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 (35 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: 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. "What a darling outfit!" | 10 |
| 2A | 11. Inflatable transport | 4 |
| 3A | 15. The kelpie of Celtic mythology, for one | 10 |
| 4A | 16. ___ palm | 4 |
| 5A | 17. Big name in classifieds | 10 |
| 6A | 18. Sound made by a toaster? | 4 |
| 7A | 19. "Avatar: Fire and ___" (2025 film) | 3 |
| 8A | 20. Mars comes third in it | 5 |
| 9A | 21. Creep | 5 |
| 10A | 22. Former employer of Edward Snowden, for short | 3 |
| 11A | 23. Utmost extent | 8 |
| 12A | 25. Improvised onstage | 6 |
| 13A | 27. Really involved | 6 |
| 14A | 28. Barbecue order | 4 |
| 15A | 29. Without revealing one's true intentions, maybe | 5 |
| 16A | 31. What a mess! | 3 |
| 17A | 32. Morse code components | 4 |
| 18A | 33. Free of charge | 5 |
| 19A | 34. Syngman ___, first president of South Korea | 4 |
| 20A | 35. Limón who was the U.S.'s first Latina poet laureate | 3 |
| 21A | 36. Total stranger, in slang | 5 |
| 22A | 37. "Suds" | 4 |
| 23A | 38. Andrew ___, banking tycoon who served as Treasury secretary from 1921 to 1932 | 6 |
| 24A | 40. "Rats!" | 6 |
| 25A | 42. Trimmer target | 8 |
| 26A | 44. Vigor | 3 |
| 27A | 45. Doggedness | 5 |
| 28A | 46. Volume units | 5 |
| 29A | 48. Loser in certain re-enactments, informally | 3 |
| 30A | 51. Harsh quality | 4 |
| 31A | 52. Aggressive state of mind | 10 |
| 32A | 54. Math function | 4 |
| 33A | 55. Art form featuring performers in kishin (demon) and okina (old man) masks | 10 |
| 34A | 56. Woman of the d'Urbervilles | 4 |
| 35A | 57. Something pulled while walking the dog | 10 |
Across Clues - Strategic Hints
1A: "1. "What a darling outfit!""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: YOULOOKFAB
Remember this word for future puzzles!
2A: "11. Inflatable transport"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a flat float (usually made of logs or planks) that can be used for transport or as a platform for swimmers
- Similar words include: stack, great deal, wad
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RAFT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
3A: "15. The kelpie of Celtic mythology, for one"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: WATERHORSE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
4A: "16. ___ palm"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ACAI
Remember this word for future puzzles!
5A: "17. Big name in classifieds"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CRAIGSLIST
Remember this word for future puzzles!
6A: "18. Sound made by a toaster?"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a light clear metallic sound as of a small bell
- Similar words include: tinkle
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TING
Remember this word for future puzzles!
7A: "19. "Avatar: Fire and ___" (2025 film)"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the residue that remains when something is burned
- Similar words include: ash tree
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ASH
Remember this word for future puzzles!
8A: "20. Mars comes third in it"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ANNEE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
9A: "21. Creep"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that move unobtrusively or furtively
- Similar words include: sashay
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SIDLE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
10A: "22. Former employer of Edward Snowden, for short"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the united states cryptologic organization that coordinates and directs highly specialized activities to protect united states information systems and to produce foreign intelligence information
- Similar words include: National Security Agency
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NSA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
11A: "23. Utmost extent"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NTHPOWER
Remember this word for future puzzles!
12A: "25. Improvised onstage"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that piece (something old) with a new part
- Similar words include: vamp, vamp up, revamp
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: VAMPED
Remember this word for future puzzles!
13A: "27. Really involved"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that marked by elaborate rhetoric and elaborated with decorative details; ; -john milton
- Similar words include: flowery
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ORNATE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
14A: "28. Barbecue order"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that support resembling the rib of an animal
- Similar words include: make fun, ridicule, laugh at
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RIBS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
15A: "29. Without revealing one's true intentions, maybe"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that in a coy manner
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: COYLY
Remember this word for future puzzles!
16A: "31. What a mess!"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an infection of the sebaceous gland of the eyelid
- Similar words include: stye, pigpen, eye infection
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: STY
Remember this word for future puzzles!
17A: "32. Morse code components"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the shorter of the two telegraphic signals used in morse code
- Similar words include: dit, dot
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DITS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
18A: "33. Free of charge"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NOFEE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
19A: "34. Syngman ___, first president of South Korea"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RHEE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
20A: "35. Limón who was the U.S.'s first Latina poet laureate"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an enzyme found in mammals that can catalyze the deamination of adenosine into inosine and ammonia
- Similar words include: adenosine deaminase
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ADA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
21A: "36. Total stranger, in slang"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RANDO
Remember this word for future puzzles!
