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 (41 clues)
- Across Clues - Detailed Hints
- Down Clues Table (38 clues)
- Down Clues - Detailed Hints
- Expert Solving Strategies
- Today's Puzzle Statistics
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. "I'm afraid not," quaintly | 6 |
| 2A | 7. Food brand for Fido | 4 |
| 3A | 11. Like major-city airports, typically: Abbr. | 4 |
| 4A | 15. Cash in | 6 |
| 5A | 16. Avocado dip, informally | 4 |
| 6A | 17. Take a risk | 4 |
| 7A | 18. Audience's reverent response to a symphony finale? | 11 |
| 8A | 20. Keenly interested | 4 |
| 9A | 21. Shakespearean "soon" | 4 |
| 10A | 22. That certain je ne sais quoi in Beethoven's "Moonlight"? | 11 |
| 11A | 24. Commotion | 3 |
| 12A | 25. Measure of college readiness, for short | 4 |
| 13A | 26. Knuckled rub to the scalp | 6 |
| 14A | 27. Publishing house workers: Abbr. | 3 |
| 15A | 28. Goal | 3 |
| 16A | 29. Wood-shaping hand tool | 4 |
| 17A | 31. Tagging symbols | 3 |
| 18A | 32. ___-Magnon | 3 |
| 19A | 33. Vegas opener? | 3 |
| 20A | 34. Perry of pop | 4 |
| 21A | 36. Opportunity for a choral understudy? | 12 |
| 22A | 39. Belgrade native | 4 |
| 23A | 40. "Beats me," in a text | 3 |
| 24A | 41. Caviar, essentially | 3 |
| 25A | 42. Miss Piggy, for one | 3 |
| 26A | 43. Assns. | 4 |
| 27A | 45. Extended comedic riff | 3 |
| 28A | 46. Hindi for "rule" | 3 |
| 29A | 49. Chant heard at the start of "Hot Hot Hot" | 6 |
| 30A | 51. Girl in Glasgow | 4 |
| 31A | 52. Alias initialism | 3 |
| 32A | 53. When to play a note with sudden strong emphasis? | 11 |
| 33A | 56. "Groovy, man" | 4 |
| 34A | 57. Popular flavor of bubble tea | 4 |
| 35A | 58. "What's Opera, Doc?," e.g.? | 11 |
| 36A | 60. Volunteer's offer | 4 |
| 37A | 61. Hits hard | 4 |
| 38A | 62. Respond, as a pupil might | 6 |
| 39A | 63. Ending with kitchen | 4 |
| 40A | 64. Painter Paul | 4 |
| 41A | 65. Key of Brahms's Symphony No. 4 | 6 |
Across Clues - Strategic Hints
1A: "1. "I'm afraid not," quaintly"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
2A: "7. Food brand for Fido"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
3A: "11. Like major-city airports, typically: Abbr."
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
4A: "15. Cash in"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that save from sins
- Similar words include: ransom, pay off, save
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
5A: "16. Avocado dip, informally"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
6A: "17. Take a risk"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a challenge to do something dangerous or foolhardy
- Similar words include: make bold, defy, presume
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
7A: "18. Audience's reverent response to a symphony finale?"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
8A: "20. Keenly interested"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that (often followed by `for') ardently or excessively desirous
- Similar words include: zealous, greedy, devouring
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
9A: "21. Shakespearean "soon""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that at another time
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
10A: "22. That certain je ne sais quoi in Beethoven's "Moonlight"?"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
11A: "24. Commotion"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a loud harsh or strident noise
- Similar words include: blaring, clamor, commotion
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
12A: "25. Measure of college readiness, for short"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
13A: "26. Knuckled rub to the scalp"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
14A: "27. Publishing house workers: Abbr."
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a rapid automatic system to detect plastic explosives in passengers' luggage using x-ray technology and computers; designed for use in airports
- Similar words include: male erecticle dysfunction, ED, explosive detection system
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
15A: "28. Goal"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions
- Similar words include: point, intent, direct
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
16A: "29. Wood-shaping hand tool"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that uttering in an irritated tone
- Similar words include: rasping, wood file
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
17A: "31. Tagging symbols"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a highly unstable radioactive element (the heaviest of the halogen series); a decay product of uranium and thorium
- Similar words include: At, atomic number 85, astatine
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
18A: "32. ___-Magnon"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that electronic equipment that provides visual images of varying electrical quantities
- Similar words include: cathode-ray oscilloscope, oscilloscope, scope
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
19A: "33. Vegas opener?"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a white soft metallic element that tarnishes readily; occurs in rare earth minerals and is usually classified as a rare earth
- Similar words include: Louisiana, lanthanum, La
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
20A: "34. Perry of pop"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
21A: "36. Opportunity for a choral understudy?"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
22A: "39. Belgrade native"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a member of a slavic people who settled in serbia and neighboring areas in the 6th and 7th centuries
- Similar words include: Serbian
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
23A: "40. "Beats me," in a text"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
24A: "41. Caviar, essentially"
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!
