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 (36 clues)
- Across Clues - Detailed Hints
- Down Clues Table (36 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. Look to give nothing away? | 10 |
| 2A | 11. European city on the Bay of Angels | 4 |
| 3A | 15. Film subgenre exemplified by "The Thing" or "The Fly" | 10 |
| 4A | 16. Like some fixations | 4 |
| 5A | 17. It gets folded and pressed | 10 |
| 6A | 18. Split in two | 4 |
| 7A | 19. Posts on Insta | 3 |
| 8A | 20. The third primary chakra is located just above it | 5 |
| 9A | 21. Foundations of many dad jokes | 4 |
| 10A | 22. "Right, right, right" | 4 |
| 11A | 24. Yom Kippur topic | 3 |
| 12A | 25. Certain slip-on | 6 |
| 13A | 27. Merely hinted at | 5 |
| 14A | 29. Author of "The Fisherman and His Flute" | 5 |
| 15A | 31. Clip-on mic, for short | 3 |
| 16A | 32. Many great athletes play with it | 4 |
| 17A | 34. Architect's tool | 7 |
| 18A | 36. A cow can produce about 200 pounds of it a year | 7 |
| 19A | 39. In pieces | 7 |
| 20A | 40. Items of some import? | 7 |
| 21A | 41. Rachel ___, author of "Heated Rivalry" | 4 |
| 22A | 42. Savory latke topping | 3 |
| 23A | 43. Sidney who directed "12 Angry Men" | 5 |
| 24A | 45. "Quiet, you!" | 5 |
| 25A | 49. Formula 1 star, e.g. | 6 |
| 26A | 51. Shade similar to avocado | 3 |
| 27A | 53. "Sick!" | 4 |
| 28A | 54. On a chain, say | 4 |
| 29A | 55. A lot of paperwork | 5 |
| 30A | 57. The W.N.B.A.'s Mercury, on scoreboards | 3 |
| 31A | 58. Steps to a lively tune | 4 |
| 32A | 59. How low can you go? | 10 |
| 33A | 61. "Right now!" | 4 |
| 34A | 62. What roller coasters are designed to do | 10 |
| 35A | 63. Flat earth? | 4 |
| 36A | 64. Item for purchase with a question mark on its side | 10 |
Across Clues - Strategic Hints
1A: "1. Look to give nothing away?"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BLANKSTARE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
2A: "11. European city on the Bay of Angels"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a city in southeastern france on the mediterranean; the leading resort on the french riviera
- Similar words include: skillful, decent, gracious
- Opposite of: nasty
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NICE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
3A: "15. Film subgenre exemplified by "The Thing" or "The Fly""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BODYHORROR
Remember this word for future puzzles!
4A: "16. Like some fixations"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an examination conducted by spoken communication
- Similar words include: unwritten, oral exam, oral examination
- Opposite of: anal, aboral
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ORAL
Remember this word for future puzzles!
5A: "17. It gets folded and pressed"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a tortilla that is filled with cheese and heated
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: QUESADILLA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
6A: "18. Split in two"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that cutlery used for serving and eating food
- Similar words include: branch, crotch, forking
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FORK
Remember this word for future puzzles!
7A: "19. Posts on Insta"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a chest in which coins from the mint are held to await assay
- Similar words include: pix chest, pyx, pyx chest
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PIX
Remember this word for future puzzles!
8A: "20. The third primary chakra is located just above it"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a scar where the umbilical cord was attached
- Similar words include: omphalus, belly button, omphalos
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NAVEL
Remember this word for future puzzles!
9A: "21. Foundations of many dad jokes"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a humorous play on words
- Similar words include: paronomasia, pun, wordplay
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PUNS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
10A: "22. "Right, right, right""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ISEE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
11A: "24. Yom Kippur topic"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that estrangement from god
- Similar words include: drop the ball, hell, boob
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SIN
Remember this word for future puzzles!
12A: "25. Certain slip-on"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a blanket-like cloak with a hole in the center for the head
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PONCHO
Remember this word for future puzzles!
13A: "27. Merely hinted at"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that implied by or inferred from actions or statements
- Similar words include: understood, silent
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TACIT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
14A: "29. Author of "The Fisherman and His Flute""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that greek author of fables (circa 620-560 bc)
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AESOP
Remember this word for future puzzles!
15A: "31. Clip-on mic, for short"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
- Similar words include: lavatory, bathroom, can
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LAV
Remember this word for future puzzles!
16A: "32. Many great athletes play with it"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a hard coarse-grained siliceous sandstone
- Similar words include: gritstone, backbone, gumption
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GRIT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
17A: "34. Architect's tool"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TSQUARE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
18A: "36. A cow can produce about 200 pounds of it a year"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a colorless odorless gas used as a fuel
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: METHANE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
19A: "39. In pieces"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that widely separated especially in space
- Similar words include: apart
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ASUNDER
Remember this word for future puzzles!
