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Monday, May 18, 2026

XWordHint Crossword Answers May 18, 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. Like a game that has gone into a penalty shootout 4
2A 5. Luxury handbag brand 5
3A 10. Petri dish gel 4
4A 14. West Coast sch. that joined the Big Ten in 2024 4
5A 15. Stereotypical meal for a college student 5
6A 16. "Veni, ___, vici" 4
7A 17. Like the Code of Hammurabi 10
8A 19. Enterprise rival 4
9A 20. Got to one's feet 5
10A 21. Elmer's product 4
11A 23. "There's a cockroach!" 3
12A 24. Patch up some clothes, say 3
13A 25. Pioneering hybrid car 11
14A 29. Pouty expression 4
15A 30. Future atty.'s exam 4
16A 31. Rae who played President Barbie in "Barbie" 4
17A 34. Tackling of the quarterback 4
18A 37. Nebraska's largest city 5
19A 40. Governing body in the Harry Potter universe 15
20A 43. Fibrous part of broccoli 5
21A 44. Nothin' 4
22A 45. Cool, slangily 4
23A 46. "___ Calm and Carry On" 4
24A 48. Region 4
25A 50. Gardener's tool 11
26A 54. Kit ___ bar 3
27A 57. Woodcutter's tool 3
28A 58. Beauty queen's accessory 4
29A 59. Garlicky condiment 5
30A 61. Eye irritation 4
31A 63. Advice for the overambitious ... or a hint to 17-, 25-, 40- and 50-Across 10
32A 66. ___ leches cake 4
33A 67. Oopsie 5
34A 68. Lotion ingredient 4
35A 69. Toward sunrise 4
36A 70. "Same!" 5
37A 71. Stereotypically antisocial pets 4

Across Clues - Strategic Hints

1A: "1. Like a game that has gone into a penalty shootout"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that fasten or secure with a rope, string, or cord
  • Similar words include: trussed, draw, bind
  • Opposite of: untied, disconnect
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TIED

Remember this word for future puzzles!

2A: "5. Luxury handbag brand"

5 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

3A: "10. Petri dish gel"

4 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that any culture medium that uses agar as the gelling agent
  • Similar words include: nutrient agar, agar-agar
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AGAR

Remember this word for future puzzles!

4A: "14. West Coast sch. that joined the Big Ten in 2024"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

5A: "15. Stereotypical meal for a college student"

5 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

6A: "16. "Veni, ___, vici""

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

7A: "17. Like the Code of Hammurabi"

10 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an inhabitant of ancient babylon
  • Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BABYLONIAN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

8A: "19. Enterprise rival"

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

9A: "20. Got to one's feet"

5 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that come into existence; take on form or shape
  • Similar words include: get up, grow, rise up
  • Opposite of: sit down, fall
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AROSE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

10A: "21. Elmer's product"

4 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that cement consisting of a sticky substance that is used as an adhesive
  • Similar words include: gum, paste, mucilage
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GLUE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

11A: "23. "There's a cockroach!""

3 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

12A: "24. Patch up some clothes, say"

3 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that fasten by sewing; do needlework
  • Similar words include: sew together, tailor, run up
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SEW

Remember this word for future puzzles!

13A: "25. Pioneering hybrid car"

11 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

14A: "29. Pouty expression"

4 letters Category: Wordplay

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!

15A: "30. Future atty.'s exam"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

16A: "31. Rae who played President Barbie in "Barbie""

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

17A: "34. Tackling of the quarterback"

4 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a bag made of paper or plastic for holding customer's purchases
  • Similar words include: paper bag, poke, sacking
  • Opposite of: hire
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SACK

Remember this word for future puzzles!

18A: "37. Nebraska's largest city"

5 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a member of the siouan people formerly living in the missouri river valley in northeastern nebraska
  • Similar words include: Maha
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OMAHA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

19A: "40. Governing body in the Harry Potter universe"

15 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _______________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MINISTRYOFMAGIC

Remember this word for future puzzles!

