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 (37 clues)
- Across Clues - Detailed Hints
- Down Clues Table (41 clues)
- Down Clues - Detailed Hints
- Expert Solving Strategies
- Today's Puzzle Statistics
Today's Puzzle Difficulty: Moderate
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. Project for a beginning knitter | 5 |
2A | 6. Petri dish medium | 4 |
3A | 10. Niecy ___ of "Clean House" | 4 |
4A | 14. Exposed, as one's dirty laundry | 5 |
5A | 15. Protein in a niçoise salad | 4 |
6A | 16. Guthrie who sang "Alice's Restaurant" | 4 |
7A | 17. Neutral shade in some Florida décor? | 10 |
8A | 19. One getting top billing | 4 |
9A | 20. Just OK | 4 |
10A | 21. Break in the action | 4 |
11A | 22. Censures | 5 |
12A | 23. Lighthearted invitation for joining one's sled team? | 12 |
13A | 26. [Is this thing on?] | 6 |
14A | 29. Fish feared by dragons in "How to Train Your Dragon" | 4 |
15A | 30. Cry of defeat | 5 |
16A | 31. Chess piece that can be promoted | 4 |
17A | 34. Creature of Sherpa folklore | 4 |
18A | 37. Chop (off) | 3 |
19A | 38. Fancify … or a phonetic hint to 17-, 23-, 50- and 62-Across | 7 |
20A | 41. Stalling sounds | 3 |
21A | 42. Tolkien trilogy, to fans | 4 |
22A | 44. Word after latch or glom | 4 |
23A | 45. "Death of a Salesman" salesman | 5 |
24A | 47. A half-filled auditorium, per Robert Frost | 4 |
25A | 49. Puts the pedal to the metal | 6 |
26A | 50. Headline during a zombie attack? | 12 |
27A | 55. Pair of cymbals with a foot pedal | 5 |
28A | 56. Gain | 4 |
29A | 57. World's most-watched television franchise, informally | 4 |
30A | 61. School within both Princeton and Carleton? | 4 |
31A | 62. Price of makeup at the dollar store, informally? | 10 |
32A | 64. No longer applicable | 4 |
33A | 65. Feel sore | 4 |
34A | 66. Console for the game Pitfall! | 5 |
35A | 67. Partner of odds | 4 |
36A | 68. Rhyming word after speed | 4 |
37A | 69. Loses color | 5 |
Across Clues - Strategic Hints
1A: "1. Project for a beginning knitter"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a garment worn around the head or neck or shoulders for warmth or decoration
- Similar words include: scarf joint
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
2A: "6. Petri dish medium"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that any culture medium that uses agar as the gelling agent
- Similar words include: nutrient agar, agar-agar
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
3A: "10. Niecy ___ of "Clean House""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that united states writer noted for his droll epigrams (1902-1971)
- Similar words include: Ogden Nash
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
4A: "14. Exposed, as one's dirty laundry"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that expose to fresh air
- Similar words include: ventilate, transmit, publicise
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
5A: "15. Protein in a niçoise salad"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that tropical american prickly pear of jamaica
- Similar words include: Opuntia tuna, tuna fish, Anguilla sucklandii
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
6A: "16. Guthrie who sang "Alice's Restaurant""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
7A: "17. Neutral shade in some Florida décor?"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
8A: "19. One getting top billing"
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: genius, stellar, starring
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
9A: "20. Just OK"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
10A: "21. Break in the action"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a pause during which things are calm or activities are diminished
- Similar words include: letup, tranquillize, calm down
- Opposite of: agitate
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
11A: "22. Censures"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that something of little value
- Similar words include: shit, hoot, beshrew
- Opposite of: bless
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
12A: "23. Lighthearted invitation for joining one's sled team?"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
13A: "26. [Is this thing on?]"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
14A: "29. Fish feared by dragons in "How to Train Your Dragon""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the fatty flesh of eel; an elongate fish found in fresh water in europe and america; large eels are usually smoked or pickled
- Similar words include: eel
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
15A: "30. Cry of defeat"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
16A: "31. Chess piece that can be promoted"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an article deposited as security
- Similar words include: cat's-paw, hock, instrument
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
17A: "34. Creature of Sherpa folklore"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a large hairy humanoid creature said to live in the himalayas
- Similar words include: abominable snowman
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
18A: "37. Chop (off)"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that cut off from a whole
- Similar words include: trim, discerp, clip
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
19A: "38. Fancify … or a phonetic hint to 17-, 23-, 50- and 62-Across"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
