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Wednesday, May 13, 2026

XWordHint Crossword Answers May 13, 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. Uber alternative 4
2A 5. The class of '26, at the beginning of '26 3
3A 8. Hosp. triage specialists 6
4A 14. One acting on impulse? 4
5A 15. Wasabi-coated tidbit, maybe 3
6A 16. Pittsburgh Pirates mascot 6
7A 17. *Peers 8
8A 19. Order to relax 6
9A 20. Group of reps 3
10A 21. Back-comb, in a way 5
11A 23. ___ mater 4
12A 24. *Number of years between Summer Olympics 12
13A 27. Brews 6
14A 30. Heated competition? 4
15A 31. Kilauea output 4
16A 32. Some porcelain pieces 5
17A 34. Shiba ___ (dog breed) 3
18A 37. *Number of Supreme Court justices 15
19A 41. Ethane or methane 3
20A 42. Belittle 5
21A 43. Conscious of systemic societal problems 4
22A 44. Big inits. in frozen desserts 4
23A 45. They're adjusted when truing a bicycle wheel 6
24A 47. *Guns N' Roses guitarist 12
25A 52. Beauty supply chain 4
26A 53. "Swell!" 5
27A 54. Under the weather 3
28A 57. Jackal-headed Egyptian deity 6
29A 60. What you'd need to press to make the starred clues and their answers match 8
30A 62. It was discovered by the Curies 6
31A 63. Kind of line at the beach 3
32A 64. Try a new course, say 4
33A 65. TikTok phenomena 6
34A 66. Guileful 3
35A 67. Drink with junmai and nigori variants 4

Across Clues - Strategic Hints

1A: "1. Uber alternative"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a car driven by a person whose job is to take passengers where they want to go in exchange for money
  • Similar words include: cab, taxicab, hack
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TAXI

Remember this word for future puzzles!

2A: "5. The class of '26, at the beginning of '26"

3 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a soft silver-white or yellowish metallic element of the alkali metal group; turns yellow in air; occurs in celestite and strontianite
  • Similar words include: atomic number 38, strontium, Sr
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SRS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

3A: "8. Hosp. triage specialists"

6 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

4A: "14. One acting on impulse?"

4 letters Category: Common Word

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!

5A: "15. Wasabi-coated tidbit, maybe"

3 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

6A: "16. Pittsburgh Pirates mascot"

6 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that usually brightly colored zygodactyl tropical birds with short hooked beaks and the ability to mimic sounds
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PARROT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

7A: "17. *Peers"

8 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

8A: "19. Order to relax"

6 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

9A: "20. Group of reps"

3 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

10A: "21. Back-comb, in a way"

5 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that someone given to teasing (as by mocking or stirring curiosity)
  • Similar words include: razz, coquette, vamper
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TEASE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

11A: "23. ___ mater"

4 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

12A: "24. *Number of years between Summer Olympics"

12 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

13A: "27. Brews"

6 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a steep place (as on a hill)
  • Similar words include: steep, engross, infuse
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: STEEPS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

14A: "30. Heated competition?"

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a meeting at which a number of athletic contests are held
  • Similar words include: play, contact, get together
  • Opposite of: diverge
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MEET

Remember this word for future puzzles!

15A: "31. Kilauea output"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that rock that in its molten form (as magma) issues from volcanos; lava is what magma is called when it reaches the surface
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LAVA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

16A: "32. Some porcelain pieces"

5 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a communist nation that covers a vast territory in eastern asia; the most populous country in the world
  • Similar words include: Red China, Nationalist China, mainland China
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CHINA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

17A: "34. Shiba ___ (dog breed)"

3 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

18A: "37. *Number of Supreme Court justices"

15 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

19A: "41. Ethane or methane"

3 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

20A: "42. Belittle"

5 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that cause to feel shame; hurt the pride of
  • Similar words include: humiliate, mortify, humble
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ABASE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

21A: "43. Conscious of systemic societal problems"

4 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that be awake, be alert, be there
  • Similar words include: stir up, awake, wake
  • Opposite of: fall asleep, cause to sleep
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: WOKE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

22A: "44. Big inits. in frozen desserts"

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

23A: "45. They're adjusted when truing a bicycle wheel"

6 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
  • Similar words include: wheel spoke, spoke, radius
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SPOKES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

24A: "47. *Guns N' Roses guitarist"

12 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

25A: "52. Beauty supply chain"

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

26A: "53. "Swell!""

