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Tuesday, April 21, 2026

XWordHint Crossword Answers April 21, 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: Medium

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. Surrenders 6
2A 7. Wise thinker 4
3A 11. Form of poetry Pablo Neruda used to praise socks, onions and salt 3
4A 14. Realm of the Aztecs or Incas 6
5A 15. Do some farmwork 4
6A 16. ___ de plume 3
7A 17. Mentor from the beyond 11
8A 19. Whitney who invented the cotton gin 3
9A 20. Soak up 6
10A 21. "___ have to do" 4
11A 22. Grifters' schemes 4
12A 25. Major charity whose recipients include the Red Cross and Salvation Army 9
13A 28. Lexington or Madison in N.Y.C.: Abbr. 3
14A 29. Mo. with Aries and Taurus signs 3
15A 31. Soon-to-be graduates 7
16A 32. Offering from an entrepreneurial child's stand 8
17A 35. Song and dance 3
18A 36. Wild West way of settling disputes 15
19A 41. Broadway's ___-Manuel Miranda 3
20A 42. In a gloomy way 8
21A 43. Starbucks alternatives from the Golden Arches 7
22A 47. B&B 3
23A 48. Bambi's mother, for one 3
24A 49. 1972 country hit for Tanya Tucker 9
25A 51. Reptiles on papyrus 4
26A 52. Ballet bend 4
27A 53. Puts pen to paper 6
28A 56. "But Daddy I Love ___" (Taylor Swift song) 3
29A 57. Early advantage ... or a hint to the beginnings of 17-, 25-, 36- and 49-Across 11
30A 62. "Blueprint" for life 3
31A 63. Falsehoods 4
32A 64. Chemical "twin" 6
33A 65. "On the Basis of ___" (Ruth Bader Ginsburg biopic) 3
34A 66. Circular tent 4
35A 67. Words often accompanying a present 6

Across Clues - Strategic Hints

1A: "1. Surrenders"

6 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that production of a certain amount
  • Similar words include: bear, take, output
  • Opposite of: stand, survive
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: YIELDS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

2A: "7. Wise thinker"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a mentor in spiritual and philosophical topics who is renowned for profound wisdom
  • Similar words include: salvia, sage-green
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SAGE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

3A: "11. Form of poetry Pablo Neruda used to praise socks, onions and salt"

3 letters Category: Abbreviation

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!

4A: "14. Realm of the Aztecs or Incas"

6 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the domain ruled by an emperor or empress; the region over which imperial dominion is exercised
  • Similar words include: imperium, conglomerate
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EMPIRE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

5A: "15. Do some farmwork"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a farm tool having one or more heavy blades to break the soil and cut a furrow prior to sowing
  • Similar words include: plough, treat, deal
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PLOW

Remember this word for future puzzles!

6A: "16. ___ de plume"

3 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

7A: "17. Mentor from the beyond"

11 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ___________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SPIRITGUIDE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

8A: "19. Whitney who invented the cotton gin"

3 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

9A: "20. Soak up"

6 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that become imbued
  • Similar words include: take over, ingest, draw
  • Opposite of: emit
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ABSORB

Remember this word for future puzzles!

10A: "21. "___ have to do""

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

11A: "22. Grifters' schemes"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an argument opposed to a proposal
  • Similar words include: flimflam, swindle, nobble
  • Opposite of: pro
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CONS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

12A: "25. Major charity whose recipients include the Red Cross and Salvation Army"

9 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

13A: "28. Lexington or Madison in N.Y.C.: Abbr."

3 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

14A: "29. Mo. with Aries and Taurus signs"

3 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the month following march and preceding may
  • Similar words include: April
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: APR

Remember this word for future puzzles!

15A: "31. Soon-to-be graduates"

7 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an undergraduate student during the year preceding graduation
  • Similar words include: senior, elder
  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SENIORS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

16A: "32. Offering from an entrepreneurial child's stand"

8 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that sweetened beverage of diluted lemon juice
  • Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LEMONADE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

17A: "35. Song and dance"

3 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a rapid active commotion
  • Similar words include: hustle, bustle, flurry
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ADO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

18A: "36. Wild West way of settling disputes"

15 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

19A: "41. Broadway's ___-Manuel Miranda"

3 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that united states sculptor and architect whose public works include the memorial to veterans of the vietnam war in washington (born in 1959)
  • Similar words include: Maya Lin
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LIN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

20A: "42. In a gloomy way"

8 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that in a morose manner
  • Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MOROSELY

Remember this word for future puzzles!

