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Monday, April 27, 2026

XWordHint Crossword Answers April 27, 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. Paths for lobbed tennis balls 4
2A 5. Tribe of Arizona 4
3A 9. Flinch, say 5
4A 14. Short blast from a horn 4
5A 15. Actor McGregor of "Trainspotting" 4
6A 16. Han Solo's response to Leia's "I love you" 5
7A 17. Singer's recovery period 9
8A 19. "Catch my drift?" 5
9A 20. Shop 5
10A 21. Spot for a soak 3
11A 23. Dear ___ (letter start) 3
12A 24. Pumice or basalt 12
13A 29. Chemical that speeds up a fruit's aging process 7
14A 32. Film director Coen 5
15A 33. "Our Lips ___ Sealed" (hit by the Go-Go's) 3
16A 34. Youngest woman ever elected to Congress, familiarly 3
17A 36. Betraying surprise, in a way 5
18A 39. Spinoff of "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" 15
19A 44. Big name in microprocessors 5
20A 45. "Who's Who in the Cast" blurb 3
21A 46. Tie-breaking periods, for short 3
22A 47. How a picture book may be read at bedtime 5
23A 50. ___ of hand (magician's skill) 7
24A 53. Congressional history 12
25A 56. Palindrome akin to "Aha!" 3
26A 57. Work well together 3
27A 58. Florida's ___-Dade County 5
28A 62. Jousting weapon 5
29A 65. Device worn by a video gamer ... or a hint to 17-, 24-, 39- and 53-Across 9
30A 68. Basic piano chord 5
31A 69. Notes of indebtedness 4
32A 70. Gets eyes on 4
33A 71. Sends frisky messages 5
34A 72. Strong soapmaking solutions 4
35A 73. Like bourbon 4

Across Clues - Strategic Hints

1A: "1. Paths for lobbed tennis balls"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that electrical conduction through a gas in an applied electric field
  • Similar words include: arc, bow, spark
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ARCS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

2A: "5. Tribe of Arizona"

4 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a member of the shoshonean people of northeastern arizona
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HOPI

Remember this word for future puzzles!

3A: "9. Flinch, say"

5 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that show a response or a reaction to something
  • Similar words include: respond, oppose
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: REACT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

4A: "14. Short blast from a horn"

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a blast of a horn
  • Similar words include: carousal, beep, booze-up
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TOOT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

5A: "15. Actor McGregor of "Trainspotting""

4 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

6A: "16. Han Solo's response to Leia's "I love you""

5 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

7A: "17. Singer's recovery period"

9 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

8A: "19. "Catch my drift?""

5 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

9A: "20. Shop"

5 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a mercantile establishment for the retail sale of goods or services
  • Similar words include: computer storage, memory board, put in
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: STORE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

10A: "21. Spot for a soak"

3 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a relatively large open container that you fill with water and use to wash the body
  • Similar words include: tubful, bath, bathing tub
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TUB

Remember this word for future puzzles!

11A: "23. Dear ___ (letter start)"

3 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that term of address for a man
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SIR

Remember this word for future puzzles!

12A: "24. Pumice or basalt"

12 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ____________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: VOLCANICROCK

Remember this word for future puzzles!

13A: "29. Chemical that speeds up a fruit's aging process"

7 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

14A: "32. Film director Coen"

5 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

15A: "33. "Our Lips ___ Sealed" (hit by the Go-Go's)"

3 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a unit of surface area equal to 100 square meters
  • Similar words include: equal, ar, be
  • Opposite of: differ
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ARE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

16A: "34. Youngest woman ever elected to Congress, familiarly"

3 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

17A: "36. Betraying surprise, in a way"

5 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

18A: "39. Spinoff of "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills""

15 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _______________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: VANDERPUMPRULES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

19A: "44. Big name in microprocessors"

5 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

20A: "45. "Who's Who in the Cast" blurb"

3 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

21A: "46. Tie-breaking periods, for short"

3 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

22A: "47. How a picture book may be read at bedtime"

5 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that using the voice; not silently
  • Similar words include: loud, loudly, out loud
  • Opposite of: softly
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ALOUD

Remember this word for future puzzles!