5 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

27A: "54. Under the weather"

3 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an often persistent bodily disorder or disease; a cause for complaining
  • Similar words include: badly, complaint, sick
  • Opposite of: well
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ILL

Remember this word for future puzzles!

28A: "57. Jackal-headed Egyptian deity"

6 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that egyptian god of tombs and ruler of the underworld; usually depicted as a man with the head of a jackal
  • Similar words include: Anpu
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ANUBIS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

29A: "60. What you'd need to press to make the starred clues and their answers match"

8 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

30A: "62. It was discovered by the Curies"

6 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an intensely radioactive metallic element that occurs in minute amounts in uranium ores
  • Similar words include: Ra, atomic number 88
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RADIUM

Remember this word for future puzzles!

31A: "63. Kind of line at the beach"

3 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

32A: "64. Try a new course, say"

4 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that turn sharply; change direction abruptly
  • Similar words include: swerve, trend, slue
  • Opposite of: back
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: VEER

Remember this word for future puzzles!

33A: "65. TikTok phenomena"

6 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a general direction in which something tends to move
  • Similar words include: drift, veer, trend
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TRENDS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

34A: "66. Guileful"

3 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that marked by skill in deception
  • Similar words include: foxy, dodgy, knavish
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SLY

Remember this word for future puzzles!

35A: "67. Drink with junmai and nigori variants"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a reason for wanting something done
  • Similar words include: rice beer, interest, saki
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SAKE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

Down Clues - Complete List

No. Clue Letters
1D 1. Array behind the counter at a tavern 4
2D 2. Wheel assembly component 4
3D 3. Strike from a list 4
4D 4. Important contacts 3
5D 5. Many fast pitches 6
6D 6. Majestic 5
7D 7. Stark daughter played by Sophie Turner on "Game of Thrones" 5
8D 8. Fuel economy org. 3
9D 9. Tattletale 3
10D 10. Imagined while sleeping 6
11D 11. Toothbrush handle? 5
12D 12. Cranberry-tinged cocktail 5
13D 13. Criminally good deal 5
14D 18. "Quit it!" 4
15D 22. Its fur might trim a royal robe 6
16D 24. College faculty head 4
17D 25. Email status 4
18D 26. Opposite of "nah" 4
19D 27. Real grind 4
20D 28. Seville snack 4
21D 29. Holiday preceders 4
22D 32. Handout with a kids' menu 6
23D 33. Bulls and bucks 3
24D 34. Avoids injury, say 4
25D 35. Personification of victory 4
26D 36. Wields 4
27D 38. Formal accord 4
28D 39. Actress Jacobson of "Broad City" 4
29D 40. Furry "Star Wars" creature 4
30D 44. Container at an airport checkpoint, for short 6
31D 45. Smooth and glossy 6
32D 46. Seminar head, informally 4
33D 47. Ice cream purchase 5
34D 48. Forearm-related, in a way 5
35D 49. Practice piece 5
36D 50. Tree "houses" 5
37D 51. Palace, in Hindi 5
38D 54. Retail outlet with a store map at its entrance 4
39D 55. Garlic relative 4
40D 56. Strings of yore 4
41D 58. T-shaped birth control insert 3
42D 59. Texting inits. 3
43D 61. Fixtures at sports bars 3

Down Clues - Strategic Hints

1D: "1. Array behind the counter at a tavern"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that (military) signal to turn the lights out
  • Similar words include: beg, hydrant, tap
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TAPS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

2D: "2. Wheel assembly component"

