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Saturday, July 4, 2026

XWordHint Crossword Answers July 04, 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. Bar fight? 9
2A 10. Brand of tights with an apostrophe in its name 5
3A 15. Expansive marine exhibits 9
4A 16. Really fancy 5
5A 17. 1991 blockbuster with the tagline "One breath of oxygen and it explodes in a deadly rage" 9
6A 18. Fax predecessor 5
7A 19. Grand Tour, e.g. 8
8A 20. Buyer 6
9A 21. Like ideal arrivals 6
10A 23. "___ pics!" 4
11A 24. Conceptual framework 6
12A 28. Follower of X or G 3
13A 29. Peacock's home 3
14A 30. Word that becomes its opposite when its first letter is removed 5
15A 31. "Gotcha," to a beatnik 4
16A 33. Piece of cartoon memorabilia 3
17A 34. Steamed 5
18A 35. Golden goal periods, for short 3
19A 36. "Miracle on 34th Street" actress Maureen 5
20A 38. Certain Ivy Leaguer 3
21A 39. Painter ___ Thomas, first Black woman to have a solo exhibition at the Whitney Museum 4
22A 41. Passes (out) 5
23A 42. Bracketed disclaimer 3
24A 43. Lover of sugar 3
25A 44. Results of swiping 6
26A 45. Lend, informally 4
27A 47. Second-smallest U.S. state capital by population (about 14,000 people) 6
28A 49. Animals with prehensile proboscises 6
29A 51. "The One" 8
30A 56. First name in cosmetics 5
31A 57. Pioneering P.D.A. 9
32A 58. Ship back? 5
33A 59. Soft drink originally made with egg whites 9
34A 60. Short 5
35A 61. Rock instrument? 9

Across Clues - Strategic Hints

1A: "1. Bar fight?"

9 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

2A: "10. Brand of tights with an apostrophe in its name"

5 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

3A: "15. Expansive marine exhibits"

9 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

4A: "16. Really fancy"

5 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that love intensely
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ADORE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

5A: "17. 1991 blockbuster with the tagline "One breath of oxygen and it explodes in a deadly rage""

9 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

6A: "18. Fax predecessor"

5 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a character printer connected to a telegraph that operates like a typewriter
  • Similar words include: telex machine, teleprinter, teletypewriter
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TELEX

Remember this word for future puzzles!

7A: "19. Grand Tour, e.g."

8 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

8A: "20. Buyer"

6 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a person who buys
  • Similar words include: emptor, buyer, purchaser
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: VENDEE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

9A: "21. Like ideal arrivals"

6 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

10A: "23. "___ pics!""

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that cause to go somewhere
  • Similar words include: place, post, institutionalize
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SEND

Remember this word for future puzzles!

11A: "24. Conceptual framework"

6 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an internal representation of the world; an organization of concepts and actions that can be revised by new information about the world
  • Similar words include: scheme, outline
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SCHEMA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

12A: "28. Follower of X or G"

3 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the force of workers available
  • Similar words include: hands, man, manpower
  • Opposite of: woman, civilian
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MEN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

13A: "29. Peacock's home"

3 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

14A: "30. Word that becomes its opposite when its first letter is removed"

5 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a location other than here; that place
  • Similar words include: thither, in that respect, at that place
  • Opposite of: here
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: THERE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

15A: "31. "Gotcha," to a beatnik"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

16A: "33. Piece of cartoon memorabilia"

3 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

17A: "34. Steamed"

5 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that cause annoyance in; disturb, especially by minor irritations
  • Similar words include: chafe, bother, miffed
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RILED

Remember this word for future puzzles!

18A: "35. Golden goal periods, for short"

3 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

19A: "36. "Miracle on 34th Street" actress Maureen"

5 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

20A: "38. Certain Ivy Leaguer"

3 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

21A: "39. Painter ___ Thomas, first Black woman to have a solo exhibition at the Whitney Museum"

4 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

22A: "41. Passes (out)"

5 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a share of money or food or clothing that has been charitably given
  • Similar words include: dole, pogy, pogey
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DOLES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

23A: "42. Bracketed disclaimer"

3 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that urge to attack someone
  • Similar words include: set
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SIC

Remember this word for future puzzles!

24A: "43. Lover of sugar"

3 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that social insect living in organized colonies; characteristically the males and fertile queen have wings during breeding season; wingless sterile females are the workers
  • Similar words include: emmet, pismire
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ANT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

25A: "44. Results of swiping"

6 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the act of taking something from someone unlawfully
  • Similar words include: thieving, stealing, larceny
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: THEFTS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

26A: "45. Lend, informally"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a point located with respect to surface features of some region
  • Similar words include: recognise, bit, maculation
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SPOT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

27A: "47. Second-smallest U.S. state capital by population (about 14,000 people)"

6 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that capital of the state of south dakota; located in central south dakota on the missouri river
  • Similar words include: capital of South Dakota
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PIERRE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

28A: "49. Animals with prehensile proboscises"

6 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that large inoffensive chiefly nocturnal ungulate of tropical america and southeast asia having a heavy body and fleshy snout
  • Similar words include: tapir
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TAPIRS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

29A: "51. "The One""

8 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

30A: "56. First name in cosmetics"

5 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

31A: "57. Pioneering P.D.A."

9 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

32A: "58. Ship back?"

5 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the rear part of a ship
  • Similar words include: unforgiving, tail end, austere
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: STERN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

33A: "59. Soft drink originally made with egg whites"

9 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

34A: "60. Short"

5 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that brief and to the point; effectively cut short
  • Similar words include: curt, crisp, laconic
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TERSE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

35A: "61. Rock instrument?"

