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 (39 clues)
- Across Clues - Detailed Hints
- Down Clues Table (42 clues)
- Down Clues - Detailed Hints
- Expert Solving Strategies
- Today's Puzzle Statistics
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. Daytona 500 org. | 6 |
| 2A | 7. Cloth shopping bags | 5 |
| 3A | 12. Advanced to the next round of musical chairs, say | 3 |
| 4A | 15. "Their exact words were ..." | 6 |
| 5A | 16. Toy company behind Frisbees and Hula Hoops | 5 |
| 6A | 17. "Sex and the City" network | 3 |
| 7A | 18. Narrow, focused perspective | 12 |
| 8A | 20. "___ for one and one for ___!" | 3 |
| 9A | 21. E, on a compass | 4 |
| 10A | 22. Villain in Shakespeare's "Othello" and Disney's "Aladdin" | 4 |
| 11A | 23. Assigned a job | 6 |
| 12A | 25. Pizzeria fixtures | 5 |
| 13A | 27. Blackjack player's request | 5 |
| 14A | 28. Magazine for the small screen since 1953 | 7 |
| 15A | 31. Parent's curt response to a kid's "But why?" | 7 |
| 16A | 33. Ballet dancer's handrail | 5 |
| 17A | 34. Unaccompanied | 4 |
| 18A | 35. "You can say ___ again!" | 4 |
| 19A | 37. Place for a seaweed body wrap | 3 |
| 20A | 38. Sign near a freshly applied coat | 8 |
| 21A | 42. Number represented by candles on a cake | 3 |
| 22A | 43. Toe treatment, in brief | 4 |
| 23A | 45. ___ of the Horse (2026 in the Chinese zodiac) | 4 |
| 24A | 46. ''You win! I give up!'' | 5 |
| 25A | 48. One might be sworn to it | 7 |
| 26A | 50. Golf count | 7 |
| 27A | 52. Dog harness attachment | 5 |
| 28A | 53. Beyond well-done | 5 |
| 29A | 54. Maker of skintight swimwear | 6 |
| 30A | 56. Exceptionally good, in Gen Z slang | 4 |
| 31A | 57. "Very funny!" | 4 |
| 32A | 61. Dallas N.B.A. player, for short | 3 |
| 33A | 62. What children should use at the library ... and a literal description of the circled letters in this puzzle | 12 |
| 34A | 65. Any number raised to the 0th power | 3 |
| 35A | 66. "Say cheese!" | 5 |
| 36A | 67. People with custody of things, typically | 6 |
| 37A | 68. Toothpaste type | 3 |
| 38A | 69. Evil spells | 5 |
| 39A | 70. Feel remorse about | 6 |
Across Clues - Strategic Hints
1A: "1. Daytona 500 org."
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
2A: "7. Cloth shopping bags"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a capacious bag or basket
- Similar words include: add, add together, tally
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
3A: "12. Advanced to the next round of musical chairs, say"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the sabbath by jews and some christians
- Similar words include: seat, sit around, Saturday
- Opposite of: arise, stand
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
4A: "15. "Their exact words were ...""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
5A: "16. Toy company behind Frisbees and Hula Hoops"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
6A: "17. "Sex and the City" network"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
7A: "18. Narrow, focused perspective"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
8A: "20. "___ for one and one for ___!""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that quantifier; used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
- Similar words include: altogether, whole, totally
- Opposite of: partly, some
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
9A: "21. E, on a compass"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the cardinal compass point that is at 90 degrees
- Similar words include: due east, eastward, E
- Opposite of: west
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
10A: "22. Villain in Shakespeare's "Othello" and Disney's "Aladdin""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the villain in william shakespeare's tragedy who tricked othello into murdering his wife
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
11A: "23. Assigned a job"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that assign a task to
- Similar words include: task, tax
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
12A: "25. Pizzeria fixtures"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that kitchen appliance used for baking or roasting
- Similar words include: oven
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
13A: "27. Blackjack player's request"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
14A: "28. Magazine for the small screen since 1953"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
15A: "31. Parent's curt response to a kid's "But why?""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
16A: "33. Ballet dancer's handrail"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
17A: "34. Unaccompanied"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that any activity that is performed alone without assistance
- Similar words include: unaccompanied, alone
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
18A: "35. "You can say ___ again!""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
19A: "37. Place for a seaweed body wrap"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a health resort near a spring or at the seaside
- Similar words include: watering hole, watering place, health spa
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
20A: "38. Sign near a freshly applied coat"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
21A: "42. Number represented by candles on a cake"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that how long something has existed
- Similar words include: old age, geezerhood, mature
- Opposite of: rejuvenate
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
22A: "43. Toe treatment, in brief"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
23A: "45. ___ of the Horse (2026 in the Chinese zodiac)"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
- Similar words include: class, yr, twelvemonth
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
24A: "46. ''You win! I give up!''"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt
- Opposite of: aunt
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
25A: "48. One might be sworn to it"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the trait of keeping things secret
- Similar words include: privateness, concealment, silence
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
26A: "50. Golf count"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that (sports) the act of swinging or striking at a ball with a club or racket or bat or cue or hand
- Similar words include: slash, fortuity, virgule
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
