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Showing posts sorted by date for query naughty. Sort by relevance Show all posts

Monday, August 31, 2026

XWordHint Crossword Answers August 31, 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. Part of a dance 4
2A 5. Sch. with the Daily Bruin newspaper 4
3A 9. Slightly intoxicated 5
4A 14. Fancy 4
5A 15. Worms and such on hooks 4
6A 16. Be of the same mind 5
7A 17. Redding with two posthumous Grammys 4
8A 18. "Sesame Street" character who was once sung to sleep by Andrea Bocelli 4
9A 19. Ransacks 5
10A 20. One who regularly drops things 13
11A 23. The : English :: ___ : French 3
12A 24. Letter after sigma 3
13A 25. One dining on Friskies 3
14A 28. Role for Selena Gomez on "Only Murders in the Building" 5
15A 31. Umbrella-shaped sea creature 9
16A 34. Director DuVernay 3
17A 35. Pathetic 3
18A 36. Examine at length 6
19A 37. Took shots first, then paid for them later 7
20A 40. Clothing sizes for shorter women 7
21A 41. Ski in zigzags 6
22A 42. "Far out!" 3
23A 43. Tetra- minus one 3
24A 44. Newlyweds' getaway 9
25A 46. Owl sounds 5
26A 48. Actress de Armas 3
27A 49. 401(k) relative 3
28A 50. "Need an ark? I Noah guy," e.g. 3
29A 51. "Tell everyone!" ... or what to do with the starts of 20-, 31- and 44-Across? 13
30A 58. Inuit for "house" 5
31A 60. Italian hello 4
32A 61. Et ___ (and others: Lat.) 4
33A 62. Tennis locale 5
34A 63. Pre-Easter observance 4
35A 64. R-rated, maybe 4
36A 65. A cube has 12 of them 5
37A 66. Petrol brand 4
38A 67. Easter egg decorating supplies 4

Across Clues - Strategic Hints

1A: "1. Part of a dance"

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
  • Similar words include: mistreat, stride, ill-treat
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: STEP

Remember this word for future puzzles!

2A: "5. Sch. with the Daily Bruin newspaper"

4 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

3A: "9. Slightly intoxicated"

5 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that slightly intoxicated
  • Similar words include: tiddly, potty
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TIPSY

Remember this word for future puzzles!

4A: "14. Fancy"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that elegant and sumptuous
  • Similar words include: de luxe, deluxe
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LUXE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

5A: "15. Worms and such on hooks"

4 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that anything that serves as an enticement
  • Similar words include: rag, tantalize, twit
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BAIT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

6A: "16. Be of the same mind"

5 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that be in accord; be in agreement
  • Similar words include: match, consort, tally
  • Opposite of: disagree
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AGREE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

7A: "17. Redding with two posthumous Grammys"

4 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

8A: "18. "Sesame Street" character who was once sung to sleep by Andrea Bocelli"

4 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

9A: "19. Ransacks"

5 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that goods or money obtained illegally
  • Similar words include: cabbage, moolah, strip
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LOOTS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

10A: "20. One who regularly drops things"

13 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that someone who drops things (especially one who cannot catch a ball)
  • Pattern: _____________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BUTTERFINGERS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

11A: "23. The : English :: ___ : French"

3 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a chronic inflammatory collagen disease affecting connective tissue (skin or joints)
  • Similar words include: LE, lupus erythematosus
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

12A: "24. Letter after sigma"

3 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the 19th letter of the greek alphabet
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TAU

Remember this word for future puzzles!

13A: "25. One dining on Friskies"

3 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that feline mammal usually having thick soft fur and no ability to roar: domestic cats; wildcats
  • Similar words include: kat, sick, khat
  • Opposite of: keep down
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CAT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

14A: "28. Role for Selena Gomez on "Only Murders in the Building""

5 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

15A: "31. Umbrella-shaped sea creature"

9 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that large siphonophore having a bladderlike float and stinging tentacles
  • Similar words include: Portuguese man-of-war, man-of-war
  • Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: JELLYFISH

Remember this word for future puzzles!

16A: "34. Director DuVernay"

3 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

17A: "35. Pathetic"

3 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that experiencing or showing sorrow or unhappiness; ; - christina rossetti
  • Similar words include: deplorable, pitiful, lamentable
  • Opposite of: glad
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SAD

Remember this word for future puzzles!

18A: "36. Examine at length"

6 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that examine or consider with attention and in detail
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PERUSE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

19A: "37. Took shots first, then paid for them later"

7 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

20A: "40. Clothing sizes for shorter women"

7 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a garment size for short or slender women
  • Similar words include: petite
  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PETITES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

21A: "41. Ski in zigzags"

6 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a downhill race over a winding course defined by upright poles
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SLALOM

Remember this word for future puzzles!