20A: "43. Fibrous part of broccoli"

5 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that material consisting of seed coverings and small pieces of stem or leaves that have been separated from the seeds
  • Similar words include: stem, husk, angry walk
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: STALK

Remember this word for future puzzles!

21A: "44. Nothin'"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a quantity of no importance
  • Similar words include: cypher, nil, null
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NADA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

22A: "45. Cool, slangily"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that street names for marijuana
  • Similar words include: the skinny, Mary Jane, dope up
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DOPE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

23A: "46. "___ Calm and Carry On""

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the financial means whereby one lives
  • Similar words include: livelihood, dungeon, hold on
  • Opposite of: discontinue, break
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: KEEP

Remember this word for future puzzles!

24A: "48. Region"

4 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a particular geographical region of indefinite boundary (usually serving some special purpose or distinguished by its people or culture or geography)
  • Similar words include: surface area, sphere, domain
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AREA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

25A: "50. Gardener's tool"

11 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

26A: "54. Kit ___ bar"

3 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the leaves of the shrub catha edulis which are chewed like tobacco or used to make tea; has the effect of a euphoric stimulant
  • Similar words include: cat, African tea, qat
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: KAT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

27A: "57. Woodcutter's tool"

3 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an edge tool with a heavy bladed head mounted across a handle
  • Similar words include: ax
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AXE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

28A: "58. Beauty queen's accessory"

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a framework that holds the panes of a window in the window frame
  • Similar words include: waistband, girdle, window sash
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SASH

Remember this word for future puzzles!

29A: "59. Garlicky condiment"

5 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that garlic mayonnaise
  • Similar words include: aioli sauce, garlic sauce
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AIOLI

Remember this word for future puzzles!

30A: "61. Eye irritation"

4 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an infection of the sebaceous gland of the eyelid
  • Similar words include: eye infection, sty, hordeolum
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: STYE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

31A: "63. Advice for the overambitious ... or a hint to 17-, 25-, 40- and 50-Across"

10 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

32A: "66. ___ leches cake"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

33A: "67. Oopsie"

5 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a wrong action attributable to bad judgment or ignorance or inattention
  • Similar words include: mistake, erroneous belief, misplay
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ERROR

Remember this word for future puzzles!

34A: "68. Lotion ingredient"

4 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that succulent plants having rosettes of leaves usually with fiber like hemp and spikes of showy flowers; found chiefly in africa
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ALOE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

35A: "69. Toward sunrise"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the cardinal compass point that is at 90 degrees
  • Similar words include: Orient, E, eastern United States
  • Opposite of: west
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EAST

Remember this word for future puzzles!

36A: "70. "Same!""

5 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

37A: "71. Stereotypically antisocial pets"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that feline mammal usually having thick soft fur and no ability to roar: domestic cats; wildcats
  • Similar words include: throw up, CT, computerized tomography
  • Opposite of: keep down
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CATS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

Down Clues - Complete List

No. Clue Letters
1D 1. Large brass instruments 5
2D 2. "You have my sympathy" 5
3D 3. Macaroni shape 5
4D 4. 14 of these make up a fortnight 4
5D 5. Con's opposite 3
6D 6. Sprinted 3
7D 7. Friend in Mexico 5
8D 8. Gave out cards 5
9D 9. Zinnia or sunflower 6
10D 10. Director DuVernay 3
11D 11. Attempt something 9
12D 12. "Au revoir!" 5
13D 13. Puts on the line 5
14D 18. Oscar winner Jared 4
15D 22. English town famous for its salts 5
16D 26. Throw out of office 4
17D 27. Long (for) 5
18D 28. Holiday Inn competitor 6
19D 29. Sent by post 6
20D 31. Writes to on WhatsApp, in brief 3
21D 32. Puppy school command 3
22D 33. Roll of two ones 9
23D 35. "Ta-ta," in a text 3
24D 36. Camera company known for its "moments" 5
25D 38. With it 3
26D 39. Unreturned serve 3
27D 41. Distorts, as data 5
28D 42. Ticket price 4
29D 47. The "terrible twos" and the "threenager" years, for example 6
30D 49. Chapters of history 4
31D 50. Squander 5
32D 51. Outlandishly over the top, in modern slang 5
33D 52. Houston baseballer 5
34D 53. Swiss ___ (salad green) 5
35D 54. Marsupial often mistermed a "bear" 5
36D 55. Apportion 5
37D 56. There are 100 of these in every Scrabble game 5
38D 60. Apple desktop 4
39D 62. Superlative suffix 3
40D 64. Down Under bounder, for short 3
41D 65. Prefix between bi- and tetra- 3

