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 (33 clues)
- Across Clues - Detailed Hints
- Down Clues Table (33 clues)
- Down Clues - Detailed Hints
- Expert Solving Strategies
- Today's Puzzle Statistics
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. Bring together | 5 |
| 2A | 6. Alligatorid of Central and South America | 6 |
| 3A | 12. Fabric with diagonal ribbing | 5 |
| 4A | 13. Formula 1's Circuit de Monaco, e.g. | 8 |
| 5A | 15. Hip-hop artist with a 2018 Pulitzer | 5 |
| 6A | 16. Fine fodder for a Freudian analyst | 9 |
| 7A | 17. Call from a bridge | 4 |
| 8A | 18. State flower of Utah | 4 |
| 9A | 19. "Right?," in British lingo | 5 |
| 10A | 20. Pathetic | 3 |
| 11A | 21. Like some parties | 4 |
| 12A | 22. One may be hanging by a thread | 6 |
| 13A | 23. "We're under a lot of pressure!" | 11 |
| 14A | 26. Make it or break it | 3 |
| 15A | 27. Danger signal | 9 |
| 16A | 28. Blocks | 4 |
| 17A | 29. E-liquid | 9 |
| 18A | 31. Wished | 4 |
| 19A | 34. Outmoded living room fixtures | 9 |
| 20A | 37. Reddit Q&A | 3 |
| 21A | 38. Show to be fabricating? | 11 |
| 22A | 40. Blew up | 6 |
| 23A | 42. Festival flier | 4 |
| 24A | 43. Number of Beethoven operas | 3 |
| 25A | 44. Fishing accessory | 5 |
| 26A | 45. Consumes | 4 |
| 27A | 46. Retired rapper Azalea | 4 |
| 28A | 47. "Oppenheimer" setting | 9 |
| 29A | 49. From the British Isles, say | 5 |
| 30A | 50. "Happy to help!" | 8 |
| 31A | 51. County fair animal | 5 |
| 32A | 52. Lichtenstein's "Whaam!," e.g. | 6 |
| 33A | 53. County fair animal | 5 |
Across Clues - Strategic Hints
1A: "1. Bring together"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that collect or gather
- Similar words include: accumulate, compile, gather
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AMASS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
2A: "6. Alligatorid of Central and South America"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a semiaquatic reptile of central and south america that resembles an alligator but has a more heavily armored belly
- Similar words include: cayman
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CAIMAN
Remember this word for future puzzles!
3A: "12. Fabric with diagonal ribbing"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a weave used to produce the effect of parallel diagonal ribs
- Similar words include: twill weave
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TWILL
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4A: "13. Formula 1's Circuit de Monaco, e.g."
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ROADRACE
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5A: "15. Hip-hop artist with a 2018 Pulitzer"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LAMAR
Remember this word for future puzzles!
6A: "16. Fine fodder for a Freudian analyst"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SEXDREAMS
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7A: "17. Call from a bridge"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AHOY
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8A: "18. State flower of Utah"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SEGO
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9A: "19. "Right?," in British lingo"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: INNIT
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10A: "20. Pathetic"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that experiencing or showing sorrow or unhappiness; ; - christina rossetti
- Similar words include: distressing, deplorable, lamentable
- Opposite of: glad
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SAD
Remember this word for future puzzles!
