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 (31 clues)
- Across Clues - Detailed Hints
- Down Clues Table (41 clues)
- Down Clues - Detailed Hints
- Expert Solving Strategies
- Today's Puzzle Statistics
Today's Puzzle Difficulty: Tricky
Pro Tip: Start with the fill-in-the-blank clues - they're usually the easiest entry points!
Across Clues - Complete List
| No. | Clue | Letters |
|---|---|---|
| 1A | 1. Makes a sullen face | 5 |
| 2A | 6. Beetle amulet in ancient Egypt | 6 |
| 3A | 12. Sudden and unexpected | 6 |
| 4A | 14. Was overprotective, in a way | 7 |
| 5A | 16. ___ algebra | 6 |
| 6A | 17. Still in its packaging | 8 |
| 7A | 19. 50/52-Across musician | 12 |
| 8A | 21. #1 hit from 50/52-Across ("You can feel it all over") | 7 |
| 9A | 24. Like a scratchy voice | 5 |
| 10A | 25. Best possible | 5 |
| 11A | 26. Billionaires' boats | 6 |
| 12A | 30. Resident of Africa's fourth-largest country | 6 |
| 13A | 32. Secrecy contracts, in brief | 4 |
| 14A | 33. Name that's a body part backward | 3 |
| 15A | 36. Obligation | 4 |
| 16A | 37. #1 hit from 50/52-Across ("Why did those days ever have to go?") | 5 |
| 17A | 39. Greek "I" | 4 |
| 18A | 40. Perched | 3 |
| 19A | 41. Fraudulent offer | 4 |
| 20A | 42. Not sinking | 6 |
| 21A | 44. Like pagodas and some cakes | 6 |
| 22A | 46. "Clemency" star Woodard | 5 |
| 23A | 47. ___ point (center) | 5 |
| 24A | 50. With 52-Across, double album released on September 28, 1976, that spent 13 straight weeks at #1 | 7 |
| 25A | 52. See 50-Across | 12 |
| 26A | 56. Spy's identifier | 8 |
| 27A | 57. Bloc party? | 6 |
| 28A | 61. Whistlers in the kitchen | 7 |
| 29A | 62. ___ Kreme | 6 |
| 30A | 63. Doughnut quantities | 6 |
| 31A | 64. Work ___ | 5 |
Across Clues - Strategic Hints
1A: "1. Makes a sullen face"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a disdainful grimace
- Similar words include: pout, hornpout, eelpout
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: POUTS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
2A: "6. Beetle amulet in ancient Egypt"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that scarabaeid beetle considered divine by ancient egyptians
- Similar words include: scarabaeus, Scarabaeus sacer
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SCARAB
Remember this word for future puzzles!
3A: "12. Sudden and unexpected"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that marked by sudden changes in subject and sharp transitions
- Similar words include: sharp, disconnected, precipitous
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ABRUPT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
4A: "14. Was overprotective, in a way"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that be undecided about something; waver between conflicting positions or courses of action
- Similar words include: hover, loom, vibrate
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HOVERED
Remember this word for future puzzles!
5A: "16. ___ algebra"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that designating or involving an equation whose terms are of the first degree
- Similar words include: analog, additive, elongate
- Opposite of: digital, nonlinear
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LINEAR
Remember this word for future puzzles!
6A: "17. Still in its packaging"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that not yet opened or unsealed
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: UNOPENED
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7A: "19. 50/52-Across musician"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: STEVIEWONDER
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8A: "21. #1 hit from 50/52-Across ("You can feel it all over")"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SIRDUKE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
9A: "24. Like a scratchy voice"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that unpleasantly harsh or grating in sound
- Similar words include: gravelly, rasping, rough
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RASPY
Remember this word for future puzzles!
10A: "25. Best possible"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the idea of something that is perfect; something that one hopes to attain
- Similar words include: nonsuch, saint, nonesuch
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: IDEAL
Remember this word for future puzzles!
11A: "26. Billionaires' boats"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an expensive vessel propelled by sail or power and used for cruising or racing
- Similar words include: racing yacht, yacht
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: YACHTS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
12A: "30. Resident of Africa's fourth-largest country"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a native or inhabitant of libya
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LIBYAN
Remember this word for future puzzles!
13A: "32. Secrecy contracts, in brief"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NDAS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
14A: "33. Name that's a body part backward"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RAE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
15A: "36. Obligation"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an onerous or difficult concern
- Similar words include: burden, incumbrance, load
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ONUS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
16A: "37. #1 hit from 50/52-Across ("Why did those days ever have to go?")"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: IWISH
Remember this word for future puzzles!
17A: "39. Greek "I""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a tiny or scarcely detectable amount
- Similar words include: smidge, whit, smidgeon
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: IOTA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
18A: "40. Perched"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the sabbath by jews and some christians
- Similar words include: sit, model, baby-sit
- Opposite of: arise, stand
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SAT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
19A: "41. Fraudulent offer"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a fraudulent business scheme
- Similar words include: bunco, mulct, defraud
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SCAM
Remember this word for future puzzles!
