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 (33 clues)
- Across Clues - Detailed Hints
- Down Clues Table (41 clues)
- Down Clues - Detailed Hints
- Expert Solving Strategies
- Today's Puzzle Statistics
Today's Puzzle Difficulty: Tricky
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. More than just a disapproving look | 10 |
| 2A | 10. Scruff of the neck | 4 |
| 3A | 13. Fondita offerings | 10 |
| 4A | 15. Three-time A.L. M.V.P. of the 2000s, familiarly | 4 |
| 5A | 16. "The Devil's radio" | 10 |
| 6A | 17. Pollution portmanteau | 4 |
| 7A | 18. Really peeved | 3 |
| 8A | 19. What a pointless game has? | 7 |
| 9A | 21. Outfitted | 8 |
| 10A | 25. Password preceder | 6 |
| 11A | 26. Former Toyota sports cars named for a Latin prefix | 6 |
| 12A | 27. Passover month | 5 |
| 13A | 29. ___-turvy | 5 |
| 14A | 30. Sprint, e.g. | 4 |
| 15A | 31. Home run hitter's gait | 4 |
| 16A | 35. Downed | 3 |
| 17A | 36. Part in a play | 4 |
| 18A | 37. "That's the spot!" | 3 |
| 19A | 38. "Tyrone" singer Erykah | 4 |
| 20A | 40. Not much | 4 |
| 21A | 41. "Will you let me?" | 5 |
| 22A | 43. Desert for which an African country is named | 5 |
| 23A | 45. Like obsidian rock, once | 6 |
| 24A | 46. Symbol of rebirth in ancient Egypt | 6 |
| 25A | 49. Last hurrah | 8 |
| 26A | 51. Trials by fire | 7 |
| 27A | 53. Wholly, but not holey or holy, e.g.: Abbr. | 3 |
| 28A | 54. Helen of Troy's mother | 4 |
| 29A | 55. Ignominious outcome | 10 |
| 30A | 61. Tech product discontinued in 2022 | 4 |
| 31A | 62. Proposed cosmological phenomenon that could make up 70% of the universe — and six squares in this puzzle's grid? | 10 |
| 32A | 63. Not admit | 4 |
| 33A | 64. Pottery so named for its hardness | 9 |
Across Clues - Strategic Hints
1A: "1. More than just a disapproving look"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DEATHSTARE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
2A: "10. Scruff of the neck"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the back side of the neck
- Similar words include: scruff, nucha
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NAPE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
3A: "13. Fondita offerings"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that tortilla with meat filling baked in tomato sauce seasoned with chili
- Similar words include: enchilada
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ENCHILADAS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
4A: "15. Three-time A.L. M.V.P. of the 2000s, familiarly"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AROD
Remember this word for future puzzles!
5A: "16. "The Devil's radio""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: IDLEGOSSIP
Remember this word for future puzzles!
6A: "17. Pollution portmanteau"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that air pollution by a mixture of smoke and fog
- Similar words include: smogginess
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SMOG
Remember this word for future puzzles!
7A: "18. Really peeved"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that used of physical heat; having a high or higher than desirable temperature or giving off heat or feeling or causing a sensation of heat or burning
- Similar words include: red-hot, blistering, live
- Opposite of: cold
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HOT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
8A: "19. What a pointless game has?"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NOSCORE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
9A: "21. Outfitted"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that provide with (something) usually for a specific purpose
- Similar words include: fit out, furnished, equip
- Opposite of: unequipped, unfurnished
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EQUIPPED
Remember this word for future puzzles!
10A: "25. Password preceder"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: USERID
Remember this word for future puzzles!
11A: "26. Former Toyota sports cars named for a Latin prefix"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SUPRAS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
12A: "27. Passover month"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the seventh month of the civil year; the first month of the ecclesiastic year (in march and april)
- Similar words include: Nissan
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NISAN
Remember this word for future puzzles!
13A: "29. ___-turvy"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TOPSY
Remember this word for future puzzles!
14A: "30. Sprint, e.g."
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that any competition
- Similar words include: bucket along, run, backwash
- Opposite of: linger
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RACE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
15A: "31. Home run hitter's gait"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a slow pace of running
- Similar words include: crib, Trotskyite, pony
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TROT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
16A: "35. Downed"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that goddess of criminal rashness and its punishment
- Similar words include: eat up, run through, feed
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ATE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
17A: "36. Part in a play"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the actions and activities assigned to or required or expected of a person or group
- Similar words include: theatrical role, character, function
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ROLE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
18A: "37. "That's the spot!""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that express admiration and pleasure by uttering `ooh' or `aah'
- Similar words include: ooh
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AAH
Remember this word for future puzzles!
19A: "38. "Tyrone" singer Erykah"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BADU
Remember this word for future puzzles!