11A: "21. Like some parties"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a male deer, especially an adult male red deer
- Similar words include: snoop, tell on, denounce
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: STAG
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12A: "22. One may be hanging by a thread"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the leaf of a conifer
- Similar words include: acerate leaf, phonograph needle, goad
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NEEDLE
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13A: "23. "We're under a lot of pressure!""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: THEHEATISON
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14A: "26. Make it or break it"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that (golf) the standard number of strokes set for each hole on a golf course, or for the entire course
- Similar words include: equivalence, equation, equality
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PAR
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15A: "27. Danger signal"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ALARMBELL
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16A: "28. Blocks"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a decree that prohibits something
- Similar words include: ban, proscription, cast out
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BANS
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17A: "29. E-liquid"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: VAPEJUICE
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18A: "31. Wished"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a chadic language spoken in northern nigeria
- Similar words include: beseech, tender, press
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BADE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
19A: "34. Outmoded living room fixtures"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PLASMATVS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
20A: "37. Reddit Q&A"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AMA
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21A: "38. Show to be fabricating?"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CATCHINALIE
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22A: "40. Blew up"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GOTMAD
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23A: "42. Festival flier"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a bank check that has been fraudulently altered to increase its face value
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: KITE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
24A: "43. Number of Beethoven operas"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the smallest whole number or a numeral representing this number
- Similar words include: 1, unmatchable, I
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ONE
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25A: "44. Fishing accessory"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a wicker basket used by anglers to hold fish
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CREEL
Remember this word for future puzzles!
26A: "45. Consumes"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the act of using
- Similar words include: utilisation, function, expend
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: USES
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27A: "46. Retired rapper Azalea"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: IGGY
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28A: "47. "Oppenheimer" setting"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LOSALAMOS
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29A: "49. From the British Isles, say"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ANGLO
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30A: "50. "Happy to help!""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ISURECAN
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31A: "51. County fair animal"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an indication of potential opportunity
- Similar words include: channelize, point, maneuver
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: STEER
Remember this word for future puzzles!
32A: "52. Lichtenstein's "Whaam!," e.g."
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: POPART
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33A: "53. County fair animal"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
- Similar words include: horse cavalry, sawhorse, gymnastic horse
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HORSE
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Down Clues - Complete List
| No. | Clue | Letters |
|---|---|---|
| 1D | 1. Closing words of a historic 1963 speech | 6 |
| 2D | 2. Sinister cackle | 7 |
| 3D | 3. Many a modern chess-playing program | 7 |
| 4D | 4. Totally kill it | 4 |
| 5D | 5. Camera spec | 3 |
| 6D | 6. Heel | 3 |
| 7D | 7. Actor Brody | 6 |
| 8D | 8. Nobel-winning daughter of Marie Curie | 5 |
| 9D | 9. The 'rents, perhaps | 7 |
| 10D | 10. European football club founded in 1899 | 7 |
| 11D | 11. Birds and tree squirrels | 7 |
| 12D | 13. Clutch hitter nicknamed "Mr. October" | 13 |
| 13D | 14. Kitchen brand | 3 |
| 14D | 16. Flight restriction? | 8 |
| 15D | 18. Obsolescent office accessory | 8 |
| 16D | 21. Blood bank supply | 4 |
| 17D | 22. What someone with boundless ambition "knows" | 8 |
| 18D | 24. Multibillionaire, e.g. | 4 |
| 19D | 25. Certain brain freezers | 8 |
| 20D | 28. Submissive sort, informally | 4 |
| 21D | 30. Sugar source | 4 |
| 22D | 31. It comes in handy when the chips are downed | 7 |
| 23D | 32. Lovingly, in a score | 7 |
| 24D | 33. Is courting out of one's league, so to speak | 7 |
| 25D | 35. Poster of TikTok tutorials, e.g. | 7 |
| 26D | 36. Some hits, in music and baseball | 7 |
| 27D | 38. Square dance figure | 6 |
| 28D | 39. Kid-lit character who often loses his tail | 6 |
| 29D | 41. Stiller's partner in comedy | 5 |
| 30D | 45. Name on a "Kill Bill" poster | 3 |
| 31D | 46. Hooked on | 4 |
| 32D | 48. It's the law | 3 |
| 33D | 49. Shade of gray | 3 |
Down Clues - Strategic Hints
1D: "1. Closing words of a historic 1963 speech"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ATLAST
Remember this word for future puzzles!
2D: "2. Sinister cackle"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MWAHAHA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
3D: "3. Many a modern chess-playing program"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AIMODEL
Remember this word for future puzzles!