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a shaft on which a wheel rotates
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AXLE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

3D: "3. Strike from a list"

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

4D: "4. Important contacts"

3 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an agency in the department of justice that enforces laws and regulations for the admission of foreign-born persons to the united states
  • Similar words include: In, Immigration and Naturalization Service, Hoosier State
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: INS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

5D: "5. Many fast pitches"

6 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that plausible glib talk (especially useful to a salesperson)
  • Similar words include: patter, spiel, play
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SPIELS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

6D: "6. Majestic"

5 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that belonging to or befitting a supreme ruler
  • Similar words include: royal, imperial, majestic
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: REGAL

Remember this word for future puzzles!

7D: "7. Stark daughter played by Sophie Turner on "Game of Thrones""

5 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

8D: "8. Fuel economy org."

3 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

9D: "9. Tattletale"

3 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that any of various long-tailed rodents similar to but larger than a mouse
  • Similar words include: dirty dog, lowlife, git
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RAT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

10D: "10. Imagined while sleeping"

6 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that have a daydream; indulge in a fantasy
  • Similar words include: woolgather, dream, stargaze
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DREAMT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

11D: "11. Toothbrush handle?"

5 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

12D: "12. Cranberry-tinged cocktail"

5 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

13D: "13. Criminally good deal"

5 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an advantageous purchase
  • Similar words include: slip, bargain, buy
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: STEAL

Remember this word for future puzzles!

14D: "18. "Quit it!""

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the event of something ending
  • Similar words include: cease, stop consonant, period
  • Opposite of: begin, continuant consonant
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: STOP

Remember this word for future puzzles!

15D: "22. Its fur might trim a royal robe"

6 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the expensive white fur of the ermine
  • Similar words include: shorttail weasel, Mustela erminea
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ERMINE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

16D: "24. College faculty head"

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an administrator in charge of a division of a university or college
  • Similar words include: James Byron Dean, James Dean, doyen
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DEAN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

17D: "25. Email status"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that 100 senti equal 1 kroon in estonia
  • Similar words include: get off, charge, send off
  • Opposite of: unsent
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SENT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

18D: "26. Opposite of "nah""

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that not only so, but
  • Similar words include: yea
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: YEAH

Remember this word for future puzzles!

19D: "27. Real grind"

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that work doggedly or persistently
  • Similar words include: slug, pad, keep one's shoulder to the wheel
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SLOG

Remember this word for future puzzles!

20D: "28. Seville snack"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the thin fibrous bark of the paper mulberry and pipturus albidus
  • Similar words include: tapa bark, tappa bark, tappa
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TAPA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

21D: "29. Holiday preceders"

4 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that (old testament) adam's wife in judeo-christian mythology: the first woman and mother of the human race; god created eve from adam's rib and placed adam and eve in the garden of eden
  • Similar words include: evening, eventide, even
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EVES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

22D: "32. Handout with a kids' menu"

6 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that writing implement consisting of a colored stick of composition wax used for writing and drawing
  • Similar words include: wax crayon
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CRAYON

Remember this word for future puzzles!

23D: "33. Bulls and bucks"

3 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

24D: "34. Avoids injury, say"

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

25D: "35. Personification of victory"

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that (greek mythology) winged goddess of victory; identified with roman victoria
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NIKE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

26D: "36. Wields"

4 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the act of using
  • Similar words include: habit, purpose, usage
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: USES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

27D: "38. Formal accord"

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a written agreement between two states or sovereigns
  • Similar words include: accord, treaty
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PACT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

28D: "39. Actress Jacobson of "Broad City""

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

29D: "40. Furry "Star Wars" creature"

4 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

30D: "44. Container at an airport checkpoint, for short"

6 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

31D: "45. Smooth and glossy"

6 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that having a smooth, gleaming surface reflecting light
  • Similar words include: silky, sleek, slick
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SATINY

Remember this word for future puzzles!

