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 (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. "Truth be told ..." | 6 |
| 2A | 7. "___ so!" (German "I see!") | 3 |
| 3A | 10. Hoax | 4 |
| 4A | 14. Big name in skin care | 6 |
| 5A | 15. Leader whose face is shown on renminbi notes | 3 |
| 6A | 16. Ashen | 4 |
| 7A | 17. Spot for a catnap? | 10 |
| 8A | 19. Innings : baseball :: ___ : curling | 4 |
| 9A | 20. Lead-in to Geo | 3 |
| 10A | 21. Symbol of mass density | 3 |
| 11A | 22. They're noisy little buggers | 7 |
| 12A | 24. Kinkajou cousin | 5 |
| 13A | 26. Expected outcome | 4 |
| 14A | 27. Circa | 5 |
| 15A | 29. Experience deep affirmation, in modern lingo | 8 |
| 16A | 33. On guard | 5 |
| 17A | 34. Center | 5 |
| 18A | 35. Opus ___ | 3 |
| 19A | 36. Follower of open or closed, sartorially | 4 |
| 20A | 37. Spaghetti-strapped tops, informally | 5 |
| 21A | 38. Pass (out) | 4 |
| 22A | 39. Reaction to a sock | 3 |
| 23A | 40. Tasty item that, paradoxically, can have "ugh" in the middle | 5 |
| 24A | 41. Queen's collaborator on the 1981 hit "Under Pressure" | 5 |
| 25A | 42. What the "Music City Miracle" and the "Immaculate Reception" took place in | 8 |
| 26A | 44. Alternative to bow ties | 5 |
| 27A | 45. It might follow "ye" | 4 |
| 28A | 46. "___ days are gone" | 5 |
| 29A | 48. Test release? | 7 |
| 30A | 51. Qt. or pt. | 3 |
| 31A | 52. G.I. entertainers | 3 |
| 32A | 55. Trawling, say | 4 |
| 33A | 56. When many rainbows appear | 10 |
| 34A | 59. Like some chances | 4 |
| 35A | 60. Steering aid | 3 |
| 36A | 61. Sign on a restroom door | 6 |
| 37A | 62. Ryan Gosling and Simu Liu, in Greta Gerwig's "Barbie" | 4 |
| 38A | 63. Science guy Bill | 3 |
| 39A | 64. Ring combo | 6 |
Across Clues - Strategic Hints
1A: "1. "Truth be told ...""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FACTIS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
2A: "7. "___ so!" (German "I see!")"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ACH
Remember this word for future puzzles!
3A: "10. Hoax"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that something that is a counterfeit; not what it seems to be
- Similar words include: impostor, simulate, false
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SHAM
Remember this word for future puzzles!
4A: "14. Big name in skin care"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AVEENO
Remember this word for future puzzles!
5A: "15. Leader whose face is shown on renminbi notes"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an enzyme that catalyzes the oxidation of many body compounds (e.g., epinephrine and norepinephrine and serotonin)
- Similar words include: monoamine oxidase, Mao Tsetung, Mao Zedong
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MAO
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6A: "16. Ashen"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a wooden strip forming part of a fence
- Similar words include: picket, blench, blanch
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PALE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
7A: "17. Spot for a catnap?"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the sill of a window; the horizontal member at the bottom of the window frame
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: WINDOWSILL
Remember this word for future puzzles!
8A: "19. Innings : baseball :: ___ : curling"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that either extremity of something that has length
- Similar words include: end, ending, goal
- Opposite of: beginning, begin
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ENDS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
9A: "20. Lead-in to Geo"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NAT
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10A: "21. Symbol of mass density"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the 17th letter of the greek alphabet
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RHO
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11A: "22. They're noisy little buggers"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that stout-bodied insect with large membranous wings; male has drum-like organs for producing a high-pitched drone
- Similar words include: cicala, cicada
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CICADAS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
12A: "24. Kinkajou cousin"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that omnivorous mammal of central america and south america
- Similar words include: coati-mondi, coati-mundi, coon cat
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: COATI
Remember this word for future puzzles!
13A: "26. Expected outcome"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a standard or model or pattern regarded as typical
- Similar words include: average
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NORM
Remember this word for future puzzles!
14A: "27. Circa"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that on the move
- Similar words include: around, almost, nigh
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ABOUT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
15A: "29. Experience deep affirmation, in modern lingo"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FEELSEEN
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16A: "33. On guard"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that condition of heightened watchfulness or preparation for action
- Similar words include: alarm, rattling, snappy
- Opposite of: unalert
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ALERT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
17A: "34. Center"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the location of something surrounded by other things
- Similar words include: thick
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MIDST
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18A: "35. Opus ___"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DEI
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19A: "36. Follower of open or closed, sartorially"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that walk so that the toes assume an indicated position or direction
- Similar words include: toenail, toe
- Opposite of: toeless
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TOED
Remember this word for future puzzles!
