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 (37 clues)
- Across Clues - Detailed Hints
- Down Clues Table (44 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. Smart | 4 |
| 2A | 5. Sensation | 5 |
| 3A | 10. Acquisition on the big day | 5 |
| 4A | 15. "That's a good one!" | 4 |
| 5A | 16. Galápagos island that was home to Lonesome George, the last tortoise of his subspecies | 5 |
| 6A | 17. Who knows what preceded the Big Bang | 5 |
| 7A | 18. *Yes — three arduous ones | 16 |
| 8A | 21. February 14, informally | 4 |
| 9A | 22. Scratch that! | 4 |
| 10A | 23. El ___ | 3 |
| 11A | 24. Like novices | 5 |
| 12A | 26. Spoil | 6 |
| 13A | 28. Preceder of how, way or where | 3 |
| 14A | 29. *Yes — sometimes more than 1,000 | 9 |
| 15A | 31. Patooties | 5 |
| 16A | 33. Little dipper? | 3 |
| 17A | 34. "Tout à fait!" | 3 |
| 18A | 35. Tire | 4 |
| 19A | 37. *Yes — exactly one, in common usage | 12 |
| 20A | 42. First line on many a form | 4 |
| 21A | 43. Common garnish in a chirashi bowl | 3 |
| 22A | 44. Had at present? | 3 |
| 23A | 47. Article of lab wear | 5 |
| 24A | 50. *No — but it does have three feet | 9 |
| 25A | 53. Elizabethan curse | 3 |
| 26A | 54. Country that las islas Canarias are part of | 6 |
| 27A | 57. Important blood line | 5 |
| 28A | 58. "___ is the proper task of life": Nietzsche | 3 |
| 29A | 59. Business whose rewards program gives "Stackholder Perks" | 4 |
| 30A | 60. Raving | 4 |
| 31A | 61. Question during a brainstorming session ... or of the answers to the starred clues | 16 |
| 32A | 67. Popular Japanese brew | 5 |
| 33A | 68. Alcohol, slangily | 5 |
| 34A | 69. Literary heroine who says "I would always rather be happy than dignified" | 4 |
| 35A | 70. Its capital is Sanaa | 5 |
| 36A | 71. Heavens | 5 |
| 37A | 72. Debugging component? | 4 |
Across Clues - Strategic Hints
1A: "1. Smart"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that elegant and fashionable; ; ; ; - julia child
- Similar words include: classy, swish
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
2A: "5. Sensation"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a vigorous blow
- Similar words include: break, bash, crush
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
3A: "10. Acquisition on the big day"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
4A: "15. "That's a good one!""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
5A: "16. Galápagos island that was home to Lonesome George, the last tortoise of his subspecies"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
6A: "17. Who knows what preceded the Big Bang"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
7A: "18. *Yes — three arduous ones"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ________________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
8A: "21. February 14, informally"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
9A: "22. Scratch that!"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a contagious skin infection caused by the itch mite; characterized by persistent itching and skin irritation
- Similar words include: urge, spoil, itching
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
10A: "23. El ___"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the united states army's principal law enforcement agency responsible for the conduct of criminal investigations for all levels of the army anywhere in the world
- Similar words include: Criminal Investigation Command
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
11A: "24. Like novices"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass
- Similar words include: unripe, common, gullible
- Opposite of: ripe
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
12A: "26. Spoil"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a narrow pass (especially one between mountains)
- Similar words include: corrupt, befoul, sully
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
13A: "28. Preceder of how, way or where"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that one or some or every or all without specification
- Similar words include: whatever, whatsoever
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
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14A: "29. *Yes — sometimes more than 1,000"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that any of numerous herbivorous nonpoisonous arthropods having a cylindrical body of 20 to 100 or more segments most with two pairs of legs
- Similar words include: milliped, millepede
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
15A: "31. Patooties"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that thick end of the handle
- Similar words include: backside, stooge, behind
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
16A: "33. Little dipper?"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that one of the digits of the foot
- Similar words include: toenail
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
17A: "34. "Tout à fait!""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
18A: "35. Tire"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that emblem usually consisting of a rectangular piece of cloth of distinctive design
- Similar words include: iris, ease up, sag
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
19A: "37. *Yes — exactly one, in common usage"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
20A: "42. First line on many a form"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a language unit by which a person or thing is known
- Similar words include: figure, public figure, identify
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
21A: "43. Common garnish in a chirashi bowl"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that fish eggs or egg-filled ovary; having a grainy texture
- Similar words include: hard roe
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
22A: "44. Had at present?"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that (astronomy) the angular distance of a celestial point measured westward along the celestial equator from the zenith crossing; the right ascension for an observer at a particular location and time of day
- Similar words include: give, experience, throw
- Opposite of: lack, abstain
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