32D: "46. Seminar head, informally"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that someone who is a member of the faculty at a college or university
  • Similar words include: professor
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PROF

Remember this word for future puzzles!

33D: "47. Ice cream purchase"

5 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a united states liquid unit equal to 32 fluid ounces; four quarts equal one gallon
  • Similar words include: dry quart
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: QUART

Remember this word for future puzzles!

34D: "48. Forearm-related, in a way"

5 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that relating to or near the ulna
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ULNAR

Remember this word for future puzzles!

35D: "49. Practice piece"

5 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a short composition for a solo instrument; intended as an exercise or to demonstrate technical virtuosity
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ETUDE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

36D: "50. Tree "houses""

5 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a structure in which animals lay eggs or give birth to their young
  • Similar words include: nestle, draw close, nest
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NESTS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

37D: "51. Palace, in Hindi"

5 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

38D: "54. Retail outlet with a store map at its entrance"

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

39D: "55. Garlic relative"

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that plant having a large slender white bulb and flat overlapping dark green leaves; used in cooking; believed derived from the wild allium ampeloprasum
  • Similar words include: Allium porrum, scallion
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LEEK

Remember this word for future puzzles!

40D: "56. Strings of yore"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a harp used by ancient greeks for accompaniment
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LYRE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

41D: "58. T-shaped birth control insert"

3 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that contraceptive device consisting of a piece of bent plastic or metal that is inserted through the vagina into the uterus
  • Similar words include: intrauterine device
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: IUD

Remember this word for future puzzles!

42D: "59. Texting inits."

3 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a grey lustrous metallic element of the rare earth group; is used in special alloys; occurs in monazite and bastnasite
  • Similar words include: Sm, samarium, Master of Science
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SMS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

43D: "61. Fixtures at sports bars"

3 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that broadcasting visual images of stationary or moving objects; ; - ernie kovacs
  • Similar words include: telly, television set, TV
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TVS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

Expert Solving Strategies

Start Smart

Begin with fill-in-the-blank clues and short 3-4 letter words. These are your foundation.

Decode the Clues

Question marks indicate wordplay or puns. "Maybe" suggests multiple interpretations.

Use Cross-References

Let intersecting letters guide you. One correct answer unlocks several others.

Build Vocabulary

Common crossword words repeat. Learning them speeds up future solving.

Today's Puzzle Stats

35 Across Clues
43 Down Clues
78 Total Clues

More NYT Crossword Help

Looking for more puzzle solutions? Check out our comprehensive archive of NYT crossword hints and answers. We update daily with expert analysis and solving strategies.

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Last updated: May 13, 2026 at 06:37 AM

Wednesday, April 29, 2026

XWordHint Crossword Answers April 29, 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. *Failed internet company? 10
2A 8. Rinse with water, as grain in the brewing process 6
3A 14. Exaggerated the merits of 8
4A 16. "That's actually pretty neat!" 6
5A 17. Trait for a good waiter? 8
6A 18. Ingredient in shepherd's pie 6
7A 19. Strange 3
8A 20. Pirate's booty 4
9A 22. Swabbie's tool 3
10A 23. In the ___ (intensely focused) 4
11A 25. *Assurance from an internet company? 13
12A 28. "Your pick" 3
13A 29. Lightly strike, as a windowpane 5
14A 30. Many a 24-hour eatery 5
15A 31. *Puzzling question for an internet company? 11
16A 33. Some épéeists' moves 6
17A 34. Had remorse for 4
18A 35. Trial version 4
19A 36. One-___ (pithy jokes) 6
20A 39. *Exposure for an internet company? 11
21A 43. Ancient theater 5
22A 44. Assuages 5
23A 45. Status ___ 3
24A 46. *Illustrative story from an internet company? 13
25A 48. What a track athlete may do three times in one attempt 4
26A 49. World War I Flying ___ (Snoopy alter ego) 3
27A 50. Just 4
28A 51. ___ Guofeng, successor to Mao Zedong 3
29A 52. Samples 6
30A 54. Rose up 8
31A 59. Get situated 6
32A 60. Shoe with a "kitten" variety 8
33A 61. Zeroes 6
34A 62. *Blog message from an internet company? 10

Across Clues - Strategic Hints

1A: "1. *Failed internet company?"

