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Friday, January 2, 2026

XWordHint Crossword Answers January 02, 2026 | 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: 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. Havanese greeting 3
2A 4. Tolstoy book whose title asks a question 9
3A 13. Reluctantly stoop 5
4A 16. They rate up to 350,000 on the Scoville scale 9
5A 17. H.S. class for tough life lessons? 5
6A 18. "Just tell me when it's over" 9
7A 19. Dance move also known as a backslide 8
8A 21. Skims, as soup stock 6
9A 22. Fig. that cannot start with 9 3
10A 23. Org. for The Rock and Brock Lesnar 3
11A 24. Tunnel-making machine 5
12A 25. Not many 4
13A 27. Windfalls 5
14A 28. Keep coming up 5
15A 30. One might lead to pay back 9
16A 34. Make some introductions, say 5
17A 35. The Cowboys of the N.C.A.A. 3
18A 36. Word from the Lakota for "they dwell" 5
19A 37. Emotional manipulation tactic 9
20A 39. Meaty meal 5
21A 40. Attraction on the western side of Carson Range 5
22A 41. "Oof!" 4
23A 42. Seems less impressive, so to speak 5
24A 43. Spray in the kitchen 3
25A 44. German stock market index 3
26A 47. Cumbrous 6
27A 49. One-to-one relationship 8
28A 51. Exchanges blows? 9
29A 53. Up to 5
30A 54. Eggless bread spread 9
31A 55. "A-a-a-and ___!" (improv show ender) 5
32A 56. High-carb snack 9
33A 57. May day celebrant 3

Across Clues - Strategic Hints

1A: "1. Havanese greeting"

3 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

2A: "4. Tolstoy book whose title asks a question"

9 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

3A: "13. Reluctantly stoop"

5 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that do something that one considers to be below one's dignity
  • Similar words include: descend, condescend
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DEIGN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

4A: "16. They rate up to 350,000 on the Scoville scale"

9 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

5A: "17. H.S. class for tough life lessons?"

5 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

6A: "18. "Just tell me when it's over""

9 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

7A: "19. Dance move also known as a backslide"

8 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a kind of dance step in which the dancer seems to be sliding on the spot
  • Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MOONWALK

Remember this word for future puzzles!

8A: "21. Skims, as soup stock"

6 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that remove the fat from
  • Similar words include: defat
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DEFATS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

9A: "22. Fig. that cannot start with 9"

3 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

10A: "23. Org. for The Rock and Brock Lesnar"

3 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

11A: "24. Tunnel-making machine"

5 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a drill for penetrating rock
  • Similar words include: woodborer, rock drill, stone drill
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BORER

Remember this word for future puzzles!

12A: "25. Not many"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

13A: "27. Windfalls"

5 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a desirable state
  • Similar words include: blessing, boon
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BOONS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

14A: "28. Keep coming up"

5 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that happen or occur again
  • Similar words include: repeat, fall back, resort
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RECUR

Remember this word for future puzzles!

15A: "30. One might lead to pay back"

9 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

16A: "34. Make some introductions, say"

5 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a person who acts as host at formal occasions (makes an introductory speech and introduces other speakers)
  • Similar words include: compere, master of ceremonies, host
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EMCEE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

17A: "35. The Cowboys of the N.C.A.A."

3 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

18A: "36. Word from the Lakota for "they dwell""

5 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a native american tent; usually of conical shape
  • Similar words include: teepee, tipi
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TEPEE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

19A: "37. Emotional manipulation tactic"

9 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

20A: "39. Meaty meal"

5 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a ceremonial dinner party for many people
  • Similar words include: junket, fete, spread
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FEAST

Remember this word for future puzzles!

21A: "40. Attraction on the western side of Carson Range"

5 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

22A: "41. "Oof!""

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that something of little value
  • Similar words include: darn, bedamn, darned
  • Opposite of: bless
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DAMN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

23A: "42. Seems less impressive, so to speak"

5 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a wooden strip forming part of a fence
  • Similar words include: pale, picket, pal
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PALES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

24A: "43. Spray in the kitchen"

3 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

25A: "44. German stock market index"

3 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

26A: "47. Cumbrous"

6 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that lacking grace in movement or posture
  • Similar words include: clumsy, ungainly, gawky
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CLUNKY

Remember this word for future puzzles!

27A: "49. One-to-one relationship"

8 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that having only one spouse at a time
  • Similar words include: monogamousness
  • Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MONOGAMY

Remember this word for future puzzles!

28A: "51. Exchanges blows?"

9 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

29A: "53. Up to"

5 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

30A: "54. Eggless bread spread"

9 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

31A: "55. "A-a-a-and ___!" (improv show ender)"

5 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the place where some action occurs
  • Similar words include: shot, tantrum, prospect
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SCENE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

32A: "56. High-carb snack"

9 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

33A: "57. May day celebrant"

3 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that informal terms for a mother
  • Similar words include: mammy, momma, mummy
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MOM

Remember this word for future puzzles!

