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 (41 clues)
- Down Clues - Detailed Hints
- Expert Solving Strategies
- Today's Puzzle Statistics
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. Surrenders | 6 |
| 2A | 7. Wise thinker | 4 |
| 3A | 11. Form of poetry Pablo Neruda used to praise socks, onions and salt | 3 |
| 4A | 14. Realm of the Aztecs or Incas | 6 |
| 5A | 15. Do some farmwork | 4 |
| 6A | 16. ___ de plume | 3 |
| 7A | 17. Mentor from the beyond | 11 |
| 8A | 19. Whitney who invented the cotton gin | 3 |
| 9A | 20. Soak up | 6 |
| 10A | 21. "___ have to do" | 4 |
| 11A | 22. Grifters' schemes | 4 |
| 12A | 25. Major charity whose recipients include the Red Cross and Salvation Army | 9 |
| 13A | 28. Lexington or Madison in N.Y.C.: Abbr. | 3 |
| 14A | 29. Mo. with Aries and Taurus signs | 3 |
| 15A | 31. Soon-to-be graduates | 7 |
| 16A | 32. Offering from an entrepreneurial child's stand | 8 |
| 17A | 35. Song and dance | 3 |
| 18A | 36. Wild West way of settling disputes | 15 |
| 19A | 41. Broadway's ___-Manuel Miranda | 3 |
| 20A | 42. In a gloomy way | 8 |
| 21A | 43. Starbucks alternatives from the Golden Arches | 7 |
| 22A | 47. B&B | 3 |
| 23A | 48. Bambi's mother, for one | 3 |
| 24A | 49. 1972 country hit for Tanya Tucker | 9 |
| 25A | 51. Reptiles on papyrus | 4 |
| 26A | 52. Ballet bend | 4 |
| 27A | 53. Puts pen to paper | 6 |
| 28A | 56. "But Daddy I Love ___" (Taylor Swift song) | 3 |
| 29A | 57. Early advantage ... or a hint to the beginnings of 17-, 25-, 36- and 49-Across | 11 |
| 30A | 62. "Blueprint" for life | 3 |
| 31A | 63. Falsehoods | 4 |
| 32A | 64. Chemical "twin" | 6 |
| 33A | 65. "On the Basis of ___" (Ruth Bader Ginsburg biopic) | 3 |
| 34A | 66. Circular tent | 4 |
| 35A | 67. Words often accompanying a present | 6 |
Across Clues - Strategic Hints
1A: "1. Surrenders"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that production of a certain amount
- Similar words include: bear, take, output
- Opposite of: stand, survive
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
2A: "7. Wise thinker"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a mentor in spiritual and philosophical topics who is renowned for profound wisdom
- Similar words include: salvia, sage-green
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
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3A: "11. Form of poetry Pablo Neruda used to praise socks, onions and salt"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a lyric poem with complex stanza forms
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
4A: "14. Realm of the Aztecs or Incas"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the domain ruled by an emperor or empress; the region over which imperial dominion is exercised
- Similar words include: imperium, conglomerate
- Pattern: ______
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Remember this word for future puzzles!
5A: "15. Do some farmwork"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a farm tool having one or more heavy blades to break the soil and cut a furrow prior to sowing
- Similar words include: plough, treat, deal
- Pattern: ____
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Remember this word for future puzzles!
6A: "16. ___ de plume"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
7A: "17. Mentor from the beyond"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
8A: "19. Whitney who invented the cotton gin"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
9A: "20. Soak up"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that become imbued
- Similar words include: take over, ingest, draw
- Opposite of: emit
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
10A: "21. "___ have to do""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
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11A: "22. Grifters' schemes"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an argument opposed to a proposal
- Similar words include: flimflam, swindle, nobble
- Opposite of: pro
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
12A: "25. Major charity whose recipients include the Red Cross and Salvation Army"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
13A: "28. Lexington or Madison in N.Y.C.: Abbr."