4D: "4. Totally kill it"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that kill intentionally and with premeditation
- Similar words include: murder, polish off, dispatch
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SLAY
Remember this word for future puzzles!
5D: "5. Camera spec"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SLR
Remember this word for future puzzles!
6D: "6. Heel"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that someone who is morally reprehensible
- Similar words include: heel, dog, blackguard
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CAD
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7D: "7. Actor Brody"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ADRIEN
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8D: "8. Nobel-winning daughter of Marie Curie"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: IRENE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
9D: "9. The 'rents, perhaps"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MAANDPA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
10D: "10. European football club founded in 1899"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ACMILAN
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11D: "11. Birds and tree squirrels"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that someone who settles lawfully on government land with the intent to acquire title to it
- Similar words include: nester, squatter, homesteader
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NESTERS
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12D: "13. Clutch hitter nicknamed "Mr. October""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: REGGIEJACKSON
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13D: "14. Kitchen brand"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OXO
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14D: "16. Flight restriction?"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a safety belt used in a car or plane to hold you in your seat in case of an accident
- Similar words include: seat belt
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SEATBELT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
15D: "18. Obsolescent office accessory"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: STAMPPAD
Remember this word for future puzzles!
16D: "21. Blood bank supply"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an amber, watery fluid, rich in proteins, that separates out when blood coagulates
- Similar words include: serum, blood serum
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SERA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
17D: "22. What someone with boundless ambition "knows""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NOLIMITS
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18D: "24. Multibillionaire, e.g."
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a person who possesses great material wealth
- Similar words include: stimulate, let, get
- Opposite of: abstain, lack
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HAVE
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19D: "25. Certain brain freezers"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SLUSHIES
Remember this word for future puzzles!
20D: "28. Submissive sort, informally"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the 2nd letter of the greek alphabet
- Similar words include: genus Beta
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BETA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
21D: "30. Sugar source"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a stick that people can lean on to help them walk
- Similar words include: lambast, flog, lambaste
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CANE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
22D: "31. It comes in handy when the chips are downed"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BAGCLIP
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23D: "32. Lovingly, in a score"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AMOROSO
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24D: "33. Is courting out of one's league, so to speak"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DATESUP
Remember this word for future puzzles!
25D: "35. Poster of TikTok tutorials, e.g."
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: VLOGGER
Remember this word for future puzzles!
26D: "36. Some hits, in music and baseball"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that badminton played with one person on each side
- Similar words include: 1, I, single
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SINGLES
Remember this word for future puzzles!
27D: "38. Square dance figure"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a social or business visitor
- Similar words include: phoner, company, caller-out
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CALLER
Remember this word for future puzzles!
28D: "39. Kid-lit character who often loses his tail"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EEYORE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
29D: "41. Stiller's partner in comedy"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MEARA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
30D: "45. Name on a "Kill Bill" poster"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a benevolent aspect of devi; `splendor'
- Similar words include: genus Uma
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: UMA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
31D: "46. Hooked on"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: INTO
Remember this word for future puzzles!
32D: "48. It's the law"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a legal document codifying the result of deliberations of a committee or society or legislative body
- Similar words include: act as, dissemble, bit
- Opposite of: refrain
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ACT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
33D: "49. Shade of gray"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the residue that remains when something is burned
- Similar words include: ash tree
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ASH
Remember this word for future puzzles!
Expert Solving Strategies
Start Smart
Begin with fill-in-the-blank clues and short 3-4 letter words. These are your foundation.
Decode the Clues
Question marks indicate wordplay or puns. "Maybe" suggests multiple interpretations.
Use Cross-References
Let intersecting letters guide you. One correct answer unlocks several others.
Build Vocabulary
Common crossword words repeat. Learning them speeds up future solving.
Today's Puzzle Stats
33 Across Clues
33 Down Clues
66 Total Clues
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