22A: "42. "Far out!""

3 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a unit of absorbed ionizing radiation equal to 100 ergs per gram of irradiated material
  • Similar words include: radian
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RAD

Remember this word for future puzzles!

23A: "43. Tetra- minus one"

3 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

24A: "44. Newlyweds' getaway"

9 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a holiday taken by a newly married couple
  • Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HONEYMOON

Remember this word for future puzzles!

25A: "46. Owl sounds"

5 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a loud raucous cry (as of an owl)
  • Similar words include: tinker's dam, Bronx cheer, raspberry
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HOOTS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

26A: "48. Actress de Armas"

3 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

27A: "49. 401(k) relative"

3 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a militant organization of irish nationalists who used terrorism and guerilla warfare in an effort to drive british forces from northern ireland and achieve a united independent ireland
  • Similar words include: wrath, individual retirement account, Irish Republican Army
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: IRA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

28A: "50. "Need an ark? I Noah guy," e.g."

3 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a humorous play on words
  • Similar words include: wordplay, punning, paronomasia
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PUN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

29A: "51. "Tell everyone!" ... or what to do with the starts of 20-, 31- and 44-Across?"

13 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

30A: "58. Inuit for "house""

5 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an eskimo hut; usually built of blocks (of sod or snow) in the shape of a dome
  • Similar words include: iglu
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: IGLOO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

31A: "60. Italian hello"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an acknowledgment that can be used to say hello or goodbye (aloha is hawaiian and ciao is italian)
  • Similar words include: aloha
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CIAO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

32A: "61. Et ___ (and others: Lat.)"

4 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

33A: "62. Tennis locale"

5 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an assembly (including one or more judges) to conduct judicial business
  • Similar words include: tribunal, courtroom, motor lodge
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: COURT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

34A: "63. Pre-Easter observance"

4 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a period of 40 weekdays from ash wednesday to holy saturday
  • Similar words include: lend, bestow, add
  • Opposite of: borrow
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LENT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

35A: "64. R-rated, maybe"

4 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that full of zest or vigor
  • Similar words include: robust, naughty, gamey
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RACY

Remember this word for future puzzles!

36A: "65. A cube has 12 of them"

5 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the boundary of a surface
  • Similar words include: inch, butt, edge
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EDGES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

37A: "66. Petrol brand"

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

38A: "67. Easter egg decorating supplies"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a usually soluble substance for staining or coloring e.g. fabrics or hair
  • Similar words include: dyestuff, dye
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DYES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

Down Clues - Complete List

No. Clue Letters
1D 1. Mess maker 4
2D 2. Attire for the Sugar Plum Fairy 4
3D 3. Off-ramp 4
4D 4. Pulverizing tool 6
5D 5. Alternatives to Lyfts 5
6D 6. Baby whale 4
7D 7. In finite supply 7
8D 8. Lacking a musical key 6
9D 9. A ___ as old as time 4
10D 10. Composer Stravinsky 4
11D 11. Ham on an antipasto platter 10
12D 12. Solidify 3
13D 13. "You called?" 3
14D 21. Sinuous swimmer 3
15D 22. Swallowed hard 6
16D 26. Aver 6
17D 27. Graduate student's project 6
18D 28. ___ P. Johnson (gay rights activist) 6
19D 29. Island of Arthurian legend 6
20D 30. Fruit-resembling mollusk 10
21D 31. The "one" of a one-two 3
22D 32. So far 3
23D 33. Part of the week that workers look forward to: Abbr. 3
24D 35. Lunch item that might be made with cold cuts, in slang 6
25D 38. Ginger ___ 3
26D 39. Cup-and-ball or yo-yo 3
27D 40. Deep-dish vessel 3
28D 42. Support staff for a rock band 7
29D 45. Soothsayer 6
30D 46. Tint 3
31D 47. "To victory!" 6
32D 50. Part of an Instagram post 5
33D 52. Skin opening 4
34D 53. Goes bad 4
35D 54. Gets bronzed at the beach 4
36D 55. Brand with "anti-aging" products 4
37D 56. Bibimbap base 4
38D 57. Pages on a desk calendar 4
39D 58. "Rocks" at a bar 3
40D 59. Lead-in to forbid or forsaken 3

Down Clues - Strategic Hints

1D: "1. Mess maker"

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a coarse obnoxious person
  • Similar words include: pig, slovenly person, sloven
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SLOB

Remember this word for future puzzles!

