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 (37 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. Apex | 4 |
| 2A | 5. Curry ingredient | 5 |
| 3A | 10. Hay unit | 4 |
| 4A | 14. Robert Frost creation | 4 |
| 5A | 15. Grilled, at a taqueria | 5 |
| 6A | 16. Mined metals | 4 |
| 7A | 17. Criminals' sphere | 10 |
| 8A | 19. Have a hankering for | 4 |
| 9A | 20. Floral Van Gogh subject | 4 |
| 10A | 21. Latin gods | 3 |
| 11A | 22. Enemy | 3 |
| 12A | 23. End of the Greek alphabet | 5 |
| 13A | 25. Tsunami | 9 |
| 14A | 28. Common motive in a murder case | 7 |
| 15A | 30. Follower of latch or catch | 4 |
| 16A | 31. Nashville honor, briefly | 3 |
| 17A | 32. Oft-torn knee part, in brief | 3 |
| 18A | 34. Confederate soldier, informally | 3 |
| 19A | 35. Any foreseeable difficulty ... with a hint to 17-, 25-, 50- and 60-Across | 15 |
| 20A | 42. Clerical vestment | 3 |
| 21A | 43. Writer Edgar Allan ___ | 3 |
| 22A | 44. She, in Portuguese | 3 |
| 23A | 45. Zing ___ (brand of Bloody Mary mix) | 4 |
| 24A | 47. Zoomed past | 7 |
| 25A | 50. Stop in the afterlife | 9 |
| 26A | 54. Fill in for | 5 |
| 27A | 55. Fury | 3 |
| 28A | 56. Source of fleece | 3 |
| 29A | 57. Jazz great Fitzgerald | 4 |
| 30A | 58. White part of an orange | 4 |
| 31A | 60. Natural wonder in Venezuela | 10 |
| 32A | 64. Sound in a cavernous empty room | 4 |
| 33A | 65. Arctic creatures with flippers | 5 |
| 34A | 66. International retailer with a three-syllable name | 4 |
| 35A | 67. Dance whose name is also a hairstyle | 4 |
| 36A | 68. Golfer Els | 5 |
| 37A | 69. Letters on an invitation | 4 |
Across Clues - Strategic Hints
1A: "1. Apex"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the highest level or degree attainable; the highest stage of development
- Similar words include: summit, height, top
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ACME
Remember this word for future puzzles!
2A: "5. Curry ingredient"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that dwarf mediterranean annual long cultivated for its aromatic seeds
- Similar words include: cumin seed, Cuminum cyminum
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CUMIN
Remember this word for future puzzles!
3A: "10. Hay unit"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a large bundle bound for storage or transport
- Similar words include: Basle, Basel
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BALE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
4A: "14. Robert Frost creation"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a composition written in metrical feet forming rhythmical lines
- Similar words include: verse form
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: POEM
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5A: "15. Grilled, at a taqueria"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ASADA
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6A: "16. Mined metals"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a mineral that contains metal that is valuable enough to be mined
- Similar words include: ore
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ORES
Remember this word for future puzzles!
7A: "17. Criminals' sphere"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the criminal class
- Similar words include: infernal region, Hades, netherworld
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: UNDERWORLD
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8A: "19. Have a hankering for"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a state of extreme poverty
- Similar words include: desire, deficiency, require
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: WANT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
9A: "20. Floral Van Gogh subject"
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
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10A: "21. Latin gods"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DEI
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11A: "22. Enemy"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an armed adversary (especially a member of an opposing military force)
- Similar words include: enemy, foeman, opposition
- Opposite of: friend
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FOE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
12A: "23. End of the Greek alphabet"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the ending of a series or sequence; --revelation
- Similar words include: Z
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OMEGA
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13A: "25. Tsunami"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TIDALWAVE
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14A: "28. Common motive in a murder case"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that action taken in return for an injury or offense
- Similar words include: avenge, retaliate, retaliation
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: REVENGE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
15A: "30. Follower of latch or catch"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ONTO
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16A: "31. Nashville honor, briefly"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CMA
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17A: "32. Oft-torn knee part, in brief"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ACL
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18A: "34. Confederate soldier, informally"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that `johnny' was applied as a nickname for confederate soldiers by the federal soldiers in the american civil war; `greyback' derived from their grey confederate uniforms
- Similar words include: Johnny Reb, Rebel, Johnny
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: REB
Remember this word for future puzzles!
19A: "35. Any foreseeable difficulty ... with a hint to 17-, 25-, 50- and 60-Across"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HELLORHIGHWATER
Remember this word for future puzzles!
20A: "42. Clerical vestment"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a white linen liturgical vestment with sleeves; worn by priests
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ALB
Remember this word for future puzzles!
