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 (33 clues)
- Across Clues - Detailed Hints
- Down Clues Table (35 clues)
- Down Clues - Detailed Hints
- Expert Solving Strategies
- Today's Puzzle Statistics
Today's Puzzle Difficulty: Challenging
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. Pension alternatives, for short | 4 |
| 2A | 5. Hustle | 4 |
| 3A | 9. "Odds are ..." | 5 |
| 4A | 14. Drive around the office? | 9 |
| 5A | 16. Actress Watts of "Mulholland Drive" | 5 |
| 6A | 17. Bahamians and Bahrainis | 9 |
| 7A | 18. Speedboat's speed | 5 |
| 8A | 19. Fake account | 3 |
| 9A | 20. Dead ends? | 4 |
| 10A | 21. James in the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame | 4 |
| 11A | 22. Piano études, essentially | 7 |
| 12A | 24. Not above | 7 |
| 13A | 27. Trusty | 12 |
| 14A | 29. Alternative to a fingerprint, maybe | 8 |
| 15A | 30. Golfer McIlroy, the first European male to achieve a career Grand Slam | 4 |
| 16A | 31. Actress ___ Marsay of Disney+'s "Andor" | 4 |
| 17A | 32. The Jazz, on sports tickers | 3 |
| 18A | 33. Coming ___ | 4 |
| 19A | 34. Small band | 4 |
| 20A | 35. Jazz pianist with a memorable recording of "Tea for Two" | 8 |
| 21A | 37. Plant eater? | 12 |
| 22A | 39. What the British call people who make crosswords | 7 |
| 23A | 40. Prepared statement? | 7 |
| 24A | 44. One-named rock idol who was born Paul David Hewson | 4 |
| 25A | 45. Locking horns | 4 |
| 26A | 46. Guess alternative | 3 |
| 27A | 47. Vegges out | 5 |
| 28A | 49. Restaurant sommelier's offering | 9 |
| 29A | 51. Foundational skateboard trick | 5 |
| 30A | 52. Doesn't exactly ham it up | 9 |
| 31A | 53. Sings (out) | 5 |
| 32A | 54. Stereotypical eye-roller | 4 |
| 33A | 55. Informal get-together | 4 |
Across Clues - Strategic Hints
1A: "1. Pension alternatives, for short"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a militant organization of irish nationalists who used terrorism and guerilla warfare in an effort to drive british forces from northern ireland and achieve a united independent ireland
- Similar words include: individual retirement account, ire, wrath
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: IRAS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
2A: "5. Hustle"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a fraudulent business scheme
- Similar words include: nobble, goldbrick, swindle
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SCAM
Remember this word for future puzzles!
3A: "9. "Odds are ...""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: IDBET
Remember this word for future puzzles!
4A: "14. Drive around the office?"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: WORKETHIC
Remember this word for future puzzles!
5A: "16. Actress Watts of "Mulholland Drive""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the mother-in-law of ruth whose story is told in the book of ruth in the old testament
- Similar words include: Noemi
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NAOMI
Remember this word for future puzzles!
6A: "17. Bahamians and Bahrainis"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an inhabitant of an island
- Similar words include: islander, island-dweller
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ISLANDERS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
7A: "18. Speedboat's speed"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a tight cluster of people or things
- Similar words include: nautical mile, slub, greyback
- Opposite of: unknot, unravel
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: KNOTS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
8A: "19. Fake account"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a statement that deviates from or perverts the truth
- Similar words include: dwell, consist, lie down
- Opposite of: arise, stand
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LIE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
9A: "20. Dead ends?"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DEES
Remember this word for future puzzles!
10A: "21. James in the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a painful muscle spasm especially in the neck or back (`rick' and `wrick' are british)
- Similar words include: haystack, wrench, hayrick
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RICK
Remember this word for future puzzles!
11A: "22. Piano études, essentially"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a unit of instruction
- Similar words include: deterrent example, object lesson, moral
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LESSONS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
12A: "24. Not above"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that in or to a place that is lower
- Similar words include: at a lower place, below, to a lower place
- Opposite of: above
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BENEATH
Remember this word for future puzzles!
13A: "27. Trusty"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TRIEDANDTRUE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
14A: "29. Alternative to a fingerprint, maybe"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PASSCODE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
15A: "30. Golfer McIlroy, the first European male to achieve a career Grand Slam"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RORY
Remember this word for future puzzles!
