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 (34 clues)
- Down Clues - Detailed Hints
- Expert Solving Strategies
- Today's Puzzle Statistics
Today's Puzzle Difficulty: Moderate
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. Surname of two Indian prime ministers | 6 |
| 2A | 7. Fly-by-night types? | 4 |
| 3A | 11. Go (for) | 3 |
| 4A | 14. Drew Carey, Halle Berry or Guy Fieri, originally | 6 |
| 5A | 15. Baroque instrument | 4 |
| 6A | 16. Long-handled gardening tool or immoral pleasure seeker, per contestant Ken Jennings on "Jeopardy!" (incorrectly) | 3 |
| 7A | 17. Walking-around money for Pavarotti? | 11 |
| 8A | 19. Veto | 3 |
| 9A | 20. Whistling stickup man on "The Wire" | 4 |
| 10A | 21. Cry of frustration | 5 |
| 11A | 22. McGwire's rival in 1990s M.L.B. | 4 |
| 12A | 23. Hajj destination | 5 |
| 13A | 25. Baseball team formerly known as the Colt .45s | 6 |
| 14A | 27. Preacher's gift? | 13 |
| 15A | 29. Fly catcher? | 4 |
| 16A | 30. Kind of a drag? | 4 |
| 17A | 31. Parrot | 3 |
| 18A | 32. Perceptive | 7 |
| 19A | 35. Icy passage to Antarctica's McMurdo Station | 7 |
| 20A | 37. Get ___ (shine scholastically) | 3 |
| 21A | 38. Muscle exercised with a shoulder press, familiarly | 4 |
| 22A | 40. Billionaire Musk | 4 |
| 23A | 41. 5 and 8 go into 42, for example? | 13 |
| 24A | 45. Fan of "I" statements | 6 |
| 25A | 46. Dissect with a diagram | 5 |
| 26A | 47. "___, actually ..." | 4 |
| 27A | 48. Start of many first-year course names | 5 |
| 28A | 50. Lawman who got out of Dodge | 4 |
| 29A | 54. 60 minuti | 3 |
| 30A | 55. Local leader is prohibited? | 11 |
| 31A | 57. Clear | 3 |
| 32A | 58. Bum around Europe | 4 |
| 33A | 59. Intentional creases | 6 |
| 34A | 60. Org. targeting Walter White on "Breaking Bad" | 3 |
| 35A | 61. Changes the locks? | 4 |
| 36A | 62. Acted all crabby? | 6 |
Across Clues - Strategic Hints
1A: "1. Surname of two Indian prime ministers"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that daughter of nehru who served as prime minister of india from 1966 to 1977 (1917-1984)
- Similar words include: Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, Mahatma Gandhi, Indira Gandhi
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GANDHI
Remember this word for future puzzles!
2A: "7. Fly-by-night types?"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that nocturnal bird of prey with hawk-like beak and claws and large head with front-facing eyes
- Similar words include: owl, bird of night, hooter
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OWLS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
3A: "11. Go (for)"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that select as an alternative over another
- Similar words include: choose, prefer
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OPT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
4A: "14. Drew Carey, Halle Berry or Guy Fieri, originally"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a native or resident of ohio
- Similar words include: Buckeye
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OHIOAN
Remember this word for future puzzles!
5A: "15. Baroque instrument"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that any of a family of bowed stringed instruments that preceded the violin family
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: VIOL
Remember this word for future puzzles!
6A: "16. Long-handled gardening tool or immoral pleasure seeker, per contestant Ken Jennings on "Jeopardy!" (incorrectly)"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a tool with a flat blade attached at right angles to a long handle
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HOE
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7A: "17. Walking-around money for Pavarotti?"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TENORTWENTY
Remember this word for future puzzles!
8A: "19. Veto"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a quantity of no importance
- Similar words include: disallow, zero, aught
- Opposite of: permit, allow
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NIX
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9A: "20. Whistling stickup man on "The Wire""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OMAR
Remember this word for future puzzles!
10A: "21. Cry of frustration"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AARGH
Remember this word for future puzzles!
11A: "22. McGwire's rival in 1990s M.L.B."
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SOSA
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12A: "23. Hajj destination"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that joint capital (with riyadh) of saudi arabia; located in western saudi arabia; as the birthplace of muhammad it is the holiest city of islam
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MECCA
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13A: "25. Baseball team formerly known as the Colt .45s"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ASTROS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
14A: "27. Preacher's gift?"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PASTORPRESENT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
15A: "29. Fly catcher?"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
- Similar words include: glove, manus, hand
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MITT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
16A: "30. Kind of a drag?"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that any very large body of (salt) water
- Similar words include: independent, principal, master
- Opposite of: dependent
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MAIN
Remember this word for future puzzles!