Down Clues - Strategic Hints

1D: "1. Large brass instruments"

5 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the lowest brass wind instrument
  • Similar words include: bass horn, tuba, sousaphone
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TUBAS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

2D: "2. "You have my sympathy""

5 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

3D: "3. Macaroni shape"

5 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that hinge joint between the forearm and upper arm and the corresponding joint in the forelimb of a quadruped
  • Similar words include: human elbow, cubital joint, articulatio cubiti
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ELBOW

Remember this word for future puzzles!

4D: "4. 14 of these make up a fortnight"

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the time during which someone's life continues
  • Similar words include: Day, daylight, Clarence Day
  • Opposite of: night
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DAYS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

5D: "5. Con's opposite"

3 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an athlete who plays for pay
  • Similar words include: professional
  • Opposite of: amateur, anti
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PRO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

6D: "6. Sprinted"

3 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
  • Similar words include: function, bunk, be given
  • Opposite of: idle, malfunction
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RAN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

7D: "7. Friend in Mexico"

5 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a friend or comrade
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AMIGO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

8D: "8. Gave out cards"

5 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

9D: "9. Zinnia or sunflower"

6 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that (botany) a plant that completes its entire life cycle within the space of a year
  • Similar words include: one-year, yearbook, yearly
  • Opposite of: biennial
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ANNUAL

Remember this word for future puzzles!

10D: "10. Director DuVernay"

3 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

11D: "11. Attempt something"

9 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

12D: "12. "Au revoir!""

5 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a farewell remark
  • Similar words include: cheerio, bye, au revoir
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ADIEU

Remember this word for future puzzles!

13D: "13. Puts on the line"

5 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a source of danger; a possibility of incurring loss or misfortune
  • Similar words include: risk of exposure, take chances, risk of infection
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RISKS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

14D: "18. Oscar winner Jared"

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that wife or mistress of zeus and mother of apollo and artemis in ancient mythology; called latona in roman mythology
  • Similar words include: Latona
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LETO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

15D: "22. English town famous for its salts"

5 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

16D: "26. Throw out of office"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that remove from a position or office
  • Similar words include: throw out, boot out, drum out
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OUST

Remember this word for future puzzles!

17D: "27. Long (for)"

5 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that desire strongly or persistently
  • Similar words include: hanker, pine, ache
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: YEARN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

18D: "28. Holiday Inn competitor"

6 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

19D: "29. Sent by post"

6 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that send via the postal service
  • Similar words include: get off, mail-clad, mail
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MAILED

Remember this word for future puzzles!

20D: "31. Writes to on WhatsApp, in brief"

3 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

21D: "32. Puppy school command"

3 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that be around, often idly or without specific purpose
  • Similar words include: model, sit around, baby-sit
  • Opposite of: stand, arise
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SIT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

22D: "33. Roll of two ones"

9 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

23D: "35. "Ta-ta," in a text"

3 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

24D: "36. Camera company known for its "moments""

5 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

25D: "38. With it"

3 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that either side of the body below the waist and above the thigh
  • Similar words include: hip joint, coxa, articulatio coxae
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HIP

Remember this word for future puzzles!

