Search Clues

Saturday, October 17, 2026

XWordHint Crossword Answers October 17, 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: Medium

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. It has its limits, in brief 4
2A 5. Award-winning culinary documentary series 10
3A 15. High number, perhaps 4
4A 16. Where some family secrets may be written 10
5A 17. Displaying finesse 4
6A 18. Actress who plays Trudy on "Mad Men" and Annie on "Community" 10
7A 19. Mothers in cotes 4
8A 20. Bedtime attire 10
9A 21. Silicon Valley V.I.P. 7
10A 23. Oslo Accords grp. 3
11A 24. Gold medalist in women's soccer and women's team foil (fencing) at 2024's Olympics, in brief 5
12A 25. Part of many home improvement projects 8
13A 30. Fissile rock 5
14A 31. Party leader? 4
15A 32. Something seized, for short 4
16A 33. Outdoor accommodations with flies 5
17A 34. "One ___" (Elizabeth Bishop poem that repeats the line "The ___ of losing isn't hard to master") 3
18A 35. Skin care brand from Japan 5
19A 36. Drive 4
20A 37. Give credit to 4
21A 38. Suitable for a game of 20 Questions, in a way 5
22A 39. Establishments selling craft products? 8
23A 41. Appears less impressive 5
24A 42. It's meant to be believed 3
25A 43. Rich 7
26A 45. Meet an unmet need 10
27A 50. ___ bowl 4
28A 51. Queue words 10
29A 52. Discover alternative 4
30A 53. Author of the story collections "The Little Disturbances of Man" (1959) and "Enormous Changes at the Last Minute" (1974) 10
31A 54. ___ mess (British dessert) 4
32A 55. Traditional Passover dish 10
33A 56. Scot's word meaning "past" 4

Across Clues - Strategic Hints

1A: "1. It has its limits, in brief"

4 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

2A: "5. Award-winning culinary documentary series"

10 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

3A: "15. High number, perhaps"

4 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an elaborate song for solo voice
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ARIA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

4A: "16. Where some family secrets may be written"

10 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

5A: "17. Displaying finesse"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that skillful in physical movements; especially of the hands
  • Similar words include: dextrous, dexterous
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DEFT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

6A: "18. Actress who plays Trudy on "Mad Men" and Annie on "Community""

10 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

7A: "19. Mothers in cotes"

4 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a member of a people living in southern benin and togo and southeastern ghana
  • Similar words include: Ewe, ewe
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EWES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

8A: "20. Bedtime attire"

10 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that lingerie consisting of a loose dress designed to be worn in bed by women
  • Similar words include: gown, night-robe, nightgown
  • Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NIGHTDRESS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

9A: "21. Silicon Valley V.I.P."

7 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

10A: "23. Oslo Accords grp."

3 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a political movement uniting palestinian arabs in an effort to create an independent state of palestine; when formed in 1964 it was a terrorist organization dominated by yasser arafat's al-fatah; in 1968 arafat became chairman; received recognition by the united nations and by arab states in 1974 as a government in exile; has played a largely political role since the creation of the palestine national authority
  • Similar words include: Palestine Liberation Organization
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PLO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

11A: "24. Gold medalist in women's soccer and women's team foil (fencing) at 2024's Olympics, in brief"

5 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

12A: "25. Part of many home improvement projects"

8 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

13A: "30. Fissile rock"

5 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a sedimentary rock formed by the deposition of successive layers of clay
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SHALE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

14A: "31. Party leader?"

4 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a person who invites guests to a social event (such as a party in his or her own home) and who is responsible for them while they are there
  • Similar words include: emcee, boniface, master of ceremonies
  • Opposite of: parasite
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HOST

Remember this word for future puzzles!

15A: "32. Something seized, for short"

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

16A: "33. Outdoor accommodations with flies"

5 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a portable shelter (usually of canvas stretched over supporting poles and fastened to the ground with ropes and pegs)
  • Similar words include: camp, tent, camp out
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TENTS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

17A: "34. "One ___" (Elizabeth Bishop poem that repeats the line "The ___ of losing isn't hard to master")"

3 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the products of human creativity; works of art collectively
  • Similar words include: artistry, prowess, artistic production
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ART

Remember this word for future puzzles!