2D: "2. Attire for the Sugar Plum Fairy"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that south african prelate and leader of the antiapartheid struggle (born in 1931)
  • Similar words include: ballet skirt, Desmond Tutu
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TUTU

Remember this word for future puzzles!

3D: "3. Off-ramp"

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an opening that permits escape or release
  • Similar words include: snuff it, croak, cash in one's chips
  • Opposite of: be born, enter
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EXIT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

4D: "4. Pulverizing tool"

6 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that machine consisting of a heavy bar that moves vertically for pounding or crushing ores
  • Similar words include: pounder, muller, stamp
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PESTLE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

5D: "5. Alternatives to Lyfts"

5 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

6D: "6. Baby whale"

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

7D: "7. In finite supply"

7 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that public transport consisting of a fast train or bus that makes only a few scheduled stops
  • Similar words include: confine, restrain, express
  • Opposite of: unlimited, local
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LIMITED

Remember this word for future puzzles!

8D: "8. Lacking a musical key"

6 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that characterized by avoidance of traditional western tonality
  • Similar words include: unkeyed
  • Opposite of: tonal
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ATONAL

Remember this word for future puzzles!

9D: "9. A ___ as old as time"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

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: narrative, narration, tarradiddle
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TALE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

10D: "10. Composer Stravinsky"

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

11D: "11. Ham on an antipasto platter"

10 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that italian salt-cured ham usually sliced paper thin
  • Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PROSCIUTTO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

12D: "12. Solidify"

3 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

13D: "13. "You called?""

3 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

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!

14D: "21. Sinuous swimmer"

3 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the fatty flesh of eel; an elongate fish found in fresh water in europe and america; large eels are usually smoked or pickled
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EEL

Remember this word for future puzzles!

15D: "22. Swallowed hard"

6 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that to swallow hurriedly or greedily or in one draught
  • Similar words include: swig, quaff, gulp
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GULPED

Remember this word for future puzzles!

16D: "26. Aver"

6 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that state categorically
  • Similar words include: verify, asseverate, maintain
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ASSERT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

17D: "27. Graduate student's project"

6 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an unproved statement put forward as a premise in an argument
  • Similar words include: dissertation
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: THESIS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

18D: "28. ___ P. Johnson (gay rights activist)"

6 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

19D: "29. Island of Arthurian legend"

6 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

20D: "30. Fruit-resembling mollusk"

10 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

21D: "31. The "one" of a one-two"

3 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a sharp hand gesture (resembling a blow)
  • Similar words include: stab, thrust, thrusting
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: JAB

Remember this word for future puzzles!

22D: "32. So far"

3 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that up to the present time
  • Similar words include: nonetheless, as yet, thus far
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: YET

Remember this word for future puzzles!

23D: "33. Part of the week that workers look forward to: Abbr."

3 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the sixth day of the week; the fifth working day
  • Similar words include: Friday
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FRI

Remember this word for future puzzles!

24D: "35. Lunch item that might be made with cold cuts, in slang"

6 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

25D: "38. Ginger ___"

3 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a general name for beer made with a top fermenting yeast; in some of the united states an ale is (by law) a brew of more than 4% alcohol by volume
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ALE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

26D: "39. Cup-and-ball or yo-yo"

3 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an artifact designed to be played with
  • Similar words include: miniature, fiddle, play
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TOY

Remember this word for future puzzles!

27D: "40. Deep-dish vessel"

3 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that cooking utensil consisting of a wide metal vessel
  • Similar words include: pan off, tear apart, pan out
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PAN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

28D: "42. Support staff for a rock band"

7 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

29D: "45. Soothsayer"

6 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an authoritative person who divines the future
  • Similar words include: prophet, vaticinator, seer
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ORACLE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

30D: "46. Tint"

3 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the quality of a color as determined by its dominant wavelength
  • Similar words include: imbue, chromaticity
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HUE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

31D: "47. "To victory!""

6 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that forward in time or order or degree
  • Similar words include: forth, forrader, ahead
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ONWARD

Remember this word for future puzzles!

