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Saturday, October 18, 2025

XWordHint Crossword Answers October 18, 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: 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. Measure of rank in Maori culture, informally 7
2A 8. Bubbles 5
3A 13. Sauce in Italian-American cuisine 8
4A 14. Knocked out 5
5A 15. It's in right now 9
6A 16. Was worthy of 5
7A 17. Having a single purpose 5
8A 18. Light that goes up when things are going down? 5
9A 20. Snatch 3
10A 21. Crank cases? 7
11A 23. Something pulled in many car chase scenes, for short 6
12A 25. Home to the Arco di Constantino 4
13A 26. Present a chance to get ahead 9
14A 29. Spaniards roll them 3
15A 30. Was really moving, in slang 9
16A 31. "Uh ... I guess" 9
17A 32. Sources of 24/7 support 9
18A 33. Many an attachment 3
19A 36. Ones catching waves 9
20A 37. Longtime name in Cuban politics 4
21A 38. Those playing the king of Egypt in "Aïda" 6
22A 39. Monthly magazine that sponsors a large annual music festival in New Orleans 7
23A 41. Easily removed locks 3
24A 42. Limited assignment 5
25A 45. Smallest member of the eurozone (122 square miles) 5
26A 46. Appropriately change course 5
27A 48. Spirals out of control? 9
28A 50. Panhellenic Games venue 5
29A 51. Can't cool off 8
30A 52. Gifted 5
31A 53. Culinary concurrence 7

Across Clues - Strategic Hints

1A: "1. Measure of rank in Maori culture, informally"

7 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

2A: "8. Bubbles"

5 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a mass of small bubbles formed in or on a liquid
  • Similar words include: effervesce, sparkle, suds
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FROTH

Remember this word for future puzzles!

3A: "13. Sauce in Italian-American cuisine"

8 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that sauce for pasta; contains tomatoes and garlic and herbs
  • Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MARINARA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

4A: "14. Knocked out"

5 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

5A: "15. It's in right now"

9 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

6A: "16. Was worthy of"

5 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that assign a rank or rating to
  • Similar words include: rate, snitch, tell on
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RATED

Remember this word for future puzzles!

7A: "17. Having a single purpose"

5 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

8A: "18. Light that goes up when things are going down?"

5 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a shape that spreads outward
  • Similar words include: flame up, irrupt, flare up
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FLARE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

9A: "20. Snatch"

3 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a flexible container with a single opening
  • Similar words include: grip, cup of tea, handbag
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BAG

Remember this word for future puzzles!

10A: "21. Crank cases?"

7 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

11A: "23. Something pulled in many car chase scenes, for short"

6 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

12A: "25. Home to the Arco di Constantino"

4 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a member of a people with dark skin and hair who speak romany and who traditionally live by seasonal work and fortunetelling; they are believed to have originated in northern india but now are living on all continents (but mostly in europe, north africa, and north america)
  • Similar words include: Romany, Rome, fixed storage
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ROMA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

13A: "26. Present a chance to get ahead"

9 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

14A: "29. Spaniards roll them"

3 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a colorless and odorless inert gas; one of the six inert gases; comprises approximately 1% of the earth's atmosphere
  • Similar words include: AR, ar, argon
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ARS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

15A: "30. Was really moving, in slang"

9 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

16A: "31. "Uh ... I guess""

9 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

17A: "32. Sources of 24/7 support"

9 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

18A: "33. Many an attachment"

3 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

19A: "36. Ones catching waves"

9 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

20A: "37. Longtime name in Cuban politics"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

21A: "38. Those playing the king of Egypt in "Aïda""

6 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an adult male singer with the lowest voice
  • Similar words include: bass, bass voice, basso
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BASSOS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

22A: "39. Monthly magazine that sponsors a large annual music festival in New Orleans"

7 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the choicest or most essential or most vital part of some idea or experience
  • Similar words include: centre, marrow, heart and soul
  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ESSENCE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

23A: "41. Easily removed locks"

3 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that hairpiece covering the head and made of real or synthetic hair
  • Similar words include: wigging
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: WIG

Remember this word for future puzzles!

24A: "42. Limited assignment"

5 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an unbroken period of time during which you do something
  • Similar words include: skimp, least sandpiper, Erolia minutilla
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: STINT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

25A: "45. Smallest member of the eurozone (122 square miles)"

5 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a republic on the island of malta in the mediterranean; achieved independence from the united kingdom in 1964
  • Similar words include: Republic of Malta
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MALTA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

26A: "46. Appropriately change course"

5 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that make fit for, or change to suit a new purpose
  • Similar words include: adjust, conform, accommodate
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ADAPT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

27A: "48. Spirals out of control?"