18A: "35. Skin care brand from Japan"

5 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

19A: "36. Drive"

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an instinctive motive
  • Similar words include: exhort, cheer, recommend
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: URGE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

20A: "37. Give credit to"

4 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a short note recognizing a source of information or of a quoted passage
  • Similar words include: summons, quote, adduce
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CITE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

21A: "38. Suitable for a game of 20 Questions, in a way"

5 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

22A: "39. Establishments selling craft products?"

8 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

23A: "41. Appears less impressive"

5 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a wooden strip forming part of a fence
  • Similar words include: chum up, pale, blench
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PALES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

24A: "42. It's meant to be believed"

3 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a belief (or system of beliefs) accepted as authoritative by some group or school
  • Similar words include: doctrine, school of thought, philosophy
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ISM

Remember this word for future puzzles!

25A: "43. Rich"

7 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that based on or arising from the possession of money or wealth
  • Similar words include: flush, affluent, loaded
  • Opposite of: moneyless
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MONEYED

Remember this word for future puzzles!

26A: "45. Meet an unmet need"

10 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

27A: "50. ___ bowl"

4 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

28A: "51. Queue words"

10 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

29A: "52. Discover alternative"

4 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an endorsement made in a passport that allows the bearer to enter the country issuing it
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: VISA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

30A: "53. Author of the story collections "The Little Disturbances of Man" (1959) and "Enormous Changes at the Last Minute" (1974)"

10 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

31A: "54. ___ mess (British dessert)"

4 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

32A: "55. Traditional Passover dish"

10 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

33A: "56. Scot's word meaning "past""

4 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

Down Clues - Complete List

No. Clue Letters
1D 1. Academy figure 5
2D 2. Line of passengers? 10
3D 3. Relocating to a different country, e.g. 10
4D 4. Destination for many a rescue 10
5D 5. Birds whose wings might be folded? 6
6D 6. Prefix with -trope 5
7D 7. Modern pen, of a sort 4
8D 8. Seafood-based ingredient in Eastern cuisines 9
9D 9. Like someone performing a monologue, maybe 7
10D 10. Part of the hamstring 6
11D 11. Fem. or masc. 4
12D 12. Tunnel (into) 4
13D 13. Lane in Superman movies 4
14D 14. Just gets (by) 4
15D 22. "Psst" and "Go!" 4
16D 25. Things that ships, computers and wine retailers all have 5
17D 26. Plant parts that develop as a seedling grows 10
18D 27. Urban locale that looks out on Ellis Island 10
19D 28. When anything goes 10
20D 29. Tie with string 4
21D 30. One getting ripped off at a venue 4
22D 31. Poison classification 9
23D 35. Relative of turquoise 4
24D 37. Competitor of Venmo 7
25D 40. Like the herbs on a 55-Across 6
26D 41. Wimpy friend? 6
27D 43. "The Duck Variations" playwright 5
28D 44. Lane in Superman movies 5
29D 45. States of confusion 4
30D 46. About 4
31D 47. Material theorized as a possible cause of ancient Rome's decline, given its widespread use 4
32D 48. Berate, with "into" 4
33D 49. ___ monster 4

Down Clues - Strategic Hints

1D: "1. Academy figure"

5 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a military trainee (as at a military academy)
  • Similar words include: plebe
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CADET

Remember this word for future puzzles!

2D: "2. Line of passengers?"

10 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

3D: "3. Relocating to a different country, e.g."

10 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

4D: "4. Destination for many a rescue"

10 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

5D: "5. Birds whose wings might be folded?"