21A: "43. Starbucks alternatives from the Golden Arches"

7 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

22A: "47. B&B"

3 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a hotel providing overnight lodging for travelers
  • Similar words include: lodge, hostel, hostelry
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: INN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

23A: "48. Bambi's mother, for one"

3 letters Category: Abbreviation

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: Energy, Energy Department, Department of Energy
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DOE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

24A: "49. 1972 country hit for Tanya Tucker"

9 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

25A: "51. Reptiles on papyrus"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that of southern europe; similar to but smaller than the adder
  • Similar words include: Egyptian cobra, Vipera aspis, asp
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ASPS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

26A: "52. Ballet bend"

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

27A: "53. Puts pen to paper"

6 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that produce a literary work
  • Similar words include: compose, pen, save
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: WRITES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

28A: "56. "But Daddy I Love ___" (Taylor Swift song)"

3 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

29A: "57. Early advantage ... or a hint to the beginnings of 17-, 25-, 36- and 49-Across"

11 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ___________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FLYINGSTART

Remember this word for future puzzles!

30A: "62. "Blueprint" for life"

3 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that (biochemistry) a long linear polymer found in the nucleus of a cell and formed from nucleotides and shaped like a double helix; associated with the transmission of genetic information
  • Similar words include: desoxyribonucleic acid, deoxyribonucleic acid
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DNA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

31A: "63. Falsehoods"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a statement that deviates from or perverts the truth
  • Similar words include: rest, lie, prevarication
  • Opposite of: stand, arise
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LIES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

32A: "64. Chemical "twin""

6 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a compound that exists in forms having different arrangements of atoms but the same molecular weight
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ISOMER

Remember this word for future puzzles!

33A: "65. "On the Basis of ___" (Ruth Bader Ginsburg biopic)"

3 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that activities associated with sexual intercourse
  • Similar words include: sexual practice, sexual urge, turn on
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SEX

Remember this word for future puzzles!

34A: "66. Circular tent"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a circular domed dwelling that is portable and self-supporting; originally used by nomadic mongol and turkic people of central asia but now used as inexpensive alternative or temporary housing
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: YURT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

35A: "67. Words often accompanying a present"

6 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

Down Clues - Complete List

No. Clue Letters
1D 1. Answer equivalent to "I do" 3
2D 2. Mischievous devil 3
3D 3. Prefix with center 3
4D 4. Coins spent in Turkey 5
5D 5. Tiny drop 4
6D 6. Tennis match units 4
7D 7. Snub 5
8D 8. They may crumble under cross-examination 6
9D 9. Zeus or Odin 3
10D 10. Female form of the animal that outnumbers humans in Iceland 3
11D 11. Boxing combo 6
12D 12. Big name in rental cars 6
13D 13. ___ List (PAC for Democratic female candidates) 6
14D 18. Haitian currency unit 6
15D 21. Not the brightest bulbs, so to speak 6
16D 22. Bovine baby 4
17D 23. ___ the moon 4
18D 24. Captain in "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea" 4
19D 26. Steeping container 6
20D 27. Finishes with 6
21D 29. Left-wing protest group 6
22D 30. Tormented 6
23D 33. Like "The Tonight Show" and "Saturday Night Live" 6
24D 34. Hesitation sound across the pond 3
25D 37. Enter the chat, so to speak 6
26D 38. Some military hazards, for short 4
27D 39. Hoofbeat 4
28D 40. Visually sizes up 4
29D 43. Dual degrees for physicians 6
30D 44. ___ Dion, the "Queen of Power Ballads" 6
31D 45. Apex 6
32D 46. Literary friend of Finn 6
33D 50. Body part that's flicked 5
34D 51. Businessman John Jacob ___ 5
35D 54. "Almost time for the weekend!" 4
36D 55. Canadian gas brand 4
37D 57. Cool, in '90s slang 3
38D 58. Common Chinese surname 3
39D 59. Funny Schumer or Poehler 3
40D 60. ___ Speedwagon 3
41D 61. "___ dat" (slangy agreement) 3

Down Clues - Strategic Hints

1D: "1. Answer equivalent to "I do""

3 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an affirmative
  • Opposite of: no
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: YES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

2D: "2. Mischievous devil"

3 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that (folklore) fairies that are somewhat mischievous
  • Similar words include: brownie, scamp, scallywag
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: IMP

Remember this word for future puzzles!

3D: "3. Prefix with center"

3 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a self-report personality inventory based on hans eysenck's factor analysis of personality which assumes three basic factors (the two most important being extraversion to introversion and neuroticism)
  • Similar words include: Eysenck Personality Inventory
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EPI

Remember this word for future puzzles!