27A: "52. Dog harness attachment"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that restraint consisting of a rope (or light chain) used to restrain an animal
- Similar words include: troika, tether, trine
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
28A: "53. Beyond well-done"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that destroy by fire
- Similar words include: burned-out, burnt-out, fire
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
29A: "54. Maker of skintight swimwear"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
30A: "56. Exceptionally good, in Gen Z slang"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the event of something burning (often destructive)
- Similar words include: evoke, give the axe, burn
- Opposite of: hire
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
31A: "57. "Very funny!""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
32A: "61. Dallas N.B.A. player, for short"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
33A: "62. What children should use at the library ... and a literal description of the circled letters in this puzzle"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
34A: "65. Any number raised to the 0th power"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the smallest whole number or a numeral representing this number
- Similar words include: matchless, I, unitary
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
35A: "66. "Say cheese!""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth; usually shows pleasure or amusement
- Similar words include: smiling, grinning, grin
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
36A: "67. People with custody of things, typically"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that (law) someone who owns (is legal possessor of) a business
- Similar words include: possessor, owner, proprietor
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
37A: "68. Toothpaste type"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a colloid in a more solid form than a sol
- Similar words include: gelatin, mousse, colloidal gel
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
38A: "69. Evil spells"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an evil spell
- Similar words include: jinx, witch, hex
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
39A: "70. Feel remorse about"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that sadness associated with some wrong done or some disappointment
- Similar words include: ruefulness, rue, repent
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
Down Clues - Complete List
| No. | Clue | Letters |
|---|---|---|
| 1D | 1. Evening, in ads | 4 |
| 2D | 2. Blue-green hue | 4 |
| 3D | 3. Pair orbited by the fictional planet Tatooine | 4 |
| 4D | 4. Use makeup to sculpt and define, as facial features | 7 |
| 5D | 5. Had a meal | 3 |
| 6D | 6. Depended (on) | 6 |
| 7D | 7. Tiny tree branches | 5 |
| 8D | 8. Very | 4 |
| 9D | 9. Word before chi or after mai | 3 |
| 10D | 10. 8-) or ;-P | 8 |
| 11D | 11. Beethoven's "Moonlight ___" | 6 |
| 12D | 12. Burger chain with custard-based drinks | 10 |
| 13D | 13. Ready, willing and ___ | 4 |
| 14D | 14. Spilled the beans | 4 |
| 15D | 19. Rooftop accessory often shaped like a rooster atop an arrow | 4 |
| 16D | 24. Salacious material | 4 |
| 17D | 26. Oceanfront room feature | 4 |
| 18D | 27. Prefix with pad or port | 4 |
| 19D | 28. One of eight in a stick of butter: Abbr. | 4 |
| 20D | 29. Uses an e-cigarette | 5 |
| 21D | 30. Stage of education | 10 |
| 22D | 31. Tusked swine | 4 |
| 23D | 32. Bird on Mexico's flag | 5 |
| 24D | 34. Fix, at the vet's | 4 |
| 25D | 36. Some concert souvenirs | 4 |
| 26D | 39. "Look this way, class" | 8 |
| 27D | 40. The "T" in STEM, informally | 4 |
| 28D | 41. Go sour, as milk | 4 |
| 29D | 44. Slurpee alternative | 4 |
| 30D | 47. Potentially suspicious response to "What are you doing?" | 7 |
| 31D | 49. Red bit in a salad | 6 |
| 32D | 50. "You betcha!" | 4 |
| 33D | 51. The ___ Project (mental health organization for LGBTQ+ youth) | 6 |
| 34D | 53. ___ one's time (waits patiently) | 5 |
| 35D | 54. Skyline haze | 4 |
| 36D | 55. Window section | 4 |
| 37D | 56. Submit one's taxes | 4 |
| 38D | 58. Taiwanese PC maker | 4 |
| 39D | 59. "Present!" | 4 |
| 40D | 60. The "A" in T.A.: Abbr. | 4 |
| 41D | 63. Highest roll of a standard die | 3 |
| 42D | 64. Have debts | 3 |
Down Clues - Strategic Hints
1D: "1. Evening, in ads"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
2D: "2. Blue-green hue"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a shade of blue tinged with green
- Similar words include: peacock blue, cobalt blue, aquamarine
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
3D: "3. Pair orbited by the fictional planet Tatooine"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
- Similar words include: Sunday, Dominicus, sunbathe
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
4D: "4. Use makeup to sculpt and define, as facial features"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a line drawn on a map connecting points of equal height
- Similar words include: contour line, form, shape
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
5D: "5. Had a meal"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that goddess of criminal rashness and its punishment
- Similar words include: run through, eat on, corrode
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
6D: "6. Depended (on)"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that have confidence or faith in
- Similar words include: swear, bank, rely
- Opposite of: mistrust
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
7D: "7. Tiny tree branches"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a small branch or division of a branch (especially a terminal division); usually applied to branches of the current or preceding year
- Similar words include: cotton on, sprig, branchlet
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
8D: "8. Very"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
9D: "9. Word before chi or after mai"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a native or inhabitant of thailand
- Similar words include: Thai, Siamese
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
10D: "10. 8-) or ;-P"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a representation of a facial expression (as a smile or frown) created by typing a sequence of characters in sending email
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
