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Monday, August 31, 2026

XWordHint Crossword Answers August 31, 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. Part of a dance 4
2A 5. Sch. with the Daily Bruin newspaper 4
3A 9. Slightly intoxicated 5
4A 14. Fancy 4
5A 15. Worms and such on hooks 4
6A 16. Be of the same mind 5
7A 17. Redding with two posthumous Grammys 4
8A 18. "Sesame Street" character who was once sung to sleep by Andrea Bocelli 4
9A 19. Ransacks 5
10A 20. One who regularly drops things 13
11A 23. The : English :: ___ : French 3
12A 24. Letter after sigma 3
13A 25. One dining on Friskies 3
14A 28. Role for Selena Gomez on "Only Murders in the Building" 5
15A 31. Umbrella-shaped sea creature 9
16A 34. Director DuVernay 3
17A 35. Pathetic 3
18A 36. Examine at length 6
19A 37. Took shots first, then paid for them later 7
20A 40. Clothing sizes for shorter women 7
21A 41. Ski in zigzags 6
22A 42. "Far out!" 3
23A 43. Tetra- minus one 3
24A 44. Newlyweds' getaway 9
25A 46. Owl sounds 5
26A 48. Actress de Armas 3
27A 49. 401(k) relative 3
28A 50. "Need an ark? I Noah guy," e.g. 3
29A 51. "Tell everyone!" ... or what to do with the starts of 20-, 31- and 44-Across? 13
30A 58. Inuit for "house" 5
31A 60. Italian hello 4
32A 61. Et ___ (and others: Lat.) 4
33A 62. Tennis locale 5
34A 63. Pre-Easter observance 4
35A 64. R-rated, maybe 4
36A 65. A cube has 12 of them 5
37A 66. Petrol brand 4
38A 67. Easter egg decorating supplies 4

Across Clues - Strategic Hints

1A: "1. Part of a dance"

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
  • Similar words include: mistreat, stride, ill-treat
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: STEP

Remember this word for future puzzles!

2A: "5. Sch. with the Daily Bruin newspaper"

4 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

3A: "9. Slightly intoxicated"

5 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that slightly intoxicated
  • Similar words include: tiddly, potty
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TIPSY

Remember this word for future puzzles!

4A: "14. Fancy"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that elegant and sumptuous
  • Similar words include: de luxe, deluxe
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LUXE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

5A: "15. Worms and such on hooks"

4 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that anything that serves as an enticement
  • Similar words include: rag, tantalize, twit
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BAIT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

6A: "16. Be of the same mind"

5 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that be in accord; be in agreement
  • Similar words include: match, consort, tally
  • Opposite of: disagree
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AGREE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

7A: "17. Redding with two posthumous Grammys"

4 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that united states inventor who manufactured the first elevator with a safety device (1811-1861)
  • Similar words include: genus Otis, Elisha Graves Otis
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OTIS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

8A: "18. "Sesame Street" character who was once sung to sleep by Andrea Bocelli"

4 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

9A: "19. Ransacks"

5 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that goods or money obtained illegally
  • Similar words include: cabbage, moolah, strip
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LOOTS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

10A: "20. One who regularly drops things"

13 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that someone who drops things (especially one who cannot catch a ball)
  • Pattern: _____________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BUTTERFINGERS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

11A: "23. The : English :: ___ : French"

3 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a chronic inflammatory collagen disease affecting connective tissue (skin or joints)
  • Similar words include: LE, lupus erythematosus
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

12A: "24. Letter after sigma"

3 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the 19th letter of the greek alphabet
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TAU

Remember this word for future puzzles!

13A: "25. One dining on Friskies"

3 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that feline mammal usually having thick soft fur and no ability to roar: domestic cats; wildcats
  • Similar words include: kat, sick, khat
  • Opposite of: keep down
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CAT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

14A: "28. Role for Selena Gomez on "Only Murders in the Building""

5 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

15A: "31. Umbrella-shaped sea creature"

9 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that large siphonophore having a bladderlike float and stinging tentacles
  • Similar words include: Portuguese man-of-war, man-of-war
  • Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: JELLYFISH

Remember this word for future puzzles!

16A: "34. Director DuVernay"

3 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

17A: "35. Pathetic"

3 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that experiencing or showing sorrow or unhappiness; ; - christina rossetti
  • Similar words include: deplorable, pitiful, lamentable
  • Opposite of: glad
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SAD

Remember this word for future puzzles!

18A: "36. Examine at length"

6 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that examine or consider with attention and in detail
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PERUSE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

19A: "37. Took shots first, then paid for them later"

7 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

20A: "40. Clothing sizes for shorter women"

7 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a garment size for short or slender women
  • Similar words include: petite
  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PETITES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

21A: "41. Ski in zigzags"

6 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a downhill race over a winding course defined by upright poles
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SLALOM

Remember this word for future puzzles!

22A: "42. "Far out!""

