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Thursday, June 18, 2026

XWordHint Crossword Answers June 18, 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. Prepares for offspring 5
2A 6. Hack 4
3A 10. Supplier to Wile E. Coyote 4
4A 14. Employee after working hours, on "Severance" 5
5A 15. Sole 4
6A 16. Horse with a muted coat 4
7A 17. Bro? 15
8A 20. "ur funny" 3
9A 21. Essence 4
10A 22. "Goosebumps" author 5
11A 23. Adrenaline surge providers 7
12A 25. Bit of Yahtzee equipment 7
13A 27. Word rhymed with "flash" in "A Visit From St. Nicholas" 4
14A 28. Obnoxiously blingy 6
15A 30. "___ Been to the Mountaintop" (M.L.K. Jr. speech) 3
16A 31. Feminine sides 6
17A 33. Gave a hand 5
18A 35. Sit? 13
19A 38. Alfred ___, co-creator of the original I.Q. test 5
20A 39. Rents out again 6
21A 40. Mix-___ (ice cream shop supply) 3
22A 41. Like shipping that's not quite overnight 6
23A 43. Downfall of the boy in 2018's "Beautiful Boy," in brief 4
24A 47. Total after costs 7
25A 49. "Next one's on me" 7
26A 51. [So heavy!] 5
27A 52. Mind-reading scan, in a way 4
28A 53. 1,000,000,000 years, in astronomy 3
29A 54. Ale? 15
30A 57. Relative of Hindi 4
31A 58. Follower of "4" on a love note 4
32A 59. Start of a selection process 5
33A 60. They might be seeded 4
34A 61. Some yellow-green sodas, informally 4
35A 62. Bob with the Silver Bullet Band 5

Across Clues - Strategic Hints

1A: "1. Prepares for offspring"

5 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a structure in which animals lay eggs or give birth to their young
  • Similar words include: draw close, cuddle, nest
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NESTS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

2A: "6. Hack"

4 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the irregular motion of waves (usually caused by wind blowing in a direction opposite to the tide)
  • Similar words include: hack, chopper, chop shot
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CHOP

Remember this word for future puzzles!

3A: "10. Supplier to Wile E. Coyote"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the highest level or degree attainable; the highest stage of development
  • Similar words include: pinnacle, superlative, elevation
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ACME

Remember this word for future puzzles!

4A: "14. Employee after working hours, on "Severance""

5 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

5A: "15. Sole"

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that lacking companions or companionship
  • Similar words include: only, lonesome, solitary
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LONE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

6A: "16. Horse with a muted coat"

4 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a soft sheepskin leather that is colored and finished to resemble morocco; used in bookbinding
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ROAN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

7A: "17. Bro?"

15 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _______________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BROADWAYOPENING

Remember this word for future puzzles!

8A: "20. "ur funny""

3 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

9A: "21. Essence"

4 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the central meaning or theme of a speech or literary work
  • Similar words include: heart and soul, substance, kernel
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GIST

Remember this word for future puzzles!

10A: "22. "Goosebumps" author"

5 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

11A: "23. Adrenaline surge providers"

7 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

12A: "25. Bit of Yahtzee equipment"

7 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

13A: "27. Word rhymed with "flash" in "A Visit From St. Nicholas""

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a framework that holds the panes of a window in the window frame
  • Similar words include: waistcloth, window sash, waistband
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SASH

Remember this word for future puzzles!

14A: "28. Obnoxiously blingy"

6 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that tastelessly showy
  • Similar words include: meretricious, gimcrack, loud
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GARISH

Remember this word for future puzzles!

15A: "30. "___ Been to the Mountaintop" (M.L.K. Jr. speech)"

3 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

16A: "31. Feminine sides"

6 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that (jungian psychology) the inner self (not the external persona) that is in touch with the unconscious
  • Similar words include: anima
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ANIMAS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

17A: "33. Gave a hand"

5 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that give help or assistance; be of service
  • Similar words include: aid, help, assist
  • Opposite of: unassisted
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AIDED

Remember this word for future puzzles!

18A: "35. Sit?"

13 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _____________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: VISITORCENTER

Remember this word for future puzzles!

