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 (37 clues)
- Across Clues - Detailed Hints
- Down Clues Table (39 clues)
- Down Clues - Detailed Hints
- Expert Solving Strategies
- Today's Puzzle Statistics
Today's Puzzle Difficulty: Moderate
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. Utter rubbish | 5 |
| 2A | 6. Yellowish color for old computer graphics | 5 |
| 3A | 11. Showing a smirk, say | 3 |
| 4A | 14. "Make that two!" | 5 |
| 5A | 15. Actress Watts of "The Friend" | 5 |
| 6A | 16. Half of a giggle | 3 |
| 7A | 17. Nuyoricans, e.g. | 11 |
| 8A | 19. Doc who's seen for sinusitis | 3 |
| 9A | 20. Went on the fritz | 4 |
| 10A | 21. Grand project begun by the London Philological Society, in brief | 3 |
| 11A | 22. Snowman in "Frozen" | 4 |
| 12A | 24. Fender Stratocaster, e.g. | 14 |
| 13A | 29. Its base unit is the kilogram | 4 |
| 14A | 30. Self-written life story, informally | 7 |
| 15A | 31. Deer ___ (road sign) | 4 |
| 16A | 33. Otherwise called, in brief | 3 |
| 17A | 34. Brand of squishy balls | 4 |
| 18A | 35. Involuntary movement | 3 |
| 19A | 36. "The Disrobing of Christ," e.g. | 7 |
| 20A | 40. Fish in some onigiri | 3 |
| 21A | 41. One way to leave a door | 4 |
| 22A | 43. Asset for a thrower | 3 |
| 23A | 44. Old tape players | 4 |
| 24A | 46. Tiny swine | 7 |
| 25A | 48. One of the matriarchs in Judaism | 4 |
| 26A | 50. Thyroid, e.g. | 14 |
| 27A | 54. Oft-discarded part of an orange | 4 |
| 28A | 55. Some reproductive cells | 3 |
| 29A | 56. Baby ones are joeys, familiarly | 4 |
| 30A | 58. Sprightly dance | 3 |
| 31A | 59. Dress for a soirée, e.g. | 11 |
| 32A | 63. Prefix with sex or brow | 3 |
| 33A | 64. Protection against flooding | 5 |
| 34A | 65. Group of smarties | 5 |
| 35A | 66. "___ Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" | 3 |
| 36A | 67. Coffeehouse chain that owns the domain coffee.com | 5 |
| 37A | 68. Inch (up) | 5 |
Across Clues - Strategic Hints
1A: "1. Utter rubbish"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that merchandise that is shoddy or inferior
- Similar words include: shlock, schlock
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DRECK
Remember this word for future puzzles!
2A: "6. Yellowish color for old computer graphics"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a deep yellow color
- Similar words include: gold, yellow-brown, brownish-yellow
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AMBER
Remember this word for future puzzles!
3A: "11. Showing a smirk, say"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that humorously sarcastic or mocking
- Similar words include: ironic, dry, ironical
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: WRY
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4A: "14. "Make that two!""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: METOO
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5A: "15. Actress Watts of "The Friend""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the mother-in-law of ruth whose story is told in the book of ruth in the old testament
- Similar words include: Noemi
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NAOMI
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6A: "16. Half of a giggle"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HEE
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7A: "17. Nuyoricans, e.g."
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ETHNICGROUP
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8A: "19. Doc who's seen for sinusitis"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ENT
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9A: "20. Went on the fritz"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
- Similar words include: break, pop off, kick the bucket
- Opposite of: be born
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DIED
Remember this word for future puzzles!
10A: "21. Grand project begun by the London Philological Society, in brief"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an unabridged dictionary constructed on historical principles
- Similar words include: O.E.D., Oxford English Dictionary
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OED
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11A: "22. Snowman in "Frozen""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OLAF
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12A: "24. Fender Stratocaster, e.g."
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ELECTRICGUITAR
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13A: "29. Its base unit is the kilogram"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the property of a body that causes it to have weight in a gravitational field
- Similar words include: spate, deal, aggregate
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MASS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
14A: "30. Self-written life story, informally"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AUTOBIO
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15A: "31. Deer ___ (road sign)"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: XING
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16A: "33. Otherwise called, in brief"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AKA
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17A: "34. Brand of squishy balls"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NERF
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18A: "35. Involuntary movement"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a local and habitual twitching especially in the face
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TIC
Remember this word for future puzzles!
19A: "36. "The Disrobing of Christ," e.g."
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ELGRECO
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20A: "40. Fish in some onigiri"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the fatty flesh of eel; an elongate fish found in fresh water in europe and america; large eels are usually smoked or pickled
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EEL
Remember this word for future puzzles!
21A: "41. One way to leave a door"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that slightly open
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AJAR
Remember this word for future puzzles!