3 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a unit of absorbed ionizing radiation equal to 100 ergs per gram of irradiated material
  • Similar words include: radian
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RAD

Remember this word for future puzzles!

23A: "43. Tetra- minus one"

3 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

24A: "44. Newlyweds' getaway"

9 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a holiday taken by a newly married couple
  • Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HONEYMOON

Remember this word for future puzzles!

25A: "46. Owl sounds"

5 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a loud raucous cry (as of an owl)
  • Similar words include: tinker's dam, Bronx cheer, raspberry
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HOOTS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

26A: "48. Actress de Armas"

3 letters Category: Abbreviation

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!

27A: "49. 401(k) relative"

3 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a militant organization of irish nationalists who used terrorism and guerilla warfare in an effort to drive british forces from northern ireland and achieve a united independent ireland
  • Similar words include: wrath, individual retirement account, Irish Republican Army
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: IRA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

28A: "50. "Need an ark? I Noah guy," e.g."

3 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a humorous play on words
  • Similar words include: wordplay, punning, paronomasia
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PUN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

29A: "51. "Tell everyone!" ... or what to do with the starts of 20-, 31- and 44-Across?"

13 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _____________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SPREADTHEWORD

Remember this word for future puzzles!

30A: "58. Inuit for "house""

5 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an eskimo hut; usually built of blocks (of sod or snow) in the shape of a dome
  • Similar words include: iglu
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: IGLOO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

31A: "60. Italian hello"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an acknowledgment that can be used to say hello or goodbye (aloha is hawaiian and ciao is italian)
  • Similar words include: aloha
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CIAO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

32A: "61. Et ___ (and others: Lat.)"

4 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

33A: "62. Tennis locale"

5 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an assembly (including one or more judges) to conduct judicial business
  • Similar words include: tribunal, courtroom, motor lodge
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: COURT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

34A: "63. Pre-Easter observance"

4 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a period of 40 weekdays from ash wednesday to holy saturday
  • Similar words include: lend, bestow, add
  • Opposite of: borrow
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LENT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

35A: "64. R-rated, maybe"

4 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that full of zest or vigor
  • Similar words include: robust, naughty, gamey
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RACY

Remember this word for future puzzles!

36A: "65. A cube has 12 of them"

5 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the boundary of a surface
  • Similar words include: inch, butt, edge
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EDGES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

37A: "66. Petrol brand"

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

38A: "67. Easter egg decorating supplies"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a usually soluble substance for staining or coloring e.g. fabrics or hair
  • Similar words include: dyestuff, dye
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DYES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

Down Clues - Complete List

No. Clue Letters
1D 1. Mess maker 4
2D 2. Attire for the Sugar Plum Fairy 4
3D 3. Off-ramp 4
4D 4. Pulverizing tool 6
5D 5. Alternatives to Lyfts 5
6D 6. Baby whale 4
7D 7. In finite supply 7
8D 8. Lacking a musical key 6
9D 9. A ___ as old as time 4
10D 10. Composer Stravinsky 4
11D 11. Ham on an antipasto platter 10
12D 12. Solidify 3
13D 13. "You called?" 3
14D 21. Sinuous swimmer 3
15D 22. Swallowed hard 6
16D 26. Aver 6
17D 27. Graduate student's project 6
18D 28. ___ P. Johnson (gay rights activist) 6
19D 29. Island of Arthurian legend 6
20D 30. Fruit-resembling mollusk 10
21D 31. The "one" of a one-two 3
22D 32. So far 3
23D 33. Part of the week that workers look forward to: Abbr. 3
24D 35. Lunch item that might be made with cold cuts, in slang 6
25D 38. Ginger ___ 3
26D 39. Cup-and-ball or yo-yo 3
27D 40. Deep-dish vessel 3
28D 42. Support staff for a rock band 7
29D 45. Soothsayer 6
30D 46. Tint 3
31D 47. "To victory!" 6
32D 50. Part of an Instagram post 5
33D 52. Skin opening 4
34D 53. Goes bad 4
35D 54. Gets bronzed at the beach 4
36D 55. Brand with "anti-aging" products 4
37D 56. Bibimbap base 4
38D 57. Pages on a desk calendar 4
39D 58. "Rocks" at a bar 3
40D 59. Lead-in to forbid or forsaken 3

Down Clues - Strategic Hints

1D: "1. Mess maker"

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a coarse obnoxious person
  • Similar words include: pig, slovenly person, sloven
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SLOB

Remember this word for future puzzles!

2D: "2. Attire for the Sugar Plum Fairy"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that south african prelate and leader of the antiapartheid struggle (born in 1931)
  • Similar words include: ballet skirt, Desmond Tutu
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TUTU

Remember this word for future puzzles!