21A: "43. Writer Edgar Allan ___"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that united states writer and poet (1809-1849)
- Similar words include: Edgar Allan Poe
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: POE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
22A: "44. She, in Portuguese"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an extreme leftist terrorist group formed in greece in 1971 to oppose the military junta that ruled greece from 1967 to 1974; a revolutionary group opposed to capitalism and imperialism and the united states
- Similar words include: Revolutionary People's Struggle
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ELA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
23A: "45. Zing ___ (brand of Bloody Mary mix)"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ZANG
Remember this word for future puzzles!
24A: "47. Zoomed past"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RACEDBY
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25A: "50. Stop in the afterlife"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a temporary condition of torment or suffering
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PURGATORY
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26A: "54. Fill in for"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ACTAS
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27A: "55. Fury"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a strong emotion; a feeling that is oriented toward some real or supposed grievance
- Similar words include: ira, anger, wrath
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: IRE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
28A: "56. Source of fleece"
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!)
Answer: EWE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
29A: "57. Jazz great Fitzgerald"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ELLA
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30A: "58. White part of an orange"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that soft spongelike central cylinder of the stems of most flowering plants
- Similar words include: core, marrow, substance
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PITH
Remember this word for future puzzles!
31A: "60. Natural wonder in Venezuela"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ANGELFALLS
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32A: "64. Sound in a cavernous empty room"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the repetition of a sound resulting from reflection of the sound waves
- Similar words include: reverberation, replication, resound
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ECHO
Remember this word for future puzzles!
33A: "65. Arctic creatures with flippers"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that fastener consisting of a resinous composition that is plastic when warm; used for sealing documents and parcels and letters
- Similar words include: seal off, stamp, sealing wax
- Opposite of: unseal
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SEALS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
34A: "66. International retailer with a three-syllable name"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: IKEA
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35A: "67. Dance whose name is also a hairstyle"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a strong coarse tobacco that has been shredded
- Similar words include: nooky, fucking, piece of tail
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SHAG
Remember this word for future puzzles!
36A: "68. Golfer Els"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ERNIE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
37A: "69. Letters on an invitation"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RSVP
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Down Clues - Complete List
| No. | Clue | Letters |
|---|---|---|
| 1D | 1. Storekeeper on "The Simpsons" | 3 |
| 2D | 2. Trick | 3 |
| 3D | 3. Like the period known as the Middle Ages | 8 |
| 4D | 4. Leave the cocoon | 6 |
| 5D | 5. Sparrows : cheeps :: crows : ___ | 4 |
| 6D | 6. Grp. that entertains troops | 3 |
| 7D | 7. Tuesday, in Lyon | 5 |
| 8D | 8. Sat at a red light | 5 |
| 9D | 9. Gymnast Comaneci | 5 |
| 10D | 10. Cousin of a curtsy | 3 |
| 11D | 11. Yasir of the P.L.O. | 6 |
| 12D | 12. Chinese computer giant | 6 |
| 13D | 13. Lauder of cosmetics | 5 |
| 14D | 18. "Knives Out" director Johnson | 4 |
| 15D | 23. Philharmonic grp. | 4 |
| 16D | 24. Many a viral post | 4 |
| 17D | 25. Word after Georgia, Virginia or low | 4 |
| 18D | 26. Big name in movie theaters | 4 |
| 19D | 27. Caitlin Clark's league | 4 |
| 20D | 29. Apparel | 4 |
| 21D | 33. Place for gloss | 3 |
| 22D | 34. Actress Perlman of "Cheers" | 4 |
| 23D | 36. "Auld ___ Syne" | 4 |
| 24D | 37. "Three Sisters" sister | 4 |
| 25D | 38. Like many horror flicks | 4 |
| 26D | 39. Presentations with an 18-minute limit | 8 |
| 27D | 40. Actor Idris | 4 |
| 28D | 41. Tampa Bay players | 4 |
| 29D | 45. Financial center of Switzerland | 6 |
| 30D | 46. Franklin who sang "Chain of Fools" | 6 |
| 31D | 48. Baby bovine | 4 |
| 32D | 49. Filled pastry | 6 |
| 33D | 50. Plumbing conduits | 5 |
| 34D | 51. Needle mischievously | 5 |
| 35D | 52. Renter's counterpart | 5 |
| 36D | 53. Daughter of King Lear | 5 |
| 37D | 57. Coder's counterpart to "if" | 4 |
| 38D | 59. Non-sharer | 3 |
| 39D | 61. One of football's Mannings | 3 |
| 40D | 62. "The Magicians" novelist Grossman | 3 |
| 41D | 63. Maple syrup base | 3 |
Down Clues - Strategic Hints
1D: "1. Storekeeper on "The Simpsons""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: APU
Remember this word for future puzzles!
2D: "2. Trick"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an argument opposed to a proposal
- Similar words include: defraud, swindle, sting
- Opposite of: pro
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CON
Remember this word for future puzzles!
3D: "3. Like the period known as the Middle Ages"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that relating to or belonging to the middle ages
- Similar words include: mediaeval, chivalric, knightly
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MEDIEVAL
Remember this word for future puzzles!
