Search Clues

Showing posts sorted by date for query SHOPS. Sort by relevance Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by date for query SHOPS. Sort by relevance Show all posts

Tuesday, September 15, 2026

XWordHint Crossword Answers September 15, 2026 | Expert Breakdown & Tips

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: 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. Laffy ___, candy with a rhyming name 5
2A 6. Poker buy-in 4
3A 10. "The windows to the soul," metaphorically 4
4A 14. Frighten 5
5A 15. Villain's hideout 4
6A 16. American Girl toy 4
7A 17. Cringey ad campaign going viral, for example 10
8A 19. Madonna's "La ___ Bonita" 4
9A 20. Goes out with 4
10A 21. Piglet and Pooh's marsupial friend 3
11A 22. "Well, in that case ..." 6
12A 24. Clic Stic and Wite-Out brand 3
13A 26. Character at the heart of the "Who shot ...?" cliffhanger of 1980s TV 7
14A 27. Colombian cornmeal cake 5
15A 29. San José, ___ Rica 5
16A 30. Oculus Rift or Meta Quest 3 9
17A 32. Opposite of chaos 5
18A 36. Texter's "I think ..." 3
19A 37. Started a game of blackjack, say 5
20A 38. 18-wheeler 4
21A 39. Agrees nonverbally 4
22A 41. Red root vegetables 5
23A 44. Kind of rally at high school 3
24A 45. Put up, as a building 5
25A 47. Many characters on "The Pitt" 9
26A 49. "Quick!" 5
27A 51. Group holding a nominating convention 5
28A 52. Scannable squares often used in place of paper menus 7
29A 55. ___-Wan Kenobi 3
30A 56. Rang, as a bell 6
31A 57. Pooch's bark 3
32A 59. Paddington Bear's country of origin 4
33A 63. What a light bulb represents, in comics 4
34A 64. Puppet dragon of 1960s kids' TV 10
35A 67. Bottom-heavy fruit 4
36A 68. Britney Spears's "___! ... I Did It Again" 4
37A 69. Perform better than 5
38A 70. Daughters' brothers 4
39A 71. Exam 4
40A 72. French fries-to-be 5

Across Clues - Strategic Hints

1A: "1. Laffy ___, candy with a rhyming name"

5 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that chewy candy of sugar or syrup boiled until thick and pulled until glossy
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TAFFY

Remember this word for future puzzles!

2A: "6. Poker buy-in"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that (poker) the initial contribution that each player makes to the pot
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ANTE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

3A: "10. "The windows to the soul," metaphorically"

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that opinion or judgment
  • Similar words include: oculus, eye, eyeball
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EYES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

4A: "14. Frighten"

5 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that sudden mass fear and anxiety over anticipated events
  • Similar words include: frighten off, pall, scare off
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SCARE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

5A: "15. Villain's hideout"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the habitation of wild animals
  • Similar words include: den
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LAIR

Remember this word for future puzzles!

6A: "16. American Girl toy"

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a small replica of a person; used as a toy
  • Similar words include: dame, wench, chick
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DOLL

Remember this word for future puzzles!

7A: "17. Cringey ad campaign going viral, for example"

10 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PRDISASTER

Remember this word for future puzzles!

8A: "19. Madonna's "La ___ Bonita""

4 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ISLA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

9A: "20. Goes out with"

4 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the seat within a bishop's diocese where his cathedral is located
  • Similar words include: view, visit, escort
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SEES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

10A: "21. Piglet and Pooh's marsupial friend"

3 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ROO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

11A: "22. "Well, in that case ...""

6 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OKTHEN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

12A: "24. Clic Stic and Wite-Out brand"

3 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BIC

Remember this word for future puzzles!

13A: "26. Character at the heart of the "Who shot ...?" cliffhanger of 1980s TV"

7 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: JREWING

Remember this word for future puzzles!

14A: "27. Colombian cornmeal cake"

5 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AREPA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

15A: "29. San José, ___ Rica"

5 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a riblike part of a plant or animal (such as a middle rib of a leaf or a thickened vein of an insect wing)
  • Similar words include: rib
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: COSTA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

16A: "30. Oculus Rift or Meta Quest 3"

9 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: VRHEADSET

Remember this word for future puzzles!