3D: "3. Off-ramp"

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an opening that permits escape or release
  • Similar words include: snuff it, croak, cash in one's chips
  • Opposite of: be born, enter
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EXIT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

4D: "4. Pulverizing tool"

6 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that machine consisting of a heavy bar that moves vertically for pounding or crushing ores
  • Similar words include: pounder, muller, stamp
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PESTLE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

5D: "5. Alternatives to Lyfts"

5 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

6D: "6. Baby whale"

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that young of domestic cattle
  • Similar words include: sura, calfskin
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CALF

Remember this word for future puzzles!

7D: "7. In finite supply"

7 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that public transport consisting of a fast train or bus that makes only a few scheduled stops
  • Similar words include: confine, restrain, express
  • Opposite of: unlimited, local
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LIMITED

Remember this word for future puzzles!

8D: "8. Lacking a musical key"

6 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that characterized by avoidance of traditional western tonality
  • Similar words include: unkeyed
  • Opposite of: tonal
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ATONAL

Remember this word for future puzzles!

9D: "9. A ___ as old as time"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
  • Similar words include: narrative, narration, tarradiddle
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TALE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

10D: "10. Composer Stravinsky"

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

11D: "11. Ham on an antipasto platter"

10 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that italian salt-cured ham usually sliced paper thin
  • Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PROSCIUTTO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

12D: "12. Solidify"

3 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a group of things of the same kind that belong together and are so used
  • Similar words include: curing, adjust, gear up
  • Opposite of: rise
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SET

Remember this word for future puzzles!

13D: "13. "You called?""

3 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

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!

14D: "21. Sinuous swimmer"

3 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the fatty flesh of eel; an elongate fish found in fresh water in europe and america; large eels are usually smoked or pickled
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EEL

Remember this word for future puzzles!

15D: "22. Swallowed hard"

6 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that to swallow hurriedly or greedily or in one draught
  • Similar words include: swig, quaff, gulp
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GULPED

Remember this word for future puzzles!

16D: "26. Aver"

6 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that state categorically
  • Similar words include: verify, asseverate, maintain
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ASSERT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

17D: "27. Graduate student's project"

6 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an unproved statement put forward as a premise in an argument
  • Similar words include: dissertation
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: THESIS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

18D: "28. ___ P. Johnson (gay rights activist)"

6 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

19D: "29. Island of Arthurian legend"

6 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

20D: "30. Fruit-resembling mollusk"

10 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

21D: "31. The "one" of a one-two"

3 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a sharp hand gesture (resembling a blow)
  • Similar words include: stab, thrust, thrusting
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: JAB

Remember this word for future puzzles!

22D: "32. So far"

3 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that up to the present time
  • Similar words include: nonetheless, as yet, thus far
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: YET

Remember this word for future puzzles!

23D: "33. Part of the week that workers look forward to: Abbr."

3 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the sixth day of the week; the fifth working day
  • Similar words include: Friday
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FRI

Remember this word for future puzzles!

24D: "35. Lunch item that might be made with cold cuts, in slang"

6 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

25D: "38. Ginger ___"

3 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a general name for beer made with a top fermenting yeast; in some of the united states an ale is (by law) a brew of more than 4% alcohol by volume
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ALE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

26D: "39. Cup-and-ball or yo-yo"

3 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an artifact designed to be played with
  • Similar words include: miniature, fiddle, play
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TOY

Remember this word for future puzzles!

27D: "40. Deep-dish vessel"

3 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that cooking utensil consisting of a wide metal vessel
  • Similar words include: pan off, tear apart, pan out
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PAN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

28D: "42. Support staff for a rock band"

7 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

29D: "45. Soothsayer"

6 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an authoritative person who divines the future
  • Similar words include: prophet, vaticinator, seer
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ORACLE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

30D: "46. Tint"

3 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the quality of a color as determined by its dominant wavelength
  • Similar words include: imbue, chromaticity
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HUE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

31D: "47. "To victory!""

6 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that forward in time or order or degree
  • Similar words include: forth, forrader, ahead
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ONWARD

Remember this word for future puzzles!

32D: "50. Part of an Instagram post"

5 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a representation of a person or scene in the form of a print or transparent slide; recorded by a camera on light-sensitive material
  • Similar words include: pic, picture, photograph
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PHOTO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

33D: "52. Skin opening"

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that any tiny hole admitting passage of a liquid (fluid or gas)
  • Similar words include: stomate, rivet, centre
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PORE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

34D: "53. Goes bad"

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a state of decay usually accompanied by an offensive odor
  • Similar words include: molder, bunk, rotting
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ROTS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

35D: "54. Gets bronzed at the beach"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a browning of the skin resulting from exposure to the rays of the sun
  • Similar words include: tangent, suntan, tan
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TANS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

36D: "55. Brand with "anti-aging" products"

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

37D: "56. Bibimbap base"

4 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that grains used as food either unpolished or more often polished
  • Similar words include: Elmer Leopold Rice, Sir Tim Rice, Elmer Reizenstein
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RICE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

