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Friday, July 17, 2026

XWordHint Crossword Answers July 17, 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: 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. Savory Chinese dish prepared on a griddle 15
2A 16. Ended something bad for good 15
3A 17. Had a little of this and that, say 15
4A 18. Dream setting, for short 3
5A 19. Does as a group? 4
6A 20. Air 4
7A 21. Water bearer 4
8A 23. It's a trap! 5
9A 27. Put into play 4
10A 31. Apply for an in-office job? 3
11A 32. Chase, in a way 3
12A 35. Pacifists' initiative 15
13A 40. Historical figure known to have acquired and dissected human corpses 15
14A 41. Common accompaniment to ribs 15
15A 42. It lacks a permanent host, for short 3
16A 43. Comedian Margaret 3
17A 44. Landform commonly seen in a crescent shape on Mars 4
18A 45. Phonies 5
19A 47. Candy bar similar to Heath 4
20A 51. Start of a tragedy 4
21A 54. They typically come in sets of four 4
22A 58. One who's been fleeced? 3
23A 59. French seafood topping named after another country 15
24A 64. "What on earth will you show some respect for?" 15
25A 65. Be alert 15

Across Clues - Strategic Hints

1A: "1. Savory Chinese dish prepared on a griddle"

15 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

2A: "16. Ended something bad for good"

15 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

3A: "17. Had a little of this and that, say"

15 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

4A: "18. Dream setting, for short"

3 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a recurring sleep state during which dreaming occurs; a state of rapidly shifting eye movements during sleep
  • Similar words include: rapid eye movement sleep, rapid eye movement, REM sleep
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: REM

Remember this word for future puzzles!

5A: "19. Does as a group?"

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that distinguished from bovidae by the male's having solid deciduous antlers
  • Similar words include: cervid
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DEER

Remember this word for future puzzles!

6A: "20. Air"

4 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a characteristic (habitual or relatively temporary) state of feeling
  • Similar words include: mode, temper, humour
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MOOD

Remember this word for future puzzles!

7A: "21. Water bearer"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an open vessel with a handle and a spout for pouring
  • Similar words include: pitcher
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EWER

Remember this word for future puzzles!

8A: "23. It's a trap!"

5 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that equipment designed to serve a specific function
  • Similar words include: apparatus, frame-up
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SETUP

Remember this word for future puzzles!

9A: "27. Put into play"

4 letters Category: Wordplay

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: victimized, victimised, utilise
  • Opposite of: misused
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: USED

Remember this word for future puzzles!

10A: "31. Apply for an in-office job?"

3 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a score in baseball made by a runner touching all four bases safely
  • Similar words include: break away, hunt down, track down
  • Opposite of: malfunction, idle
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RUN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

11A: "32. Chase, in a way"

3 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that seek someone's favor
  • Similar words include: romance, court, solicit
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: WOO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

12A: "35. Pacifists' initiative"

15 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

13A: "40. Historical figure known to have acquired and dissected human corpses"

15 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

14A: "41. Common accompaniment to ribs"

15 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

15A: "42. It lacks a permanent host, for short"

3 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

16A: "43. Comedian Margaret"

3 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

17A: "44. Landform commonly seen in a crescent shape on Mars"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a ridge of sand created by the wind; found in deserts or near lakes and oceans
  • Similar words include: sand dune
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DUNE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

18A: "45. Phonies"

5 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that something that is a counterfeit; not what it seems to be
  • Similar words include: sham, shammer, fake
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SHAMS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

19A: "47. Candy bar similar to Heath"

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

20A: "51. Start of a tragedy"

4 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

21A: "54. They typically come in sets of four"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a clawed foot of an animal especially a quadruped
  • Similar words include: mitt, hand, paw
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PAWS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

22A: "58. One who's been fleeced?"

3 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a member of a people living in southern benin and togo and southeastern ghana
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EWE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

23A: "59. French seafood topping named after another country"

15 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

24A: "64. "What on earth will you show some respect for?""

