Search Clues
Showing posts sorted by date for query single. Sort by relevance Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by date for query single. Sort by relevance Show all posts

Wednesday, October 21, 2026

Trivia Week 3 Manual for NYT Mini October 21, 2026

Trivia Week 3 October 21, 2026 NYT Mini Crossword Hints

Here's today's NYT Mini — 20 clues in total, and we've got hints plus answers for every one of them.

Popular Puzzles: March 12 2021 NYT Clues Solutions | November 25 2020 NYT Clues Solutions | March 27 2021 NYT Clues Solutions |

About Today's Puzzle

NYT Mini Crossword solutions for October 21, 2026
NYT Mini Crossword Grid - Wednesday, October 21, 2026
Puzzle Statistics
Detail Information
Date October 21, 2026
Grid Size 5 x 5 squares
Total Clues 20 clues
Across Clues 10 clues
Down Clues 10 clues
Average Solve Time Under 1 minute

Today's Trivia Week 3 NYT Mini Crossword Grid Layout

Today's layout is the usual 5x5: five columns, five rows.

5x5 Crossword Grid Pattern
Column 1 Column 2 Column 3 Column 4 Column 5
Row 1          
Row 2          
Row 3          
Row 4          
Row 5          

How to Solve This One Fast

  1. Read through all the clues before filling in a single square.
  2. Start with anything three letters or shorter.
  3. Crossing letters are your best friend for the trickier answers.
  4. Question mark clues (?) almost always mean wordplay, not a literal answer.
  5. Watch for the usual suspects: THE, AND, ARE, FOR, NOT.

Quick Facts

  • Total squares: 25 (5 × 5)
  • Typical solve time: well under a minute for most regulars
  • Good time to play: on a coffee break
  • Difficulty: built to be approachable

Across Clues - 10 Total

These run left to right across the grid.

Across Clues List
Number Clue
1 Across 62. Figures in some rumored landings, for short
2 Across 38. Nutrition sources
3 Across 61. Stephen King's telekinetic teen of horror
4 Across 48. "A Nightmare on ___ Street"
5 Across 37. Great sorrow
6 Across 14. Not well known
7 Across 63. Short Instagram posting
8 Across 42. Wood shop: A
9 Across 64. Difficult, as a problem
10 Across 56. History: A+

Hints and Answers for Across Clues

Stuck on one? Hints and answers for each clue are below. A few other guides worth a look:

1 Across: "62. Figures in some rumored landings, for short"

Hints:

  • This is more of an abbreviation than a regular word.
  • This one runs 3 letters long.
  • Starts with 'E', ends with 'S'.

Answer:

Click to reveal ETS

2 Across: "38. Nutrition sources"

Hints:

  • Kicks off with 'D' and wraps up with 'S'.
  • Close enough in meaning: diet.
  • Count on 5 letters here.

Answer:

Click to reveal DIETS

3 Across: "61. Stephen King's telekinetic teen of horror"

Hints:

  • It's a 6-letter word.
  • Starts with 'C', ends with 'E'.

Answer:

Click to reveal CARRIE

4 Across: "48. "A Nightmare on ___ Street""

Hints:

  • 'elmwood' points in the same direction.
  • Short form / acronym territory here.
  • First letter's a 'E', last letter's a 'M'.

Answer:

Click to reveal ELM

5 Across: "37. Great sorrow"

Hints:

  • Starts with 'W', ends with 'E'.
  • You're looking for 3 letters.
  • This is more of an abbreviation than a regular word.

Answer:

Click to reveal WOE

6 Across: "14. Not well known"

Hints:

  • First letter's a 'A', last letter's a 'E'.
  • You're looking for 6 letters.
  • Basically, requiring secret or mysterious knowledge.

Answer:

Click to reveal ARCANE

7 Across: "63. Short Instagram posting"

Hints:

  • Short form / acronym territory here.
  • Close enough in meaning: lurch.
  • It's a 4-letter word.

Answer:

Click to reveal REEL

8 Across: "42. Wood shop: A"

Hints:

  • If that helps, the shape is: B___________R
  • Count on 13 letters here.
  • Kicks off with 'B' and wraps up with 'R'.

Answer:

Click to reveal BUILDINGSUPER

9 Across: "64. Difficult, as a problem"

Hints:

  • Close enough in meaning: knobbed.
  • First letter's a 'K', last letter's a 'Y'.
  • It's a 6-letter word.

