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 (39 clues)
- Across Clues - Detailed Hints
- Down Clues Table (28 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. Buds | 4 |
| 2A | 5. Concealer for the face | 4 |
| 3A | 9. Pre-K building blocks | 4 |
| 4A | 13. Plant that thrives in a terra-cotta pot | 4 |
| 5A | 14. Stick it to your rival! | 4 |
| 6A | 15. Bring in | 4 |
| 7A | 16. Twill-woven worsted wool garment | 4 |
| 8A | 17. Fix, in a way | 4 |
| 9A | 18. Purple bubble tea flavor | 4 |
| 10A | 19. Annual e-sport fighting competition, in brief | 3 |
| 11A | 20. Short sidekick? | 4 |
| 12A | 21. Chocolatier with the tagline "Life is a ball" | 5 |
| 13A | 22. Dub over? | 6 |
| 14A | 24. Cuatro y dos | 4 |
| 15A | 26. Business magnate Condé | 4 |
| 16A | 28. Promising places? | 6 |
| 17A | 32. Ferry or wherry | 4 |
| 18A | 35. Start of an incantation | 4 |
| 19A | 37. Pastoral sound | 3 |
| 20A | 38. Web design feature that may cycle back to earlier sections ... or a hint to this puzzle's theme | 14 |
| 21A | 42. Inspired stuff | 3 |
| 22A | 43. Pro device | 4 |
| 23A | 44. ___ out a win | 4 |
| 24A | 45. Bond alternatives | 6 |
| 25A | 47. "... ___ no one ever" | 4 |
| 26A | 50. Edge jump in figure skating | 4 |
| 27A | 52. Scenes on Black Friday | 6 |
| 28A | 56. Kaitlin of "Hacks" | 5 |
| 29A | 59. Pawn | 4 |
| 30A | 61. Addendum to the five W's | 3 |
| 31A | 62. Female antelopes | 4 |
| 32A | 63. "'___' is the thing with feathers" (Emily Dickinson poem) | 4 |
| 33A | 64. Woodsy scent | 4 |
| 34A | 65. Top of a mosque, often | 4 |
| 35A | 66. Column in decimal notation | 4 |
| 36A | 67. Central Plains people | 4 |
| 37A | 68. Losing streak | 4 |
| 38A | 69. Column in decimal notation | 4 |
| 39A | 70. Cheeky | 4 |
Across Clues - Strategic Hints
1A: "1. Buds"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a waterproof raincoat made of rubberized fabric
- Similar words include: mac, mack, macintosh
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MACS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
2A: "5. Concealer for the face"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a covering to disguise or conceal the face
- Similar words include: dissemble, disguise, masquerade
- Opposite of: unmask
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MASK
Remember this word for future puzzles!
3A: "9. Pre-K building blocks"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the elementary stages of any subject (usually plural)
- Similar words include: first principle, alphabet, first rudiment
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ABCS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
4A: "13. Plant that thrives in a terra-cotta pot"
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!
5A: "14. Stick it to your rival!"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a fencing sword similar to a foil but with a heavier blade
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EPEE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
6A: "15. Bring in"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that gather, as of natural products
- Similar words include: draw, glean, harvest
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: REAP
Remember this word for future puzzles!
7A: "16. Twill-woven worsted wool garment"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a knee-length pleated tartan skirt worn by men as part of the traditional dress in the highlands of northern scotland
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: KILT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
8A: "17. Fix, in a way"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that remove the ovaries of
- Similar words include: alter, neuter, castrate
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SPAY
Remember this word for future puzzles!
9A: "18. Purple bubble tea flavor"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that edible starchy tuberous root of taro plants
- Similar words include: Colocasia esculenta, edda, dalo
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TARO
Remember this word for future puzzles!
10A: "19. Annual e-sport fighting competition, in brief"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EVO
Remember this word for future puzzles!
11A: "20. Short sidekick?"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ASST
Remember this word for future puzzles!
12A: "21. Chocolatier with the tagline "Life is a ball""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LINDT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
13A: "22. Dub over?"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that assign a new name to
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RENAME
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14A: "24. Cuatro y dos"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SEIS
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15A: "26. Business magnate Condé"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that united states political cartoonist (1840-1902)
- Similar words include: Thomas Nast
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NAST
Remember this word for future puzzles!