15 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

25A: "65. Be alert"

15 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

Down Clues - Complete List

No. Clue Letters
1D 1. Sweet sandwich 5
2D 2. Rod whom the annual A.L. batting title is named after 5
3D 3. Google smartphone feature that edits the photographer into the group shot 5
4D 4. Pulitzer-winning author whose only two novels were published 55 years apart 3
5D 5. Pie crust ingredient 4
6D 6. Slush Puppie alternative 4
7D 7. Dated many years ago? 4
8D 8. Approaches 5
9D 9. Mate 3
10D 10. What the names of all but one continent end with 3
11D 11. Airer of the original "Star Trek" series 3
12D 12. Marathoner's woe 5
13D 13. Prefix with -nautics 4
14D 14. Kaelin of the O.J. trial 4
15D 15. Pulled (out) 4
16D 22. Spoils 5
17D 24. Unearthed? 6
18D 25. Island nation north of Fiji 6
19D 26. Rough, in a way 6
20D 28. Fabric fragment 6
21D 29. Kitt who played Catwoman 6
22D 30. Marvel antagonist who wears a metal mask 6
23D 32. Headed out 4
24D 33. Never to be repeated 4
25D 34. First name of the singer dubbed the "King of Soul" 4
26D 35. Poor gift-giving? 4
27D 36. Like some lights 4
28D 37. Grind away 4
29D 38. Cut down on greens? 3
30D 39. Small amounts 5
31D 45. Incite to attack, as a dog 5
32D 46. Exhausted 5
33D 48. Knightley of "Bend It Like Beckham" 5
34D 49. Completely defeated 5
35D 50. Like marshes 5
36D 51. Thrift store tag 4
37D 52. Something big when all the world's a stage? 4
38D 53. It might be on a roll 4
39D 55. Exasperated cry 4
40D 56. Learned 4
41D 57. Disney antagonist who rules the Pride Lands 4
42D 60. Station information, for short 3
43D 61. "I've had a breakthrough!" 3
44D 62. Sch. that releases admission decisions on Pi Day 3
45D 63. Wizard 3

Down Clues - Strategic Hints

1D: "1. Sweet sandwich"

5 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

2D: "2. Rod whom the annual A.L. batting title is named after"

5 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that englishman and cavalier poet whose lyric poetry was favored by charles i (1595-1639)
  • Similar words include: Thomas Carew
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CAREW

Remember this word for future puzzles!

3D: "3. Google smartphone feature that edits the photographer into the group shot"

5 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

4D: "4. Pulitzer-winning author whose only two novels were published 55 years apart"

3 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that united states filmmaker whose works explore the richness of black culture in america (born in 1957)
  • Similar words include: Lee Yuen Kam, leeward, Tsung Dao Lee
  • Opposite of: windward
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LEE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

5D: "5. Pie crust ingredient"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that soft white semisolid fat obtained by rendering the fatty tissue of the hog
  • Similar words include: aggrandise, embellish, blow up
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LARD

Remember this word for future puzzles!

6D: "6. Slush Puppie alternative"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

7D: "7. Dated many years ago?"

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

8D: "8. Approaches"

5 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that move towards
  • Similar words include: near, draw close, come near
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NEARS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

9D: "9. Mate"

3 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a close friend who accompanies his buddies in their activities
  • Similar words include: chum, chum up, brother
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PAL

Remember this word for future puzzles!

10D: "10. What the names of all but one continent end with"

3 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that mother of the ancient irish gods; sometimes identified with danu
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ANA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

11D: "11. Airer of the original "Star Trek" series"

3 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

12D: "12. Marathoner's woe"

5 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a painful and involuntary muscular contraction
  • Similar words include: muscle spasm, spasm, cramp iron
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CRAMP

Remember this word for future puzzles!

13D: "13. Prefix with -nautics"

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

14D: "14. Kaelin of the O.J. trial"

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

15D: "15. Pulled (out)"

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

16D: "22. Spoils"

5 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an irrecoverable state of devastation and destruction
  • Similar words include: ruin, smash, bankrupt
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RUINS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

17D: "24. Unearthed?"