32D: "50. Part of an Instagram post"

5 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a representation of a person or scene in the form of a print or transparent slide; recorded by a camera on light-sensitive material
  • Similar words include: pic, picture, photograph
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PHOTO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

33D: "52. Skin opening"

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that any tiny hole admitting passage of a liquid (fluid or gas)
  • Similar words include: stomate, rivet, centre
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PORE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

34D: "53. Goes bad"

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a state of decay usually accompanied by an offensive odor
  • Similar words include: molder, bunk, rotting
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ROTS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

35D: "54. Gets bronzed at the beach"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a browning of the skin resulting from exposure to the rays of the sun
  • Similar words include: tangent, suntan, tan
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TANS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

36D: "55. Brand with "anti-aging" products"

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

37D: "56. Bibimbap base"

4 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that grains used as food either unpolished or more often polished
  • Similar words include: Elmer Leopold Rice, Sir Tim Rice, Elmer Reizenstein
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RICE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

38D: "57. Pages on a desk calendar"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the time during which someone's life continues
  • Similar words include: twenty-four hour period, mean solar day, daylight
  • Opposite of: night
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DAYS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

39D: "58. "Rocks" at a bar"

3 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that water frozen in the solid state
  • Similar words include: crank, methamphetamine hydrochloride, chicken feed
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ICE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

40D: "59. Lead-in to forbid or forsaken"

3 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

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, idol, Supreme Being
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GOD

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

38 Across Clues
40 Down Clues
78 Total Clues

More NYT Crossword Help

Looking for more puzzle solutions? Check out our comprehensive archive of NYT crossword hints and answers. We update daily with expert analysis and solving strategies.

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

Last updated: August 31, 2026 at 09:56 AM

Sunday, February 1, 2026

XWordHint Crossword Answers February 01, 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. Meter in a video game showing a character's health 7
2A 8. Relative of a gazelle 6
3A 14. Office square 6
4A 20. Food additive named one of Time's 50 Worst Inventions 7
5A 21. Keep cruising, say 6
6A 22. On which Apple Pay can be used 6
7A 23. Canio in "Pagliacci," e.g.? 14
8A 25. Noxious atmosphere 6
9A 26. Prefix with business 4
10A 27. "My house, my rules" 6
11A 28. QB Drew whom Tom Brady ultimately replaced 7
12A 29. Get tuckered out 9
13A 32. Indian wedding wear 4
14A 34. School subj. 3
15A 35. Grab the chips and dip? 6
16A 37. News hound? 10
17A 40. Atomic bond, essentially? 18
18A 45. Many visitors to national parks 6
19A 46. Nearsighted person 5
20A 47. Messing up on the big screen 5
21A 51. Italy's third-largest island (after Sicily and Sardinia) 4
22A 52. Subterranean adventurer 5
23A 54. "Aaron Burr, ___" ("Hamilton" show tune) 3
24A 57. Great number 4
25A 58. Cute, cutesily 6
26A 61. Dropbox and Roblox 4
27A 62. Hailed vehicle 3
28A 64. Show interruptions 3
29A 65. Some electrolysis targets? 19
30A 71. Partner of vigor 3
31A 72. Letter symbolizing the ratio of a circle's circumference to its radius 3
32A 73. "Downton Abbey" countess 4
33A 74. Warm winter coats 6
34A 76. Like some early education, for short 4
35A 78. W.C. sign 3
36A 80. City where LeBron James was born 5
37A 81. Blemish 4
38A 82. Bit of a character? 5
39A 84. Conspiring (with) 5
40A 86. Spice Girl alongside Baby, Ginger, Scary and Posh 6
41A 88. "Mainsail hoisted, check! Hatches battened, check!"? 18
42A 94. Shark's singing rival in "West Side Story"? 10
43A 97. Corral 6
44A 98. Yankee great Gehrig 3
45A 99. Something a judge shouldn't have 4
46A 100. Very rude email, informally 9
47A 105. Never mind? 7
48A 108. Neglectful 6
49A 111. Bank (on) 4
50A 112. Two-___ schooner 6
51A 113. Frozen treat for Bruins fans? 14
52A 117. Lacking scruples 6
53A 118. Storm, say 6
54A 119. Noted early riser 7
55A 120. With a level head 6
56A 121. Thickets 6
57A 122. Embarrassing items to have revealed on an airport X-ray 7

Across Clues - Strategic Hints

1A: "1. Meter in a video game showing a character's health"

7 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

2A: "8. Relative of a gazelle"

6 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that african antelope with ridged curved horns; moves with enormous leaps
  • Similar words include: Aepyceros melampus
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: IMPALA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

3A: "14. Office square"

6 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

4A: "20. Food additive named one of Time's 50 Worst Inventions"

7 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

5A: "21. Keep cruising, say"

6 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

6A: "22. On which Apple Pay can be used"

6 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

7A: "23. Canio in "Pagliacci," e.g.?"