20A: "40. Not much"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ATAD
Remember this word for future puzzles!
21A: "41. "Will you let me?""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CANTI
Remember this word for future puzzles!
22A: "43. Desert for which an African country is named"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NAMIB
Remember this word for future puzzles!
23A: "45. Like obsidian rock, once"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that reduce or cause to be reduced from a solid to a liquid state, usually by heating
- Similar words include: liquified, mellow out, run
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MOLTEN
Remember this word for future puzzles!
24A: "46. Symbol of rebirth in ancient Egypt"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that scarabaeid beetle considered divine by ancient egyptians
- Similar words include: Scarabaeus sacer, scarabaeus
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SCARAB
Remember this word for future puzzles!
25A: "49. Last hurrah"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SWANSONG
Remember this word for future puzzles!
26A: "51. Trials by fire"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a severe or trying experience
- Similar words include: ordeal, trial by ordeal
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ORDEALS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
27A: "53. Wholly, but not holey or holy, e.g.: Abbr."
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ADV
Remember this word for future puzzles!
28A: "54. Helen of Troy's mother"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that (greek mythology) a queen of sparta who was raped by zeus who had taken the form of a swan; helen of troy was conceived in the rape of leda
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LEDA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
29A: "55. Ignominious outcome"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EPICDEFEAT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
30A: "61. Tech product discontinued in 2022"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that (trademark) a pocket-sized device used to play music files
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: IPOD
Remember this word for future puzzles!
31A: "62. Proposed cosmological phenomenon that could make up 70% of the universe — and six squares in this puzzle's grid?"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DARKENERGY
Remember this word for future puzzles!
32A: "63. Not admit"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that declare untrue; contradict
- Similar words include: refuse, traverse, abnegate
- Opposite of: admit, allow
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DENY
Remember this word for future puzzles!
33A: "64. Pottery so named for its hardness"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that ceramic ware that is fired in high heat and vitrified and nonporous
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: STONEWARE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
Down Clues - Complete List
| No. | Clue | Letters |
|---|---|---|
| 1D | 1. Agnus ___ | 3 |
| 2D | 2. Word after tight or defensive | 3 |
| 3D | 3. Knee stabilizer, in brief | 3 |
| 4D | 4. Not just any | 3 |
| 5D | 5. Attractive feature of a job | 7 |
| 6D | 6. Single-masted vessels | 6 |
| 7D | 7. Sweet or sour | 5 |
| 8D | 8. Podcast interruptions | 3 |
| 9D | 9. Frequent forecast in Seattle | 4 |
| 10D | 10. Strong suit? | 5 |
| 11D | 11. Unleavened South Asian flatbread | 5 |
| 12D | 12. Follower of double or gilt | 5 |
| 13D | 14. Champion, as a cause | 7 |
| 14D | 15. Budding | 7 |
| 15D | 20. Org. with a list of popular baby names | 3 |
| 16D | 21. Minimum, in a way | 5 |
| 17D | 22. Increased | 5 |
| 18D | 23. Letters before ".gov" | 3 |
| 19D | 24. Forensic facilities | 7 |
| 20D | 26. Sign abbr. meaning "founded in" | 5 |
| 21D | 28. Coffee or tea specification | 4 |
| 22D | 30. Unleavened South Asian flatbread | 4 |
| 23D | 32. Sought comfort from, say | 5 |
| 24D | 33. Like granola | 5 |
| 25D | 34. Unnamed article | 5 |
| 26D | 39. Ill-prepared | 7 |
| 27D | 40. Didn't stay on topic | 7 |
| 28D | 41. Come together | 7 |
| 29D | 42. Lou Gehrig's disease, for short | 3 |
| 30D | 44. One level below the majors | 3 |
| 31D | 45. Infuriate | 6 |
| 32D | 46. Sphere, e.g. | 5 |
| 33D | 47. Crinkly fabric | 5 |
| 34D | 48. Extension | 5 |
| 35D | 50. Totally bizarre | 5 |
| 36D | 52. Places to get masks | 4 |
| 37D | 56. Original N.Y.C. subway line | 3 |
| 38D | 57. Handful | 3 |
| 39D | 58. Long stretch | 3 |
| 40D | 59. Cabinet dept. since 1889 | 3 |
| 41D | 60. Gospel musician Tribbett | 3 |
Down Clues - Strategic Hints
1D: "1. Agnus ___"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DEI
Remember this word for future puzzles!
2D: "2. Word after tight or defensive"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that either extremity of something that has length
- Similar words include: conclusion, goal, terminal
- Opposite of: begin, beginning
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: END
Remember this word for future puzzles!
3D: "3. Knee stabilizer, in brief"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ACL
Remember this word for future puzzles!
4D: "4. Not just any"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: THE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
5D: "5. Attractive feature of a job"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HIGHPAY
Remember this word for future puzzles!
