Master today's NYT crossword with our expert hint system. We provide synonyms, antonyms, and strategic clues to help you solve without spoiling the fun. Perfect for crossword lovers who want that satisfying "aha!" moment.
Quick Navigation - Table of Contents
- Today's Puzzle Difficulty
- Across Clues Table (35 clues)
- Across Clues - Detailed Hints
- Down Clues Table (35 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. Gold meddlers? | 10 |
| 2A | 11. One making calls on the fly? | 4 |
| 3A | 15. You or me, e.g. | 10 |
| 4A | 16. ___ paratha (potato-filled flatbread) | 4 |
| 5A | 17. Exclamation of surprise from a host | 10 |
| 6A | 18. Place for a post | 4 |
| 7A | 19. Dr. J, for all of his N.B.A. career | 5 |
| 8A | 20. Perspective | 4 |
| 9A | 21. Husky hellos? | 4 |
| 10A | 22. Reached new heights | 4 |
| 11A | 24. Low-level clouds | 6 |
| 12A | 26. Central Plains nation governed by the Nasharo Council | 6 |
| 13A | 30. Storage unit | 4 |
| 14A | 32. Portable retirement option | 3 |
| 15A | 33. Black-and-white debut of 1912 | 4 |
| 16A | 34. Like something no money can buy | 4 |
| 17A | 36. Accomplished | 5 |
| 18A | 38. List of qualifications? | 15 |
| 19A | 41. Fragrant compound released during fermentation | 5 |
| 20A | 42. Pomegranate morsel | 4 |
| 21A | 43. Certain razorback | 4 |
| 22A | 44. Letter in Socrates' and Aristotle's names | 3 |
| 23A | 45. Still active after all these years | 4 |
| 24A | 47. Looks all over | 6 |
| 25A | 49. ___ paratha (cheese-filled flatbread) | 6 |
| 26A | 51. Great find in the candy aisle, by the sound of it | 4 |
| 27A | 53. Things to let: Abbr. | 4 |
| 28A | 54. "I could be wrong, but ...," for short | 4 |
| 29A | 56. Tropical ring | 5 |
| 30A | 61. Hoot | 4 |
| 31A | 62. 2000 parody of a 62-Across | 10 |
| 32A | 64. "That's for sure" | 4 |
| 33A | 65. Postponed court date? | 10 |
| 34A | 66. No time like the present | 4 |
| 35A | 67. Skirt with a bunch of leaves, perhaps | 10 |
Across Clues - Strategic Hints
1A: "1. Gold meddlers?"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that one who was versed in the practice of alchemy and who sought an elixir of life and a panacea and an alkahest and the philosopher's stone
- Similar words include: alchemist
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ALCHEMISTS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
2A: "11. One making calls on the fly?"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
- Similar words include: shuttle, chick, shuttlecock
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BIRD
Remember this word for future puzzles!
3A: "15. You or me, e.g."
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MEREMORTAL
Remember this word for future puzzles!
4A: "16. ___ paratha (potato-filled flatbread)"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ALOO
Remember this word for future puzzles!
5A: "17. Exclamation of surprise from a host"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: YOUREEARLY
Remember this word for future puzzles!
6A: "18. Place for a post"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a shared on-line journal where people can post diary entries about their personal experiences and hobbies
- Similar words include: web log
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BLOG
Remember this word for future puzzles!
7A: "19. Dr. J, for all of his N.B.A. career"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one
- Similar words include: sestet, sextet, sextuplet
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SIXER
Remember this word for future puzzles!
8A: "20. Perspective"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the income or profit arising from such transactions as the sale of land or other property
- Similar words include: require, take aim, subscribe to
- Opposite of: disclaim, give
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TAKE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
9A: "21. Husky hellos?"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ARFS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
10A: "22. Reached new heights"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
- Similar words include: uprise, develop, grow
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GREW
Remember this word for future puzzles!
11A: "24. Low-level clouds"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a large dark low cloud
- Similar words include: stratus, stratus cloud
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: STRATI
Remember this word for future puzzles!
12A: "26. Central Plains nation governed by the Nasharo Council"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a member of the pawnee nation formerly living in nebraska and kansas but now largely in oklahoma
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PAWNEE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
13A: "30. Storage unit"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a sequence of 8 bits (enough to represent one character of alphanumeric data) processed as a single unit of information
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BYTE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
14A: "32. Portable retirement option"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a sheath worn to protect a finger
- Similar words include: camp bed, crib, fingerstall
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: COT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
15A: "33. Black-and-white debut of 1912"
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!
16A: "34. Like something no money can buy"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that people who are free
- Similar words include: barren, unloosen, liberal
- Opposite of: freeze, block
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FREE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
17A: "36. Accomplished"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that someone who is dazzlingly skilled in any field
- Similar words include: wiz, skilful, wizard
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ADEPT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
18A: "38. List of qualifications?"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: KINDASORTAMAYBE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
19A: "41. Fragrant compound released during fermentation"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that formed by reaction between an acid and an alcohol with elimination of water
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ESTER
Remember this word for future puzzles!