9 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a localized and violently destructive windstorm occurring over land characterized by a funnel-shaped cloud extending toward the ground
  • Similar words include: tornado, crack, twister
  • Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TORNADOES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

28A: "50. Panhellenic Games venue"

5 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a valley in southeastern greece where the nemean games were held
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NEMEA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

29A: "51. Can't cool off"

8 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

30A: "52. Gifted"

5 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that someone who is dazzlingly skilled in any field
  • Similar words include: genius, ace, skilful
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ADEPT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

31A: "53. Culinary concurrence"

7 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

Down Clues - Complete List

No. Clue Letters
1D 1. Understands 7
2D 2. Site of some piercings 6
3D 3. "There's never been a better time" tech sloganeer 5
4D 4. Fangorn resident 3
5D 5. Sweet doings at a county fair 10
6D 6. ___ Sea, locale of a 20th-century environmental disaster 4
7D 7. Cry that might be made with a bow 4
8D 8. Responders to cruise ship emergencies 9
9D 9. It works in translation 3
10D 10. Crunchy snacks 7
11D 11. Fine-tunes 6
12D 12. Divider of lots 5
13D 13. Really into 6
14D 15. 21st-century first lady 5
15D 19. Attire for many a flamenco dancer 8
16D 22. Upright bar 8
17D 24. Bonheur who painted "Ploughing in the Nivernais" 4
18D 27. Woman's name that sounds like two letters of the alphabet 5
19D 28. Colorful swimmers in the Amazon 10
20D 30. Energy device that reflects sunlight 9
21D 31. Rings up? 4
22D 32. Can hold one's own, in modern lingo 7
23D 33. Bread purchase in the U.K. 7
24D 34. Like a building's central air conditioning 6
25D 35. Dogbane? 5
26D 36. Like drug dens, sometimes 6
27D 37. FAQ heading 6
28D 38. East African honorific 5
29D 40. Reduce to a pulp 5
30D 43. Minute 4
31D 44. Pay attention to 4
32D 47. Zip 3
33D 49. Home to the U.S.'s first pizzeria, according to the Pizza Hall of Fame, for short 3

Down Clues - Strategic Hints

1D: "1. Understands"

7 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a linear unit of measurement (equal to 6 feet) for water depth
  • Similar words include: bottom, penetrate, fthm
  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FATHOMS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

2D: "2. Site of some piercings"

6 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that small space in a tissue or body part such as the area between veins on a leaf or an insect's wing
  • Similar words include: ring of color
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AREOLA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

3D: "3. "There's never been a better time" tech sloganeer"

5 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that cold-water fish caught in lake superior and northward
  • Similar words include: lake herring, Coregonus artedi
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CISCO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

4D: "4. Fangorn resident"

3 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

5D: "5. Sweet doings at a county fair"

10 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TAFFYPULLS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

6D: "6. ___ Sea, locale of a 20th-century environmental disaster"

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

7D: "7. Cry that might be made with a bow"

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

8D: "8. Responders to cruise ship emergencies"

9 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a boat equipped to fight fires on ships or along a waterfront
  • Similar words include: fireboat
  • Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FIREBOATS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

9D: "9. It works in translation"

3 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that (biochemistry) a long linear polymer of nucleotides found in the nucleus but mainly in the cytoplasm of a cell where it is associated with microsomes; it transmits genetic information from dna to the cytoplasm and controls certain chemical processes in the cell
  • Similar words include: ribonucleic acid
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RNA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

10D: "10. Crunchy snacks"

7 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

11D: "11. Fine-tunes"

6 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a squeeze with the fingers
  • Similar words include: fine-tune, pull off, pluck
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TWEAKS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

12D: "12. Divider of lots"

5 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a fence formed by a row of closely planted shrubs or bushes
  • Similar words include: duck, fudge, sidestep
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HEDGE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

13D: "13. Really into"

6 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

14D: "15. 21st-century first lady"

5 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

15D: "19. Attire for many a flamenco dancer"

8 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

16D: "22. Upright bar"

8 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that one of a pair of posts (usually joined by a crossbar) that are set up as a goal at each end of a playing field
  • Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GOALPOST

Remember this word for future puzzles!

17D: "24. Bonheur who painted "Ploughing in the Nivernais""

4 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that large genus of erect or climbing prickly shrubs including roses
  • Similar words include: genus Rosa
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ROSA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

18D: "27. Woman's name that sounds like two letters of the alphabet"

5 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

19D: "28. Colorful swimmers in the Amazon"

10 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NEONTETRAS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

20D: "30. Energy device that reflects sunlight"

9 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

21D: "31. Rings up?"

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the fourth day of the week; the third working day
  • Similar words include: Midweek, get married, hook up with
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: WEDS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

22D: "32. Can hold one's own, in modern lingo"

7 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

23D: "33. Bread purchase in the U.K."

7 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

24D: "34. Like a building's central air conditioning"

6 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

25D: "35. Dogbane?"

5 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that any wingless bloodsucking parasitic insect noted for ability to leap
  • Similar words include: flea
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FLEAS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

26D: "36. Like drug dens, sometimes"

6 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that search without warning, make a sudden surprise attack on
  • Similar words include: foray into, bust, raid
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RAIDED

Remember this word for future puzzles!

27D: "37. FAQ heading"

6 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

28D: "38. East African honorific"

5 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

29D: "40. Reduce to a pulp"

5 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a vigorous blow
  • Similar words include: boom, belt, bang
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SMASH

Remember this word for future puzzles!

30D: "43. Minute"

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

31D: "44. Pay attention to"

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a brief written record
  • Similar words include: eminence, distinction, annotation
  • Opposite of: ignore
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NOTE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

32D: "47. Zip"

3 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that liveliness and energy
  • Similar words include: peppiness, ginger
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PEP

Remember this word for future puzzles!

33D: "49. Home to the U.S.'s first pizzeria, according to the Pizza Hall of Fame, for short"

3 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

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
33 Down Clues
64 Total Clues

More NYT Crossword Help

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Last updated: October 18, 2025 at 03:46 AM

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