20A: "40. Items of some import?"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EXOTICA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
21A: "41. Rachel ___, author of "Heated Rivalry""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that scottish philosopher of common sense who opposed the ideas of david hume (1710-1796)
- Similar words include: Thomas Reid
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: REID
Remember this word for future puzzles!
22A: "42. Savory latke topping"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a bluish translucent magnetic liquid obtained by compressing gaseous oxygen and then cooling it below its boiling point; used as an oxidizer in rocket propellants
- Similar words include: liquid oxygen
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LOX
Remember this word for future puzzles!
23A: "43. Sidney who directed "12 Angry Men""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LUMET
Remember this word for future puzzles!
24A: "45. "Quiet, you!""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ZIPIT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
25A: "49. Formula 1 star, e.g."
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the operator of a motor vehicle
- Similar words include: number one wood, device driver
- Opposite of: nondriver
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DRIVER
Remember this word for future puzzles!
26A: "51. Shade similar to avocado"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that seed of a pea plant used for food
- Similar words include: pea plant
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PEA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
27A: "53. "Sick!""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that street names for marijuana
- Similar words include: sess, pot, cola
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DOPE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
28A: "54. On a chain, say"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CCED
Remember this word for future puzzles!
29A: "55. A lot of paperwork"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something
- Similar words include: organize, forge, variant
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FORMS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
30A: "57. The W.N.B.A.'s Mercury, on scoreboards"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PHX
Remember this word for future puzzles!
31A: "58. Steps to a lively tune"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that music in three-four time for dancing a jig
- Similar words include: gigue, jig
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: JIGS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
32A: "59. How low can you go?"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ROCKBOTTOM
Remember this word for future puzzles!
33A: "61. "Right now!""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that as soon as possible
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ASAP
Remember this word for future puzzles!
34A: "62. What roller coasters are designed to do"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that fill with sublime emotion
- Similar words include: beatify, thrill, tickle pink
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EXHILARATE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
35A: "63. Flat earth?"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that flat tableland with steep edges
- Similar words include: table
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MESA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
36A: "64. Item for purchase with a question mark on its side"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MYSTERYBOX
Remember this word for future puzzles!
Down Clues - Complete List
| No. | Clue | Letters |
|---|---|---|
| 1D | 1. Smoking spot | 6 |
| 2D | 2. Mrs. John Quincy Adams | 6 |
| 3D | 3. Campaign leader, informally | 6 |
| 4D | 4. Overseer of the Erie Canal, in brief | 3 |
| 5D | 5. "Star Trek" villain played by Ricardo Montalbán | 4 |
| 6D | 6. Some diner drinks | 5 |
| 7D | 7. They might have all the answers | 10 |
| 8D | 8. Pink-furred cat in "Garfield" | 6 |
| 9D | 9. With 26-Down, basic instruction to a dog | 4 |
| 10D | 10. New ___ (official cap maker for M.L.B.) | 3 |
| 11D | 11. Like a spoilsport | 5 |
| 12D | 12. Totally foolproof | 8 |
| 13D | 13. Many key changes take place in it | 8 |
| 14D | 14. Herd at Yellowstone | 3 |
| 15D | 21. It's a surprise, of course! | 7 |
| 16D | 23. Chinese symbol of prosperity | 5 |
| 17D | 25. Group of companions | 5 |
| 18D | 26. See 9-Down | 4 |
| 19D | 28. Followed surreptitiously | 7 |
| 20D | 30. Beginner's set | 10 |
| 21D | 33. Rack up | 5 |
| 22D | 35. Ruined | 5 |
| 23D | 36. Blend into one | 4 |
| 24D | 37. Free spirits? | 8 |
| 25D | 38. Hydrogen sulfide, e.g. | 8 |
| 26D | 44. Big times | 6 |
| 27D | 46. You might hear a hiss when it's pulled | 6 |
| 28D | 47. Defunct image editor | 6 |
| 29D | 48. Chile con carne cuisine | 6 |
| 30D | 50. Hornet genus | 5 |
| 31D | 52. Take a constitutional | 5 |
| 32D | 55. Cunning | 4 |
| 33D | 56. Go to the moon | 4 |
| 34D | 58. Play together, in a way | 3 |
| 35D | 59. Phase for dreamers | 3 |
| 36D | 60. "___ me!" | 3 |
Down Clues - Strategic Hints
1D: "1. Smoking spot"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BBQPIT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
2D: "2. Mrs. John Quincy Adams"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LOUISA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
3D: "3. Campaign leader, informally"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ADEXEC
Remember this word for future puzzles!
4D: "4. Overseer of the Erie Canal, in brief"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a mid-atlantic state; one of the original 13 colonies
- Similar words include: Empire State, New York, NY
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NYS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
5D: "5. "Star Trek" villain played by Ricardo Montalbán"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a title given to rulers or other important people in asian countries
- Similar words include: caravansary, caravan inn, caravanserai
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: KHAN
Remember this word for future puzzles!