14 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

8A: "25. Noxious atmosphere"

6 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an unwholesome atmosphere
  • Similar words include: miasm
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MIASMA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

9A: "26. Prefix with business"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

10A: "27. "My house, my rules""

6 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

11A: "28. QB Drew whom Tom Brady ultimately replaced"

7 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

12A: "29. Get tuckered out"

9 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

13A: "32. Indian wedding wear"

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a dress worn primarily by hindu women; consists of several yards of light material that is draped around the body
  • Similar words include: saree
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SARI

Remember this word for future puzzles!

14A: "34. School subj."

3 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

15A: "35. Grab the chips and dip?"

6 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

16A: "37. News hound?"

10 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

17A: "40. Atomic bond, essentially?"

18 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: __________________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TWOPARTICLEHARMONY

Remember this word for future puzzles!

18A: "45. Many visitors to national parks"

6 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a foot traveler; someone who goes on an extended walk (for pleasure)
  • Similar words include: tramper, hiker, tramp
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HIKERS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

19A: "46. Nearsighted person"

5 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a person with myopia; a nearsighted person
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MYOPE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

20A: "47. Messing up on the big screen"

5 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

21A: "51. Italy's third-largest island (after Sicily and Sardinia)"

4 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

22A: "52. Subterranean adventurer"

5 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

23A: "54. "Aaron Burr, ___" ("Hamilton" show tune)"

3 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that term of address for a man
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SIR

Remember this word for future puzzles!

24A: "57. Great number"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that (often followed by `of') a large number or amount or extent
  • Similar words include: batch, spate, deal
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SLEW

Remember this word for future puzzles!

25A: "58. Cute, cutesily"

6 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

26A: "61. Dropbox and Roblox"

4 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

27A: "62. Hailed vehicle"

3 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a compartment at the front of a motor vehicle or locomotive where driver sits
  • Similar words include: hack, taxi, cabriolet
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CAB

Remember this word for future puzzles!

28A: "64. Show interruptions"

3 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a public promotion of some product or service
  • Similar words include: ad, advertising, advertizing
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ADS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

29A: "65. Some electrolysis targets?"

19 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ___________________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FOLLICLESONONESFACE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

30A: "71. Partner of vigor"

3 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a healthy capacity for vigorous activity
  • Similar words include: vigor, vitality, energy
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: VIM

Remember this word for future puzzles!

31A: "72. Letter symbolizing the ratio of a circle's circumference to its radius"

3 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the 19th letter of the greek alphabet
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TAU

Remember this word for future puzzles!

32A: "73. "Downton Abbey" countess"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that (greek mythology) daughter of zeus and demeter; made queen of the underworld by pluto in ancient mythology; identified with roman proserpina
  • Similar words include: Persephone, Kore, Despoina
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CORA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

33A: "74. Warm winter coats"

6 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a kind of heavy jacket (`windcheater' is a british term)
  • Similar words include: anorak, windbreaker, windcheater
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PARKAS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

34A: "76. Like some early education, for short"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

35A: "78. W.C. sign"

3 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the force of workers available
  • Similar words include: Isle of Man, valet de chambre, military personnel
  • Opposite of: civilian, woman
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MEN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

36A: "80. City where LeBron James was born"

5 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a city in northeastern ohio; the heart of the united states rubber industry
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AKRON

Remember this word for future puzzles!

37A: "81. Blemish"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a number or letter indicating quality (especially of a student's performance)
  • Similar words include: German mark, commemorate, stigmatise
  • Opposite of: ignore
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MARK

Remember this word for future puzzles!

38A: "82. Bit of a character?"

5 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a short line at the end of the main strokes of a character
  • Similar words include: seriph
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SERIF

Remember this word for future puzzles!

39A: "84. Conspiring (with)"

5 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

40A: "86. Spice Girl alongside Baby, Ginger, Scary and Posh"

6 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that exhibiting or calling for sportsmanship or fair play
  • Similar words include: jazzy, sportsmanlike, showy
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SPORTY

Remember this word for future puzzles!

41A: "88. "Mainsail hoisted, check! Hatches battened, check!"?"

18 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: __________________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: WERENAUTICALWORTHY

Remember this word for future puzzles!

42A: "94. Shark's singing rival in "West Side Story"?"

10 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

43A: "97. Corral"

6 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

44A: "98. Yankee great Gehrig"

3 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

45A: "99. Something a judge shouldn't have"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a partiality that prevents objective consideration of an issue or situation
  • Similar words include: preconception, predetermine, diagonal
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BIAS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

46A: "100. Very rude email, informally"

9 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

47A: "105. Never mind?"

