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 (40 clues)
- Across Clues - Detailed Hints
- Down Clues Table (36 clues)
- Down Clues - Detailed Hints
- Expert Solving Strategies
- Today's Puzzle Statistics
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. Object of an extensive search | 5 |
| 2A | 6. Regional life forms | 5 |
| 3A | 11. Lead-in to destination and determination | 3 |
| 4A | 14. Cry after an accident | 5 |
| 5A | 15. Take over | 5 |
| 6A | 16. Deli supply | 3 |
| 7A | 17. With 60-Across, invitation to play 38-Down | 11 |
| 8A | 19. Seller's bottom lines, for short? | 3 |
| 9A | 20. Mister | 3 |
| 10A | 21. Victorian or Edwardian | 3 |
| 11A | 22. "Hmm, I'm thinking ..." | 7 |
| 12A | 24. Privy to | 4 |
| 13A | 26. Qualified, say | 4 |
| 14A | 28. Some STEM degrees | 4 |
| 15A | 29. Ace, e.g. | 5 |
| 16A | 31. Wild ___ | 4 |
| 17A | 33. "You are correct about that" | 4 |
| 18A | 34. Hawk's hook | 5 |
| 19A | 36. It doesn't include the Apocrypha | 5 |
| 20A | 38. Tall-eared cats from Devon or Cornwall | 5 |
| 21A | 39. It's a celebration | 5 |
| 22A | 40. Toxin in castor beans | 5 |
| 23A | 41. Surname that derives from the Sanskrit word for "lion" | 5 |
| 24A | 42. Actor Eric of "Troy" | 4 |
| 25A | 43. Get in bad with? | 4 |
| 26A | 45. Raises the temperature of | 5 |
| 27A | 49. Many a tech alum: Abbr. | 4 |
| 28A | 50. Wood sculptor's tool | 4 |
| 29A | 52. Pop top? | 9 |
| 30A | 53. Organic chemistry experiment? | 7 |
| 31A | 56. ___ Maria, dark coffee liqueur | 3 |
| 32A | 58. Exec overseeing A.I. integration | 3 |
| 33A | 59. Annual video game competition, for short | 3 |
| 34A | 60. See 17-Across | 11 |
| 35A | 63. "___ Misérables" | 3 |
| 36A | 64. Keep busy | 5 |
| 37A | 65. Israeli politician Dayan | 5 |
| 38A | 66. Some people doing residencies: Abbr. | 3 |
| 39A | 67. They're typical | 5 |
| 40A | 68. Handful in a beer garden? | 5 |
Across Clues - Strategic Hints
1A: "1. Object of an extensive search"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the object of any prolonged endeavor
- Similar words include: Sangraal, Holy Grail
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GRAIL
Remember this word for future puzzles!
2A: "6. Regional life forms"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that all the plant and animal life of a particular region
- Similar words include: biology
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BIOTA
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3A: "11. Lead-in to destination and determination"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PRE
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4A: "14. Cry after an accident"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OOPSY
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5A: "15. Take over"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that seize and take control without authority and possibly with force; take as one's right or possession
- Similar words include: assume, arrogate, seize
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: USURP
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6A: "16. Deli supply"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a bluish translucent magnetic liquid obtained by compressing gaseous oxygen and then cooling it below its boiling point; used as an oxidizer in rocket propellants
- Similar words include: liquid oxygen
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LOX
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7A: "17. With 60-Across, invitation to play 38-Down"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: STEPRIGHTUP
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8A: "19. Seller's bottom lines, for short?"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: UPC
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9A: "20. Mister"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that term of address for a man
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SIR
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10A: "21. Victorian or Edwardian"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a period marked by distinctive character or reckoned from a fixed point or event
- Similar words include: geological era, earned run average, epoch
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ERA
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11A: "22. "Hmm, I'm thinking ...""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LETSSEE
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12A: "24. Privy to"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: INON
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13A: "26. Qualified, say"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that (usually followed by `to') having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
- Similar words include: capable, able-bodied
- Opposite of: unable
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ABLE
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14A: "28. Some STEM degrees"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a doctorate usually based on at least 3 years graduate study and a dissertation; the highest degree awarded graduate study
- Similar words include: PhD, Ph.D.
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PHDS
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15A: "29. Ace, e.g."
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that someone who is licensed to operate an aircraft in flight
- Similar words include: navigate, aviate, cowcatcher
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PILOT
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16A: "31. Wild ___"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that annual grass of europe and north africa; grains used as food and fodder (referred to primarily in the plural: `oats')
- Similar words include: oat
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OATS
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17A: "33. "You are correct about that""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ITIS
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18A: "34. Hawk's hook"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a sharp hooked claw especially on a bird of prey
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TALON
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19A: "36. It doesn't include the Apocrypha"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a rule or especially body of rules or principles generally established as valid and fundamental in a field or art or philosophy
- Similar words include: canyon
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CANON
Remember this word for future puzzles!