10 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

2A: "8. Rinse with water, as grain in the brewing process"

6 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the act of sprinkling or splashing water
  • Similar words include: besprinkle, sprinkle, sprinkling
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SPARGE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

3A: "14. Exaggerated the merits of"

8 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

4A: "16. "That's actually pretty neat!""

6 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

5A: "17. Trait for a good waiter?"

8 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that good-natured tolerance of delay or incompetence
  • Similar words include: longanimity, forbearance, solitaire
  • Opposite of: impatience
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PATIENCE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

6A: "18. Ingredient in shepherd's pie"

6 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an edible tuber native to south america; a staple food of ireland
  • Similar words include: tater, white potato vine, Solanum tuberosum
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: POTATO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

7A: "19. Strange"

3 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that not divisible by two
  • Similar words include: singular, unmatched, unmated
  • Opposite of: even
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ODD

Remember this word for future puzzles!

8A: "20. Pirate's booty"

4 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that goods or money obtained illegally
  • Similar words include: scratch, ransack, dirty money
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LOOT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

9A: "22. Swabbie's tool"

3 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that cleaning implement consisting of absorbent material fastened to a handle; for cleaning floors
  • Similar words include: wipe up, mop up, swab
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MOP

Remember this word for future puzzles!

10A: "23. In the ___ (intensely focused)"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a locally circumscribed place characterized by some distinctive features
  • Similar words include: geographical zone, district, partition
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ZONE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

11A: "25. *Assurance from an internet company?"

13 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

12A: "28. "Your pick""

3 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that one or some or every or all without specification
  • Similar words include: whatever, whatsoever
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ANY

Remember this word for future puzzles!

13A: "29. Lightly strike, as a windowpane"

5 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

14A: "30. Many a 24-hour eatery"

5 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a person eating a meal (especially in a restaurant)
  • Similar words include: dining car, dining compartment, buffet car
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DINER

Remember this word for future puzzles!

15A: "31. *Puzzling question for an internet company?"

11 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

16A: "33. Some épéeists' moves"

6 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the act of moving forward suddenly
  • Similar words include: lurch, passado, straight thrust
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LUNGES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

17A: "34. Had remorse for"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that feel remorse for; feel sorry for; be contrite about
  • Similar words include: rue, repent, regret
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RUED

Remember this word for future puzzles!

18A: "35. Trial version"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a visual presentation showing how something works
  • Similar words include: demonstrate, exhibit, present
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DEMO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

19A: "36. One-___ (pithy jokes)"

6 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that (baseball) a hit that flies straight out from the batter
  • Similar words include: liner, ocean liner, lining
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LINERS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

20A: "39. *Exposure for an internet company?"

11 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

21A: "43. Ancient theater"

5 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

22A: "44. Assuages"

5 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that steadiness of mind under stress
  • Similar words include: quiet, sedate, equanimity
  • Opposite of: stimulate, discomposure
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CALMS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

23A: "45. Status ___"

3 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

24A: "46. *Illustrative story from an internet company?"

13 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

25A: "48. What a track athlete may do three times in one attempt"

4 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a sudden and decisive increase
  • Similar words include: climb up, jumpstart, start
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: JUMP

Remember this word for future puzzles!

26A: "49. World War I Flying ___ (Snoopy alter ego)"

3 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

27A: "50. Just"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a small pond of standing water
  • Similar words include: bare, simple
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MERE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

28A: "51. ___ Guofeng, successor to Mao Zedong"

3 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an islamic fundamentalist group in pakistan that fought the soviet union in afghanistan in the 1980s; now operates as a terrorist organization primarily in kashmir and seeks kashmir's accession by pakistan
  • Similar words include: Al Faran, Harkat-ul-Mujahidin, Movement of Holy Warriors
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HUA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

29A: "52. Samples"

6 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the sensation that results when taste buds in the tongue and throat convey information about the chemical composition of a soluble stimulus
  • Similar words include: sample, appreciation, perceptiveness
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TASTES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

30A: "54. Rose up"

8 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that take part in a rebellion; renounce a former allegiance
  • Similar words include: arise, renegade, rise up
  • Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: REBELLED

Remember this word for future puzzles!