4D: "4. Coins spent in Turkey"

5 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the basic unit of money on malta; equal to 100 cents
  • Similar words include: Turkish lira, lira, Italian lira
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LIRAS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

5D: "5. Tiny drop"

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a small indefinite quantity (especially of a liquid); ; ; ; --kipling
  • Similar words include: driblet, drop
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DRIB

Remember this word for future puzzles!

6D: "6. Tennis match units"

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a group of things of the same kind that belong together and are so used
  • Similar words include: congeal, adjust, fix
  • Opposite of: rise
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SETS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

7D: "7. Snub"

5 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that reject with contempt
  • Similar words include: reject, pooh-pooh, freeze off
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SPURN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

8D: "8. They may crumble under cross-examination"

6 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that (law) a defense by an accused person purporting to show that he or she could not have committed the crime in question
  • Similar words include: self-justification, alibi, excuse
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ALIBIS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

9D: "9. Zeus or Odin"

3 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the supernatural being conceived as the perfect and omnipotent and omniscient originator and ruler of the universe; the object of worship in monotheistic religions
  • Similar words include: divinity, deity, immortal
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GOD

Remember this word for future puzzles!

10D: "10. Female form of the animal that outnumbers humans in Iceland"

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!

11D: "11. Boxing combo"

6 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

12D: "12. Big name in rental cars"

6 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the basic monetary unit in many countries; equal to 100 cents
  • Similar words include: dollar bill, dollar sign, buck
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DOLLAR

Remember this word for future puzzles!

13D: "13. ___ List (PAC for Democratic female candidates)"

6 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

14D: "18. Haitian currency unit"

6 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the basic unit of money in haiti
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GOURDE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

15D: "21. Not the brightest bulbs, so to speak"

6 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a person of subnormal intelligence
  • Similar words include: cretin, idiot, retard
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: IDIOTS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

16D: "22. Bovine baby"

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that young of domestic cattle
  • Similar words include: calfskin, sura
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CALF

Remember this word for future puzzles!

17D: "23. ___ the moon"

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that (cricket) the division of play during which six balls are bowled at the batsman by one player from the other team from the same end of the pitch
  • Similar words include: all over, terminated, o'er
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OVER

Remember this word for future puzzles!

18D: "24. Captain in "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea""

4 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

19D: "26. Steeping container"

6 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

20D: "27. Finishes with"

6 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

21D: "29. Left-wing protest group"

6 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

22D: "30. Tormented"

6 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that cause bodily suffering to and make sick or indisposed
  • Similar words include: ail, pain, trouble
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PAINED

Remember this word for future puzzles!

23D: "33. Like "The Tonight Show" and "Saturday Night Live""

6 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

24D: "34. Hesitation sound across the pond"

3 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

25D: "37. Enter the chat, so to speak"

6 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

26D: "38. Some military hazards, for short"

4 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an explosive device that is improvised
  • Similar words include: I.E.D., IED, improvised explosive device
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: IEDS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

27D: "39. Hoofbeat"

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the sound of a horse's hoofs hitting on a hard surface
  • Similar words include: clump, clunk, clopping
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CLOP

Remember this word for future puzzles!

28D: "40. Visually sizes up"

4 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that opinion or judgment
  • Similar words include: middle, eye, center
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EYES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

29D: "43. Dual degrees for physicians"

6 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

30D: "44. ___ Dion, the "Queen of Power Ballads""

6 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

31D: "45. Apex"

6 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the highest point of anything conceived of as growing or developing or unfolding
  • Similar words include: orgasm, flood tide, culmination
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CLIMAX

Remember this word for future puzzles!

32D: "46. Literary friend of Finn"

6 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that one who is employed to saw wood
  • Similar words include: sawyer beetle
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SAWYER

Remember this word for future puzzles!

33D: "50. Body part that's flicked"

5 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a joint between the distal end of the radius and the proximal row of carpal bones
  • Similar words include: radiocarpal joint, wrist joint, articulatio radiocarpea
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: WRIST

Remember this word for future puzzles!

34D: "51. Businessman John Jacob ___"

5 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that british politician (born in the united states) who was the first woman to sit in the british house of commons (1879-1964)
  • Similar words include: John Jacob Astor, Viscountess Astor, Nancy Witcher Astor
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ASTOR

Remember this word for future puzzles!

35D: "54. "Almost time for the weekend!""

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

36D: "55. Canadian gas brand"

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

37D: "57. Cool, in '90s slang"

3 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that two-winged insects characterized by active flight
  • Similar words include: fly front, take flight, tent flap
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FLY

Remember this word for future puzzles!

