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Saturday, October 4, 2025

XWordHint Crossword Answers October 04, 2025 | Expert Breakdown & Tips

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: 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. Field of unknowns 7
2A 8. Lead role in the highest-grossing film of 1985 5
3A 13. Scrapes from a motorcycle fall 8
4A 15. It "lies just halfway between rashness and cowardice," per Miguel de Cervantes 5
5A 16. "Marvelous" TV character played by Rachel Brosnahan 9
6A 18. Facedown 5
7A 19. Shrink back 6
8A 20. Place for eggs 3
9A 22. Muttonhead 4
10A 23. Cousin of a springbok 5
11A 24. Outdoor apparel company with mountains in its logo 9
12A 26. Delight 4
13A 27. Vulcans, for one 9
14A 28. Christmas carol contraction 3
15A 29. Actress Lily of "Killers of the Flower Moon" 9
16A 30. Slow-but-steady advancements 9
17A 31. Get a Lyft, say 9
18A 32. Short greetings 3
19A 35. They may stop the presses 9
20A 36. Henry ___, founder of Time, Life and Sports Illustrated 4
21A 37. Initial challenge 9
22A 38. Knock one out of the park 5
23A 39. With, en français 4
24A 40. Org. offering jumps 3
25A 41. Vittorio who directed "Bicycle Thieves" 6
26A 42. Buck the establishment 5
27A 44. Split 9
28A 46. Remains to be seen? 5
29A 47. Certain expectant parents 8
30A 48. Stopped vacillating 5
31A 49. 7-Eleven and Circle K, informally 7

Across Clues - Strategic Hints

1A: "1. Field of unknowns"

7 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the mathematics of generalized arithmetical operations
  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ALGEBRA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

2A: "8. Lead role in the highest-grossing film of 1985"

5 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MCFLY

Remember this word for future puzzles!

3A: "13. Scrapes from a motorcycle fall"

8 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ROADRASH

Remember this word for future puzzles!

4A: "15. It "lies just halfway between rashness and cowardice," per Miguel de Cervantes"

5 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the qualities of a hero or heroine; exceptional or heroic courage when facing danger (especially in battle)
  • Similar words include: gallantry, valorousness, heroism
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: VALOR

Remember this word for future puzzles!

5A: "16. "Marvelous" TV character played by Rachel Brosnahan"

9 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MRSMAISEL

Remember this word for future puzzles!

6A: "18. Facedown"

5 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that having a tendency (to); often used in combination
  • Similar words include: prostrate
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PRONE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

7A: "19. Shrink back"

6 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the backward jerk of a gun when it is fired
  • Similar words include: rebound, take a hop, spring
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RECOIL

Remember this word for future puzzles!

8A: "20. Place for eggs"

3 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an enclosed space
  • Similar words include: pocket, pouch, theca
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SAC

Remember this word for future puzzles!

9A: "22. Muttonhead"

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LUNK

Remember this word for future puzzles!

10A: "23. Cousin of a springbok"

5 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that either of two large african antelopes of the genus taurotragus having short spirally twisted horns in both sexes
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ELAND

Remember this word for future puzzles!

11A: "24. Outdoor apparel company with mountains in its logo"

9 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that region in southern south america between the andes and the south atlantic
  • Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PATAGONIA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

12A: "26. Delight"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that cause to go somewhere
  • Similar words include: air, institutionalise, get off
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SEND

Remember this word for future puzzles!