6D: "6. Some diner drinks"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a sodium salt of carbonic acid; used in making soap powders and glass and paper
- Similar words include: sodium carbonate, sal soda, washing soda
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SODAS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
7D: "7. They might have all the answers"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TRIVIATEAM
Remember this word for future puzzles!
8D: "8. Pink-furred cat in "Garfield""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ARLENE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
9D: "9. With 26-Down, basic instruction to a dog"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that rotary motion of an object around its own axis
- Similar words include: rolling, curlicue, range
- Opposite of: unwind
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ROLL
Remember this word for future puzzles!
10D: "10. New ___ (official cap maker for M.L.B.)"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a period marked by distinctive character or reckoned from a fixed point or event
- Similar words include: geological era, earned run average, epoch
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ERA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
11D: "11. Like a spoilsport"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NOFUN
Remember this word for future puzzles!
12D: "12. Totally foolproof"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a wooden warship of the 19th century that is plated with iron or steel armor
- Similar words include: brassbound
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: IRONCLAD
Remember this word for future puzzles!
13D: "13. Many key changes take place in it"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CARSHARE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
14D: "14. Herd at Yellowstone"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that large northern deer with enormous flattened antlers in the male; called `elk' in europe and `moose' in north america
- Similar words include: moose, Alces alces, Cervus elaphus canadensis
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ELK
Remember this word for future puzzles!
15D: "21. It's a surprise, of course!"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: POPQUIZ
Remember this word for future puzzles!
16D: "23. Chinese symbol of prosperity"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the cardinal number that is the sum of seven and one
- Similar words include: Ashcan School, eighter from Decatur, eight-spot
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EIGHT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
17D: "25. Group of companions"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a temporary police force
- Similar words include: posse comitatus
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: POSSE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
18D: "26. See 9-Down"
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: ended, all over, complete
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OVER
Remember this word for future puzzles!
19D: "28. Followed surreptitiously"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that to lag or linger behind
- Similar words include: chase after, tail, tag
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TRAILED
Remember this word for future puzzles!
20D: "30. Beginner's set"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: STARTERKIT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
21D: "33. Rack up"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that make oneself subject to; bring upon oneself; become liable to
- Similar words include: obtain, find, receive
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: INCUR
Remember this word for future puzzles!
22D: "35. Ruined"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that cancel, annul, or reverse an action or its effect
- Similar words include: loosen, undo, unmake
- Opposite of: wrap, make
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: UNDID
Remember this word for future puzzles!
23D: "36. Blend into one"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a form of rummy using two decks of cards and four jokers; jokers and deuces are wild; the object is to form groups of the same rank
- Similar words include: flux, fuse, mix
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MELD
Remember this word for future puzzles!
24D: "37. Free spirits?"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that expel through adjuration or prayers
- Similar words include: exorcize
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EXORCISE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
25D: "38. Hydrogen sulfide, e.g."
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TOXICGAS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
26D: "44. Big times"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a period marked by distinctive character or reckoned from a fixed point or event
- Similar words include: date of reference, era, epoch
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EPOCHS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
27D: "46. You might hear a hiss when it's pulled"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: POPTAB
Remember this word for future puzzles!
28D: "47. Defunct image editor"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: IPHOTO
Remember this word for future puzzles!
29D: "48. Chile con carne cuisine"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TEXMEX
Remember this word for future puzzles!
30D: "50. Hornet genus"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that type genus of the vespidae: various hornets and yellow jackets
- Similar words include: genus Vespa
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: VESPA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
31D: "52. Take a constitutional"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a leisurely walk (usually in some public place)
- Similar words include: promenade, stroll, saunter
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AMBLE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
32D: "55. Cunning"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that marked by skill in deception
- Similar words include: sly, dodgy, guileful
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FOXY
Remember this word for future puzzles!
33D: "56. Go to the moon"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the act of rising upward into the air
- Similar words include: sailplane, zoom, soar upwards
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SOAR
Remember this word for future puzzles!
34D: "58. Play together, in a way"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that preserve of crushed fruit
- Similar words include: muddle, mess, ram
- Opposite of: free
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: JAM
Remember this word for future puzzles!
35D: "59. Phase for dreamers"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a recurring sleep state during which dreaming occurs; a state of rapidly shifting eye movements during sleep
- Similar words include: paradoxical sleep, REM sleep, rapid eye movement sleep
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: REM
Remember this word for future puzzles!
36D: "60. "___ me!""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
- Similar words include: test, render, sample
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TRY
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
36 Across Clues
36 Down Clues
72 Total Clues
More NYT Crossword Help
Looking for more puzzle solutions? Check out our comprehensive archive of NYT crossword hints and answers. We update daily with expert analysis and solving strategies.