20A: "41. Stalling sounds"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
21A: "42. Tolkien trilogy, to fans"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
22A: "44. Word after latch or glom"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
23A: "45. "Death of a Salesman" salesman"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
24A: "47. A half-filled auditorium, per Robert Frost"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that any place of pain and turmoil
- Similar words include: Inferno, hellhole, pit
- Opposite of: Heaven
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
25A: "49. Puts the pedal to the metal"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
26A: "50. Headline during a zombie attack?"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
27A: "55. Pair of cymbals with a foot pedal"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
28A: "56. Gain"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that earn on some commercial or business transaction; earn as salary or wages
- Similar words include: realise, gain, garner
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
29A: "57. World's most-watched television franchise, informally"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a material effigy that is worshipped
- Similar words include: matinee idol, graven image, god
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
30A: "61. School within both Princeton and Carleton?"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
31A: "62. Price of makeup at the dollar store, informally?"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
32A: "64. No longer applicable"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a hypothetical case that law students argue as an exercise
- Similar words include: debatable, debate, deliberate
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
33A: "65. Feel sore"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a dull persistent (usually moderately intense) pain
- Similar words include: smart, suffer, yen
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
34A: "66. Console for the game Pitfall!"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
35A: "67. Partner of odds"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that either extremity of something that has length
- Similar words include: death, destruction, remnant
- Opposite of: beginning, begin
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
36A: "68. Rhyming word after speed"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that something that is read
- Similar words include: say, take, learn
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
37A: "69. Loses color"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a wooden strip forming part of a fence
- Similar words include: pale, blanch, chum up
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
Down Clues - Complete List
No. | Clue | Letters |
---|---|---|
1D | 1. Exams that are often optional | 4 |
2D | 2. Florence farewell | 4 |
3D | 3. Munitions | 4 |
4D | 4. Spreads on social media | 7 |
5D | 5. Cosmetics-regulating org. | 3 |
6D | 6. Couldn't get enough of | 5 |
7D | 7. Reason for a tucked tail, perhaps | 5 |
8D | 8. ___-Saxon | 5 |
9D | 9. Issa of "Insecure" | 3 |
10D | 10. How a Dylan impersonator might sing | 7 |
11D | 11. Tate Modern and others | 10 |
12D | 12. "That slaps," for something good, e.g. | 5 |
13D | 13. One might be mounted | 5 |
14D | 18. Tiny deviation from a general trend | 4 |
15D | 22. Product from Rit | 3 |
16D | 24. New York City deli name | 4 |
17D | 25. It might be fixed at a chef's table | 4 |
18D | 26. Cashier's tray | 4 |
19D | 27. ___ gobi (potato curry) | 4 |
20D | 28. Prepare to do an oil change, say | 10 |
21D | 31. "The shoddy sandwich knife couldn't cut the mustard," e.g. | 3 |
22D | 32. Early H.I.V. med | 3 |
23D | 33. "___ knows?" | 3 |
24D | 35. Phuket native | 4 |
25D | 36. "___ she lovely?" (Stevie Wonder question) | 4 |
26D | 39. Greeting that becomes another greeting if you add an A at the front and reverse it | 4 |
27D | 40. Promote | 4 |
28D | 43. Stinging insects | 7 |
29D | 46. The least amount a person might give | 7 |
30D | 48. Tennis umpire's call | 3 |
31D | 49. Rowlands of "A Woman Under the Influence" | 4 |
32D | 50. Subject | 5 |
33D | 51. Discover by chance | 5 |
34D | 52. Two in a hand | 5 |
35D | 53. ___ Baron Cohen, "The Trial of the Chicago 7" actor | 5 |
36D | 54. Ticked off | 5 |
37D | 58. Twofold | 4 |
38D | 59. Fairy tale baddie | 4 |
39D | 60. Some island rings | 4 |
40D | 62. Setting for many a joke with a priest, a pastor and a rabbi | 3 |
41D | 63. Sharp knock | 3 |
Down Clues - Strategic Hints
1D: "1. Exams that are often optional"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the sabbath by jews and some christians
- Similar words include: Saturday, Sabbatum, Sat
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
2D: "2. Florence farewell"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an acknowledgment that can be used to say hello or goodbye (aloha is hawaiian and ciao is italian)
- Similar words include: aloha
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
3D: "3. Munitions"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that weapons considered collectively
- Similar words include: blazon, branch, munition
- Opposite of: disarm
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
4D: "4. Spreads on social media"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
5D: "5. Cosmetics-regulating org."