20A: "42. Not sinking"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that aimlessly drifting
- Similar words include: planless, undirected, rudderless
- Opposite of: aground
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AFLOAT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
21A: "44. Like pagodas and some cakes"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that having or arranged in tiers
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TIERED
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22A: "46. "Clemency" star Woodard"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ALFRE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
23A: "47. ___ point (center)"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that having or localized centrally at a focus
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FOCAL
Remember this word for future puzzles!
24A: "50. With 52-Across, double album released on September 28, 1976, that spent 13 straight weeks at #1"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SONGSIN
Remember this word for future puzzles!
25A: "52. See 50-Across"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: THEKEYOFLIFE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
26A: "56. Spy's identifier"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CODENAME
Remember this word for future puzzles!
27A: "57. Bloc party?"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a politically organized body of people under a single government
- Similar words include: res publica, Carry Amelia Moore Nation, body politic
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NATION
Remember this word for future puzzles!
28A: "61. Whistlers in the kitchen"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a metal pot for stewing or boiling; usually has a lid
- Similar words include: kettleful, timpani, tympani
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: KETTLES
Remember this word for future puzzles!
29A: "62. ___ Kreme"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: KRISPY
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30A: "63. Doughnut quantities"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a large number or amount
- Similar words include: 12, stacks, dozen
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DOZENS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
31A: "64. Work ___"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the principles of right and wrong that are accepted by an individual or a social group
- Similar words include: ethical code, moral principle, value-system
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ETHIC
Remember this word for future puzzles!
Down Clues - Complete List
| No. | Clue | Letters |
|---|---|---|
| 1D | 1. Buddy | 3 |
| 2D | 2. ___-Wan Kenobi | 3 |
| 3D | 3. Vase with a base | 3 |
| 4D | 4. Popular times for tacos | 8 |
| 5D | 5. Pancake-flipping tool | 7 |
| 6D | 6. Feng ___ | 4 |
| 7D | 7. Scoop holder | 4 |
| 8D | 8. Declare definitively | 4 |
| 9D | 9. Segments of news shows | 7 |
| 10D | 10. Venues for concerts and competitions | 6 |
| 11D | 11. Road curves | 5 |
| 12D | 13. "Star ___ II: The Wrath of Khan" | 4 |
| 13D | 15. Profound | 4 |
| 14D | 18. Like some humor and runs | 3 |
| 15D | 20. "Oy ___!" | 3 |
| 16D | 21. Grain storage structures | 5 |
| 17D | 22. Broadway star Menzel | 5 |
| 18D | 23. Argue against | 5 |
| 19D | 27. "Demon Slayer" or "Attack on Titan" | 5 |
| 20D | 28. Contents of plastic sleeves or jewel cases, informally | 3 |
| 21D | 29. "lol" | 4 |
| 22D | 31. "Love it!" | 4 |
| 23D | 33. They might be thatched | 5 |
| 24D | 34. Pioneer in arcade games | 5 |
| 25D | 35. Devoured | 5 |
| 26D | 38. "This means ___!" | 3 |
| 27D | 39. Cry in response to a doorbell | 8 |
| 28D | 41. Feature of "rendezvous" and "laissez-faire" | 7 |
| 29D | 43. Celebratory hoopla | 7 |
| 30D | 44. Start liking | 6 |
| 31D | 45. Broadband connection type, in brief | 3 |
| 32D | 47. Government agcy. founded to enforce antitrust laws | 3 |
| 33D | 48. "I see" | 4 |
| 34D | 49. Formally yielded | 5 |
| 35D | 51. Pig's cry | 4 |
| 36D | 53. Ivy League school in New Haven | 4 |
| 37D | 54. Sign of things to come | 4 |
| 38D | 55. ___ up (come clean) | 4 |
| 39D | 58. "... or thereabouts" | 3 |
| 40D | 59. Nail polish brand | 3 |
| 41D | 60. It has M.S.G. in it | 3 |
Down Clues - Strategic Hints
1D: "1. Buddy"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a close friend who accompanies his buddies in their activities
- Similar words include: chum, sidekick, pal up
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PAL
Remember this word for future puzzles!
2D: "2. ___-Wan Kenobi"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that (west indies) followers of a religious system involving witchcraft and sorcery
- Similar words include: obeah
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OBI
Remember this word for future puzzles!
3D: "3. Vase with a base"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a large vase that usually has a pedestal or feet
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: URN
Remember this word for future puzzles!
4D: "4. Popular times for tacos"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the third day of the week; the second working day
- Similar words include: Tuesday, Tues
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TUESDAYS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
5D: "5. Pancake-flipping tool"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a turner with a narrow flexible blade
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SPATULA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
6D: "6. Feng ___"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SHUI
Remember this word for future puzzles!
