Master today's NYT crossword with our expert hint system. We provide synonyms, antonyms, and strategic clues to help you solve without spoiling the fun. Perfect for crossword lovers who want that satisfying "aha!" moment.
Quick Navigation - Table of Contents
- Today's Puzzle Difficulty
- Across Clues Table (35 clues)
- Across Clues - Detailed Hints
- Down Clues Table (35 clues)
- Down Clues - Detailed Hints
- Expert Solving Strategies
- Today's Puzzle Statistics
Today's Puzzle Difficulty: Medium
Pro Tip: Start with the fill-in-the-blank clues - they're usually the easiest entry points!
Across Clues - Complete List
| No. | Clue | Letters |
|---|---|---|
| 1A | 1. Title typically abbreviated to its first and last letters | 5 |
| 2A | 6. Storied stargazers | 4 |
| 3A | 10. Another name for ESPN8, with "the" | 4 |
| 4A | 14. ___ Perry, award-winning author of 2022's "South to America" | 5 |
| 5A | 15. ___ the Holy, canonized Norwegian king | 4 |
| 6A | 16. Way out, say | 4 |
| 7A | 17. Little dippers? | 10 |
| 8A | 19. Targets for bark beetles | 4 |
| 9A | 20. A&W or L&M | 9 |
| 10A | 21. Botanical joint | 4 |
| 11A | 22. Jerk | 3 |
| 12A | 23. Cell service inits. | 3 |
| 13A | 24. Neighbor of Baja California | 6 |
| 14A | 26. "Funny how that works" | 3 |
| 15A | 27. Heat setting, perhaps | 4 |
| 16A | 29. "The Santa Clause" or "Legally Blonde" | 3 |
| 17A | 30. Wind up in ruin | 13 |
| 18A | 33. Classic warning to a knight | 13 |
| 19A | 34. Kick-starter program? | 13 |
| 20A | 35. "To All the Boys ___ Loved Before" (best-selling young adult novel) | 3 |
| 21A | 36. Campus building | 4 |
| 22A | 37. "Big" digit | 3 |
| 23A | 38. Not say something in jest | 6 |
| 24A | 40. "Toy Story" bully | 3 |
| 25A | 41. ___ tov (Jewish holiday) | 3 |
| 26A | 44. "I'm afraid ..." | 4 |
| 27A | 45. Noted resident of "Little Lhasa" in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh | 9 |
| 28A | 48. Library catalog ID | 4 |
| 29A | 49. What dilapidated buildings and rampant graffiti may be a sign of | 10 |
| 30A | 50. Director Johnson | 4 |
| 31A | 51. Veteran of the seas | 4 |
| 32A | 52. Prefix with musicology or linguistics | 5 |
| 33A | 53. Moving well over 60, perhaps? | 4 |
| 34A | 54. Leaves speechless | 4 |
| 35A | 55. Moving | 5 |
Across Clues - Strategic Hints
1A: "1. Title typically abbreviated to its first and last letters"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a spanish title or form of address for a man; similar to the english `mr' or `sir'
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SENOR
Remember this word for future puzzles!
2A: "6. Storied stargazers"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that (new testament) the sages who visited jesus and mary and joseph shortly after jesus was born; the gospel according to matthew says they were guided by a star and brought gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh; because there were three gifts it is usually assumed that there were three of them
- Similar words include: Wise Men, magus
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MAGI
Remember this word for future puzzles!
3A: "10. Another name for ESPN8, with "the""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OCHO
Remember this word for future puzzles!
4A: "14. ___ Perry, award-winning author of 2022's "South to America""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: IMANI
Remember this word for future puzzles!
5A: "15. ___ the Holy, canonized Norwegian king"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OLAF
Remember this word for future puzzles!
6A: "16. Way out, say"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
- Similar words include: threshold, room access, doorway
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DOOR
Remember this word for future puzzles!
7A: "17. Little dippers?"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MINIDONUTS
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8A: "19. Targets for bark beetles"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that any of various trees of the genus ulmus: important timber or shade trees
- Similar words include: elm, elm tree, elmwood
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ELMS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
9A: "20. A&W or L&M"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BRANDNAME
Remember this word for future puzzles!
10A: "21. Botanical joint"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a connecting point at which several lines come together
- Similar words include: lymph node, lymph gland, leaf node
- Opposite of: antinode
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NODE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
11A: "22. Jerk"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the fleshy part of the human body that you sit on
- Similar words include: bottom, rear end, American Samoa
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ASS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
12A: "23. Cell service inits."
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LTE
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13A: "24. Neighbor of Baja California"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that ground snakes
- Similar words include: genus Sonora
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SONORA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
14A: "26. "Funny how that works""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HEH
Remember this word for future puzzles!