7 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that partial or total loss of memory
  • Similar words include: blackout, memory loss
  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AMNESIA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

48A: "108. Neglectful"

6 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that failing in what duty requires
  • Similar words include: derelict, delinquent, neglectful
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: REMISS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

49A: "111. Bank (on)"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that have confidence or faith in
  • Similar words include: trust, swear, bank
  • Opposite of: mistrust
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RELY

Remember this word for future puzzles!

50A: "112. Two-___ schooner"

6 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that having or furnished with a mast; often used in combination; - s.e.morrison
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MASTED

Remember this word for future puzzles!

51A: "113. Frozen treat for Bruins fans?"

14 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

52A: "117. Lacking scruples"

6 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

53A: "118. Storm, say"

6 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that march aggressively into another's territory by military force for the purposes of conquest and occupation
  • Similar words include: intrude on, occupy, obtrude upon
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: INVADE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

54A: "119. Noted early riser"

7 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that adult male chicken
  • Similar words include: cock
  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ROOSTER

Remember this word for future puzzles!

55A: "120. With a level head"

6 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that with good sense or in a reasonable or intelligent manner
  • Similar words include: reasonably, sensibly
  • Opposite of: unreasonably, insanely
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SANELY

Remember this word for future puzzles!

56A: "121. Thickets"

6 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a dense growth of bushes
  • Similar words include: coppice, brushwood, copse
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: COPSES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

57A: "122. Embarrassing items to have revealed on an airport X-ray"

7 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

Down Clues - Complete List

No. Clue Letters
1D 1. Person from the neighborhood 5
2D 2. Volunteer's offer 5
3D 3. Bogeymen 5
4D 4. Maker of Bikini So Teeny nail polish 5
5D 5. Breakthrough K-pop group 3
6D 6. Horror director Aster 3
7D 7. Most suggestive 7
8D 8. Like the Eid al-Fitr festival 7
9D 9. Department store eponym 4
10D 10. Pale lager, informally 4
11D 11. ___ gobi (Indian potato dish) 4
12D 12. Feeling down 3
13D 13. ___ Taylor (fashion retailer) 3
14D 14. Home of the Preakness Stakes 7
15D 15. Early TV role for Ron Howard 4
16D 16. Atlantic fish 4
17D 17. Like Frisbees and some salads 6
18D 18. Not stereo 6
19D 19. Hard-boiled Chinese snack 6
20D 24. Sapporo competitor 5
21D 28. Bowler's edge 4
22D 30. Blemish 4
23D 31. Fixes, as a driveway 4
24D 32. Cake not to be eaten 4
25D 33. French for "after" 5
26D 36. Barry Bonds and Shohei Ohtani, notably, for short 6
27D 37. Hammer wielder 4
28D 38. Furthermore 3
29D 39. Caustic solutions 4
30D 40. Mother of Helios, in myth 4
31D 41. Metaphor for a runaway success 8
32D 42. Gen Z put-down of an elder 8
33D 43. Bit of wisdom 5
34D 44. Orbit 9
35D 48. Arcane technique 8
36D 49. Iron-rich variety of fertile soil 8
37D 50. Exclamations in nurseries 3
38D 52. Lead-in to "tech" 3
39D 53. Primatologist's interest 3
40D 55. Give the cold shoulder, with "out" 3
41D 56. Grating voice 4
42D 59. Common diner order 3
43D 60. Rodgers and Hammerstein musical setting 4
44D 63. Photog's undergrad degree 3
45D 66. Stick on a table 3
46D 67. Like Volvo and Nokia, by origin 6
47D 68. Gold, in Guadalajara 3
48D 69. London granny 3
49D 70. Standard battle wear 5
50D 71. No. 2's 3
51D 75. Vodka in blue bottles 4
52D 77. New Zealander 4
53D 79. One studied in the art of invisibility 5
54D 80. Touch 4
55D 83. Govt. campaign watchdog 3
56D 85. Scottish refusals 4
57D 86. Loretta of "M*A*S*H" 4
58D 87. Small keg size 4
59D 89. With zeal 7
60D 90. Director Kazan 4
61D 91. Neighbors of premolars 7
62D 92. Audibly shocked 5
63D 93. Landlords, more formally 7
64D 94. Pack carriers 6
65D 95. Crack open? 6
66D 96. Is fueled by 6
67D 101. Fill in a mill 5
68D 102. Right-hand page 5
69D 103. Strike zone? 5
70D 104. Mike or Michael in movies 5
71D 106. Raison d'___ 4
72D 107. Close up tight 4
73D 108. Invitation letters 4
74D 109. Uber predictions, in brief 4
75D 110. Style 4
76D 113. Zippo competitor 3
77D 114. Co-producer of the documentary "The Beatles: Get Back" 3
78D 115. "The Bells" poet 3
79D 116. Fenway team, familiarly 3

Down Clues - Strategic Hints

1D: "1. Person from the neighborhood"

5 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that public transport consisting of a bus or train that stops at all stations or stops
  • Similar words include: local anaesthetic, topical anesthetic, topical anaesthetic
  • Opposite of: general, express
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LOCAL

Remember this word for future puzzles!

