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 (36 clues)
- Across Clues - Detailed Hints
- Down Clues Table (32 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. What a comment might be made in | 4 |
| 2A | 5. Plant often confused with algae | 4 |
| 3A | 9. "The Craft" | 5 |
| 4A | 14. Pulitzer-winning historian and journalist Applebaum | 4 |
| 5A | 15. Understanding response | 4 |
| 6A | 16. Amazon smart speakers | 5 |
| 7A | 17. British singer with the top 10 albums "Crash" and "Brat" | 9 |
| 8A | 19. Some suitors | 5 |
| 9A | 20. Sets in motion | 6 |
| 10A | 21. Sake, for one | 8 |
| 11A | 23. Not fixed, as a stone | 5 |
| 12A | 24. Drinking game with projectiles | 9 |
| 13A | 25. Sign of healing | 4 |
| 14A | 26. New service member | 7 |
| 15A | 27. Mental image, for short? | 3 |
| 16A | 28. Fun-size, so to speak | 4 |
| 17A | 29. Stalk | 4 |
| 18A | 31. First releases | 6 |
| 19A | 33. Taking out the trash and others | 6 |
| 20A | 35. Lab liquids | 4 |
| 21A | 36. Max ___, boxer nicknamed "Madcap Maxie" | 4 |
| 22A | 37. Corn ___ (snack misnomer) | 3 |
| 23A | 39. Longtime Nestlé candy brand | 7 |
| 24A | 41. Arizona tribe with matrilineal clans | 4 |
| 25A | 42. 1992 Whoopi Goldberg comedy | 9 |
| 26A | 45. Survived, so to speak | 5 |
| 27A | 46. Portmanteau for evidence based solely on personal accounts | 8 |
| 28A | 47. Popular name of the 1958 Italian hit "Nel Blu, Dipinto di Blu" | 6 |
| 29A | 48. ___ month | 5 |
| 30A | 49. Act of writing down whatever comes to mind in order to clear mental clutter | 9 |
| 31A | 51. Wipe | 5 |
| 32A | 52. Biblical locale in a Steinbeck title | 4 |
| 33A | 53. Golfer Aoki | 4 |
| 34A | 54. Rationed (out) | 5 |
| 35A | 55. Bleak | 4 |
| 36A | 56. Gravitate | 4 |
Across Clues - Strategic Hints
1A: "1. What a comment might be made in"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a humorous anecdote or remark intended to provoke laughter
- Similar words include: jape, gag, joke
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: JEST
Remember this word for future puzzles!
2A: "5. Plant often confused with algae"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that tiny leafy-stemmed flowerless plants
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MOSS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
3A: "9. "The Craft""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a community of followers of the wicca religion
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: WICCA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
4A: "14. Pulitzer-winning historian and journalist Applebaum"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that queen of england and scotland and ireland; daughter if james ii and the last of the stuart monarchs; in 1707 she was the last english ruler to exercise the royal veto over parliament (1665-1714)
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ANNE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
5A: "15. Understanding response"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ISEE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
6A: "16. Amazon smart speakers"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the repetition of a sound resulting from reflection of the sound waves
- Similar words include: reverberation, repeat, recall
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ECHOS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
7A: "17. British singer with the top 10 albums "Crash" and "Brat""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CHARLIXCX
Remember this word for future puzzles!
8A: "19. Some suitors"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a man who is the lover of a girl or young woman
- Similar words include: swell, dude, fashion plate
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BEAUS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
9A: "20. Sets in motion"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something
- Similar words include: get, causal agent, stimulate
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CAUSES
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10A: "21. Sake, for one"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RICEWINE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
11A: "23. Not fixed, as a stone"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: UNSET
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12A: "24. Drinking game with projectiles"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BEERDARTS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
13A: "25. Sign of healing"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a mark left (usually on the skin) by the healing of injured tissue
- Similar words include: scrape, cicatrice, pit
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SCAR
Remember this word for future puzzles!
14A: "26. New service member"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a recently enlisted soldier
- Similar words include: enroll, military recruit, enter
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RECRUIT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
15A: "27. Mental image, for short?"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a graphical record of electrical activity of the brain; produced by an electroencephalograph
- Similar words include: electroencephalogram, encephalogram
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EEG
Remember this word for future puzzles!
16A: "28. Fun-size, so to speak"
Solving Hints:
- Similar words include: bantam, petite, midget
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TINY
Remember this word for future puzzles!