6 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that become ground down or deteriorate
  • Similar words include: gnaw at, wear away, scoured
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ERODED

Remember this word for future puzzles!

18D: "25. Island nation north of Fiji"

6 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a small island republic on the tuvalu islands; formerly part of the british colony of gilbert and ellice islands until it withdrew in 1975 and became independent of the united kingdom in 1978
  • Similar words include: Ellice Islands
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TUVALU

Remember this word for future puzzles!

19D: "26. Rough, in a way"

6 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that not even or uniform as e.g. in shape or texture
  • Similar words include: odd, mismatched, spotty
  • Opposite of: even
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: UNEVEN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

20D: "28. Fabric fragment"

6 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a sample piece of cloth
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SWATCH

Remember this word for future puzzles!

21D: "29. Kitt who played Catwoman"

6 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

22D: "30. Marvel antagonist who wears a metal mask"

6 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

23D: "32. Headed out"

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
  • Similar words include: depart, exit, cash in one's chips
  • Opposite of: stay in place, come
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: WENT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

24D: "33. Never to be repeated"

4 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that on one occasion
  • Similar words include: at one time, in one case, erst
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ONCE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

25D: "34. First name of the singer dubbed the "King of Soul""

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that united states inventor who manufactured the first elevator with a safety device (1811-1861)
  • Similar words include: Elisha Graves Otis, genus Otis
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OTIS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

26D: "35. Poor gift-giving?"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that money or goods contributed to the poor
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ALMS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

27D: "36. Like some lights"

4 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a colorless odorless gaseous element that give a red glow in a vacuum tube; one of the six inert gasses; occurs in the air in small amounts
  • Similar words include: atomic number 10, Ne
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NEON

Remember this word for future puzzles!

28D: "37. Grind away"

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that productive work (especially physical work done for wages)
  • Similar words include: labour, labor, grind
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TOIL

Remember this word for future puzzles!

29D: "38. Cut down on greens?"

3 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a loft in a barn where hay is stored
  • Similar words include: cut down, haymow, mop
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MOW

Remember this word for future puzzles!

30D: "39. Small amounts"

5 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a slight but appreciable amount
  • Similar words include: pinch, mite, hint
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MITES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

31D: "45. Incite to attack, as a dog"

5 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

32D: "46. Exhausted"

5 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that pass time in a specific way
  • Similar words include: worn out, exhausted, expend
  • Opposite of: unexhausted
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SPENT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

33D: "48. Knightley of "Bend It Like Beckham""

5 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

34D: "49. Completely defeated"

5 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that have ownership or possession of
  • Similar words include: possess, own, have
  • Opposite of: unowned
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OWNED

Remember this word for future puzzles!

35D: "50. Like marshes"

5 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that having a tone of a reed instrument
  • Similar words include: reedlike, wheezy
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: REEDY

Remember this word for future puzzles!

36D: "51. Thrift store tag"

4 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

37D: "52. Something big when all the world's a stage?"

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the actors in a play
  • Similar words include: stray, tramp, disgorge
  • Opposite of: keep down
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CAST

Remember this word for future puzzles!

38D: "53. It might be on a roll"

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that tropical american prickly pear of jamaica
  • Similar words include: Opuntia tuna, tunny, Anguilla sucklandii
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TUNA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

39D: "55. Exasperated cry"

4 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

40D: "56. Learned"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a way of doing or being
  • Similar words include: wise to, fresh, impudent
  • Opposite of: foolish
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: WISE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

41D: "57. Disney antagonist who rules the Pride Lands"

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a mark left (usually on the skin) by the healing of injured tissue
  • Similar words include: pit, mark, scratch
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SCAR

Remember this word for future puzzles!

