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 (31 clues)
- Across Clues - Detailed Hints
- Down Clues Table (39 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. Adjusts, as text | 6 |
| 2A | 7. [Get away!] | 3 |
| 3A | 10. Lecture setting | 4 |
| 4A | 14. "Can anyone explain this?!" | 15 |
| 5A | 17. "Let me try to explain ..." | 15 |
| 6A | 18. Gal pal | 3 |
| 7A | 19. Appeal in defense | 4 |
| 8A | 20. Coat on a tip? | 6 |
| 9A | 21. Round striker | 4 |
| 10A | 22. Where 22-Across is | 4 |
| 11A | 23. Pilots' tools | 6 |
| 12A | 26. Grocery stores? | 8 |
| 13A | 30. Seaweed-based gels | 5 |
| 14A | 31. Strikes out on one's own | 9 |
| 15A | 32. So-called "Champagne of Spain" | 4 |
| 16A | 33. ___ Hoffmann, 1981 Nobel Prize-winning chemist | 5 |
| 17A | 34. Fuss | 4 |
| 18A | 35. Targets of some regulations | 9 |
| 19A | 37. Something a toddler might grow out of | 5 |
| 20A | 38. Fuji, e.g. | 8 |
| 21A | 39. Energizes | 6 |
| 22A | 40. Something you can see right through | 4 |
| 23A | 41. Not so rich, so to speak | 4 |
| 24A | 42. Remit, say | 6 |
| 25A | 45. New wave band with the 1979 album "Duty Now for the Future" | 4 |
| 26A | 46. Destination | 3 |
| 27A | 49. Provide proactive help, in a way | 15 |
| 28A | 52. "Keep me out of it" | 15 |
| 29A | 53. Opposite of "stay silent" | 4 |
| 30A | 54. "___ y plata" (Montana's motto) | 3 |
| 31A | 55. Southwestern dwellings | 6 |
Across Clues - Strategic Hints
1A: "1. Adjusts, as text"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that make improvements or corrections to
- Similar words include: emend
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EMENDS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
2A: "7. [Get away!]"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GRR
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3A: "10. Lecture setting"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a platform raised above the surrounding level to give prominence to the person on it
- Similar words include: soapbox, rostrum, pulpit
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DAIS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
4A: "14. "Can anyone explain this?!""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MAKEITMAKESENSE
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5A: "17. "Let me try to explain ...""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: THEWAYILOOKATIT
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6A: "18. Gal pal"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a female person who has the same parents as another person
- Similar words include: SI system, Systeme International d'Unites, International System
- Opposite of: brother
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SIS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
7A: "19. Appeal in defense"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a humble request for help from someone in authority
- Similar words include: supplication
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PLEA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
8A: "20. Coat on a tip?"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the property of being smooth and shiny
- Similar words include: smoothen, finish, cultivation
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: POLISH
Remember this word for future puzzles!
9A: "21. Round striker"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the part of a hammerhead opposite the flat striking surface (may have various shapes)
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PEEN
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10A: "22. Where 22-Across is"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the present location; this place
- Similar words include: Hera, hither
- Opposite of: there
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HERE
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11A: "23. Pilots' tools"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that measuring instrument in which the echo of a pulse of microwave radiation is used to detect and locate distant objects
- Similar words include: radiolocation, radar, radio detection and ranging
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RADARS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
12A: "26. Grocery stores?"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a small storeroom for storing foods or wines
- Similar words include: larder, buttery, pantry
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PANTRIES
Remember this word for future puzzles!
13A: "30. Seaweed-based gels"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that any culture medium that uses agar as the gelling agent
- Similar words include: agar, nutrient agar, agar-agar
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AGARS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
14A: "31. Strikes out on one's own"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FLIESSOLO
Remember this word for future puzzles!
15A: "32. So-called "Champagne of Spain""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CAVA
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16A: "33. ___ Hoffmann, 1981 Nobel Prize-winning chemist"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ROALD
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17A: "34. Fuss"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a prominent or sensational but short-lived news event
- Similar words include: bustle, conjure up, bring up
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: STIR
Remember this word for future puzzles!
18A: "35. Targets of some regulations"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the act of emitting; causing to flow forth
- Similar words include: emanation, discharge, expelling
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EMISSIONS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
19A: "37. Something a toddler might grow out of"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that any distinct time period in a sequence of events
- Similar words include: form, stage, phase angle
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PHASE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
20A: "38. Fuji, e.g."
