Master today's NYT crossword with our expert hint system. We provide synonyms, antonyms, and strategic clues to help you solve without spoiling the fun. Perfect for crossword lovers who want that satisfying "aha!" moment.
Quick Navigation - Table of Contents
- Today's Puzzle Difficulty
- Across Clues Table (36 clues)
- Across Clues - Detailed Hints
- Down Clues Table (36 clues)
- Down Clues - Detailed Hints
- Expert Solving Strategies
- Today's Puzzle Statistics
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. Made chitchat | 9 |
| 2A | 10. Underground rock | 5 |
| 3A | 15. "Slow down a second!" | 9 |
| 4A | 16. What you might hear when you get someone's goat? | 5 |
| 5A | 17. Nay sayers | 15 |
| 6A | 19. Actor Nick of "The Prince of Tides" | 5 |
| 7A | 20. One way to stand | 4 |
| 8A | 21. Hang time, for short? | 4 |
| 9A | 22. Important | 3 |
| 10A | 23. Journey, so to speak | 4 |
| 11A | 25. Access, as to an elite network | 6 |
| 12A | 27. "___ ME" (humorous "sign") | 4 |
| 13A | 29. European landmark whose name begins with an "A" in classical literature | 4 |
| 14A | 31. Reduced price? | 3 |
| 15A | 32. Revered one | 4 |
| 16A | 34. "Keep on going!" | 4 |
| 17A | 36. Word in a Tibetan leader's title | 5 |
| 18A | 38. "Infection" common among schoolkids | 7 |
| 19A | 40. California city bisected by Interstate 5 | 7 |
| 20A | 42. Not continue beyond | 5 |
| 21A | 43. Stunner | 4 |
| 22A | 45. Cette femme | 4 |
| 23A | 46. Toy popularized by Queen Victoria, familiarly | 3 |
| 24A | 47. ___ dance (Lunar New Year tradition) | 4 |
| 25A | 49. Shiny material | 4 |
| 26A | 51. Annular reefs | 6 |
| 27A | 53. Stock market option | 4 |
| 28A | 55. TV drama whose past guest stars have included Taylor Swift and Justin Bieber | 3 |
| 29A | 58. Its license plate might read "FOR HIRE" | 4 |
| 30A | 59. Land, marked | 4 |
| 31A | 61. Held the elevator door for, say | 5 |
| 32A | 63. Sarcastic response to boasting | 15 |
| 33A | 66. Carnival line? | 5 |
| 34A | 67. Score sneakily | 9 |
| 35A | 68. "The door's open!" | 5 |
| 36A | 69. Conclude an agreement, say | 9 |
Across Clues - Strategic Hints
1A: "1. Made chitchat"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that talk idly or casually and in a friendly way
- Similar words include: jawbone, schmooze, shmooze
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SCHMOOZED
Remember this word for future puzzles!
2A: "10. Underground rock"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that molten rock in the earth's crust
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MAGMA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
3A: "15. "Slow down a second!""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: WHOATHERE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
4A: "16. What you might hear when you get someone's goat?"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the sound of sheep or goats (or any sound resembling this)
- Similar words include: baa, blate, blat
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BLEAT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
5A: "17. Nay sayers"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ALLTHOSEAGAINST
Remember this word for future puzzles!
6A: "19. Actor Nick of "The Prince of Tides""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NOLTE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
7A: "20. One way to stand"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a garment size for a tall person
- Similar words include: marvellous, improbable, grandiloquent
- Opposite of: short
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TALL
Remember this word for future puzzles!
8A: "21. Hang time, for short?"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SESH
Remember this word for future puzzles!
9A: "22. Important"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that metal device shaped in such a way that when it is inserted into the appropriate lock the lock's mechanism can be rotated
- Similar words include: cay, fundamental, winder
- Opposite of: atonality
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: KEY
Remember this word for future puzzles!
10A: "23. Journey, so to speak"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
- Similar words include: route
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ROAD
Remember this word for future puzzles!
11A: "25. Access, as to an elite network"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the principal dish of a meal
- Similar words include: accession, access, admission
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ENTREE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
12A: "27. "___ ME" (humorous "sign")"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a thin coat of water-base paint
- Similar words include: lavation, lave, wash off
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: WASH
Remember this word for future puzzles!
13A: "29. European landmark whose name begins with an "A" in classical literature"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an inactive volcano in sicily; last erupted in 1961; the highest volcano in europe (10,500 feet)
- Similar words include: bunsen, Mt Etna, bunsen burner
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ETNA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
14A: "31. Reduced price?"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AMT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
15A: "32. Revered one"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a material effigy that is worshipped
- Similar words include: god, graven image, matinee idol
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: IDOL
Remember this word for future puzzles!