31A: "59. Get situated"

6 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the countries of asia
  • Similar words include: point, East, eastern hemisphere
  • Opposite of: disorient
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ORIENT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

32A: "60. Shoe with a "kitten" variety"

8 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a small dagger with a tapered blade
  • Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: STILETTO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

33A: "61. Zeroes"

6 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that device for resetting instruments or controls
  • Similar words include: readjust, reset
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RESETS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

34A: "62. *Blog message from an internet company?"

10 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

Down Clues - Complete List

No. Clue Letters
1D 1. Robber's pursuer 3
2D 2. Reproductive cells 3
3D 3. "Wall Street," for the U.S. financial industry 7
4D 4. Half of many a union-to-be 5
5D 5. Secondhand 4
6D 6. Recipient of many dad jokes 3
7D 7. "Little People, Big World" network 3
8D 8. Deep sleep 5
9D 9. Uncurated Instagram collections 10
10D 10. Do something 3
11D 11. On a different network, say 7
12D 12. Visit 7
13D 13. They usually get no reception 7
14D 15. Coastal resort city in southern California 6
15D 21. Select, with "for" 3
16D 23. Actor Efron 3
17D 24. "Mrs. Lennon" writer 3
18D 25. They're on the docket 5
19D 26. Paper view? 4
20D 27. Student's subspecialty 5
21D 29. Where seeds might be placed 10
22D 32. Before surgery, for short 5
23D 33. "___ at 'em!" 5
24D 35. Cabbage Patch Kid, e.g. 4
25D 36. Part of URL 7
26D 37. "Actually, this matters to me a lot!" 7
27D 38. The Road Runner, to Wile E. Coyote 7
28D 39. Poles tossed in a Highland competition 6
29D 40. On par with 7
30D 41. Total 3
31D 42. Soak (up), as gravy 3
32D 44. Elevator part 3
33D 47. Takes a breather 5
34D 48. Derby drink 5
35D 51. Spot for a ship's captain 4
36D 53. Control center? 3
37D 55. ... and so on 3
38D 56. Life story, for short 3
39D 57. Trisolarans in "The Three-Body Problem," e.g., informally 3
40D 58. Preceder of the answer to each of this puzzle's starred clues 3

Down Clues - Strategic Hints

1D: "1. Robber's pursuer"

3 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that uncomplimentary terms for a policeman
  • Similar words include: glom, bull, collar
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: COP

Remember this word for future puzzles!

2D: "2. Reproductive cells"

3 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

3D: "3. "Wall Street," for the U.S. financial industry"

7 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a word that denotes one thing but refers to a related thing
  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: METONYM

Remember this word for future puzzles!

4D: "4. Half of many a union-to-be"

5 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a woman who has recently been married
  • Similar words include: Bridget, St. Brigid, Saint Brigid
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BRIDE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

5D: "5. Secondhand"

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that put into service; make work or employ for a particular purpose or for its inherent or natural purpose
  • Similar words include: practice, secondhand, utilise
  • Opposite of: misused
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: USED

Remember this word for future puzzles!

6D: "6. Recipient of many dad jokes"

3 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a male human offspring
  • Similar words include: Logos, Word, boy
  • Opposite of: daughter, girl
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SON

Remember this word for future puzzles!

7D: "7. "Little People, Big World" network"

3 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that considerate and solicitous care
  • Similar words include: tender loving care
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TLC

Remember this word for future puzzles!

8D: "8. Deep sleep"

5 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a torpid state resembling deep sleep
  • Similar words include: sleep
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SOPOR

Remember this word for future puzzles!