23A: "47. Article of lab wear"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a loose coverall (coat or frock) reaching down to the ankles
- Similar words include: gaberdine, duster, gabardine
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
24A: "50. *No — but it does have three feet"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a measure or standard used for comparison
- Similar words include: yard measure
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
25A: "53. Elizabethan curse"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a common venereal disease caused by the treponema pallidum spirochete; symptoms change through progressive stages; can be congenital (transmitted through the placenta)
- Similar words include: syphilis, lues, lues venerea
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
26A: "54. Country that las islas Canarias are part of"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a parliamentary monarchy in southwestern europe on the iberian peninsula; a former colonial power
- Similar words include: Spain, Kingdom of Spain
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
27A: "57. Important blood line"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the large trunk artery that carries blood from the left ventricle of the heart to branch arteries
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
28A: "58. "___ is the proper task of life": Nietzsche"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the products of human creativity; works of art collectively
- Similar words include: artistry, artistic production, graphics
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
29A: "59. Business whose rewards program gives "Stackholder Perks""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
30A: "60. Raving"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that (often followed by `for') ardently or excessively desirous
- Similar words include: zealous, greedy, esurient
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
31A: "61. Question during a brainstorming session ... or of the answers to the starred clues"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ________________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
32A: "67. Popular Japanese brew"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
33A: "68. Alcohol, slangily"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that flavorful relish or dressing or topping served as an accompaniment to food
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
34A: "69. Literary heroine who says "I would always rather be happy than dignified""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a shallow salt lake in south central australia about 35 feet below sea level; the largest lake in the country and the lowest point on the continent
- Similar words include: Lake Eyre
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
35A: "70. Its capital is Sanaa"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a republic on the southwestern shores of the arabian peninsula on the indian ocean; formed in 1990
- Similar words include: Republic of Yemen
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
36A: "71. Heavens"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the fifth and highest element after air and earth and fire and water; was believed to be the substance composing all heavenly bodies
- Similar words include: aether, ethyl ether, quintessence
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
37A: "72. Debugging component?"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
Down Clues - Complete List
| No. | Clue | Letters |
|---|---|---|
| 1D | 1. Letter after upsilon | 3 |
| 2D | 2. Trireme tool | 3 |
| 3D | 3. Cleared, as snow | 8 |
| 4D | 4. "Messiah" composer | 6 |
| 5D | 5. Neuter | 4 |
| 6D | 6. What a big hand indicates: Abbr. | 3 |
| 7D | 7. Its colony can be considered one superorganism | 3 |
| 8D | 8. Struggle | 6 |
| 9D | 9. World's most populous Creole-speaking country | 5 |
| 10D | 10. Pretty much assured | 8 |
| 11D | 11. Japanese drama | 3 |
| 12D | 12. Feline in a 2000s meme | 6 |
| 13D | 13. Dub ... or rub | 6 |
| 14D | 14. Fast-food restaurant that sells Frostys | 6 |
| 15D | 19. ___-pedi | 4 |
| 16D | 20. Oft-injured part of the knee, for short | 3 |
| 17D | 24. Clock-setting std. | 3 |
| 18D | 25. ___ Bravo (México/Tejas border) | 3 |
| 19D | 26. Certain tie score | 5 |
| 20D | 27. Mince words? | 4 |
| 21D | 30. Frost piece | 4 |
| 22D | 32. Sound of dissatisfaction | 3 |
| 23D | 35. Botanist's study | 5 |
| 24D | 36. Told stories | 4 |
| 25D | 38. Business ending | 3 |
| 26D | 39. Roll in dough | 8 |
| 27D | 40. Actress/union leader Drescher | 4 |
| 28D | 41. Symbol of spiritual insight, in Hinduism | 8 |
| 29D | 45. Class ___ | 3 |
| 30D | 46. Music genre with "walking" bass lines | 3 |
| 31D | 47. Steamy occasion? | 6 |
| 32D | 48. Lugubrious | 6 |
| 33D | 49. Pioneers' prairie pullers | 6 |
| 34D | 50. Harangues | 6 |
| 35D | 51. Store | 4 |
| 36D | 52. Worked sufferingly | 6 |
| 37D | 55. "Pipe down!" | 3 |
| 38D | 56. Composure | 5 |
| 39D | 60. Attest | 4 |
| 40D | 62. ___-goat | 3 |
| 41D | 63. "Wait ... really?" | 3 |
| 42D | 64. One of a kind | 3 |
| 43D | 65. Test for future Ph.D.s | 3 |
| 44D | 66. Not needing anything else | 3 |
Down Clues - Strategic Hints
1D: "1. Letter after upsilon"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the 21st letter of the greek alphabet
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
2D: "2. Trireme tool"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an implement used to propel or steer a boat
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
3D: "3. Cleared, as snow"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that dig with or as if with a shovel
- Similar words include: shovel
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
4D: "4. "Messiah" composer"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a prolific british baroque composer (born in germany) remembered best for his oratorio messiah (1685-1759)
- Similar words include: George Frideric Handel, George Frederick Handel, Georg Friedrich Handel
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
5D: "5. Neuter"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that remove the ovaries of
- Similar words include: alter, neuter, castrate
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
6D: "6. What a big hand indicates: Abbr."