38D: "58. Common Chinese surname"

3 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

39D: "59. Funny Schumer or Poehler"

3 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

40D: "60. ___ Speedwagon"

3 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

41D: "61. "___ dat" (slangy agreement)"

3 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

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

35 Across Clues
41 Down Clues
76 Total Clues

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Last updated: April 21, 2026 at 05:39 AM

Sunday, April 12, 2026

XWordHint Crossword Answers April 12, 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: 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. Words ___ Friends 4
2A 5. Dunderheads 5
3A 10. Starting point of Diana Nyad's 2013 swim to Florida 4
4A 14. Reduce to a pulp 4
5A 18. Actress ___ Grace Moretz 5
6A 19. "The game's ___": Henry V 5
7A 20. Mystery writer? 4
8A 21. Soothing succulent 4
9A 22. HOT woman worth fighting for? 11
10A 24. Throwing weapon known in Japanese as a shuriken 9
11A 26. 2010-12's ___ Spring 4
12A 27. Coronary insert 5
13A 28. GOT in the ballpark? 10
14A 29. Gomez of "Only Murders in the Building" 6
15A 31. Under, poetically 5
16A 33. Trick 4
17A 34. Music to a comedian's ears 5
18A 36. Some 1960s-style protests 6
19A 39. Contents of a black-and-white pod 5
20A 43. BOB Dylan album? 14
21A 47. Impossible to read, perhaps 6
22A 48. Word before cut or class 3
23A 49. Fragrant compound 5
24A 50. "It's ___. Do you know where your children are?" (old P.S.A.) 5
25A 52. Butcher's cut 4
26A 53. Takes a little off 5
27A 55. Time's 2023 Person of the Year 5
28A 58. A.I.-powered video hoaxes 9
29A 60. In ___ 4
30A 61. Portuguese wine 7
31A 63. Put out again 7
32A 64. MOB wives? 15
33A 68. Casino supervisor 7
34A 71. Surround 7
35A 72. Poker in the Olympics? 4
36A 76. How an urgent text may be written 9
37A 79. Affect emotionally 5
38A 80. Carne ___ 5
39A 81. Word on either side of "à" 4
40A 82. Org. founded to fund foreign projects 5
41A 84. Vapes, familiarly 5
42A 86. King's title, in brief 3
43A 87. Turkish summit 6
44A 89. SOAP film? 14
45A 93. Alternative to a Les Paul, for short 5
46A 94. Dad's deflection 6
47A 95. One of the seven deadly sins 5
48A 96. Vegetables rarely cut with a knife 4
49A 98. Switch positions 5
50A 101. Washington or Berlin 6
51A 104. KID napper's demand? 10
52A 109. Loses emotional control, in gamer-speak 5
53A 111. Socialite Sedgwick, the supposed inspiration for Dylan's "Like a Rolling Stone" 4
54A 112. Winning country at the 2022 World Cup 9
55A 113. THE big game? 11
56A 115. "You're full of baloney!" 4
57A 116. "Right on, man" 4
58A 117. "Baywatch" actress Eleniak 5
59A 118. Breathers 5
60A 119. Goals 4
61A 120. Reference 4
62A 121. Fall perennial 5
63A 122. Primatologists' subjects 4

Across Clues - Strategic Hints

1A: "1. Words ___ Friends"

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

2A: "5. Dunderheads"

5 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a person who is not very bright
  • Similar words include: stupe, poor fish, stupid
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DOLTS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

3A: "10. Starting point of Diana Nyad's 2013 swim to Florida"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a communist state in the caribbean on the island of cuba
  • Similar words include: Republic of Cuba
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CUBA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

4A: "14. Reduce to a pulp"

4 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a mixture of mashed malt grains and hot water; used in brewing
  • Similar words include: flirt, butterfly, bray
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MASH

Remember this word for future puzzles!

5A: "18. Actress ___ Grace Moretz"

5 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

6A: "19. "The game's ___": Henry V"

5 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that traveling by foot
  • Similar words include: underway
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AFOOT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

7A: "20. Mystery writer?"

4 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that at another time
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ANON

Remember this word for future puzzles!

8A: "21. Soothing succulent"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

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!

9A: "22. HOT woman worth fighting for?"

11 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ___________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HELENOFTROY

Remember this word for future puzzles!

