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 (34 clues)
- Across Clues - Detailed Hints
- Down Clues Table (34 clues)
- Down Clues - Detailed Hints
- Expert Solving Strategies
- Today's Puzzle Statistics
Today's Puzzle Difficulty: 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. Once-in-a-lifetime events | 6 |
| 2A | 7. They might have good track records | 8 |
| 3A | 15. "Ah, right right right" | 6 |
| 4A | 16. Field for both Martin Luther and Martin Luther King Jr. | 8 |
| 5A | 17. Oscar winner for "The African Queen" | 6 |
| 6A | 18. Low volume? | 8 |
| 7A | 19. Treat mercifully | 5 |
| 8A | 20. Charges | 5 |
| 9A | 21. Concern for a seamstress | 3 |
| 10A | 22. "Sounds good!" | 4 |
| 11A | 23. Best-selling author who founded Paris's Théâtre Historique | 5 |
| 12A | 24. "Green" | 4 |
| 13A | 25. Rocker Brian | 3 |
| 14A | 26. Green spots | 5 |
| 15A | 27. Game with a board numbered from 1 to 20 | 5 |
| 16A | 28. Peace sign? | 12 |
| 17A | 31. "The best cheese of its type in the world," per George Orwell | 7 |
| 18A | 32. Approach surreptitiously | 7 |
| 19A | 36. Where somebody might be washed up? | 12 |
| 20A | 38. One who's generous to a fault, say | 5 |
| 21A | 41. They're held in bondage | 5 |
| 22A | 42. Org. whose motto translates to "Through adversity to the stars" | 3 |
| 23A | 43. Neural transmitter | 4 |
| 24A | 44. Certain exposition | 5 |
| 25A | 45. Children's author Kinney | 4 |
| 26A | 46. ?!?!?! | 3 |
| 27A | 47. Something you might get at a wedding | 5 |
| 28A | 48. Grand duke of Luxembourg until 2025 | 5 |
| 29A | 49. It has a light bulb | 8 |
| 30A | 51. No comment? | 6 |
| 31A | 52. Toss and turn, perhaps | 8 |
| 32A | 53. Role for John Travolta on "Welcome Back, Kotter" | 6 |
| 33A | 54. Takes to the next level | 8 |
| 34A | 55. Tree nymphs | 6 |
Across Clues - Strategic Hints
1A: "1. Once-in-a-lifetime events"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the time when something begins (especially life)
- Similar words include: nascence, deliver, give birth
- Opposite of: death
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BIRTHS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
2A: "7. They might have good track records"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a person trained to compete in sports
- Similar words include: jock, athlete
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ATHLETES
Remember this word for future puzzles!
3A: "15. "Ah, right right right""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OHISEE
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4A: "16. Field for both Martin Luther and Martin Luther King Jr."
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the rational and systematic study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truth
- Similar words include: divinity, theological system
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: THEOLOGY
Remember this word for future puzzles!
5A: "17. Oscar winner for "The African Queen""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that united states film actor (1899-1957)
- Similar words include: Humphrey Bogart, Humphrey DeForest Bogart
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BOGART
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6A: "18. Low volume?"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that as much as a teaspoon will hold
- Similar words include: teaspoonful
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TEASPOON
Remember this word for future puzzles!
7A: "19. Treat mercifully"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an extra component of a machine or other apparatus
- Similar words include: excess, unornamented, superfluous
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SPARE
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8A: "20. Charges"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a statute in draft before it becomes law
- Similar words include: card, invoice, charge
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BILLS
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9A: "21. Concern for a seamstress"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a display of bad temper
- Similar words include: suit, agree, check
- Opposite of: unfit, disagree
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FIT
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10A: "22. "Sounds good!""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a brutal terrorist group active in kashmir; fights against india with the goal of restoring islamic rule of india
- Similar words include: Lashkar-e-Tayyiba, net ball, Army of the Pure
- Opposite of: prevent, forbid
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LETS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
11A: "23. Best-selling author who founded Paris's Théâtre Historique"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that french writer remembered for his swashbuckling historical tales (1802-1870)
- Similar words include: Duma, Alexandre Dumas
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DUMAS
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12A: "24. "Green""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that money in the form of bills or coins
- Similar words include: immediate payment, hard currency, hard cash
- Opposite of: credit
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CASH
Remember this word for future puzzles!
13A: "25. Rocker Brian"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ENO
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14A: "26. Green spots"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a fertile tract in a desert (where the water table approaches the surface)
- Similar words include: haven, oasis
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OASES
Remember this word for future puzzles!