23A: "50. ___ of hand (magician's skill)"

7 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that adroitness in using the hands
  • Similar words include: manual dexterity, dexterity
  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SLEIGHT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

24A: "53. Congressional history"

12 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ____________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: VOTINGRECORD

Remember this word for future puzzles!

25A: "56. Palindrome akin to "Aha!""

3 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

26A: "57. Work well together"

3 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a colloid in a more solid form than a sol
  • Similar words include: gelatin, colloidal gel, mousse
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GEL

Remember this word for future puzzles!

27A: "58. Florida's ___-Dade County"

5 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a member of the extinct algonquian people formerly living in northern indiana and southern michigan
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MIAMI

Remember this word for future puzzles!

28A: "62. Jousting weapon"

5 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a long pointed rod used as a tool or weapon
  • Similar words include: spear, shaft, fizgig
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LANCE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

29A: "65. Device worn by a video gamer ... or a hint to 17-, 24-, 39- and 53-Across"

9 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

30A: "68. Basic piano chord"

5 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
  • Similar words include: trine, trey, triple
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TRIAD

Remember this word for future puzzles!

31A: "69. Notes of indebtedness"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an informal debt instrument; representing `i owe you'
  • Similar words include: IOU
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: IOUS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

32A: "70. Gets eyes on"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the seat within a bishop's diocese where his cathedral is located
  • Similar words include: fancy, take in, understand
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SEES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

33A: "71. Sends frisky messages"

5 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the fourth of the seven canonical hours; about noon
  • Similar words include: sext
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SEXTS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

34A: "72. Strong soapmaking solutions"

4 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a strong solution of sodium or potassium hydroxide
  • Similar words include: lye
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LYES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

35A: "73. Like bourbon"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

Down Clues - Complete List

No. Clue Letters
1D 1. Four-wheelers, in brief 4
2D 2. Word before beer or after square 4
3D 3. Pixar film with the Oscar-winning song "Remember Me" 4
4D 4. "Feed a cold, ___ a fever" (dubious medical advice) 6
5D 5. That girl 3
6D 6. Have debts 3
7D 7. Many an Olive Garden entree 5
8D 8. Sounding good, as a musical instrument 6
9D 9. 18-wheeler 3
10D 10. Barely get (by) 3
11D 11. Snack with celery, peanut butter and raisins 10
12D 12. "Peanuts" or "Pickles" 5
13D 13. Do some booty-shaking 5
14D 18. Spinks who defeated Muhammad Ali 4
15D 22. One-eighth of a byte 3
16D 25. Titular Shakespearean king 4
17D 26. Remove outer parts from, as a photo 4
18D 27. Burn until black 4
19D 28. Prego alternative 4
20D 29. Sitar virtuoso Shankar 4
21D 30. Tehran's land 4
22D 31. Grammy-winning a cappella group famous for their Christmas albums 10
23D 35. Chicago slugger 3
24D 37. "Late Night" host Meyers 4
25D 38. "Hey! Over here!" 4
26D 40. Place to purchase pastrami 4
27D 41. North Carolina university 4
28D 42. Catchall category: Abbr. 4
29D 43. Sport on a horse 4
30D 48. Sheepskin boot brand 3
31D 49. Role for Mike Myers in the Austin Powers movies 6
32D 51. Columnist Bombeck 4
33D 52. Doubling-down assertion 6
34D 53. Battery measure 5
35D 54. Chicago airport 5
36D 55. "The Jetsons" boy 5
37D 59. On the waves 4
38D 60. Gentle and submissive 4
39D 61. ___-bitsy 4
40D 63. Garfield in the funny pages, e.g. 3
41D 64. Magazine bigwigs, in brief 3
42D 66. Gradation of color 3
43D 67. Letter before tee 3

Down Clues - Strategic Hints

1D: "1. Four-wheelers, in brief"

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

2D: "2. Word before beer or after square"

