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 (35 clues)
- Across Clues - Detailed Hints
- Down Clues Table (35 clues)
- Down Clues - Detailed Hints
- Expert Solving Strategies
- Today's Puzzle Statistics
Today's Puzzle Difficulty: Challenging
Pro Tip: Start with the fill-in-the-blank clues - they're usually the easiest entry points!
Across Clues - Complete List
| No. | Clue | Letters |
|---|---|---|
| 1A | 1. Bit of radiological work | 4 |
| 2A | 5. Component that may emerge from Earth's asthenosphere | 5 |
| 3A | 10. What drones might be mistaken for | 4 |
| 4A | 14. Dudes | 4 |
| 5A | 15. Dirt pie ingredients | 5 |
| 6A | 16. As it's happening | 4 |
| 7A | 17. Criminals in the oil industry? | 10 |
| 8A | 19. "Your guide to a better future" website | 4 |
| 9A | 20. It makes one red in the face | 9 |
| 10A | 21. Animals considered divine messengers in Shinto culture | 4 |
| 11A | 22. Aperitif with black currant liqueur | 3 |
| 12A | 23. Not full-bodied | 4 |
| 13A | 24. Like a politically diverse U.S. state | 6 |
| 14A | 26. When doubled, like a perfect outcome | 3 |
| 15A | 27. Start of a protest | 3 |
| 16A | 28. "Mark Twain" biographer Chernow | 3 |
| 17A | 29. Not show-stopping? | 13 |
| 18A | 33. Segue into a thesis statement | 13 |
| 19A | 34. "Don't sweat the small stuff!" | 13 |
| 20A | 35. Spanish diminutive suffix | 3 |
| 21A | 36. Fire | 3 |
| 22A | 37. One of 17 in Monopoly: Abbr. | 3 |
| 23A | 38. Drinks are on me! | 6 |
| 24A | 40. Terminal datum | 4 |
| 25A | 42. Like a strong bond | 3 |
| 26A | 45. Mine line | 4 |
| 27A | 46. Group with defining traits? | 9 |
| 28A | 48. Foul mood | 4 |
| 29A | 49. Tropical fruit with white flesh and a deep-red rind | 10 |
| 30A | 50. All the ___ | 4 |
| 31A | 51. "That much is obvious" | 5 |
| 32A | 52. A tall one may be inflated | 4 |
| 33A | 53. 2019 Grammy-winning album for Tyler, the Creator | 4 |
| 34A | 54. Rimes with rhymes | 5 |
| 35A | 55. Beta tester, e.g. | 4 |
Across Clues - Strategic Hints
1A: "1. Bit of radiological work"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the act of scanning; systematic examination of a prescribed region
- Similar words include: run down, glance over, read
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SCAN
Remember this word for future puzzles!
2A: "5. Component that may emerge from Earth's asthenosphere"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that molten rock in the earth's crust
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MAGMA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
3A: "10. What drones might be mistaken for"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an (apparently) flying object whose nature is unknown; especially those considered to have extraterrestrial origins
- Similar words include: UFO, flying saucer, unidentified flying object
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: UFOS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
4A: "14. Dudes"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a waterproof raincoat made of rubberized fabric
- Similar words include: macintosh, mack, mac
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MACS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
5A: "15. Dirt pie ingredients"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that chocolate cookie with white cream filling
- Similar words include: oreo cookie, oreo
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OREOS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
6A: "16. As it's happening"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that inhabit or live in; be an inhabitant of
- Similar words include: be, live on, hot
- Opposite of: recorded, dead
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LIVE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
7A: "17. Criminals in the oil industry?"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ARTFORGERS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
8A: "19. "Your guide to a better future" website"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CNET
Remember this word for future puzzles!
9A: "20. It makes one red in the face"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CLOWNNOSE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
10A: "21. Animals considered divine messengers in Shinto culture"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that distinguished from bovidae by the male's having solid deciduous antlers
- Similar words include: cervid
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DEER
Remember this word for future puzzles!
11A: "22. Aperitif with black currant liqueur"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: KIR
Remember this word for future puzzles!
12A: "23. Not full-bodied"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that having relatively few calories
- Similar words include: calorie-free, low-cal, light
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LITE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
13A: "24. Like a politically diverse U.S. state"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a purple color or pigment
- Similar words include: violet, purpleness, empurpled
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PURPLE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
14A: "26. When doubled, like a perfect outcome"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a victory (as in a race or other competition)
- Similar words include: gain ground, succeed, come through
- Opposite of: losings, fail
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: WIN
Remember this word for future puzzles!
15A: "27. Start of a protest"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that and nothing more
- Similar words include: merely, just, only
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BUT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
16A: "28. "Mark Twain" biographer Chernow"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a chadic language spoken in northern nigeria
- Similar words include: Bokkos, Daffo
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RON
Remember this word for future puzzles!