20A: "42. Pomegranate morsel"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that fleshy and usually brightly colored cover of some seeds that develops from the ovule stalk and partially or entirely envelopes the seed
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ARIL
Remember this word for future puzzles!
21A: "43. Certain razorback"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that old world wild swine having a narrow body and prominent tusks from which most domestic swine come; introduced in united states
- Similar words include: wild boar, Sus scrofa
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BOAR
Remember this word for future puzzles!
22A: "44. Letter in Socrates' and Aristotle's names"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the 17th letter of the greek alphabet
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RHO
Remember this word for future puzzles!
23A: "45. Still active after all these years"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that moving quickly and lightly
- Similar words include: agile, nimble, quick
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SPRY
Remember this word for future puzzles!
24A: "47. Looks all over"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that diarrhea in livestock
- Similar words include: purge, scour, abrade
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SCOURS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
25A: "49. ___ paratha (cheese-filled flatbread)"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PANEER
Remember this word for future puzzles!
26A: "51. Great find in the candy aisle, by the sound of it"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SKOR
Remember this word for future puzzles!
27A: "53. Things to let: Abbr."
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: APTS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
28A: "54. "I could be wrong, but ...," for short"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: IMHO
Remember this word for future puzzles!
29A: "56. Tropical ring"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an island consisting of a circular coral reef surrounding a lagoon
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ATOLL
Remember this word for future puzzles!
30A: "61. Hoot"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a public act of violence by an unruly mob
- Similar words include: public violence, thigh-slapper, wow
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RIOT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
31A: "62. 2000 parody of a 62-Across"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SCARYMOVIE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
32A: "64. "That's for sure""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that proper alignment; the property possessed by something that is in correct or proper alignment
- Similar words include: avowedly, reliable, dead on target
- Opposite of: untruthful, false
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TRUE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
33A: "65. Postponed court date?"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MAKEUPGAME
Remember this word for future puzzles!
34A: "66. No time like the present"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that time long past
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: YORE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
35A: "67. Skirt with a bunch of leaves, perhaps"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: STEAKSALAD
Remember this word for future puzzles!
Down Clues - Complete List
| No. | Clue | Letters |
|---|---|---|
| 1D | 1. ___ Kitchen, brand of organic foods since 1987 | 4 |
| 2D | 2. Name of a pope and a Roman emperor whose terms of leadership overlapped | 4 |
| 3D | 3. Central point | 4 |
| 4D | 4. "This is for you" | 4 |
| 5D | 5. Spring up | 6 |
| 6D | 6. One of the Three Stooges | 3 |
| 7D | 7. Extra hot | 5 |
| 8D | 8. Parlor treat typically served with the first five letters of its name | 15 |
| 9D | 9. Lecture | 4 |
| 10D | 10. Least straightforward, say | 6 |
| 11D | 11. Weighty subject of some children's books | 5 |
| 12D | 12. Statement that may be followed by a dash | 10 |
| 13D | 13. Where spirits are high? | 10 |
| 14D | 14. Vacationers' hires, perhaps | 10 |
| 15D | 23. Makes some calls | 4 |
| 16D | 25. Kings of Los Angeles, e.g. | 4 |
| 17D | 26. Event at which you hope to get good deals? | 10 |
| 18D | 27. Radio journalist with the 2023 memoir "The Best Strangers in the World: Stories From a Life Spent Listening" | 10 |
| 19D | 28. Traveled to perform | 10 |
| 20D | 29. Central point | 4 |
| 21D | 31. Legendary Himalayan climber | 4 |
| 22D | 35. Sound made by many fans | 4 |
| 23D | 37. Clemson's ___ Swinney (winningest head football coach in A.C.C. history) | 4 |
| 24D | 39. Bath seat? | 4 |
| 25D | 40. Setup for an extra point | 4 |
| 26D | 46. Color separators | 6 |
| 27D | 48. What may slow the pace of some legs in a marathon | 6 |
| 28D | 50. Perfume with an accent on its fourth letter | 5 |
| 29D | 52. Won land | 5 |
| 30D | 55. What some bio majors do prep work for | 4 |
| 31D | 57. Garment that once indicated citizenship | 4 |
| 32D | 58. A zero is one | 4 |
| 33D | 59. Kilo follower | 4 |
| 34D | 60. Certification program developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, in brief | 4 |
| 35D | 63. New ___ University of Knuckleheads (fictional institution where Leslie Nielsen lectured about the Three Stooges) | 3 |
Down Clues - Strategic Hints
1D: "1. ___ Kitchen, brand of organic foods since 1987"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AMYS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
2D: "2. Name of a pope and a Roman emperor whose terms of leadership overlapped"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LEOI
Remember this word for future puzzles!
