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: Challenging
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. Olympic slalom equipment | 5 |
| 2A | 6. Spanish sparkling wine | 4 |
| 3A | 10. First, second or third | 4 |
| 4A | 14. "For real!" | 10 |
| 5A | 16. Fictional company famous for its duds | 4 |
| 6A | 17. Outcome of a match, maybe | 10 |
| 7A | 18. Forum setting | 4 |
| 8A | 19. U2 producer Brian | 3 |
| 9A | 20. Stew on it! | 5 |
| 10A | 21. Like a whodunit in which the butler did it [duh!] | 5 |
| 11A | 22. Device seen on a front desk | 4 |
| 12A | 23. Ho Chi Minh City's former name | 6 |
| 13A | 25. Exploit a loophole, e.g. | 13 |
| 14A | 29. Disinclined | 6 |
| 15A | 30. Supermodel Alek | 3 |
| 16A | 31. ___ one's time | 4 |
| 17A | 34. Procedure after which you might wear flip-flops, informally | 4 |
| 18A | 35. Off | 5 |
| 19A | 37. ___ Minor | 4 |
| 20A | 38. Pen that isn't used for writing, in brief | 4 |
| 21A | 39. "Karma is a cat / Purring in my ___ 'cause it loves me" (Taylor Swift lyric) | 3 |
| 22A | 40. Port on the Loire | 6 |
| 23A | 42. "Speaking of which ..." | 13 |
| 24A | 45. Like an earworm | 6 |
| 25A | 46. Play group | 4 |
| 26A | 47. Not bother | 5 |
| 27A | 48. Rapper and actor Smith | 5 |
| 28A | 50. Go-to doc | 3 |
| 29A | 53. Actress Shawkat | 4 |
| 30A | 54. Ones providing brief assistance? | 10 |
| 31A | 56. Alliance | 4 |
| 32A | 57. Invasive plants? | 10 |
| 33A | 58. One might be meat-only or dairy-only in a kosher household | 4 |
| 34A | 59. Morsels often found in fried rice | 4 |
| 35A | 60. The Devil's domain | 5 |
Across Clues - Strategic Hints
1A: "1. Olympic slalom equipment"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that small and light boat; pointed at both ends; propelled with a paddle
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CANOE
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2A: "6. Spanish sparkling wine"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CAVA
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3A: "10. First, second or third"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a toothed wheel that engages another toothed mechanism in order to change the speed or direction of transmitted motion
- Similar words include: appurtenance, paraphernalia, gear wheel
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GEAR
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4A: "14. "For real!""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: IKIDYOUNOT
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5A: "16. Fictional company famous for its duds"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the highest level or degree attainable; the highest stage of development
- Similar words include: meridian, vertex, summit
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ACME
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6A: "17. Outcome of a match, maybe"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TINDERDATE
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7A: "18. Forum setting"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that capital and largest city of italy; on the tiber; seat of the roman catholic church; formerly the capital of the roman republic and the roman empire
- Similar words include: capital of Italy, Eternal City, Roma
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ROME
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8A: "19. U2 producer Brian"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ENO
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9A: "20. Stew on it!"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a spoon-shaped vessel with a long handle; frequently used to transfer liquids from one container to another
- Similar words include: lade, laden
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LADLE
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10A: "21. Like a whodunit in which the butler did it [duh!]"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that repeated too often; overfamiliar through overuse
- Similar words include: commonplace, old-hat, timeworn
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BANAL
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11A: "22. Device seen on a front desk"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck
- Similar words include: campana, Alexander Melville Bell, toll
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BELL
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12A: "23. Ho Chi Minh City's former name"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a city in south vietnam; formerly (as saigon) it was the capital of french indochina
- Similar words include: Ho Chi Minh City
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SAIGON
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13A: "25. Exploit a loophole, e.g."