17A: "31. Parrot"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that any of various primates with short tails or no tail at all
- Similar words include: anthropoid, aper, caricature
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: APE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
18A: "32. Perceptive"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that having physical sensation
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SENSATE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
19A: "35. Icy passage to Antarctica's McMurdo Station"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ROSSSEA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
20A: "37. Get ___ (shine scholastically)"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that mother of the ancient irish gods; sometimes identified with danu
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ANA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
21A: "38. Muscle exercised with a shoulder press, familiarly"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DELT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
22A: "40. Billionaire Musk"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ELON
Remember this word for future puzzles!
23A: "41. 5 and 8 go into 42, for example?"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FACTORFICTION
Remember this word for future puzzles!
24A: "45. Fan of "I" statements"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a conceited and self-centered person
- Similar words include: egocentric, egotist, swellhead
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EGOIST
Remember this word for future puzzles!
25A: "46. Dissect with a diagram"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that analyze syntactically by assigning a constituent structure to (a sentence)
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PARSE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
26A: "47. "___, actually ...""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a deep hole or shaft dug or drilled to obtain water or oil or gas or brine
- Similar words include: comfortably, considerably, intimately
- Opposite of: badly, disadvantageously
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: WELL
Remember this word for future puzzles!
27A: "48. Start of many first-year course names"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that formally making a person known to another or to the public
- Similar words include: introduction, presentation
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: INTRO
Remember this word for future puzzles!
28A: "50. Lawman who got out of Dodge"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EARP
Remember this word for future puzzles!
29A: "54. 60 minuti"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a mouth or mouthlike opening
- Similar words include: operating system, atomic number 76, OS
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ORA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
30A: "55. Local leader is prohibited?"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MAYORMAYNOT
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31A: "57. Clear"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that relieve from
- Similar words include: free, disembarrass
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RID
Remember this word for future puzzles!
32A: "58. Bum around Europe"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the fleshy part of the human body that you sit on
- Similar words include: keister, butt, asshole
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ARSE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
33A: "59. Intentional creases"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that any of various types of fold formed by doubling fabric back upon itself and then pressing or stitching into shape
- Similar words include: pleat, ruffle, plicate
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PLEATS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
34A: "60. Org. targeting Walter White on "Breaking Bad""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that federal agency responsible for enforcing laws and regulations governing narcotics and controlled substances; goal is to immobilize drug trafficking organizations
- Similar words include: Drug Enforcement Administration, Drug Enforcement Agency
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DEA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
35A: "61. Changes the locks?"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a usually soluble substance for staining or coloring e.g. fabrics or hair
- Similar words include: dye, dyestuff
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DYES
Remember this word for future puzzles!
36A: "62. Acted all crabby?"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that move unobtrusively or furtively
- Similar words include: sidle, sashay
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SIDLED
Remember this word for future puzzles!
Down Clues - Complete List
| No. | Clue | Letters |
|---|---|---|
| 1D | 1. Programming statement that can result in spaghetti code | 4 |
| 2D | 2. [Excuse me] | 4 |
| 3D | 3. Totenberg of public radio | 4 |
| 4D | 4. People who get walked all over | 8 |
| 5D | 5. Bit of a laugh | 3 |
| 6D | 6. Not separated | 6 |
| 7D | 7. Throwing style | 7 |
| 8D | 8. Bit of a lark | 4 |
| 9D | 9. Lady-killer | 8 |
| 10D | 10. Machiavellian, in a way | 3 |
| 11D | 11. Answer to "Why's your report card in the trash?" | 10 |
| 12D | 12. Written with venom | 9 |
| 13D | 13. Oil, they say | 8 |
| 14D | 18. Birthplace of Dr Pepper | 4 |
| 15D | 22. Fremont and Folsom in S.F., for two | 3 |
| 16D | 24. México's Tabasco, Jalisco and others | 7 |
| 17D | 26. Guardians of bushido tradition | 7 |
| 18D | 27. National drink of Puerto Rico | 10 |
| 19D | 28. Two, for many a putt-putt hole | 3 |
| 20D | 29. It's a zoo out there | 9 |
| 21D | 32. Blue stop sign? | 8 |
| 22D | 33. Third in order | 8 |
| 23D | 34. Resident of Rivendell, in Tolkien | 3 |
| 24D | 36. Dark and sultry, like a femme fatale's gaze | 8 |
| 25D | 39. Comes on little cat feet | 7 |
| 26D | 42. "___ death do us part" | 3 |
| 27D | 43. Comedian Jimmy | 4 |
| 28D | 44. Opposite of 39-Down | 6 |
| 29D | 49. Where to look if you're looking for LUV (i.e., Southwest Airlines) | 4 |
| 30D | 51. Fussbudgety, say | 4 |
| 31D | 52. Mindless repetition | 4 |
| 32D | 53. Affliction for many first responders, in brief | 4 |
| 33D | 55. "Spy vs. Spy" magazine | 3 |
| 34D | 56. Who said "I'm so mean I make medicine sick" | 3 |
Down Clues - Strategic Hints
1D: "1. Programming statement that can result in spaghetti code"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GOTO
Remember this word for future puzzles!