17A: "32. Opposite of chaos"

5 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that (often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
  • Similar words include: ordination, edict, purchase order
  • Opposite of: deregulate, disorder
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ORDER

Remember this word for future puzzles!

18A: "36. Texter's "I think ...""

3 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the united nations agency concerned with international maritime activities
  • Similar words include: International Maritime Organization
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: IMO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

19A: "37. Started a game of blackjack, say"

5 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression
  • Similar words include: dispense, address, make out
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DEALT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

20A: "38. 18-wheeler"

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that one of the two competitions in the next to the last round of an elimination tournament
  • Similar words include: tractor trailer, trailer truck, trucking rig
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SEMI

Remember this word for future puzzles!

21A: "39. Agrees nonverbally"

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a sign of assent or salutation or command
  • Similar words include: nod
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NODS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

22A: "41. Red root vegetables"

5 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that biennial eurasian plant usually having a swollen edible root; widely cultivated as a food crop
  • Similar words include: Beta vulgaris, beet, beetroot
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BEETS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

23A: "44. Kind of rally at high school"

3 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that liveliness and energy
  • Similar words include: ginger, peppiness
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PEP

Remember this word for future puzzles!

24A: "45. Put up, as a building"

5 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that construct, build, or erect
  • Similar words include: raise, upright, vertical
  • Opposite of: level, unerect
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ERECT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

25A: "47. Many characters on "The Pitt""

9 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ERDOCTORS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

26A: "49. "Quick!""

5 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a condition of urgency making it necessary to hurry
  • Similar words include: rush, festinate, haste
  • Opposite of: delay
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HURRY

Remember this word for future puzzles!

27A: "51. Group holding a nominating convention"

5 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an organization to gain political power
  • Similar words include: political party, company
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PARTY

Remember this word for future puzzles!

28A: "52. Scannable squares often used in place of paper menus"

7 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: QRCODES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

29A: "55. ___-Wan Kenobi"

3 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that (west indies) followers of a religious system involving witchcraft and sorcery
  • Similar words include: obeah
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OBI

Remember this word for future puzzles!

30A: "56. Rang, as a bell"

6 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that ring slowly
  • Similar words include: toll
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TOLLED

Remember this word for future puzzles!

31A: "57. Pooch's bark"

3 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ARF

Remember this word for future puzzles!

32A: "59. Paddington Bear's country of origin"

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a republic in western south america; achieved independence from spain in 1821; was the heart of the inca empire from the 12th to 16th centuries
  • Similar words include: Republic of Peru
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PERU

Remember this word for future puzzles!

33A: "63. What a light bulb represents, in comics"

4 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
  • Similar words include: musical theme, mind, estimate
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: IDEA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

34A: "64. Puppet dragon of 1960s kids' TV"

10 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HRPUFNSTUF

Remember this word for future puzzles!

35A: "67. Bottom-heavy fruit"

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that sweet juicy gritty-textured fruit available in many varieties
  • Similar words include: Pyrus communis, pear tree
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PEAR

Remember this word for future puzzles!

36A: "68. Britney Spears's "___! ... I Did It Again""

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OOPS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

37A: "69. Perform better than"

5 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that be or do something to a greater degree
  • Similar words include: exceed, surmount, outgo
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OUTDO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

38A: "70. Daughters' brothers"

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a male human offspring
  • Similar words include: Logos, Son, Word
  • Opposite of: daughter, girl
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SONS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

39A: "71. Exam"

4 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that trying something to find out about it
  • Similar words include: tryout, try out, mental test
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TEST

Remember this word for future puzzles!

40A: "72. French fries-to-be"

5 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an edible tuber native to south america; a staple food of ireland
  • Similar words include: tater, bourgeon, sprout
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SPUDS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

