Clue: It's soft, strong, and demonstrated by this puzzle's four theme answers

Answer: BEARHUG

Length: 7

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Similar Clues:

• Choice words swapped in this puzzle's theme answers (ANDOR with 5 letters)
• ___ to school . . . or a hint to the puzzle theme suggested by the ends of five answers (BACK with 4 letters)
• Postseason gridiron game, and a hint to the puzzle theme found in starred answers (BOWL with 4 letters)
• Where one might see the sounds embedded in this puzzle's theme answers (COMICS with 6 letters)
• "The wart stops here" product, and a hint to the theme found in eight puzzle answers (COMPOUNDW with 9 letters)
• Structure of this puzzle's theme, hidden in five answers (DOUBLEHELIX with 11 letters)
• Surplus integral to this puzzle's theme answers (EXCESS with 6 letters)
• Number of times this puzzle's theme word appears diagonally in the grid (to complete the puzzle, shade those words plus the Down answers that begin where they meet) (FOUR with 4 letters)
• They swing up and down in this puzzle's theme answers (POLLS with 5 letters)
• Attendance check, and a hint to the puzzle theme in the first words of the starred answers (ROLLCALL with 8 letters)