ it"5 letters, starts with AALLOW
- 3. Company with a leaping stag on its logo5 letters, starts with DDEERE
- 4. Swift, e.g.7 letters, starts with PPOPSTAR
- 5. Mon ___ (my friend, in France)3 letters, starts with AAMI
- 6. Blues Hall of Fame state9 letters, starts with TTENNESSEE
- 7. Machine under a hood4 letters, starts with EENGINE
- 8. Pulitzer Prize winner's piece, perhaps6 letters, starts with EEXPOSE
- 9. Grabbed a bite3 letters, starts with AATE
- 10. Like a certain method of questioning8 letters, starts with SSOCRATIC
- 11. Medalists in an individual track event, e.g.4 letters, starts with TTRIO
- 12. Least fresh, as bagels5 letters, starts with SSTALEST
- 13. "Man, that's rough"3 letters, starts with OOOF
- 14. Compete like a luchador7 letters, starts with WWRESTLE
- 15. Sneaker cord4 letters, starts with LLACE
- 16. "Fire" singer James4 letters, starts with EETTA
- 17. "Is this thing on?"4 letters, starts with TTEST
- 20. Compounds in perfumes6 letters, starts with EESTERS
- 23. ___ out (barely earn)3 letters, starts with EEKE
- 25. Consulting charges4 letters, starts with FFEES
- 28. Took a crack at9 letters, starts with AATTEMPTED
- 32. "No doubt about that"4 letters, starts with IIBET
- 34. Goals for goalies5 letters, starts with SSAVES
- 36. The planet Neptune, to the god Neptune5 letters, starts with NNAMESAKE
- 39. Sites of Cuban steps?10 letters, starts with SSALSACLUBS
- 41. Staring in awe5 letters, starts with AAGAPE
- 42. Expert5 letters, starts with MMAVEN
- 43. Nonreactive, in a lab5 letters, starts with IINERT
- 44. Chair-in-the-air dance4 letters, starts with HHORA
- 45. Complimentary compositions4 letters, starts with OODES
- 46. Grazing grounds4 letters, starts with MMEADOWS
- 47. "An American Tragedy" novelist Theodore7 letters, starts with DDREISER
- 48. Topper on some chicken dishes in American Chinese cuisine10 letters, starts with SSESAMESEED
- 50. "Swing Shift" Oscar nominee Christine5 letters, starts with LLAHTI
- 54. Lounging room, often3 letters, starts with DDEN
- 55. Start things over5 letters, starts with RRESET
- 58. Internet hookup inits.3 letters, starts with DDSL
- 60. "___ be an honor!"3 letters, starts with IITD
- 62. "Mi Tierra" singer7 letters, starts with EESTEFAN
- 64. "Never Rarely Sometimes Always" actress Ryder5 letters, starts with TTALIA
- 66. Satisfy the demand9 letters, starts with FFILLANEED
- 69. Exploits as much as possible, as a joke5 letters, starts with MMILKS
- 70. Chana ___ (dish with chickpeas)3 letters, starts with DDAL
- 71. "Catch my drift?"3 letters, starts with SSEE
- 72. Avoid, as detection5 letters, starts with EEVADE
- 73. Divided like a freeway5 letters, starts with LLANED
- 74. Wearing5 letters, starts with SSPORTING
- 76. Like a good diversion3 letters, starts with FFUN
- 78. Not be fully straight up4 letters, starts with TTILT
- 79. Island in the "Able was I ..." palindrome4 letters, starts with EELBA
- 80. "It's been ___"4 letters, starts with RREAL
- 82. Venue for gladiators5 letters, starts with AARENA
- 83. Kid lit character with superhuman strength5 letters, starts with PPIPPI
- 84. Shelves9 letters, starts with PPUTSASIDE
- 88. What Denver is one mile above8 letters, starts with SSEALEVEL
- 90. He was erroneously announced as defeated in 19484 letters, starts with TTRUMAN
- 93. Cooks just below the boiling point7 letters, starts with SSIMMERS
- 95. Consume6 letters, starts with IINGEST
- 96. Plutocrat's disdain for the 99 percent7 letters, starts with EELITISM
- 98. What flossing benefits4 letters, starts with GGUMS
- 100. Words exchanged at icebreakers6 letters, starts with HHELLOS
- 103. Laundromat batches5 letters, starts with LLOADS
- 106. Unruly throng3 letters, starts with MMOB
- 107. Adjust to change5 letters, starts with AADAPT
- 108. Section of a museum?5 letters, starts with TTORSO
- 109. Piece of nonfiction5 letters, starts with EESSAY
- 110. City west of Tulsa4 letters, starts with EENID
- 111. Archrival of Callisto on a 1990s TV show4 letters, starts with XXENA
- 112. Half of "Chicago"4 letters, starts with AACTI
- 114. It's said that there is not a single one of these "in the house" during a sad movie4 letters, starts with DDRYEYE
- 116. Release, as photons4 letters, starts with EEMIT
- 119. Tofu base3 letters, starts with SSOY
- 120. Feeling lousy3 letters, starts with IILL
- 122. Labor org. literally found in Juneau3 letters, starts with NNEA
Fresh clues from recent puzzles
Questions
What is the answer to “Unpleasant things one accepts because the alternatives are worse”?
NECESSARYEVILS, 12 letters.
When was “Unpleasant things one accepts because the alternatives are worse” last seen in a crossword?
In the Washington Post Sunday crossword of September 14, 2025.
How many letters does the answer have?
12 letters, starting with N.