13A: "27. Vulcans, for one"

9 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ALIENRACE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

14A: "28. Christmas carol contraction"

3 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a light strong grey lustrous corrosion-resistant metallic element used in strong lightweight alloys (as for airplane parts); the main sources are rutile and ilmenite
  • Similar words include: titanium, te, si
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TIS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

15A: "29. Actress Lily of "Killers of the Flower Moon""

9 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that liberal british statesman who served as prime minister four times (1809-1898)
  • Similar words include: portmanteau, Gladstone bag, William Ewart Gladstone
  • Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GLADSTONE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

16A: "30. Slow-but-steady advancements"

9 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BABYSTEPS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

17A: "31. Get a Lyft, say"

9 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RIDESHARE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

18A: "32. Short greetings"

3 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HIS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

19A: "35. They may stop the presses"

9 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GAGORDERS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

20A: "36. Henry ___, founder of Time, Life and Sports Illustrated"

4 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that united states publisher of magazines (1898-1967)
  • Similar words include: Henry Luce, Clare Booth Luce, Henry Robinson Luce
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LUCE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

21A: "37. Initial challenge"

9 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FIRSTTEST

Remember this word for future puzzles!

22A: "38. Knock one out of the park"

5 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a base hit on which the batter scores a run
  • Similar words include: kor, home run, homing pigeon
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HOMER

Remember this word for future puzzles!

23A: "39. With, en français"

4 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AVEC

Remember this word for future puzzles!

24A: "40. Org. offering jumps"

3 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an aneurysm of the abdominal aorta associated with old age and hypertension
  • Similar words include: abdominal aortic aneurysm
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AAA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

25A: "41. Vittorio who directed "Bicycle Thieves""

6 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DESICA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

26A: "42. Buck the establishment"

5 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that `johnny' was applied as a nickname for confederate soldiers by the federal soldiers in the american civil war; `greyback' derived from their grey confederate uniforms
  • Similar words include: maverick, rise, rise up
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: REBEL

Remember this word for future puzzles!

27A: "44. Split"

9 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DIVVIEDUP

Remember this word for future puzzles!

28A: "46. Remains to be seen?"

5 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an irrecoverable state of devastation and destruction
  • Similar words include: smash, ruination, wrecking
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RUINS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

29A: "47. Certain expectant parents"

8 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DADSTOBE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

30A: "48. Stopped vacillating"

5 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that select as an alternative over another
  • Similar words include: opt, prefer, choose
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OPTED

Remember this word for future puzzles!

31A: "49. 7-Eleven and Circle K, informally"

7 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CSTORES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

Down Clues - Complete List

No. Clue Letters
1D 1. Focus of an airplane battle, maybe 7
2D 2. Legendary rock singer? 7
3D 3. Containers that are often red 7
4D 4. Halley of Halley's comet 6
5D 5. Cornrow, e.g. 5
6D 6. Skate park fixture 4
7D 7. Mount for Quixote's squire 3
8D 8. Award won four times in the W.N.B.A. by A'ja Wilson 3
9D 9. Assistance for short drivers? 8
10D 10. Walk with exaggerated motions 7
11D 11. ___ Johnson, inventor of the Super Soaker 6
12D 12. California town thought (incorrectly) to be named from a backward "bakery" sign 5
13D 14. Type of argument with conflicting accounts 13
14D 17. Result of sleeping in, say 9
15D 21. Moves along quickly, as a horse 7
16D 24. Protects oneself, possum-style 9
17D 25. Fumble around in the dark 5
18D 27. Home of Banff National Park 7
19D 29. Wonder Woman portrayer 5
20D 30. Brouhaha 8
21D 31. "Welsh" dish with melted cheese 7
22D 32. Cuban container 7
23D 33. Water cooler? 7
24D 34. Colorful shawls 7
25D 35. "Are you done guessing?" 6
26D 36. Get bested by 6
27D 37. Grain with a nutty flavor 5
28D 38. Safe job? 5
29D 41. Netflix offerings until 2023 4
30D 43. Source of some flashbacks 3
31D 45. Sucker, for short 3

Down Clues - Strategic Hints

1D: "1. Focus of an airplane battle, maybe"

7 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a support for the arm
  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ARMREST

Remember this word for future puzzles!

2D: "2. Legendary rock singer?"

7 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a siren of german legend who lured boatmen in the rhine to destruction
  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LORELEI

Remember this word for future puzzles!