38D: "57. Pages on a desk calendar"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the time during which someone's life continues
  • Similar words include: twenty-four hour period, mean solar day, daylight
  • Opposite of: night
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DAYS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

39D: "58. "Rocks" at a bar"

3 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that water frozen in the solid state
  • Similar words include: crank, methamphetamine hydrochloride, chicken feed
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ICE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

40D: "59. Lead-in to forbid or forsaken"

3 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the supernatural being conceived as the perfect and omnipotent and omniscient originator and ruler of the universe; the object of worship in monotheistic religions
  • Similar words include: divinity, idol, Supreme Being
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GOD

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

38 Across Clues
40 Down Clues
78 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: August 31, 2026 at 09:56 AM

Sunday, August 30, 2026

XWordHint Crossword Answers August 30, 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: Tricky

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. "Aladdin" villain 5
2A 6. "It's yours!" 4
3A 10. Sarcastic "Sure" 4
4A 14. Heat setting, in brief? 3
5A 17. Dutch Caribbean isle 5
6A 18. Explosive sound 6
7A 20. Lacking constraints 8
8A 22. MARTIN SHEEN 12
9A 24. LIAM NEESON 8
10A 25. Chef Hussain of "The Great British Bake Off" fame 6
11A 26. Discount Chinese e-tailer 4
12A 28. Jumbo shrimp 5
13A 29. Ben & Jerry's alternative 4
14A 31. Pink-slips 4
15A 33. NORMAN REEDUS 11
16A 37. GREG KINNEAR 10
17A 40. Conditions of equilibrium 6
18A 41. Historian's division 3
19A 42. Undying? 5
20A 43. Offer illegally, as tickets 5
21A 45. Publicly proclaim 4
22A 46. Scatters messily 6
23A 48. MORGAN FREEMAN 13
24A 55. Class for some recent arrivals, for short 3
25A 56. Kind of green 3
26A 59. Chemist Lilly 3
27A 60. Chilean poet who served as a Communist senator 6
28A 61. Four to two, e.g. 6
29A 64. Friar with a famous "razor" 5
30A 68. Turns on the waterworks 5
31A 69. Ones making periodic appearances ... or the link between the capitalized clues and their answers 19
32A 73. 2024's "Joker: ___ à Deux" 5
33A 74. Alfresco area 5
34A 75. "Everything cool between us?" 6
35A 76. Poorly nourished 6
36A 78. Fill at a fill-up 3
37A 80. ___ card 3
38A 81. Rite Aid rival 3
39A 84. CHRISTIAN SLATER 13
40A 89. City on the Illinois River 6
41A 92. Grumpy grimace 4
42A 93. Discontinued Swedish cars 5
43A 96. Inauthentic 5
44A 97. "Catch-22" topic 3
45A 100. Join, as two metal surfaces 6
46A 102. ISABELLA ROSSELLINI 10
47A 104. KEVIN KLINE 11
48A 107. Erté's style, informally 4
49A 108. Canadian fuel brand 4
50A 109. All-vowel musical refrain 5
51A 110. Actress Falco with four Emmys 4
52A 112. Sugary secretion 6
53A 114. BEA ARTHUR 8
54A 118. MARLON BRANDO 12
55A 122. Submitted by the deadline 8
56A 123. B.L.T. or P.B.J., cutesily 6
57A 124. Musician/actress Haim 5
58A 125. Syllable of censure 3
59A 126. Instants 4
60A 127. High-protein bean 4
61A 128. Big name in truck rentals 5

Across Clues - Strategic Hints

1A: "1. "Aladdin" villain"

5 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that indonesian terrorist and islamic militant who commands the laskar jihad; uses violence to achieve political ends (1965-2000)
  • Similar words include: Jafar Umar Thalib, Jaffar Umar Thalib, Jaffar
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: JAFAR

Remember this word for future puzzles!

2A: "6. "It's yours!""

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that exchange or deliver for money or its equivalent
  • Similar words include: trade, betray, deal
  • Opposite of: unsold, buy
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SOLD

Remember this word for future puzzles!

3A: "10. Sarcastic "Sure""

4 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

4A: "14. Heat setting, in brief?"

3 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

5A: "17. Dutch Caribbean isle"

5 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a popular island resort in the netherlands antilles
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ARUBA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

6A: "18. Explosive sound"

6 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

7A: "20. Lacking constraints"

8 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

8A: "22. MARTIN SHEEN"

12 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ____________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HENRIMATISSE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

9A: "24. LIAM NEESON"

8 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

10A: "25. Chef Hussain of "The Great British Bake Off" fame"

6 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

11A: "26. Discount Chinese e-tailer"

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

12A: "28. Jumbo shrimp"

5 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that any of various edible decapod crustaceans
  • Similar words include: shrimp
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PRAWN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

13A: "29. Ben & Jerry's alternative"

4 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

14A: "31. Pink-slips"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that airtight sealed metal container for food or drink or paint etc.
  • Similar words include: backside, prat, rump
  • Opposite of: hire
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CANS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

15A: "33. NORMAN REEDUS"

11 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ___________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DONNASUMMER

Remember this word for future puzzles!