16A: "31. Actress ___ Marsay of Disney+'s "Andor""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FAYE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
17A: "32. The Jazz, on sports tickers"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a reptile genus of iguanidae
- Similar words include: genus Uta
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: UTA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
18A: "33. Coming ___"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that in the near future
- Similar words include: before long, shortly, presently
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SOON
Remember this word for future puzzles!
19A: "34. Small band"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
- Similar words include: terzetto, trey, triad
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TRIO
Remember this word for future puzzles!
20A: "35. Jazz pianist with a memorable recording of "Tea for Two""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ARTTATUM
Remember this word for future puzzles!
21A: "37. Plant eater?"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: VENUSFLYTRAP
Remember this word for future puzzles!
22A: "39. What the British call people who make crosswords"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that one who sets written material into type
- Similar words include: compositor, typesetter, setter
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SETTERS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
23A: "40. Prepared statement?"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: IMREADY
Remember this word for future puzzles!
24A: "44. One-named rock idol who was born Paul David Hewson"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BONO
Remember this word for future puzzles!
25A: "45. Locking horns"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ATIT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
26A: "46. Guess alternative"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that united states filmmaker whose works explore the richness of black culture in america (born in 1957)
- Similar words include: Lee Yuen Kam, Robert E. Lee, lee side
- Opposite of: windward
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LEE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
27A: "47. Vegges out"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a shaped mass of baked bread that is usually sliced before eating
- Similar words include: frig around, lounge around, lounge about
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LOAFS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
28A: "49. Restaurant sommelier's offering"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HOUSEWINE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
29A: "51. Foundational skateboard trick"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OLLIE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
30A: "52. Doesn't exactly ham it up"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that act (a role) with great restraint
- Similar words include: underact, underplay
- Opposite of: overact
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: UNDERACTS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
31A: "53. Sings (out)"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that endless loop of flexible material between two rotating shafts or pulleys
- Similar words include: whack, belt ammunition, belt out
- Opposite of: unbelt
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BELTS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
32A: "54. Stereotypical eye-roller"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a juvenile between the onset of puberty and maturity
- Similar words include: teenaged, teenager, teenage
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TEEN
Remember this word for future puzzles!
33A: "55. Informal get-together"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SESH
Remember this word for future puzzles!
Down Clues - Complete List
| No. | Clue | Letters |
|---|---|---|
| 1D | 1. Words of affirmation | 5 |
| 2D | 2. Sam's wife in "The Lord of the Rings" | 5 |
| 3D | 3. Setting of the 1888 painting "Café Terrace at Night" | 5 |
| 4D | 4. Genre for Toots and the Maytals | 3 |
| 5D | 5. Bishop for whom a neighborhood in Paris is named | 7 |
| 6D | 6. Junk food that, ironically, has an exercise in its name | 11 |
| 7D | 7. Runs | 4 |
| 8D | 8. Rap figures, for short | 3 |
| 9D | 9. Similarly | 6 |
| 10D | 10. Flash mob group, perhaps | 11 |
| 11D | 11. Decide where to stay | 9 |
| 12D | 12. One wearing the Star of Life emblem, for short | 3 |
| 13D | 13. "Quite so" | 3 |
| 14D | 15. Back in the race? | 7 |
| 15D | 21. French name meaning "born again" | 4 |
| 16D | 23. "Mind your own beeswax!" | 11 |
| 17D | 24. It's not constructive | 11 |
| 18D | 25. Game division | 4 |
| 19D | 26. "I saw that!" | 3 |
| 20D | 28. Eccentric | 5 |
| 21D | 29. Colorful capsule that splatters | 9 |
| 22D | 31. Like samples | 4 |
| 23D | 33. Appetizer | 7 |
| 24D | 34. Anchors might be seen on them | 3 |
| 25D | 35. ___-Latino | 4 |
| 26D | 36. Funny Fred | 7 |
| 27D | 38. Picks up | 6 |
| 28D | 41. Literary protagonist who "generally gave herself very good advice (though she very seldom followed it)" | 5 |
| 29D | 42. Some hailstone "souvenirs" | 5 |
| 30D | 43. "Oof, sounds terrible!" | 5 |
| 31D | 45. Top-tier | 4 |
| 32D | 47. Softball question | 3 |
| 33D | 48. José ___ (Mexican food brand) | 3 |
| 34D | 49. Humble dwelling | 3 |
| 35D | 50. Served as | 3 |
Down Clues - Strategic Hints
1D: "1. Words of affirmation"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: IWILL
Remember this word for future puzzles!