16A: "28. Promising places?"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the table in christian churches where communion is given
- Similar words include: Lord's table, altar, communion table
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ALTARS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
17A: "32. Ferry or wherry"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a small vessel for travel on water
- Similar words include: gravy boat, sauceboat, gravy holder
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BOAT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
18A: "35. Start of an incantation"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ABRA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
19A: "37. Pastoral sound"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the sound made by a cow or bull
- Similar words include: low
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MOO
Remember this word for future puzzles!
20A: "38. Web design feature that may cycle back to earlier sections ... or a hint to this puzzle's theme"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: INFINITESCROLL
Remember this word for future puzzles!
21A: "42. Inspired stuff"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
- Similar words include: melodic line, strain, aura
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AIR
Remember this word for future puzzles!
22A: "43. Pro device"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: IPAD
Remember this word for future puzzles!
23A: "44. ___ out a win"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EKED
Remember this word for future puzzles!
24A: "45. Bond alternatives"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a frame that supports a boat while it is under construction
- Similar words include: breed, livestock, ancestry
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: STOCKS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
25A: "47. "... ___ no one ever""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that express in words
- Similar words include: tell, articulate, aforesaid
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SAID
Remember this word for future puzzles!
26A: "50. Edge jump in figure skating"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that fastener consisting of a metal ring for lining a small hole to permit the attachment of cords or lines
- Similar words include: loop-the-loop, intertwine, eyelet
- Opposite of: open circuit, uncoil
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LOOP
Remember this word for future puzzles!
27A: "52. Scenes on Black Friday"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a large number of things or people considered together
- Similar words include: herd, crowd, bunch
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CROWDS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
28A: "56. Kaitlin of "Hacks""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OLSON
Remember this word for future puzzles!
29A: "59. Pawn"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that any of several white wines from the rhine river valley in germany (`hock' is british usage)
- Similar words include: hock-joint, pawn, Rhine wine
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HOCK
Remember this word for future puzzles!
30A: "61. Addendum to the five W's"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HOW
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31A: "62. Female antelopes"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the federal department responsible for maintaining a national energy policy of the united states; created in 1977
- Similar words include: answer, cause, practise
- Opposite of: unmake
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DOES
Remember this word for future puzzles!
32A: "63. "'___' is the thing with feathers" (Emily Dickinson poem)"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a specific instance of feeling hopeful
- Similar words include: promise, trust, go for
- Opposite of: despair
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HOPE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
33A: "64. Woodsy scent"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a coniferous tree
- Similar words include: languish, yen, pine tree
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PINE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
34A: "65. Top of a mosque, often"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a concave shape whose distinguishing characteristic is that the concavity faces downward
- Similar words include: noodle, domed stadium, covered stadium
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DOME
Remember this word for future puzzles!
35A: "66. Column in decimal notation"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the smallest whole number or a numeral representing this number
- Similar words include: ace, single, unity
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ONES
Remember this word for future puzzles!
36A: "67. Central Plains people"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a member of the siouan people inhabiting the valleys of the platte and missouri rivers in nebraska
- Similar words include: Oto
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OTOE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
37A: "68. Losing streak"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that one of a pair of planks used to make a track for rolling or sliding objects
- Similar words include: slew, slide, slip
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SKID
Remember this word for future puzzles!