17A: "29. Stalk"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that (linguistics) the form of a word after all affixes are removed
- Similar words include: prow, halt, radical
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: STEM
Remember this word for future puzzles!
18A: "31. First releases"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the act of beginning something new
- Similar words include: introduction, first appearance, launching
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DEBUTS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
19A: "33. Taking out the trash and others"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a specific piece of work required to be done as a duty or for a specific fee
- Similar words include: job, chore, task
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CHORES
Remember this word for future puzzles!
20A: "35. Lab liquids"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an amber, watery fluid, rich in proteins, that separates out when blood coagulates
- Similar words include: blood serum, serum
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SERA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
21A: "36. Max ___, boxer nicknamed "Madcap Maxie""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BAER
Remember this word for future puzzles!
22A: "37. Corn ___ (snack misnomer)"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that usually large hard-shelled seed
- Similar words include: bollock, fruitcake, freak
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NUT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
23A: "39. Longtime Nestlé candy brand"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SNOCAPS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
24A: "41. Arizona tribe with matrilineal clans"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a member of the shoshonean people of northeastern arizona
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HOPI
Remember this word for future puzzles!
25A: "42. 1992 Whoopi Goldberg comedy"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SISTERACT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
26A: "45. Survived, so to speak"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that come to terms with
- Similar words include: make do, contend, get by
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: COPED
Remember this word for future puzzles!
27A: "46. Portmanteau for evidence based solely on personal accounts"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ANECDATA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
28A: "47. Popular name of the 1958 Italian hit "Nel Blu, Dipinto di Blu""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: VOLARE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
29A: "48. ___ month"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that of or relating to or associated with the moon
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LUNAR
Remember this word for future puzzles!
30A: "49. Act of writing down whatever comes to mind in order to clear mental clutter"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BRAINDUMP
Remember this word for future puzzles!
31A: "51. Wipe"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that remove from memory or existence
- Similar words include: delete, wipe off, rub out
- Opposite of: record
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ERASE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
32A: "52. Biblical locale in a Steinbeck title"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that any place of complete bliss and delight and peace
- Similar words include: Garden of Eden, Shangri-la, promised land
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EDEN
Remember this word for future puzzles!
33A: "53. Golfer Aoki"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ISAO
Remember this word for future puzzles!
34A: "54. Rationed (out)"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: METED
Remember this word for future puzzles!
35A: "55. Bleak"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that fraught with extreme danger; nearly hopeless; ; - g.c.marshall
- Similar words include: horrendous, desperate, dreaded
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DIRE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
36A: "56. Gravitate"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that have a tendency or disposition to do or be something; be inclined
- Similar words include: run, lean, be given
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TEND
Remember this word for future puzzles!
Down Clues - Complete List
| No. | Clue | Letters |
|---|---|---|
| 1D | 1. Historic Émile Zola letter of 1898 | 7 |
| 2D | 2. Improved | 8 |
| 3D | 3. Meaty dog treats "in a blanket" | 9 |
| 4D | 4. Less prolix | 6 |
| 5D | 5. Customizable Nintendo avatars | 4 |
| 6D | 6. Mac platform renamed in 2016 | 3 |
| 7D | 7. Condition of discretion | 7 |
| 8D | 8. More seductive | 6 |
| 9D | 9. One managing online content | 9 |
| 10D | 10. Drink that comes with free refills | 8 |
| 11D | 11. Word with easy or high | 5 |
| 12D | 12. Matter | 5 |
| 13D | 13. Insufferable sorts | 5 |
| 14D | 18. Court call | 3 |
| 15D | 22. Handles beautifully, in slang | 7 |
| 16D | 24. Bills worth 100 buckaroos | 4 |
| 17D | 26. British singer with the hits "R.I.P." and "Radioactive" | 7 |
| 18D | 28. Showed embarrassment, say | 9 |
| 19D | 30. Event typically occurring in one's late 40s or early 50s | 9 |
| 20D | 32. Hoped-for scenario | 8 |
| 21D | 33. America, for one: Abbr. | 4 |
| 22D | 34. DC figure since 1938 | 8 |
| 23D | 36. Brand of rum mentioned in Hemingway novels | 7 |
| 24D | 38. Certain unit of detergent | 7 |
| 25D | 40. Pet gear often eschewed in favor of someone's lap | 6 |
| 26D | 41. "Stop the presses!" | 6 |
| 27D | 42. Capital that's home to the oldest university in the Western U.S. (1842) | 5 |
| 28D | 43. Habituate | 5 |
| 29D | 44. Upper house of the French parliament | 5 |
| 30D | 45. With, in Spanish | 3 |
| 31D | 47. Plant on a pergola | 4 |
| 32D | 50. ___ Lingus | 3 |
Down Clues - Strategic Hints
1D: "1. Historic Émile Zola letter of 1898"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: JACCUSE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
2D: "2. Improved"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that make better or more attractive
- Similar words include: enhance, raise, heighten
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ENHANCED
Remember this word for future puzzles!