2D: "2. Sam's wife in "The Lord of the Rings""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ROSIE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
3D: "3. Setting of the 1888 painting "Café Terrace at Night""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that money given by a buyer to a seller to bind a contract
- Similar words include: earnest money
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ARLES
Remember this word for future puzzles!
4D: "4. Genre for Toots and the Maytals"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SKA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
5D: "5. Bishop for whom a neighborhood in Paris is named"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: STDENIS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
6D: "6. Junk food that, ironically, has an exercise in its name"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CHEESECURLS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
7D: "7. Runs"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that affected manners intended to impress others
- Similar words include: melodic phrase, pose, broadcast
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AIRS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
8D: "8. Rap figures, for short"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that one million periods per second
- Similar words include: Mc, MHz, megahertz
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MCS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
9D: "9. Similarly"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: INKIND
Remember this word for future puzzles!
10D: "10. Flash mob group, perhaps"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DANCETROUPE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
11D: "11. Decide where to stay"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BOOKAROOM
Remember this word for future puzzles!
12D: "12. One wearing the Star of Life emblem, for short"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EMT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
13D: "13. "Quite so""
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: Ti, ti, Cordyline terminalis
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TIS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
14D: "15. Back in the race?"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that be behind; approve of
- Similar words include: certify, support, indorse
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ENDORSE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
15D: "21. French name meaning "born again""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RENE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
16D: "23. "Mind your own beeswax!""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: STAYOUTOFIT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
17D: "24. It's not constructive"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BADATTITUDE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
18D: "25. Game division"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a circular segment of a curve
- Similar words include: change state, tour, ferment
- Opposite of: unbend
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TURN
Remember this word for future puzzles!
19D: "26. "I saw that!""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HEY
Remember this word for future puzzles!
20D: "28. Eccentric"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that informal or slang terms for mentally irregular
- Similar words include: nuts, balmy, crackers
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DOTTY
Remember this word for future puzzles!
21D: "29. Colorful capsule that splatters"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a capsule filled with water-soluble dye used as a projectile in playing the game of paintball
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PAINTBALL
Remember this word for future puzzles!
22D: "31. Like samples"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that people who are free
- Similar words include: absolve, spare, resign
- Opposite of: bound, obstruct
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FREE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
23D: "33. Appetizer"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an electric motor for starting an engine
- Similar words include: starting motor, newbie, starter motor
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: STARTER
Remember this word for future puzzles!
24D: "34. Anchors might be seen on them"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that broadcasting visual images of stationary or moving objects; ; - ernie kovacs
- Similar words include: television, telecasting, television set
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TVS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
25D: "35. ___-Latino"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a rounded thickly curled hairdo
- Similar words include: Afro hairdo
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AFRO
Remember this word for future puzzles!
26D: "36. Funny Fred"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ARMISEN
Remember this word for future puzzles!
27D: "38. Picks up"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a general conscious awareness
- Similar words include: smell out, good sense, grass
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SENSES
Remember this word for future puzzles!
28D: "41. Literary protagonist who "generally gave herself very good advice (though she very seldom followed it)""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ALICE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
29D: "42. Some hailstone "souvenirs""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an appreciable consequence (especially a lessening)
- Similar words include: slit, indent, dent
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DENTS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
30D: "43. "Oof, sounds terrible!""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: YEESH
Remember this word for future puzzles!
31D: "45. Top-tier"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AONE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
32D: "47. Softball question"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an easy return of a tennis ball in a high arc
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LOB
Remember this word for future puzzles!
33D: "48. José ___ (Mexican food brand)"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OLE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
34D: "49. Humble dwelling"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that temporary military shelter
- Similar words include: army hut, shanty, hovel
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HUT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
35D: "50. Served as"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a state in northwestern united states on the pacific
- Similar words include: make up, live, comprise
- Opposite of: differ
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: WAS
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
33 Across Clues
35 Down Clues
68 Total Clues
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