16A: "34. "Keep on going!""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that english statesman who opposed henry viii's divorce from catherine of aragon and was imprisoned and beheaded; recalled for his concept of utopia, the ideal state
- Similar words include: more than, Thomas More, Sir Thomas More
- Opposite of: less, fewer
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MORE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
17A: "36. Word in a Tibetan leader's title"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DALAI
Remember this word for future puzzles!
18A: "38. "Infection" common among schoolkids"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a parasitic louse that infests the body of human beings
- Similar words include: Pediculus corporis, cootie, body louse
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: COOTIES
Remember this word for future puzzles!
19A: "40. California city bisected by Interstate 5"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a city in southern california (southeast of los angeles); site of disneyland
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ANAHEIM
Remember this word for future puzzles!
20A: "42. Not continue beyond"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ENDAT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
21A: "43. Stunner"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a very attractive or seductive looking woman
- Similar words include: sweetheart, knockout, dish
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LULU
Remember this word for future puzzles!
22A: "45. Cette femme"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ELLE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
23A: "46. Toy popularized by Queen Victoria, familiarly"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a disparaging term for a british person
- Similar words include: pommy
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: POM
Remember this word for future puzzles!
24A: "47. ___ dance (Lunar New Year tradition)"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that large gregarious predatory feline of africa and india having a tawny coat with a shaggy mane in the male
- Similar words include: Leo, Leo the Lion, social lion
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LION
Remember this word for future puzzles!
25A: "49. Shiny material"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that someone who doesn't understand what is going on
- Similar words include: square, cripple, feeble
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LAME
Remember this word for future puzzles!
26A: "51. Annular reefs"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an island consisting of a circular coral reef surrounding a lagoon
- Similar words include: atoll
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ATOLLS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
27A: "53. Stock market option"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a telephone connection
- Similar words include: prognosticate, shout out, call up
- Opposite of: put option
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CALL
Remember this word for future puzzles!
28A: "55. TV drama whose past guest stars have included Taylor Swift and Justin Bieber"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CSI
Remember this word for future puzzles!
29A: "58. Its license plate might read "FOR HIRE""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that large luxurious car; usually driven by a chauffeur
- Similar words include: limousine
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LIMO
Remember this word for future puzzles!
30A: "59. Land, marked"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a secret scheme to do something (especially something underhand or illegal)
- Similar words include: diagram, plot of land, plot of ground
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PLOT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
31A: "61. Held the elevator door for, say"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LETON
Remember this word for future puzzles!
32A: "63. Sarcastic response to boasting"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ARENTYOUSPECIAL
Remember this word for future puzzles!
33A: "66. Carnival line?"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that music composed for dancing the conga
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CONGA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
34A: "67. Score sneakily"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: STEALHOME
Remember this word for future puzzles!
35A: "68. "The door's open!""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that to come or go into
- Similar words include: introduce, participate, figure
- Opposite of: exit, drop out
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ENTER
Remember this word for future puzzles!
36A: "69. Conclude an agreement, say"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SHAKEONIT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
Down Clues - Complete List
| No. | Clue | Letters |
|---|---|---|
| 1D | 1. Ritzy | 5 |
| 2D | 2. Luxury fashion house based in Paris | 5 |
| 3D | 3. Incident so dramatic it feels like a movie | 15 |
| 4D | 4. Apt name for a yoga instructor? | 4 |
| 5D | 5. "Our best thought came from ___": Ralph Waldo Emerson | 6 |
| 6D | 6. "Found you!" | 3 |
| 7D | 7. Cracker alternative to Ritz | 5 |
| 8D | 8. Mobile library? | 7 |
| 9D | 9. Cope | 4 |
| 10D | 10. Future manager's goal, for short | 3 |
| 11D | 11. Most-celebrated celebrities | 5 |
| 12D | 12. Primary follower | 15 |
| 13D | 13. Thing you may regret hitting "Reply All" to | 9 |
| 14D | 14. When it happened | 9 |
| 15D | 18. Valley with gentle slopes | 4 |
| 16D | 24. "I can't catch a break!" | 4 |
| 17D | 26. Bubkes | 4 |
| 18D | 28. 20-Across, en español | 4 |
| 19D | 30. Green-winged water bird | 4 |
| 20D | 32. Stunning attraction at a winter festival, maybe | 9 |
| 21D | 33. Clothing tag warning | 9 |
| 22D | 35. Seat of one European monarchy | 4 |
| 23D | 37. Tongue-in-cheek interjection akin to "Told ya ..." | 4 |
| 24D | 39. "___ turn out fine" | 4 |
| 25D | 41. Like the 18th Amendment, nowadays | 4 |
| 26D | 44. Boorish | 7 |
| 27D | 48. Game on a car trip | 4 |
| 28D | 50. Form of a gene | 6 |
| 29D | 52. The sound that concludes "The Sound and the Fury" | 5 |
| 30D | 54. Befuddled | 5 |
| 31D | 56. "We're alike in that way" | 5 |
| 32D | 57. Cove | 5 |
| 33D | 60. Stock market woe | 4 |
| 34D | 62. Diminishing return? | 4 |
| 35D | 64. Waterproofing material for a sail, once | 3 |
| 36D | 65. Lahore is here: Abbr. | 3 |
Down Clues - Strategic Hints
1D: "1. Ritzy"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that elegance by virtue of being fashionable
- Similar words include: ostentate, chicness, modishness
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SWANK
Remember this word for future puzzles!
