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 (32 clues)
- Down Clues - Detailed Hints
- Expert Solving Strategies
- Today's Puzzle Statistics
Today's Puzzle Difficulty: Moderate
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. Showy insect with dark eyespots on its wings | 6 |
| 2A | 7. Land bordering the Sea of Azov | 6 |
| 3A | 13. Tired expression | 6 |
| 4A | 14. Start of an old request for advice | 7 |
| 5A | 15. Optional button while paying via app | 6 |
| 6A | 16. Image editor, informally? | 8 |
| 7A | 17. "The Rise of Skywalker" role | 3 |
| 8A | 18. What power tools should be designed for | 7 |
| 9A | 20. Curved shape | 3 |
| 10A | 21. "___ MÃa" (2014 Latin pop hit) | 4 |
| 11A | 23. Suffix akin to -ess | 4 |
| 12A | 24. "There you have it!" | 4 |
| 13A | 25. Mobster's weapon | 3 |
| 14A | 26. Source of many an explosive news story | 4 |
| 15A | 27. Get one over on | 5 |
| 16A | 28. "So that's how it's gonna be, I guess" | 12 |
| 17A | 31. Air traveler's connection | 12 |
| 18A | 32. Helpful pointer, say? | 12 |
| 19A | 33. Indigenous land, informally | 3 |
| 20A | 34. Drink from a small cup | 4 |
| 21A | 35. War of 1812 treaty locale | 5 |
| 22A | 39. Dwindle | 4 |
| 23A | 40. Feminist writer ___ Mae Brown | 4 |
| 24A | 42. Apple or orange, e.g. | 4 |
| 25A | 43. Gambling site, in brief | 3 |
| 26A | 44. Heart of downtown | 7 |
| 27A | 47. Oregon senator Wyden | 3 |
| 28A | 48. One of the B vitamins | 6 |
| 29A | 50. Sore spots for gardeners, perhaps | 8 |
| 30A | 52. Spider-Man foe with metal "tentacles," familiarly | 6 |
| 31A | 53. Driving necessity | 7 |
| 32A | 54. Down-low joints | 6 |
| 33A | 55. Gently suggests, as an idea | 6 |
Across Clues - Strategic Hints
1A: "1. Showy insect with dark eyespots on its wings"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: IOMOTH
Remember this word for future puzzles!
2A: "7. Land bordering the Sea of Azov"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a ukrainian peninsula between the black sea and the sea of azov
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CRIMEA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
3A: "13. Tired expression"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a trite or obvious remark
- Similar words include: commonplace, banality, bromide
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CLICHE
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4A: "14. Start of an old request for advice"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DEARANN
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5A: "15. Optional button while paying via app"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ADDTIP
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6A: "16. Image editor, informally?"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PRAGENCY
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7A: "17. "The Rise of Skywalker" role"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: REY
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8A: "18. What power tools should be designed for"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SAFEUSE
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9A: "20. Curved shape"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a knot with two loops and loose ends; used to tie shoelaces
- Similar words include: defer, bend, prow
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BOW
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10A: "21. "___ MÃa" (2014 Latin pop hit)"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ERES
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11A: "23. Suffix akin to -ess"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ENNE
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12A: "24. "There you have it!""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TADA
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13A: "25. Mobster's weapon"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a gangster's pistol
- Similar words include: rod
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GAT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
14A: "26. Source of many an explosive news story"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an accidental hole that allows something (fluid or light etc.) to enter or escape
- Similar words include: passing water, leakage, making water
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LEAK
Remember this word for future puzzles!
15A: "27. Get one over on"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an evil spirit
- Similar words include: bogie, bogy
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BOGEY
Remember this word for future puzzles!
16A: "28. "So that's how it's gonna be, I guess""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: VERYWELLTHEN
Remember this word for future puzzles!
17A: "31. Air traveler's connection"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: INFLIGHTWIFI
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18A: "32. Helpful pointer, say?"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SEEINGEYEDOG
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19A: "33. Indigenous land, informally"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: REZ
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20A: "34. Drink from a small cup"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a reason for wanting something done
- Similar words include: saki, rice beer, interest
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SAKE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
21A: "35. War of 1812 treaty locale"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that port city in northwestern belgium and industrial center; famous for cloth industry
- Similar words include: Gand, Gent
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GHENT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
22A: "39. Dwindle"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a golf shot that curves to the right for a right-handed golfer
- Similar words include: pass off, blow over, slicing
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FADE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
23A: "40. Feminist writer ___ Mae Brown"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RITA
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24A: "42. Apple or orange, e.g."