10A: "24. Throwing weapon known in Japanese as a shuriken"

9 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

11A: "26. 2010-12's ___ Spring"

4 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a member of a semitic people originally from the arabian peninsula and surrounding territories who speaks arabic and who inhabits much of the middle east and northern africa
  • Similar words include: Arabian
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ARAB

Remember this word for future puzzles!

12A: "27. Coronary insert"

5 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a slender tube inserted inside a tubular body part (as a blood vessel) to provide support during and after surgical anastomosis
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: STENT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

13A: "28. GOT in the ballpark?"

10 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

14A: "29. Gomez of "Only Murders in the Building""

6 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

15A: "31. Under, poetically"

5 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

16A: "33. Trick"

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a deceptive maneuver (especially to avoid capture)
  • Similar words include: artifice
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RUSE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

17A: "34. Music to a comedian's ears"

5 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the sound of laughing
  • Similar words include: laughter, express mirth, jape
  • Opposite of: cry
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LAUGH

Remember this word for future puzzles!

18A: "36. Some 1960s-style protests"

6 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

19A: "39. Contents of a black-and-white pod"

5 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that predatory black-and-white toothed whale with large dorsal fin; common in cold seas
  • Similar words include: grampus, killer whale, orca
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ORCAS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

20A: "43. BOB Dylan album?"

14 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

21A: "47. Impossible to read, perhaps"

6 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

22A: "48. Word before cut or class"

3 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an air mass of lower pressure; often brings precipitation
  • Similar words include: low gear, low-spirited, small
  • Opposite of: high
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LOW

Remember this word for future puzzles!

23A: "49. Fragrant compound"

5 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that formed by reaction between an acid and an alcohol with elimination of water
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ESTER

Remember this word for future puzzles!

24A: "50. "It's ___. Do you know where your children are?" (old P.S.A.)"

5 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

25A: "52. Butcher's cut"

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a cut of meat taken from the side and back of an animal between the ribs and the rump
  • Similar words include: lumbus
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LOIN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

26A: "53. Takes a little off"

5 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a state of arrangement or appearance
  • Similar words include: passementerie, crop, clip
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TRIMS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

27A: "55. Time's 2023 Person of the Year"

5 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that united states meat-packer who began the use of refrigerated railroad cars (1839-1903)
  • Similar words include: fleet, blue-belly, Jonathan Swift
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SWIFT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

28A: "58. A.I.-powered video hoaxes"

9 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

29A: "60. In ___"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

30A: "61. Portuguese wine"

7 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a brazilian river; tributary of the amazon river
  • Similar words include: Madeira River
  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MADEIRA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

31A: "63. Put out again"

7 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a publication (such as a book) that is reprinted without changes or editing and offered again for sale
  • Similar words include: reprinting, reprint
  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: REISSUE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

32A: "64. MOB wives?"

15 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

33A: "68. Casino supervisor"

7 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

34A: "71. Surround"

7 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that enclose or enfold completely with or as if with a covering
  • Similar words include: envelop, insert, stick in
  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ENCLOSE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

35A: "72. Poker in the Olympics?"

4 letters Category: Proper Noun

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!

36A: "76. How an urgent text may be written"

9 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

37A: "79. Affect emotionally"

5 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the event of something coming in contact with the body
  • Similar words include: skin senses, hint, adjoin
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TOUCH

Remember this word for future puzzles!

38A: "80. Carne ___"

5 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

39A: "81. Word on either side of "à""

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

40A: "82. Org. founded to fund foreign projects"

5 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

41A: "84. Vapes, familiarly"

5 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

42A: "86. King's title, in brief"

3 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that rate of revolution of a motor
  • Similar words include: rev up, revolutions per minute, rpm
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: REV

Remember this word for future puzzles!

43A: "87. Turkish summit"

6 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the mountain peak that noah's ark landed on as the waters of the great flood receded
  • Similar words include: Mt. Ararat, Mount Ararat
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ARARAT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

44A: "89. SOAP film?"

14 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

45A: "93. Alternative to a Les Paul, for short"

5 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

46A: "94. Dad's deflection"

6 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

47A: "95. One of the seven deadly sins"

5 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that excessive desire to acquire or possess more (especially more material wealth) than one needs or deserves
  • Similar words include: avaritia, avarice, covetousness
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GREED

Remember this word for future puzzles!

48A: "96. Vegetables rarely cut with a knife"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that seed of a pea plant used for food
  • Similar words include: pea, pea plant
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PEAS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

49A: "98. Switch positions"

5 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

50A: "101. Washington or Berlin"

6 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that united states writer remembered for his stories (1783-1859)
  • Similar words include: John Irving, Washington Irving
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: IRVING

Remember this word for future puzzles!