22A: "43. Asset for a thrower"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions
- Similar words include: object, take aim, target
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AIM
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23A: "44. Old tape players"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a magnetic tape recorder for recording (and playing back) tv programs
- Similar words include: videocassette recorder, VCR
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: VCRS
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24A: "46. Tiny swine"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MINIPIG
Remember this word for future puzzles!
25A: "48. One of the matriarchs in Judaism"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LEAH
Remember this word for future puzzles!
26A: "50. Thyroid, e.g."
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ENDOCRINEGLAND
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27A: "54. Oft-discarded part of an orange"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that soft spongelike central cylinder of the stems of most flowering plants
- Similar words include: nitty-gritty, heart, substance
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PITH
Remember this word for future puzzles!
28A: "55. Some reproductive cells"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the female reproductive cell; the female gamete
- Similar words include: ovum, egg cell
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OVA
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29A: "56. Baby ones are joeys, familiarly"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ROOS
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30A: "58. Sprightly dance"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that music in three-four time for dancing a jig
- Similar words include: gigue
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: JIG
Remember this word for future puzzles!
31A: "59. Dress for a soirée, e.g."
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EVENINGGOWN
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32A: "63. Prefix with sex or brow"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: UNI
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33A: "64. Protection against flooding"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a formal reception of visitors or guests (as at a royal court)
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LEVEE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
34A: "65. Group of smarties"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a faint constellation in the polar region of the southern hemisphere and containing part of the large magellanic cloud
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MENSA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
35A: "66. "___ Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SGT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
36A: "67. Coffeehouse chain that owns the domain coffee.com"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PEETS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
37A: "68. Inch (up)"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that someone unpleasantly strange or eccentric
- Similar words include: crawl, mouse, spook
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CREEP
Remember this word for future puzzles!
Down Clues - Complete List
| No. | Clue | Letters |
|---|---|---|
| 1D | 1. Contacted quickly online, informally | 4 |
| 2D | 2. Fix, as shoelaces | 5 |
| 3D | 3. Blues legend Waters | 5 |
| 4D | 4. Formally denounce | 7 |
| 5D | 5. Carp in a Japanese pond | 3 |
| 6D | 6. Brings to a boil? | 6 |
| 7D | 7. ___ Gras | 5 |
| 8D | 8. Honeybun | 3 |
| 9D | 9. LiMu ___ (insurance bird) | 3 |
| 10D | 10. Remove, as a page of a notebook | 6 |
| 11D | 11. Brew that's often a little cloudy and fruity | 9 |
| 12D | 12. Festivals often featuring jousting knights, for short | 9 |
| 13D | 13. Nevertheless | 3 |
| 14D | 18. Beds that might have wheels | 4 |
| 15D | 23. Either bronze animal in front of the Art Institute of Chicago | 4 |
| 16D | 25. Word after rib or batting | 4 |
| 17D | 26. Centerpiece of a birthday celebration | 4 |
| 18D | 27. Green dip, slangily | 4 |
| 19D | 28. [Hi-lar-ious!] | 4 |
| 20D | 31. President of China beginning in 2013 | 9 |
| 21D | 32. "This is pretty cool!" | 9 |
| 22D | 33. Asset for a thrower | 3 |
| 23D | 35. Make friendly to humans | 4 |
| 24D | 37. Hideout | 4 |
| 25D | 38. Supermodel Hadid | 4 |
| 26D | 39. Avocado-shaped | 4 |
| 27D | 42. Civil disturbance | 4 |
| 28D | 45. Juice box? | 7 |
| 29D | 47. I.T. pro's offering | 6 |
| 30D | 48. Imposes, as a tax | 6 |
| 31D | 49. Jennifer who wrote "A Visit From the Goon Squad" | 4 |
| 32D | 51. Pretty large jazz combo | 5 |
| 33D | 52. Whom a diary is often shown to | 5 |
| 34D | 53. Search for groundwater, in a way | 5 |
| 35D | 57. Jacket closer | 4 |
| 36D | 58. Au ___ (how roast beef may be served) | 3 |
| 37D | 60. Shape for flying geese | 3 |
| 38D | 61. Apple taster in Eden | 3 |
| 39D | 62. Car brand with the Hummer E.V. | 3 |
Down Clues - Strategic Hints
1D: "1. Contacted quickly online, informally"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DMED
Remember this word for future puzzles!
2D: "2. Fix, as shoelaces"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that tie again or anew
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RETIE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
3D: "3. Blues legend Waters"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ETHEL
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4D: "4. Formally denounce"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that express strong disapproval of
- Similar words include: objurgate, sentence, excoriate
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CONDEMN
Remember this word for future puzzles!
5D: "5. Carp in a Japanese pond"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: KOI
Remember this word for future puzzles!
6D: "6. Brings to a boil?"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a strong emotion; a feeling that is oriented toward some real or supposed grievance
- Similar words include: choler, ire, ira
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ANGERS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
7D: "7. ___ Gras"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MARDI
Remember this word for future puzzles!