16A: "37. GREG KINNEAR"

10 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

17A: "40. Conditions of equilibrium"

6 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

18A: "41. Historian's division"

3 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a period marked by distinctive character or reckoned from a fixed point or event
  • Similar words include: earned run average, epoch, geological era
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ERA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

19A: "42. Undying?"

5 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that possessing life
  • Similar words include: active, alert, live
  • Opposite of: unanimated, dead
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ALIVE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

20A: "43. Offer illegally, as tickets"

5 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the skin that covers the top of the head
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SCALP

Remember this word for future puzzles!

21A: "45. Publicly proclaim"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that to declare or affirm solemnly and formally as true
  • Similar words include: verify, assert, aver
  • Opposite of: disavow
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AVOW

Remember this word for future puzzles!

22A: "46. Scatters messily"

6 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that spread by scattering ( is archaic)
  • Similar words include: strew, straw
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: STREWS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

23A: "48. MORGAN FREEMAN"

13 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _____________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GEORGEFOREMAN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

24A: "55. Class for some recent arrivals, for short"

3 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

25A: "56. Kind of green"

3 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that seed of a pea plant used for food
  • Similar words include: pea plant
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PEA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

26A: "59. Chemist Lilly"

3 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

27A: "60. Chilean poet who served as a Communist senator"

6 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that chilean poet (1904-1973)
  • Similar words include: Neftali Ricardo Reyes, Reyes, Pablo Neruda
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NERUDA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

28A: "61. Four to two, e.g."

6 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that (geometry) a plane rectangle with four equal sides and four right angles; a four-sided regular polygon
  • Similar words include: straight, second power, squarely
  • Opposite of: crooked, round
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SQUARE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

29A: "64. Friar with a famous "razor""

5 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that english scholastic philosopher and assumed author of occam's razor (1285-1349)
  • Similar words include: William of Ockham, Ockham, William of Occam
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OCCAM

Remember this word for future puzzles!

30A: "68. Turns on the waterworks"

5 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a loud utterance; often in protest or opposition
  • Similar words include: weep, rallying cry, scream
  • Opposite of: laugh
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CRIES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

31A: "69. Ones making periodic appearances ... or the link between the capitalized clues and their answers"

19 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ___________________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RECURRINGCHARACTERS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

32A: "73. 2024's "Joker: ___ à Deux""

5 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that (psychiatry) a psychological disorder of thought or emotion; a more neutral term than mental illness
  • Similar words include: mental disorder, mental disturbance, psychological disorder
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FOLIE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

33A: "74. Alfresco area"

5 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that usually paved outdoor area adjoining a residence
  • Similar words include: terrace
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PATIO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

34A: "75. "Everything cool between us?""

6 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

35A: "76. Poorly nourished"

6 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

36A: "78. Fill at a fill-up"

3 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the state of matter distinguished from the solid and liquid states by: relatively low density and viscosity; relatively great expansion and contraction with changes in pressure and temperature; the ability to diffuse readily; and the spontaneous tendency to become distributed uniformly throughout any container
  • Similar words include: blow, gun, swash
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GAS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

37A: "80. ___ card"

3 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

38A: "81. Rite Aid rival"

3 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a summary of your academic and work history
  • Similar words include: CV, curriculum vitae, resume
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CVS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

39A: "84. CHRISTIAN SLATER"

13 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _____________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ELAINESTRITCH

Remember this word for future puzzles!

40A: "89. City on the Illinois River"

6 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a city in central illinois on the illinois river
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PEORIA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

41A: "92. Grumpy grimace"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a disdainful grimace
  • Similar words include: pout, wry face
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MOUE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

42A: "93. Discontinued Swedish cars"

5 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

43A: "96. Inauthentic"

5 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a person who professes beliefs and opinions that he or she does not hold in order to conceal his or her real feelings or motives
  • Similar words include: bogus, bastard, hypocrite
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PHONY

Remember this word for future puzzles!

44A: "97. "Catch-22" topic"

3 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the waging of armed conflict against an enemy
  • Similar words include: warfare, state of war
  • Opposite of: peace, make peace
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: WAR

Remember this word for future puzzles!

45A: "100. Join, as two metal surfaces"

6 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an alloy (usually of lead and tin) used when melted to join two metal surfaces
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SOLDER

Remember this word for future puzzles!

46A: "102. ISABELLA ROSSELLINI"

10 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

47A: "104. KEVIN KLINE"

11 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ___________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EVELKNIEVEL

Remember this word for future puzzles!

48A: "107. Erté's style, informally"

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a style of design that was popular in the 1920s and 1930s; marked by stylized forms and geometric designs adapted to mass production
  • Similar words include: art deco
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DECO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

49A: "108. Canadian fuel brand"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

50A: "109. All-vowel musical refrain"

5 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

51A: "110. Actress Falco with four Emmys"

4 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

52A: "112. Sugary secretion"

6 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a sweet liquid secretion that is attractive to pollinators
  • Similar words include: ambrosia
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NECTAR

Remember this word for future puzzles!