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
- Similar words include: corner, Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree, tree diagram
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TREE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
25A: "43. Gambling site, in brief"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OTB
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26A: "44. Heart of downtown"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MIDCITY
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27A: "47. Oregon senator Wyden"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a chadic language spoken in northern nigeria
- Similar words include: Bokkos, Daffo
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RON
Remember this word for future puzzles!
28A: "48. One of the B vitamins"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a b vitamin essential for the normal function of the nervous system and the gastrointestinal tract
- Similar words include: nicotinic acid
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NIACIN
Remember this word for future puzzles!
29A: "50. Sore spots for gardeners, perhaps"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a small flat triangular bone in front of the knee that protects the knee joint
- Similar words include: kneecap, patella, kneepan
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: KNEECAPS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
30A: "52. Spider-Man foe with metal "tentacles," familiarly"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DOCOCK
Remember this word for future puzzles!
31A: "53. Driving necessity"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GOLFTEE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
32A: "54. Down-low joints"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a gliding joint between the distal ends of the tibia and fibula and the proximal end of the talus
- Similar words include: mortise joint, ankle, ankle joint
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ANKLES
Remember this word for future puzzles!
33A: "55. Gently suggests, as an idea"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the time interval between the deposit of a check in a bank and its payment
- Similar words include: air bladder, swim, blow
- Opposite of: sink
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FLOATS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
Down Clues - Complete List
| No. | Clue | Letters |
|---|---|---|
| 1D | 1. "You've got a friend in me" | 5 |
| 2D | 2. "Kids these days ..." speakers | 15 |
| 3D | 3. Focus of an employee's first semiannual check-in, perhaps | 15 |
| 4D | 4. When a "sports equinox" (in which all four major U.S. leagues have games) typically occurs: Abbr. | 3 |
| 5D | 5. The thing here | 4 |
| 6D | 6. Big acronym in purifying filters | 4 |
| 7D | 7. Quit | 5 |
| 8D | 8. "As men in ___ strike those that wish them best": Iago | 4 |
| 9D | 9. Choler | 3 |
| 10D | 10. Guy's carryall | 6 |
| 11D | 11. Make secret, in a way | 6 |
| 12D | 12. "Moving on ..." | 6 |
| 13D | 14. Often-regretted behavior on social media, once | 13 |
| 14D | 16. Conclusion of three men's World Cup finals | 11 |
| 15D | 19. Be validated for vocalizing one's opinion | 9 |
| 16D | 22. Give designs to | 7 |
| 17D | 24. "West Side Story" song that precedes the rumble | 7 |
| 18D | 26. Big name in hosiery | 5 |
| 19D | 27. Cloud up | 5 |
| 20D | 28. Word on either side of "Ã " | 3 |
| 21D | 29. Big accomplishment, so to speak | 3 |
| 22D | 30. Kept under wraps | 3 |
| 23D | 36. Book boo-boos | 6 |
| 24D | 37. Creature of the internet | 6 |
| 25D | 38. Columns on a language learner's conjugation chart | 6 |
| 26D | 39. Actress honored with a SAG Lifetime Achievement Award in 2025 | 5 |
| 27D | 41. Consumed, quaintly | 5 |
| 28D | 44. Computer store purchases | 4 |
| 29D | 45. Signs | 4 |
| 30D | 46. Give a hoot? | 4 |
| 31D | 49. Cathcart's rank in "Catch-22": Abbr. | 3 |
| 32D | 51. Big cheese with bread, for short | 3 |
Down Clues - Strategic Hints
1D: "1. "You've got a friend in me""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ICARE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
2D: "2. "Kids these days ..." speakers"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OLDERGENERATION
Remember this word for future puzzles!
3D: "3. Focus of an employee's first semiannual check-in, perhaps"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MIDYEARFEEDBACK
Remember this word for future puzzles!