42D: "60. Station information, for short"

3 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a system for screening luggage in airports; an agent passes a swab around or inside luggage and then runs the swab through a machine that can detect trace amounts of explosives
  • Similar words include: explosive trace detection
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ETD

Remember this word for future puzzles!

43D: "61. "I've had a breakthrough!""

3 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

44D: "62. Sch. that releases admission decisions on Pi Day"

3 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an engineering university in cambridge
  • Similar words include: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MIT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

45D: "63. Wizard"

3 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the smallest whole number or a numeral representing this number
  • Similar words include: angiotensin-converting enzyme, champion, topnotch
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ACE

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

25 Across Clues
45 Down Clues
70 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.

Disclaimer: Crossword clues and grid © The New York Times. This site provides hints and educational content for puzzle enthusiasts. XWordHint is not affiliated with The New York Times.

Last updated: July 17, 2026 at 05:58 AM

Saturday, April 18, 2026

XWordHint Crossword Answers April 18, 2026 | Expert Breakdown & Tips

Master today's NYT crossword with our expert hint system. We provide synonyms, antonyms, and strategic clues to help you solve without spoiling the fun. Perfect for crossword lovers who want that satisfying "aha!" moment.

Quick Navigation - Table of Contents

Today's Puzzle Difficulty: 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. "The Jeffersons" or "The Simpsons," notably 7
2A 8. Team with the mascot Big Al, familiarly 4
3A 12. In time 13
4A 14. Dish purportedly invented in Los Angeles's Little Tokyo neighborhood 14
5A 15. New York's ___ Valley 6
6A 16. Thawing 7
7A 17. Treat 6
8A 18. New outfit or accessory for a character, in video game-speak 3
9A 19. Things that shouldn't be hidden 4
10A 20. Non-eco-friendly refrigerant 5
11A 21. Term in the bedroom, maybe 8
12A 23. Unite 3
13A 24. Two-pronged 4
14A 26. Metros in the 1990s 4
15A 27. "Wait just a sec" 9
16A 29. Cowboy's friend, informally 4
17A 30. Name that spiked in popularity following a 2013 Disney movie 4
18A 31. Finalized 3
19A 34. "You've got nothing to worry about" 8
20A 36. All-time scoring leader for the Miami Heat, familiarly 5
21A 38. Routine surfaces 4
22A 39. Browns, on a scoreboard 3
23A 40. Mathematics writer Gardner 6
24A 41. Words of endorsement 7
25A 43. Arrived 6
26A 44. Make-believe sorrow 14
27A 46. Cause of amusement to a vet, maybe 13
28A 47. Daredevil's calculation 4
29A 48. Some fairy tale characters 7

Across Clues - Strategic Hints

1A: "1. "The Jeffersons" or "The Simpsons," notably"

7 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

2A: "8. Team with the mascot Big Al, familiarly"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

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3A: "12. In time"

13 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

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4A: "14. Dish purportedly invented in Los Angeles's Little Tokyo neighborhood"

14 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ______________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CALIFORNIAROLL

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5A: "15. New York's ___ Valley"

6 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a new york river; flows southward into new york bay; explored by henry hudson early in the 17th century
  • Similar words include: Hudson River, W. H. Hudson, William Henry Hudson
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HUDSON

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6A: "16. Thawing"

7 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the easing of tensions or strained relations (especially between nations)
  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DETENTE

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7A: "17. Treat"

6 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a licensed medical practitioner
  • Similar words include: restore, doc, doctor up
  • Opposite of: break
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DOCTOR

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8A: "18. New outfit or accessory for a character, in video game-speak"

3 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a british teenager or young adult in the 1960s; noted for their clothes consciousness and opposition to the rockers
  • Similar words include: modernistic, modern
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MOD

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9A: "19. Things that shouldn't be hidden"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a fixed charge for a privilege or for professional services
  • Similar words include: tip, bung, fee
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FEES

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10A: "20. Non-eco-friendly refrigerant"

5 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that any one or more chlorofluorocarbons (or related compounds) that are used as an aerosol propellant, organic solvent, or refrigerant
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FREON