38A: "69. Column in decimal notation"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
- Similar words include: 10, tenner, decade
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TENS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
39A: "70. Cheeky"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that characterized by a lightly pert and exuberant quality
- Similar words include: irreverent, impertinent, saucy
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PERT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
Down Clues - Complete List
| No. | Clue | Letters |
|---|---|---|
| 1D | 20. Reddit Q&A sesh | 3 |
| 2D | 21. Purple shade | 5 |
| 3D | 23. Prefix with body or bacterial | 4 |
| 4D | 25. Side mirrors on a car, anthropomorphically | 4 |
| 5D | 27. "Toodle-oo!" | 4 |
| 6D | 29. One way to run | 4 |
| 7D | 30. Actors like biting into a juicy one | 4 |
| 8D | 31. On board, say | 4 |
| 9D | 32. Pollster's concern | 4 |
| 10D | 33. "Handling this as we speak" | 4 |
| 11D | 34. Hairstyle that you've picked out? | 4 |
| 12D | 36. Kings and queens, e.g. | 4 |
| 13D | 39. Canon competitor | 5 |
| 14D | 40. ___ facto | 4 |
| 15D | 41. Makeover | 4 |
| 16D | 46. Film production environment for an intimate scene, perhaps | 9 |
| 17D | 48. Digital security credential | 9 |
| 18D | 49. Get to | 3 |
| 19D | 51. Telegram and Simple Dialer, for two | 9 |
| 20D | 53. Cannellini, e.g. | 9 |
| 21D | 54. Organ-related item in a wallet | 9 |
| 22D | 55. Perfect place | 9 |
| 23D | 56. Expert employed by a sportsbook | 9 |
| 24D | 57. "Show me some real effort!" | 9 |
| 25D | 58. It's not a full stop | 9 |
| 26D | 60. Room in the audience up for grabs | 9 |
| 27D | 63. Absolute train wrecks | 9 |
| 28D | 64. Andy Warhol, e.g. | 9 |
Down Clues - Strategic Hints
1D: "20. Reddit Q&A sesh"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AMA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
2D: "21. Purple shade"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that any of various plants of the genus syringa having large panicles of usually fragrant flowers
- Similar words include: lilac-colored, lavender
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LILAC
Remember this word for future puzzles!
3D: "23. Prefix with body or bacterial"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a person who is opposed (to an action or policy or practice etc.)
- Opposite of: pro
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ANTI
Remember this word for future puzzles!
4D: "25. Side mirrors on a car, anthropomorphically"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
- Similar words include: spike, auricle, pinna
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EARS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
5D: "27. "Toodle-oo!""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TATA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
6D: "29. One way to run"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that frenzied as if possessed by a demon
- Similar words include: murderously, berserk, demoniac
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AMOK
Remember this word for future puzzles!
7D: "30. Actors like biting into a juicy one"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the actions and activities assigned to or required or expected of a person or group
- Similar words include: function, persona, character
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ROLE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
8D: "31. On board, say"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that exchange or deliver for money or its equivalent
- Similar words include: trade, deal, sell
- Opposite of: unsold, buy
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SOLD
Remember this word for future puzzles!
9D: "32. Pollster's concern"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a partiality that prevents objective consideration of an issue or situation
- Similar words include: predetermine, diagonal, preconception
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BIAS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
10D: "33. "Handling this as we speak""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ONIT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
11D: "34. Hairstyle that you've picked out?"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a rounded thickly curled hairdo
- Similar words include: Afro hairdo
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AFRO
Remember this word for future puzzles!
12D: "36. Kings and queens, e.g."
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
- Similar words include: go to bed, turn in, love
- Opposite of: get up, turn out
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BEDS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
13D: "39. Canon competitor"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NIKON
Remember this word for future puzzles!
14D: "40. ___ facto"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: IPSO
Remember this word for future puzzles!
15D: "41. Makeover"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that do over, as of (part of) a house
- Similar words include: remake, refashion, make over
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: REDO
Remember this word for future puzzles!
16D: "46. Film production environment for an intimate scene, perhaps"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CLOSEDSET
Remember this word for future puzzles!
17D: "48. Digital security credential"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ACCESSKEY
Remember this word for future puzzles!
18D: "49. Get to"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that irritate or vex
- Similar words include: gall
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: IRK
Remember this word for future puzzles!
19D: "51. Telegram and Simple Dialer, for two"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PHONEAPPS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
20D: "53. Cannellini, e.g."
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: WHITEBEAN
Remember this word for future puzzles!
21D: "54. Organ-related item in a wallet"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DONORCARD
Remember this word for future puzzles!
22D: "55. Perfect place"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SWEETSPOT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
23D: "56. Expert employed by a sportsbook"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ODDSMAKER
Remember this word for future puzzles!
24D: "57. "Show me some real effort!""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LOOKALIVE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
25D: "58. It's not a full stop"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a punctuation mark (`;') used to connect independent clauses; indicates a closer relation than does a period
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SEMICOLON
Remember this word for future puzzles!
26D: "60. Room in the audience up for grabs"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OPENSEATS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
27D: "63. Absolute train wrecks"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HOTMESSES
Remember this word for future puzzles!
28D: "64. Andy Warhol, e.g."
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: POPARTIST
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
39 Across Clues
28 Down Clues
67 Total Clues
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