20A: "37. Spaghetti-strapped tops, informally"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CAMIS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
21A: "38. Pass (out)"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that informal term for the nose
- Similar words include: faint, go, give-up the ghost
- Opposite of: be born
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CONK
Remember this word for future puzzles!
22A: "39. Reaction to a sock"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OOF
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23A: "40. Tasty item that, paradoxically, can have "ugh" in the middle"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a small ring-shaped friedcake
- Similar words include: doughnut, sinker
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DONUT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
24A: "41. Queen's collaborator on the 1981 hit "Under Pressure""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that united states pioneer and hero of the texas revolt against mexico; he shared command of the garrison that resisted the mexican attack on the alamo where he died (1796-1836)
- Similar words include: James Bowie, Jim Bowie
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BOWIE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
25A: "42. What the "Music City Miracle" and the "Immaculate Reception" took place in"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NFLGAMES
Remember this word for future puzzles!
26A: "44. Alternative to bow ties"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that pasta in short tubes with diagonally cut ends
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PENNE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
27A: "45. It might follow "ye""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OLDE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
28A: "46. "___ days are gone""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: THOSE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
29A: "48. Test release?"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TIMESUP
Remember this word for future puzzles!
30A: "51. Qt. or pt."
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AMT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
31A: "52. G.I. entertainers"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: USO
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32A: "55. Trawling, say"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that in the direction of the sea
- Similar words include: seaward, seawards
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ASEA
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33A: "56. When many rainbows appear"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PRIDEMONTH
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34A: "59. Like some chances"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that take off weight
- Similar words include: reduce, lose weight, svelte
- Opposite of: gain
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SLIM
Remember this word for future puzzles!
35A: "60. Steering aid"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an implement used to propel or steer a boat
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OAR
Remember this word for future puzzles!
36A: "61. Sign on a restroom door"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a polite name for any woman
- Similar words include: Lady, gentlewoman, madam
- Opposite of: nobleman, Lord
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LADIES
Remember this word for future puzzles!
37A: "62. Ryan Gosling and Simu Liu, in Greta Gerwig's "Barbie""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that range of what one can know or understand
- Similar words include: ken, sight, cognizance
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: KENS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
38A: "63. Science guy Bill"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NYE
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39A: "64. Ring combo"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ONETWO
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Down Clues - Complete List
| No. | Clue | Letters |
|---|---|---|
| 1D | 1. Babe in the woods | 4 |
| 2D | 2. Adidas competitor | 4 |
| 3D | 3. *Material for a sidewalk | 6 |
| 4D | 4. Media exec Sarandos | 3 |
| 5D | 5. "You game?" | 7 |
| 6D | 6. *To a degree | 8 |
| 7D | 7. "Why ___ even here?" | 3 |
| 8D | 8. It might come after trig | 4 |
| 9D | 9. *Lack of pulchritude | 10 |
| 10D | 10. Pickle portions | 6 |
| 11D | 11. Something that's kept in the family ... or a hint to making sense of three pairs of answers in this puzzle | 10 |
| 12D | 12. Alan of "M*A*S*H" | 4 |
| 13D | 13. State of a playroom, often | 4 |
| 14D | 18. Lush | 3 |
| 15D | 23. Young stud | 4 |
| 16D | 24. Bungee jumping necessity | 4 |
| 17D | 25. "Assuming there's no other option for me ..." | 7 |
| 18D | 27. Withdrawn | 5 |
| 19D | 28. *Choice cut | 8 |
| 20D | 30. Go over for publication | 4 |
| 21D | 31. Start of a counting rhyme | 5 |
| 22D | 32. Company that famously used the Beatles' "Revolution" in a 1987 TV commercial | 4 |
| 23D | 33. Lots and lots | 4 |
| 24D | 34. Thick locks | 4 |
| 25D | 37. *Supermarket shopper's clipping | 6 |
| 26D | 38. Alternative to a cup | 4 |
| 27D | 40. Owie kissers, perhaps | 4 |
| 28D | 41. Member of a wedding party | 7 |
| 29D | 43. Twinkles | 6 |
| 30D | 44. *Sport that uses mallets | 4 |
| 31D | 47. "You ___ me worried!" | 3 |
| 32D | 48. Something to be done | 4 |
| 33D | 49. Louisiana's Grand ___ State Park | 4 |
| 34D | 50. Speak while looking up, perhaps | 4 |
| 35D | 52. Foot or stone | 4 |
| 36D | 53. Goulash, e.g. | 4 |
| 37D | 54. Really, really | 4 |
| 38D | 57. Wrath | 3 |
| 39D | 58. Weird Al's "___ to a Superhero" | 3 |
Down Clues - Strategic Hints
1D: "1. Babe in the woods"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a color or pigment varying around a light grey-brown color
- Similar words include: creep, cower, crawl
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FAWN
Remember this word for future puzzles!