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GAMETHESYSTEM
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14A: "29. Disinclined"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that (usually followed by `to') strongly opposed
- Similar words include: antipathetic, loath, loth
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AVERSE
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15A: "30. Supermodel Alek"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: WEK
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16A: "31. ___ one's time"
Solving Hints:
- Similar words include: stay, abide
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BIDE
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17A: "34. Procedure after which you might wear flip-flops, informally"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PEDI
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18A: "35. Off"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that not functioning properly
- Similar words include: haywire, wrong, awry
- Opposite of: perfectly
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AMISS
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19A: "37. ___ Minor"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the largest continent with 60% of the earth's population; it is joined to europe on the west to form eurasia; it is the site of some of the world's earliest civilizations
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ASIA
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20A: "38. Pen that isn't used for writing, in brief"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ECIG
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21A: "39. "Karma is a cat / Purring in my ___ 'cause it loves me" (Taylor Swift lyric)"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the upper side of the thighs of a seated person
- Similar words include: lave, lick, circuit
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LAP
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22A: "40. Port on the Loire"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a port city in western france on the loire estuary
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NANTES
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23A: "42. "Speaking of which ...""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: THATREMINDSME
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24A: "45. Like an earworm"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that having concealed difficulty
- Similar words include: attention-getting, tricky
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CATCHY
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25A: "46. Play group"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a new testament book describing the development of the early church from christ's ascension to paul's sojourn at rome
- Similar words include: human activity, deed, human action
- Opposite of: refrain
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ACTS
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26A: "47. Not bother"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LETBE
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27A: "48. Rapper and actor Smith"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: JADEN
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28A: "50. Go-to doc"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a person who helps in identifying or preventing or treating illness or disability
- Similar words include: angel dust, health professional, phencyclidine
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PCP
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29A: "53. Actress Shawkat"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ALIA
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30A: "54. Ones providing brief assistance?"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a person with specialized training who assists lawyers
- Similar words include: legal assistant, paralegal
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PARALEGALS
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31A: "56. Alliance"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a group of countries in special alliance
- Similar words include: axis
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BLOC
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32A: "57. Invasive plants?"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ENEMYSPIES
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33A: "58. One might be meat-only or dairy-only in a kosher household"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that plumbing fixture consisting of a water basin fixed to a wall or floor and having a drainpipe
- Similar words include: slide down, drop down, pass
- Opposite of: float, source
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SINK
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34A: "59. Morsels often found in fried rice"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that seed of a pea plant used for food
- Similar words include: pea plant, pea
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PEAS
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35A: "60. The Devil's domain"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that any of a set of (usually 72) cards that include 22 cards representing virtues and vices and death and fortune etc.; used by fortunetellers
- Similar words include: tarot card
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TAROT
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Down Clues - Complete List
| No. | Clue | Letters |
|---|---|---|
| 1D | 1. Give credit to, in a way | 4 |
| 2D | 2. Analogous | 4 |
| 3D | 3. ___ Sarratore, "My Brilliant Friend" character | 4 |
| 4D | 4. "How ___" | 3 |
| 5D | 5. Certain loopholes | 7 |
| 6D | 6. Spoon, e.g. | 6 |
| 7D | 7. Second Freudian stage | 4 |
| 8D | 8. Gives one's approval, in a way | 8 |
| 9D | 9. Past-tense verb that becomes its present tense when you move its last letter to the front | 3 |
| 10D | 10. Sources of some rock | 11 |
| 11D | 11. Some experts of interest? | 10 |
| 12D | 12. World capital once known as Philadelphia | 5 |
| 13D | 13. Instagram : ___ :: YouTube : Short | 4 |
| 14D | 15. Focus for the foul-mouthed? | 10 |
| 15D | 21. Skosh | 3 |
| 16D | 22. "Hang on a sec" | 11 |
| 17D | 24. Says "please," say | 10 |
| 18D | 25. Look stunned | 4 |
| 19D | 26. "___ plaisir" ("You're welcome," in French) | 4 |
| 20D | 27. Breathtaking activity? | 10 |
| 21D | 28. Take without paying ... or a motion made while paying | 5 |
| 22D | 32. Per ___ | 4 |
| 23D | 33. Slip (into) | 4 |
| 24D | 36. Ganja | 8 |
| 25D | 41. Residence that can have thousands of chambers | 7 |
| 26D | 43. Unreturnable pickleball shot | 3 |
| 27D | 44. Polite titles | 6 |
| 28D | 45. Instruments in chamber groups | 5 |
| 29D | 47. Discovery sites | 4 |
| 30D | 49. What's distorted in a Mercator projection | 4 |
| 31D | 50. Part of a full house | 4 |
| 32D | 51. Ptolemaic royal, familiarly | 4 |
| 33D | 52. Poke alternative | 4 |
| 34D | 54. Vim | 3 |
| 35D | 55. Transcript fig. | 3 |
Down Clues - Strategic Hints
1D: "1. Give credit to, in a way"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a short note recognizing a source of information or of a quoted passage
- Similar words include: mention, acknowledgment, quotation
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CITE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
2D: "2. Analogous"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that similar in quality or character
- Similar words include: blood-related, consanguineous, kindred
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AKIN
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3D: "3. ___ Sarratore, "My Brilliant Friend" character"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NINO
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4D: "4. "How ___""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that not divisible by two
- Similar words include: rum, rummy, left
- Opposite of: even
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ODD
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5D: "5. Certain loopholes"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a small hole (usually round and finished around the edges) in cloth or leather for the passage of a cord or hook or bar
- Similar words include: grommet, cringle, eyelet
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EYELETS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
6D: "6. Spoon, e.g."