Answer:

Click to reveal KNOTTY

10 Across: "56. History: A+"

Hints:

  • It's a 11-letter word.
  • Pattern-wise it looks like: P_________T
  • Kicks off with 'P' and wraps up with 'T'.

Answer:

Click to reveal PASTPERFECT

Down Clues - 10 Total

These run top to bottom in the grid.

Down Clues List
Number Clue
1 Down 38. Fabulous, in slang
2 Down 11. First and last, say
3 Down 12. "That checks out"
4 Down 58. Tried for office
5 Down 4. Fifth Avenue retailer
6 Down 35. One that's hard to crack
7 Down 29. Birds with a Baltimore species
8 Down 18. Sly look, say
9 Down 57. Blvd. crosser
10 Down 49. Allowed

Hints and Answers for Down Clues

Same deal here — hints then answers. You might also like:

1 Down: "38. Fabulous, in slang"

Hints:

  • Close enough in meaning: cola.
  • Kicks off with 'D' and wraps up with 'E'.
  • Short form / acronym territory here.

Answer:

Click to reveal DOPE

2 Down: "11. First and last, say"

Hints:

  • Starts with 'F', ends with 'E'.
  • Count on 8 letters here.

Answer:

Click to reveal FULLNAME

3 Down: "12. "That checks out""

Hints:

  • You're looking for 8 letters.
  • Pattern-wise it looks like: I______T
  • Starts with 'I', ends with 'T'.

Answer:

Click to reveal ITSLEGIT

4 Down: "58. Tried for office"

Hints:

  • 'incline' points in the same direction.
  • Think of it this way — move fast by using one's feet.
  • Short form / acronym territory here.

Answer:

Click to reveal RAN

5 Down: "4. Fifth Avenue retailer"

Hints:

  • First letter's a 'S', last letter's a 'S'.
  • Count on 4 letters here.
  • Short form / acronym territory here.

Answer:

Click to reveal SAKS

6 Down: "35. One that's hard to crack"

Hints:

  • You're looking for 8 letters.
  • Kicks off with 'T' and wraps up with 'T'.
  • If that helps, the shape is: T______T

Answer:

Click to reveal TOUGHNUT

7 Down: "29. Birds with a Baltimore species"

Hints:

  • You could also think of it as "oriole."
  • Kicks off with 'O' and wraps up with 'S'.
  • Count on 7 letters here.

Answer:

Click to reveal ORIOLES

8 Down: "18. Sly look, say"

Hints:

  • This is more of an abbreviation than a regular word.
  • Pattern-wise it looks like: G__N
  • 'smile' points in the same direction.

Answer:

Click to reveal GRIN

9 Down: "57. Blvd. crosser"

Hints:

  • This is more of an abbreviation than a regular word.
  • Kicks off with 'A' and wraps up with 'E'.
  • You're looking for 3 letters.

Answer:

Click to reveal AVE

10 Down: "49. Allowed"

Hints:

  • Kicks off with 'L' and wraps up with 'T'.
  • Close enough in meaning: lawful.
  • Count on 5 letters here.

Answer:

Click to reveal LICIT

How to Solve the NYT Mini Crossword Faster

Here's what tends to work if you solve these regularly:

Step-by-Step Strategy

  1. Scan before you solve: One quick read-through of all the clues before you commit to anything usually pays off.
  2. Short words first: The 2-3 letter answers are almost always the low-hanging fruit.
  3. Let crossings guide you: Harder answers get much easier once a couple of crossing letters are locked in.
  4. Puns hide behind question marks: If a clue ends in "?", expect wordplay, not a straight answer.
  5. A few words repeat a lot: ERA, ORE, ATE, ICE show up more than you'd expect — keep them in mind.

Letter Tips That Really Help

  • E is the most common letter in English, so it's worth guessing early.
  • Words ending in S are usually plurals.
  • Blanks ("___") in a clue mean the answer fits exactly into those spaces.
  • An abbreviation in the clue is a signal the answer's abbreviated too.

Time Goals to Aim For

Your Time Skill Level What It Means
Under 30 seconds Expert You've clearly got the puzzle's patterns down.
30-60 seconds Advanced Solid pace — you're solving quickly.
1-2 minutes Good Right where most regular solvers land.
Over 2 minutes Learning Totally fine — speed comes with reps.

