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Tuesday, July 28, 2026

XWordHint Crossword Answers July 28, 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: Tricky

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. Insolence 4
2A 5. Scott ___, author of "Island of the Blue Dolphins" 5
3A 10. Be in need of ibuprofen, say 4
4A 14. Word with cap or socks 4
5A 15. Diet that eschews processed food 5
6A 16. In a minute 4
7A 17. With 58-Across, dad-joke response to the answers for each of this puzzle's starred clues 10
8A 19. Massage gun target 4
9A 20. Wyoming mountain range 6
10A 21. "Out with ya now!" 3
11A 23. Tax pro 3
12A 24. Primer mes del aƱo 5
13A 25. *Essential oil with a musky scent 9
14A 28. Myrmecology subject 3
15A 29. Bonfire remains 3
16A 30. Concerning hearing 5
17A 31. *Home of the lowest town-level ZIP code in the continental U.S. (01001) 13
18A 36. Ruminant's mouthful 3
19A 37. Secondary social media account 3
20A 38. *"Until next time!" 13
21A 45. United 5
22A 47. Preposition in "The Star-Spangled Banner" 3
23A 48. Palindromic kitchen brand 3
24A 49. *Academy Award, e.g. 9
25A 51. ___ Taco (ice cream treat) 5
26A 53. The "S" of macOS: Abbr. 3
27A 54. Beam 3
28A 55. Bubble tea bubbles 6
29A 56. Some first responders, for short 4
30A 58. See 17-Across 10
31A 61. Director Johnson of the "Knives Out" movies 4
32A 62. Once more 5
33A 63. Spot to huddle under during a rainstorm 4
34A 64. Rat (on) 4
35A 65. Packs (down), as tobacco in a pipe 5
36A 66. Iditarod conveyance 4

Across Clues - Strategic Hints

1A: "1. Insolence"

4 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an impudent or insolent rejoinder
  • Similar words include: sassing, back talk, mouth
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SASS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

2A: "5. Scott ___, author of "Island of the Blue Dolphins""

5 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

3A: "10. Be in need of ibuprofen, say"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a dull persistent (usually moderately intense) pain
  • Similar words include: suffer, smart, aching
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ACHE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

4A: "14. Word with cap or socks"

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella
  • Similar words include: knee joint, stifle, articulatio genus
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: KNEE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

5A: "15. Diet that eschews processed food"

5 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

6A: "16. In a minute"

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that in the near future
  • Similar words include: presently, shortly, before long
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SOON

Remember this word for future puzzles!

7A: "17. With 58-Across, dad-joke response to the answers for each of this puzzle's starred clues"

10 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

8A: "19. Massage gun target"

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a tight cluster of people or things
  • Similar words include: nautical mile, naut mi, mi
  • Opposite of: unknot, unravel
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: KNOT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

9A: "20. Wyoming mountain range"

6 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a member of the large western branch of sioux people which was made up of several groups that lived on the plains
  • Similar words include: Teton, Teton Dakota, Teton Sioux
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TETONS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

10A: "21. "Out with ya now!""

3 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a person who is deemed to be despicable or contemptible
  • Similar words include: lowlife, dirty dog, rat
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GIT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

11A: "23. Tax pro"

3 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an accountant who has passed certain examinations and met all other statutory and licensing requirements of a united states state to be certified by that state
  • Similar words include: certified public accountant
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CPA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

12A: "24. Primer mes del aƱo"

5 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

13A: "25. *Essential oil with a musky scent"

9 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that small east indian shrubby mint; fragrant oil from its leaves is used in perfumes
  • Similar words include: pachouli, Pogostemon cablin, patchouly
  • Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PATCHOULI

Remember this word for future puzzles!

14A: "28. Myrmecology subject"

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!

15A: "29. Bonfire remains"

3 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the residue that remains when something is burned
  • Similar words include: ash tree
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ASH

Remember this word for future puzzles!

16A: "30. Concerning hearing"

5 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that of or pertaining to hearing or the ear
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AURAL

Remember this word for future puzzles!

17A: "31. *Home of the lowest town-level ZIP code in the continental U.S. (01001)"

13 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a state in new england; one of the original 13 colonies
  • Similar words include: Old Colony, Massachuset, MA
  • Pattern: _____________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MASSACHUSETTS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

18A: "36. Ruminant's mouthful"

3 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that food of a ruminant regurgitated to be chewed again
  • Similar words include: chew, chaw, plug
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CUD

Remember this word for future puzzles!

19A: "37. Secondary social media account"

3 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that angular distance above the horizon (especially of a celestial object)
  • Similar words include: altitude, EL, elevation
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ALT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

20A: "38. *"Until next time!""