25A: "42. Miss Piggy, for one"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an adult female hog
- Similar words include: inseminate, seed, sow in
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
26A: "43. Assns."
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
27A: "45. Extended comedic riff"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a small piece or quantity of something
- Similar words include: second, piece, act
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
28A: "46. Hindi for "rule""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that british dominion over india (1757-1947)
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
29A: "49. Chant heard at the start of "Hot Hot Hot""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
30A: "51. Girl in Glasgow"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a girl or young woman who is unmarried
- Similar words include: young girl, lassie, jeune fille
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
31A: "52. Alias initialism"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
32A: "53. When to play a note with sudden strong emphasis?"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
33A: "56. "Groovy, man""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
34A: "57. Popular flavor of bubble tea"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that edible starchy tuberous root of taro plants
- Similar words include: dasheen, Colocasia esculenta, dalo
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
35A: "58. "What's Opera, Doc?," e.g.?"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
36A: "60. Volunteer's offer"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
37A: "61. Hits hard"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the most common computer memory which can be used by programs to perform necessary tasks while the computer is on; an integrated circuit memory chip allows information to be stored or accessed in any order and all storage locations are equally accessible
- Similar words include: Aries the Ram, ram, read/write memory
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
38A: "62. Respond, as a pupil might"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that become wider
- Similar words include: exposit, elaborate, distend
- Opposite of: contract
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
39A: "63. Ending with kitchen"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
40A: "64. Painter Paul"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that swiss painter influenced by kandinsky (1879-1940)
- Similar words include: Paul Klee
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
41A: "65. Key of Brahms's Symphony No. 4"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
Down Clues - Complete List
| No. | Clue | Letters |
|---|---|---|
| 1D | 1. Covered passageway | 6 |
| 2D | 2. Meteor in a November shower | 6 |
| 3D | 3. Enhancing accessories | 6 |
| 4D | 4. Actor Astin of the "Lord of the Rings" films | 4 |
| 5D | 5. Original Super Mario Bros. console | 3 |
| 6D | 6. Oversight | 8 |
| 7D | 7. Author's representative | 5 |
| 8D | 8. Moon over Managua | 4 |
| 9D | 9. Treaty | 4 |
| 10D | 10. What Saturn's moon Enceladus and Jupiter's moon Europa are both believed to have | 6 |
| 11D | 11. The Gem State | 5 |
| 12D | 12. Find one's way | 8 |
| 13D | 13. Dublin college founded in 1592 | 7 |
| 14D | 14. Apartment planter sites, perhaps | 6 |
| 15D | 19. Good gardening soil | 4 |
| 16D | 23. Traditional samurai hairstyles | 8 |
| 17D | 25. Graph of y = ax2 + bx + c, for example | 8 |
| 18D | 29. Frame for a game of pool | 4 |
| 19D | 30. Forehead marking at the start of Lent | 3 |
| 20D | 32. Convention bldg., in a mailing address | 3 |
| 21D | 33. Dudes, in British English | 4 |
| 22D | 35. Big name in hardware stores | 3 |
| 23D | 36. Underground scurrier | 8 |
| 24D | 37. Half of a darting motion | 3 |
| 25D | 38. Jean-Bertrand ___, 1990s Haitian leader | 8 |
| 26D | 39. One-man band, for example | 7 |
| 27D | 42. Sentimental sort | 6 |
| 28D | 44. Comment | 6 |
| 29D | 45. Make ___ (earn vast sums) | 4 |
| 30D | 46. Unit of angular measurement | 6 |
| 31D | 47. Like | 6 |
| 32D | 48. Rolling Stones frontman | 6 |
| 33D | 50. Absorber of UV light | 5 |
| 34D | 51. Charter | 5 |
| 35D | 54. Word with cavity or contraceptive | 4 |
| 36D | 55. One acting rather quiet? | 4 |
| 37D | 56. Savory South Asian rice cake | 4 |
| 38D | 59. Lower, as lights | 3 |
Down Clues - Strategic Hints
1D: "1. Covered passageway"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a covered passageway with shops and stalls on either side
- Similar words include: colonnade
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
2D: "2. Meteor in a November shower"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
3D: "3. Enhancing accessories"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
4D: "4. Actor Astin of the "Lord of the Rings" films"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
5D: "5. Original Super Mario Bros. console"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a colorless odorless gaseous element that give a red glow in a vacuum tube; one of the six inert gasses; occurs in the air in small amounts
- Similar words include: Nebraska, Ne, nor'-east
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
6D: "6. Oversight"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a mistake resulting from neglect
- Similar words include: deletion, skip
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
7D: "7. Author's representative"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an active and efficient cause; capable of producing a certain effect
- Similar words include: agentive role, broker, federal agent
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
8D: "8. Moon over Managua"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that (roman mythology) the goddess of the moon; counterpart of greek selene
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
9D: "9. Treaty"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a written agreement between two states or sovereigns
- Similar words include: accord, treaty
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