20A: "38. Tall-eared cats from Devon or Cornwall"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom
- Similar words include: Rex, male monarch, king
- Opposite of: female monarch, queen
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: REXES
Remember this word for future puzzles!
21A: "39. It's a celebration"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an organization to gain political power
- Similar words include: political party, company
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PARTY
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22A: "40. Toxin in castor beans"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a toxic protein extracted from castor beans; used as a chemical reagent; can be used as a bioweapon
- Similar words include: ricin toxin
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RICIN
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23A: "41. Surname that derives from the Sanskrit word for "lion""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SINGH
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24A: "42. Actor Eric of "Troy""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BANA
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25A: "43. Get in bad with?"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that assist or encourage, usually in some wrongdoing
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ABET
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26A: "45. Raises the temperature of"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a form of energy that is transferred by a difference in temperature
- Similar words include: heat up, stir up, wake
- Opposite of: coldness, cool
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HEATS
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27A: "49. Many a tech alum: Abbr."
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ENGR
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28A: "50. Wood sculptor's tool"
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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29A: "52. Pop top?"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a cap that seals a bottle
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BOTTLECAP
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30A: "53. Organic chemistry experiment?"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HOTDATE
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31A: "56. ___ Maria, dark coffee liqueur"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that brief episode in which the brain gets insufficient blood supply; symptoms depend on the site of the blockage
- Similar words include: transient ischemic attack
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TIA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
32A: "58. Exec overseeing A.I. integration"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a federation of north american industrial unions that merged with the american federation of labor in 1955
- Similar words include: Congress of Industrial Organizations
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CIO
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33A: "59. Annual video game competition, for short"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EVO
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34A: "60. See 17-Across"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TRYYOURLUCK
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35A: "63. "___ Misérables""
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
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36A: "64. Keep busy"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TIEUP
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37A: "65. Israeli politician Dayan"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MOSHE
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38A: "66. Some people doing residencies: Abbr."
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DRS
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39A: "67. They're typical"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a standard or model or pattern regarded as typical
- Similar words include: norm, average
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NORMS
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40A: "68. Handful in a beer garden?"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a mug intended for serving beer
- Similar words include: beer mug, Gertrude Stein
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: STEIN
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Down Clues - Complete List
| No. | Clue | Letters |
|---|---|---|
| 1D | 1. Spread dirt | 6 |
| 2D | 2. Corkscrew-shaped pasta | 6 |
| 3D | 3. Orange-colored liqueur served in a namesake spritz | 6 |
| 4D | 4. Means of making some connections, for short | 3 |
| 5D | 5. Relative of a harp | 4 |
| 6D | 6. Pet peeves | 8 |
| 7D | 7. Estimation suffix | 3 |
| 8D | 8. Power source | 6 |
| 9D | 9. "You are correct about that" | 4 |
| 10D | 10. Calendar notation: Abbr. | 4 |
| 11D | 11. Prize dangling from a 38-Down booth | 8 |
| 12D | 12. Voluntold, say | 7 |
| 13D | 13. More than necessary | 6 |
| 14D | 18. Something you might put stock in, for short | 3 |
| 15D | 23. Risqué game that teenagers might give a whirl? | 13 |
| 16D | 25. Memory jogger | 8 |
| 17D | 27. PC hookup | 3 |
| 18D | 30. Cab | 4 |
| 19D | 32. Digitize, maybe | 4 |
| 20D | 35. Dunham who wrote the memoir "Famesick" | 4 |
| 21D | 37. "I'm so frustrated!" | 4 |
| 22D | 38. Carnival game depicted in this puzzle | 8 |
| 23D | 39. Brief bathroom breaks, slangily | 8 |
| 24D | 40. Trampled | 7 |
| 25D | 41. Habitat with a wet floor | 3 |
| 26D | 42. Eyeballed | 6 |
| 27D | 44. Ice cream eponym | 6 |
| 28D | 46. Play the blame game with | 6 |
| 29D | 47. Chinese martial art | 6 |
| 30D | 48. Not sung, say | 6 |
| 31D | 51. More, musically | 3 |
| 32D | 54. Abbr. atop a memo | 4 |
| 33D | 55. Charlie's Angels or the Chipmunks | 4 |
| 34D | 57. Body parts linked in a square dance, maybe | 4 |
| 35D | 61. "Tasty!" | 3 |
| 36D | 62. Auction offering | 3 |
Down Clues - Strategic Hints
1D: "1. Spread dirt"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that light informal conversation for social occasions
- Similar words include: chit chat, dish the dirt, natter
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GOSSIP
Remember this word for future puzzles!