7D: "7. Scoop holder"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that any cone-shaped artifact
- Similar words include: conoid, strobile, strobilus
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CONE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
8D: "8. Declare definitively"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that to declare or affirm solemnly and formally as true
- Similar words include: avouch, assert, affirm
- Opposite of: disavow
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AVOW
Remember this word for future puzzles!
9D: "9. Segments of news shows"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a written document describing the findings of some individual or group
- Similar words include: report, written report, theme
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: REPORTS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
10D: "10. Venues for concerts and competitions"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a particular environment or walk of life
- Similar words include: orbit, arena, sphere
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ARENAS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
11D: "11. Road curves"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that pain resulting from rapid change in pressure
- Similar words include: air embolism, twist, bend dexter
- Opposite of: straighten, unbend
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BENDS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
12D: "13. "Star ___ II: The Wrath of Khan""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a journey by ox wagon (especially an organized migration by a group of settlers)
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TREK
Remember this word for future puzzles!
13D: "15. Profound"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the central and most intense or profound part
- Similar words include: trench, recondite, bass
- Opposite of: shallow
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DEEP
Remember this word for future puzzles!
14D: "18. Like some humor and runs"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a reformer who opposes the use of intoxicating beverages
- Similar words include: dry out, prohibitionist, ironical
- Opposite of: sweet, phlegmy
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DRY
Remember this word for future puzzles!
15D: "20. "Oy ___!""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: VEY
Remember this word for future puzzles!
16D: "21. Grain storage structures"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a cylindrical tower used for storing silage
- Similar words include: silo
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SILOS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
17D: "22. Broadway star Menzel"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: IDINA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
18D: "23. Argue against"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that overthrow by argument, evidence, or proof
- Similar words include: controvert, refute
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: REBUT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
19D: "27. "Demon Slayer" or "Attack on Titan""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a hard copal derived from an african tree
- Similar words include: Zanzibar copal, gum anime
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ANIME
Remember this word for future puzzles!
20D: "28. Contents of plastic sleeves or jewel cases, informally"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a soft bluish-white ductile malleable toxic bivalent metallic element; occurs in association with zinc ores
- Similar words include: candela, atomic number 48, standard candle
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CDS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
21D: "29. "lol""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HAHA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
22D: "31. "Love it!""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a city in southeastern france on the mediterranean; the leading resort on the french riviera
- Similar words include: dainty, gracious, overnice
- Opposite of: nasty
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NICE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
23D: "33. They might be thatched"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a protective covering that covers or forms the top of a building
- Similar words include: ceiling, cap, roof
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ROOFS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
24D: "34. Pioneer in arcade games"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ATARI
Remember this word for future puzzles!
25D: "35. Devoured"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that take in solid food
- Similar words include: wipe out, feed, consume
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EATEN
Remember this word for future puzzles!
26D: "38. "This means ___!""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the waging of armed conflict against an enemy
- Similar words include: state of war, warfare
- Opposite of: peace, make peace
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: WAR
Remember this word for future puzzles!
27D: "39. Cry in response to a doorbell"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ILLGETIT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
28D: "41. Feature of "rendezvous" and "laissez-faire""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SILENTZ
Remember this word for future puzzles!
29D: "43. Celebratory hoopla"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a gaudy outward display
- Similar words include: ostentation, flash, flourish
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FANFARE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
30D: "44. Start liking"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TAKETO
Remember this word for future puzzles!
31D: "45. Broadband connection type, in brief"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a generic name for digital lines that are provided by telephone companies to their local subscribers and that carry data at high speeds
- Similar words include: digital subscriber line
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DSL
Remember this word for future puzzles!
32D: "47. Government agcy. founded to enforce antitrust laws"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an independent agency of the united states federal government that maintains fair and free competition; enforces federal antitrust laws; educates the public about identity theft
- Similar words include: Federal Trade Commission
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FTC
Remember this word for future puzzles!
33D: "48. "I see""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OHOK
Remember this word for future puzzles!
34D: "49. Formally yielded"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that give over; surrender or relinquish to the physical control of another
- Similar words include: concede, yield, grant
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CEDED
Remember this word for future puzzles!
35D: "51. Pig's cry"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the short low gruff noise of the kind made by hogs
- Similar words include: grunt, squeal
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OINK
Remember this word for future puzzles!
36D: "53. Ivy League school in New Haven"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a university in connecticut
- Similar words include: Yale University, Elihu Yale
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: YALE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
37D: "54. Sign of things to come"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a sign of something about to happen
- Similar words include: Muscat and Oman, Sultanate of Oman, portent
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OMEN
Remember this word for future puzzles!
38D: "55. ___ up (come clean)"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that (heraldry) an ordinary consisting of a broad horizontal band across a shield
- Similar words include: fesse, Fez, Fes
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FESS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
39D: "58. "... or thereabouts""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ISH
Remember this word for future puzzles!
40D: "59. Nail polish brand"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OPI
Remember this word for future puzzles!
41D: "60. It has M.S.G. in it"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NYC
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
31 Across Clues
41 Down Clues
72 Total Clues
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