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that (botany) the usually underground organ that lacks buds or leaves or nodes; absorbs water and mineral salts; usually it anchors the plant to the ground
  • Similar words include: rootage, theme, ancestor
  • Opposite of: descendant
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ROOT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

3D: "3. Pixar film with the Oscar-winning song "Remember Me""

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that tall palm tree bearing coconuts as fruits; widely planted throughout the tropics
  • Similar words include: coco palm, cocoa palm, coconut tree
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: COCO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

4D: "4. "Feed a cold, ___ a fever" (dubious medical advice)"

6 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that be hungry; go without food
  • Similar words include: hunger, famish, lust
  • Opposite of: feed, be full
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: STARVE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

5D: "5. That girl"

3 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

6D: "6. Have debts"

3 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that be obliged to pay or repay
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OWE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

7D: "7. Many an Olive Garden entree"

5 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a dish that contains pasta as its main ingredient
  • Similar words include: alimentary paste
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PASTA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

8D: "8. Sounding good, as a musical instrument"

6 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

9D: "9. 18-wheeler"

3 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that gear (including necessary machinery) for a particular enterprise
  • Similar words include: fishing rig, semi, set
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RIG

Remember this word for future puzzles!

10D: "10. Barely get (by)"

3 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

11D: "11. Snack with celery, peanut butter and raisins"

10 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

12D: "12. "Peanuts" or "Pickles""

5 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a professional performer who tells jokes and performs comical acts
  • Similar words include: risible, funny, amusing
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: COMIC

Remember this word for future puzzles!

13D: "13. Do some booty-shaking"

5 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

14D: "18. Spinks who defeated Muhammad Ali"

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a historical area and former kingdom in northwestern spain
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LEON

Remember this word for future puzzles!

15D: "22. One-eighth of a byte"

3 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a small piece or quantity of something
  • Similar words include: seize with teeth, scrap, morsel
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BIT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

16D: "25. Titular Shakespearean king"

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that british artist and writer of nonsense verse (1812-1888)
  • Similar words include: Edward Lear, King Lear
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LEAR

Remember this word for future puzzles!

17D: "26. Remove outer parts from, as a photo"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the yield from plants in a single growing season
  • Similar words include: dress, craw, cut back
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CROP

Remember this word for future puzzles!

18D: "27. Burn until black"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a charred substance
  • Similar words include: cleaning lady, woman, sear
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CHAR

Remember this word for future puzzles!

19D: "28. Prego alternative"

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

20D: "29. Sitar virtuoso Shankar"

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

21D: "30. Tehran's land"

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a theocratic islamic republic in the middle east in western asia; iran was the core of the ancient empire that was known as persia until 1935; rich in oil
  • Similar words include: Persia, Islamic Republic of Iran
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: IRAN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

22D: "31. Grammy-winning a cappella group famous for their Christmas albums"

10 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

23D: "35. Chicago slugger"

3 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an awkward and inexperienced youth
  • Similar words include: greenhorn, sonny, lad
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CUB

Remember this word for future puzzles!

24D: "37. "Late Night" host Meyers"

4 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that (old testament) third son of adam and eve; given by god in place of the murdered abel
  • Similar words include: Set
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SETH

Remember this word for future puzzles!

25D: "38. "Hey! Over here!""

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

26D: "40. Place to purchase pastrami"

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a shop selling ready-to-eat food products
  • Similar words include: delicatessen, food shop
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DELI

Remember this word for future puzzles!

27D: "41. North Carolina university"

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

28D: "42. Catchall category: Abbr."