Down Clues - Complete List

No. Clue Letters
1D 1. Cough syrup amts. 4
2D 2. Farmland measure 4
3D 3. Haircut that transitions from shorter sides to longer top 4
4D 4. Ultimate ___ (team sport) 7
5D 5. Word of consent 3
6D 6. Too 4
7D 7. Grp. with a phonetic alphabet 4
8D 8. Cause for overtime 3
9D 9. Screw-ups 6
10D 10. Conflicts over Wikipedia content 8
11D 11. Mario's dinosaur sidekick 5
12D 12. Actress Pompeo of "Grey's Anatomy" 5
13D 13. Vernacular found in Urban Dictionary 5
14D 18. Place for coin-op game machines 6
15D 23. Kind of high-fat diet 4
16D 25. Tablet with Pro, Air and mini versions 4
17D 26. Scribbled (down) 6
18D 27. Knight's wear 5
19D 28. The "R" in R.I. 5
20D 29. The "log" in "ants on a log" 6
21D 30. Trellis-climbing plant 4
22D 31. "Light" Jedi weapons 6
23D 33. Railroad station 5
24D 34. Manicurist's filing board 5
25D 35. Laces (into) 4
26D 40. Well-educated sorts 8
27D 42. Fill back to capacity, as a glass 6
28D 43. Healing cover 4
29D 46. "Lose the ___, dude!" 4
30D 48. Causes to make a mistake 7
31D 50. Bit of fiery cinnamon candy 6
32D 52. Cotton swabs not recommended for ear canal use 5
33D 53. Cowboy contest 5
34D 54. Fresh from the dishwasher 5
35D 57. Grindr and Tinder, for two 4
36D 58. Sign of decay 4
37D 60. "___, Brute?" 4
38D 61. "Ant-Man" star Paul 4
39D 62. Sights that make you go "What the ...?!" 4
40D 65. ___ v. Wade (1973 Supreme Court decision) 3
41D 66. Rejections 3

Down Clues - Strategic Hints

1D: "1. Cough syrup amts."

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TSPS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

2D: "2. Farmland measure"

4 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a unit of area (4840 square yards) used in english-speaking countries
  • Similar words include: Accho, Akko, Akka
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ACRE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

3D: "3. Haircut that transitions from shorter sides to longer top"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a golf shot that curves to the right for a right-handed golfer
  • Similar words include: slice, evanesce, languish
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FADE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

4D: "4. Ultimate ___ (team sport)"

7 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a light, plastic disk about 10 inches in diameter; propelled with a flip of the wrist for recreation or competition
  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FRISBEE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

5D: "5. Word of consent"

3 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an affirmative
  • Opposite of: no
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: YES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

6D: "6. Too"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that in addition
  • Similar words include: likewise, besides, too
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ALSO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

7D: "7. Grp. with a phonetic alphabet"

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an international organization created in 1949 by the north atlantic treaty for purposes of collective security
  • Similar words include: North Atlantic Treaty Organization
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NATO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

8D: "8. Cause for overtime"

3 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that neckwear consisting of a long narrow piece of material worn (mostly by men) under a collar and tied in knot at the front
  • Similar words include: attach, tie-in, crosstie
  • Opposite of: untie, disconnect
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TIE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

9D: "9. Screw-ups"

6 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a wrong action attributable to bad judgment or ignorance or inattention
  • Similar words include: wrongdoing, error, mistake
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ERRORS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

10D: "10. Conflicts over Wikipedia content"

8 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EDITWARS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

11D: "11. Mario's dinosaur sidekick"

5 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: YOSHI

Remember this word for future puzzles!

12D: "12. Actress Pompeo of "Grey's Anatomy""

5 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ELLEN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

13D: "13. Vernacular found in Urban Dictionary"

5 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that informal language consisting of words and expressions that are not considered appropriate for formal occasions; often vituperative or vulgar
  • Similar words include: befool, put on, slang expression
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SLANG

Remember this word for future puzzles!

14D: "18. Place for coin-op game machines"

6 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a covered passageway with shops and stalls on either side
  • Similar words include: colonnade
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ARCADE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

15D: "23. Kind of high-fat diet"

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: KETO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

16D: "25. Tablet with Pro, Air and mini versions"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: IPAD

Remember this word for future puzzles!

17D: "26. Scribbled (down)"

6 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that write briefly or hurriedly; write a short note of
  • Similar words include: jot, jot down
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: JOTTED

Remember this word for future puzzles!

18D: "27. Knight's wear"

5 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that protective covering made of metal and used in combat
  • Similar words include: armour
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ARMOR

Remember this word for future puzzles!

19D: "28. The "R" in R.I."

5 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RHODE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

20D: "29. The "log" in "ants on a log""

6 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that widely cultivated herb with aromatic leaf stalks that are eaten raw or cooked
  • Similar words include: cultivated celery, Apium graveolens dulce
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CELERY

Remember this word for future puzzles!

