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 (34 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: 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. Have serious plans | 8 |
| 2A | 9. One of the fam | 5 |
| 3A | 14. Annual appraisal statement | 9 |
| 4A | 15. Positioned to win | 5 |
| 5A | 16. Track event won by the fastest four legs | 9 |
| 6A | 17. Marvel Comics villain with an explosive superpower | 5 |
| 7A | 18. American court org. | 4 |
| 8A | 19. Ensemble piece | 9 |
| 9A | 21. Some sous-chef scraps | 5 |
| 10A | 23. Three-time Olympic figure skating champion | 5 |
| 11A | 24. A.M. cupfuls | 3 |
| 12A | 26. Band at a Jimmy Buffett concert? | 3 |
| 13A | 28. "America's Largest Classroom" | 3 |
| 14A | 29. Cinch | 4 |
| 15A | 30. With whom one pools pounds for quarters | 8 |
| 16A | 33. Copy | 5 |
| 17A | 34. Count to 10, perhaps | 7 |
| 18A | 35. Opposite of proud | 7 |
| 19A | 37. Get past a paywall, say | 5 |
| 20A | 38. Boundaries between areas with different amounts of coverage | 8 |
| 21A | 40. Healing agent | 4 |
| 22A | 41. Hardly worth mentioning | 3 |
| 23A | 42. Counterpoint segue | 3 |
| 24A | 43. One who's left at the polls, informally? | 3 |
| 25A | 44. Bobby ___, first recipient of the Best New Artist Grammy Award (1960) | 5 |
| 26A | 46. Plague that precedes lice in Exodus | 5 |
| 27A | 50. "Let go of unrealistic expectations," e.g. | 9 |
| 28A | 53. Fabled example of poor competition strategy | 4 |
| 29A | 54. Actress Amanda of "Easy A" | 5 |
| 30A | 55. Penalty for exceeding a payroll threshold, in sports lingo | 9 |
| 31A | 57. Cartoonish bouncing sound | 5 |
| 32A | 58. "Hang on a sec" | 9 |
| 33A | 59. They can help one get a leg up, informally | 5 |
| 34A | 60. What all the buzz is about? | 8 |
Across Clues - Strategic Hints
1A: "1. Have serious plans"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: THINKBIG
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2A: "9. One of the fam"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that informal terms for a mother
- Similar words include: mommy, mammy, ma
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MOMMA
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3A: "14. Annual appraisal statement"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: WHATAYEAR
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4A: "15. Positioned to win"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that having the leading position or higher score in a contest
- Similar words include: in the lead, onwards, out front
- Opposite of: back, backward
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AHEAD
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5A: "16. Track event won by the fastest four legs"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HORSERACE
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6A: "17. Marvel Comics villain with an explosive superpower"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NITRO
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7A: "18. American court org."
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: USTA
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8A: "19. Ensemble piece"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that clothing that is worn or carried, but not part of your main clothing
- Similar words include: accouterment, accoutrement, auxiliary
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ACCESSORY
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9A: "21. Some sous-chef scraps"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that british politician (1788-1850)
- Similar words include: flake off, pare, peel
- Opposite of: dress
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PEELS
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10A: "23. Three-time Olympic figure skating champion"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HENIE
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11A: "24. A.M. cupfuls"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OJS
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12A: "26. Band at a Jimmy Buffett concert?"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that flower arrangement consisting of a circular band of foliage or flowers for ornamental purposes
- Similar words include: chaplet, leu, coronal
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LEI
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13A: "28. "America's Largest Classroom""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a solution containing a phosphate buffer
- Similar words include: PB, Pb, atomic number 82
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PBS
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14A: "29. Cinch"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the act of catching an object with the hands
- Similar words include: snarl, cracking, lose it
- Opposite of: inelasticity
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SNAP
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15A: "30. With whom one pools pounds for quarters"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an associate who shares an apartment with you
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FLATMATE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
16A: "33. Copy"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a person who is almost identical to another
- Similar words include: ringer, clon, knockoff
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CLONE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
17A: "34. Count to 10, perhaps"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: COOLOFF
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18A: "35. Opposite of proud"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that feeling shame or guilt or embarrassment or remorse
- Opposite of: unashamed
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ASHAMED
Remember this word for future puzzles!
19A: "37. Get past a paywall, say"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LOGIN
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20A: "38. Boundaries between areas with different amounts of coverage"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TANLINES
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21A: "40. Healing agent"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that succulent plants having rosettes of leaves usually with fiber like hemp and spikes of showy flowers; found chiefly in africa
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ALOE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
22A: "41. Hardly worth mentioning"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MEH
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23A: "42. Counterpoint segue"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that up to the present time
- Similar words include: all the same, nonetheless, so far
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: YET
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24A: "43. One who's left at the polls, informally?"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DEM
Remember this word for future puzzles!