53A: "114. BEA ARTHUR"

8 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

54A: "118. MARLON BRANDO"

12 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ____________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ORLANDOBLOOM

Remember this word for future puzzles!

55A: "122. Submitted by the deadline"

8 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

56A: "123. B.L.T. or P.B.J., cutesily"

6 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

57A: "124. Musician/actress Haim"

5 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

58A: "125. Syllable of censure"

3 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that utter `tsk,' `tut,' or `tut-tut,' as in disapproval
  • Similar words include: tut-tut, tut
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TSK

Remember this word for future puzzles!

59A: "126. Instants"

4 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that 1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the systeme international d'unites
  • Similar words include: sec, second, secant
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SECS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

60A: "127. High-protein bean"

4 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that erect bushy hairy annual herb having trifoliate leaves and purple to pink flowers; extensively cultivated for food and forage and soil improvement but especially for its nutritious oil-rich seeds; native to asia
  • Similar words include: soja bean, soja, Glycine max
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SOYA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

61A: "128. Big name in truck rentals"

5 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

Down Clues - Complete List

No. Clue Letters
1D 1. God, to Bob Marley 3
2D 2. "___ you done?" 3
3D 3. Musical comedy that was 1968's highest-grossing film 9
4D 4. Caustic 8
5D 5. Bootlegger's concern 4
6D 6. Like 666, popularly 7
7D 7. Band that's big in Japan? 3
8D 8. Disoriented 4
9D 9. Administered, as a drug 5
10D 10. Potentialities 3
11D 11. Something found under a top 3
12D 12. Wriggler in a stream 3
13D 13. "___ fugit" 6
14D 14. Star's opposite 6
15D 15. Stout figure? 6
16D 16. Supreme Egyptian god 6
17D 18. Inuit watercraft 6
18D 19. Office messages 5
19D 21. Like some mattresses and offers 4
20D 23. Mineral that makes cosmetics shimmer 4
21D 27. Remove an identifier from, as on Instagram 5
22D 29. Clear 5
23D 30. Shoulder press targets, to trainers 5
24D 32. Hit a ___ 4
25D 34. Where a flock may gather 4
26D 35. Beginning on 4
27D 36. Attach with a needle and thread 5
28D 38. Unused 3
29D 39. Extreme happiness 4
30D 44. Double-breasted pieces of menswear 9
31D 47. Trigger 4
32D 49. Like Scrooge McDuck 4
33D 50. Right-hand page of a book 5
34D 51. Made muffs 5
35D 52. John ___ Day (California commemoration) 4
36D 53. Citrus refreshments 4
37D 54. "N.Y. State of Mind" rapper 3
38D 57. 1994 Costner title role 4
39D 58. Diva's time to shine 4
40D 61. "Dune" genre 5
41D 62. Mary or Elizabeth 5
42D 63. Towering creature in "The Two Towers" 3
43D 65. Sound in a cornfield 3
44D 66. Half brother of Apollo 4
45D 67. Christmas presence? 4
46D 69. Sushi bar serving 4
47D 70. Jazz great Fitzgerald 4
48D 71. Along with "CODA" and "Argo," the only other four-letter Best Picture winner 4
49D 72. Give gratis 4
50D 73. Shakespearean shout 3
51D 77. That's the spirit! 5
52D 79. Strike defier 4
53D 81. Part of an intersection 9
54D 82. Barolos e Brunellos 5
55D 83. Turn someone down 5
56D 85. Unshared numbers 4
57D 86. Hostile manner, informally 4
58D 87. Actor and disability activist Christopher 5
59D 88. Like some liquors 4
60D 90. Org. regulating air quality 3
61D 91. "You sure about that?" 8
62D 94. Periods of 730 days 7
63D 95. Withdraw from a union 6
64D 97. Teensy amount 6
65D 98. Feathered fliers 6
66D 99. Shoe brand named for an antelope 6
67D 100. Hybrid tennis bottoms 6
68D 101. Second tries 5
69D 103. El Pollo ___ (chicken chain) 4
70D 105. Creditor's claim 4
71D 106. Turkish money 5
72D 111. Fad toy of 1996 4
73D 113. Snowboarder's transport 4
74D 115. Often-illegal turn, slangily 3
75D 116. Cinephile's cable choice 3
76D 117. Boars and bulls 3
77D 119. Comedian Sedaris 3
78D 120. I, to Augustus 3
79D 121. Smudge or smear, say 3

Down Clues - Strategic Hints

1D: "1. God, to Bob Marley"

3 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

2D: "2. "___ you done?""

