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 (30 clues)
- Across Clues - Detailed Hints
- Down Clues Table (38 clues)
- Down Clues - Detailed Hints
- Expert Solving Strategies
- Today's Puzzle Statistics
Today's Puzzle Difficulty: Tricky
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. They help you see the big picture | 12 |
| 2A | 13. Swing states? | 13 |
| 3A | 15. Things you can't do without | 14 |
| 4A | 17. Animal that's born with a full set of teeth | 5 |
| 5A | 18. Actress Dawson of "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay" | 4 |
| 6A | 19. Sound from a chicken | 3 |
| 7A | 21. Stop working, say | 7 |
| 8A | 24. Bash | 4 |
| 9A | 25. Half of a rhyming game name | 4 |
| 10A | 28. Not from Scotland? | 3 |
| 11A | 29. A little husky? | 5 |
| 12A | 30. One preparing eggs | 8 |
| 13A | 32. 19th-century naturalist buried in Westminster Abbey | 6 |
| 14A | 33. Bubble burster, perhaps | 3 |
| 15A | 34. Delta hub, in brief | 3 |
| 16A | 35. Nose around | 3 |
| 17A | 36. Inits. in a job posting | 3 |
| 18A | 37. Swellings in bodily tissues | 6 |
| 19A | 39. Dignified and gracious sort | 8 |
| 20A | 41. Checkers, e.g. | 5 |
| 21A | 42. Nothing needs to be said to do it | 3 |
| 22A | 43. First Nations people | 4 |
| 23A | 44. Down Under colleges | 4 |
| 24A | 45. Jazz fest? | 7 |
| 25A | 48. Child support, in brief? | 3 |
| 26A | 49. High-energy snack | 4 |
| 27A | 50. "People are wrong when they say ___ is not what it used to be. It is what it used to be. That is what's wrong with it": Noël Coward | 5 |
| 28A | 54. First science fiction writer to receive a MacArthur Fellowship | 14 |
| 29A | 58. Reflective period | 13 |
| 30A | 59. Many TV panelists | 12 |
Across Clues - Strategic Hints
1A: "1. They help you see the big picture"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MOVIETICKETS
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2A: "13. Swing states?"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OPENMARRIAGES
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3A: "15. Things you can't do without"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BAREESSENTIALS
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4A: "17. Animal that's born with a full set of teeth"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that any of numerous elongate mostly marine carnivorous fishes with heterocercal caudal fins and tough skin covered with small toothlike scales
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SHARK
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5A: "18. Actress Dawson of "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: STEF
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6A: "19. Sound from a chicken"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EEK
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7A: "21. Stop working, say"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TAKETEN
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8A: "24. Bash"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an elaborate party (often outdoors)
- Similar words include: celebrate, fiesta, festival
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FETE
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9A: "25. Half of a rhyming game name"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ALAI
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10A: "28. Not from Scotland?"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NAE
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11A: "29. A little husky?"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a young dog
- Similar words include: pup
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PUPPY
Remember this word for future puzzles!
12A: "30. One preparing eggs"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MAMABIRD
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13A: "32. 19th-century naturalist buried in Westminster Abbey"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that english natural scientist who formulated a theory of evolution by natural selection (1809-1882)
- Similar words include: Charles Darwin, Charles Robert Darwin
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DARWIN
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14A: "33. Bubble burster, perhaps"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a piece of jewelry that is pinned onto the wearer's garment
- Similar words include: bowling pin, fall, personal identification number
- Opposite of: unpin
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PIN
Remember this word for future puzzles!
15A: "34. Delta hub, in brief"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ATL
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16A: "35. Nose around"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a heavy iron lever with one end forged into a wedge
- Similar words include: wrecking bar, jimmy, nose
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PRY
Remember this word for future puzzles!
17A: "36. Inits. in a job posting"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EEO
Remember this word for future puzzles!
18A: "37. Swellings in bodily tissues"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that swelling from excessive accumulation of watery fluid in cells, tissues, or serous cavities
- Similar words include: oedema, edema, hydrops
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EDEMAS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
19A: "39. Dignified and gracious sort"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CLASSACT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
20A: "41. Checkers, e.g."
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that sound recording consisting of a disk with a continuous groove; used to reproduce music by rotating while a phonograph needle tracks in the groove
- Similar words include: phonograph recording, record, disc
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DISCS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
21A: "42. Nothing needs to be said to do it"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the state of being or appearing to be actively engaged in an activity
- Similar words include: Harkat ul-Mujahedeen, seethe, HUA
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HUM
Remember this word for future puzzles!