15A: "27. Game with a board numbered from 1 to 20"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a game in which small pointed missiles are thrown at a dartboard
- Similar words include: flit, flash, flutter
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DARTS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
16A: "28. Peace sign?"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DONOTDISTURB
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17A: "31. "The best cheese of its type in the world," per George Orwell"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that english blue cheese
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: STILTON
Remember this word for future puzzles!
18A: "32. Approach surreptitiously"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SNEAKUP
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19A: "36. Where somebody might be washed up?"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DESERTISLAND
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20A: "38. One who's generous to a fault, say"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DOTER
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21A: "41. They're held in bondage"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that (middle ages) a person who is bound to the land and owned by the feudal lord
- Similar words include: villein, serf, helot
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SERFS
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22A: "42. Org. whose motto translates to "Through adversity to the stars""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the airforce of great britain
- Similar words include: Royal Air Force, Red Army Faction
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RAF
Remember this word for future puzzles!
23A: "43. Neural transmitter"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that long nerve fiber that conducts away from the cell body of the neuron
- Similar words include: axone
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AXON
Remember this word for future puzzles!
24A: "44. Certain exposition"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an analytic or interpretive literary composition
- Similar words include: assay, test, examine
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ESSAY
Remember this word for future puzzles!
25A: "45. Children's author Kinney"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: JEFF
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26A: "46. ?!?!?!"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: WTF
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27A: "47. Something you might get at a wedding"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: INLAW
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28A: "48. Grand duke of Luxembourg until 2025"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HENRI
Remember this word for future puzzles!
29A: "49. It has a light bulb"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that any of numerous varieties of narcissus plants having showy often yellow flowers with a trumpet-shaped central crown
- Similar words include: Narcissus pseudonarcissus
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DAFFODIL
Remember this word for future puzzles!
30A: "51. No comment?"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the act of refusing to comply (as with a request)
- Similar words include: abnegation, self-denial, defense
- Opposite of: prosecution
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DENIAL
Remember this word for future puzzles!
31A: "52. Toss and turn, perhaps"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LIEAWAKE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
32A: "53. Role for John Travolta on "Welcome Back, Kotter""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: VINNIE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
33A: "54. Takes to the next level"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that give a promotion to or assign to a higher position
- Similar words include: lift, advance, bring up
- Opposite of: demote, lower
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ELEVATES
Remember this word for future puzzles!
34A: "55. Tree nymphs"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a deity or nymph of the woods
- Similar words include: wood nymph, dryad
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DRYADS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
Down Clues - Complete List
| No. | Clue | Letters |
|---|---|---|
| 1D | 1. Goes downhill at the Olympics, in a way | 8 |
| 2D | 2. "Perish the thought!" | 8 |
| 3D | 3. Tubes that go down? | 8 |
| 4D | 4. The first of these was Terrible | 5 |
| 5D | 5. Accounted for | 4 |
| 6D | 6. Murderer of Osiris, in myth | 3 |
| 7D | 7. Every now and then | 7 |
| 8D | 8. You just can't take it | 12 |
| 9D | 9. Recovers | 5 |
| 10D | 10. Competitor's setback | 4 |
| 11D | 11. Half of hip-hop's Run the Jewels, alongside Killer Mike | 3 |
| 12D | 12. How a troublemaker might go | 6 |
| 13D | 13. One prioritizing self-care? | 6 |
| 14D | 14. Electronica instruments, informally | 6 |
| 15D | 20. Professional | 12 |
| 16D | 23. Woodworkers' grooves | 5 |
| 17D | 24. Vicious circle? | 5 |
| 18D | 26. Animal known to hold another's paws while sleeping | 5 |
| 19D | 27. Attire | 5 |
| 20D | 29. From time past | 5 |
| 21D | 30. Coalesce | 5 |
| 22D | 33. Surname of a Tolstoy heroine | 8 |
| 23D | 34. Game | 8 |
| 24D | 35. Acrobat's display | 8 |
| 25D | 37. Secondhand offerings | 7 |
| 26D | 38. Dillydally | 6 |
| 27D | 39. Hearty soup ingredient in Caribbean cooking | 6 |
| 28D | 40. Brittle confection | 6 |
| 29D | 44. Finish up with | 5 |
| 30D | 45. Female donkey | 5 |
| 31D | 47. Where the Red Delicious apple originated | 4 |
| 32D | 48. Dauphin, e.g. | 4 |
| 33D | 50. Number one, informally | 3 |
| 34D | 51. It might have a director's commentary | 3 |
Down Clues - Strategic Hints
1D: "1. Goes downhill at the Olympics, in a way"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that formerly two short sleds coupled together
- Similar words include: bobsled, bobsleigh, bob
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BOBSLEDS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
2D: "2. "Perish the thought!""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: IHOPENOT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
3D: "3. Tubes that go down?"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that tubular pasta in short ribbed pieces
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RIGATONI
Remember this word for future puzzles!