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a close and affectionate (and often prolonged) embrace
- Similar words include: nest, snuggle, nestle
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CUDDLE
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7D: "7. Second Freudian stage"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that of or related to the anus
- Similar words include: anal retentive
- Opposite of: oral
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ANAL
Remember this word for future puzzles!
8D: "8. Gives one's approval, in a way"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: VOTESYES
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9D: "9. Past-tense verb that becomes its present tense when you move its last letter to the front"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that goddess of criminal rashness and its punishment
- Similar words include: eat up, eat on, wipe out
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ATE
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10D: "10. Sources of some rock"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GARAGEBANDS
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11D: "11. Some experts of interest?"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an expert in the science of economics
- Similar words include: economic expert, economist
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ECONOMISTS
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12D: "12. World capital once known as Philadelphia"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the capital and largest city of jordan
- Similar words include: capital of Jordan
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AMMAN
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13D: "13. Instagram : ___ :: YouTube : Short"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a roll of photographic film holding a series of frames to be projected by a movie projector
- Similar words include: stagger, Virginia reel, spin
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: REEL
Remember this word for future puzzles!
14D: "15. Focus for the foul-mouthed?"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ORALHEALTH
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15D: "21. Skosh"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a small piece or quantity of something
- Similar words include: burn, piece, chip
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BIT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
16D: "22. "Hang on a sec""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BERIGHTBACK
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17D: "24. Says "please," say"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ASKSNICELY
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18D: "25. Look stunned"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an expression of openmouthed astonishment
- Similar words include: gawk, gawp, goggle
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GAPE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
19D: "26. "___ plaisir" ("You're welcome," in French)"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AVEC
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20D: "27. Breathtaking activity?"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that continuous and profound contemplation or musing on a subject or series of subjects of a deep or abstruse nature
- Similar words include: speculation
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MEDITATION
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21D: "28. Take without paying ... or a motion made while paying"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a sweeping stroke or blow
- Similar words include: abstract, filch, pinch
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SWIPE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
22D: "32. Per ___"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DIEM
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23D: "33. Slip (into)"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that freedom from difficulty or hardship or effort
- Similar words include: easiness, informality, facilitate
- Opposite of: difficulty
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EASE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
24D: "36. Ganja"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MARYJANE
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25D: "41. Residence that can have thousands of chambers"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ANTNEST
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26D: "43. Unreturnable pickleball shot"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the smallest whole number or a numeral representing this number
- Similar words include: sensation, breeze through, mavin
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ACE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
27D: "44. Polite titles"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a woman of refinement
- Similar words include: dame, madam, gentlewoman
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MADAMS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
28D: "45. Instruments in chamber groups"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CELLI
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29D: "47. Discovery sites"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a workplace for the conduct of scientific research
- Similar words include: lab, science lab, research laboratory
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LABS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
30D: "49. What's distorted in a Mercator projection"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a particular geographical region of indefinite boundary (usually serving some special purpose or distinguished by its people or culture or geography)
- Similar words include: surface area, sphere, orbit
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AREA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
31D: "50. Part of a full house"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a set of two similar things considered as a unit
- Similar words include: couplet, partner off, twain
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PAIR
Remember this word for future puzzles!
32D: "51. Ptolemaic royal, familiarly"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CLEO
Remember this word for future puzzles!
33D: "52. Poke alternative"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PSST
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34D: "54. Vim"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that liveliness and energy
- Similar words include: peppiness, ginger
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PEP
Remember this word for future puzzles!
35D: "55. Transcript fig."
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a measure of a student's academic achievement at a college or university; calculated by dividing the total number of grade points received by the total number attempted
- Similar words include: grade point average
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GPA
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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