21D: "30. Trellis-climbing plant"

4 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a plant with a weak stem that derives support from climbing, twining, or creeping along a surface
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: VINE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

22D: "31. "Light" Jedi weapons"

6 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a fencing sword with a v-shaped blade and a slightly curved handle
  • Similar words include: sabre, cavalry sword, saber
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SABERS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

23D: "33. Railroad station"

5 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that station where transport vehicles load or unload passengers or goods
  • Similar words include: storage, store, terminus
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DEPOT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

24D: "34. Manicurist's filing board"

5 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a hard grey-black mineral consisting of corundum and either hematite or magnetite; used as an abrasive (especially as a coating on paper)
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EMERY

Remember this word for future puzzles!

25D: "35. Laces (into)"

4 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a dissolute man in fashionable society
  • Similar words include: pull, rake, rent
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RIPS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

26D: "40. Well-educated sorts"

8 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a learned person (especially in the humanities); someone who by long study has gained mastery in one or more disciplines
  • Similar words include: student, scholarly person, assimilator
  • Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SCHOLARS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

27D: "42. Fill back to capacity, as a glass"

6 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TOPOFF

Remember this word for future puzzles!

28D: "43. Healing cover"

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that someone who works (or provides workers) during a strike
  • Similar words include: rat, fink, blackleg
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SCAB

Remember this word for future puzzles!

29D: "46. "Lose the ___, dude!""

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TUDE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

30D: "48. Causes to make a mistake"

7 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TRIPSUP

Remember this word for future puzzles!

31D: "50. Bit of fiery cinnamon candy"

6 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: REDHOT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

32D: "52. Cotton swabs not recommended for ear canal use"

5 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: QTIPS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

33D: "53. Cowboy contest"

5 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an exhibition of cowboy skills
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RODEO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

34D: "54. Fresh from the dishwasher"

5 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a weightlift in which the barbell is lifted to shoulder height and then jerked overhead
  • Similar words include: sporty, houseclean, fair
  • Opposite of: unfairly, dirty
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CLEAN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

35D: "57. Grindr and Tinder, for two"

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: APPS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

36D: "58. Sign of decay"

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a red or brown oxide coating on iron or steel caused by the action of oxygen and moisture
  • Similar words include: corrode, rusting, eat
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RUST

Remember this word for future puzzles!

37D: "60. "___, Brute?""

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ETTU

Remember this word for future puzzles!

38D: "61. "Ant-Man" star Paul"

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that european freshwater fish resembling the roach
  • Similar words include: Scardinius erythrophthalmus
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RUDD

Remember this word for future puzzles!

39D: "62. Sights that make you go "What the ...?!""

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an (apparently) flying object whose nature is unknown; especially those considered to have extraterrestrial origins
  • Similar words include: unidentified flying object, UFO, flying saucer
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: UFOS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

40D: "65. ___ v. Wade (1973 Supreme Court decision)"

3 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that fish eggs or egg-filled ovary; having a grainy texture
  • Similar words include: hard roe
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ROE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

41D: "66. Rejections"

3 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a radioactive transuranic element synthesized by bombarding curium with carbon ions; 7 isotopes are known
  • Similar words include: nobelium, atomic number 102, No
  • Opposite of: yes
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NOS

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

40 Across Clues
41 Down Clues
81 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.

Disclaimer: Crossword clues and grid © The New York Times. This site provides hints and educational content for puzzle enthusiasts. XWordHint is not affiliated with The New York Times.

Last updated: September 15, 2026 at 08:49 AM

Monday, July 27, 2026

XWordHint Crossword Answers July 27, 2026 | Expert Breakdown & Tips

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: 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. Male deer 4
2A 5. National sport of Japan 4
3A 9. Posh N.Y.C. neighborhood 4
4A 13. Post-it ___ 4
5A 14. Privy to 4
6A 15. Mideast ruler 4
7A 16. "Either way is fine with me" 9
8A 18. Prefix with hit or bit 4
9A 19. Citrusy Japanese sauce 5
10A 20. Manipulate into doubting one's memory or experience 8
11A 22. Friendly emoticon 10
12A 24. Relieve, as pain 6
13A 28. Long-running forensics series 3
14A 29. Only state with a nonrectangular flag 4
15A 30. Title for a married woman 3
16A 33. Fairy tale opening word 4
17A 36. Country in Oceania named for a biblical king 14
18A 40. "Star Wars" character ___ Ren 4
19A 41. ___ Wednesday 3
20A 42. Interlocking toy brand 4
21A 43. Four-wheeler, for short 3
22A 45. Kicked out of office 6
23A 47. Pet for Franklin Roosevelt or George W. Bush, informally 10
24A 52. As a precaution 8
25A 53. Competitor at an esports tournament 5
26A 58. All tied up 4
27A 59. Smartphone setting that removes all color from the screen ... or a feature of this puzzle? 9
28A 61. Currency in Chihuahua 4
29A 62. Job for an actor 4
30A 63. Run in neutral 4
31A 64. Ruminate (over) 4
32A 65. "A Bug's Life" bugs 4
33A 66. Out of battery 4