3D: "3. Central point"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a small conspicuous constellation in the southern hemisphere in the milky way near centaurus
- Similar words include: Crux Australis, crux of the matter, Southern Cross
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CRUX
Remember this word for future puzzles!
4D: "4. "This is for you""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the present location; this place
- Similar words include: hither, Hera
- Opposite of: there
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HERE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
5D: "5. Spring up"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that come out into view, as from concealment
- Similar words include: issue, egress, come forth
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EMERGE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
6D: "6. One of the Three Stooges"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MOE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
7D: "7. Extra hot"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that feeling or showing extreme anger
- Similar words include: ireful
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: IRATE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
8D: "8. Parlor treat typically served with the first five letters of its name"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: STRAWBERRYSHAKE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
9D: "9. Lecture"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an exchange of ideas via conversation
- Similar words include: spill, blab out, blab
- Opposite of: keep quiet
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TALK
Remember this word for future puzzles!
10D: "10. Least straightforward, say"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that marked by skill in deception
- Similar words include: tricksy, foxy, dodgy
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SLYEST
Remember this word for future puzzles!
11D: "11. Weighty subject of some children's books"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an imaginary elephant that appears in a series of french books for children
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BABAR
Remember this word for future puzzles!
12D: "12. Statement that may be followed by a dash"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ILLRACEYOU
Remember this word for future puzzles!
13D: "13. Where spirits are high?"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ROOFTOPBAR
Remember this word for future puzzles!
14D: "14. Vacationers' hires, perhaps"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DOGSITTERS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
15D: "23. Makes some calls"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that (sports) the chief official (as in boxing or american football) who is expected to ensure fair play
- Similar words include: referee, ref
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: REFS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
16D: "25. Kings of Los Angeles, e.g."
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a cooperative unit (especially in sports)
- Similar words include: squad, team up
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TEAM
Remember this word for future puzzles!
17D: "26. Event at which you hope to get good deals?"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: POKERPARTY
Remember this word for future puzzles!
18D: "27. Radio journalist with the 2023 memoir "The Best Strangers in the World: Stories From a Life Spent Listening""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ARISHAPIRO
Remember this word for future puzzles!
19D: "28. Traveled to perform"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: WENTONTOUR
Remember this word for future puzzles!
20D: "29. Central point"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a connecting point at which several lines come together
- Similar words include: client, lymph gland, guest
- Opposite of: antinode
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NODE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
21D: "31. Legendary Himalayan climber"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a large hairy humanoid creature said to live in the himalayas
- Similar words include: abominable snowman
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: YETI
Remember this word for future puzzles!
22D: "35. Sound made by many fans"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a deep prolonged loud noise
- Similar words include: roaring, holloa, boom
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ROAR
Remember this word for future puzzles!
23D: "37. Clemson's ___ Swinney (winningest head football coach in A.C.C. history)"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DABO
Remember this word for future puzzles!
24D: "39. Bath seat?"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the fleshy part of the human body that you sit on
- Similar words include: prat, posterior, arsehole
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ARSE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
25D: "40. Setup for an extra point"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that in addition
- Similar words include: as well, too, likewise
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ALSO
Remember this word for future puzzles!
26D: "46. Color separators"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a polyhedron with two congruent and parallel faces (the bases) and whose lateral faces are parallelograms
- Similar words include: optical prism, prism
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PRISMS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
27D: "48. What may slow the pace of some legs in a marathon"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a painful and involuntary muscular contraction
- Similar words include: hamper, spasm, muscle spasm
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CRAMPS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
28D: "50. Perfume with an accent on its fourth letter"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ESTEE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
29D: "52. Won land"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an asian peninsula (off manchuria) separating the yellow sea and the sea of japan; the korean name is dae-han-min-gook or han-gook
- Similar words include: Dae-Han-Min-Gook, Korean Peninsula, Han-Gook
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: KOREA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
30D: "55. What some bio majors do prep work for"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MCAT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
31D: "57. Garment that once indicated citizenship"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a one-piece cloak worn by men in ancient rome
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TOGA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
32D: "58. A zero is one"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a closed plane curve resulting from the intersection of a circular cone and a plane cutting completely through it
- Similar words include: prolate, egg-shaped, ovoid
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OVAL
Remember this word for future puzzles!
33D: "59. Kilo follower"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that capital and largest city and economic center of peru; located in western peru; was capital of the spanish empire in the new world until the 19th century
- Similar words include: capital of Peru
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LIMA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
34D: "60. Certification program developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, in brief"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LEED
Remember this word for future puzzles!
35D: "63. New ___ University of Knuckleheads (fictional institution where Leslie Nielsen lectured about the Three Stooges)"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: YUK
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
35 Down Clues
70 Total Clues
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