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Saturday, January 3, 2026

XWordHint Crossword Answers January 03, 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: 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. Spoilers that ruin a whole lot 9
2A 10. Ditch digger 5
3A 15. Building that shouldn't have running water 9
4A 16. Actor Maguire 5
5A 17. Save me! 9
6A 18. Stretch one's legs, say 5
7A 19. Really went for 9
8A 20. French fathers 5
9A 21. PlayStation 5 maker 4
10A 22. Hairstyle associated with lesbian culture 6
11A 24. Campus mil. group 4
12A 26. "On top of that ..." 8
13A 28. European capital that names some animals if you interchange its last two letters 5
14A 29. Part of many a financial portfolio 4
15A 30. Spot 4
16A 31. One in hand? 3
17A 32. Add pizazz to 7
18A 35. Poke option 3
19A 36. Prefix with sphere 4
20A 38. Place to make offers 4
21A 39. Admit 5
22A 41. "Allow me!" 8
23A 43. Number range for some board games 4
24A 44. How someone might be caught 6
25A 45. Blemish 4
26A 47. Unwasted? 5
27A 48. Direction to get to an address 9
28A 53. "Your point being ...?" 5
29A 54. Uncovered 9
30A 55. Have a feeling 5
31A 56. Aids in recalling 9
32A 57. What "seder" means, literally 5
33A 58. Exaggerated speaking style that promotes language development 9

Across Clues - Strategic Hints

1A: "1. Spoilers that ruin a whole lot"

9 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

2A: "10. Ditch digger"

5 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a playing card in the major suit that has one or more black figures on it
  • Similar words include: nigger, jigaboo, nigga
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SPADE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

3A: "15. Building that shouldn't have running water"

9 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

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4A: "16. Actor Maguire"

5 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that united states abstract painter influenced by oriental calligraphy (1890-1976)
  • Similar words include: Mark Tobey
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TOBEY

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5A: "17. Save me!"

9 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

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6A: "18. Stretch one's legs, say"

5 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a leisurely walk (usually in some public place)
  • Similar words include: promenade, mosey, saunter
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AMBLE

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7A: "19. Really went for"

9 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

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8A: "20. French fathers"

5 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

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9A: "21. PlayStation 5 maker"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

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10A: "22. Hairstyle associated with lesbian culture"

6 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that highly valued lean flesh of marine or freshwater mullet
  • Similar words include: grey mullet, gray mullet
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MULLET

Remember this word for future puzzles!

11A: "24. Campus mil. group"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a training program to prepare college students to be commissioned officers
  • Similar words include: Reserve Officers Training Corps
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ROTC

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12A: "26. "On top of that ...""

8 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that in addition
  • Similar words include: furthermore, what is more
  • Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MOREOVER

Remember this word for future puzzles!

13A: "28. European capital that names some animals if you interchange its last two letters"

5 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the capital of belarus and of the commonwealth of independent states
  • Similar words include: capital of Belarus
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MINSK

Remember this word for future puzzles!

14A: "29. Part of many a financial portfolio"

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an electrical force linking atoms
  • Similar words include: adhere, attachment, bring together
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BOND

Remember this word for future puzzles!

15A: "30. Spot"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the piece of land on which something is located (or is to be located)
  • Similar words include: internet site, website, web site
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SITE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

16A: "31. One in hand?"

3 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the smallest whole number or a numeral representing this number
  • Similar words include: whiz, I, virtuoso
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ACE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

17A: "32. Add pizazz to"

7 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

18A: "35. Poke option"

3 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

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19A: "36. Prefix with sphere"

4 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

20A: "38. Place to make offers"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

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21A: "39. Admit"

5 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

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22A: "41. "Allow me!""

8 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

23A: "43. Number range for some board games"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that how long something has existed
  • Similar words include: eld, years, historic period
  • Opposite of: rejuvenate
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AGES

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24A: "44. How someone might be caught"

6 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

25A: "45. Blemish"

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a ringing sound
  • Similar words include: gouge, dent, nick
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DING

Remember this word for future puzzles!

26A: "47. Unwasted?"

5 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that cause to become sober
  • Similar words include: solemn, sombre, sedate
  • Opposite of: intoxicated, playful
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SOBER

Remember this word for future puzzles!

27A: "48. Direction to get to an address"

9 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

28A: "53. "Your point being ...?""

5 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

29A: "54. Uncovered"

9 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

30A: "55. Have a feeling"

5 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a general conscious awareness
  • Similar words include: smell out, horse sense, sensory faculty
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SENSE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

31A: "56. Aids in recalling"

9 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a method or system for improving the memory
  • Similar words include: mnemonic
  • Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MNEMONICS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

32A: "57. What "seder" means, literally"

5 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that (often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
  • Similar words include: society, edict, social club
  • Opposite of: disorder, deregulate
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ORDER

Remember this word for future puzzles!