22A: "37. "Suds""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a general name for alcoholic beverages made by fermenting a cereal (or mixture of cereals) flavored with hops
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BEER
Remember this word for future puzzles!
23A: "38. Andrew ___, banking tycoon who served as Treasury secretary from 1921 to 1932"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that united states financier and philanthropist (1855-1937)
- Similar words include: Andrew W. Mellon, Andrew Mellon, Andrew William Mellon
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MELLON
Remember this word for future puzzles!
24A: "40. "Rats!""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OHCRUD
Remember this word for future puzzles!
25A: "42. Trimmer target"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NOSEHAIR
Remember this word for future puzzles!
26A: "44. Vigor"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a quantity of no importance
- Similar words include: zero, cipher, speed
- Opposite of: unzip
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ZIP
Remember this word for future puzzles!
27A: "45. Doggedness"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the act of applying force to propel something
- Similar words include: motor, thrust, labour
- Opposite of: attract
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DRIVE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
28A: "46. Volume units"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a unit of perceived loudness equal to the loudness of a 1000-hertz tone at 40 db above threshold
- Similar words include: sone
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SONES
Remember this word for future puzzles!
29A: "48. Loser in certain re-enactments, informally"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that `johnny' was applied as a nickname for confederate soldiers by the federal soldiers in the american civil war; `greyback' derived from their grey confederate uniforms
- Similar words include: Johnny, Rebel, greyback
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: REB
Remember this word for future puzzles!
30A: "51. Harsh quality"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the boundary of a surface
- Similar words include: bound, inch, boundary
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EDGE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
31A: "52. Aggressive state of mind"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ATTACKMODE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
32A: "54. Math function"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that ratio of the length of the side opposite the given angle to the length of the hypotenuse of a right-angled triangle
- Similar words include: sin
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SINE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
33A: "55. Art form featuring performers in kishin (demon) and okina (old man) masks"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NOHTHEATER
Remember this word for future puzzles!
34A: "56. Woman of the d'Urbervilles"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TESS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
35A: "57. Something pulled while walking the dog"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: YOYOSTRING
Remember this word for future puzzles!
Down Clues - Complete List
| No. | Clue | Letters |
|---|---|---|
| 1D | 1. Service org. since the 1850s | 4 |
| 2D | 2. Sporting blades | 4 |
| 3D | 3. Jazz site | 4 |
| 4D | 4. Kauai keepsake | 3 |
| 5D | 5. Phenomena once known as "les petites morts" ("little deaths") | 7 |
| 6D | 6. "That dis was goo-ood!!" | 6 |
| 7D | 7. German cathedral city, to locals | 4 |
| 8D | 8. Gay man, per historical slang inspired by Judy Garland | 15 |
| 9D | 9. Plus | 5 |
| 10D | 10. "You ___!" ("Agreed!") | 3 |
| 11D | 11. Share | 6 |
| 12D | 12. Gave a faded look, as jeans | 10 |
| 13D | 13. A star might attract one | 9 |
| 14D | 14. Gemstone with gold-yellow bands | 8 |
| 15D | 21. Lively for one's age | 4 |
| 16D | 22. Picks up | 4 |
| 17D | 24. Darn it! | 4 |
| 18D | 25. Figures checked by nurses | 10 |
| 19D | 26. Field for the philosopher David Hume, informally | 4 |
| 20D | 28. Loyal to a drastic extent | 9 |
| 21D | 30. Action star Michelle | 4 |
| 22D | 32. Utmost | 8 |
| 23D | 33. Meemaw | 4 |
| 24D | 34. Go for another round | 4 |
| 25D | 36. Architect Ludwig Mies van der ___ | 4 |
| 26D | 37. Slow-cooked entree | 7 |
| 27D | 39. Big banks | 6 |
| 28D | 41. Poles can be found next to them | 6 |
| 29D | 43. Retort at recess | 5 |
| 30D | 47. Iceland is its only member that doesn't have a standing army | 4 |
| 31D | 48. Alternative to naan | 4 |
| 32D | 49. Shangri-la | 4 |
| 33D | 50. Result of breaking the ice? | 4 |
| 34D | 52. "___ Given Sunday" (1999 football drama) | 3 |
| 35D | 53. Scuff, say | 3 |
Down Clues - Strategic Hints
1D: "1. Service org. since the 1850s"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: YWCA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
2D: "2. Sporting blades"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an implement used to propel or steer a boat
- Similar words include: oar
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OARS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
3D: "3. Jazz site"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a state in the western united states; settled in 1847 by mormons led by brigham young
- Similar words include: Beehive State, UT, Mormon State
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: UTAH
Remember this word for future puzzles!