Puzzle Numbers and Facts

Today's Puzzle by the Numbers
Total Clues: 20
Grid Size: 5 boxes across, 5 boxes down
Total Squares: 25
Average Time: 1 minute 3 seconds
Difficulty: Easy

More Puzzle Help

If today's Mini hit the spot, here are a few more you might enjoy:

Common Questions About Trivia Week 3

When does the Trivia Week 3 Mini go live?

Typically drops the evening before, around 10 PM ET.

How long should Trivia Week 3 take me?

Anywhere from 30 seconds to a couple of minutes is typical. Don't stress if you're on the slower end at first.

Is Trivia Week 3 free to play?

It's free to play, unlike the main NYT Crossword which sits behind a paywall.

What actually makes someone good at Trivia Week 3?

Knowing the common short words, spotting wordplay quickly, and reading crossing letters well — that combination gets you most of the way there.

Does Trivia Week 3 get harder as the week goes on?

It varies day to day — Saturdays tend to be the toughest, Mondays the easiest.

About This Page: We put together hints and answers for the NYT Mini to help you learn the ropes and get faster over time. This site isn't affiliated with The New York Times.

Last Updated: October 21, 2026 at 08:44 AM

Search terms: NYT Mini Trivia Week, Trivia Week {week_num}, Mini crossword Trivia Week, Trivia Week answers, NYT Trivia Week, October 21 2026 mini crossword

on No comments:

Saturday, October 17, 2026

Complete Solutions for NYT Mini Trivia Week 3 October 17, 2026

Trivia Week 3 NYT Mini October 17, 2026 Solutions & Guide

20 clues today. If you're stuck on any of them, scroll down — hints first, answers hidden underneath.

Popular Puzzles: February 02 2021 NYT Clues Solutions | Sundays NYT Mini Dec 21 All 10 Across | December 01 2020 NYT Clues Solutions |

About Today's Puzzle

NYT Mini Crossword solutions for October 17, 2026
NYT Mini Crossword Grid - Saturday, October 17, 2026
Puzzle Statistics
Detail Information
Date October 17, 2026
Grid Size 5 x 5 squares
Total Clues 20 clues
Across Clues 10 clues
Down Clues 10 clues
Average Solve Time Under 1 minute

Today's Trivia Week 3 NYT Mini Crossword Grid Layout

Standard Mini size again: 5 across, 5 down.

5x5 Crossword Grid Pattern
Column 1 Column 2 Column 3 Column 4 Column 5
Row 1          
Row 2          
Row 3          
Row 4          
Row 5          

How to Solve This One Fast

  1. Read through all the clues before filling in a single square.
  2. Start with anything three letters or shorter.
  3. Crossing letters are your best friend for the trickier answers.
  4. Question mark clues (?) almost always mean wordplay, not a literal answer.
  5. Watch for the usual suspects: THE, AND, ARE, FOR, NOT.

Quick Facts

  • Total squares: 25 (5 × 5)
  • Typical solve time: well under a minute for most regulars
  • Good time to play: on a coffee break
  • Difficulty: built to be approachable

Across Clues - 10 Total

These run left to right across the grid.

Across Clues List
Number Clue
1 Across 37. Give credit to
2 Across 42. It's meant to be believed
3 Across 43. Rich
4 Across 34. "One ___" (Elizabeth Bishop poem that repeats the line "The ___ of losing isn't hard to master")
5 Across 31. Party leader?
6 Across 21. Silicon Valley V.I.P.
7 Across 50. ___ bowl
8 Across 54. ___ mess (British dessert)
9 Across 55. Traditional Passover dish
10 Across 19. Mothers in cotes

Hints and Answers for Across Clues

Stuck on one? Hints and answers for each clue are below. A few other guides worth a look:

1 Across: "37. Give credit to"

Hints:

  • This one runs 4 letters long.
  • This is more of an abbreviation than a regular word.
  • Kicks off with 'C' and wraps up with 'E'.

Answer:

Click to reveal CITE

2 Across: "42. It's meant to be believed"

Hints:

  • Starts with 'I', ends with 'M'.
  • Short form / acronym territory here.
  • Count on 3 letters here.

Answer:

Click to reveal ISM

3 Across: "43. Rich"

Hints:

  • You could also think of it as "monied."
  • If that helps, the shape is: M_____D
  • It's a 7-letter word.

Answer:

Click to reveal MONEYED

4 Across: "34. "One ___" (Elizabeth Bishop poem that repeats the line "The ___ of losing isn't hard to master")"

Hints:

  • Short form / acronym territory here.
  • It's a 3-letter word.
  • Starts with 'A', ends with 'T'.