22A: "43. First Nations people"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a member of an algonquian people living in central canada
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CREE
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23A: "44. Down Under colleges"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: UNIS
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24A: "45. Jazz fest?"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NBAGAME
Remember this word for future puzzles!
25A: "48. Child support, in brief?"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PTA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
26A: "49. High-energy snack"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GORP
Remember this word for future puzzles!
27A: "50. "People are wrong when they say ___ is not what it used to be. It is what it used to be. That is what's wrong with it": Noël Coward"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a drama set to music; consists of singing with orchestral accompaniment and an orchestral overture and interludes
- Similar words include: opera house
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OPERA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
28A: "54. First science fiction writer to receive a MacArthur Fellowship"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OCTAVIAEBUTLER
Remember this word for future puzzles!
29A: "58. Reflective period"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SILENTRETREAT
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30A: "59. Many TV panelists"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TALKINGHEADS
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Down Clues - Complete List
| No. | Clue | Letters |
|---|---|---|
| 1D | 1. Packs | 4 |
| 2D | 2. Sea creature also known as a redfin ocean pan | 4 |
| 3D | 3. Unseen wife on "Cheers" | 4 |
| 4D | 4. It keeps things going | 7 |
| 5D | 5. ___ Okafor, 6'10" Charlotte player who was the N.B.A.'s 2005 Rookie of the Year | 5 |
| 6D | 6. Many lab instructors, informally | 3 |
| 7D | 7. Org. whose logo includes scales and an olive branch | 3 |
| 8D | 8. Reached the maximum | 7 |
| 9D | 9. "Roots" surname | 5 |
| 10D | 10. Polished off | 5 |
| 11D | 11. Cry of relief | 4 |
| 12D | 12. It's "wine-dark," in Homer's "Odyssey" | 3 |
| 13D | 14. Pajamas | 9 |
| 14D | 16. Free kick, e.g., in soccer lingo | 8 |
| 15D | 20. Special delivery at a conference | 7 |
| 16D | 22. Unites after a break | 5 |
| 17D | 23. Rank above viscount | 4 |
| 18D | 24. Subject of trade that gave rise to St. Louis and Detroit | 3 |
| 19D | 25. Jazzed | 7 |
| 20D | 26. Went at | 8 |
| 21D | 27. Ones with big blocks? | 9 |
| 22D | 29. Is worth the effort | 4 |
| 23D | 31. Some farm sounds | 4 |
| 24D | 32. Much "Real Housewives" doings | 5 |
| 25D | 35. Bang the drum for | 4 |
| 26D | 38. Makes some introductions, informally | 3 |
| 27D | 39. Bread whose dough is rolled on a chakla | 7 |
| 28D | 40. British royal Rod of Equity and Mercy, e.g. | 7 |
| 29D | 45. Unprecedented | 5 |
| 30D | 46. Lip | 5 |
| 31D | 47. Be sassy, with "off" | 5 |
| 32D | 49. Ball | 4 |
| 33D | 51. Ancient home to many pre-Socratic philosophers | 4 |
| 34D | 52. Verb before lips and palms | 4 |
| 35D | 53. They may be fine | 4 |
| 36D | 55. Small songbird | 3 |
| 37D | 56. Directional suffix | 3 |
| 38D | 57. Solicit | 3 |
Down Clues - Strategic Hints
1D: "1. Packs"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a disorderly crowd of people
- Similar words include: family, rout, pack
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MOBS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
2D: "2. Sea creature also known as a redfin ocean pan"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that large elliptical brightly colored deep-sea fish of atlantic and pacific and mediterranean
- Similar words include: moonfish, Lampris regius
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OPAH
Remember this word for future puzzles!
3D: "3. Unseen wife on "Cheers""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: VERA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
4D: "4. It keeps things going"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a disposition to remain inactive or inert
- Similar words include: inactiveness, inactivity
- Opposite of: activeness
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: INERTIA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
5D: "5. ___ Okafor, 6'10" Charlotte player who was the N.B.A.'s 2005 Rookie of the Year"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EMEKA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
6D: "6. Many lab instructors, informally"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a hard grey lustrous metallic element that is highly resistant to corrosion; occurs in niobite and fergusonite and tantalite
- Similar words include: atomic number 73, tantalum, Ta
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TAS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
7D: "7. Org. whose logo includes scales and an olive branch"
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
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8D: "8. Reached the maximum"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that lie at the top of
- Similar words include: crest, plumed, cap
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CRESTED
Remember this word for future puzzles!