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

29D: "43. Sport on a horse"

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that venetian traveler who explored asia in the 13th century and served kublai khan (1254-1324)
  • Similar words include: Marco Polo
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: POLO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

30D: "48. Sheepskin boot brand"

3 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

31D: "49. Role for Mike Myers in the Austin Powers movies"

6 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

32D: "51. Columnist Bombeck"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

33D: "52. Doubling-down assertion"

6 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

34D: "53. Battery measure"

5 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a unit of potential equal to the potential difference between two points on a conductor carrying a current of 1 ampere when the power dissipated between the two points is 1 watt; equivalent to the potential difference across a resistance of 1 ohm when 1 ampere of current flows through it
  • Similar words include: volt, V
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: VOLTS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

35D: "54. Chicago airport"

5 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

36D: "55. "The Jetsons" boy"

5 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

37D: "59. On the waves"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that in the direction of the sea
  • Similar words include: seaward, seawards
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ASEA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

38D: "60. Gentle and submissive"

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that humble in spirit or manner; suggesting retiring mildness or even cowed submissiveness
  • Similar words include: modest, spiritless, mild
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MEEK

Remember this word for future puzzles!

39D: "61. ___-bitsy"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

40D: "63. Garfield in the funny pages, e.g."

3 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that feline mammal usually having thick soft fur and no ability to roar: domestic cats; wildcats
  • Similar words include: computerized tomography, computed axial tomography, barf
  • Opposite of: keep down
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CAT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

41D: "64. Magazine bigwigs, in brief"

3 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

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, erectile dysfunction, ED
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EDS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

42D: "66. Gradation of color"

3 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the quality of a color as determined by its dominant wavelength
  • Similar words include: imbue, chromaticity
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HUE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

43D: "67. Letter before tee"

3 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a radioactive transuranic element produced by bombarding plutonium with neutrons
  • Similar words include: einsteinium, Es, atomic number 99
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ESS

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
43 Down Clues
78 Total Clues

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Last updated: April 27, 2026 at 06:14 AM

Wednesday, January 28, 2026

XWordHint Crossword Answers January 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. Brazilian berry 4
2A 5. Monster whose gaze remained lethal after her death 6
3A 11. Genre for many a mixtape 3
4A 14. It's not hard! 4
5A 15. Came down, in a way 6
6A 16. Like some angsty teens 3
7A 17. Article of furniture on which a plate of oats might be set? 11
8A 19. Justice's domain 3
9A 20. Deserving a D, say 4
10A 21. 1,000 G's 3
11A 22. Difficult weather condition for driving 4
12A 23. Thick, spiked outer covering? 12
13A 27. Pay attention to, as warnings 4
14A 30. Casting rod? 4
15A 31. ___ Lady (translation of "Notre Dame") 3
16A 32. Number indicating position: Abbr. 3
17A 33. Uttered 4
18A 34. Teenager's response to a dad joke, perhaps 6
19A 37. Relatives in a sty? 7
20A 39. "Throne" for a lion king? 7
21A 40. Arctic fishing shelter 6
22A 41. Dirk Nowitzki's longtime team, to fans 4
23A 42. Sustainability prefix 3
24A 43. Chum 3
25A 44. Royal term of address 4
26A 45. Functions 4
27A 46. Walk from one coop to another? 12
28A 50. Vegetable resembling a spring onion 4
29A 51. Vegas's airport code 3
30A 52. Letters in an envelope? 4
31A 55. Co. name ending 3
32A 56. Being flipped on its back, e.g.? 11
33A 60. Lead-in to ✔ on a boarding pass 3
34A 61. Commercial charges 6
35A 62. Cookie containing about 50 calories 4
36A 63. Tegan vis-à-vis Sara, in pop's Tegan and Sara 3
37A 64. Tyrannical ruler 6
38A 65. Keep ___ on 4

Across Clues - Strategic Hints

1A: "1. Brazilian berry"

4 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

2A: "5. Monster whose gaze remained lethal after her death"

6 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that (greek mythology) a woman transformed into a gorgon by athena; she was slain by perseus
  • Similar words include: medusan, medusoid
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MEDUSA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

3A: "11. Genre for many a mixtape"

3 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a reproach for some lapse or misdeed
  • Similar words include: belt, pat, whack
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RAP

Remember this word for future puzzles!

4A: "14. It's not hard!"

4 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that yielding readily to pressure or weight
  • Similar words include: balmy, flabby, mild
  • Opposite of: unvoiced, loud
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SOFT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

5A: "15. Came down, in a way"

6 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that precipitate as rain
  • Similar words include: rain, rain down
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RAINED

Remember this word for future puzzles!