2D: "2. Volunteer's offer"

5 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

3D: "3. Bogeymen"

5 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an emotion experienced in anticipation of some specific pain or danger (usually accompanied by a desire to flee or fight)
  • Similar words include: fright, awe, fearfulness
  • Opposite of: fearlessness
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FEARS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

4D: "4. Maker of Bikini So Teeny nail polish"

5 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

5D: "5. Breakthrough K-pop group"

3 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

6D: "6. Horror director Aster"

3 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

7D: "7. Most suggestive"

7 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that full of zest or vigor
  • Similar words include: naughty, full-bodied, spicy
  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RACIEST

Remember this word for future puzzles!

8D: "8. Like the Eid al-Fitr festival"

7 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that of or relating to or supporting islamism
  • Similar words include: Moslem, Muslim
  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ISLAMIC

Remember this word for future puzzles!

9D: "9. Department store eponym"

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

10D: "10. Pale lager, informally"

4 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

11D: "11. ___ gobi (Indian potato dish)"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

12D: "12. Feeling down"

3 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

13D: "13. ___ Taylor (fashion retailer)"

3 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

14D: "14. Home of the Preakness Stakes"

7 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a racetrack for thoroughbred racing; site of the preakness
  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PIMLICO

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15D: "15. Early TV role for Ron Howard"

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

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16D: "16. Atlantic fish"

4 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that bony flesh of herring-like fish usually caught during their migration to fresh water for spawning; especially of atlantic coast
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SHAD

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17D: "17. Like Frisbees and some salads"

6 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that throw or toss with a light motion
  • Similar words include: dispose, thresh about, discard
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TOSSED

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18D: "18. Not stereo"

6 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

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19D: "19. Hard-boiled Chinese snack"

6 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

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20D: "24. Sapporo competitor"

5 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

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21D: "28. Bowler's edge"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the top edge of a vessel or other container
  • Similar words include: rim, lip
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BRIM

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22D: "30. Blemish"

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

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23D: "31. Fixes, as a driveway"

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that any of various dark heavy viscid substances obtained as a residue
  • Similar words include: sea dog, pitch, Jack
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TARS

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24D: "32. Cake not to be eaten"

4 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a cleansing agent made from the salts of vegetable or animal fats
  • Similar words include: max, Georgia home boy, easy lay
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SOAP

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25D: "33. French for "after""

5 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

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26D: "36. Barry Bonds and Shohei Ohtani, notably, for short"

6 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

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27D: "37. Hammer wielder"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that (norse mythology) god of thunder and rain and farming; pictured as wielding a hammer emblematic of the thunderbolt; identified with teutonic donar
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: THOR

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28D: "38. Furthermore"

3 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

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29D: "39. Caustic solutions"

4 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a strong solution of sodium or potassium hydroxide
  • Similar words include: lye
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LYES

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30D: "40. Mother of Helios, in myth"

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that (greek mythology) the titaness who was mother of helios and selene and eos in ancient mythology
  • Similar words include: Theia
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: THEA

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31D: "41. Metaphor for a runaway success"

8 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a raging and rapidly spreading conflagration
  • Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: WILDFIRE

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32D: "42. Gen Z put-down of an elder"

8 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

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33D: "43. Bit of wisdom"

5 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a smooth lustrous round structure inside the shell of a clam or oyster; much valued as a jewel
  • Similar words include: bead, bone, drop
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PEARL

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34D: "44. Orbit"

9 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

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35D: "48. Arcane technique"

8 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

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36D: "49. Iron-rich variety of fertile soil"

8 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

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37D: "50. Exclamations in nurseries"

3 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

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38D: "52. Lead-in to "tech""

3 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

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39D: "53. Primatologist's interest"

3 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

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40D: "55. Give the cold shoulder, with "out""

3 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that water frozen in the solid state
  • Similar words include: internal-combustion engine, glass, shabu
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ICE

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41D: "56. Grating voice"

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that uttering in an irritated tone
  • Similar words include: rasping, wood file
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RASP

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42D: "59. Common diner order"

3 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

43D: "60. Rodgers and Hammerstein musical setting"

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a country of southeastern asia that extends southward along the isthmus of kra to the malay peninsula
  • Similar words include: Kingdom of Thailand, Thailand
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SIAM

Remember this word for future puzzles!