25A: "44. Bobby ___, first recipient of the Best New Artist Grammy Award (1960)"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DARIN
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26A: "46. Plague that precedes lice in Exodus"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that any of various tailless stout-bodied amphibians with long hind limbs for leaping; semiaquatic and terrestrial species
- Similar words include: frog, anuran, batrachian
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FROGS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
27A: "50. "Let go of unrealistic expectations," e.g."
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DATINGTIP
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28A: "53. Fabled example of poor competition strategy"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that swift timid long-eared mammal larger than a rabbit having a divided upper lip and long hind legs; young born furred and with open eyes
- Similar words include: rabbit
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HARE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
29A: "54. Actress Amanda of "Easy A""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BYNES
Remember this word for future puzzles!
30A: "55. Penalty for exceeding a payroll threshold, in sports lingo"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LUXURYTAX
Remember this word for future puzzles!
31A: "57. Cartoonish bouncing sound"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BOINK
Remember this word for future puzzles!
32A: "58. "Hang on a sec""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ONEMOMENT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
33A: "59. They can help one get a leg up, informally"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that one of four children born at the same time from the same pregnancy
- Similar words include: quadriceps femoris, space, quadrangle
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: QUADS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
34A: "60. What all the buzz is about?"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: WASPNEST
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Down Clues - Complete List
| No. | Clue | Letters |
|---|---|---|
| 1D | 1. ___ days (times past) | 5 |
| 2D | 2. Emma ___, protagonist of "A Woman of Substance" | 5 |
| 3D | 3. "Don't believe one word of that!" | 10 |
| 4D | 4. "I'm afraid not, laddie" | 3 |
| 5D | 5. Actress Sedgwick | 4 |
| 6D | 6. Word with comb or towel | 5 |
| 7D | 7. "Your offer is too good to refuse" | 7 |
| 8D | 8. Minestrone morsel | 9 |
| 9D | 9. Dwelling for clergy | 5 |
| 10D | 10. "The most beautiful river on earth," per Thomas Jefferson | 4 |
| 11D | 11. One may sit near a bench marking time | 9 |
| 12D | 12. Strap-and-buckle shoes named for a comic strip character who wore them | 9 |
| 13D | 13. Bother | 3 |
| 14D | 14. Beat but good | 4 |
| 15D | 20. Daughter of one's 9-Across | 3 |
| 16D | 22. Firmly committed to | 5 |
| 17D | 25. Beat a map app's arrival time estimate, say | 4 |
| 18D | 27. Global fiscal policy org. | 3 |
| 19D | 29. Poetic device with inexact sound-alikes | 10 |
| 20D | 30. "Ha! Betcha didn't see that coming!" | 9 |
| 21D | 31. Abnormal talkativeness | 9 |
| 22D | 32. Lingering aura of success | 9 |
| 23D | 33. Most important | 5 |
| 24D | 34. "Thou art fairer than the evening air ___ in the beauty of a thousand stars": Marlowe | 4 |
| 25D | 36. Said with a wink, say | 3 |
| 26D | 39. Reddish fish sometimes served tartare | 7 |
| 27D | 41. "Dang!" | 3 |
| 28D | 44. Pieces in the game Othello | 5 |
| 29D | 45. Scraps | 5 |
| 30D | 47. Writer of the story "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?" | 5 |
| 31D | 48. Funds for research | 5 |
| 32D | 49. Cellphone hot line? | 4 |
| 33D | 51. Care for | 4 |
| 34D | 52. Remedy for deflation | 4 |
| 35D | 54. Kind of joint associated with smoking, informally | 3 |
| 36D | 56. Pulitzer-winning biographer Chernow | 3 |
Down Clues - Strategic Hints
1D: "1. ___ days (times past)"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: THOSE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
2D: "2. Emma ___, protagonist of "A Woman of Substance""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that united states writer noted for his stories about life during the california gold rush (1836-1902)
- Similar words include: Bret Harte
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HARTE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
3D: "3. "Don't believe one word of that!""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ITSALLALIE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
4D: "4. "I'm afraid not, laddie""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NAE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
5D: "5. Actress Sedgwick"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: KYRA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
6D: "6. Word with comb or towel"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an area of sand sloping down to the water of a sea or lake
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BEACH
Remember this word for future puzzles!