51A: "104. KID napper's demand?"

10 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

52A: "109. Loses emotional control, in gamer-speak"

5 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a combat between two mounted knights tilting against each other with blunted lances
  • Similar words include: shift, joust, sway
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TILTS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

53A: "111. Socialite Sedgwick, the supposed inspiration for Dylan's "Like a Rolling Stone""

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

54A: "112. Winning country at the 2022 World Cup"

9 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a republic in southern south america; second largest country in south america
  • Similar words include: genus Argentina, Argentine Republic
  • Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ARGENTINA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

55A: "113. THE big game?"

11 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ___________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TEXASHOLDEM

Remember this word for future puzzles!

56A: "115. "You're full of baloney!""

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a person who has lied or who lies repeatedly
  • Similar words include: prevaricator
  • Opposite of: square shooter
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LIAR

Remember this word for future puzzles!

57A: "116. "Right on, man""

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

58A: "117. "Baywatch" actress Eleniak"

5 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

59A: "118. Breathers"

5 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a pause during which things are calm or activities are diminished
  • Similar words include: calm, quieten, tranquilize
  • Opposite of: agitate
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LULLS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

60A: "119. Goals"

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that either extremity of something that has length
  • Similar words include: ending, terminate, destruction
  • Opposite of: begin, beginning
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ENDS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

61A: "120. Reference"

4 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a short note recognizing a source of information or of a quoted passage
  • Similar words include: quote, abduce, credit
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CITE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

62A: "121. Fall perennial"

5 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that any of various chiefly fall-blooming herbs of the genus aster with showy daisylike flowers
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ASTER

Remember this word for future puzzles!

63A: "122. Primatologists' subjects"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that any of various primates with short tails or no tail at all
  • Similar words include: anthropoid, aper, emulator
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: APES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

Down Clues - Complete List

No. Clue Letters
1D 1. One of a reporter's W's 5
2D 2. Line of latitude? 10
3D 3. Squishy part of a cat's paw, cutesily 7
4D 4. Brooding sort 3
5D 5. Nutty 4
6D 6. Frequently 5
7D 7. 2025 biography subtitled "The Man Who Invented Saturday Night Live" 5
8D 8. Nickname for the 6'9" Dallas Cowboys great Ed Jones 7
9D 9. What a mess 3
10D 10. Kid's repeated request 4
11D 11. Part of U.C.L.A.: Abbr. 4
12D 12. Idiot mistakes 6
13D 13. Pear variety 5
14D 14. Dazzling displays of skill 13
15D 15. Utah ski resort 4
16D 16. Linger in the bath 4
17D 17. Roll call response 4
18D 18. Nickname that's an alternative to Chuck 4
19D 23. Native Oklahomans 6
20D 25. Bad lighting? 5
21D 28. Treaty of ___, official close to the War of 1812 5
22D 30. Some N.S.F.W. texts 5
23D 32. Madre's hermano 3
24D 35. Spicy dips 9
25D 37. Named, informally 4
26D 38. Madre's baby 4
27D 40. Manipulates dishonestly 5
28D 41. Common Wordle starting word (for all those vowels) 5
29D 42. Feel 5
30D 43. Crunchy sandwiches, for short 4
31D 44. ___ Greiner, inventor and "Shark Tank" personality 4
32D 45. Fresh cut 5
33D 46. Prickly patch 5
34D 47. Fetter 6
35D 51. Disappearing from the earth 9
36D 54. Hip-hop artists with unintelligible lyrics 13
37D 56. Bona ___ 4
38D 57. Council of ___ (Counter-Reformation body) 5
39D 59. Mild oath 3
40D 61. Trading card error 6
41D 62. Bowed, musically 4
42D 65. Big inits. in 1990s internet 3
43D 66. Genre for Stevie Ray Vaughan 5
44D 67. Celebrity chef DiSpirito 5
45D 68. Gyro wraps 5
46D 69. Like krypton 5
47D 70. Turkic language 5
48D 73. Basic drumming pattern 10
49D 74. Steinbeck's "East of ___" 4
50D 75. Place for Christmas lights 4
51D 77. "Not interested" 4
52D 78. Head toward bankruptcy, say 4
53D 80. According to 5
54D 83. Matt of "Oppenheimer" 5
55D 85. Overly bright and showy 6
56D 88. Used DoorDash, say 5
57D 90. ___Mari Method (tidying system) 3
58D 91. Hams 7
59D 92. Advance in a video game 7
60D 94. "That was true for me, too" 6
61D 97. Storage area 5
62D 99. Demand from a disgruntled customer 5
63D 100. Unreliable sort, in slang 5
64D 102. What a Bohr! 5
65D 103. Diamonds, but not clubs 4
66D 104. Dark green 4
67D 105. "The Office" receptionist 4
68D 106. Mild oath 4
69D 107. "Don't worry, boss!" 4
70D 108. Kind of hike 4
71D 110. Position removed by the February Revolution 4
72D 113. Drink "for two," in song 3
73D 114. Portuguese greeting 3

Down Clues - Strategic Hints

1D: "1. One of a reporter's W's"

5 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

2D: "2. Line of latitude?"

