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Sunday, August 17, 2025

NYT Crossword - January 02, 1990 | XWordHint

Master the NYT crossword from January 02, 1990 with our expert hint system. We provide synonyms, antonyms, and strategic clues to help you solve without spoiling the fun.

Puzzle Difficulty: Medium

Pro Tip: Start with the fill-in-the-blank clues - they're usually the easiest entry points!

Across Clues - Strategic Hints (35 clues)

1A: "1. Lend a hand"

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the activity of contributing to the fulfillment of a need or furtherance of an effort or purpose
  • Similar words include: serve, supporter, facilitate
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: HELP

2A: "5. Dear soul"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that young sheep
  • Similar words include: Elia, Charles Lamb, dear
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: LAMB

3A: "9. Mom's order re eating"

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a wad of something chewable as tobacco
  • Similar words include: chewing, plug, cud
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: CHEW

4A: "13. A k a"

5 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a name that has been assumed temporarily
  • Similar words include: false name, assumed name, also known as
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: ALIAS

5A: "15. Big name in essay writing"

4 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that english essayist (1775-1834)
  • Similar words include: Charles Lamb, Lamb
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: ELIA

6A: "16. Singing syllables"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: LALA

7A: "17. Weather prediction in Aug."

15 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _______________
Click to reveal answer
Answer: HAZYHOTANDHUMID

8A: "20. Doctors' org."

3 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer
Answer: AMA

9A: "21. Licorice flavoring"

5 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that native to egypt but cultivated widely for its aromatic seeds and the oil from them used medicinally and as a flavoring in cookery
  • Similar words include: anise plant, Pimpinella anisum, aniseed
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: ANISE

10A: "22. Tear a passion to tatters"

5 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that give expression or emotion to, in a stage or movie role
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: EMOTE

11A: "23. Hide"

4 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a natural protective body covering and site of the sense of touch
  • Similar words include: scramble, pare, tegument
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: SKIN

12A: "24. TV judge"

6 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer
Answer: WAPNER

13A: "25. "Rodeo," for one"

6 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a theatrical representation of a story that is performed to music by trained dancers
  • Similar words include: concert dance
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer
Answer: BALLET

14A: "28. Noah Webster's forte"

5 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the words that are spoken
  • Similar words include: language, actor's line, discussion
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: WORDS

15A: "30. Cross as ___"

5 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: ABEAR

16A: "31. As, to some admen"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a similar kind; ,
  • Similar words include: alike, same, care
  • Opposite of: unlike, unalike
Click to reveal answer
Answer: LIKE

17A: "32. Scot's negative"

3 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer
Answer: NAE

18A: "35. Vacillates"

15 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _______________
Click to reveal answer
Answer: BLOWSHOTANDCOLD

19A: "39. Hankering"

3 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a yearning for something or to do something
  • Similar words include: pine, languish, ache
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer
Answer: YEN

20A: "40. Chichi"

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that showily imitative of art or artists
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: ARTY

21A: "41. Grant Wood, e.g."

5 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a native or resident of iowa
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: IOWAN

22A: "42. Ostentatiously colorful"

5 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that (britain) a celebratory reunion feast or entertainment held a college
  • Similar words include: garish, gimcrack, tacky
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: GAUDY

23A: "44. Thin layer, as of plastic"

6 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a thin plate or layer (especially of bone or mineral)
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer
Answer: LAMINA

24A: "45. Happened to"

6 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that become of; happen to
  • Similar words include: betide, befall, bechance
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer
Answer: BEFELL

25A: "48. Phrase re some fast foods"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a republic on the western coast of africa on the gulf of guinea; formerly under french control
  • Similar words include: Togolese Republic
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: TOGO

26A: "49. Solo"

5 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that isolated from others
  • Similar words include: entirely, solely, unequaled
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: ALONE

27A: "50. Asparagus unit"

5 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a long pointed rod used as a tool or weapon
  • Similar words include: gig, lance, shaft
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: SPEAR

28A: "52. "Exodus" hero"

3 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer
Answer: ARI

29A: "55. Weather term in winter"

15 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _______________
Click to reveal answer
Answer: WINDCHILLFACTOR

30A: "58. Ore deposit"

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a deposit of valuable ore occurring within definite boundaries separating it from surrounding rocks
  • Similar words include: load
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: LODE

31A: "59. Gen. Rob't ___"

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: ELEE

32A: "60. Dough; cabbage"

5 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: MOOLA

33A: "61. Celebrity"

4 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that (astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior
  • Similar words include: leading, sensation, starring
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: STAR

34A: "62. Linen source"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that fiber of the flax plant that is made into thread and woven into linen fabric
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: FLAX

35A: "63. J. Edgar's group"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: GMEN

Down Clues - Strategic Hints (43 clues)

1D: "1. Guffaw, guffaw!"

4 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: HAHA

2D: "2. Jack of TV's "The Dakotas""

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an ancient country in southwestern asia to the east of the tigris river (in what is modern iran); was known for its warlike people
  • Similar words include: Susiana
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: ELAM

3D: "3. One of Judy's girls"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that similar to the striped mullet and takes its place in the caribbean region
  • Similar words include: Mugil liza
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: LIZA

4D: "4. Be worthwhile"

3 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that something that remunerates
  • Similar words include: yield, compensate, earnings
  • Opposite of: default
Click to reveal answer
Answer: PAY

5D: "5. Admit"

5 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: LETIN

6D: "6. "Oh, woe!""