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: REDAPPLE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
21A: "39. Energizes"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that web-footed long-necked typically gregarious migratory aquatic birds usually larger and less aquatic than ducks
- Similar words include: goofball, twat, zany
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GOOSES
Remember this word for future puzzles!
22A: "40. Something you can see right through"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that plants with sword-shaped leaves and erect stalks bearing bright-colored flowers composed of three petals and three drooping sepals
- Similar words include: fleur-de-lis, sword lily, iris diaphragm
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: IRIS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
23A: "41. Not so rich, so to speak"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that having relatively few calories
- Similar words include: light, calorie-free, low-cal
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LITE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
24A: "42. Remit, say"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MAILIN
Remember this word for future puzzles!
25A: "45. New wave band with the 1979 album "Duty Now for the Future""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DEVO
Remember this word for future puzzles!
26A: "46. Destination"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions
- Similar words include: target, direct, object
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AIM
Remember this word for future puzzles!
27A: "49. Provide proactive help, in a way"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RUNINTERFERENCE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
28A: "52. "Keep me out of it""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: IDONTWANTTOKNOW
Remember this word for future puzzles!
29A: "53. Opposite of "stay silent""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that deliver by singing
- Similar words include: babble, spill the beans, whistle
- Opposite of: keep quiet
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SING
Remember this word for future puzzles!
30A: "54. "___ y plata" (Montana's motto)"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ORO
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31A: "55. Southwestern dwellings"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that united states golfer who won many major golf tournaments (1912-1997)
- Similar words include: William Benjamin Hogan, hogan, Hogan
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HOGANS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
Down Clues - Complete List
| No. | Clue | Letters |
|---|---|---|
| 1D | 1. Triage pros | 4 |
| 2D | 2. Dorado fish, informally | 4 |
| 3D | 3. Scrapes (out) | 4 |
| 4D | 4. Just out | 3 |
| 5D | 5. Attire that may snap on | 7 |
| 6D | 6. Does up, in a way | 6 |
| 7D | 7. Big do | 4 |
| 8D | 8. Studio behind "Notorious" and "Nocturne" | 3 |
| 9D | 9. Came out of bankruptcy, say | 8 |
| 10D | 10. What might give a hand in a casino? | 11 |
| 11D | 11. Opposed | 4 |
| 12D | 12. Deity with a temple in Pompeii | 4 |
| 13D | 13. Actor Gilliam of "The Wire" | 4 |
| 14D | 15. Attitude | 4 |
| 15D | 16. Some athleisure bottoms | 6 |
| 16D | 21. Modern water sport | 11 |
| 17D | 22. Summons | 5 |
| 18D | 23. 500 competitor | 5 |
| 19D | 24. Top form | 5 |
| 20D | 25. Biblical shepherd-turned-king | 5 |
| 21D | 26. Kind of figure | 5 |
| 22D | 27. I I I | 5 |
| 23D | 28. ___ Neal, co-star of TV's "The Hughleys" | 5 |
| 24D | 29. Painful spots | 5 |
| 25D | 31. People not to argue with, they say | 5 |
| 26D | 33. Forcibly halve | 8 |
| 27D | 36. Dash | 6 |
| 28D | 37. Small marsupial whose name is spelled using only the letters of TROP | 7 |
| 29D | 39. Biblical verb | 6 |
| 30D | 41. Blue side, with "the" | 4 |
| 31D | 42. Med. diagnostics | 4 |
| 32D | 43. Maker of the Q3 | 4 |
| 33D | 44. ___ a secret | 4 |
| 34D | 45. Movie villain who is a member of SPECTRE | 4 |
| 35D | 46. Pioneering civil rights activist ___ Arnold Hedgeman | 4 |
| 36D | 47. Forbidden subject in Islamic art | 4 |
| 37D | 48. Row houses, to Brits | 4 |
| 38D | 50. Canal entry | 3 |
| 39D | 51. Med. diagnostic | 3 |
Down Clues - Strategic Hints
1D: "1. Triage pros"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EMTS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
2D: "2. Dorado fish, informally"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MAHI
Remember this word for future puzzles!
3D: "3. Scrapes (out)"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EKES
Remember this word for future puzzles!
4D: "4. Just out"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
- Similar words include: raw, newfangled, freshly
- Opposite of: old, worn
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NEW
Remember this word for future puzzles!
5D: "5. Attire that may snap on"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that garment consisting of a folded cloth drawn up between the legs and fastened at the waist; worn by infants to catch excrement
- Similar words include: nappy, diaper, napkin
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DIAPERS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
6D: "6. Does up, in a way"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that how something is done or how it happens
- Similar words include: trend, expressive style, style
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: STYLES
Remember this word for future puzzles!