10 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

3D: "3. Squishy part of a cat's paw, cutesily"

7 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

4D: "4. Brooding sort"

3 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that adult female chicken
  • Similar words include: biddy
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HEN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

5D: "5. Nutty"

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that informal or slang terms for mentally irregular
  • Similar words include: loony, wacky, balmy
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DAFT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

6D: "6. Frequently"

5 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that many times at short intervals
  • Similar words include: frequently, much, oft
  • Opposite of: rarely, infrequently
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OFTEN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

7D: "7. 2025 biography subtitled "The Man Who Invented Saturday Night Live""

5 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

8D: "8. Nickname for the 6'9" Dallas Cowboys great Ed Jones"

7 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

9D: "9. What a mess"

3 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an infection of the sebaceous gland of the eyelid
  • Similar words include: stye, pigsty, hordeolum
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: STY

Remember this word for future puzzles!

10D: "10. Kid's repeated request"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

11D: "11. Part of U.C.L.A.: Abbr."

4 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

12D: "12. Idiot mistakes"

6 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an embarrassing mistake
  • Similar words include: bloomer, boner, blooper
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BONERS

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13D: "13. Pear variety"

5 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a former province of western france in the loire valley
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ANJOU

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14D: "14. Dazzling displays of skill"

13 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

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15D: "15. Utah ski resort"

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

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16D: "16. Linger in the bath"

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the process of becoming softened and saturated as a consequence of being immersed in water (or other liquid)
  • Similar words include: sop, dowse, hit it up
  • Opposite of: undercharge
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SOAK

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17D: "17. Roll call response"

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the present location; this place
  • Similar words include: Hera, hither
  • Opposite of: there
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HERE

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18D: "18. Nickname that's an alternative to Chuck"

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

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19D: "23. Native Oklahomans"

6 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a member of the siouan people formerly living in missouri in the valleys of the missouri and osage rivers; oil was found on osage lands early in the 20th century
  • Similar words include: Osage River, Osage
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OSAGES

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20D: "25. Bad lighting?"

5 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that malicious burning to destroy property
  • Similar words include: incendiarism, fire-raising
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ARSON

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21D: "28. Treaty of ___, official close to the War of 1812"

5 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that port city in northwestern belgium and industrial center; famous for cloth industry
  • Similar words include: Gand, Gent
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GHENT

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22D: "30. Some N.S.F.W. texts"

5 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a painting of a naked human figure
  • Similar words include: nude statue, nude painting, nude person
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NUDES

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23D: "32. Madre's hermano"

3 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

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24D: "35. Spicy dips"

9 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

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25D: "37. Named, informally"

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

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26D: "38. Madre's baby"

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

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27D: "40. Manipulates dishonestly"

5 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that someone who cooks food
  • Similar words include: fix, Cook, ready
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: COOKS

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28D: "41. Common Wordle starting word (for all those vowels)"

5 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a farewell remark
  • Similar words include: au revoir, bye, bye-bye
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ADIEU

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29D: "42. Feel"

5 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a general conscious awareness
  • Similar words include: horse sense, sentiency, sensory faculty
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SENSE

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30D: "43. Crunchy sandwiches, for short"

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that sandwich filled with slices of bacon and tomato with lettuce
  • Similar words include: bacon-lettuce-tomato sandwich, BLT
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BLTS

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31D: "44. ___ Greiner, inventor and "Shark Tank" personality"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

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32D: "45. Fresh cut"

5 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

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33D: "46. Prickly patch"

5 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that tangled mass of prickly plants
  • Similar words include: greenbrier, tree heath, brier patch
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BRIER

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34D: "47. Fetter"

6 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that be a hindrance or obstacle to
  • Similar words include: obturate, occlude, obstruct
  • Opposite of: free
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: IMPEDE

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35D: "51. Disappearing from the earth"

9 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
  • Similar words include: snuff it, expire, pass away
  • Opposite of: be born
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PERISHING