Down Clues - Complete List

No. Clue Letters
1D 1. President who wrote "Posterity! You will never know how much it cost the present generation to preserve your freedom! I hope you will make a good use of it" 5
2D 2. Default outcomes, perhaps 5
3D 3. Kind of sequence that that proceeds 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, ... 9
4D 4. Duration 5
5D 5. Modern security threat 4
6D 6. Org. with the Rule of Law Initiative 3
7D 7. Cylindrical oven 7
8D 8. Extremely well-liked? 14
9D 9. Personal opinion? 10
10D 10. Hooting and hollering 5
11D 11. Part of an underground network 4
12D 12. Pithy put-downs 4
13D 14. Main ingredient in an aviation cocktail 3
14D 15. "I like the sound of that!" 14
15D 20. "So adorable!" 3
16D 24. Prepare to ship, say 5
17D 26. Delivery means to a gas station 10
18D 27. Count in the Blues Hall of Fame 5
19D 28. On the ___ (frequently, informally) 3
20D 29. Bird whose eggs are sometimes a canvas for Aboriginal art 3
21D 30. Capotes are flapped at them 5
22D 31. "Let's go, sleepyhead!" 9
23D 32. Booking, for short 3
24D 33. Server's obstacle 3
25D 38. "Word on the street is ..." 7
26D 41. ___ Brown, author of "The Da Vinci Code" 3
27D 42. Night of lawlessness in a long-running horror franchise, with "the" 5
28D 43. Try-hard 5
29D 45. Kind of acid 5
30D 46. Stem component 5
31D 47. Capitulate 4
32D 48. Lender's security 4
33D 49. Table outside 4
34D 50. Big purveyor of health supplements 3
35D 52. Gender-neutral term in a family 3

Down Clues - Strategic Hints

1D: "1. President who wrote "Posterity! You will never know how much it cost the present generation to preserve your freedom! I hope you will make a good use of it""

5 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that american revolutionary leader and patriot; an organizer of the boston tea party and signer of the declaration of independence (1722-1803)
  • Similar words include: John Adams, Mount Adams, disco biscuit
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ADAMS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

2D: "2. Default outcomes, perhaps"

5 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

3D: "3. Kind of sequence that that proceeds 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, ..."

9 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

4D: "4. Duration"

5 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a period of indeterminate length (usually short) marked by some action or condition
  • Similar words include: patch, piece, spell
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: WHILE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

5D: "5. Modern security threat"

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that one who works hard at boring tasks
  • Similar words include: chop, taxi, political hack
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HACK

Remember this word for future puzzles!

6D: "6. Org. with the Rule of Law Initiative"

3 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a loose sleeveless outer garment made from aba cloth; worn by arabs
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ABA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

7D: "7. Cylindrical oven"

7 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a clay oven used in northern india and pakistan
  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TANDOOR

Remember this word for future puzzles!

8D: "8. Extremely well-liked?"

14 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ______________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: INTERNETFAMOUS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

9D: "9. Personal opinion?"

10 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

10D: "10. Hooting and hollering"

5 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

11D: "11. Part of an underground network"

4 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that (botany) the usually underground organ that lacks buds or leaves or nodes; absorbs water and mineral salts; usually it anchors the plant to the ground
  • Similar words include: tooth root, ancestor, source
  • Opposite of: descendant
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ROOT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

12D: "12. Pithy put-downs"

4 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that utter `tsk,' `tut,' or `tut-tut,' as in disapproval
  • Similar words include: tut-tut, tsk, tut
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TSKS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

13D: "14. Main ingredient in an aviation cocktail"

3 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that strong liquor flavored with juniper berries
  • Similar words include: snare, noose, knock rummy
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GIN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

14D: "15. "I like the sound of that!""

14 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ______________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NOWWERETALKING

Remember this word for future puzzles!

15D: "20. "So adorable!""

3 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

16D: "24. Prepare to ship, say"

5 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

17D: "26. Delivery means to a gas station"

10 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

18D: "27. Count in the Blues Hall of Fame"

5 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

19D: "28. On the ___ (frequently, informally)"

3 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

20D: "29. Bird whose eggs are sometimes a canvas for Aboriginal art"

3 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that any of various systems of units for measuring electricity and magnetism
  • Similar words include: Dromaius novaehollandiae, electromagnetic unit, Emu novaehollandiae
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EMU

Remember this word for future puzzles!

21D: "30. Capotes are flapped at them"

5 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

22D: "31. "Let's go, sleepyhead!""

9 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

23D: "32. Booking, for short"

3 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a widely distributed system consisting of all the cells able to ingest bacteria or colloidal particles etc, except for certain white blood cells
  • Similar words include: re, Re, rhenium
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

24D: "33. Server's obstacle"

3 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a computer network consisting of a worldwide network of computer networks that use the tcp/ip network protocols to facilitate data transmission and exchange
  • Similar words include: network, profit, web
  • Opposite of: gross
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NET

Remember this word for future puzzles!

25D: "38. "Word on the street is ...""

7 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

26D: "41. ___ Brown, author of "The Da Vinci Code""

3 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

27D: "42. Night of lawlessness in a long-running horror franchise, with "the""

5 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the act of clearing yourself (or another) from some stigma or charge
  • Similar words include: be sick, disgorge, regorge
  • Opposite of: keep down, rehabilitate
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PURGE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

28D: "43. Try-hard"

5 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a person who habitually pretends to be something he is not
  • Similar words include: stumper, toughie, model
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: POSER

Remember this word for future puzzles!

29D: "45. Kind of acid"

5 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the radical -nh2
  • Similar words include: amino group, aminic
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AMINO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

30D: "46. Stem component"

5 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the woody part of plants: the supporting and water-conducting tissue, consisting primarily of tracheids and vessels
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: XYLEM

Remember this word for future puzzles!

31D: "47. Capitulate"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a geological formation consisting of an underground enclosure with access from the surface of the ground or from the sea
  • Similar words include: undermine, spelunk
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CAVE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

32D: "48. Lender's security"

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the right to take another's property if an obligation is not discharged
  • Similar words include: spleen
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LIEN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

33D: "49. Table outside"

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that flat tableland with steep edges
  • Similar words include: table
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MESA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

34D: "50. Big purveyor of health supplements"

3 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

35D: "52. Gender-neutral term in a family"

3 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a person's brother or sister
  • Similar words include: blood relative, cognate, sibling
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SIB

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

More NYT Crossword Help

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Last updated: January 02, 2026 at 04:26 AM

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