26D: "39. Unreturned serve"

3 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the smallest whole number or a numeral representing this number
  • Similar words include: 1, sensation, breeze through
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ACE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

27D: "41. Distorts, as data"

5 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that turn or place at an angle
  • Similar words include: skew
  • Opposite of: align
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SKEWS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

28D: "42. Ticket price"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an agenda of things to do
  • Similar words include: menu, make out, come
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FARE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

29D: "47. The "terrible twos" and the "threenager" years, for example"

6 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that any distinct time period in a sequence of events
  • Similar words include: phase angle, form, phase
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PHASES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

30D: "49. Chapters of history"

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

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, era, epoch
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ERAS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

31D: "50. Squander"

5 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that any materials unused and rejected as worthless or unwanted
  • Similar words include: wild, consume, thriftlessness
  • Opposite of: conserve
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: WASTE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

32D: "51. Outlandishly over the top, in modern slang"

5 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a minor actor in crowd scenes
  • Similar words include: additional, excess, superfluous
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EXTRA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

33D: "52. Houston baseballer"

5 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

34D: "53. Swiss ___ (salad green)"

5 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that beet lacking swollen root; grown as a vegetable for its edible leaves and stalks
  • Similar words include: spinach beet, Swiss chard, leaf beet
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CHARD

Remember this word for future puzzles!

35D: "54. Marsupial often mistermed a "bear""

5 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that sluggish tailless australian arboreal marsupial with grey furry ears and coat; feeds on eucalyptus leaves and bark
  • Similar words include: kangaroo bear, native bear, koala bear
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: KOALA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

36D: "55. Apportion"

5 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that allow to have
  • Similar words include: dish out, accord, assign
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ALLOT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

37D: "56. There are 100 of these in every Scrabble game"

5 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a flat thin rectangular slab (as of fired clay or rubber or linoleum) used to cover surfaces
  • Similar words include: roofing tile, tile
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TILES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

38D: "60. Apple desktop"

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

39D: "62. Superlative suffix"

3 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that standard time in the 5th time zone west of greenwich, reckoned at the 75th meridian; used in the eastern united states
  • Similar words include: Eastern Time, Eastern Standard Time
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EST

Remember this word for future puzzles!

40D: "64. Down Under bounder, for short"

3 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

41D: "65. Prefix between bi- and tetra-"

3 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

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

37 Across Clues
41 Down Clues
78 Total Clues

More NYT Crossword Help

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Last updated: May 18, 2026 at 07:10 AM

Wednesday, November 12, 2025

XWordHint Crossword Answers November 12, 2025 | 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: Challenging

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. Protection from an infection 4
2A 5. Movie theater popcorn container 3
3A 8. Kurt who fronted Nirvana 6
4A 14. Accusative, for one 4
5A 15. Muff or fluff 3
6A 16. "Be that as it may …" 6
7A 17. Image depicted in this puzzle by connecting the circled letters alphabetically 15
8A 20. Aristophanes comedy, with "The" 5
9A 21. Sailors' patron 6
10A 22. Energize 6
11A 24. King George ___, "Hamilton" character 3
12A 25. Some H.S. teams 3
13A 28. Remote batteries 3
14A 30. Social ___ 5
15A 32. Condiment sometimes known as rooster sauce 8
16A 37. It keeps you in the dark 7
17A 38. "Is it too risky?" 7
18A 39. Brand whose customers made its Super Bowl ad in 2025 7
19A 41. Appetites 5
20A 42. Sporty convertible 8
21A 44. Like some ironed shirts and fall air 5
22A 45. Free pass in sports 3
23A 46. "The Spanish Tragedy" playwright Thomas 3
24A 47. Washboard parts 3
25A 49. Grocery aisle enticement 6
26A 55. Beer brand discontinued in 2010 6
27A 58. Wading bird 5
28A 59. Image in this puzzle 15
29A 63. Steve of "Battle of the Sexes" 6
30A 64. "Tubular!" 3
31A 65. With a clean slate 4
32A 66. What some people think this puzzle's image represents 6
33A 67. U.K. home 3
34A 68. Eliot of the Untouchables 4

Across Clues - Strategic Hints

1A: "1. Protection from an infection"

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

2A: "5. Movie theater popcorn container"

3 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a relatively large open container that you fill with water and use to wash the body
  • Similar words include: bathing tub, vat, bath
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TUB

Remember this word for future puzzles!