4 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a flat wing-shaped process or winglike part of an organism
  • Similar words include: ala, unluckily, unfortunately
  • Opposite of: luckily, fortunately
Click to reveal answer
Answer: ALAS

7D: "7. Golconda"

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that excavation in the earth from which ores and minerals are extracted
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: MINE

8D: "8. Terrible"

3 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that that which is below standard or expectations as of ethics or decency
  • Similar words include: high-risk, tough, unfit
  • Opposite of: unregretful, goodness
Click to reveal answer
Answer: BAD

9D: "9. Small groups"

6 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a grouping of a number of similar things
  • Similar words include: clop, bunch up, constellate
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer
Answer: CLUMPS

10D: "10. ___ rye (deli offering)"

5 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: HAMON

11D: "11. Upper crust"

5 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a group or class of persons enjoying superior intellectual or social or economic status
  • Similar words include: elite group, elect
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: ELITE

12D: "12. Heron, for one"

5 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that any of many long-legged birds that wade in water in search of food
  • Similar words include: wading bird
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: WADER

13D: "14. Millennial Church members"

7 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a celibate and communistic christian sect in the united states
  • Similar words include: Shaker, United Society of Believers in Christ's Second Appearing, mover and shaker
  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer
Answer: SHAKERS

14D: "18. "Step ___!""

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: ONIT

15D: "19. Director"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
  • Similar words include: caput, straits, pass
  • Opposite of: rear, foot
Click to reveal answer
Answer: HEAD

16D: "23. Picnic salad"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that basically shredded cabbage
  • Similar words include: coleslaw
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: SLAW

17D: "24. Songbird"

4 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that english architect who designed more than fifty london churches (1632-1723)
  • Similar words include: jenny wren, Sir Christopher Wren
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: WREN

18D: "25. Pamper"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a very young child (birth to 1 year) who has not yet begun to walk or talk
  • Similar words include: mollycoddle, infant, cocker
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: BABY

19D: "26. Competent"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that (usually followed by `to') having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
  • Similar words include: capable, able-bodied
  • Opposite of: unable
Click to reveal answer
Answer: ABLE

20D: "27. A Spinks"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a historical area and former kingdom in northwestern spain
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: LEON

21D: "28. Clever"

5 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that combining clever conception and facetious expression
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: WITTY

22D: "29. All right"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an endorsement
  • Similar words include: all right, sanction, fine
  • Opposite of: disapprove
Click to reveal answer
Answer: OKAY

23D: "31. Nobleman's title"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that terms referring to the judeo-christian god
  • Similar words include: God Almighty, master, nobleman
  • Opposite of: Lady, noblewoman
Click to reveal answer
Answer: LORD

24D: "32. "___ lay me down ... ""

4 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: NOWI

25D: "33. Bates or King"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: ALAN

26D: "34. Writer Ferber"

4 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: EDNA

27D: "36. Transport by wagon"

4 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the act of drawing or hauling something
  • Similar words include: draw, haulage, cart
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: HAUL

28D: "37. Illustrative sketch"

7 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a drawing intended to explain how something works; a drawing showing the relation between the parts
  • Similar words include: plot
  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer
Answer: DIAGRAM

29D: "38. Singer Perry"

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: COMO

30D: "42. Neuter is one"

6 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a grammatical category in inflected languages governing the agreement between nouns and pronouns and adjectives; in some languages it is quite arbitrary but in indo-european languages it is usually based on sex or animateness
  • Similar words include: sexuality, sex, grammatical gender
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer
Answer: GENDER

31D: "43. Composer Wilder"

4 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: ALEC

32D: "44. Lallygag"

4 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a shaped mass of baked bread that is usually sliced before eating
  • Similar words include: footle, lounge about, lounge
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: LOAF

33D: "45. Cries lustily"

5 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that shout loudly and without restraint
  • Similar words include: yawp, bawl, bellow
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: BAWLS

34D: "46. Prufrock's creator"

5 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that british poet (born in the united states) who won the nobel prize for literature; his plays are outstanding examples of modern verse drama (1888-1965)
  • Similar words include: T. S. Eliot, Mary Ann Evans, George Eliot
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: ELIOT

35D: "47. Filmdom family name"

5 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that united states film actress and daughter of henry fonda (born in 1937)
  • Similar words include: Henry Fonda, Jane Fonda
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: FONDA

36D: "48. Kind of dialed message"

5 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a character printer connected to a telegraph that operates like a typewriter
  • Similar words include: teletype machine, teletypewriter, teleprinter
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: TELEX

37D: "50. Spot for indoor cats"

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that structural member consisting of a continuous horizontal timber forming the lowest member of a framework or supporting structure
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: SILL

38D: "51. Entreaty"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a humble request for help from someone in authority
  • Similar words include: supplication
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: PLEA

39D: "52. Minute particle"

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that (physics and chemistry) the smallest component of an element having the chemical properties of the element
  • Similar words include: corpuscle, speck, mote
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: ATOM

40D: "53. Part"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the actions and activities assigned to or required or expected of a person or group
  • Similar words include: use, part, character
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: ROLE

41D: "54. Bani-Sadr's homeland"

4 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a theocratic islamic republic in the middle east in western asia; iran was the core of the ancient empire that was known as persia until 1935; rich in oil
  • Similar words include: Islamic Republic of Iran, Persia
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: IRAN

42D: "56. A famous Hugh, for short"

3 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer
Answer: HEF

43D: "57. Gear tooth"

3 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a subordinate who performs an important but routine function
  • Similar words include: sprocket
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer
Answer: COG

Puzzle Stats

35 Across
43 Down
78 Total

Disclaimer: Crossword clues © The New York Times. Educational content for puzzle enthusiasts.

Processed: August 17, 2025 at 11:31 AM

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