3 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a unit of surface area equal to 100 square meters
  • Similar words include: ar, be, personify
  • Opposite of: differ
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ARE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

3D: "3. Musical comedy that was 1968's highest-grossing film"

9 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

4D: "4. Caustic"

8 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a substance that abrades or wears down
  • Similar words include: harsh, abrasive material, scratchy
  • Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ABRASIVE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

5D: "5. Bootlegger's concern"

4 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a sudden short attack
  • Similar words include: foray, foray into, bust
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RAID

Remember this word for future puzzles!

6D: "6. Like 666, popularly"

7 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that extremely evil or cruel; expressive of cruelty or befitting hell
  • Similar words include: demonic, hellish, fiendish
  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SATANIC

Remember this word for future puzzles!

7D: "7. Band that's big in Japan?"

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!

8D: "8. Disoriented"

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that people who are destined to die soon
  • Similar words include: turn a loss, miss, befuddled
  • Opposite of: won, gain
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LOST

Remember this word for future puzzles!

9D: "9. Administered, as a drug"

5 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that treat with an agent; add (an agent) to
  • Similar words include: dose, drug
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DOSED

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10D: "10. Potentialities"

3 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

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11D: "11. Something found under a top"

3 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an undergarment worn by women to support their breasts
  • Similar words include: bandeau, brassiere
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BRA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

12D: "12. Wriggler in a stream"

3 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the fatty flesh of eel; an elongate fish found in fresh water in europe and america; large eels are usually smoked or pickled
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EEL

Remember this word for future puzzles!

13D: "13. "___ fugit""

6 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

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14D: "14. Star's opposite"

6 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

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15D: "15. Stout figure?"

6 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that someone who brews beer or ale from malt and hops and water
  • Similar words include: beer maker
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BREWER

Remember this word for future puzzles!

16D: "16. Supreme Egyptian god"

6 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

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17D: "18. Inuit watercraft"

6 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a small canoe consisting of a light frame made watertight with animal skins; used by eskimos
  • Similar words include: kayak
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: KAYAKS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

18D: "19. Office messages"

5 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

19D: "21. Like some mattresses and offers"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the members of a business organization that owns or operates one or more establishments
  • Similar words include: unbendable, solid, unfluctuating
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FIRM

Remember this word for future puzzles!

20D: "23. Mineral that makes cosmetics shimmer"

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that any of various minerals consisting of hydrous silicates of aluminum or potassium etc. that crystallize in forms that allow perfect cleavage into very thin leaves; used as dielectrics because of their resistance to electricity
  • Similar words include: isinglass
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MICA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

21D: "27. Remove an identifier from, as on Instagram"

5 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

22D: "29. Clear"

5 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that remove from memory or existence
  • Similar words include: wipe off, efface, delete
  • Opposite of: record
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ERASE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

23D: "30. Shoulder press targets, to trainers"

5 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

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24D: "32. Hit a ___"

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a sharp protuberance
  • Similar words include: split, hang-up, rip
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SNAG

Remember this word for future puzzles!

25D: "34. Where a flock may gather"

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the central area of a church
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NAVE

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26D: "35. Beginning on"

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

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27D: "36. Attach with a needle and thread"

5 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

28D: "38. Unused"

3 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
  • Similar words include: novel, fresh, newly
  • Opposite of: old, worn
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NEW

Remember this word for future puzzles!

29D: "39. Extreme happiness"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that great merriment
  • Similar words include: gloating, hilarity, mirthfulness
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GLEE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

30D: "44. Double-breasted pieces of menswear"

9 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

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31D: "47. Trigger"

4 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a verbalization that encourages you to attempt something
  • Similar words include: branch line, urging, spine
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SPUR

Remember this word for future puzzles!

32D: "49. Like Scrooge McDuck"

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that people who have possessions and wealth (considered as a group)
  • Similar words include: deep, productive, fat
  • Opposite of: poor people, lean
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RICH

Remember this word for future puzzles!

33D: "50. Right-hand page of a book"

5 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that right-hand page
  • Opposite of: verso
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RECTO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

34D: "51. Made muffs"

5 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that to make a mistake or be incorrect
  • Similar words include: stray, mistake, slip
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ERRED

Remember this word for future puzzles!

35D: "52. John ___ Day (California commemoration)"

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that united states naturalist (born in england) who advocated the creation of national parks (1838-1914)
  • Similar words include: John Muir
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MUIR

Remember this word for future puzzles!

36D: "53. Citrus refreshments"

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a sweetened beverage of diluted fruit juice
  • Similar words include: ade, fruit drink
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ADES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

37D: "54. "N.Y. State of Mind" rapper"

3 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a silvery soft waxy metallic element of the alkali metal group; occurs abundantly in natural compounds (especially in salt water); burns with a yellow flame and reacts violently in water; occurs in sea water and in the mineral halite (rock salt)
  • Similar words include: atomic number 11, Na, sodium
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NAS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

38D: "57. 1994 Costner title role"

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

39D: "58. Diva's time to shine"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an elaborate song for solo voice
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ARIA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

40D: "61. "Dune" genre"

5 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

41D: "62. Mary or Elizabeth"

5 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the only fertile female in a colony of social insects such as bees and ants and termites; its function is to lay eggs
  • Similar words include: poof, pouf, tabby
  • Opposite of: male monarch, king
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: QUEEN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

42D: "63. Towering creature in "The Two Towers""

3 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

43D: "65. Sound in a cornfield"

3 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the sound made by corvine birds
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CAW

Remember this word for future puzzles!