44D: "63. Photog's undergrad degree"

3 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

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45D: "66. Stick on a table"

3 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an actor's line that immediately precedes and serves as a reminder for some action or speech
  • Similar words include: pool stick, pool cue, cue stick
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CUE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

46D: "67. Like Volvo and Nokia, by origin"

6 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the northern family of germanic languages that are spoken in scandinavia and iceland
  • Similar words include: North Germanic, Scandinavian, Norse
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NORDIC

Remember this word for future puzzles!

47D: "68. Gold, in Guadalajara"

3 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

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48D: "69. London granny"

3 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that your grandmother
  • Similar words include: Nan River, nanna, grandma
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NAN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

49D: "70. Standard battle wear"

5 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

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!

50D: "71. No. 2's"

3 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

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51D: "75. Vodka in blue bottles"

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

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52D: "77. New Zealander"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that climbing vine native to china; cultivated in new zealand for its fuzzy edible fruit with green meat
  • Similar words include: Actinidia chinensis, kiwi vine, Chinese gooseberry
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: KIWI

Remember this word for future puzzles!

53D: "79. One studied in the art of invisibility"

5 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a member of the ninja who were trained in martial arts and hired for espionage or sabotage or assassinations; a person skilled in ninjutsu
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NINJA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

54D: "80. Touch"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that lie adjacent to another or share a boundary
  • Similar words include: march, adjoin, butt against
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ABUT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

55D: "83. Govt. campaign watchdog"

3 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

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56D: "85. Scottish refusals"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

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57D: "86. Loretta of "M*A*S*H""

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

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58D: "87. Small keg size"

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a range horse of the western united states
  • Similar words include: crib, trot, jigger
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PONY

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59D: "89. With zeal"

7 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

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60D: "90. Director Kazan"

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that english essayist (1775-1834)
  • Similar words include: Charles Lamb, Lamb
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ELIA

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61D: "91. Neighbors of premolars"

7 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that one of the four pointed conical teeth (two in each jaw) located between the incisors and the premolars
  • Similar words include: cuspid, dogtooth, canid
  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CANINES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

62D: "92. Audibly shocked"

5 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

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63D: "93. Landlords, more formally"

7 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that someone who grants a lease
  • Similar words include: lessor, lease giver
  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LESSORS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

64D: "94. Pack carriers"

6 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that wild or domesticated south american cud-chewing animal related to camels but smaller and lacking a hump
  • Similar words include: llama
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LLAMAS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

65D: "95. Crack open?"

6 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

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66D: "96. Is fueled by"

6 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

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67D: "101. Fill in a mill"

5 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that grain intended to be or that has been ground
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GRIST

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68D: "102. Right-hand page"

5 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that right-hand page
  • Opposite of: verso
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RECTO

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69D: "103. Strike zone?"

5 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a narrow street with walls on both sides
  • Similar words include: back street, bowling alley, skittle alley
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ALLEY

Remember this word for future puzzles!

70D: "104. Mike or Michael in movies"

5 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

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71D: "106. Raison d'___"

4 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

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72D: "107. Close up tight"

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that fastener consisting of a resinous composition that is plastic when warm; used for sealing documents and parcels and letters
  • Similar words include: cachet, Navy SEAL, sealing wax
  • Opposite of: unseal
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SEAL

Remember this word for future puzzles!

73D: "108. Invitation letters"

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

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74D: "109. Uber predictions, in brief"

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a terrorist organization organized in 1959 by student activists who were dissatisfied with the moderate nationalism of the traditional basque party; want to create an independent homeland in spain's western pyrenees
  • Similar words include: Basque Fatherland and Liberty, Basque Homeland and Freedom, ETA
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ETAS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

75D: "110. Style"

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that how something is done or how it happens
  • Similar words include: modality, manner, modal value
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MODE

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76D: "113. Zippo competitor"

3 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

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77D: "114. Co-producer of the documentary "The Beatles: Get Back""

3 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that united states musician (born in japan) who married john lennon and collaborated with him on recordings (born in 1933)
  • Similar words include: Yoko Ono
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ONO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

78D: "115. "The Bells" poet"

3 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that united states writer and poet (1809-1849)
  • Similar words include: Edgar Allan Poe
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: POE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

79D: "116. Fenway team, familiarly"

3 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

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

57 Across Clues
79 Down Clues
136 Total Clues

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Last updated: February 01, 2026 at 05:11 AM