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 (35 clues)
- Across Clues - Detailed Hints
- Down Clues Table (35 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. TikTok stars, to many | 5 |
| 2A | 6. Locale for an old flame? | 4 |
| 3A | 10. Shell in the water | 4 |
| 4A | 14. December air | 5 |
| 5A | 15. Who's that woman in Paris? | 4 |
| 6A | 16. Red-haired outdoorsman in Genesis | 4 |
| 7A | 17. Per_w_nkle? | 10 |
| 8A | 19. Rider's line | 4 |
| 9A | 20. Raison d'___ | 4 |
| 10A | 21. Holding liable | 7 |
| 11A | 23. More apt to cut in line, say | 7 |
| 12A | 26. Keep from leaving port through low visibility | 5 |
| 13A | 27. New Year's date, concisely | 6 |
| 14A | 28. Simulator of coastal phenomena | 8 |
| 15A | 31. Cleared of dust, say | 5 |
| 16A | 32. Targets for hawks | 4 |
| 17A | 33. Literary name that's a letter short of its holder's occupation | 3 |
| 18A | 34. Proc_dur_? | 15 |
| 19A | 38. Horror director Aster | 3 |
| 20A | 39. Starting points of many Jewish observances | 4 |
| 21A | 40. Dull and dim | 5 |
| 22A | 41. Abstract | 8 |
| 23A | 44. Oldest sister on "The Brady Bunch" | 6 |
| 24A | 45. Bad spelling, perhaps | 5 |
| 25A | 46. Ground-dwelling game bird of the western U.S. | 7 |
| 26A | 47. Portmanteau for a radical environmentalist | 7 |
| 27A | 49. ["Your fly is open"] | 4 |
| 28A | 50. Choo-choo noise | 4 |
| 29A | 51. Grou_ of _or_oises? | 10 |
| 30A | 56. Dance done in concentric circles | 4 |
| 31A | 57. Leaves for drinks | 4 |
| 32A | 58. Construction site sight | 5 |
| 33A | 59. Decides to take part, with "in" | 4 |
| 34A | 60. Skin-care brand with a "cheer"-ful sounding name | 4 |
| 35A | 61. Filler akin to "like ..." or "I mean ..." | 5 |
Across Clues - Strategic Hints
1A: "1. TikTok stars, to many"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a material effigy that is worshipped
- Similar words include: graven image, matinee idol, god
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: IDOLS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
2A: "6. Locale for an old flame?"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that any piece of cord that conveys liquid by capillary action
- Similar words include: taper
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: WICK
Remember this word for future puzzles!
3A: "10. Shell in the water"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that dry outer covering of a fruit or seed or nut
- Similar words include: Isaac Hull, Kingston-upon Hull, Cordell Hull
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HULL
Remember this word for future puzzles!
4A: "14. December air"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that joyful religious song celebrating the birth of christ
- Similar words include: Christmas carol
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CAROL
Remember this word for future puzzles!
5A: "15. Who's that woman in Paris?"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ELLE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
6A: "16. Red-haired outdoorsman in Genesis"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that (old testament) the eldest son of isaac who would have inherited the covenant that god made with abraham and that abraham passed on to isaac; he traded his birthright to his twin brother jacob for a mess of pottage
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ESAU
Remember this word for future puzzles!
7A: "17. Per_w_nkle?"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EYESOFBLUE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
8A: "19. Rider's line"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that one of a pair of long straps (usually connected to the bit or the headpiece) used to control a horse
- Similar words include: draw rein, rule, rein in
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: REIN
Remember this word for future puzzles!
9A: "20. Raison d'___"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ETRE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
10A: "21. Holding liable"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that put or pin the blame on
- Similar words include: blame, charge, find fault
- Opposite of: absolve
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BLAMING
Remember this word for future puzzles!
11A: "23. More apt to cut in line, say"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that marked by aggressive ambition and energy and initiative
- Similar words include: pushful, pushy
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PUSHIER
Remember this word for future puzzles!
12A: "26. Keep from leaving port through low visibility"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FOGIN
Remember this word for future puzzles!
13A: "27. New Year's date, concisely"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ONEONE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
14A: "28. Simulator of coastal phenomena"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: WAVETANK
Remember this word for future puzzles!
15A: "31. Cleared of dust, say"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that sweep across or over
- Similar words include: tangle, drag, sail
- Opposite of: unswept
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SWEPT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
16A: "32. Targets for hawks"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that any of numerous small rodents typically resembling diminutive rats having pointed snouts and small ears on elongated bodies with slender usually hairless tails
- Similar words include: shiner, mouse, computer mouse
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MICE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
17A: "33. Literary name that's a letter short of its holder's occupation"
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!