44D: "66. Half brother of Apollo"

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that (greek mythology) greek god of war; son of zeus and hera; identified with roman mars
  • Similar words include: ar, are
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ARES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

45D: "67. Christmas presence?"

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that (new testament) the sages who visited jesus and mary and joseph shortly after jesus was born; the gospel according to matthew says they were guided by a star and brought gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh; because there were three gifts it is usually assumed that there were three of them
  • Similar words include: Wise Men, magus
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MAGI

Remember this word for future puzzles!

46D: "69. Sushi bar serving"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that rotary motion of an object around its own axis
  • Similar words include: drum roll, curlicue, roll up
  • Opposite of: unwind
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ROLL

Remember this word for future puzzles!

47D: "70. Jazz great Fitzgerald"

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

48D: "71. Along with "CODA" and "Argo," the only other four-letter Best Picture winner"

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

49D: "72. Give gratis"

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an intensive examination testing a student's proficiency in some special field of knowledge
  • Similar words include: comprehensive, comprehensive examination
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: COMP

Remember this word for future puzzles!

50D: "73. Shakespearean shout"

3 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

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51D: "77. That's the spirit!"

5 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an evil supernatural being
  • Similar words include: daimon, fiend, devil
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DEMON

Remember this word for future puzzles!

52D: "79. Strike defier"

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

53D: "81. Part of an intersection"

9 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a junction where one street or road crosses another
  • Similar words include: crossing, carrefour, crossway
  • Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CROSSROAD

Remember this word for future puzzles!

54D: "82. Barolos e Brunellos"

5 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that fermented juice (of grapes especially)
  • Similar words include: vino, wine
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: VINOS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

55D: "83. Turn someone down"

5 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

56D: "85. Unshared numbers"

4 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that any activity that is performed alone without assistance
  • Similar words include: solo
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SOLI

Remember this word for future puzzles!

57D: "86. Hostile manner, informally"

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

58D: "87. Actor and disability activist Christopher"

5 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that female ruff
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: REEVE

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59D: "88. Like some liquors"

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
  • Similar words include: voiceless, gruelling, laborious
  • Opposite of: soft, easy
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HARD

Remember this word for future puzzles!

60D: "90. Org. regulating air quality"

3 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an independent federal agency established to coordinate programs aimed at reducing pollution and protecting the environment
  • Similar words include: Environmental Protection Agency
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EPA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

61D: "91. "You sure about that?""

8 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

62D: "94. Periods of 730 days"

7 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

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63D: "95. Withdraw from a union"

6 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that withdraw from an organization or communion
  • Similar words include: splinter, break away
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SECEDE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

64D: "97. Teensy amount"

6 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

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65D: "98. Feathered fliers"

6 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

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66D: "99. Shoe brand named for an antelope"

6 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

67D: "100. Hybrid tennis bottoms"

6 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

68D: "101. Second tries"

5 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that do over, as of (part of) a house
  • Similar words include: redo, make over, reconstruct
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: REDOS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

69D: "103. El Pollo ___ (chicken chain)"

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that informal or slang terms for mentally irregular
  • Similar words include: nutty, loony, nuts
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LOCO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

70D: "105. Creditor's claim"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the right to take another's property if an obligation is not discharged
  • Similar words include: spleen
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LIEN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

71D: "106. Turkish money"

5 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the basic unit of money on malta; equal to 100 cents
  • Similar words include: Italian lira, lira, Turkish lira
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LIRAS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

72D: "111. Fad toy of 1996"

4 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

73D: "113. Snowboarder's transport"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

74D: "115. Often-illegal turn, slangily"

3 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

75D: "116. Cinephile's cable choice"

3 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

76D: "117. Boars and bulls"

3 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a very light colorless element that is one of the six inert gasses; the most difficult gas to liquefy; occurs in economically extractable amounts in certain natural gases (as those found in texas and kansas)
  • Similar words include: atomic number 2, helium, he
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

77D: "119. Comedian Sedaris"

3 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

78D: "120. I, to Augustus"

3 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the smallest whole number or a numeral representing this number
  • Similar words include: unrivaled, unitary, unmatched
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ONE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

79D: "121. Smudge or smear, say"

3 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the month following february and preceding april
  • Similar words include: spoil, impair, defect
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MAR

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

61 Across Clues
79 Down Clues
140 Total Clues

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Last updated: August 30, 2026 at 09:21 AM