17A: "29. Not show-stopping?"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BINGEWATCHING
Remember this word for future puzzles!
18A: "33. Segue into a thesis statement"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HERESTHETHING
Remember this word for future puzzles!
19A: "34. "Don't sweat the small stuff!""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LIFESTOOSHORT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
20A: "35. Spanish diminutive suffix"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ITO
Remember this word for future puzzles!
21A: "36. Fire"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that airtight sealed metal container for food or drink or paint etc.
- Similar words include: tin can, stool, arse
- Opposite of: hire
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CAN
Remember this word for future puzzles!
22A: "37. One of 17 in Monopoly: Abbr."
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AVE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
23A: "38. Drinks are on me!"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BARCAR
Remember this word for future puzzles!
24A: "40. Terminal datum"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a movable barrier in a fence or wall
- Similar words include: logic gate
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GATE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
25A: "42. Like a strong bond"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an aneurysm of the abdominal aorta associated with old age and hypertension
- Similar words include: abdominal aortic aneurysm
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AAA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
26A: "45. Mine line"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that joint consisting of a line formed by joining two pieces
- Similar words include: furrow, wrinkle, crinkle
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SEAM
Remember this word for future puzzles!
27A: "46. Group with defining traits?"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: WORDNERDS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
28A: "48. Foul mood"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a state of agitated irritation
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SNIT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
29A: "49. Tropical fruit with white flesh and a deep-red rind"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that east indian tree with thick leathery leaves and edible fruit
- Similar words include: Garcinia mangostana, mangosteen tree
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MANGOSTEEN
Remember this word for future puzzles!
30A: "50. All the ___"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a feeling of intense anger
- Similar words include: furore, madness, furor
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RAGE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
31A: "51. "That much is obvious""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: IKNOW
Remember this word for future puzzles!
32A: "52. A tall one may be inflated"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
- Similar words include: story, taradiddle, tarradiddle
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TALE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
33A: "53. 2019 Grammy-winning album for Tyler, the Creator"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: IGOR
Remember this word for future puzzles!
34A: "54. Rimes with rhymes"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LEANN
Remember this word for future puzzles!
35A: "55. Beta tester, e.g."
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a person who makes use of a thing; someone who uses or employs something
- Similar words include: drug user, substance abuser, exploiter
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: USER
Remember this word for future puzzles!
Down Clues - Complete List
| No. | Clue | Letters |
|---|---|---|
| 1D | 1. Insulting talk, informally | 5 |
| 2D | 2. U.S. soccer legend ___ Lloyd | 5 |
| 3D | 3. Fox or Foxx | 5 |
| 4D | 4. Warning next to a suspicious link, perhaps | 4 |
| 5D | 5. Venus, or sometimes Mercury | 11 |
| 6D | 6. Lingo | 5 |
| 7D | 7. Silly sorts | 5 |
| 8D | 8. Cry from a toddler during snack time | 4 |
| 9D | 9. Jack or jenny | 3 |
| 10D | 10. Bad gut feeling? | 5 |
| 11D | 11. Text that's often unread | 9 |
| 12D | 12. Stretttccched out | 8 |
| 13D | 13. Place | 3 |
| 14D | 18. Modern deception | 10 |
| 15D | 21. Cookware sometimes used over campfires | 10 |
| 16D | 24. "Drop it!" | 11 |
| 17D | 25. Language of Barbados: Abbr. | 3 |
| 18D | 26. Tool for a sting | 4 |
| 19D | 27. Hons | 4 |
| 20D | 29. Words said while preparing to leave | 9 |
| 21D | 30. School described as "the chief nurse of England's statesmen" | 4 |
| 22D | 31. Follower of "Doctor" or "That's" | 3 |
| 23D | 32. Bring on | 4 |
| 24D | 33. Run into trouble | 8 |
| 25D | 34. Gay ___ (1970s movement) | 3 |
| 26D | 39. Serve a function | 5 |
| 27D | 40. Fixin' to | 5 |
| 28D | 41. Element whose name comes from the Greek for "inactive" | 5 |
| 29D | 42. Tracts | 5 |
| 30D | 43. Singer whose album titles represent ages | 5 |
| 31D | 44. Recipient of Emmys in different categories for the same role | 5 |
| 32D | 46. Respond to the alarm | 4 |
| 33D | 47. "Is the whole world against me?" | 4 |
| 34D | 48. Guru's honorific | 3 |
| 35D | 49. "Cool" quantity | 3 |
Down Clues - Strategic Hints
1D: "1. Insulting talk, informally"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a blow from a flat object (as an open hand)
- Similar words include: nip, nose drops, peck
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SMACK
Remember this word for future puzzles!