8D: "8. Honeybun"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a cry or noise made to express displeasure or contempt
- Similar words include: razz, hiss, Bronx cheer
- Opposite of: applaud
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BOO
Remember this word for future puzzles!
9D: "9. LiMu ___ (insurance bird)"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that any of various systems of units for measuring electricity and magnetism
- Similar words include: electromagnetic unit, Dromaius novaehollandiae, Emu novaehollandiae
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EMU
Remember this word for future puzzles!
10D: "10. Remove, as a page of a notebook"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RIPOUT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
11D: "11. Brew that's often a little cloudy and fruity"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: WHEATBEER
Remember this word for future puzzles!
12D: "12. Festivals often featuring jousting knights, for short"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RENFAIRES
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13D: "13. Nevertheless"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that up to the present time
- Similar words include: heretofore, up to now, in time
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: YET
Remember this word for future puzzles!
14D: "18. Beds that might have wheels"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a sheath worn to protect a finger
- Similar words include: fingerstall, camp bed, crib
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: COTS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
15D: "23. Either bronze animal in front of the Art Institute of Chicago"
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: Panthera leo, Leo, king of beasts
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LION
Remember this word for future puzzles!
16D: "25. Word after rib or batting"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an enclosure made or wire or metal bars in which birds or animals can be kept
- Similar words include: batting cage, cage in, John Milton Cage Jr.
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CAGE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
17D: "26. Centerpiece of a birthday celebration"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a block of solid substance (such as soap or wax)
- Similar words include: coat, patty, bar
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CAKE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
18D: "27. Green dip, slangily"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GUAC
Remember this word for future puzzles!
19D: "28. [Hi-lar-ious!]"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ROFL
Remember this word for future puzzles!
20D: "31. President of China beginning in 2013"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: XIJINPING
Remember this word for future puzzles!
21D: "32. "This is pretty cool!""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ICANDIGIT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
22D: "33. Asset for a thrower"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a human limb; technically the part of the superior limb between the shoulder and the elbow but commonly used to refer to the whole superior limb
- Similar words include: branch, limb, gird
- Opposite of: disarm
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ARM
Remember this word for future puzzles!
23D: "35. Make friendly to humans"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that correct by punishment or discipline
- Similar words include: domesticize, meek, reclaim
- Opposite of: wild
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TAME
Remember this word for future puzzles!
24D: "37. Hideout"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the habitation of wild animals
- Similar words include: den
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LAIR
Remember this word for future puzzles!
25D: "38. Supermodel Hadid"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GIGI
Remember this word for future puzzles!
26D: "39. Avocado-shaped"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a closed plane curve resulting from the intersection of a circular cone and a plane cutting completely through it
- Similar words include: ellipse, egg-shaped, ovate
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OVAL
Remember this word for future puzzles!
27D: "42. Civil disturbance"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a public act of violence by an unruly mob
- Similar words include: howler, rioting, bacchanal
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RIOT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
28D: "45. Juice box?"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that formerly a strong swift horse ridden into battle
- Similar words include: battery charger, courser
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CHARGER
Remember this word for future puzzles!
29D: "47. I.T. pro's offering"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PCHELP
Remember this word for future puzzles!
30D: "48. Imposes, as a tax"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a charge imposed and collected
- Similar words include: levy en masse, recruit, raise
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LEVIES
Remember this word for future puzzles!
31D: "49. Jennifer who wrote "A Visit From the Goon Squad""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EGAN
Remember this word for future puzzles!
32D: "51. Pretty large jazz combo"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NONET
Remember this word for future puzzles!
33D: "52. Whom a diary is often shown to"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NOONE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
34D: "53. Search for groundwater, in a way"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that searching for underground water or minerals by using a dowsing rod
- Similar words include: rhabdomancy, souse, soak
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DOWSE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
35D: "57. Jacket closer"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the act of catching an object with the hands
- Similar words include: gingersnap, shot, pushover
- Opposite of: inelasticity
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SNAP
Remember this word for future puzzles!
36D: "58. Au ___ (how roast beef may be served)"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: JUS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
37D: "60. Shape for flying geese"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: VEE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
38D: "61. Apple taster in Eden"
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: EVE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
39D: "62. Car brand with the Hummer E.V."
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GMC
Remember this word for future puzzles!
Expert Solving Strategies
Start Smart
Begin with fill-in-the-blank clues and short 3-4 letter words. These are your foundation.
Decode the Clues
Question marks indicate wordplay or puns. "Maybe" suggests multiple interpretations.
Use Cross-References
Let intersecting letters guide you. One correct answer unlocks several others.
Build Vocabulary
Common crossword words repeat. Learning them speeds up future solving.
Today's Puzzle Stats
37 Across Clues
39 Down Clues
76 Total Clues
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