Across Clues - Strategic Hints

1A: "1. Male deer"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a male deer, especially an adult male red deer
  • Similar words include: denounce, snitch, sleuth
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: STAG

Remember this word for future puzzles!

2A: "5. National sport of Japan"

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a japanese form of wrestling; you lose if you are forced out of a small ring or if any part of your body (other than your feet) touches the ground
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SUMO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

3A: "9. Posh N.Y.C. neighborhood"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a district in southwestern manhattan noted for its shops and restaurants and galleries and artist's lofts
  • Similar words include: South of Houston
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SOHO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

4A: "13. Post-it ___"

4 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a brief written record
  • Similar words include: musical note, mention, take note
  • Opposite of: ignore
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NOTE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

5A: "14. Privy to"

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: INON

Remember this word for future puzzles!

6A: "15. Mideast ruler"

4 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an independent ruler or chieftain (especially in africa or arabia)
  • Similar words include: emeer, amir, ameer
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EMIR

Remember this word for future puzzles!

7A: "16. "Either way is fine with me""

9 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: IDONTCARE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

8A: "18. Prefix with hit or bit"

4 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MEGA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

9A: "19. Citrusy Japanese sauce"

5 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PONZU

Remember this word for future puzzles!

10A: "20. Manipulate into doubting one's memory or experience"

8 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that light yielded by the combustion of illuminating gas
  • Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GASLIGHT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

11A: "22. Friendly emoticon"

10 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SMILEYFACE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

12A: "24. Relieve, as pain"

6 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that give moral or emotional strength to
  • Similar words include: solace, comfort, console
  • Opposite of: irritate
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SOOTHE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

13A: "28. Long-running forensics series"

3 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CSI

Remember this word for future puzzles!

14A: "29. Only state with a nonrectangular flag"

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a midwestern state in north central united states in the great lakes region
  • Similar words include: OH, Buckeye State, Ohio River
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OHIO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

15A: "30. Title for a married woman"

3 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a form of address for a married woman
  • Similar words include: Mister, Mrs., Mr
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MRS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

16A: "33. Fairy tale opening word"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that on one occasion
  • Similar words include: formerly, erstwhile, erst
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ONCE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

17A: "36. Country in Oceania named for a biblical king"

14 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ______________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SOLOMONISLANDS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

18A: "40. "Star Wars" character ___ Ren"

4 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: KYLO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

19A: "41. ___ Wednesday"

3 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the residue that remains when something is burned
  • Similar words include: ash tree
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ASH

Remember this word for future puzzles!

20A: "42. Interlocking toy brand"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that (trademark) a child's plastic construction set for making mechanical models
  • Similar words include: Lego set
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LEGO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

21A: "43. Four-wheeler, for short"

3 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ATV

Remember this word for future puzzles!

22A: "45. Kicked out of office"

6 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that remove from a position or office
  • Similar words include: drum out, kick out, oust
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OUSTED

Remember this word for future puzzles!

23A: "47. Pet for Franklin Roosevelt or George W. Bush, informally"

10 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SCOTTIEDOG

Remember this word for future puzzles!

24A: "52. As a precaution"

8 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TOBESAFE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

25A: "53. Competitor at an esports tournament"

5 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that disabled in the feet or legs
  • Similar words include: gamy, spunky, mettlesome
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GAMER

Remember this word for future puzzles!

26A: "58. All tied up"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
  • Similar words include: flush, level, eventide
  • Opposite of: uneven, odd
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EVEN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

27A: "59. Smartphone setting that removes all color from the screen ... or a feature of this puzzle?"