4D: "4. The first of these was Terrible"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a male monarch or emperor (especially of russia prior to 1917)
- Similar words include: tsar, czar, tzar
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TSARS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
5D: "5. Accounted for"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the present location; this place
- Similar words include: Hera, hither
- Opposite of: there
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HERE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
6D: "6. Murderer of Osiris, in myth"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a group of things of the same kind that belong together and are so used
- Similar words include: band, curing, exercise set
- Opposite of: rise
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SET
Remember this word for future puzzles!
7D: "7. Every now and then"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ATTIMES
Remember this word for future puzzles!
8D: "8. You just can't take it"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: THELASTSTRAW
Remember this word for future puzzles!
9D: "9. Recovers"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that heal or recover
- Similar words include: heal, bring around, mend
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HEALS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
10D: "10. Competitor's setback"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that something that is lost
- Similar words include: red ink, release, personnel casualty
- Opposite of: gain
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LOSS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
11D: "11. Half of hip-hop's Run the Jewels, alongside Killer Mike"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ELP
Remember this word for future puzzles!
12D: "12. How a troublemaker might go"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TOOFAR
Remember this word for future puzzles!
13D: "13. One prioritizing self-care?"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a conceited and self-centered person
- Similar words include: swellhead, egotist, egocentric
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EGOIST
Remember this word for future puzzles!
14D: "14. Electronica instruments, informally"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SYNTHS
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15D: "20. Professional"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that exhibiting methodical and systematic characteristics that would be useful in business
- Similar words include: earnest
- Pattern: ____________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BUSINESSLIKE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
16D: "23. Woodworkers' grooves"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that panel forming the lower part of an interior wall when it is finished differently from the rest of the wall
- Similar words include: wainscot, dado
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DADOS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
17D: "24. Vicious circle?"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a clique (often secret) that seeks power usually through intrigue
- Similar words include: conspire, camarilla, junto
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CABAL
Remember this word for future puzzles!
18D: "26. Animal known to hold another's paws while sleeping"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the fur of an otter
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OTTER
Remember this word for future puzzles!
19D: "27. Attire"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a one-piece garment for a woman; has skirt and bodice
- Similar words include: prune, tog, clip
- Opposite of: undress
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DRESS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
20D: "29. From time past"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OLDEN
Remember this word for future puzzles!
21D: "30. Coalesce"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that to bring or combine together or with something else
- Similar words include: unite, amalgamate, commix
- Opposite of: divide, disunify
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: UNIFY
Remember this word for future puzzles!
22D: "33. Surname of a Tolstoy heroine"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: KARENINA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
23D: "34. Game"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that oblivious of dangers or perils or calmly resolute in facing them
- Similar words include: fearless, untroubled, secure
- Opposite of: afraid, insecure
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: UNAFRAID
Remember this word for future puzzles!
24D: "35. Acrobat's display"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PDFFILES
Remember this word for future puzzles!
25D: "37. Secondhand offerings"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the selling of something purchased
- Similar words include: resale
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RESALES
Remember this word for future puzzles!
26D: "38. Dillydally"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that take one's time; proceed slowly
- Similar words include: dally, linger, fall behind
- Opposite of: rush
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DAWDLE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
27D: "39. Hearty soup ingredient in Caribbean cooking"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the skinned tail of cattle; used especially for soups
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OXTAIL
Remember this word for future puzzles!
28D: "40. Brittle confection"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that caramelized sugar cooled in thin sheets
- Similar words include: brittle, toffy
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TOFFEE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
29D: "44. Finish up with"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ENDAT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
30D: "45. Female donkey"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that united states architect who designed the first skyscraper in which a metal skeleton was used (1832-1907)
- Similar words include: William Le Baron Jenny, jennet, jenny ass
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: JENNY
Remember this word for future puzzles!
31D: "47. Where the Red Delicious apple originated"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a member of the siouan people formerly living in iowa and minnesota and missouri
- Similar words include: Hawkeye State, IA, Ioway
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: IOWA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
32D: "48. Dauphin, e.g."
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a person who is entitled by law or by the terms of a will to inherit the estate of another
- Similar words include: inheritor, heritor, successor
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HEIR
Remember this word for future puzzles!
33D: "50. Number one, informally"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FAV
Remember this word for future puzzles!
34D: "51. It might have a director's commentary"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a digital recording (as of a movie) on an optical disk that can be played on a computer or a television set
- Similar words include: videodisk, videodisc
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DVD
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
34 Across Clues
34 Down Clues
68 Total Clues
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