9 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

Down Clues - Complete List

No. Clue Letters
1D 1. One of the Starks on "Game of Thrones" 4
2D 2. Berry spelled with a cedilla 4
3D 3. Small smack 4
4D 4. Brown, in a way 4
5D 5. Milky Way's nearest major galaxy 9
6D 6. #MeToo movement activist Burke 6
7D 7. Expanse 5
8D 8. Observation by Oscar Wilde about the relationship between reality and creativity 15
9D 9. "Mangia!" 3
10D 10. Not 21-Across 4
11D 11. Elysia 5
12D 12. False idol in the Old Testament 10
13D 13. Army specialist with a headwear-inspired nickname 10
14D 14. Where students learn about congress 10
15D 20. "___ Sancte Spiritus" (medieval Latin hymn) 4
16D 22. Things often refilled, informally 4
17D 24. Cardiac exam on a treadmill 10
18D 25. Gochujang, e.g. 10
19D 26. Blade runner? 10
20D 27. Before, in olden times 3
21D 32. "Lord, have mercy!" 9
22D 35. One attracted to all gender identities, for short 4
23D 37. Tilling aid 3
24D 40. The Indianapolis 500 has 200 of them 4
25D 44. President who married one of his kindergarten classmates 6
26D 46. Membership categories 5
27D 48. Loggers' competition 5
28D 50. Former French president ___ Coty 4
29D 52. Weather phenomenon often appearing in the evening 4
30D 53. Dum ___ (potato-based curry dish) 4
31D 54. List header 4
32D 55. List ender 4
33D 57. Some notebooks, in brief 3

Down Clues - Strategic Hints

1D: "1. One of the Starks on "Game of Thrones""

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

2D: "2. Berry spelled with a cedilla"

4 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

3D: "3. Small smack"

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that (often followed by `of') a large number or amount or extent
  • Similar words include: mickle, slew, muckle
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PECK

Remember this word for future puzzles!

4D: "4. Brown, in a way"

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that cook and make edible by putting in a hot oven
  • Similar words include: broil
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BAKE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

5D: "5. Milky Way's nearest major galaxy"

9 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that broad-leaved evergreen asiatic shrub with glossy leaves and drooping clusters of white flowers
  • Similar words include: lily-of-the-valley tree, Pieris japonica, Japanese andromeda
  • Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ANDROMEDA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

6D: "6. #MeToo movement activist Burke"

6 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

7D: "7. Expanse"

5 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an extended area of land
  • Similar words include: piece of ground, nerve tract, pamphlet
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TRACT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

8D: "8. Observation by Oscar Wilde about the relationship between reality and creativity"

15 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

9D: "9. "Mangia!""

3 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that take in solid food
  • Similar words include: consume, deplete, wipe out
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EAT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

10D: "10. Not 21-Across"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
  • Similar words include: recent, former, belated
  • Opposite of: early
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LATE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

11D: "11. Elysia"

5 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that any place of complete bliss and delight and peace
  • Similar words include: Eden, nirvana, heaven
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EDENS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

12D: "12. False idol in the Old Testament"

10 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

13D: "13. Army specialist with a headwear-inspired nickname"

10 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

14D: "14. Where students learn about congress"

10 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

15D: "20. "___ Sancte Spiritus" (medieval Latin hymn)"

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

16D: "22. Things often refilled, informally"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a master's degree in education
  • Similar words include: Master of Education, MEd
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MEDS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

17D: "24. Cardiac exam on a treadmill"

10 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

18D: "25. Gochujang, e.g."

10 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

19D: "26. Blade runner?"

10 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an aircraft without wings that obtains its lift from the rotation of overhead blades
  • Similar words include: eggbeater, chopper, whirlybird
  • Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HELICOPTER

Remember this word for future puzzles!

20D: "27. Before, in olden times"

3 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

21D: "32. "Lord, have mercy!""

9 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

22D: "35. One attracted to all gender identities, for short"

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

23D: "37. Tilling aid"

3 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a tool with a flat blade attached at right angles to a long handle
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HOE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

24D: "40. The Indianapolis 500 has 200 of them"

4 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the upper side of the thighs of a seated person
  • Similar words include: lap covering, wash, circuit
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LAPS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

25D: "44. President who married one of his kindergarten classmates"

6 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that elected vice president in roosevelt's 4th term; became 33rd president of the united states on roosevelt's death in 1945 and was elected president in 1948; authorized the use of atomic bombs against japan (1884-1972)
  • Similar words include: Harry S Truman, President Truman, Harry Truman
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TRUMAN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

26D: "46. Membership categories"

5 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a relative position or degree of value in a graded group
  • Similar words include: tier, tier up, level
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TIERS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

27D: "48. Loggers' competition"

5 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

28D: "50. Former French president ___ Coty"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

29D: "52. Weather phenomenon often appearing in the evening"

4 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a thin fog with condensation near the ground
  • Similar words include: mist over, cloud, befog
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MIST

Remember this word for future puzzles!

30D: "53. Dum ___ (potato-based curry dish)"

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

31D: "54. List header"

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

32D: "55. List ender"

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

33D: "57. Some notebooks, in brief"

3 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a small digital computer based on a microprocessor and designed to be used by one person at a time
  • Similar words include: microcomputer, PC, personal computer
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PCS

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
33 Down Clues
68 Total Clues

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Last updated: July 04, 2026 at 06:32 AM

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