7D: "7. "Your offer is too good to refuse""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: IACCEPT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
8D: "8. Minestrone morsel"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GREENBEAN
Remember this word for future puzzles!
9D: "9. Dwelling for clergy"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a large and imposing house
- Similar words include: mansion, mansion house, residence
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MANSE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
10D: "10. "The most beautiful river on earth," per Thomas Jefferson"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a midwestern state in north central united states in the great lakes region
- Similar words include: Buckeye State, Ohio River, OH
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OHIO
Remember this word for future puzzles!
11D: "11. One may sit near a bench marking time"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that clicking pendulum indicates the exact tempo of a piece of music
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: METRONOME
Remember this word for future puzzles!
12D: "12. Strap-and-buckle shoes named for a comic strip character who wore them"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MARYJANES
Remember this word for future puzzles!
13D: "13. Bother"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a rapid active commotion
- Similar words include: hustle, bustle, flurry
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ADO
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14D: "14. Beat but good"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: WHUP
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15D: "20. Daughter of one's 9-Across"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a female person who has the same parents as another person
- Similar words include: International System, Systeme International d'Unites, silicon
- Opposite of: brother
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SIS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
16D: "22. Firmly committed to"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that united states religious leader who was the first person born in the united states to be canonized (1774-1821)
- Similar words include: Mother Seton, Saint Elizabeth Ann Bayley Seton, Elizabeth Seton
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SETON
Remember this word for future puzzles!
17D: "25. Beat a map app's arrival time estimate, say"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that move faster
- Similar words include: step on it, race, belt along
- Opposite of: decelerate, linger
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SPED
Remember this word for future puzzles!
18D: "27. Global fiscal policy org."
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a united nations agency to promote trade by increasing the exchange stability of the major currencies
- Similar words include: International Monetary Fund
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: IMF
Remember this word for future puzzles!
19D: "29. Poetic device with inexact sound-alikes"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SLANTRHYME
Remember this word for future puzzles!
20D: "30. "Ha! Betcha didn't see that coming!""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FOOLEDYOU
Remember this word for future puzzles!
21D: "31. Abnormal talkativeness"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that pathologically excessive (and often incoherent) talking
- Similar words include: logorrhea
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LOGOMANIA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
22D: "32. Lingering aura of success"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a glow sometimes seen in the sky after sunset
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AFTERGLOW
Remember this word for future puzzles!
23D: "33. Most important"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a person who is in charge
- Similar words include: top dog, master, headman
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CHIEF
Remember this word for future puzzles!
24D: "34. "Thou art fairer than the evening air ___ in the beauty of a thousand stars": Marlowe"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that provide with clothes or put clothes on
- Similar words include: robe, garment, drape
- Opposite of: undress, unclothed
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CLAD
Remember this word for future puzzles!
25D: "36. Said with a wink, say"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that marked by skill in deception
- Similar words include: cunning, slick, guileful
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SLY
Remember this word for future puzzles!
26D: "39. Reddish fish sometimes served tartare"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AHITUNA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
27D: "41. "Dang!""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
- Similar words include: humanity, world, mankind
- Opposite of: civilian, woman
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MAN
Remember this word for future puzzles!
28D: "44. Pieces in the game Othello"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that something with a round shape resembling a flat circular plate
- Similar words include: saucer, record, harrow
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DISKS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
29D: "45. Scraps"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a quantity of no importance
- Similar words include: zilch, nada, nix
- Opposite of: permit, allow
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NIXES
Remember this word for future puzzles!
30D: "47. Writer of the story "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that english conspirator who claimed that there was a jesuit plot to assassinate charles ii (1649-1705)
- Similar words include: Joyce Carol Oates, Titus Oates
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OATES
Remember this word for future puzzles!
31D: "48. Funds for research"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that any monetary aid
- Similar words include: accord, concede, deed over
- Opposite of: deny
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GRANT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
32D: "49. Cellphone hot line?"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the fourth of the seven canonical hours; about noon
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SEXT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
33D: "51. Care for"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that have a tendency or disposition to do or be something; be inclined
- Similar words include: incline, be given, lean
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TEND
Remember this word for future puzzles!
34D: "52. Remedy for deflation"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a mechanical device that moves fluid or gas by pressure or suction
- Similar words include: ticker, heart
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PUMP
Remember this word for future puzzles!
35D: "54. Kind of joint associated with smoking, informally"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BBQ
Remember this word for future puzzles!
36D: "56. Pulitzer-winning biographer Chernow"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a chadic language spoken in northern nigeria
- Similar words include: Bokkos, Daffo
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RON
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
34 Across Clues
36 Down Clues
70 Total Clues
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