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36D: "54. Hip-hop artists with unintelligible lyrics"

13 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

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37D: "56. Bona ___"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

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38D: "57. Council of ___ (Counter-Reformation body)"

5 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a river in central england that flows generally northeastward to join with the ouse river and form the humber
  • Similar words include: Trent River, River Trent, Trento
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TRENT

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39D: "59. Mild oath"

3 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

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40D: "61. Trading card error"

6 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

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41D: "62. Bowed, musically"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that (of instruments in the violin family) to be played with the bow
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ARCO

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42D: "65. Big inits. in 1990s internet"

3 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

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43D: "66. Genre for Stevie Ray Vaughan"

5 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a type of folksong that originated among black americans at the beginning of the 20th century; has a melancholy sound from repeated use of blue notes
  • Similar words include: wild blue yonder, blue air, blueing
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BLUES

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44D: "67. Celebrity chef DiSpirito"

5 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

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45D: "68. Gyro wraps"

5 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that usually small round bread that can open into a pocket for filling
  • Similar words include: pocket bread, pita
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PITAS

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46D: "69. Like krypton"

5 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that unable to move or resist motion
  • Similar words include: sluggish, indifferent, neutral
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: INERT

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47D: "70. Turkic language"

5 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a member of the mongolian people of central asia who invaded russia in the 13th century
  • Similar words include: Tartar, Mongol Tatar
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TATAR

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48D: "73. Basic drumming pattern"

10 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the sound of a drum (especially a snare drum) beaten rapidly and continuously
  • Similar words include: roll, drum roll
  • Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PARADIDDLE

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49D: "74. Steinbeck's "East of ___""

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that any place of complete bliss and delight and peace
  • Similar words include: Shangri-la, paradise, promised land
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EDEN

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50D: "75. Place for Christmas lights"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

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51D: "77. "Not interested""

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that (baseball) an advance to first base by a batter who receives four balls
  • Similar words include: communicate, cash in one's chips, laissez passer
  • Opposite of: fail, running
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PASS

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52D: "78. Head toward bankruptcy, say"

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that plumbing fixture consisting of a water basin fixed to a wall or floor and having a drainpipe
  • Similar words include: go under, subside, sump
  • Opposite of: float, source
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SINK

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53D: "80. According to"

5 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that 20 aspers equal 1 kurus in turkey
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ASPER

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54D: "83. Matt of "Oppenheimer""

5 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the friend of phintias who pledged his life that phintias would return (4th century bc)
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DAMON

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55D: "85. Overly bright and showy"

6 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that tastelessly showy
  • Similar words include: cheap, flash, tacky
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GARISH

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56D: "88. Used DoorDash, say"

5 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

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57D: "90. ___Mari Method (tidying system)"

3 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

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58D: "91. Hams"

7 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

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59D: "92. Advance in a video game"

7 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

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60D: "94. "That was true for me, too""

6 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

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61D: "97. Storage area"

5 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that floor consisting of open space at the top of a house just below roof; often used for storage
  • Similar words include: Ionic dialect, bonce, noggin
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ATTIC

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62D: "99. Demand from a disgruntled customer"

5 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

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63D: "100. Unreliable sort, in slang"

5 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a crystal of snow
  • Similar words include: flake off, geek, chip
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FLAKE

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64D: "102. What a Bohr!"

5 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

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65D: "103. Diamonds, but not clubs"

4 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that art highly prized for its beauty or perfection
  • Similar words include: gem, gemstone, jewel
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GEMS

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66D: "104. Dark green"

4 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that informal terms for money
  • Similar words include: dough, gelt, sugar
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: KALE

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67D: "105. "The Office" receptionist"

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an early name of ireland that is now used in poetry
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ERIN

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68D: "106. Mild oath"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

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69D: "107. "Don't worry, boss!""

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

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70D: "108. Kind of hike"

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that something that remunerates
  • Similar words include: engage, pay, remuneration
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: WAGE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

71D: "110. Position removed by the February Revolution"

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a male monarch or emperor (especially of russia prior to 1917)
  • Similar words include: tzar, czar
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TSAR

Remember this word for future puzzles!

72D: "113. Drink "for two," in song"

3 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a beverage made by steeping tea leaves in water
  • Similar words include: Camellia sinensis, teatime, afternoon tea
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TEA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

73D: "114. Portuguese greeting"

3 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that leaf or strip from a leaf of the talipot palm used in india for writing paper
  • Similar words include: olla
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OLA

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

63 Across Clues
73 Down Clues
136 Total Clues

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Last updated: April 12, 2026 at 05:34 AM