13 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

21A: "45. United"

5 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

22A: "47. Preposition in "The Star-Spangled Banner""

3 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

23A: "48. Palindromic kitchen brand"

3 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

24A: "49. *Academy Award, e.g."

9 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a small carved or molded figure
  • Similar words include: figurine
  • Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: STATUETTE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

25A: "51. ___ Taco (ice cream treat)"

5 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

26A: "53. The "S" of macOS: Abbr."

3 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

27A: "54. Beam"

3 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a column of light (as from a beacon)
  • Similar words include: beam, electron beam, ray of light
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RAY

Remember this word for future puzzles!

28A: "55. Bubble tea bubbles"

6 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a smooth lustrous round structure inside the shell of a clam or oyster; much valued as a jewel
  • Similar words include: bead, ivory, drop
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PEARLS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

29A: "56. Some first responders, for short"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

30A: "58. See 17-Across"

10 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

31A: "61. Director Johnson of the "Knives Out" movies"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

32A: "62. Once more"

5 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Similar words include: over again, once again, once more
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AGAIN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

33A: "63. Spot to huddle under during a rainstorm"

4 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

34A: "64. Rat (on)"

4 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a swiss patriot who lived in the early 14th century and who was renowned for his skill as an archer; according to legend an austrian governor compelled him to shoot an apple from his son's head with his crossbow (which he did successfully without mishap)
  • Similar words include: recount, state, differentiate
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TELL

Remember this word for future puzzles!

35A: "65. Packs (down), as tobacco in a pipe"

5 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a tool for tamping (e.g., for tamping tobacco into a pipe bowl or a charge into a drill hole etc.)
  • Similar words include: tamp down, pack, tamper
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TAMPS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

36A: "66. Iditarod conveyance"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a vehicle mounted on runners and pulled by horses or dogs; for transportation over snow
  • Similar words include: sledge, sleigh
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SLED

Remember this word for future puzzles!

Down Clues - Complete List

No. Clue Letters
1D 1. Sporting group at a cold-weather school 7
2D 2. Insect's feeler 7
3D 3. Six-line poems 7
4D 4. Honorific for many Spanish teachers 5
5D 5. Finishes deliberating 4
6D 6. "Well, lah-di-___!" 3
7D 7. Name that's an anagram of an untruth 3
8D 8. Units in horse racing 7
9D 9. Skill needed to solve a sudoku puzzle 5
10D 10. Query 3
11D 11. Plays the yes-man 7
12D 12. Muss and fuss 6
13D 13. Involve 6
14D 18. 1969 "bed-in" participant 3
15D 22. "___ be the day!" 6
16D 25. Expression of disgust that sounds like a family member 3
17D 26. Sun Devils' sch. 3
18D 27. "Straight ___ Compton" (1989 N.W.A album) 5
19D 32. Triflingly little 5
20D 33. Artistic visionary 6
21D 34. Org. mentioned in many zombie movies 3
22D 35. Evian, Perrier or Badoit 3
23D 38. Along a gulf, say 7
24D 39. Sweaty stretching session 7
25D 40. Up to this point 3
26D 41. Mined find 3
27D 42. "Oof, painfully true" 7
28D 43. Part of a country located entirely within another country 7
29D 44. Landed for the night 7
30D 45. Claim to be true 6
31D 46. Hinder 6
32D 50. Bother, as one's conscience 5
33D 51. Letter that can take a cedilla 3
34D 52. Puts through a harsh initiation 5
35D 55. Items sometimes chained to a desk 4
36D 57. Its alums include Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, in brief 3
37D 59. Rock singer ___ Fender 3
38D 60. Alcoholic equivalent of a fun-size candy bar 3

Down Clues - Strategic Hints

1D: "1. Sporting group at a cold-weather school"

7 letters šŸ’­ Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

2D: "2. Insect's feeler"

7 letters šŸ’­ Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an electrical device that sends or receives radio or television signals
  • Similar words include: transmitting aerial, feeler, aerial
  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ANTENNA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

3D: "3. Six-line poems"

7 letters šŸ’­ Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one
  • Similar words include: sextette, VI, sixer
  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SESTETS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

4D: "4. Honorific for many Spanish teachers"

5 letters šŸ’­ Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a spanish title or form of address for a man; similar to the english `mr' or `sir'
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SENOR

Remember this word for future puzzles!

5D: "5. Finishes deliberating"

4 letters šŸ’­ Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that select as an alternative over another
  • Similar words include: prefer, opt, choose
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OPTS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

6D: "6. "Well, lah-di-___!""

3 letters šŸ’­ Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the longer of the two telegraphic signals used in morse code
  • Similar words include: dash
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DAH

Remember this word for future puzzles!