15A: "27. Heat setting, perhaps"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a meeting at which a number of athletic contests are held
- Similar words include: satisfy, fulfil, gather
- Opposite of: diverge
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MEET
Remember this word for future puzzles!
16A: "29. "The Santa Clause" or "Legally Blonde""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a humorous play on words
- Similar words include: wordplay, punning, paronomasia
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PUN
Remember this word for future puzzles!
17A: "30. Wind up in ruin"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: COMETOABADEND
Remember this word for future puzzles!
18A: "33. Classic warning to a knight"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HEREBEDRAGONS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
19A: "34. Kick-starter program?"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: KARATELESSONS
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20A: "35. "To All the Boys ___ Loved Before" (best-selling young adult novel)"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: IVE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
21A: "36. Campus building"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
- Similar words include: Marguerite Radclyffe Hall, Charles Francis Hall, anteroom
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HALL
Remember this word for future puzzles!
22A: "37. "Big" digit"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that one of the digits of the foot
- Similar words include: toenail
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TOE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
23A: "38. Not say something in jest"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MEANIT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
24A: "40. "Toy Story" bully"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SID
Remember this word for future puzzles!
25A: "41. ___ tov (Jewish holiday)"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: YOM
Remember this word for future puzzles!
26A: "44. "I'm afraid ...""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a flat wing-shaped process or winglike part of an organism
- Similar words include: unluckily, ala, unfortunately
- Opposite of: fortunately, luckily
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ALAS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
27A: "45. Noted resident of "Little Lhasa" in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DALAILAMA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
28A: "48. Library catalog ID"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ISBN
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29A: "49. What dilapidated buildings and rampant graffiti may be a sign of"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: URBANDECAY
Remember this word for future puzzles!
30A: "50. Director Johnson"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RIAN
Remember this word for future puzzles!
31A: "51. Veteran of the seas"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a compound formed by replacing hydrogen in an acid by a metal (or a radical that acts like a metal)
- Similar words include: salinity, common salt, table salt
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SALT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
32A: "52. Prefix with musicology or linguistics"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ETHNO
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33A: "53. Moving well over 60, perhaps?"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that moving quickly and lightly
- Similar words include: quick, nimble, agile
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SPRY
Remember this word for future puzzles!
34A: "54. Leaves speechless"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an overwhelming feeling of wonder or admiration
- Similar words include: veneration, reverence, awe
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AWES
Remember this word for future puzzles!
35A: "55. Moving"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that on the move
- Similar words include: about, up
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ASTIR
Remember this word for future puzzles!
Down Clues - Complete List
| No. | Clue | Letters |
|---|---|---|
| 1D | 1. Swahili for "lion" | 5 |
| 2D | 2. Heads of state in Qatar and Kuwait | 5 |
| 3D | 3. Grams | 5 |
| 4D | 4. "Come ___!" | 4 |
| 5D | 5. Lead-in to a puzzling question | 12 |
| 6D | 6. Janelle of "Hidden Figures" | 5 |
| 7D | 7. '22 or '23 | 4 |
| 8D | 8. Stadium sales | 4 |
| 9D | 9. They may or may not happen | 3 |
| 10D | 10. Classical theater | 5 |
| 11D | 11. Sketches that end with "Live from New York, it's Saturday night!" | 9 |
| 12D | 12. Major successes, so to speak | 8 |
| 13D | 13. Spots for scrubs, for short | 3 |
| 14D | 18. Patrolling a neighborhood | 9 |
| 15D | 21. "I'd avoid that" | 12 |
| 16D | 24. Viola's twin brother in "Twelfth Night" | 9 |
| 17D | 25. "Soooo …?" | 3 |
| 18D | 26. Wedding reception highlight, maybe | 4 |
| 19D | 27. Fashion plate, maybe | 5 |
| 20D | 28. Old-fashioned TV antenna, jocularly | 4 |
| 21D | 30. On-the-go breakfast option | 9 |
| 22D | 31. Giveaway | 4 |
| 23D | 32. ___ deal | 4 |
| 24D | 33. Tasteful invitation? | 8 |
| 25D | 34. Family name of three BTS members | 3 |
| 26D | 39. One tending kids | 5 |
| 27D | 40. Bits of wood paneling | 5 |
| 28D | 41. Vessel with two silent letters | 5 |
| 29D | 42. Like the Mideast's Bahla Fort | 5 |
| 30D | 43. Head to town? | 5 |
| 31D | 45. Capture the attention of | 4 |
| 32D | 46. Free (to) | 4 |
| 33D | 47. "Count me in!" | 4 |
| 34D | 48. Org. concerned with reporting | 3 |
| 35D | 49. Host nation of the 2028 Olympics | 3 |
Down Clues - Strategic Hints
1D: "1. Swahili for "lion""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SIMBA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
2D: "2. Heads of state in Qatar and Kuwait"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an independent ruler or chieftain (especially in africa or arabia)
- Similar words include: amir, emir, emeer
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EMIRS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
3D: "3. Grams"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NANAS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
4D: "4. "Come ___!""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ONIN
Remember this word for future puzzles!