3D: "3. Meaty dog treats "in a blanket""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SNAUSAGES
Remember this word for future puzzles!
4D: "4. Less prolix"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that brief and to the point; effectively cut short
- Similar words include: terse, laconic, curt
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TERSER
Remember this word for future puzzles!
5D: "5. Customizable Nintendo avatars"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MIIS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
6D: "6. Mac platform renamed in 2016"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OSX
Remember this word for future puzzles!
7D: "7. Condition of discretion"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the trait of keeping things secret
- Similar words include: concealment, secretiveness, privateness
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SECRECY
Remember this word for future puzzles!
8D: "8. More seductive"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that marked by or tending to arouse sexual desire or interest
- Similar words include: aphrodisiacal, aphrodisiac, sexy
- Opposite of: anaphrodisiac, unsexy
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SEXIER
Remember this word for future puzzles!
9D: "9. One managing online content"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: WEBEDITOR
Remember this word for future puzzles!
10D: "10. Drink that comes with free refills"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ICEWATER
Remember this word for future puzzles!
11D: "11. Word with easy or high"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a seat for one person, with a support for the back
- Similar words include: chairperson, chairwoman, president
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CHAIR
Remember this word for future puzzles!
12D: "12. Matter"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the total number counted
- Similar words include: weigh, look, number
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: COUNT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
13D: "13. Insufferable sorts"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the fleshy part of the human body that you sit on
- Similar words include: bottom, ass, fuck
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ASSES
Remember this word for future puzzles!
14D: "18. Court 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: Army of the Righteous, countenance, Army of the Pure
- Opposite of: disallow, forbid
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LET
Remember this word for future puzzles!
15D: "22. Handles beautifully, in slang"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that leather that has had its grain pattern accentuated
- Similar words include: squeeze, trounce, compaction
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CRUSHES
Remember this word for future puzzles!
16D: "24. Bills worth 100 buckaroos"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a mountain or tall hill
- Similar words include: ben
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BENS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
17D: "26. British singer with the hits "R.I.P." and "Radioactive""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RITAORA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
18D: "28. Showed embarrassment, say"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TURNEDRED
Remember this word for future puzzles!
19D: "30. Event typically occurring in one's late 40s or early 50s"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the time in a woman's life in which the menstrual cycle ends
- Similar words include: change of life, climacteric
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MENOPAUSE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
20D: "32. Hoped-for scenario"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BESTCASE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
21D: "33. America, for one: Abbr."
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CAPT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
22D: "34. DC figure since 1938"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a person with great powers and abilities
- Similar words include: Lucy in the sky with diamonds, loony toons, demigod
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SUPERMAN
Remember this word for future puzzles!
23D: "36. Brand of rum mentioned in Hemingway novels"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BACARDI
Remember this word for future puzzles!
24D: "38. Certain unit of detergent"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TIDEPOD
Remember this word for future puzzles!
25D: "40. Pet gear often eschewed in favor of someone's lap"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CATBED
Remember this word for future puzzles!
26D: "41. "Stop the presses!""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HOLDIT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
27D: "42. Capital that's home to the oldest university in the Western U.S. (1842)"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that capital of the state of oregon in the northwestern part of the state on the willamette river
- Similar words include: capital of Oregon
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SALEM
Remember this word for future puzzles!
28D: "43. Habituate"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that cause to accept or become hardened to; habituate
- Similar words include: indurate, harden
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: INURE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
29D: "44. Upper house of the French parliament"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SENAT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
30D: "45. With, in Spanish"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an argument opposed to a proposal
- Similar words include: goldbrick, bunko game, hornswoggle
- Opposite of: pro
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CON
Remember this word for future puzzles!
31D: "47. Plant on a pergola"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a plant with a weak stem that derives support from climbing, twining, or creeping along a surface
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: VINE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
32D: "50. ___ Lingus"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AER
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
36 Across Clues
32 Down Clues
68 Total Clues
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