19A: "38. Alfred ___, co-creator of the original I.Q. test"

5 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that french psychologist remembered for his studies of the intellectual development of children (1857-1911)
  • Similar words include: Alfred Binet
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BINET

Remember this word for future puzzles!

20A: "39. Rents out again"

6 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

21A: "40. Mix-___ (ice cream shop supply)"

3 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an agency in the department of justice that enforces laws and regulations for the admission of foreign-born persons to the united states
  • Similar words include: Immigration and Naturalization Service, indium, atomic number 49
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: INS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

22A: "41. Like shipping that's not quite overnight"

6 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

23A: "43. Downfall of the boy in 2018's "Beautiful Boy," in brief"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an amphetamine derivative (trade name methedrine) used in the form of a crystalline hydrochloride; used as a stimulant to the nervous system and as an appetite suppressant
  • Similar words include: chicken feed, shabu, ice
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: METH

Remember this word for future puzzles!

24A: "47. Total after costs"

7 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

25A: "49. "Next one's on me""

7 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

26A: "51. [So heavy!]"

5 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the short low gruff noise of the kind made by hogs
  • Similar words include: oink
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GRUNT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

27A: "52. Mind-reading scan, in a way"

4 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a form of magnetic resonance imaging of the brain that registers blood flow to functioning areas of the brain
  • Similar words include: functional magnetic resonance imaging
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FMRI

Remember this word for future puzzles!

28A: "53. 1,000,000,000 years, in astronomy"

3 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the longest division of geological time
  • Similar words include: aeon
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EON

Remember this word for future puzzles!

29A: "54. Ale?"

15 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _______________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FAIRYTALEENDING

Remember this word for future puzzles!

30A: "57. Relative of Hindi"

4 letters Category: Proper Noun

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!

31A: "58. Follower of "4" on a love note"

4 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that at any time
  • Similar words include: of all time, always, ever so
  • Opposite of: never
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EVER

Remember this word for future puzzles!

32A: "59. Start of a selection process"

5 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

33A: "60. They might be seeded"

4 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the seed of the cereal grass
  • Similar words include: rye whisky, rye whiskey, Secale cereale
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RYES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

34A: "61. Some yellow-green sodas, informally"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that water that has condensed on a cool surface overnight from water vapor in the air
  • Similar words include: dew
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DEWS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

35A: "62. Bob with the Silver Bullet Band"

5 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

Down Clues - Complete List

No. Clue Letters
1D 1. Argon, krypton and xenon, informally 6
2D 2. Moon of Jupiter that has a liquid ocean under its surface 6
3D 3. Absolut alternatives 6
4D 4. Hermana de la madre 3
5D 5. "The ___ is wither'd from the lake": Keats 5
6D 6. Bona fide numbskull 11
7D 7. Big name in archery equipment 4
8D 8. Fuyumi ___, author of the "Twelve Kingdoms" fantasy novels 3
9D 9. Colas in the "cola wars" 6
10D 10. Former governor Schwarzenegger, informally 5
11D 11. Occur at the same time 8
12D 12. Skillful move 8
13D 13. Lit. course 3
14D 18. Improvise 6
15D 19. Chemical agent used to make frosted glass 7
16D 24. The terrible twos, for one 5
17D 25. "Use at your own risk" and "Not professional advice," for two 11
18D 26. "Of the foot" prefix 3
19D 29. Rose (up), in dialect 5
20D 32. ___ Lion, Penn State mascot 7
21D 34. Nonspecific response to "Who's there?" 5
22D 35. Like pickles and some potato salads 8
23D 36. Chill way to take things 8
24D 37. Kid-lit character who says "It's not much of a tail, but I'm sort of attached to it" 6
25D 38. Where many things get tossed 3
26D 42. Follower of quick or dim 6
27D 44. Checking out 6
28D 45. $2 coin, eh? 6
29D 46. Drive 6
30D 48. Masters 5
31D 50. Cellar stock 5
32D 52. What time did in fun times 4
33D 54. Traditional parka material 3
34D 55. Boston's Mass ___ 3
35D 56. 1.0 G.P.A. 3

Down Clues - Strategic Hints

1D: "1. Argon, krypton and xenon, informally"

6 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a titled peer of the realm
  • Similar words include: noble, Lord, nobleman
  • Opposite of: noblewoman, Lady
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NOBLES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