6D: "6. Single-masted vessels"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a sailing vessel with a single mast set about one third of the boat's length aft of the bow
- Similar words include: sloop
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SLOOPS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
7D: "7. Sweet or sour"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the sensation that results when taste buds in the tongue and throat convey information about the chemical composition of a soluble stimulus
- Similar words include: taste perception, discernment, sample
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TASTE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
8D: "8. Podcast interruptions"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a public promotion of some product or service
- Similar words include: advertising, advertizing, ad
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ADS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
9D: "9. Frequent forecast in Seattle"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
- Similar words include: rain down, pelting, rainwater
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RAIN
Remember this word for future puzzles!
10D: "10. Strong suit?"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that protective covering made of metal and used in combat
- Similar words include: armour
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ARMOR
Remember this word for future puzzles!
11D: "11. Unleavened South Asian flatbread"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: POORI
Remember this word for future puzzles!
12D: "12. Follower of double or gilt"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that advance slowly, as if by inches
- Similar words include: border, butt against, edge
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EDGED
Remember this word for future puzzles!
13D: "14. Champion, as a cause"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that choose and follow; as of theories, ideas, policies, strategies or plans
- Similar words include: follow, hook up with, conjoin
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ESPOUSE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
14D: "15. Budding"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that being born or beginning
- Opposite of: dying
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NASCENT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
15D: "20. Org. with a list of popular baby names"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an independent government agency responsible for the social security system
- Similar words include: Social Security Administration
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SSA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
16D: "21. Minimum, in a way"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a prescribed number
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: QUOTA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
17D: "22. Increased"
Solving Hints:
- Similar words include: up
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: UPPED
Remember this word for future puzzles!
18D: "23. Letters before ".gov""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the bureau of the treasury department responsible for tax collections
- Similar words include: Internal Revenue Service
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: IRS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
19D: "24. Forensic facilities"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DNALABS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
20D: "26. Sign abbr. meaning "founded in""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ESTAB
Remember this word for future puzzles!
21D: "28. Coffee or tea specification"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that decorate with frosting
- Similar words include: ice, frost
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ICED
Remember this word for future puzzles!
22D: "30. Unleavened South Asian flatbread"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ROTI
Remember this word for future puzzles!
23D: "32. Sought comfort from, say"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RANTO
Remember this word for future puzzles!
24D: "33. Like granola"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that of or related to or derived from oats
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OATEN
Remember this word for future puzzles!
25D: "34. Unnamed article"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a special situation
- Similar words include: matter, affair
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: THING
Remember this word for future puzzles!
26D: "39. Ill-prepared"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that not prepared or in a state of readiness; slow to understand or respond
- Opposite of: ready
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: UNREADY
Remember this word for future puzzles!
27D: "40. Didn't stay on topic"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that continue talking or writing in a desultory manner
- Similar words include: roam, swan, wander
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RAMBLED
Remember this word for future puzzles!
28D: "41. Come together"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that meet formally
- Similar words include: convoke
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CONVENE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
29D: "42. Lou Gehrig's disease, for short"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that thickening of tissue in the motor tracts of the lateral columns and anterior horns of the spinal cord; results in progressive muscle atrophy that starts in the limbs
- Similar words include: Heart of Dixie, Camellia State, Alabama
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ALS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
30D: "44. One level below the majors"
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!
31D: "45. Infuriate"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that cause to go crazy; cause to lose one's mind
- Similar words include: craze
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MADDEN
Remember this word for future puzzles!
32D: "46. Sphere, e.g."
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that matter that is solid at room temperature and pressure
- Similar words include: self-colored, whole, hearty
- Opposite of: hollow, liquid
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SOLID
Remember this word for future puzzles!
33D: "47. Crinkly fabric"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that paper with a crinkled texture; usually colored and used for decorations
- Similar words include: crape, French pancake, crepe paper
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CREPE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
34D: "48. Extension"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ADDON
Remember this word for future puzzles!
35D: "50. Totally bizarre"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a person who is regarded as eccentric or mad
- Similar words include: whacko, nutter
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: WACKO
Remember this word for future puzzles!
36D: "52. Places to get masks"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a health resort near a spring or at the seaside
- Similar words include: health spa, health club, watering place
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SPAS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
37D: "56. Original N.Y.C. subway line"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: IRT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
38D: "57. Handful"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a small elite group
- Opposite of: many
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FEW
Remember this word for future puzzles!
39D: "58. Long stretch"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a period marked by distinctive character or reckoned from a fixed point or event
- Similar words include: earned run average, geological era, epoch
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ERA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
40D: "59. Cabinet dept. since 1889"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AGR
Remember this word for future puzzles!
41D: "60. Gospel musician Tribbett"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TYE
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
33 Across Clues
41 Down Clues
74 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.