Answer:

Click to reveal ART

5 Across: "31. Party leader?"

Hints:

  • First letter's a 'H', last letter's a 'T'.
  • This is more of an abbreviation than a regular word.
  • Count on 4 letters here.

Answer:

Click to reveal HOST

6 Across: "21. Silicon Valley V.I.P."

Hints:

  • Kicks off with 'T' and wraps up with 'O'.
  • It's a 7-letter word.

Answer:

Click to reveal TECHCEO

7 Across: "50. ___ bowl"

Hints:

  • Starts with 'A', ends with 'I'.
  • Short form / acronym territory here.
  • You're looking for 4 letters.

Answer:

Click to reveal ACAI

8 Across: "54. ___ mess (British dessert)"

Hints:

  • Starts with 'E', ends with 'N'.
  • Short form / acronym territory here.
  • This one runs 4 letters long.

Answer:

Click to reveal ETON

9 Across: "55. Traditional Passover dish"

Hints:

  • Pattern-wise it looks like: S________E
  • Starts with 'S', ends with 'E'.
  • You're looking for 10 letters.

Answer:

Click to reveal SEDERPLATE

10 Across: "19. Mothers in cotes"

Hints:

  • You're looking for 4 letters.
  • Starts with 'E', ends with 'S'.
  • Blank it out and you get: E__S

Answer:

Click to reveal EWES

Down Clues - 10 Total

These run top to bottom in the grid.

Down Clues List
Number Clue
1 Down 47. Material theorized as a possible cause of ancient Rome's decline, given its widespread use
2 Down 26. Plant parts that develop as a seedling grows
3 Down 14. Just gets (by)
4 Down 2. Line of passengers?
5 Down 35. Relative of turquoise
6 Down 1. Academy figure
7 Down 12. Tunnel (into)
8 Down 40. Like the herbs on a 55-Across
9 Down 31. Poison classification
10 Down 9. Like someone performing a monologue, maybe

Hints and Answers for Down Clues

Same deal here — hints then answers. You might also like:

1 Down: "47. Material theorized as a possible cause of ancient Rome's decline, given its widespread use"

Hints:

  • If that helps, the shape is: L__D
  • In plain terms: an advantage held by a competitor in a race.
  • Short form / acronym territory here.

Answer:

Click to reveal LEAD

2 Down: "26. Plant parts that develop as a seedling grows"

Hints:

  • Starts with 'T', ends with 'S'.
  • It's a 10-letter word.

Answer:

Click to reveal TRUELEAVES

3 Down: "14. Just gets (by)"

Hints:

  • If that helps, the shape is: E__S
  • Short form / acronym territory here.
  • Count on 4 letters here.

Answer:

Click to reveal EKES

4 Down: "2. Line of passengers?"

Hints:

  • Count on 10 letters here.
  • First letter's a 'A', last letter's a 'E'.
  • Blank it out and you get: A________E

Answer:

Click to reveal AREWETHERE

5 Down: "35. Relative of turquoise"

Hints:

  • Short form / acronym territory here.
  • It's a 4-letter word.
  • Pattern-wise it looks like: C__N

Answer:

Click to reveal CYAN

6 Down: "1. Academy figure"

Hints:

  • You could also think of it as "plebe."
  • Think of it this way — a military trainee (as at a military academy).
  • Kicks off with 'C' and wraps up with 'T'.

Answer:

Click to reveal CADET

7 Down: "12. Tunnel (into)"

Hints:

  • Pattern-wise it looks like: B__E
  • Basically, a person who evokes boredom.
  • Count on 4 letters here.

Answer:

Click to reveal BORE

8 Down: "40. Like the herbs on a 55-Across"

Hints:

  • You could also think of it as "acrid."
  • First letter's a 'B', last letter's a 'R'.
  • This one runs 6 letters long.

Answer:

Click to reveal BITTER

9 Down: "31. Poison classification"

Hints:

  • If that helps, the shape is: H_______L
  • You're looking for 9 letters.
  • Starts with 'H', ends with 'L'.

Answer:

Click to reveal HAIRMETAL

10 Down: "9. Like someone performing a monologue, maybe"

Hints:

  • Blank it out and you get: S_____T
  • Starts with 'S', ends with 'T'.
  • It's a 7-letter word.