11D: "11. Beethoven's "Moonlight ___""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a musical composition of 3 or 4 movements of contrasting forms
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
12D: "12. Burger chain with custard-based drinks"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
13D: "13. Ready, willing and ___"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that (usually followed by `to') having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
- Similar words include: capable, able-bodied
- Opposite of: unable
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
14D: "14. Spilled the beans"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that express in words
- Similar words include: state, secern, enjoin
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
15D: "19. Rooftop accessory often shaped like a rooster atop an arrow"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that mechanical device attached to an elevated structure; rotates freely to show the direction of the wind
- Similar words include: blade, weather vane, weathervane
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
16D: "24. Salacious material"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a black colloidal substance consisting wholly or principally of amorphous carbon and used to make pigments and ink
- Similar words include: vulgarism, carbon black, smut fungus
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
17D: "26. Oceanfront room feature"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a way of regarding situations or topics etc.
- Similar words include: sentiment, purview, aspect
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
18D: "27. Prefix with pad or port"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
19D: "28. One of eight in a stick of butter: Abbr."
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
20D: "29. Uses an e-cigarette"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
21D: "30. Stage of education"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
22D: "31. Tusked swine"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that old world wild swine having a narrow body and prominent tusks from which most domestic swine come; introduced in united states
- Similar words include: Sus scrofa, wild boar
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
23D: "32. Bird on Mexico's flag"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that any of various large keen-sighted diurnal birds of prey noted for their broad wings and strong soaring flight
- Similar words include: bird of Jove, double birdie
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
24D: "34. Fix, at the vet's"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that remove the ovaries of
- Similar words include: neuter, alter, castrate
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
25D: "36. Some concert souvenirs"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the starting place for each hole on a golf course
- Similar words include: tee, teeing ground, golf tee
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
26D: "39. "Look this way, class""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
27D: "40. The "T" in STEM, informally"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a school teaching mechanical and industrial arts and the applied sciences
- Similar words include: technical school
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
28D: "41. Go sour, as milk"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a circular segment of a curve
- Similar words include: release, round, change by reversal
- Opposite of: unbend
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
29D: "44. Slurpee alternative"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
30D: "47. Potentially suspicious response to "What are you doing?""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a quantity of no importance
- Similar words include: nix, nada, goose egg
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
31D: "49. Red bit in a salad"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that pungent fleshy edible root
- Similar words include: daikon, Raphanus sativus longipinnatus, Japanese radish
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
32D: "50. "You betcha!""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
- Similar words include: trusted, certainly, indisputable
- Opposite of: unsure, uncertain
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
33D: "51. The ___ Project (mental health organization for LGBTQ+ youth)"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
34D: "53. ___ one's time (waits patiently)"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that propose a payment
- Similar words include: call, press, abide
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
35D: "54. Skyline haze"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that air pollution by a mixture of smoke and fog
- Similar words include: smogginess
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
36D: "55. Window section"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that sheet glass cut in shapes for windows or doors
- Similar words include: acid, Lucy in the sky with diamonds, paneling
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
37D: "56. Submit one's taxes"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a set of related records (either written or electronic) kept together
- Similar words include: register, charge, data file
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
38D: "58. Taiwanese PC maker"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that type genus of the aceraceae; trees or shrubs having winged fruit
- Similar words include: genus Acer
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
39D: "59. "Present!""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the present location; this place
- Similar words include: Hera, hither
- Opposite of: there
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
40D: "60. The "A" in T.A.: Abbr."
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
41D: "63. Highest roll of a standard die"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one
- Similar words include: sextet, sixer, half dozen
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
42D: "64. Have debts"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that be obliged to pay or repay
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
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
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