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour
- Similar words include: Amoy, Taiwanese, Hokkianese
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
7D: "7. Its colony can be considered one superorganism"
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: pismire, emmet
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
8D: "8. Struggle"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that lack of agreement or harmony
- Similar words include: discord
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
9D: "9. World's most populous Creole-speaking country"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a republic in the west indies on the western part of the island of hispaniola; achieved independence from france in 1804; the poorest and most illiterate nation in the western hemisphere
- Similar words include: Republic of Haiti, Hispaniola, Hayti
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
10D: "10. Pretty much assured"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
11D: "11. Japanese drama"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
12D: "12. Feline in a 2000s meme"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
13D: "13. Dub ... or rub"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that choose by or as if by divine intervention
- Similar words include: embrocate, anele, inunct
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
14D: "14. Fast-food restaurant that sells Frostys"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
15D: "19. ___-pedi"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
16D: "20. Oft-injured part of the knee, for short"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
17D: "24. Clock-setting std."
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the local time at the 0 meridian passing through greenwich, england; it is the same everywhere
- Similar words include: Greenwich Mean Time, UT, Greenwich Time
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
18D: "25. ___ Bravo (México/Tejas border)"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the former capital and 2nd largest city of brazil; chief brazilian port; famous as a tourist attraction
- Similar words include: Rio de Janeiro
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
19D: "26. Certain tie score"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a tie in tennis or table tennis that requires winning two successive points to win the game
- Similar words include: dickens, two, devil
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
20D: "27. Mince words?"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that prepare for publication or presentation by correcting, revising, or adapting
- Similar words include: edit out, blue-pencil, delete
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
21D: "30. Frost piece"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a composition written in metrical feet forming rhythmical lines
- Similar words include: verse form
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
22D: "32. Sound of dissatisfaction"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
23D: "35. Botanist's study"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that all the plant life in a particular region or period
- Similar words include: plant life, vegetation, botany
- Opposite of: fauna
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
24D: "36. Told stories"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a german art song of the 19th century for voice and piano
- Similar words include: lie in, dwell, consist
- Opposite of: stand, arise
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
25D: "38. Business ending"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a heterogeneous collection of groups united in their opposition to saddam hussein's government of iraq; formed in 1992 it is comprised of sunni and shiite arabs and kurds who hope to build a new government
- Similar words include: Iraqi National Congress
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
26D: "39. Roll in dough"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
27D: "40. Actress/union leader Drescher"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
28D: "41. Symbol of spiritual insight, in Hinduism"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
29D: "45. Class ___"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a legal document codifying the result of deliberations of a committee or society or legislative body
- Similar words include: routine, human activity, do
- Opposite of: refrain
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
30D: "46. Music genre with "walking" bass lines"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
31D: "47. Steamy occasion?"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
32D: "48. Lugubrious"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that showing a brooding ill humor; ; ; ; ; ; - bruce bliven
- Similar words include: glowering, glum, saturnine
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
33D: "49. Pioneers' prairie pullers"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
34D: "50. Harangues"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
35D: "51. Store"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that (sports) the act of preventing the opposition from scoring
- Similar words include: write, keep, make unnecessary
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
36D: "52. Worked sufferingly"
Solving Hints:
- Similar words include: moil, labor, dig
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
37D: "55. "Pipe down!""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
38D: "56. Composure"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a cgs unit of dynamic viscosity equal to one dyne-second per square centimeter; the viscosity of a fluid in which a force of one dyne per square centimeter maintains a velocity of 1 centimeter per second
- Similar words include: cool, aplomb, assuredness
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
39D: "60. Attest"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that report or maintain
- Similar words include: affirm, assert, say
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
40D: "62. ___-goat"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
41D: "63. "Wait ... really?""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
42D: "64. One of a kind"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the smallest whole number or a numeral representing this number
- Similar words include: genius, wiz, wizard
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
43D: "65. Test for future Ph.D.s"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
44D: "66. Not needing anything else"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a group of things of the same kind that belong together and are so used
- Similar words include: do, circle, fix
- Opposite of: rise
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.
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