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11A: "21. Term in the bedroom, maybe"

8 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

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12A: "23. Unite"

3 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the fourth day of the week; the third working day
  • Similar words include: espouse, Wednesday, splice
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: WED

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13A: "24. Two-pronged"

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that consisting of or involving two parts or components usually in pairs
  • Similar words include: two-fold, threefold, twofold
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DUAL

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14A: "26. Metros in the 1990s"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

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15A: "27. "Wait just a sec""

9 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

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16A: "29. Cowboy's friend, informally"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

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17A: "30. Name that spiked in popularity following a 2013 Disney movie"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

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18A: "31. Finalized"

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: rigid, set up, fructify
  • Opposite of: rise
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SET

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19A: "34. "You've got nothing to worry about""

8 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

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20A: "36. All-time scoring leader for the Miami Heat, familiarly"

5 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

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21A: "38. Routine surfaces"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a thick flat pad used as a floor covering
  • Similar words include: matte, Master of Arts in Teaching, tangle
  • Opposite of: disentangle, unsnarl
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MATS

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22A: "39. Browns, on a scoreboard"

3 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

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23A: "40. Mathematics writer Gardner"

6 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that french bishop who is a patron saint of france (died in 397)
  • Similar words include: Mary Martin, Dean Martin, Steve Martin
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MARTIN

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24A: "41. Words of endorsement"

7 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

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25A: "43. Arrived"

6 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

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26A: "44. Make-believe sorrow"

14 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ______________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CROCODILETEARS

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27A: "46. Cause of amusement to a vet, maybe"

13 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

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28A: "47. Daredevil's calculation"

4 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the likelihood of a thing occurring rather than not occurring
  • Similar words include: betting odds
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ODDS

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29A: "48. Some fairy tale characters"

7 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a young unmarried woman
  • Similar words include: damozel, damsel, damosel
  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DAMSELS

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Down Clues - Complete List

No. Clue Letters
1D 1. Did business with, in a way 6
2D 2. Blowgun projectile 10
3D 3. Words before "a penny" or "a treat" 5
4D 4. Fifth-most abundant element in the universe 4
5D 5. Lieutenant in "Catch-22" 3
6D 6. Into 6
7D 7. Breakfast dish that might go over well? 9
8D 8. How people get into a swimming pool, typically 8
9D 9. Yom Kippur observers 7
10D 10. Like the cheese in fondue 6
11D 11. Backdrop for many van Gogh paintings 5
12D 12. Blitzed 6
13D 13. ___ pull-downs (exercise) 3
14D 14. Item in a list on the fridge, maybe 5
15D 17. Texas air hub, for short 3
16D 18. Silky-haired toy 7
17D 21. Start to give 3
18D 22. "Hey, no backing out now!" 10
19D 25. Still waffling 9
20D 27. Relatives of ottomans 8
21D 28. Texter's affectionate sign-off 3
22D 29. It's not fit for human consumption 7
23D 31. Cutting stuff 6
24D 32. Cuts a line? 5
25D 33. It takes two hands to show 3
26D 34. Musketeer's tool 6
27D 35. Nissan model 6
28D 37. Brings about, as havoc 6
29D 38. Less than milli-, more than nano- 5
30D 40. Paint option 5
31D 42. Metric for a venture capitalist, in brief 3
32D 43. Play (with) 4
33D 45. Calc. calculation 3

Down Clues - Strategic Hints

1D: "1. Did business with, in a way"

6 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

2D: "2. Blowgun projectile"

10 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

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3D: "3. Words before "a penny" or "a treat""

5 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

4D: "4. Fifth-most abundant element in the universe"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a colorless odorless gaseous element that give a red glow in a vacuum tube; one of the six inert gasses; occurs in the air in small amounts
  • Similar words include: atomic number 10, Ne
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NEON

Remember this word for future puzzles!