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
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14A: "29. Mo. with Aries and Taurus signs"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the month following march and preceding may
- Similar words include: April
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
15A: "31. Soon-to-be graduates"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an undergraduate student during the year preceding graduation
- Similar words include: senior, elder
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
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16A: "32. Offering from an entrepreneurial child's stand"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that sweetened beverage of diluted lemon juice
- Pattern: ________
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17A: "35. Song and dance"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a rapid active commotion
- Similar words include: hustle, bustle, flurry
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
18A: "36. Wild West way of settling disputes"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
19A: "41. Broadway's ___-Manuel Miranda"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that united states sculptor and architect whose public works include the memorial to veterans of the vietnam war in washington (born in 1959)
- Similar words include: Maya Lin
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
20A: "42. In a gloomy way"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that in a morose manner
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
21A: "43. Starbucks alternatives from the Golden Arches"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
22A: "47. B&B"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a hotel providing overnight lodging for travelers
- Similar words include: lodge, hostel, hostelry
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
23A: "48. Bambi's mother, for one"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the federal department responsible for maintaining a national energy policy of the united states; created in 1977
- Similar words include: Energy, Energy Department, Department of Energy
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
24A: "49. 1972 country hit for Tanya Tucker"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
25A: "51. Reptiles on papyrus"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that of southern europe; similar to but smaller than the adder
- Similar words include: Egyptian cobra, Vipera aspis, asp
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
26A: "52. Ballet bend"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
27A: "53. Puts pen to paper"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that produce a literary work
- Similar words include: compose, pen, save
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
28A: "56. "But Daddy I Love ___" (Taylor Swift song)"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
29A: "57. Early advantage ... or a hint to the beginnings of 17-, 25-, 36- and 49-Across"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
30A: "62. "Blueprint" for life"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that (biochemistry) a long linear polymer found in the nucleus of a cell and formed from nucleotides and shaped like a double helix; associated with the transmission of genetic information
- Similar words include: desoxyribonucleic acid, deoxyribonucleic acid
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
31A: "63. Falsehoods"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a statement that deviates from or perverts the truth
- Similar words include: rest, lie, prevarication
- Opposite of: stand, arise
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
32A: "64. Chemical "twin""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a compound that exists in forms having different arrangements of atoms but the same molecular weight
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
33A: "65. "On the Basis of ___" (Ruth Bader Ginsburg biopic)"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that activities associated with sexual intercourse
- Similar words include: sexual practice, sexual urge, turn on
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
34A: "66. Circular tent"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a circular domed dwelling that is portable and self-supporting; originally used by nomadic mongol and turkic people of central asia but now used as inexpensive alternative or temporary housing
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
35A: "67. Words often accompanying a present"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
Down Clues - Complete List
| No. | Clue | Letters |
|---|---|---|
| 1D | 1. Answer equivalent to "I do" | 3 |
| 2D | 2. Mischievous devil | 3 |
| 3D | 3. Prefix with center | 3 |
| 4D | 4. Coins spent in Turkey | 5 |
| 5D | 5. Tiny drop | 4 |
| 6D | 6. Tennis match units | 4 |
| 7D | 7. Snub | 5 |
| 8D | 8. They may crumble under cross-examination | 6 |
| 9D | 9. Zeus or Odin | 3 |
| 10D | 10. Female form of the animal that outnumbers humans in Iceland | 3 |
| 11D | 11. Boxing combo | 6 |
| 12D | 12. Big name in rental cars | 6 |
| 13D | 13. ___ List (PAC for Democratic female candidates) | 6 |
| 14D | 18. Haitian currency unit | 6 |
| 15D | 21. Not the brightest bulbs, so to speak | 6 |
| 16D | 22. Bovine baby | 4 |
| 17D | 23. ___ the moon | 4 |
| 18D | 24. Captain in "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea" | 4 |
| 19D | 26. Steeping container | 6 |
| 20D | 27. Finishes with | 6 |
| 21D | 29. Left-wing protest group | 6 |
| 22D | 30. Tormented | 6 |
| 23D | 33. Like "The Tonight Show" and "Saturday Night Live" | 6 |
| 24D | 34. Hesitation sound across the pond | 3 |
| 25D | 37. Enter the chat, so to speak | 6 |
| 26D | 38. Some military hazards, for short | 4 |
| 27D | 39. Hoofbeat | 4 |
| 28D | 40. Visually sizes up | 4 |
| 29D | 43. Dual degrees for physicians | 6 |
| 30D | 44. ___ Dion, the "Queen of Power Ballads" | 6 |
| 31D | 45. Apex | 6 |
| 32D | 46. Literary friend of Finn | 6 |
| 33D | 50. Body part that's flicked | 5 |
| 34D | 51. Businessman John Jacob ___ | 5 |
| 35D | 54. "Almost time for the weekend!" | 4 |
| 36D | 55. Canadian gas brand | 4 |
| 37D | 57. Cool, in '90s slang | 3 |
| 38D | 58. Common Chinese surname | 3 |
| 39D | 59. Funny Schumer or Poehler | 3 |
| 40D | 60. ___ Speedwagon | 3 |
| 41D | 61. "___ dat" (slangy agreement) | 3 |
Down Clues - Strategic Hints
1D: "1. Answer equivalent to "I do""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an affirmative
- Opposite of: no
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
2D: "2. Mischievous devil"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that (folklore) fairies that are somewhat mischievous
- Similar words include: brownie, scamp, scallywag
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
3D: "3. Prefix with center"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a self-report personality inventory based on hans eysenck's factor analysis of personality which assumes three basic factors (the two most important being extraversion to introversion and neuroticism)
- Similar words include: Eysenck Personality Inventory
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