4D: "4. When a "sports equinox" (in which all four major U.S. leagues have games) typically occurs: Abbr."
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the month following september and preceding november
- Similar words include: October
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OCT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
5D: "5. The thing here"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: THIS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
6D: "6. Big acronym in purifying filters"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HEPA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
7D: "7. Quit"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that (`cease' is a noun only in the phrase `without cease') end
- Similar words include: stop, terminate, discontinue
- Opposite of: begin, continue
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CEASE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
8D: "8. "As men in ___ strike those that wish them best": Iago"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a feeling of intense anger
- Similar words include: fad, craze, furor
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RAGE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
9D: "9. Choler"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a strong emotion; a feeling that is oriented toward some real or supposed grievance
- Similar words include: choler, anger, ira
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: IRE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
10D: "10. Guy's carryall"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MANBAG
Remember this word for future puzzles!
11D: "11. Make secret, in a way"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that convert information into code
- Opposite of: decode
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ENCODE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
12D: "12. "Moving on ...""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that used to indicate that a statement explains or supports a previous statement
- Similar words include: anyhow, in any event, at any rate
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ANYWAY
Remember this word for future puzzles!
13D: "14. Often-regretted behavior on social media, once"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DRUNKTWEETING
Remember this word for future puzzles!
14D: "16. Conclusion of three men's World Cup finals"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PENALTYKICK
Remember this word for future puzzles!
15D: "19. Be validated for vocalizing one's opinion"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FEELHEARD
Remember this word for future puzzles!
16D: "22. Give designs to"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that represent according to a conventional style
- Similar words include: stylise, conventionalize
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: STYLIZE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
17D: "24. "West Side Story" song that precedes the rumble"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the present or immediately coming night
- Similar words include: this night, this evening
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TONIGHT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
18D: "26. Big name in hosiery"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LEGGS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
19D: "27. Cloud up"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that make less visible or unclear
- Similar words include: fog, cloud, mist
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BEFOG
Remember this word for future puzzles!
20D: "28. Word on either side of "Ã ""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one
- Similar words include: VI, half a dozen, sixer
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: VIS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
21D: "29. Big accomplishment, so to speak"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a victory (as in a race or other competition)
- Similar words include: profits, acquire, advance
- Opposite of: losings, fall back
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: WIN
Remember this word for future puzzles!
22D: "30. Kept under wraps"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that prevent from being seen or discovered
- Similar words include: blot out, obliterate, hide
- Opposite of: show
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HID
Remember this word for future puzzles!
23D: "36. Book boo-boos"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a mistake in printed matter resulting from mechanical failures of some kind
- Similar words include: typographical error, erratum, literal
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ERRATA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
24D: "37. Creature of the internet"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NEOPET
Remember this word for future puzzles!
25D: "38. Columns on a language learner's conjugation chart"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a grammatical category of verbs used to express distinctions of time
- Similar words include: strain, tense, tense up
- Opposite of: unstrain, relax
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TENSES
Remember this word for future puzzles!
26D: "39. Actress honored with a SAG Lifetime Achievement Award in 2025"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that united states film actress and daughter of henry fonda (born in 1937)
- Similar words include: Henry Fonda, Jane Fonda
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FONDA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
27D: "41. Consumed, quaintly"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ATEOF
Remember this word for future puzzles!
28D: "44. Computer store purchases"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that any of numerous small rodents typically resembling diminutive rats having pointed snouts and small ears on elongated bodies with slender usually hairless tails
- Similar words include: computer mouse, mouse, black eye
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MICE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
29D: "45. Signs"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a liquid used for printing or writing or drawing
- Similar words include: ink
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: INKS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
30D: "46. Give a hoot?"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a loud utterance; often in protest or opposition
- Similar words include: vociferation, holler, cry
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: YELL
Remember this word for future puzzles!
31D: "49. Cathcart's rank in "Catch-22": Abbr."
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a pass between mountain peaks
- Similar words include: gap
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: COL
Remember this word for future puzzles!
32D: "51. Big cheese with bread, for short"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the corporate executive having financial authority to make appropriations and authorize expenditures for a firm
- Similar words include: chief financial officer
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CFO
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
32 Down Clues
65 Total Clues
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