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 (35 clues)
- Across Clues - Detailed Hints
- Down Clues Table (37 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. Much-used pencil | 4 |
| 2A | 5. Composed | 4 |
| 3A | 9. A bit off | 5 |
| 4A | 14. Isle that's the traditional burial site of Scottish kings | 4 |
| 5A | 15. Mayberry kid on old TV | 4 |
| 6A | 16. Sharp increase | 5 |
| 7A | 17. Market! | 9 |
| 8A | 19. Walked while fraught with worry, say | 5 |
| 9A | 20. Like a moon that is not full but is more than half visible | 7 |
| 10A | 21. Administrative role | 5 |
| 11A | 23. Sign up | 6 |
| 12A | 24. Ticket! | 8 |
| 13A | 27. Nottingham-to-London dir. | 3 |
| 14A | 28. It was you | 4 |
| 15A | 30. Attributed writer of the third Gospel | 6 |
| 16A | 31. Culinary connoisseur | 6 |
| 17A | 33. GPS's guesses | 4 |
| 18A | 34. Planet! | 13 |
| 19A | 38. Desert landform | 4 |
| 20A | 39. San Francisco team, informally | 6 |
| 21A | 40. Best and most awesome, in slang | 6 |
| 22A | 43. Times Sq. squad | 4 |
| 23A | 44. Humanities degs. | 3 |
| 24A | 47. Packet! | 8 |
| 25A | 49. Person's bidding | 6 |
| 26A | 51. Need for a greedy Swede? | 5 |
| 27A | 52. Great flair | 7 |
| 28A | 53. Nail a test | 5 |
| 29A | 55. Locket! | 9 |
| 30A | 57. Pie-in-the-face sound | 5 |
| 31A | 58. Sized up | 4 |
| 32A | 59. Hightailed it | 4 |
| 33A | 60. How a trickster might behave | 5 |
| 34A | 61. Group in a gym routine | 4 |
| 35A | 62. Margarine | 4 |
Across Clues - Strategic Hints
1A: "1. Much-used pencil"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a short piece remaining on a trunk or stem where a branch is lost
- Similar words include: nub, check stub, butt
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: STUB
Remember this word for future puzzles!
2A: "5. Composed"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that steadiness of mind under stress
- Similar words include: composure, tranquillise, cool off
- Opposite of: stormy, stimulate
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CALM
Remember this word for future puzzles!
3A: "9. A bit off"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that turned or twisted toward one side; - g.k.chesterton
- Similar words include: wonky, lopsided, cockeyed
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ASKEW
Remember this word for future puzzles!
4A: "14. Isle that's the traditional burial site of Scottish kings"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: IONA
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5A: "15. Mayberry kid on old TV"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OPIE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
6A: "16. Sharp increase"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a transient variation in voltage or current
- Similar words include: empale, stiletto heel, spike out
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SPIKE
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7A: "17. Market!"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EXAMPAPER
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8A: "19. Walked while fraught with worry, say"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that walk with slow or fast paces
- Similar words include: pace, step
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PACED
Remember this word for future puzzles!
9A: "20. Like a moon that is not full but is more than half visible"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that characteristic of or suffering from kyphosis, an abnormality of the vertebral column
- Similar words include: kyphotic, crookback, humpbacked
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GIBBOUS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
10A: "21. Administrative role"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an employee who performs clerical work (e.g., keeps records or accounts)
- Similar words include: salesclerk, shop clerk, shop assistant
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CLERK
Remember this word for future puzzles!
11A: "23. Sign up"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that join the military
- Similar words include: draft, muster in, engage
- Opposite of: discharge
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ENLIST
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12A: "24. Ticket!"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CHECKBOX
Remember this word for future puzzles!
13A: "27. Nottingham-to-London dir."
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the compass point midway between south and southeast
- Similar words include: sou'-sou'-east, south southeast
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SSE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
14A: "28. It was you"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the cardinal number that is the product of 10 and 100
- Similar words include: K, M, chiliad
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: THOU
Remember this word for future puzzles!
15A: "30. Attributed writer of the third Gospel"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: STLUKE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
16A: "31. Culinary connoisseur"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a person devoted to refined sensuous enjoyment (especially good food and drink)
- Similar words include: epicurean, gastronome, epicure
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FOODIE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
17A: "33. GPS's guesses"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a terrorist organization organized in 1959 by student activists who were dissatisfied with the moderate nationalism of the traditional basque party; want to create an independent homeland in spain's western pyrenees
- Similar words include: eta, ETA, Euskadi ta Askatasuna
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ETAS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
18A: "34. Planet!"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SURPRISEPARTY
Remember this word for future puzzles!