2D: "2. Corkscrew-shaped pasta"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ROTINI
Remember this word for future puzzles!
3D: "3. Orange-colored liqueur served in a namesake spritz"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: APEROL
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4D: "4. Means of making some connections, for short"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ISP
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5D: "5. Relative of a harp"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a harp used by ancient greeks for accompaniment
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LYRE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
6D: "6. Pet peeves"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an imaginary monster used to frighten children
- Similar words include: bugaboo, booger, boogeyman
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BUGABOOS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
7D: "7. Estimation suffix"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ISH
Remember this word for future puzzles!
8D: "8. Power source"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a place of business for retailing goods
- Similar words include: way out, electric receptacle, exit
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OUTLET
Remember this word for future puzzles!
9D: "9. "You are correct about that""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that proper alignment; the property possessed by something that is in correct or proper alignment
- Similar words include: truthful, reliable, confessedly
- Opposite of: untruthful, false
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TRUE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
10D: "10. Calendar notation: Abbr."
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: APPT
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11D: "11. Prize dangling from a 38-Down booth"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PLUSHTOY
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12D: "12. Voluntold, say"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ROPEDIN
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13D: "13. More than necessary"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a quantity much larger than is needed
- Similar words include: spare, extra, excessiveness
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EXCESS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
14D: "18. Something you might put stock in, for short"
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: Provisional Irish Republican Army, ire, Irish Republican Army
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: IRA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
15D: "23. Risqué game that teenagers might give a whirl?"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SPINTHEBOTTLE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
16D: "25. Memory jogger"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NOTECARD
Remember this word for future puzzles!
17D: "27. PC hookup"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a local computer network for communication between computers; especially a network connecting computers and word processors and other electronic office equipment to create a communication system between offices
- Similar words include: local area network
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LAN
Remember this word for future puzzles!
18D: "30. Cab"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a car driven by a person whose job is to take passengers where they want to go in exchange for money
- Similar words include: cab, taxicab, hack
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TAXI
Remember this word for future puzzles!
19D: "32. Digitize, maybe"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the act of scanning; systematic examination of a prescribed region
- Similar words include: skim, read, run down
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SCAN
Remember this word for future puzzles!
20D: "35. Dunham who wrote the memoir "Famesick""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a russian river in siberia; flows northward into the laptev sea
- Similar words include: Lena River
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LENA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
21D: "37. "I'm so frustrated!""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ARGH
Remember this word for future puzzles!
22D: "38. Carnival game depicted in this puzzle"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RINGTOSS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
23D: "39. Brief bathroom breaks, slangily"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PITSTOPS
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24D: "40. Trampled"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RANOVER
Remember this word for future puzzles!
25D: "41. Habitat with a wet floor"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
- Similar words include: ocean
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SEA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
26D: "42. Eyeballed"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that see with attention
- Similar words include: behold, lay eyes on
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BEHELD
Remember this word for future puzzles!
27D: "44. Ice cream eponym"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BREYER
Remember this word for future puzzles!
28D: "46. Play the blame game with"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that bring an accusation against; level a charge against
- Similar words include: incriminate, charge, impeach
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ACCUSE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
29D: "47. Chinese martial art"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a chinese system of slow meditative physical exercise designed for relaxation and balance and health
- Similar words include: t'ai chi, tai chi, t'ai chi chuan
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TAICHI
Remember this word for future puzzles!
30D: "48. Not sung, say"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that express in speech
- Similar words include: talk, speak, verbalise
- Opposite of: written
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SPOKEN
Remember this word for future puzzles!
31D: "51. More, musically"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PIU
Remember this word for future puzzles!
32D: "54. Abbr. atop a memo"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ATTN
Remember this word for future puzzles!
33D: "55. Charlie's Angels or the Chipmunks"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
- Similar words include: III, trinity, triplet
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TRIO
Remember this word for future puzzles!
34D: "57. Body parts linked in a square dance, maybe"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that weapons considered collectively
- Similar words include: blazon, build up, implements of war
- Opposite of: disarm
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ARMS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
35D: "61. "Tasty!""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: YUM
Remember this word for future puzzles!
36D: "62. Auction offering"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that (often followed by `of') a large number or amount or extent
- Similar words include: raft, parcel out, dole out
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LOT
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
40 Across Clues
36 Down Clues
76 Total Clues
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