10D: "10. What Saturn's moon Enceladus and Jupiter's moon Europa are both believed to have"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a large body of water constituting a principal part of the hydrosphere
- Similar words include: ocean, sea
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
11D: "11. The Gem State"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a state in the rocky mountains
- Similar words include: Gem State, ID
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
12D: "12. Find one's way"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that travel on water propelled by wind or by other means
- Similar words include: pilot, sail, voyage
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
13D: "13. Dublin college founded in 1592"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
- Similar words include: deuce-ace, tercet, III
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
14D: "14. Apartment planter sites, perhaps"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a projecting ridge on a mountain or submerged under water
- Similar words include: shelf, ledge
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
15D: "19. Good gardening soil"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a rich soil consisting of a mixture of sand and clay and decaying organic materials
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
16D: "23. Traditional samurai hairstyles"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that headdress consisting of a decorative ribbon or bow worn in the hair
- Similar words include: topknot
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
17D: "25. Graph of y = ax2 + bx + c, for example"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a plane curve formed by the intersection of a right circular cone and a plane parallel to an element of the curve
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
18D: "29. Frame for a game of pool"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that framework for holding objects
- Similar words include: extort, scud, squeeze
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
19D: "30. Forehead marking at the start of Lent"
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!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
20D: "32. Convention bldg., in a mailing address"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
21D: "33. Dudes, in British English"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a boy or man
- Similar words include: fellow, fella, cub
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
22D: "35. Big name in hardware stores"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the smallest whole number or a numeral representing this number
- Similar words include: genius, single, sensation
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
23D: "36. Underground scurrier"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
24D: "37. Half of a darting motion"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an angular shape characterized by sharp turns in alternating directions
- Similar words include: zigzag, zag
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
25D: "38. Jean-Bertrand ___, 1990s Haitian leader"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
26D: "39. One-man band, for example"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
27D: "42. Sentimental sort"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a person who is weak and excessively sentimental
- Similar words include: softy
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
28D: "44. Comment"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a statement that expresses a personal opinion or belief or adds information
- Similar words include: observe, notice, input
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
29D: "45. Make ___ (earn vast sums)"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that sloping land (especially the slope beside a body of water)
- Similar words include: banking company, coin bank, rely
- Opposite of: withdraw, mistrust
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
30D: "46. Unit of angular measurement"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the unit of plane angle adopted under the systeme international d'unites; equal to the angle at the center of a circle subtended by an arc equal in length to the radius (approximately 57.295 degrees)
- Similar words include: rad
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
31D: "47. Like"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
32D: "48. Rolling Stones frontman"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that english rock star (born in 1943)
- Similar words include: Mick Jagger, Michael Philip Jagger
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
33D: "50. Absorber of UV light"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a colorless gas (o3) soluble in alkalis and cold water; a strong oxidizing agent; can be produced by electric discharge in oxygen or by the action of ultraviolet radiation on oxygen in the stratosphere (where it acts as a screen for ultraviolet radiation)
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
34D: "51. Charter"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that property that is leased or rented out or let
- Similar words include: take, rental, letting
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
35D: "54. Word with cavity or contraceptive"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an examination conducted by spoken communication
- Similar words include: unwritten, viva, oral exam
- Opposite of: aboral, anal
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
36D: "55. One acting rather quiet?"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an actor who communicates entirely by gesture and facial expression
- Similar words include: dumb show, pantomime, mimer
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
37D: "56. Savory South Asian rice cake"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
38D: "59. Lower, as lights"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that switch (a car's headlights) from a higher to a lower beam
- Similar words include: shadowy, wispy, blind
- Opposite of: undimmed, focus
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.
Today's Puzzle Stats
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