7D: "7. Big do"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a gay festivity
- Similar words include: jamboree, gala affair, blowout
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GALA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
8D: "8. Studio behind "Notorious" and "Nocturne""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RKO
Remember this word for future puzzles!
9D: "9. Came out of bankruptcy, say"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that open again or anew
- Similar words include: reopen
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: REOPENED
Remember this word for future puzzles!
10D: "10. What might give a hand in a casino?"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DEALERSSHOE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
11D: "11. Opposed"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a person who is opposed (to an action or policy or practice etc.)
- Opposite of: pro
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ANTI
Remember this word for future puzzles!
12D: "12. Deity with a temple in Pompeii"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that egyptian goddess of fertility; daughter of geb; sister and wife of osiris
- Similar words include: Inter-Services Intelligence, Directorate for Inter-Services Intelligence, ISI
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ISIS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
13D: "13. Actor Gilliam of "The Wire""
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!
14D: "15. Attitude"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that dignified manner or conduct
- Similar words include: comportment, bearing, presence
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MIEN
Remember this word for future puzzles!
15D: "16. Some athleisure bottoms"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SKORTS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
16D: "21. Modern water sport"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that gliding in a parasail
- Similar words include: paragliding
- Pattern: ___________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PARASAILING
Remember this word for future puzzles!
17D: "22. Summons"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that precipitation of ice pellets when there are strong rising air currents
- Similar words include: acclaim, come, hail
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HAILS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
18D: "23. 500 competitor"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that someone who drives racing cars at high speeds
- Similar words include: automobile driver, racing car, race driver
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RACER
Remember this word for future puzzles!
19D: "24. Top form"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AGAME
Remember this word for future puzzles!
20D: "25. Biblical shepherd-turned-king"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that patron saint of wales (circa 520-600)
- Similar words include: St. David, Jacques Louis David, Saint David
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DAVID
Remember this word for future puzzles!
21D: "26. Kind of figure"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an aircraft that has a fixed wing and is powered by propellers or jets
- Similar words include: airplane, flat, sheet
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PLANE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
22D: "27. I I I"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a tiny or scarcely detectable amount
- Similar words include: smidgin, tittle, scintilla
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: IOTAS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
23D: "28. ___ Neal, co-star of TV's "The Hughleys""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ELISE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
24D: "29. Painful spots"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an open skin infection
- Similar words include: sore
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SORES
Remember this word for future puzzles!
25D: "31. People not to argue with, they say"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a person who lacks good judgment
- Similar words include: arse around, befool, tomfool
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FOOLS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
26D: "33. Forcibly halve"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RIPINTWO
Remember this word for future puzzles!
27D: "36. Dash"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a quick run
- Similar words include: dash
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SPRINT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
28D: "37. Small marsupial whose name is spelled using only the letters of TROP"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that australian rat kangaroos
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: POTOROO
Remember this word for future puzzles!
29D: "39. Biblical verb"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GIVETH
Remember this word for future puzzles!
30D: "41. Blue side, with "the""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
- Similar words include: left field, pull up stakes, unexpended
- Opposite of: center, right
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LEFT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
31D: "42. Med. diagnostics"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the use of nuclear magnetic resonance of protons to produce proton density images
- Similar words include: magnetic resonance imaging, MRI
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MRIS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
32D: "43. Maker of the Q3"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AUDI
Remember this word for future puzzles!
33D: "44. ___ a secret"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: INON
Remember this word for future puzzles!
34D: "45. Movie villain who is a member of SPECTRE"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DRNO
Remember this word for future puzzles!
35D: "46. Pioneering civil rights activist ___ Arnold Hedgeman"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a former copper coin of pakistan and india
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ANNA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
36D: "47. Forbidden subject in Islamic art"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that (computer science) a graphic symbol (usually a simple picture) that denotes a program or a command or a data file or a concept in a graphical user interface
- Similar words include: ikon, image, picture
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ICON
Remember this word for future puzzles!
37D: "48. Row houses, to Brits"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that street lined with buildings that were originally private stables but have been remodeled as dwellings
- Similar words include: mew gull, Larus canus, meow
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MEWS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
38D: "50. Canal entry"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
- Similar words include: capitulum, auricle, pinna
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EAR
Remember this word for future puzzles!
39D: "51. Med. diagnostic"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a graphical recording of the cardiac cycle produced by an electrocardiograph
- Similar words include: cardiogram, electrocardiogram, ECG
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EKG
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
31 Across Clues
39 Down Clues
70 Total Clues
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