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a federal agency in the department of health and human services established to regulate the release of new foods and health-related products
- Similar words include: Food and Drug Administration
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
6D: "6. Couldn't get enough of"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
7D: "7. Reason for a tucked tail, perhaps"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the state of having committed an offense
- Similar words include: guilt trip, guilty conscience, guilt feelings
- Opposite of: innocence
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
8D: "8. ___-Saxon"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
9D: "9. Issa of "Insecure""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
10D: "10. How a Dylan impersonator might sing"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that in a nasal manner
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
11D: "11. Tate Modern and others"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
12D: "12. "That slaps," for something good, e.g."
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that informal language consisting of words and expressions that are not considered appropriate for formal occasions; often vituperative or vulgar
- Similar words include: vernacular, cod, slang term
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
13D: "13. One might be mounted"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
- Similar words include: horse cavalry, knight, gymnastic horse
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
14D: "18. Tiny deviation from a general trend"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a sudden minor shock or meaningless interruption
- Similar words include: radar target, pip
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
15D: "22. Product from Rit"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a usually soluble substance for staining or coloring e.g. fabrics or hair
- Similar words include: dyestuff
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
16D: "24. New York City deli name"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
17D: "25. It might be fixed at a chef's table"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a list of dishes available at a restaurant
- Similar words include: fare, card, carte
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
18D: "26. Cashier's tray"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that unstratified soil deposited by a glacier; consists of sand and clay and gravel and boulders mixed together
- Similar words include: cashbox, trough, money box
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
19D: "27. ___ gobi (potato curry)"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
20D: "28. Prepare to do an oil change, say"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
21D: "31. "The shoddy sandwich knife couldn't cut the mustard," e.g."
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a humorous play on words
- Similar words include: punning, wordplay, paronomasia
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
22D: "32. Early H.I.V. med"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an antiviral drug (trade name retrovir) used in the treatment of aids; adverse side effects include liver damage and suppression of the bone marrow
- Similar words include: zidovudine, ZDV, Retrovir
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
23D: "33. "___ knows?""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a united nations agency to coordinate international health activities and to help governments improve health services
- Similar words include: World Health Organization
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
24D: "35. Phuket native"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a native or inhabitant of thailand
- Similar words include: Central Thai, Tai, Siamese
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
25D: "36. "___ she lovely?" (Stevie Wonder question)"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
26D: "39. Greeting that becomes another greeting if you add an A at the front and reverse it"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
27D: "40. Promote"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that blockage consisting of an object designed to fill a hole tightly
- Similar words include: punch, sparking plug, secure
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
28D: "43. Stinging insects"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
29D: "46. The least amount a person might give"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
30D: "48. Tennis umpire's call"
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: net ball, allow, get
- Opposite of: disallow, forbid
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
31D: "49. Rowlands of "A Woman Under the Influence""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
32D: "50. Subject"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the subject matter of a conversation or discussion
- Similar words include: subject, idea, composition
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
33D: "51. Discover by chance"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
34D: "52. Two in a hand"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a tie in tennis or table tennis that requires winning two successive points to win the game
- Similar words include: II, devil, dickens
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
35D: "53. ___ Baron Cohen, "The Trial of the Chicago 7" actor"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
36D: "54. Ticked off"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that irritate or vex
- Similar words include: gall, irk
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
37D: "58. Twofold"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that consisting of or involving two parts or components usually in pairs
- Similar words include: treble, threefold, twofold
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
38D: "59. Fairy tale baddie"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a cruel wicked and inhuman person
- Similar words include: fiend, demon, devil
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
39D: "60. Some island rings"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that flower arrangement consisting of a circular band of foliage or flowers for ornamental purposes
- Similar words include: lei, garland, chaplet
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
40D: "62. Setting for many a joke with a priest, a pastor and a rabbi"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a room or establishment where alcoholic drinks are served over a counter
- Similar words include: measure, stripe, Browning automatic rifle
- Opposite of: unbar
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
41D: "63. Sharp knock"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a reproach for some lapse or misdeed
- Similar words include: belt, hip-hop, knock
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
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
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