6A: "16. Like some angsty teens"

3 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

7A: "17. Article of furniture on which a plate of oats might be set?"

11 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ___________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HORSESTABLE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

8A: "19. Justice's domain"

3 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the collection of rules imposed by authority
  • Similar words include: police, practice of law, legal philosophy
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LAW

Remember this word for future puzzles!

9A: "20. Deserving a D, say"

4 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that people without possessions or wealth (considered as a group)
  • Similar words include: pitiable, poor people, wretched
  • Opposite of: rich, rich people
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: POOR

Remember this word for future puzzles!

10A: "21. 1,000 G's"

3 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a cypriot monetary unit equal to one thousandth of a pound
  • Similar words include: milliliter, Swedish mile, millilitre
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MIL

Remember this word for future puzzles!

11A: "22. Difficult weather condition for driving"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

12A: "23. Thick, spiked outer covering?"

12 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ____________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DRAGONSLAYER

Remember this word for future puzzles!

13A: "27. Pay attention to, as warnings"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that paying particular notice (as to children or helpless people)
  • Similar words include: regard, listen, paying attention
  • Opposite of: inattentiveness
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HEED

Remember this word for future puzzles!

14A: "30. Casting rod?"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a rod used by a magician or water diviner
  • Similar words include: baton, verge, sceptre
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: WAND

Remember this word for future puzzles!

15A: "31. ___ Lady (translation of "Notre Dame")"

3 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

16A: "32. Number indicating position: Abbr."

3 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

17A: "33. Uttered"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that express in words
  • Similar words include: read, allege, say
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SAID

Remember this word for future puzzles!

18A: "34. Teenager's response to a dad joke, perhaps"

6 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

19A: "37. Relatives in a sty?"

7 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that leather from the skin of swine
  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PIGSKIN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

20A: "39. "Throne" for a lion king?"

7 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

21A: "40. Arctic fishing shelter"

6 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

22A: "41. Dirk Nowitzki's longtime team, to fans"

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

23A: "42. Sustainability prefix"

3 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

24A: "43. Chum"

3 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a close friend who accompanies his buddies in their activities
  • Similar words include: buddy, crony, sidekick
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PAL

Remember this word for future puzzles!

25A: "44. Royal term of address"

4 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a title of address formerly used for a man of rank and authority
  • Similar words include: engender, beget, generate
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SIRE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

26A: "45. Functions"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the act of using
  • Similar words include: economic consumption, employ, United States of America
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: USES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

27A: "46. Walk from one coop to another?"

12 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ____________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CHICKENSTRIP

Remember this word for future puzzles!

28A: "50. Vegetable resembling a spring onion"

4 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that plant having a large slender white bulb and flat overlapping dark green leaves; used in cooking; believed derived from the wild allium ampeloprasum
  • Similar words include: scallion, Allium porrum
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LEEK

Remember this word for future puzzles!

29A: "51. Vegas's airport code"

3 letters Category: Proper Noun

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: atomic number 57, LA, lanthanum
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LAS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

30A: "52. Letters in an envelope?"

4 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

31A: "55. Co. name ending"

3 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a heterogeneous collection of groups united in their opposition to saddam hussein's government of iraq; formed in 1992 it is comprised of sunni and shiite arabs and kurds who hope to build a new government
  • Similar words include: Iraqi National Congress
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: INC

Remember this word for future puzzles!

32A: "56. Being flipped on its back, e.g.?"

11 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ___________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TURTLESHELL

Remember this word for future puzzles!