2D: "2. [Excuse me]"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the utterance of a sound similar to clearing the throat; intended to get attention, express hesitancy, fill a pause, hide embarrassment, warn a friend, etc.
- Similar words include: hem
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AHEM
Remember this word for future puzzles!
3D: "3. Totenberg of public radio"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the babylonian goddess of the watery deep and daughter of ea
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NINA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
4D: "4. People who get walked all over"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a person who is physically weak and ineffectual
- Similar words include: welcome mat, doormat, wuss
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DOORMATS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
5D: "5. Bit of a laugh"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HAR
Remember this word for future puzzles!
6D: "6. Not separated"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that constituting the undiminished entirety; lacking nothing essential especially not damaged; - bacon
- Similar words include: inviolate, entire, integral
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: INTACT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
7D: "7. Throwing style"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that with hand brought forward and down from above shoulder level
- Similar words include: overhand, overhanded
- Opposite of: underhand
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OVERARM
Remember this word for future puzzles!
8D: "8. Bit of a lark"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a movable organ for flying (one of a pair)
- Similar words include: extension, annex, flank
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: WING
Remember this word for future puzzles!
9D: "9. Lady-killer"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a successful womanizer; a man who behaves selfishly in his sexual relationships with women
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LOTHARIO
Remember this word for future puzzles!
10D: "10. Machiavellian, in a way"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that marked by skill in deception
- Similar words include: wily, dodgy, slick
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SLY
Remember this word for future puzzles!
11D: "11. Answer to "Why's your report card in the trash?""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OHNOREASON
Remember this word for future puzzles!
12D: "12. Written with venom"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: POISONPEN
Remember this word for future puzzles!
13D: "13. Oil, they say"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TEXASTEA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
14D: "18. Birthplace of Dr Pepper"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a city in east central texas
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: WACO
Remember this word for future puzzles!
15D: "22. Fremont and Folsom in S.F., for two"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: STS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
16D: "24. México's Tabasco, Jalisco and others"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ESTADOS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
17D: "26. Guardians of bushido tradition"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SENSEIS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
18D: "27. National drink of Puerto Rico"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PINACOLADA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
19D: "28. Two, for many a putt-putt hole"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that (golf) the standard number of strokes set for each hole on a golf course, or for the entire course
- Similar words include: equality, equivalence, equation
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PAR
Remember this word for future puzzles!
20D: "29. It's a zoo out there"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a collection of live animals for study or display
- Similar words include: zoological garden, zoo
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MENAGERIE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
21D: "32. Blue stop sign?"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SAFEWORD
Remember this word for future puzzles!
22D: "33. Third in order"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that from 63 million to 2 million years ago
- Similar words include: Tertiary period, 3rd, third
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TERTIARY
Remember this word for future puzzles!
23D: "34. Resident of Rivendell, in Tolkien"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that (folklore) fairies that are somewhat mischievous
- Similar words include: pixie, gremlin, pixy
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ELF
Remember this word for future puzzles!
24D: "36. Dark and sultry, like a femme fatale's gaze"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SLOEEYED
Remember this word for future puzzles!
25D: "39. Comes on little cat feet"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the tip of a toe
- Similar words include: tip, tippytoe, tiptoe
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TIPTOES
Remember this word for future puzzles!
26D: "42. "___ death do us part""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TIL
Remember this word for future puzzles!
27D: "43. Comedian Jimmy"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CARR
Remember this word for future puzzles!
28D: "44. Opposite of 39-Down"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TROMPS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
29D: "49. Where to look if you're looking for LUV (i.e., Southwest Airlines)"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a stock exchange in new york
- Similar words include: New York Stock Exchange, N. Y. Stock Exchange, big board
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NYSE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
30D: "51. Fussbudgety, say"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that of or related to the anus
- Similar words include: anal retentive
- Opposite of: oral
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ANAL
Remember this word for future puzzles!
31D: "52. Mindless repetition"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that memorization by repetition
- Similar words include: rote learning
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ROTE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
32D: "53. Affliction for many first responders, in brief"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an anxiety disorder associated with serious traumatic events and characterized by such symptoms as survivor guilt, reliving the trauma in dreams, numbness and lack of involvement with reality, or recurrent thoughts and images
- Similar words include: posttraumatic stress disorder
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PTSD
Remember this word for future puzzles!
33D: "55. "Spy vs. Spy" magazine"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that roused to anger; - mark twain
- Similar words include: insane, huffy, disturbed
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MAD
Remember this word for future puzzles!
34D: "56. Who said "I'm so mean I make medicine sick""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that united states prizefighter who won the world heavyweight championship three times (born in 1942)
- Similar words include: Cassius Marcellus Clay, Muhammad Ali, Cassius Clay
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ALI
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
34 Down Clues
70 Total Clues
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