18A: "34. Proc_dur_?"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EASEOFOPERATION
Remember this word for future puzzles!
19A: "38. Horror director Aster"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ARI
Remember this word for future puzzles!
20A: "39. Starting points of many Jewish observances"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that (old testament) adam's wife in judeo-christian mythology: the first woman and mother of the human race; god created eve from adam's rib and placed adam and eve in the garden of eden
- Similar words include: Eve, even, eve
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EVES
Remember this word for future puzzles!
21A: "40. Dull and dim"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that thickly covered with ingrained dirt or soot
- Similar words include: muddy, dreary, grubby
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DINGY
Remember this word for future puzzles!
22A: "41. Abstract"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a sketchy summary of the main points of an argument or theory
- Similar words include: precis, abstract, outline
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SYNOPSIS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
23A: "44. Oldest sister on "The Brady Bunch""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MARCIA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
24A: "45. Bad spelling, perhaps"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that profane or obscene expression usually of surprise or anger
- Similar words include: damn, bane, anathemise
- Opposite of: bless, communicate
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CURSE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
25A: "46. Ground-dwelling game bird of the western U.S."
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SAGEHEN
Remember this word for future puzzles!
26A: "47. Portmanteau for a radical environmentalist"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ECOTEUR
Remember this word for future puzzles!
27A: "49. ["Your fly is open"]"
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!
28A: "50. Choo-choo noise"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the dull explosive noise made by an engine
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CHUG
Remember this word for future puzzles!
29A: "51. Grou_ of _or_oises?"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PEASINAPOD
Remember this word for future puzzles!
30A: "56. Dance done in concentric circles"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HORA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
31A: "57. Leaves for drinks"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a beverage made by steeping tea leaves in water
- Similar words include: afternoon tea, teatime, Camellia sinensis
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TEAS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
32A: "58. Construction site sight"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that united states writer (1871-1900)
- Similar words include: Grus, Harold Hart Crane, stretch out
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CRANE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
33A: "59. Decides to take part, with "in""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that select as an alternative over another
- Similar words include: opt, choose, prefer
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OPTS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
34A: "60. Skin-care brand with a "cheer"-ful sounding name"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OLAY
Remember this word for future puzzles!
35A: "61. Filler akin to "like ..." or "I mean ...""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: YKNOW
Remember this word for future puzzles!
Down Clues - Complete List
| No. | Clue | Letters |
|---|---|---|
| 1D | 1. Winter coat? | 3 |
| 2D | 2. Word with trader or tripper | 3 |
| 3D | 3. Something you might search for in vein? | 3 |
| 4D | 4. Despair | 8 |
| 5D | 5. Find a spot for, as on a schedule | 8 |
| 6D | 6. Utah's ___ State University | 5 |
| 7D | 7. Laid up | 3 |
| 8D | 8. Grooved parts of golf irons | 9 |
| 9D | 9. Go *clunk* | 8 |
| 10D | 10. Solitary sort | 6 |
| 11D | 11. Min_sc_le q_antity? | 11 |
| 12D | 12. Reposed | 4 |
| 13D | 13. Pipe organ? | 4 |
| 14D | 18. Not busy | 4 |
| 15D | 22. Season | 3 |
| 16D | 23. Represent | 6 |
| 17D | 24. Incautious | 6 |
| 18D | 25. Pla_e for a _ase? | 11 |
| 19D | 28. Supplies for a diaper change | 5 |
| 20D | 29. Annoying knuckling | 6 |
| 21D | 30. Like 29 winners in the first 50 New York City Marathons | 6 |
| 22D | 32. Rotating feature at the cinema | 9 |
| 23D | 35. Take responsibility for, in a way | 8 |
| 24D | 36. Pitching staff? | 8 |
| 25D | 37. Evidence of burning rubber | 8 |
| 26D | 42. Release volatile compounds to the air | 6 |
| 27D | 43. Vent opening? | 3 |
| 28D | 44. When doubled, Hawaiian for "very strong" | 4 |
| 29D | 46. Irreverent | 5 |
| 30D | 47. Say again | 4 |
| 31D | 48. Dice, e.g. | 4 |
| 32D | 52. Remote power source | 3 |
| 33D | 53. Completely savage | 3 |
| 34D | 54. Middle name shared by Sean and John Lennon | 3 |
| 35D | 55. Ground water? | 3 |
Down Clues - Strategic Hints
1D: "1. Winter coat?"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that water frozen in the solid state
- Similar words include: Methedrine, icing, meth
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ICE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
2D: "2. Word with trader or tripper"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that time for earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
- Similar words include: daytime, solar day, twenty-four hour period
- Opposite of: night
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DAY
Remember this word for future puzzles!