33A: "60. Lead-in to ✔ on a boarding pass"

3 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

34A: "61. Commercial charges"

6 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

35A: "62. Cookie containing about 50 calories"

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that chocolate cookie with white cream filling
  • Similar words include: oreo cookie
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OREO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

36A: "63. Tegan vis-à-vis Sara, in pop's Tegan and Sara"

3 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a female person who has the same parents as another person
  • Similar words include: silicon, SI unit, ti
  • Opposite of: brother
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SIS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

37A: "64. Tyrannical ruler"

6 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a cruel and oppressive dictator
  • Similar words include: autocrat, tyrant
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DESPOT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

38A: "65. Keep ___ on"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the bill in a restaurant
  • Similar words include: tablet, chit, lozenge
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TABS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

Down Clues - Complete List

No. Clue Letters
1D 1. It goes down in flames 3
2D 2. Member-owned business 4
3D 3. Hairstyle popular among the Black Panther Party 4
4D 4. "How strange ..." 6
5D 5. "___ Robinson" (Simon & Garfunkel hit) 3
6D 6. Score points in Pac-Man, say 3
7D 7. Baseball venue 7
8D 8. Remove the ropes from, perhaps 6
9D 9. "Sex ___" (adage) 5
10D 10. Ending with lemon or lime 3
11D 11. Competitions with anchors 10
12D 12. Wow 5
13D 13. Outlet store? 5
14D 18. Muff 3
15D 22. Massive amounts of winnings, so to speak 5
16D 24. Anticipate 5
17D 25. Laundry detergent brand 4
18D 26. Plunders 5
19D 27. Southwest people whose name means "peaceful" 4
20D 28. Children's author Carle 4
21D 29. Toeholds in solving jigsaw puzzles 10
22D 33. Sneak around 5
23D 34. Word after space or screen 5
24D 35. Repellent spray 4
25D 36. Son of Seth 4
26D 38. Humble home 5
27D 39. Mobile food vendor's station 4
28D 41. Stumble 7
29D 44. Wolfs (down) 6
30D 45. What it all comes down to 6
31D 46. Assortment to view on YouTube 5
32D 47. Painter Matisse 5
33D 48. Avoid, as capture 5
34D 49. Org. authorized by the 16th Amendment 3
35D 53. Designer Wang 4
36D 54. Commoner, informally 4
37D 56. Skosh 3
38D 57. Many an August birth 3
39D 58. Winter setting in N.Y.C. 3
40D 59. Día de ___ Muertos 3

Down Clues - Strategic Hints

1D: "1. It goes down in flames"

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!

2D: "2. Member-owned business"

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a farm building for housing poultry
  • Similar words include: cage, chicken coop, henhouse
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: COOP

Remember this word for future puzzles!

3D: "3. Hairstyle popular among the Black Panther Party"

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a rounded thickly curled hairdo
  • Similar words include: Afro hairdo
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AFRO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

4D: "4. "How strange ...""

6 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

5D: "5. "___ Robinson" (Simon & Garfunkel hit)"

3 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a form of address for a married woman
  • Similar words include: Mr, Mister, Mrs.
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MRS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

6D: "6. Score points in Pac-Man, say"

3 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that take in solid food
  • Similar words include: wipe out, corrode, deplete
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EAT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

7D: "7. Baseball venue"

7 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a transparent piece of diamond that has been cut and polished and is valued as a precious gem
  • Similar words include: baseball field, adamant, infield
  • Opposite of: outfield
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DIAMOND

Remember this word for future puzzles!

8D: "8. Remove the ropes from, perhaps"

6 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that untie or unfasten
  • Opposite of: bind
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: UNBIND

Remember this word for future puzzles!

9D: "9. "Sex ___" (adage)"

5 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the activity of persuading someone to buy
  • Similar words include: sell, betray, deal
  • Opposite of: buy
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SELLS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

10D: "10. Ending with lemon or lime"

3 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a sweetened beverage of diluted fruit juice
  • Similar words include: fruit drink
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ADE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

11D: "11. Competitions with anchors"

10 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

12D: "12. Wow"

5 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that affect with wonder
  • Similar words include: nonplus, perplex, mystify
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AMAZE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

13D: "13. Outlet store?"

5 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that possession of controlling influence
  • Similar words include: major power, mogul, might
  • Opposite of: inability, powerlessness
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: POWER

Remember this word for future puzzles!