5D: "5. Lieutenant in "Catch-22""

3 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that canadian hockey player (born 1948)
  • Similar words include: Robert Orr, Bobby Orr
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ORR

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6D: "6. Into"

6 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

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7D: "7. Breakfast dish that might go over well?"

9 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

8D: "8. How people get into a swimming pool, typically"

8 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that without shoes
  • Similar words include: shoeless, barefooted
  • Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BAREFOOT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

9D: "9. Yom Kippur observers"

7 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

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10D: "10. Like the cheese in fondue"

6 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that reduce or cause to be reduced from a solid to a liquid state, usually by heating
  • Similar words include: melt down, mellow, dissolve
  • Opposite of: unmelted
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MELTED

Remember this word for future puzzles!

11D: "11. Backdrop for many van Gogh paintings"

5 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that money given by a buyer to a seller to bind a contract
  • Similar words include: earnest money
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ARLES

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12D: "12. Blitzed"

6 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that behave saucily or impudently towards
  • Similar words include: sauce
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SAUCED

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13D: "13. ___ pull-downs (exercise)"

3 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a broad flat muscle on either side of the back
  • Similar words include: latissimus dorsi
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LAT

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14D: "14. Item in a list on the fridge, maybe"

5 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a specific piece of work required to be done as a duty or for a specific fee
  • Similar words include: job, task
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CHORE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

15D: "17. Texas air hub, for short"

3 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

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16D: "18. Silky-haired toy"

7 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a native or inhabitant of malta
  • Similar words include: Malti, Maltese language, Maltese dog
  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MALTESE

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17D: "21. Start to give"

3 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a shape that sags
  • Similar words include: swag, droop, flag
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SAG

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18D: "22. "Hey, no backing out now!""

10 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

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19D: "25. Still waffling"

9 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that not brought to a conclusion; subject to further thought
  • Similar words include: open, unresolved, on the fence
  • Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: UNDECIDED

Remember this word for future puzzles!

20D: "27. Relatives of ottomans"

8 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that thick cushion used as a seat
  • Similar words include: pouffe, pouf, hassock
  • Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HASSOCKS

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21D: "28. Texter's affectionate sign-off"

3 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

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22D: "29. It's not fit for human consumption"

7 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that food prepared for animal pets
  • Similar words include: pet food, pet-food
  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PETFOOD

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23D: "31. Cutting stuff"

6 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that witty language used to convey insults or scorn; ; ; --jonathan swift
  • Similar words include: caustic remark, sarcasm, irony
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SATIRE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

24D: "32. Cuts a line?"

5 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that prepare for publication or presentation by correcting, revising, or adapting
  • Similar words include: edit, blue-pencil, edit out
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EDITS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

25D: "33. It takes two hands to show"

3 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

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: ten-spot, x, decade
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TEN

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26D: "34. Musketeer's tool"

6 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a rod used to ram the charge into a muzzle-loading firearm
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RAMROD

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27D: "35. Nissan model"

6 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

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28D: "37. Brings about, as havoc"

6 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that cause to happen or to occur as a consequence
  • Similar words include: play, make for, wreak
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: WREAKS

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29D: "38. Less than milli-, more than nano-"

5 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that extremely small in scale or scope or capability
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MICRO

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30D: "40. Paint option"

5 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a mixture of sulfides that forms when sulfide metal ores are smelted
  • Similar words include: matted, matt-up, mat
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MATTE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

31D: "42. Metric for a venture capitalist, in brief"

3 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that (corporate finance) the amount, expressed as a percentage, that is earned on a company's total capital calculated by dividing the total capital into earnings before interest, taxes, or dividends are paid
  • Similar words include: return on invested capital, return on investment
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ROI

Remember this word for future puzzles!

32D: "43. Play (with)"

4 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a state of confusion and disorderliness
  • Similar words include: mass, kettle of fish, muss
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MESS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

33D: "45. Calc. calculation"

3 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

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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

29 Across Clues
33 Down Clues
62 Total Clues

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Last updated: April 18, 2026 at 05:22 AM