7D: "7. Name that's an anagram of an untruth"

3 letters šŸ’­ Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

8D: "8. Units in horse racing"

7 letters šŸ’­ Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place
  • Similar words include: duration, distance, length
  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LENGTHS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

9D: "9. Skill needed to solve a sudoku puzzle"

5 letters šŸ’­ Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the branch of philosophy that analyzes inference
  • Similar words include: logical system, system of logic
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LOGIC

Remember this word for future puzzles!

10D: "10. Query"

3 letters šŸ’­ Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that inquire about
  • Similar words include: expect, need, take
  • Opposite of: obviate
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ASK

Remember this word for future puzzles!

11D: "11. Plays the yes-man"

7 letters šŸ’­ Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that be in accord; be in agreement
  • Similar words include: agree, hold, concur
  • Opposite of: disagree
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CONCURS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

12D: "12. Muss and fuss"

6 letters šŸ’­ Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that blatant or sensational promotion
  • Similar words include: ballyhoo, plug, hype
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HOOPLA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

13D: "13. Involve"

6 letters šŸ’­ Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that land received by fee tail
  • Similar words include: imply, mean, fee-tail
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ENTAIL

Remember this word for future puzzles!

14D: "18. 1969 "bed-in" participant"

3 letters šŸ’­ Category: General Knowledge

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!

15D: "22. "___ be the day!""

6 letters šŸ’­ Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

16D: "25. Expression of disgust that sounds like a family member"

3 letters šŸ’­ Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

17D: "26. Sun Devils' sch."

3 letters šŸ’­ Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

18D: "27. "Straight ___ Compton" (1989 N.W.A album)"

5 letters šŸ’­ Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

19D: "32. Triflingly little"

5 letters šŸ’­ Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that work hastily or carelessly; deal with inadequately and superficially
  • Similar words include: short, stint, light
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SCANT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

20D: "33. Artistic visionary"

6 letters šŸ’­ Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a filmmaker who has a personal style and keeps creative control over his or her works
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AUTEUR

Remember this word for future puzzles!

21D: "34. Org. mentioned in many zombie movies"

3 letters šŸ’­ Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a federal agency in the department of health and human services; located in atlanta; investigates and diagnoses and tries to control or prevent diseases (especially new and unusual diseases)
  • Similar words include: Center for Disease Control and Prevention
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CDC

Remember this word for future puzzles!

22D: "35. Evian, Perrier or Badoit"

3 letters šŸ’­ Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

23D: "38. Along a gulf, say"

7 letters šŸ’­ Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that of or relating to a coast
  • Opposite of: inland
  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: COASTAL

Remember this word for future puzzles!

24D: "39. Sweaty stretching session"

7 letters šŸ’­ Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

25D: "40. Up to this point"

3 letters šŸ’­ Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that up to the present time
  • Similar words include: til now, in time, so far
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: YET

Remember this word for future puzzles!

26D: "41. Mined find"

3 letters šŸ’­ Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a mineral that contains metal that is valuable enough to be mined
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ORE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

27D: "42. "Oof, painfully true""

7 letters šŸ’­ Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

28D: "43. Part of a country located entirely within another country"

7 letters šŸ’­ Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

29D: "44. Landed for the night"

7 letters šŸ’­ Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that sit, as on a branch
  • Similar words include: roost, rest, perch
  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ROOSTED

Remember this word for future puzzles!

30D: "45. Claim to be true"

6 letters šŸ’­ Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that state categorically
  • Similar words include: swan, asseverate, avow
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ASSERT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

31D: "46. Hinder"

6 letters šŸ’­ Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a situation in golf where an opponent's ball blocks the line between your ball and the hole
  • Similar words include: embarrass, hinder, obstruct
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: STYMIE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

32D: "50. Bother, as one's conscience"

5 letters šŸ’­ Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

33D: "51. Letter that can take a cedilla"

3 letters šŸ’­ Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

34D: "52. Puts through a harsh initiation"

5 letters šŸ’­ Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that atmospheric moisture or dust or smoke that causes reduced visibility
  • Similar words include: haze, daze, fog
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HAZES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

35D: "55. Items sometimes chained to a desk"

4 letters šŸ’­ Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a writing implement with a point from which ink flows
  • Similar words include: penitentiary, playpen, pen
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PENS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

36D: "57. Its alums include Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, in brief"

3 letters šŸ’­ Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

37D: "59. Rock singer ___ Fender"

3 letters šŸ’­ Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a guided missile fired from land or shipboard against an airborne target
  • Similar words include: surface-to-air missile
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SAM

Remember this word for future puzzles!

38D: "60. Alcoholic equivalent of a fun-size candy bar"

3 letters šŸ’­ Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a small drink of liquor
  • Similar words include: shot, flavour, tanginess
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NIP

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

36 Across Clues
38 Down Clues
74 Total Clues

More NYT Crossword Help

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Last updated: July 28, 2026 at 06:06 AM

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