2D: "2. Luxury fashion house based in Paris"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CHLOE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
3D: "3. Incident so dramatic it feels like a movie"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HOLLYWOODMOMENT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
4D: "4. Apt name for a yoga instructor?"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the property of having little or no contrast; lacking highlights or gloss
- Similar words include: matted, lusterlessness, lustrelessness
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MATT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
5D: "5. "Our best thought came from ___": Ralph Waldo Emerson"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OTHERS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
6D: "6. "Found you!""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OHO
Remember this word for future puzzles!
7D: "7. Cracker alternative to Ritz"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ZESTA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
8D: "8. Mobile library?"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EREADER
Remember this word for future puzzles!
9D: "9. Cope"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a particular instance of buying or selling
- Similar words include: treat, take, contend
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DEAL
Remember this word for future puzzles!
10D: "10. Future manager's goal, for short"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a master's degree in business
- Similar words include: Master in Business, Master in Business Administration
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MBA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
11D: "11. Most-celebrated celebrities"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ALIST
Remember this word for future puzzles!
12D: "12. Primary follower"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GENERALELECTION
Remember this word for future puzzles!
13D: "13. Thing you may regret hitting "Reply All" to"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MASSEMAIL
Remember this word for future puzzles!
14D: "14. When it happened"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ATTHETIME
Remember this word for future puzzles!
15D: "18. Valley with gentle slopes"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a narrow secluded valley (in the mountains)
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GLEN
Remember this word for future puzzles!
16D: "24. "I can't catch a break!""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OHME
Remember this word for future puzzles!
17D: "26. Bubkes"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a quantity of no importance
- Similar words include: zero, cypher, nil
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NADA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
18D: "28. 20-Across, en español"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ALTA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
19D: "30. Green-winged water bird"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a blue-green color or pigment
- Similar words include: cyan, blue-green, bluish green
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TEAL
Remember this word for future puzzles!
20D: "32. Stunning attraction at a winter festival, maybe"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ICEPALACE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
21D: "33. Clothing tag warning"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DONOTIRON
Remember this word for future puzzles!
22D: "35. Seat of one European monarchy"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the capital and largest city of norway; the country's main port; located at the head of a fjord on norway's southern coast
- Similar words include: capital of Norway, Christiania
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OSLO
Remember this word for future puzzles!
23D: "37. Tongue-in-cheek interjection akin to "Told ya ...""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the utterance of a sound similar to clearing the throat; intended to get attention, express hesitancy, fill a pause, hide embarrassment, warn a friend, etc.
- Similar words include: hem
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AHEM
Remember this word for future puzzles!
24D: "39. "___ turn out fine""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ITLL
Remember this word for future puzzles!
25D: "41. Like the 18th Amendment, nowadays"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a quantity of no importance
- Similar words include: zero, cypher, nil
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NULL
Remember this word for future puzzles!
26D: "44. Boorish"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that lacking refinement or cultivation or taste
- Similar words include: vulgar, coarse, rough-cut
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: UNCOUTH
Remember this word for future puzzles!
27D: "48. Game on a car trip"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ISPY
Remember this word for future puzzles!
28D: "50. Form of a gene"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that (genetics) either of a pair (or series) of alternative forms of a gene that can occupy the same locus on a particular chromosome and that control the same character
- Similar words include: allelomorph
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ALLELE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
29D: "52. The sound that concludes "The Sound and the Fury""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LONGE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
30D: "54. Befuddled"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ATSEA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
31D: "56. "We're alike in that way""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SOAMI
Remember this word for future puzzles!
32D: "57. Cove"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an arm off of a larger body of water (often between rocky headlands)
- Similar words include: recess, intake
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: INLET
Remember this word for future puzzles!
33D: "60. Stock market woe"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that something that is lost
- Similar words include: personnel casualty, passing, release
- Opposite of: gain
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LOSS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
34D: "62. Diminishing return?"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the repetition of a sound resulting from reflection of the sound waves
- Similar words include: resound, replication, reverberation
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ECHO
Remember this word for future puzzles!
35D: "64. Waterproofing material for a sail, once"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that any of various dark heavy viscid substances obtained as a residue
- Similar words include: old salt, sea dog, seafarer
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TAR
Remember this word for future puzzles!
36D: "65. Lahore is here: Abbr."
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PAK
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
36 Across Clues
36 Down Clues
72 Total Clues
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