2D: "2. Moon of Jupiter that has a liquid ocean under its surface"

6 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the 4th largest of jupiter's satellites; covered with a smooth shell of frozen water
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EUROPA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

3D: "3. Absolut alternatives"

6 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

4D: "4. Hermana de la madre"

3 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that brief episode in which the brain gets insufficient blood supply; symptoms depend on the site of the blockage
  • Similar words include: transient ischemic attack
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TIA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

5D: "5. "The ___ is wither'd from the lake": Keats"

5 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that grasslike or rushlike plant growing in wet places having solid stems, narrow grasslike leaves and spikelets of inconspicuous flowers
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SEDGE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

6D: "6. Bona fide numbskull"

11 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ___________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CLASSAMORON

Remember this word for future puzzles!

7D: "7. Big name in archery equipment"

4 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

8D: "8. Fuyumi ___, author of the "Twelve Kingdoms" fantasy novels"

3 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that united states musician (born in japan) who married john lennon and collaborated with him on recordings (born in 1933)
  • Similar words include: Yoko Ono
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ONO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

9D: "9. Colas in the "cola wars""

6 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that pepsi cola is a trademarked cola
  • Similar words include: Pepsi Cola, Pepsi
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PEPSIS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

10D: "10. Former governor Schwarzenegger, informally"

5 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

11D: "11. Occur at the same time"

8 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that go with, fall together
  • Similar words include: co-occur, concur, cooccur
  • Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: COINCIDE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

12D: "12. Skillful move"

8 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a military training exercise
  • Similar words include: manoeuvre, steer, simulated military operation
  • Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MANEUVER

Remember this word for future puzzles!

13D: "13. Lit. course"

3 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

14D: "18. Improvise"

6 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

15D: "19. Chemical agent used to make frosted glass"

7 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

16D: "24. The terrible twos, for one"

5 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that any distinct time period in a sequence of events
  • Similar words include: form, stage, phase angle
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PHASE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

17D: "25. "Use at your own risk" and "Not professional advice," for two"

11 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that (law) a voluntary repudiation of a person's legal claim to something
  • Similar words include: disavowal, disclaimer
  • Pattern: ___________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DISCLAIMERS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

18D: "26. "Of the foot" prefix"

3 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

19D: "29. Rose (up), in dialect"

5 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

20D: "32. ___ Lion, Penn State mascot"

7 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

21D: "34. Nonspecific response to "Who's there?""

5 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

22D: "35. Like pickles and some potato salads"

8 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that tasting or smelling like vinegar
  • Similar words include: vinegarish, acetose, acetous
  • Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: VINEGARY

Remember this word for future puzzles!

23D: "36. Chill way to take things"

8 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

24D: "37. Kid-lit character who says "It's not much of a tail, but I'm sort of attached to it""

6 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

25D: "38. Where many things get tossed"

3 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a container; usually has a lid
  • Similar words include: binful, ABA transit number, bank identification number
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BIN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

26D: "42. Follower of quick or dim"

6 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

27D: "44. Checking out"

6 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Similar words include: eyeball, eye
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EYEING

Remember this word for future puzzles!

28D: "45. $2 coin, eh?"

6 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

29D: "46. Drive"

6 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a physiological need for food; the consequence of food deprivation
  • Similar words include: crave, starve, lust
  • Opposite of: be full
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HUNGER

Remember this word for future puzzles!

30D: "48. Masters"

5 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a hindu or buddhist religious leader and spiritual teacher
  • Similar words include: Guru, guru
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GURUS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

31D: "50. Cellar stock"

5 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that fermented juice (of grapes especially)
  • Similar words include: advance, wine-colored, wine-coloured
  • Opposite of: lose, fail
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: WINES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

32D: "52. What time did in fun times"

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that travel through the air; be airborne
  • Similar words include: flee, vanish, fly
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FLEW

Remember this word for future puzzles!

33D: "54. Traditional parka material"

3 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the dressed hairy coat of a mammal
  • Similar words include: pelt
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FUR

Remember this word for future puzzles!

34D: "55. Boston's Mass ___"

3 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

35D: "56. 1.0 G.P.A."

3 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

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

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Last updated: June 18, 2026 at 08:24 AM

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