4D: "4. Coins spent in Turkey"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the basic unit of money on malta; equal to 100 cents
- Similar words include: Turkish lira, lira, Italian lira
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
5D: "5. Tiny drop"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a small indefinite quantity (especially of a liquid); ; ; ; --kipling
- Similar words include: driblet, drop
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
6D: "6. Tennis match units"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a group of things of the same kind that belong together and are so used
- Similar words include: congeal, adjust, fix
- Opposite of: rise
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
7D: "7. Snub"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that reject with contempt
- Similar words include: reject, pooh-pooh, freeze off
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
8D: "8. They may crumble under cross-examination"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that (law) a defense by an accused person purporting to show that he or she could not have committed the crime in question
- Similar words include: self-justification, alibi, excuse
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
9D: "9. Zeus or Odin"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the supernatural being conceived as the perfect and omnipotent and omniscient originator and ruler of the universe; the object of worship in monotheistic religions
- Similar words include: divinity, deity, immortal
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
10D: "10. Female form of the animal that outnumbers humans in Iceland"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a member of a people living in southern benin and togo and southeastern ghana
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
11D: "11. Boxing combo"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
12D: "12. Big name in rental cars"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the basic monetary unit in many countries; equal to 100 cents
- Similar words include: dollar bill, dollar sign, buck
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
13D: "13. ___ List (PAC for Democratic female candidates)"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
14D: "18. Haitian currency unit"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the basic unit of money in haiti
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
15D: "21. Not the brightest bulbs, so to speak"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a person of subnormal intelligence
- Similar words include: cretin, idiot, retard
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
16D: "22. Bovine baby"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that young of domestic cattle
- Similar words include: calfskin, sura
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
17D: "23. ___ the moon"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that (cricket) the division of play during which six balls are bowled at the batsman by one player from the other team from the same end of the pitch
- Similar words include: all over, terminated, o'er
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
18D: "24. Captain in "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
19D: "26. Steeping container"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
20D: "27. Finishes with"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
21D: "29. Left-wing protest group"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
22D: "30. Tormented"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that cause bodily suffering to and make sick or indisposed
- Similar words include: ail, pain, trouble
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
23D: "33. Like "The Tonight Show" and "Saturday Night Live""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
24D: "34. Hesitation sound across the pond"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
25D: "37. Enter the chat, so to speak"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
26D: "38. Some military hazards, for short"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an explosive device that is improvised
- Similar words include: I.E.D., IED, improvised explosive device
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
27D: "39. Hoofbeat"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the sound of a horse's hoofs hitting on a hard surface
- Similar words include: clump, clunk, clopping
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
28D: "40. Visually sizes up"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that opinion or judgment
- Similar words include: middle, eye, center
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
29D: "43. Dual degrees for physicians"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
30D: "44. ___ Dion, the "Queen of Power Ballads""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
31D: "45. Apex"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the highest point of anything conceived of as growing or developing or unfolding
- Similar words include: orgasm, flood tide, culmination
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
32D: "46. Literary friend of Finn"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that one who is employed to saw wood
- Similar words include: sawyer beetle
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
33D: "50. Body part that's flicked"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a joint between the distal end of the radius and the proximal row of carpal bones
- Similar words include: radiocarpal joint, wrist joint, articulatio radiocarpea
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
34D: "51. Businessman John Jacob ___"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that british politician (born in the united states) who was the first woman to sit in the british house of commons (1879-1964)
- Similar words include: John Jacob Astor, Viscountess Astor, Nancy Witcher Astor
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
35D: "54. "Almost time for the weekend!""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
36D: "55. Canadian gas brand"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
37D: "57. Cool, in '90s slang"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that two-winged insects characterized by active flight
- Similar words include: fly front, take flight, tent flap
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
38D: "58. Common Chinese surname"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
39D: "59. Funny Schumer or Poehler"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
40D: "60. ___ Speedwagon"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
41D: "61. "___ dat" (slangy agreement)"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
Expert Solving Strategies
Start Smart
Begin with fill-in-the-blank clues and short 3-4 letter words. These are your foundation.
Decode the Clues
Question marks indicate wordplay or puns. "Maybe" suggests multiple interpretations.
Use Cross-References
Let intersecting letters guide you. One correct answer unlocks several others.
Build Vocabulary
Common crossword words repeat. Learning them speeds up future solving.
Today's Puzzle Stats
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