3D: "3. Something you might search for in vein?"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a mineral that contains metal that is valuable enough to be mined
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ORE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
4D: "4. Despair"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LOSEHOPE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
5D: "5. Find a spot for, as on a schedule"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SLOTINTO
Remember this word for future puzzles!
6D: "6. Utah's ___ State University"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a unit of magnetic flux equal to 100,000,000 maxwells
- Similar words include: Wb, E. H. Weber, Wilhelm Eduard Weber
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: WEBER
Remember this word for future puzzles!
7D: "7. Laid up"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an often persistent bodily disorder or disease; a cause for complaining
- Similar words include: badly, complaint, ominous
- Opposite of: well
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ILL
Remember this word for future puzzles!
8D: "8. Grooved parts of golf irons"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CLUBFACES
Remember this word for future puzzles!
9D: "9. Go *clunk*"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: KEELOVER
Remember this word for future puzzles!
10D: "10. Solitary sort"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that one retired from society for religious reasons
- Similar words include: anchorite, recluse, troglodyte
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HERMIT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
11D: "11. Min_sc_le q_antity?"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: USEINAPINCH
Remember this word for future puzzles!
12D: "12. Reposed"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that be located or situated somewhere; occupy a certain position
- Similar words include: lie in, consist, lie down
- Opposite of: arise, stand
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LAIN
Remember this word for future puzzles!
13D: "13. Pipe organ?"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that either of two saclike respiratory organs in the chest of vertebrates; serves to remove carbon dioxide and provide oxygen to the blood
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LUNG
Remember this word for future puzzles!
14D: "18. Not busy"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that people who are free
- Similar words include: discharge, gratuitous, disengage
- Opposite of: confine, freeze
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FREE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
15D: "22. Season"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that how long something has existed
- Similar words include: senesce, geezerhood, maturate
- Opposite of: rejuvenate
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AGE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
16D: "23. Represent"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: POSEAS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
17D: "24. Incautious"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that not alert to danger or deception; ; ; - o.j.campbell
- Opposite of: wary
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: UNWARY
Remember this word for future puzzles!
18D: "25. Pla_e for a _ase?"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SEESINCOURT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
19D: "28. Supplies for a diaper change"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the act of rubbing or wiping
- Similar words include: pass over, wipe, rub
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: WIPES
Remember this word for future puzzles!
20D: "29. Annoying knuckling"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NOOGIE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
21D: "30. Like 29 winners in the first 50 New York City Marathons"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a native or inhabitant of kenya
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: KENYAN
Remember this word for future puzzles!
22D: "32. Rotating feature at the cinema"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MOVIEREEL
Remember this word for future puzzles!
23D: "35. Take responsibility for, in a way"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FESSUPTO
Remember this word for future puzzles!
24D: "36. Pitching staff?"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ADAGENCY
Remember this word for future puzzles!
25D: "37. Evidence of burning rubber"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TIREMARK
Remember this word for future puzzles!
26D: "42. Release volatile compounds to the air"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OUTGAS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
27D: "43. Vent opening?"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PRE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
28D: "44. When doubled, Hawaiian for "very strong""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MAHI
Remember this word for future puzzles!
29D: "46. Irreverent"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that improperly forward or bold
- Similar words include: saucy, overbold, impudent
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SASSY
Remember this word for future puzzles!
30D: "47. Say again"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the repetition of a sound resulting from reflection of the sound waves
- Similar words include: resound, reverberate, repeat
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ECHO
Remember this word for future puzzles!
31D: "48. Dice, e.g."
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the irregular motion of waves (usually caused by wind blowing in a direction opposite to the tide)
- Similar words include: chopper, chop up, hack
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CHOP
Remember this word for future puzzles!
32D: "52. Remote power source"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an aneurysm of the abdominal aorta associated with old age and hypertension
- Similar words include: abdominal aortic aneurysm
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AAA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
33D: "53. Completely savage"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that cooking utensil consisting of a wide metal vessel
- Similar words include: goat god, trash, pan out
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PAN
Remember this word for future puzzles!
34D: "54. Middle name shared by Sean and John Lennon"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that united states musician (born in japan) who married john lennon and collaborated with him on recordings (born in 1933)
- Similar words include: Yoko Ono
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ONO
Remember this word for future puzzles!
35D: "55. Ground water?"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that water that has condensed on a cool surface overnight from water vapor in the air
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DEW
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
35 Across Clues
35 Down Clues
70 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.