3A: "8. Kurt who fronted Nirvana"

6 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

4A: "14. Accusative, for one"

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an occurrence of something
  • Similar words include: character, subject, casing
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CASE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

5A: "15. Muff or fluff"

3 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

6A: "16. "Be that as it may …""

6 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

7A: "17. Image depicted in this puzzle by connecting the circled letters alphabetically"

15 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _______________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OPTICALILLUSION

Remember this word for future puzzles!

8A: "20. Aristophanes comedy, with "The""

5 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that any of various tailless stout-bodied amphibians with long hind limbs for leaping; semiaquatic and terrestrial species
  • Similar words include: toad frog, frog, anuran
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FROGS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

9A: "21. Sailors' patron"

6 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

10A: "22. Energize"

6 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

11A: "24. King George ___, "Hamilton" character"

3 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
  • Similar words include: threesome, trio, leash
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: III

Remember this word for future puzzles!

12A: "25. Some H.S. teams"

3 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a college or university team that competes at a level below the varsity team
  • Similar words include: JV, junior varsity
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: JVS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

13A: "28. Remote batteries"

3 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an associate degree in applied science
  • Similar words include: Associate in Applied Science, AA, Associate in Arts
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AAS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

14A: "30. Social ___"

5 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a means or instrumentality for storing or communicating information
  • Similar words include: metier, medium, culture medium
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MEDIA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

15A: "32. Condiment sometimes known as rooster sauce"

8 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

16A: "37. It keeps you in the dark"

7 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

17A: "38. "Is it too risky?""

7 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

18A: "39. Brand whose customers made its Super Bowl ad in 2025"

7 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

19A: "41. Appetites"

5 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an instinctive motive
  • Similar words include: root on, barrack, exhort
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: URGES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

20A: "42. Sporty convertible"

8 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an open automobile having a front seat and a rumble seat
  • Similar words include: two-seater, buggy, runabout
  • Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ROADSTER

Remember this word for future puzzles!

21A: "44. Like some ironed shirts and fall air"

5 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a thin crisp slice of potato fried in deep fat
  • Similar words include: ruckle, wrinkle, potato chip
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CRISP

Remember this word for future puzzles!

22A: "45. Free pass in sports"

3 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that you advance to the next round in a tournament without playing an opponent
  • Similar words include: cheerio, auf wiedersehen, goodby
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BYE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

23A: "46. "The Spanish Tragedy" playwright Thomas"

3 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that english dramatist (1558-1594)
  • Similar words include: Thomas Kid, Kid, Thomas Kyd
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: KYD

Remember this word for future puzzles!

24A: "47. Washboard parts"

3 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that any of a class of composite plastics used to make car bodies and cases for computers and other appliances
  • Similar words include: abdominal muscle, Ab, Av
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ABS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

25A: "49. Grocery aisle enticement"

6 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a small part of something intended as representative of the whole
  • Similar words include: taste, try out, sample distribution
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SAMPLE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

26A: "55. Beer brand discontinued in 2010"

6 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

27A: "58. Wading bird"

5 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that greek mathematician and inventor who devised a way to determine the area of a triangle and who described various mechanical devices (first century)
  • Similar words include: Hero, Hero of Alexandria
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HERON

Remember this word for future puzzles!

28A: "59. Image in this puzzle"

15 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _______________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AMBIGUOUSFIGURE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

29A: "63. Steve of "Battle of the Sexes""

6 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

30A: "64. "Tubular!""

3 letters Category: Proper Noun

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!

31A: "65. With a clean slate"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that again but in a new or different way
  • Similar words include: afresh
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ANEW

Remember this word for future puzzles!