9 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GRAYSCALE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

28A: "61. Currency in Chihuahua"

4 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the basic unit of money in uruguay; equal to 100 centesimos
  • Similar words include: Chilean peso, Cuban peso, Mexican peso
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PESO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

29A: "62. Job for an actor"

4 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the actions and activities assigned to or required or expected of a person or group
  • Similar words include: office, use, part
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ROLE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

30A: "63. Run in neutral"

4 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the state of an engine or other mechanism that is idling
  • Similar words include: unfounded, out of work, dead
  • Opposite of: run, busy
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: IDLE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

31A: "64. Ruminate (over)"

4 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that agitation resulting from active worry
  • Similar words include: fret, lather, grudge
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: STEW

Remember this word for future puzzles!

32A: "65. "A Bug's Life" bugs"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that social insect living in organized colonies; characteristically the males and fertile queen have wings during breeding season; wingless sterile females are the workers
  • Similar words include: emmet, ant, pismire
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ANTS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

33A: "66. Out of battery"

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that people who are no longer living
  • Similar words include: idle, short, numb
  • Opposite of: alive, live
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DEAD

Remember this word for future puzzles!

Down Clues - Complete List

No. Clue Letters
1D 1. Scissors sound 4
2D 2. Heading on a list of tasks 4
3D 3. Lots and lots 4
4D 4. Age group that includes 2000s kids 4
5D 5. [Yes, I know that's a typo] 3
6D 6. Eel, at a Japanese restaurant 5
7D 7. Fable's takeaway 5
8D 8. "Just a moment!" 6
9D 9. Penultimate tournament round 10
10D 10. Last Greek letter 5
11D 11. Pitch that's hard to hit? 5
12D 12. Give a formal speech 5
13D 17. Heinie 4
14D 21. Sprayable disinfectant brand 5
15D 23. Officewide message 4
16D 24. Signal at sea 3
17D 25. "Um, sure" 4
18D 26. Covered in grease 4
19D 27. "You missed your chance" 10
20D 31. Single-stranded molecule 3
21D 32. Palindromic sib 3
22D 34. Tech review site 4
23D 35. Living on the ___ 4
24D 37. Big name in applesauce 5
25D 38. "Go away, fly!" 4
26D 39. Grass bought in rolls 3
27D 44. "The little blue pill" 6
28D 46. Branded fluffy slippers 4
29D 47. Things taken on a walk? 5
30D 48. Violate the Tenth Commandment 5
31D 49. Like many bodybuilders, according to B.M.I. alone 5
32D 50. Zac of "High School Musical" 5
33D 51. Handed out, as playing cards 5
34D 54. Low scorer on a pH test 4
35D 55. Constructed 4
36D 56. Name that can be parsed as "the the" in Spanish 4
37D 57. Portland college attended by Steve Jobs 4
38D 60. "Certainly!" 3

Down Clues - Strategic Hints

1D: "1. Scissors sound"

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a small piece of anything (especially a piece that has been snipped off)
  • Similar words include: prune, snip off, crop
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SNIP

Remember this word for future puzzles!

2D: "2. Heading on a list of tasks"

4 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TODO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

3D: "3. Lots and lots"

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the sun (or solar disc) which was the deity of a monotheistic cult under the pharaoh akhenaten
  • Similar words include: Aten
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ATON

Remember this word for future puzzles!

4D: "4. Age group that includes 2000s kids"

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GENZ

Remember this word for future puzzles!

5D: "5. [Yes, I know that's a typo]"

3 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that urge to attack someone
  • Similar words include: set
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SIC

Remember this word for future puzzles!

6D: "6. Eel, at a Japanese restaurant"

5 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: UNAGI

Remember this word for future puzzles!

7D: "7. Fable's takeaway"

5 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the significance of a story or event
  • Similar words include: lesson
  • Opposite of: immoral
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MORAL

Remember this word for future puzzles!

8D: "8. "Just a moment!""

6 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ONESEC

Remember this word for future puzzles!

9D: "9. Penultimate tournament round"

10 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that one of the two competitions in the next to the last round of an elimination tournament
  • Similar words include: semi, semifinal
  • Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SEMIFINALS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

10D: "10. Last Greek letter"

5 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

11D: "11. Pitch that's hard to hit?"

5 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HIGHC

Remember this word for future puzzles!