9D: "9. Uncurated Instagram collections"

10 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

10D: "10. Do something"

3 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

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: behave, bit, play
  • Opposite of: refrain
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ACT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

11D: "11. On a different network, say"

7 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment
  • Similar words include: stray, ramble, tramp
  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ROAMING

Remember this word for future puzzles!

12D: "12. Visit"

7 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

13D: "13. They usually get no reception"

7 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

14D: "15. Coastal resort city in southern California"

6 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

15D: "21. Select, with "for""

3 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that select as an alternative over another
  • Similar words include: prefer, choose
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OPT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

16D: "23. Actor Efron"

3 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

17D: "24. "Mrs. Lennon" writer"

3 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that united states musician (born in japan) who married john lennon and collaborated with him on recordings (born in 1933)
  • Similar words include: Yoko Ono
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ONO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

18D: "25. They're on the docket"

5 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an occurrence of something
  • Similar words include: example, subject, typesetter's case
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CASES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

19D: "26. Paper view?"

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

20D: "27. Student's subspecialty"

5 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a young person of either sex
  • Similar words include: underage, venial, kid
  • Opposite of: major
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MINOR

Remember this word for future puzzles!

21D: "29. Where seeds might be placed"

10 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a sporting competition in which contestants play a series of games to decide the winner
  • Similar words include: tourney
  • Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TOURNAMENT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

22D: "32. Before surgery, for short"

5 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

23D: "33. "___ at 'em!""

5 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

24D: "35. Cabbage Patch Kid, e.g."

4 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a small replica of a person; used as a toy
  • Similar words include: dolly, chick, skirt
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DOLL

Remember this word for future puzzles!

25D: "36. Part of URL"

7 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a person who fixes the boundaries of land claims
  • Similar words include: locater
  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LOCATOR

Remember this word for future puzzles!

26D: "37. "Actually, this matters to me a lot!""

7 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

27D: "38. The Road Runner, to Wile E. Coyote"

7 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that (greek mythology) the goddess of divine retribution and vengeance
  • Similar words include: bane, curse, scourge
  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NEMESIS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

28D: "39. Poles tossed in a Highland competition"

6 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a heavy wooden pole (such as the trunk of a young fir) that is tossed as a test of strength (in the highlands of northern scotland)
  • Similar words include: caber
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CABERS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

29D: "40. On par with"

7 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

30D: "41. Total"

3 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a quantity of money
  • Similar words include: join, summarize, total
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SUM

Remember this word for future puzzles!

31D: "42. Soak (up), as gravy"

3 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that piece of solid food for dipping in a liquid
  • Similar words include: soak, sops, drench
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SOP

Remember this word for future puzzles!

32D: "44. Elevator part"

3 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine
  • Similar words include: gondola, railroad car, railway car
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CAR

Remember this word for future puzzles!

33D: "47. Takes a breather"

5 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that something left after other parts have been taken away
  • Similar words include: rest period, breathe, residue
  • Opposite of: be active, change
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RESTS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

34D: "48. Derby drink"

5 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that bourbon and sugar and mint over crushed ice
  • Similar words include: mint julep
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: JULEP

Remember this word for future puzzles!

35D: "51. Spot for a ship's captain"

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that steering mechanism for a vessel; a mechanical device by which a vessel is steered
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HELM

Remember this word for future puzzles!

36D: "53. Control center?"

3 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the starting place for each hole on a golf course
  • Similar words include: football tee, golf tee, tee up
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TEE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

37D: "55. ... and so on"

3 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

38D: "56. Life story, for short"

3 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

39D: "57. Trisolarans in "The Three-Body Problem," e.g., informally"

3 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

40D: "58. Preceder of the answer to each of this puzzle's starred clues"

3 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a very small circular shape
  • Similar words include: point, sprinkle, disperse
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DOT

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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
40 Down Clues
74 Total Clues

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Last updated: April 29, 2026 at 10:38 AM