2D: "2. Adidas competitor"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AVIA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
3D: "3. *Material for a sidewalk"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that concrete pavement is sometimes referred to as cement
- Similar words include: cementum
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CEMENT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
4D: "4. Media exec Sarandos"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a tough youth of 1950's and 1960's wearing edwardian style clothes
- Similar words include: Teddy boy
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TED
Remember this word for future puzzles!
5D: "5. "You game?""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: INOROUT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
6D: "6. *To a degree"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that to a small degree or extent
- Similar words include: fairly, jolly, pretty
- Opposite of: unreasonably, immoderately
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SOMEWHAT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
7D: "7. "Why ___ even here?""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AMI
Remember this word for future puzzles!
8D: "8. It might come after trig"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CALC
Remember this word for future puzzles!
9D: "9. *Lack of pulchritude"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that having a drab or dowdy quality; lacking stylishness or elegance
- Similar words include: drabness, plainness, dowdiness
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HOMELINESS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
10D: "10. Pickle portions"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a long pointed rod used as a tool or weapon
- Similar words include: fizgig, gig, spear
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SPEARS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
11D: "11. Something that's kept in the family ... or a hint to making sense of three pairs of answers in this puzzle"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HANDMEDOWN
Remember this word for future puzzles!
12D: "12. Alan of "M*A*S*H""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ALDA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
13D: "13. State of a playroom, often"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a state of confusion and disorderliness
- Similar words include: pile, deal, batch
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MESS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
14D: "18. Lush"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a chronic drinker
- Similar words include: inebriate, drunkard, wino
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SOT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
15D: "23. Young stud"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a young male horse under the age of four
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: COLT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
16D: "24. Bungee jumping necessity"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a line made of twisted fibers or threads
- Similar words include: electric cord, corduroy
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CORD
Remember this word for future puzzles!
17D: "25. "Assuming there's no other option for me ...""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: IFIMUST
Remember this word for future puzzles!
18D: "27. Withdrawn"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that remote in manner
- Similar words include: distant, upstage
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ALOOF
Remember this word for future puzzles!
19D: "28. *Choice cut"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BEEFLOIN
Remember this word for future puzzles!
20D: "30. Go over for publication"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that prepare for publication or presentation by correcting, revising, or adapting
- Similar words include: delete, edit out, cut
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EDIT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
21D: "31. Start of a counting rhyme"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EENIE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
22D: "32. Company that famously used the Beatles' "Revolution" in a 1987 TV commercial"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that (greek mythology) winged goddess of victory; identified with roman victoria
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NIKE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
23D: "33. Lots and lots"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the sun (or solar disc) which was the deity of a monotheistic cult under the pharaoh akhenaten
- Similar words include: Aten
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ATON
Remember this word for future puzzles!
24D: "34. Thick locks"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that long coarse hair growing from the crest of the animal's neck
- Similar words include: head of hair
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MANE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
25D: "37. *Supermarket shopper's clipping"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a negotiable certificate that can be detached and redeemed as needed
- Similar words include: voucher
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: COUPON
Remember this word for future puzzles!
26D: "38. Alternative to a cup"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that any cone-shaped artifact
- Similar words include: conoid, cone shape, strobile
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CONE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
27D: "40. Owie kissers, perhaps"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an informal term for a father; probably derived from baby talk
- Similar words include: dada, pa, papa
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DADS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
28D: "41. Member of a wedding party"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BESTMAN
Remember this word for future puzzles!
29D: "43. Twinkles"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an appearance of reflected light
- Similar words include: glitter, gleaming, shine
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GLEAMS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
30D: "44. *Sport that uses mallets"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that venetian traveler who explored asia in the 13th century and served kublai khan (1254-1324)
- Similar words include: Marco Polo
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: POLO
Remember this word for future puzzles!
31D: "47. "You ___ me worried!""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that have or possess, either in a concrete or an abstract sense
- Similar words include: take, make, give birth
- Opposite of: abstain, lack
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HAD
Remember this word for future puzzles!
32D: "48. Something to be done"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted
- Similar words include: job, project, tax
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TASK
Remember this word for future puzzles!
33D: "49. Louisiana's Grand ___ State Park"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a small island
- Similar words include: islet
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ISLE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
34D: "50. Speak while looking up, perhaps"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that address a deity, a prophet, a saint or an object of worship; say a prayer
- Similar words include: implore, beg
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PRAY
Remember this word for future puzzles!
35D: "52. Foot or stone"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that any division of quantity accepted as a standard of measurement or exchange
- Similar words include: social unit, unit of measurement, whole
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: UNIT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
36D: "53. Goulash, e.g."
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that agitation resulting from active worry
- Similar words include: grudge, grizzle, sweat
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: STEW
Remember this word for future puzzles!
37D: "54. Really, really"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OHSO
Remember this word for future puzzles!
38D: "57. Wrath"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a strong emotion; a feeling that is oriented toward some real or supposed grievance
- Similar words include: anger, ira, choler
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: IRE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
39D: "58. Weird Al's "___ to a Superhero""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a lyric poem with complex stanza forms
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ODE
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
39 Down Clues
78 Total Clues
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