5D: "5. Lead-in to a puzzling question"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RIDDLEMETHIS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
6D: "6. Janelle of "Hidden Figures""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MONAE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
7D: "7. '22 or '23"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a white crystalline double sulfate of aluminum: the ammonium double sulfate of aluminum
- Similar words include: grad, potash alum, ammonia alum
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ALUM
Remember this word for future puzzles!
8D: "8. Stadium sales"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a movable barrier in a fence or wall
- Similar words include: logic gate
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GATE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
9D: "9. They may or may not happen"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: IFS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
10D: "10. Classical theater"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ODEON
Remember this word for future puzzles!
11D: "11. Sketches that end with "Live from New York, it's Saturday night!""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: COLDOPENS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
12D: "12. Major successes, so to speak"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HOMERUNS
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13D: "13. Spots for scrubs, for short"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a state in northwestern united states on the pacific
- Similar words include: operating theatre, surgery, Oregon
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ORS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
14D: "18. Patrolling a neighborhood"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ONTHEBEAT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
15D: "21. "I'd avoid that""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NOTAGOODIDEA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
16D: "24. Viola's twin brother in "Twelfth Night""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SEBASTIAN
Remember this word for future puzzles!
17D: "25. "Soooo …?""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AND
Remember this word for future puzzles!
18D: "26. Wedding reception highlight, maybe"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HORA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
19D: "27. Fashion plate, maybe"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a hypothetical description of a complex entity or process
- Similar words include: sit, pattern, role model
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MODEL
Remember this word for future puzzles!
20D: "28. Old-fashioned TV antenna, jocularly"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
- Similar words include: spike, auricle, ear
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EARS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
21D: "30. On-the-go breakfast option"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CEREALBAR
Remember this word for future puzzles!
22D: "31. Giveaway"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a swiss patriot who lived in the early 14th century and who was renowned for his skill as an archer; according to legend an austrian governor compelled him to shoot an apple from his son's head with his crossbow (which he did successfully without mishap)
- Similar words include: secernate, evidence, recite
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TELL
Remember this word for future puzzles!
23D: "32. ___ deal"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that carry out or perform an action
- Similar words include: exercise, get along, answer
- Opposite of: unmake
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DONE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
24D: "33. Tasteful invitation?"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HAVEASIP
Remember this word for future puzzles!
25D: "34. Family name of three BTS members"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: KIM
Remember this word for future puzzles!
26D: "39. One tending kids"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a woman who is the custodian of children
- Similar words include: nurse, nanny-goat, she-goat
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NANNY
Remember this word for future puzzles!
27D: "40. Bits of wood paneling"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a thin strip (wood or metal)
- Similar words include: spline, slat
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SLATS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
28D: "41. Vessel with two silent letters"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an expensive vessel propelled by sail or power and used for cruising or racing
- Similar words include: racing yacht
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: YACHT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
29D: "42. Like the Mideast's Bahla Fort"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a native or inhabitant of oman
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OMANI
Remember this word for future puzzles!
30D: "43. Head to town?"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the head of a city government
- Similar words include: city manager
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MAYOR
Remember this word for future puzzles!
31D: "45. Capture the attention of"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a gully that is shallower than a ravine
- Similar words include: pull, draw off, disembowel
- Opposite of: push, repel
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DRAW
Remember this word for future puzzles!
32D: "46. Free (to)"
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 (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ABLE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
33D: "47. "Count me in!""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a brutal terrorist group active in kashmir; fights against india with the goal of restoring islamic rule of india
- Similar words include: Lashkar-e-Taiba, Lashkar-e-Toiba, allow
- Opposite of: prevent, disallow
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LETS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
34D: "48. Org. concerned with reporting"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the bureau of the treasury department responsible for tax collections
- Similar words include: Internal Revenue Service
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: IRS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
35D: "49. Host nation of the 2028 Olympics"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that north american republic containing 50 states - 48 conterminous states in north america plus alaska in northwest north america and the hawaiian islands in the pacific ocean; achieved independence in 1776
- Similar words include: United States, US Army, U. S. Army
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: USA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
Expert Solving Strategies
Start Smart
Begin with fill-in-the-blank clues and short 3-4 letter words. These are your foundation.
Decode the Clues
Question marks indicate wordplay or puns. "Maybe" suggests multiple interpretations.
Use Cross-References
Let intersecting letters guide you. One correct answer unlocks several others.
Build Vocabulary
Common crossword words repeat. Learning them speeds up future solving.
Today's Puzzle Stats
35 Across Clues
35 Down Clues
70 Total Clues
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