4D: "4. Leave the cocoon"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that come out into view, as from concealment
- Similar words include: go forth, egress, issue
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EMERGE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
5D: "5. Sparrows : cheeps :: crows : ___"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the sound made by corvine birds
- Similar words include: caw
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CAWS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
6D: "6. Grp. that entertains troops"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: USO
Remember this word for future puzzles!
7D: "7. Tuesday, in Lyon"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MARDI
Remember this word for future puzzles!
8D: "8. Sat at a red light"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that run disconnected or idle
- Similar words include: stagnate, slug, laze
- Opposite of: run, work
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: IDLED
Remember this word for future puzzles!
9D: "9. Gymnast Comaneci"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NADIA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
10D: "10. Cousin of a curtsy"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a knot with two loops and loose ends; used to tie shoelaces
- Similar words include: curtain call, bow down, obeisance
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BOW
Remember this word for future puzzles!
11D: "11. Yasir of the P.L.O."
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that palestinian statesman who was chairman of the palestine liberation organization (1929-2004)
- Similar words include: Yasser Arafat
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ARAFAT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
12D: "12. Chinese computer giant"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LENOVO
Remember this word for future puzzles!
13D: "13. Lauder of cosmetics"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ESTEE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
14D: "18. "Knives Out" director Johnson"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RIAN
Remember this word for future puzzles!
15D: "23. Philharmonic grp."
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ORCH
Remember this word for future puzzles!
16D: "24. Many a viral post"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a cultural unit (an idea or value or pattern of behavior) that is passed from one person to another by non-genetic means (as by imitation)
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MEME
Remember this word for future puzzles!
17D: "25. Word after Georgia, Virginia or low"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a school teaching mechanical and industrial arts and the applied sciences
- Similar words include: technical school
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TECH
Remember this word for future puzzles!
18D: "26. Big name in movie theaters"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LOEW
Remember this word for future puzzles!
19D: "27. Caitlin Clark's league"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: WNBA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
20D: "29. Apparel"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that clothing of a distinctive style or for a particular occasion
- Similar words include: tog, habilitate, clothe
- Opposite of: undress
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GARB
Remember this word for future puzzles!
21D: "33. Place for gloss"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking
- Similar words include: sassing, brim, backtalk
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LIP
Remember this word for future puzzles!
22D: "34. Actress Perlman of "Cheers""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that fertility goddess in ancient greek mythology; wife of cronus and mother of zeus; identified with roman ops and cybele of ancient asia minor
- Similar words include: Rhea americana, Pterocnemia pennata, nandu
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RHEA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
23D: "36. "Auld ___ Syne""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LANG
Remember this word for future puzzles!
24D: "37. "Three Sisters" sister"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OLGA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
25D: "38. Like many horror flicks"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that covered with blood
- Similar words include: sanguineous, butcherly, bloodstained
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GORY
Remember this word for future puzzles!
26D: "39. Presentations with an 18-minute limit"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TEDTALKS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
27D: "40. Actor Idris"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ELBA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
28D: "41. Tampa Bay players"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a column of light (as from a beacon)
- Similar words include: ray, radiate, re
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RAYS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
29D: "45. Financial center of Switzerland"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the largest city in switzerland; located in the northern part of the country
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ZURICH
Remember this word for future puzzles!
30D: "46. Franklin who sang "Chain of Fools""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ARETHA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
31D: "48. Baby bovine"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that young of domestic cattle
- Similar words include: sura, calfskin
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CALF
Remember this word for future puzzles!
32D: "49. Filled pastry"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that oblong cream puff
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ECLAIR
Remember this word for future puzzles!
33D: "50. Plumbing conduits"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a tube with a small bowl at one end; used for smoking tobacco
- Similar words include: shoot, pip, mop up
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PIPES
Remember this word for future puzzles!
34D: "51. Needle mischievously"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that someone given to teasing (as by mocking or stirring curiosity)
- Similar words include: tantalize, flirt, loosen
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TEASE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
35D: "52. Renter's counterpart"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that (law) someone who owns (is legal possessor of) a business
- Similar words include: possessor, proprietor
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OWNER
Remember this word for future puzzles!
36D: "53. Daughter of King Lear"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: REGAN
Remember this word for future puzzles!
37D: "57. Coder's counterpart to "if""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ELSE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
38D: "59. Non-sharer"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a person regarded as greedy and pig-like
- Similar words include: Sus scrofa, hogget, squealer
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HOG
Remember this word for future puzzles!
39D: "61. One of football's Mannings"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ELI
Remember this word for future puzzles!
40D: "62. "The Magicians" novelist Grossman"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the basic unit of money in bulgaria
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LEV
Remember this word for future puzzles!
41D: "63. Maple syrup base"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a watery solution of sugars, salts, and minerals that circulates through the vascular system of a plant
- Similar words include: play out, muggins, tire
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SAP
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
37 Across Clues
41 Down Clues
78 Total Clues
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