19A: "38. Desert landform"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a ridge of sand created by the wind; found in deserts or near lakes and oceans
- Similar words include: sand dune
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DUNE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
20A: "39. San Francisco team, informally"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the cardinal number that is the sum of eight and one
- Similar words include: niner, 9, nine
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NINERS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
21A: "40. Best and most awesome, in slang"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function
- Similar words include: sick, inauspicious, ill
- Opposite of: well
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ILLEST
Remember this word for future puzzles!
22A: "43. Times Sq. squad"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NYPD
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23A: "44. Humanities degs."
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a soft silvery metallic element of the alkali earth group; found in barite
- Similar words include: Ba, Bachelor of Arts, AB
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BAS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
24A: "47. Packet!"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a portable rectangular container for carrying clothes
- Similar words include: travelling bag, bag, traveling bag
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SUITCASE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
25A: "49. Person's bidding"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an authoritative command or request
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BEHEST
Remember this word for future puzzles!
26A: "51. Need for a greedy Swede?"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the basic unit of money in sweden
- Similar words include: Swedish krona, Icelandic krona
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: KRONA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
27A: "52. Great flair"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that distinctive and stylish elegance
- Similar words include: flair, dash, style
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PANACHE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
28A: "53. Nail a test"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ACEIT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
29A: "55. Locket!"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FRONTDOOR
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30A: "57. Pie-in-the-face sound"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a single splash
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SPLAT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
31A: "58. Sized up"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that having an eye or eyes or eyelike feature especially as specified; often used in combination
- Similar words include: eyeball, eye
- Opposite of: eyeless
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EYED
Remember this word for future puzzles!
32A: "59. Hightailed it"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that commonly the lowest molding at the base of a column
- Similar words include: pluck, bust, tear
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TORE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
33A: "60. How a trickster might behave"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that in an artful manner
- Similar words include: trickily, foxily, knavishly
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SLYLY
Remember this word for future puzzles!
34A: "61. Group in a gym routine"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a group of things of the same kind that belong together and are so used
- Similar words include: set up, lay, set
- Opposite of: rise
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SETS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
35A: "62. Margarine"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a spread made chiefly from vegetable oils and used as a substitute for butter
- Similar words include: marge, margarine, oleomargarine
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OLEO
Remember this word for future puzzles!
Down Clues - Complete List
| No. | Clue | Letters |
|---|---|---|
| 1D | 1. Drawn-out attacks | 6 |
| 2D | 2. Things to be cleansed from the body | 6 |
| 3D | 3. Powerless | 6 |
| 4D | 4. Movie with the record for the longest time between its release and the release of its sequel (63 years) | 5 |
| 5D | 5. Writing partner | 8 |
| 6D | 6. Many tech start-up ideas | 4 |
| 7D | 7. Trust eroder | 3 |
| 8D | 8. Some concert gear, informally | 5 |
| 9D | 9. Feature | 6 |
| 10D | 10. They might get lit at a birthday celebration | 9 |
| 11D | 11. Be super-successful, in slang | 8 |
| 12D | 12. Scrape (by) | 3 |
| 13D | 13. Give a ring, say | 3 |
| 14D | 18. Surgery recovery period, in brief | 6 |
| 15D | 22. "___ Troyens" (five-hour French opera) | 3 |
| 16D | 24. Collection of dishes? | 7 |
| 17D | 25. Up to snuff | 4 |
| 18D | 26. Treasure map markings | 3 |
| 19D | 29. God whose name has one "I," fittingly | 4 |
| 20D | 31. Offer from many a streaming service | 9 |
| 21D | 32. Start of a counting rhyme | 4 |
| 22D | 34. "Star Trek" helmsman | 4 |
| 23D | 35. Doubtful | 8 |
| 24D | 36. Musical promoters of school spirit | 8 |
| 25D | 37. Impassioned | 6 |
| 26D | 38. Insult | 3 |
| 27D | 41. "Star Trek" engineer | 6 |
| 28D | 42. Trig function that can output every real number | 3 |
| 29D | 44. "Don't freak out, dude" | 6 |
| 30D | 45. Where landlubbers are at home | 6 |
| 31D | 46. It often features panels with speakers | 6 |
| 32D | 48. Targets of some heists | 5 |
| 33D | 50. Was out of other options | 5 |
| 34D | 52. Word found at the start of "Poe, to name one" | 4 |
| 35D | 53. Burro | 3 |
| 36D | 54. Rank below sgt. | 3 |
| 37D | 56. Bread choice | 3 |
Down Clues - Strategic Hints
1D: "1. Drawn-out attacks"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the action of an armed force that surrounds a fortified place and isolates it while continuing to attack
- Similar words include: military blockade, besieging, beleaguering
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SIEGES
Remember this word for future puzzles!