3D: "3. Containers that are often red"

7 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GASCANS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

4D: "4. Halley of Halley's comet"

6 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EDMOND

Remember this word for future puzzles!

5D: "5. Cornrow, e.g."

5 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a hairdo formed by braiding or twisting the hair
  • Similar words include: gold braid, pleach, plait
  • Opposite of: unbraid
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BRAID

Remember this word for future puzzles!

6D: "6. Skate park fixture"

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a barrier consisting of a horizontal bar and supports
  • Similar words include: vituperate, fulminate, train
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RAIL

Remember this word for future puzzles!

7D: "7. Mount for Quixote's squire"

3 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the fleshy part of the human body that you sit on
  • Similar words include: stern, screw, piece of ass
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ASS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

8D: "8. Award won four times in the W.N.B.A. by A'ja Wilson"

3 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the player judged to be the most important to the sport
  • Similar words include: most valuable player
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MVP

Remember this word for future puzzles!

9D: "9. Assistance for short drivers?"

8 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CARLOANS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

10D: "10. Walk with exaggerated motions"

7 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a strip of pleated material used as a decoration or a trim
  • Similar words include: furbelow, ruffle, frill
  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FLOUNCE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

11D: "11. ___ Johnson, inventor of the Super Soaker"

6 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LONNIE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

12D: "12. California town thought (incorrectly) to be named from a backward "bakery" sign"

5 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: YREKA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

13D: "14. Type of argument with conflicting accounts"

13 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _____________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HESAIDSHESAID

Remember this word for future puzzles!

14D: "17. Result of sleeping in, say"

9 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LATESTART

Remember this word for future puzzles!

15D: "21. Moves along quickly, as a horse"

7 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a smooth three-beat gait; between a trot and a gallop
  • Similar words include: canter, lope
  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CANTERS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

16D: "24. Protects oneself, possum-style"

9 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PLAYSDEAD

Remember this word for future puzzles!

17D: "25. Fumble around in the dark"

5 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the act of groping; and instance of groping
  • Similar words include: fumble
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GROPE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

18D: "27. Home of Banff National Park"

7 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that one of the three prairie provinces in western canada; rich in oil and natural gas and minerals
  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ALBERTA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

19D: "29. Wonder Woman portrayer"

5 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GADOT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

20D: "30. Brouhaha"

8 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BIGSCENE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

21D: "31. "Welsh" dish with melted cheese"

7 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that cheese melted with ale or beer served over toast
  • Similar words include: Welsh rarebit, Welsh rabbit
  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RAREBIT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

22D: "32. Cuban container"

7 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HUMIDOR

Remember this word for future puzzles!

23D: "33. Water cooler?"

7 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ICECUBE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

24D: "34. Colorful shawls"

7 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a long brightly colored shawl; worn mainly by mexican men
  • Similar words include: serape, sarape
  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SERAPES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

25D: "35. "Are you done guessing?""

6 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GIVEUP

Remember this word for future puzzles!

26D: "36. Get bested by"

6 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LOSETO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

27D: "37. Grain with a nutty flavor"

5 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FARRO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

28D: "38. Safe job?"

5 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the act of stealing
  • Similar words include: rip-off, burglarize, stickup
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HEIST

Remember this word for future puzzles!

29D: "41. Netflix offerings until 2023"

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a digital recording (as of a movie) on an optical disk that can be played on a computer or a television set
  • Similar words include: videodisk, videodisc, DVD
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DVDS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

30D: "43. Source of some flashbacks"

3 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a powerful hallucinogenic drug manufactured from lysergic acid
  • Similar words include: lysergic acid diethylamide
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LSD

Remember this word for future puzzles!

31D: "45. Sucker, for short"

3 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that informal term for vacation
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: VAC

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

31 Across Clues
31 Down Clues
62 Total Clues

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Last updated: October 04, 2025 at 03:43 AM

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