33A: "58. Exaggerated speaking style that promotes language development"

9 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

Down Clues - Complete List

No. Clue Letters
1D 1. Unwanted mail 4
2D 2. Berry found in swamps 4
3D 3. Work place 4
4D 4. Some chances to get credit, in brief 7
5D 5. Symbols of love on some bridges 8
6D 6. Opposite of "with the works" 5
7D 7. Lincolnesque, in a way 5
8D 8. Behold, in Latin 4
9D 9. Support from an angel 9
10D 10. Corner piece 6
11D 11. Fruits related to grapefruits 7
12D 12. Save space, in a way 10
13D 13. Words on an incriminating email, perhaps 10
14D 14. Emoji indicating interest 4
15D 23. Language in which "thank you" is "shukriya" 4
16D 24. Appliance that uses a thermostat to know when to stop 10
17D 25. Performer who's juggling a lot? 10
18D 26. Tech that records movement 5
19D 27. Part of a certain steering system 4
20D 28. When repeated, a fish 4
21D 29. Place with a chapel and mess hall 9
22D 33. Soft, sticky treat 4
23D 34. Drifters at sea 8
24D 37. Fervent 7
25D 40. Annual event with baskets 7
26D 42. Not so simple 6
27D 45. Where French fries are "frog sticks" 5
28D 46. Start of a declaration of 47 B.C. 5
29D 47. Nothing special 4
30D 49. Selene's Roman counterpart 4
31D 50. Lake ___, body of water near London 4
32D 51. Informal endorsements 4
33D 52. It's conditional 4

Down Clues - Strategic Hints

1D: "1. Unwanted mail"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a statute in draft before it becomes law
  • Similar words include: visor, handbill, posting
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BILL

Remember this word for future puzzles!

2D: "2. Berry found in swamps"

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

3D: "3. Work place"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a piece of furniture with a writing surface and usually drawers or other compartments
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DESK

Remember this word for future puzzles!

4D: "4. Some chances to get credit, in brief"

7 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

5D: "5. Symbols of love on some bridges"

8 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a detachable lock; has a hinged shackle that can be passed through the staple of a hasp or the links in a chain and then snapped shut
  • Similar words include: padlock
  • Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PADLOCKS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

6D: "6. Opposite of "with the works""

5 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that extensive tract of level open land
  • Similar words include: patent, plainly, manifest
  • Opposite of: fancy, patterned
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PLAIN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

7D: "7. Lincolnesque, in a way"

5 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that tall and thin and having long slender limbs
  • Similar words include: gangling, rangy, gangly
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LANKY

Remember this word for future puzzles!

8D: "8. Behold, in Latin"

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

9D: "9. Support from an angel"

9 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

10D: "10. Corner piece"

6 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that (usually plural) a necessary commodity for which demand is constant
  • Similar words include: staple fibre, staple fiber, basic
  • Opposite of: unstaple
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: STAPLE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

11D: "11. Fruits related to grapefruits"

7 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that southeastern asian tree producing large fruits resembling grapefruits
  • Similar words include: shaddock, Citrus decumana, Citrus maxima
  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: POMELOS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

12D: "12. Save space, in a way"

10 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that reduce in scope while retaining essential elements
  • Similar words include: cut, foreshorten, shorten
  • Opposite of: expand
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ABBREVIATE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

13D: "13. Words on an incriminating email, perhaps"

10 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

14D: "14. Emoji indicating interest"

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that opinion or judgment
  • Similar words include: eyeball, eye, oculus
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EYES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

15D: "23. Language in which "thank you" is "shukriya""

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the official literary language of pakistan, closely related to hindi; widely used in india (mostly by moslems); written in arabic script
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: URDU

Remember this word for future puzzles!

16D: "24. Appliance that uses a thermostat to know when to stop"

10 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

17D: "25. Performer who's juggling a lot?"

10 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

18D: "26. Tech that records movement"

5 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

19D: "27. Part of a certain steering system"

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that one of a pair of long straps (usually connected to the bit or the headpiece) used to control a horse
  • Similar words include: draw rein, rule, rein in
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: REIN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

20D: "28. When repeated, a fish"

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

21D: "29. Place with a chapel and mess hall"

9 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

22D: "33. Soft, sticky treat"

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the short weak cry of a young bird
  • Similar words include: chirrup, cheep, peek
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PEEP

Remember this word for future puzzles!

23D: "34. Drifters at sea"

8 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the aggregate of small plant and animal organisms that float or drift in great numbers in fresh or salt water
  • Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PLANKTON

Remember this word for future puzzles!

24D: "37. Fervent"

7 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that possessing or displaying a distinctive feature to a heightened degree
  • Similar words include: acute, vivid
  • Opposite of: mild
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: INTENSE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

25D: "40. Annual event with baskets"

7 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

26D: "42. Not so simple"

6 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
  • Similar words include: concentrated, gruelling, punishing
  • Opposite of: voiced, lightly
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HARDER

Remember this word for future puzzles!

27D: "45. Where French fries are "frog sticks""

5 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a person eating a meal (especially in a restaurant)
  • Similar words include: dining car, buffet car, dining compartment
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DINER

Remember this word for future puzzles!

28D: "46. Start of a declaration of 47 B.C."

5 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

29D: "47. Nothing special"

4 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

30D: "49. Selene's Roman counterpart"

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that (roman mythology) the goddess of the moon; counterpart of greek selene
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LUNA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

31D: "50. Lake ___, body of water near London"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a member of an iroquoian people formerly living on the south shore of lake erie in northern ohio and northwest pennsylvania and western new york
  • Similar words include: Lake Erie
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ERIE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

32D: "51. Informal endorsements"

4 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

33D: "52. It's conditional"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

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
33 Down Clues
66 Total Clues

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Last updated: January 03, 2026 at 04:07 AM

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