12D: "12. Give a formal speech"

5 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that talk pompously
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ORATE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

13D: "17. Heinie"

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the fleshy part of the human body that you sit on
  • Similar words include: rump, fanny, nates
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TUSH

Remember this word for future puzzles!

14D: "21. Sprayable disinfectant brand"

5 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a clear oily brown solution of cresols in soap; used as an antiseptic and disinfectant
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LYSOL

Remember this word for future puzzles!

15D: "23. Officewide message"

4 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a written proposal or reminder
  • Similar words include: memorandum, memoranda
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MEMO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

16D: "24. Signal at sea"

3 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an internationally recognized distress signal in radio code
  • Similar words include: sol, so, soh
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SOS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

17D: "25. "Um, sure""

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OHOK

Remember this word for future puzzles!

18D: "26. Covered in grease"

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that containing an unusual amount of grease or oil
  • Similar words include: sebaceous, smarmy, oleaginous
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OILY

Remember this word for future puzzles!

19D: "27. "You missed your chance""

10 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TOOLATENOW

Remember this word for future puzzles!

20D: "31. Single-stranded molecule"

3 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that (biochemistry) a long linear polymer of nucleotides found in the nucleus but mainly in the cytoplasm of a cell where it is associated with microsomes; it transmits genetic information from dna to the cytoplasm and controls certain chemical processes in the cell
  • Similar words include: ribonucleic acid
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RNA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

21D: "32. Palindromic sib"

3 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a female person who has the same parents as another person
  • Similar words include: Si, atomic number 14, SI
  • Opposite of: brother
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SIS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

22D: "34. Tech review site"

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CNET

Remember this word for future puzzles!

23D: "35. Living on the ___"

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the boundary of a surface
  • Similar words include: march, bound, butt on
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EDGE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

24D: "37. Big name in applesauce"

5 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that united states feminist and suffragist (1793-1880)
  • Similar words include: Mott, Lucretia Coffin Mott
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MOTTS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

25D: "38. "Go away, fly!""

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that drive away by crying `shoo!'
  • Similar words include: shoo off, shoo away
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SHOO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

26D: "39. Grass bought in rolls"

3 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that surface layer of ground containing a mat of grass and grass roots
  • Similar words include: sodomite, sodomist, sward
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SOD

Remember this word for future puzzles!

27D: "44. "The little blue pill""

6 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that virility drug (trade name viagra) used to treat erectile dysfunction in men
  • Similar words include: sildenafil, sildenafil citrate
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: VIAGRA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

28D: "46. Branded fluffy slippers"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: UGGS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

29D: "47. Things taken on a walk?"

5 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
  • Similar words include: footfall, ill-use, ill-treat
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: STEPS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

30D: "48. Violate the Tenth Commandment"

5 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that wish, long, or crave for (something, especially the property of another person)
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: COVET

Remember this word for future puzzles!

31D: "49. Like many bodybuilders, according to B.M.I. alone"

5 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that excessively fat
  • Similar words include: rotund, corpulent, weighty
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OBESE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

32D: "50. Zac of "High School Musical""

5 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EFRON

Remember this word for future puzzles!

33D: "51. Handed out, as playing cards"

5 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression
  • Similar words include: handle, deal out, portion out
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DEALT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

34D: "54. Low scorer on a pH test"

4 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that any of various water-soluble compounds having a sour taste and capable of turning litmus red and reacting with a base to form a salt
  • Similar words include: back breaker, caustic, Zen
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ACID

Remember this word for future puzzles!

35D: "55. Constructed"

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that give certain properties to something
  • Similar words include: construct, relieve oneself, wee-wee
  • Opposite of: break, unmake
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MADE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

36D: "56. Name that can be parsed as "the the" in Spanish"

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ELLA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

37D: "57. Portland college attended by Steve Jobs"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that tall woody perennial grasses with hollow slender stems especially of the genera arundo and phragmites
  • Similar words include: vibrating reed, beating-reed instrument, Walter Reed
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: REED

Remember this word for future puzzles!

38D: "60. "Certainly!""

3 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an affirmative
  • Opposite of: no
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: YES

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

33 Across Clues
38 Down Clues
71 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.

Disclaimer: Crossword clues and grid © The New York Times. This site provides hints and educational content for puzzle enthusiasts. XWordHint is not affiliated with The New York Times.

Last updated: July 27, 2026 at 06:47 AM