4D: "4. Kauai keepsake"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that flower arrangement consisting of a circular band of foliage or flowers for ornamental purposes
- Similar words include: chaplet, garland, wreath
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LEI
Remember this word for future puzzles!
5D: "5. Phenomena once known as "les petites morts" ("little deaths")"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the moment of most intense pleasure in sexual intercourse
- Similar words include: orgasm, coming, sexual climax
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ORGASMS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
6D: "6. "That dis was goo-ood!!""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OHSNAP
Remember this word for future puzzles!
7D: "7. German cathedral city, to locals"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a commercial center and river port in western germany on the rhine river; flourished during the 15th century as a member of the hanseatic league
- Similar words include: Cologne
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: KOLN
Remember this word for future puzzles!
8D: "8. Gay man, per historical slang inspired by Judy Garland"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FRIENDOFDOROTHY
Remember this word for future puzzles!
9D: "9. Plus"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a useful or valuable quality
- Similar words include: plus
- Opposite of: liability
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ASSET
Remember this word for future puzzles!
10D: "10. "You ___!" ("Agreed!")"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the money risked on a gamble
- Similar words include: calculate, reckon, stake
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BET
Remember this word for future puzzles!
11D: "11. Share"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the food allowance for one day (especially for service personnel)
- Similar words include: ration out
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RATION
Remember this word for future puzzles!
12D: "12. Gave a faded look, as jeans"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ACIDWASHED
Remember this word for future puzzles!
13D: "13. A star might attract one"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FANLETTER
Remember this word for future puzzles!
14D: "14. Gemstone with gold-yellow bands"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TIGEREYE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
15D: "21. Lively for one's age"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that moving quickly and lightly
- Similar words include: agile, nimble, quick
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SPRY
Remember this word for future puzzles!
16D: "22. Picks up"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that tag the base runner to get him out
- Similar words include: apprehend, nab, pick up
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NABS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
17D: "24. Darn it!"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an opening into or through something
- Similar words include: hole out, gob, pickle
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HOLE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
18D: "25. Figures checked by nurses"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: VITALSIGNS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
19D: "26. Field for the philosopher David Hume, informally"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ECON
Remember this word for future puzzles!
20D: "28. Loyal to a drastic extent"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RIDEORDIE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
21D: "30. Action star Michelle"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: YEOH
Remember this word for future puzzles!
22D: "32. Utmost"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DAMNDEST
Remember this word for future puzzles!
23D: "33. Meemaw"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NANA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
24D: "34. Go for another round"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: REUP
Remember this word for future puzzles!
25D: "36. Architect Ludwig Mies van der ___"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ROHE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
26D: "37. Slow-cooked entree"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a cut of meat from the breast or lower chest especially of beef
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BRISKET
Remember this word for future puzzles!
27D: "39. Big banks"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a formal reception of visitors or guests (as at a royal court)
- Similar words include: levee
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LEVEES
Remember this word for future puzzles!
28D: "41. Poles can be found next to them"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a native of inhabitant of the czech republic
- Similar words include: Czechoslovakian, Czechoslovak, Czech
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CZECHS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
29D: "43. Retort at recess"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ISTOO
Remember this word for future puzzles!
30D: "47. Iceland is its only member that doesn't have a standing army"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an international organization created in 1949 by the north atlantic treaty for purposes of collective security
- Similar words include: North Atlantic Treaty Organization
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NATO
Remember this word for future puzzles!
31D: "48. Alternative to naan"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ROTI
Remember this word for future puzzles!
32D: "49. Shangri-la"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that any place of complete bliss and delight and peace
- Similar words include: nirvana, promised land, Shangri-la
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EDEN
Remember this word for future puzzles!
33D: "50. Result of breaking the ice?"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a large mass of ice floating at sea; usually broken off of a polar glacier
- Similar words include: Alban Berg, iceberg
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BERG
Remember this word for future puzzles!
34D: "52. "___ Given Sunday" (1999 football drama)"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that one or some or every or all without specification
- Similar words include: whatsoever, whatever
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ANY
Remember this word for future puzzles!
35D: "53. Scuff, say"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the month following february and preceding april
- Similar words include: vitiate, deflower, mutilate
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MAR
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
35 Across Clues
35 Down Clues
70 Total Clues
More NYT Crossword Help
Looking for more puzzle solutions? Check out our comprehensive archive of NYT crossword hints and answers. We update daily with expert analysis and solving strategies.
No comments:
Post a Comment