6 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that united states writer (1871-1900)
  • Similar words include: stretch out, crane, Stephen Crane
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CRANES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

6D: "6. Prefix with -trope"

5 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

7D: "7. Modern pen, of a sort"

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

8D: "8. Seafood-based ingredient in Eastern cuisines"

9 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a paste of fish or shellfish
  • Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FISHPASTE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

9D: "9. Like someone performing a monologue, maybe"

7 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that move into the foreground to make more visible or prominent
  • Similar words include: spotlight, highlight, foreground
  • Opposite of: background, play down
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SPOTLIT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

10D: "10. Part of the hamstring"

6 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a cord or band of inelastic tissue connecting a muscle with its bony attachment
  • Similar words include: sinew
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TENDON

Remember this word for future puzzles!

11D: "11. Fem. or masc."

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

12D: "12. Tunnel (into)"

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a person who evokes boredom
  • Similar words include: digest, bore-hole, assume
  • Opposite of: interest
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BORE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

13D: "13. Lane in Superman movies"

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

14D: "14. Just gets (by)"

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

15D: "22. "Psst" and "Go!""

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an actor's line that immediately precedes and serves as a reminder for some action or speech
  • Similar words include: discriminative stimulus, remind, cue stick
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CUES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

16D: "25. Things that ships, computers and wine retailers all have"

5 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a place (seaport or airport) where people and merchandise can enter or leave a country
  • Similar words include: larboard, port, interface
  • Opposite of: starboard
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PORTS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

17D: "26. Plant parts that develop as a seedling grows"

10 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

18D: "27. Urban locale that looks out on Ellis Island"

10 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

19D: "28. When anything goes"

10 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

20D: "29. Tie with string"

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a cord fastened around the neck with an ornamental clasp and worn as a necktie
  • Similar words include: bolo tie, bola, bolo knife
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BOLO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

21D: "30. One getting ripped off at a venue"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a short piece remaining on a trunk or stem where a branch is lost
  • Similar words include: check stub, nub, ticket stub
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: STUB

Remember this word for future puzzles!

22D: "31. Poison classification"

9 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

23D: "35. Relative of turquoise"

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a primary subtractive color for light; has a blue-green color
  • Similar words include: teal, bluish green, blue-green
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CYAN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

24D: "37. Competitor of Venmo"

7 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

25D: "40. Like the herbs on a 55-Across"

6 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that english term for a dry sharp-tasting ale with strong flavor of hops (usually on draft)
  • Similar words include: acrid, acerb, piercingly
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BITTER

Remember this word for future puzzles!

26D: "41. Wimpy friend?"

6 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

27D: "43. "The Duck Variations" playwright"

5 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that united states playwright (born in 1947)
  • Similar words include: David Mamet
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MAMET

Remember this word for future puzzles!

28D: "44. Lane in Superman movies"

5 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

29D: "45. States of confusion"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that droplets of water vapor suspended in the air near the ground
  • Similar words include: fog, murk, obscure
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FOGS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

30D: "46. About"

4 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

31D: "47. Material theorized as a possible cause of ancient Rome's decline, given its widespread use"

4 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an advantage held by a competitor in a race
  • Similar words include: take, lead story, jumper cable
  • Opposite of: deficit, follow
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LEAD

Remember this word for future puzzles!

32D: "48. Berate, with "into""

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a cord that is drawn through eyelets or around hooks in order to draw together two edges (as of a shoe or garment)
  • Similar words include: lacing, plait, twine
  • Opposite of: untwine
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LACE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

33D: "49. ___ monster"

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a river that rises in western new mexico and flows westward through southern arizona to become a tributary of the colorado river
  • Similar words include: Gila River
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GILA

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

33 Across Clues
33 Down Clues
66 Total Clues

More NYT Crossword Help

Looking for more puzzle solutions? Check out our comprehensive archive of NYT crossword hints and answers. We update daily with expert analysis and solving strategies.

Disclaimer: Crossword clues and grid © The New York Times. This site provides hints and educational content for puzzle enthusiasts. XWordHint is not affiliated with The New York Times.

Last updated: October 17, 2026 at 07:55 AM

No comments:

Post a Comment