2D: "2. U.S. soccer legend ___ Lloyd"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CARLI
Remember this word for future puzzles!
3D: "3. Fox or Foxx"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a theatrical performer
- Similar words include: player, thespian, doer
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ACTOR
Remember this word for future puzzles!
4D: "4. Warning next to a suspicious link, perhaps"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NSFW
Remember this word for future puzzles!
5D: "5. Venus, or sometimes Mercury"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MORNINGSTAR
Remember this word for future puzzles!
6D: "6. Lingo"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a characteristic language of a particular group (as among thieves)
- Similar words include: cant, lingo, vernacular
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ARGOT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
7D: "7. Silly sorts"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that web-footed long-necked typically gregarious migratory aquatic birds usually larger and less aquatic than ducks
- Similar words include: goofball, zany, cuckoo
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GEESE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
8D: "8. Cry from a toddler during snack time"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that english statesman who opposed henry viii's divorce from catherine of aragon and was imprisoned and beheaded; recalled for his concept of utopia, the ideal state
- Similar words include: Sir Thomas More, more than, to a greater extent
- Opposite of: fewer, less
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MORE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
9D: "9. Jack or jenny"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the fleshy part of the human body that you sit on
- Similar words include: arse, fucking, buttocks
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ASS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
10D: "10. Bad gut feeling?"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a circumscribed inflammatory and often suppurating lesion on the skin or an internal mucous surface resulting in necrosis of tissue
- Similar words include: ulceration
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ULCER
Remember this word for future puzzles!
11D: "11. Text that's often unread"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FINEPRINT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
12D: "12. Stretttccched out"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OVERLONG
Remember this word for future puzzles!
13D: "13. Place"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a group of things of the same kind that belong together and are so used
- Similar words include: bent, exercise set, correct
- Opposite of: rise
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SET
Remember this word for future puzzles!
14D: "18. Modern deception"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ONLINESCAM
Remember this word for future puzzles!
15D: "21. Cookware sometimes used over campfires"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DUTCHOVENS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
16D: "24. "Drop it!""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PUTTHATDOWN
Remember this word for future puzzles!
17D: "25. Language of Barbados: Abbr."
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ENG
Remember this word for future puzzles!
18D: "26. Tool for a sting"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that ligament made of metal and used to fasten things or make cages or fences etc
- Similar words include: conducting wire, telegram, cable
- Opposite of: unwire
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: WIRE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
19D: "27. Hons"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BAES
Remember this word for future puzzles!
20D: "29. Words said while preparing to leave"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BEFOREIGO
Remember this word for future puzzles!
21D: "30. School described as "the chief nurse of England's statesmen""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ETON
Remember this word for future puzzles!
22D: "31. Follower of "Doctor" or "That's""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a united nations agency to coordinate international health activities and to help governments improve health services
- Similar words include: World Health Organization
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: WHO
Remember this word for future puzzles!
23D: "32. Bring on"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a newly hired employee
- Similar words include: take, lease, engage
- Opposite of: fire
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HIRE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
24D: "33. Run into trouble"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HITASNAG
Remember this word for future puzzles!
25D: "34. Gay ___ (1970s movement)"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LIB
Remember this word for future puzzles!
26D: "39. Serve a function"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that give what is desired or needed, especially support, food or sustenance
- Similar words include: provide, ply, supply
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CATER
Remember this word for future puzzles!
27D: "40. Fixin' to"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GONNA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
28D: "41. Element whose name comes from the Greek for "inactive""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a colorless and odorless inert gas; one of the six inert gases; comprises approximately 1% of the earth's atmosphere
- Similar words include: Ar, atomic number 18
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ARGON
Remember this word for future puzzles!
29D: "42. Tracts"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a particular geographical region of indefinite boundary (usually serving some special purpose or distinguished by its people or culture or geography)
- Similar words include: expanse, country, field
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AREAS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
30D: "43. Singer whose album titles represent ages"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ADELE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
31D: "44. Recipient of Emmys in different categories for the same role"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ASNER
Remember this word for future puzzles!
32D: "46. Respond to the alarm"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the consequences of an event (especially a catastrophic event)
- Similar words include: waken, backwash, Wake Island
- Opposite of: sleep, cause to sleep
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: WAKE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
33D: "47. "Is the whole world against me?""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ETTU
Remember this word for future puzzles!
34D: "48. Guru's honorific"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SRI
Remember this word for future puzzles!
35D: "49. "Cool" quantity"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a cypriot monetary unit equal to one thousandth of a pound
- Similar words include: millilitre, mile, cc
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MIL
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
35 Down Clues
70 Total Clues
More NYT Crossword Help
Looking for more puzzle solutions? Check out our comprehensive archive of NYT crossword hints and answers. We update daily with expert analysis and solving strategies.