9D: "9. "Roots" surname"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: KINTE
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10D: "10. Polished off"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that take in solid food
- Similar words include: corrode, use up, eat up
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EATEN
Remember this word for future puzzles!
11D: "11. Cry of relief"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TGIF
Remember this word for future puzzles!
12D: "12. It's "wine-dark," in Homer's "Odyssey""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
- Similar words include: ocean
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SEA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
13D: "14. Pajamas"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that garments designed to be worn in bed
- Similar words include: nightwear, nightclothes
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SLEEPWEAR
Remember this word for future puzzles!
14D: "16. Free kick, e.g., in soccer lingo"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SETPIECE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
15D: "20. Special delivery at a conference"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the principal theme in a speech or literary work
- Similar words include: tonic
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: KEYNOTE
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16D: "22. Unites after a break"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a fabric made by knitting
- Similar words include: knit stitch, plain stitch, knitting
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: KNITS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
17D: "23. Rank above viscount"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a british peer ranking below a marquess and above a viscount
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EARL
Remember this word for future puzzles!
18D: "24. Subject of trade that gave rise to St. Louis and Detroit"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the dressed hairy coat of a mammal
- Similar words include: pelt
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FUR
Remember this word for future puzzles!
19D: "25. Jazzed"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AMPEDUP
Remember this word for future puzzles!
20D: "26. Went at"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LAIDINTO
Remember this word for future puzzles!
21D: "27. Ones with big blocks?"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a person suffering from amnesia
- Similar words include: amnesic, amnesiac
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AMNESIACS
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22D: "29. Is worth the effort"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that something that remunerates
- Similar words include: wage, remuneration, bear
- Opposite of: default
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PAYS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
23D: "31. Some farm sounds"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that south african term for `boss'
- Similar words include: blat, bleat, baa
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BAAS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
24D: "32. Much "Real Housewives" doings"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a dramatic work intended for performance by actors on a stage
- Similar words include: play, dramatic event, dramatic play
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DRAMA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
25D: "35. Bang the drum for"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that blockage consisting of an object designed to fill a hole tightly
- Similar words include: cud, stopple, jade
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PLUG
Remember this word for future puzzles!
26D: "38. Makes some introductions, informally"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that one million periods per second
- Similar words include: MHz, Mc, megacycle
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MCS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
27D: "39. Bread whose dough is rolled on a chakla"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that flat pancake-like bread cooked on a griddle
- Similar words include: chapatti
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CHAPATI
Remember this word for future puzzles!
28D: "40. British royal Rod of Equity and Mercy, e.g."
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the imperial authority symbolized by a scepter
- Similar words include: scepter, verge, wand
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SCEPTRE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
29D: "45. Unprecedented"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an extended fictional work in prose; usually in the form of a story
- Similar words include: refreshing, fresh, new
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NOVEL
Remember this word for future puzzles!
30D: "46. Lip"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a region marking a boundary
- Similar words include: threshold, verge
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BRINK
Remember this word for future puzzles!
31D: "47. Be sassy, with "off""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge
- Similar words include: oral fissure, verbalise, talk
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MOUTH
Remember this word for future puzzles!
32D: "49. Ball"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a gay festivity
- Similar words include: blowout, jamboree, gala affair
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GALA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
33D: "51. Ancient home to many pre-Socratic philosophers"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ELEA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
34D: "52. Verb before lips and palms"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that something that is read
- Similar words include: interpret, record, take
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: READ
Remember this word for future puzzles!
35D: "53. They may be fine"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that studies intended to provide general knowledge and intellectual skills (rather than occupational or professional skills)
- Similar words include: artistry, artistic production, fine art
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ARTS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
36D: "55. Small songbird"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that either of two soft fleshy milk-secreting glandular organs on the chest of a woman
- Similar words include: titmouse, breast, pap
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TIT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
37D: "56. Directional suffix"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that bulky greyish-brown eagle with a short wedge-shaped white tail; of europe and greenland
- Similar words include: European sea eagle, white-tailed sea eagle, gray sea eagle
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ERN
Remember this word for future puzzles!
38D: "57. Solicit"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that call upon in supplication; entreat
- Similar words include: solicit, implore, tap
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BEG
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
30 Across Clues
38 Down Clues
68 Total Clues
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