2D: "2. Things to be cleansed from the body"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a poisonous substance produced during the metabolism and growth of certain microorganisms and some higher plant and animal species
- Similar words include: toxin
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TOXINS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
3D: "3. Powerless"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that (usually followed by `to') not having the necessary means or skill or know-how
- Similar words include: ineffective, ineffectual
- Opposite of: able
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: UNABLE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
4D: "4. Movie with the record for the longest time between its release and the release of its sequel (63 years)"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BAMBI
Remember this word for future puzzles!
5D: "5. Writing partner"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a writer who collaborates with others in writing something
- Similar words include: joint author
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: COAUTHOR
Remember this word for future puzzles!
6D: "6. Many tech start-up ideas"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: APPS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
7D: "7. Trust eroder"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a statement that deviates from or perverts the truth
- Similar words include: Trygve Halvden Lie, lie down, Trygve Lie
- Opposite of: stand, arise
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LIE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
8D: "8. Some concert gear, informally"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MERCH
Remember this word for future puzzles!
9D: "9. Feature"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a distinct feature or element in a problem
- Similar words include: facial expression, panorama, prospect
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ASPECT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
10D: "10. They might get lit at a birthday celebration"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a firework that burns slowly and throws out a shower of sparks
- Similar words include: ice, sparkler
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SPARKLERS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
11D: "11. Be super-successful, in slang"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: KICKBUTT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
12D: "12. Scrape (by)"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EKE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
13D: "13. Give a ring, say"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the fourth day of the week; the third working day
- Similar words include: tie, Wednesday, marry
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: WED
Remember this word for future puzzles!
14D: "18. Surgery recovery period, in brief"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: POSTOP
Remember this word for future puzzles!
15D: "22. "___ Troyens" (five-hour French opera)"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a chronic inflammatory collagen disease affecting connective tissue (skin or joints)
- Similar words include: LE, lupus erythematosus
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LES
Remember this word for future puzzles!
16D: "24. Collection of dishes?"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the practice or manner of preparing food or the food so prepared
- Similar words include: culinary art
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CUISINE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
17D: "25. Up to snuff"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an endorsement
- Similar words include: hunky-dory, o.k., sanction
- Opposite of: disapprove
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OKAY
Remember this word for future puzzles!
18D: "26. Treasure map markings"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a colorless odorless inert gaseous element occurring in the earth's atmosphere in trace amounts
- Similar words include: x, Adam, X
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: XES
Remember this word for future puzzles!
19D: "29. God whose name has one "I," fittingly"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that (norse mythology) ruler of the aesir; supreme god of war and poetry and knowledge and wisdom (for which he gave an eye) and husband of frigg; identified with the teutonic wotan
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ODIN
Remember this word for future puzzles!
20D: "31. Offer from many a streaming service"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FREETRIAL
Remember this word for future puzzles!
21D: "32. Start of a counting rhyme"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EENY
Remember this word for future puzzles!
22D: "34. "Star Trek" helmsman"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SULU
Remember this word for future puzzles!
23D: "35. Doubtful"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that not likely to be true or to occur or to have occurred
- Similar words include: unbelievable, unconvincing, improbable
- Opposite of: likely, probable
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: UNLIKELY
Remember this word for future puzzles!
24D: "36. Musical promoters of school spirit"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PEPBANDS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
25D: "37. Impassioned"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that characterized by intense emotion
- Similar words include: perfervid, fervent, impassioned
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ARDENT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
26D: "38. Insult"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that god of the underworld; counterpart of greek pluto
- Similar words include: Orcus
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DIS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
27D: "41. "Star Trek" engineer"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SCOTTY
Remember this word for future puzzles!
28D: "42. Trig function that can output every real number"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a browning of the skin resulting from exposure to the rays of the sun
- Similar words include: suntan, topaz, tangent
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TAN
Remember this word for future puzzles!
29D: "44. "Don't freak out, dude""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BECOOL
Remember this word for future puzzles!
30D: "45. Where landlubbers are at home"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that towards the shore from the water
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ASHORE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
31D: "46. It often features panels with speakers"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that reproducer in which two microphones feed two or more loudspeakers to give a three-dimensional effect to the sound
- Similar words include: two-channel, stereoscopic picture, stereophony
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: STEREO
Remember this word for future puzzles!
32D: "48. Targets of some heists"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that strongbox where valuables can be safely kept
- Similar words include: rubber, safe, condom
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SAFES
Remember this word for future puzzles!
33D: "50. Was out of other options"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HADTO
Remember this word for future puzzles!
34D: "52. Word found at the start of "Poe, to name one""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a writer of poems (the term is usually reserved for writers of good poetry)
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: POET
Remember this word for future puzzles!
35D: "53. Burro"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the fleshy part of the human body that you sit on
- Similar words include: arse, stern, buns
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ASS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
36D: "54. Rank below sgt."
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CPL
Remember this word for future puzzles!
37D: "56. Bread choice"
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: RYE
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
37 Down Clues
72 Total Clues
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