32A: "66. What some people think this puzzle's image represents"

6 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that any of various burrowing animals of the family leporidae having long ears and short tails; some domesticated and raised for pets or food
  • Similar words include: coney, hare, lapin
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RABBIT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

33A: "67. U.K. home"

3 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

34A: "68. Eliot of the Untouchables"

4 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a strip of land projecting into a body of water
  • Similar words include: cape
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NESS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

Down Clues - Complete List

No. Clue Letters
1D 1. Say "As if!," e.g. 5
2D 2. Clamdigger pants style 5
3D 3. First American multimillionaire 5
4D 4. Sand-colored 5
5D 5. Beverage sometimes served with cucumber sandwiches 3
6D 6. Web addresses 4
7D 7. Like the words "knackered" and "chuffed" 7
8D 8. Bowed instruments 5
9D 9. Haploid cell 4
10D 10. Kiss, in Córdoba 4
11D 11. Unlucky "Wheel of Fortune" purchase for COOL AS A CUCUMBER 3
12D 12. Prefix with -metric 3
13D 13. French resistance? 3
14D 18. Fort Collins sch. 3
15D 19. Hawaiian souvenir 3
16D 23. Late-night host Jack 4
17D 25. Website with a "Conservadox" option 5
18D 26. Sun blocker 5
19D 27. Co. that merged with Neiman's in 2024 4
20D 29. Great service provider 4
21D 30. Late-night host Seth 6
22D 31. Put out 4
23D 32. "Excuse me" 5
24D 33. Stiff 5
25D 34. Bad time for Caesar 4
26D 35. Hoarse voice 4
27D 36. "Let's call it ___" 4
28D 38. What some people think this puzzle's image represents 4
29D 40. Many Pablo Neruda works 4
30D 43. No-name 7
31D 47. One paying for a full-price ticket, perhaps 5
32D 48. Life story 3
33D 50. Fish in a poke bowl 3
34D 51. Soccer great Rapinoe 5
35D 52. Wrinkly fruit 5
36D 53. Pixelated, informally 5
37D 54. Cable show covering the red carpet 5
38D 55. Nickname of the "Love Yourself" singer, with "the" 4
39D 56. Wrinkly fruit 4
40D 57. Isaac's favorite son 4
41D 59. Counterpart of down: Abbr. 3
42D 60. Billy bawl? 3
43D 61. "Just a sec," in a text 3
44D 62. Four-term prez 3

Down Clues - Strategic Hints

1D: "1. Say "As if!," e.g."

5 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that showing your contempt by derision
  • Similar words include: gibe, barrack, jeering
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SCOFF

Remember this word for future puzzles!

2D: "2. Clamdigger pants style"

5 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an island (part of campania) in the bay of naples in southern italy; a tourist attraction noted for beautiful scenery
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CAPRI

Remember this word for future puzzles!

3D: "3. First American multimillionaire"

5 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that british politician (born in the united states) who was the first woman to sit in the british house of commons (1879-1964)
  • Similar words include: John Jacob Astor, Viscountess Astor, Nancy Witcher Astor
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ASTOR

Remember this word for future puzzles!

4D: "4. Sand-colored"

5 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a very light brown
  • Similar words include: ecru
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BEIGE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

5D: "5. Beverage sometimes served with cucumber sandwiches"

3 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a beverage made by steeping tea leaves in water
  • Similar words include: afternoon tea, Camellia sinensis, tea leaf
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TEA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

6D: "6. Web addresses"

4 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the address of a web page on the world wide web
  • Similar words include: universal resource locator, uniform resource locator, URL
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: URLS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

7D: "7. Like the words "knackered" and "chuffed""

7 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the people of great britain
  • Similar words include: British people, Brits
  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BRITISH

Remember this word for future puzzles!

8D: "8. Bowed instruments"

5 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

9D: "9. Haploid cell"

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the female reproductive cell; the female gamete
  • Similar words include: egg cell
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OVUM

Remember this word for future puzzles!

10D: "10. Kiss, in Córdoba"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

11D: "11. Unlucky "Wheel of Fortune" purchase for COOL AS A CUCUMBER"

3 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that black tropical american cuckoo
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ANI

Remember this word for future puzzles!

12D: "12. Prefix with -metric"

3 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

13D: "13. French resistance?"

3 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that negation of a word or group of words
  • Similar words include: not
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NON

Remember this word for future puzzles!

14D: "18. Fort Collins sch."

3 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

15D: "19. Hawaiian souvenir"

3 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that flower arrangement consisting of a circular band of foliage or flowers for ornamental purposes
  • Similar words include: garland, chaplet, leu
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LEI

Remember this word for future puzzles!

