Crossword Clue: Capital of the Maldives
Here's the answer to the Capital of the Maldives crossword clue, with an explanation and where it has appeared.
Definition & answer: MALE
MALE solves the clue "Capital of the Maldives". Spanning 4 letters (2 vowels, 2 consonants), it begins at M and ends at E. Like most crossword fill, it lives at the intersection of two words, so a single confirmed crossing letter frequently reveals the whole entry.
Origin & meaning
Male is one of the most densely populated cities in the world, packed onto a tiny island. The entire capital is only a couple of square miles in area. It sits barely above sea level, making it vulnerable to rising oceans.
Common usage
Male turns up often in crosswords because of that letter mix. Words like MALE interlock cleanly with longer entries, so constructors reach for them to make a grid fit together without awkward clashes. Given a 4-square slot and a crossing letter or two, it's usually quick to confirm.
Crossword trivia
At 4 letters, MALE shows up in daily mini and themed puzzles far more than longer, obscure words. It's the kind of entry worth memorizing — the more common short words you know cold, the faster you solve.
Stuck on this clue?
If this clue won't come, leave it and fill the answers that cross it. Once a couple of MALE's letters are locked by neighboring words, the entry tends to reveal itself. Crossings beat staring at a clue every time.
This clue in different puzzles
Setters vary how they clue MALE — sometimes with a straight dictionary definition, sometimes with wordplay, a pun, or a fill-in-the-blank — but the answer itself stays the same. Learning to spot the answer behind the disguise is a core crossword skill.
Example sentences
- "Seeing 'Capital of the Maldives' in the clue list, an experienced solver pencils in MALE almost immediately."
- "Once the M was confirmed by the crossing word, MALE was the only entry that fit."
- "A 4-letter slot and a clue like 'Capital of the Maldives'? That's MALE nine times out of ten."