14D: "18. Muff"

3 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that to make a mistake or be incorrect
  • Similar words include: slip, stray, drift
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ERR

Remember this word for future puzzles!

15D: "22. Massive amounts of winnings, so to speak"

5 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the act of drawing or hauling something
  • Similar words include: catch, haulage, cart
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HAULS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

16D: "24. Anticipate"

5 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that look forward to the probable occurrence of
  • Similar words include: wait, look, expect
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AWAIT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

17D: "25. Laundry detergent brand"

4 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a quantity that is added
  • Similar words include: addition, make headway, advance
  • Opposite of: loss, fall back
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GAIN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

18D: "26. Plunders"

5 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that goods or money obtained illegally
  • Similar words include: bread, dinero, dough
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LOOTS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

19D: "27. Southwest people whose name means "peaceful""

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a member of the shoshonean people of northeastern arizona
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HOPI

Remember this word for future puzzles!

20D: "28. Children's author Carle"

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

21D: "29. Toeholds in solving jigsaw puzzles"

10 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

22D: "33. Sneak around"

5 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that lie in wait, lie in ambush, behave in a sneaky and secretive manner
  • Similar words include: lurk, malinger
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SKULK

Remember this word for future puzzles!

23D: "34. Word after space or screen"

5 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that someone who saves something from danger or violence
  • Similar words include: rescuer, recoverer
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SAVER

Remember this word for future puzzles!

24D: "35. Repellent spray"

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that (trademark) a liquid that temporarily disables a person; prepared as an aerosol and sprayed in the face, it irritates the eyes and causes dizziness and immobilization
  • Similar words include: macer, macebearer, Chemical Mace
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MACE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

25D: "36. Son of Seth"

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

26D: "38. Humble home"

5 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that small crude shelter used as a dwelling
  • Similar words include: domiciliate, domicile, hut
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SHACK

Remember this word for future puzzles!

27D: "39. Mobile food vendor's station"

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a heavy open wagon usually having two wheels and drawn by an animal
  • Similar words include: go-cart, drag, haul
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CART

Remember this word for future puzzles!

28D: "41. Stumble"

7 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an unintentional but embarrassing blunder
  • Similar words include: trip, stumble, trip-up
  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MISSTEP

Remember this word for future puzzles!

29D: "44. Wolfs (down)"

6 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that make off with belongings of others
  • Similar words include: nobble, snarf, swipe
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SNARFS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

30D: "45. What it all comes down to"

6 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
  • Similar words include: event, issue, result
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: UPSHOT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

31D: "46. Assortment to view on YouTube"

5 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a metal frame or container holding cartridges; can be inserted into an automatic gun
  • Similar words include: nip off, crop, curtail
  • Opposite of: unclip
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CLIPS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

32D: "47. Painter Matisse"

5 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

33D: "48. Avoid, as capture"

5 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that escape, either physically or mentally
  • Similar words include: dodge, parry, circumvent
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ELUDE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

34D: "49. Org. authorized by the 16th Amendment"

3 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the bureau of the treasury department responsible for tax collections
  • Similar words include: Internal Revenue Service
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: IRS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

35D: "53. Designer Wang"

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

36D: "54. Commoner, informally"

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that one of the common people
  • Similar words include: plebeian
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PLEB

Remember this word for future puzzles!

37D: "56. Skosh"

3 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a slight amount or degree of difference
  • Similar words include: shade
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TAD

Remember this word for future puzzles!

38D: "57. Many an August birth"

3 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that (astrology) a person who is born while the sun is in leo
  • Similar words include: Leo the Lion, Lion
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LEO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

39D: "58. Winter setting in N.Y.C."

3 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that standard time in the 5th time zone west of greenwich, reckoned at the 75th meridian; used in the eastern united states
  • Similar words include: Eastern Standard Time, Eastern Time
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EST

Remember this word for future puzzles!

40D: "59. Día de ___ Muertos"

3 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

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

38 Across Clues
40 Down Clues
78 Total Clues

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Last updated: January 28, 2026 at 04:29 AM