16D: "23. Late-night host Jack"

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

17D: "25. Website with a "Conservadox" option"

5 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

18D: "26. Sun blocker"

5 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a piece of armor plate (with eye slits) fixed or hinged to a medieval helmet to protect the face
  • Similar words include: eyeshade, vizor, peak
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: VISOR

Remember this word for future puzzles!

19D: "27. Co. that merged with Neiman's in 2024"

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

20D: "29. Great service provider"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that type genus of the aceraceae; trees or shrubs having winged fruit
  • Similar words include: genus Acer
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ACER

Remember this word for future puzzles!

21D: "30. Late-night host Seth"

6 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

22D: "31. Put out"

4 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that expel (gases or odors)
  • Similar words include: give off, let loose, give out
  • Opposite of: absorb
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EMIT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

23D: "32. "Excuse me""

5 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that feeling or expressing regret or sorrow or a sense of loss over something done or undone
  • Similar words include: good-for-naught, dingy, no-count
  • Opposite of: unregretful
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SORRY

Remember this word for future puzzles!

24D: "33. Stiff"

5 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that incapable of or resistant to bending
  • Similar words include: stiff, strict, fixed
  • Opposite of: nonrigid
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RIGID

Remember this word for future puzzles!

25D: "34. Bad time for Caesar"

4 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that in the roman calendar: the 15th of march or may or july or october or the 13th of any other month
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: IDES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

26D: "35. Hoarse voice"

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that uttering in an irritated tone
  • Similar words include: wood file, rasping
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RASP

Remember this word for future puzzles!

27D: "36. "Let's call it ___""

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

28D: "38. What some people think this puzzle's image represents"

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that small wild or domesticated web-footed broad-billed swimming bird usually having a depressed body and short legs
  • Similar words include: evade, duck's egg, fudge
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DUCK

Remember this word for future puzzles!

29D: "40. Many Pablo Neruda works"

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a lyric poem with complex stanza forms
  • Similar words include: ode
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ODES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

30D: "43. No-name"

7 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that make less visible or unclear
  • Similar words include: unnoticeable, apart, isolated
  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OBSCURE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

31D: "47. One paying for a full-price ticket, perhaps"

5 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a fully developed person from maturity onward
  • Similar words include: full-grown, fully grown, grownup
  • Opposite of: juvenile
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ADULT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

32D: "48. Life story"

3 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

33D: "50. Fish in a poke bowl"

3 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

34D: "51. Soccer great Rapinoe"

5 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

35D: "52. Wrinkly fruit"

5 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that cultivate, tend, and cut back the growth of
  • Similar words include: rationalise, rationalize, trim
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PRUNE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

36D: "53. Pixelated, informally"

5 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that knowledge gained through tradition or anecdote
  • Similar words include: lore, traditional knowledge
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LORES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

37D: "54. Cable show covering the red carpet"

5 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

38D: "55. Nickname of the "Love Yourself" singer, with "the""

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

39D: "56. Wrinkly fruit"

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that large sweet juicy hybrid between tangerine and grapefruit having a thick wrinkled skin
  • Similar words include: ugli fruit, tangelo
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: UGLI

Remember this word for future puzzles!

40D: "57. Isaac's favorite son"

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that (old testament) the eldest son of isaac who would have inherited the covenant that god made with abraham and that abraham passed on to isaac; he traded his birthright to his twin brother jacob for a mess of pottage
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ESAU

Remember this word for future puzzles!

41D: "59. Counterpart of down: Abbr."

3 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

42D: "60. Billy bawl?"

3 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

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43D: "61. "Just a sec," in a text"

3 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

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44D: "62. Four-term prez"

3 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that 32nd president of the united states; elected four times; instituted new deal to counter the great depression and led country during world war ii (1882-1945)
  • Similar words include: President Franklin Roosevelt, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Roosevelt
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FDR

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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
44 Down Clues
78 Total Clues

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Last updated: November 12, 2025 at 03:56 AM