Answer:

Click to reveal SPOTLIT

How to Solve the NYT Mini Crossword Faster

A few things that actually help once you've been doing these a while:

Step-by-Step Strategy

  1. Read it all first: Go through every clue once before writing anything down — it primes your brain even on the ones you skip.
  2. Grab the short ones: Two and three letter answers (things like "IT" or "ON") are usually the easiest place to start.
  3. Use the crossings: Once a couple of words are in, the crossing letters do a lot of the work for you on the harder ones.
  4. Watch for question marks: A "?" at the end of a clue almost always signals a pun rather than a literal answer.
  5. Keep the regulars in mind: ERA, ORE, ATE, ICE — these turn up often enough that it's worth remembering them.

Letter Tips That Really Help

  • E is the most common letter in English, so it's worth guessing early.
  • Words ending in S are usually plurals.
  • Blanks ("___") in a clue mean the answer fits exactly into those spaces.
  • An abbreviation in the clue is a signal the answer's abbreviated too.

Time Goals to Aim For

Your Time Skill Level What It Means
Under 30 seconds Expert You've clearly got the puzzle's patterns down.
30-60 seconds Advanced Solid pace — you're solving quickly.
1-2 minutes Good Right where most regular solvers land.
Over 2 minutes Learning Totally fine — speed comes with reps.

Puzzle Numbers and Facts

Today's Puzzle by the Numbers
Total Clues: 20
Grid Size: 5 boxes across, 5 boxes down
Total Squares: 25
Average Time: 45 seconds
Difficulty: Easy

More Puzzle Help

If today's Mini hit the spot, here are a few more you might enjoy:

Common Questions About Trivia Week 3

When does the Trivia Week 3 Mini go live?

Typically drops the evening before, around 10 PM ET.

How long should Trivia Week 3 take me?

Most people land somewhere between 30 seconds and 2 minutes. Slower than that is completely normal too — it gets faster with practice.

Is Trivia Week 3 free to play?

It's free to play, unlike the main NYT Crossword which sits behind a paywall.

What actually makes someone good at Trivia Week 3?

Knowing the common short words, spotting wordplay quickly, and reading crossing letters well — that combination gets you most of the way there.

Does Trivia Week 3 get harder as the week goes on?

Difficulty shifts through the week; expect Monday to be gentle and Saturday to bite a bit more.

About This Page: We put together hints and answers for the NYT Mini to help you learn the ropes and get faster over time. This site isn't affiliated with The New York Times.

Last Updated: October 17, 2026 at 07:56 AM

Search terms: NYT Mini Trivia Week, Trivia Week {week_num}, Mini crossword Trivia Week, Trivia Week answers, NYT Trivia Week, October 17 2026 mini crossword

on No comments:

Friday, October 16, 2026

XWordHint Crossword Answers October 16, 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

October 16, 2026 NYT Crossword Solutions

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. Word with strip or skirt 5
2A 6. Conniption 3
3A 9. Cuban poet/philosopher José 5
4A 14. 2000 hit song with the lyric "But to lose all my senses / That is just so typically me" 15
5A 17. Mail-centric fiction? 15
6A 18. Virginia is in it, in brief 3
7A 19. "Hah!" 7
8A 20. "___ had it!" 3
9A 21. Former home of Mr. and Mrs. Met 4
10A 23. "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" spinoff 5
11A 24. Riot 4
12A 25. Spiller of tea 5
13A 27. Smelling things? 5
14A 28. Date night viewing, often 13
15A 34. High concept? 9
16A 35. They explain what's in the cards 13
17A 39. Comic strip sound of impact 5
18A 40. Infant discomfort 5
19A 42. Battery-powered string instrument player 4
20A 43. Predicated 5
21A 48. It has its highs and lows 4
22A 49. Rocky openings? 3
23A 50. Burrowing animal whose name is made up of two other animals 7
24A 52. It may begin with a +1: Abbr. 3
25A 53. Idolizes 15
26A 56. Indiana Jones or Rocky Balboa, e.g. 15
27A 57. Losing causes? 5
28A 58. Yoga ___ 3
29A 59. The 22nd Amendment limits them 5

Across Clues - Strategic Hints

1A: "1. Word with strip or skirt"

5 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a slice of meat cut from the fleshy part of an animal or large fish
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: STEAK

Remember this word for future puzzles!

2A: "6. Conniption"

3 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a display of bad temper
  • Similar words include: meet, gibe, jibe
  • Opposite of: unfit, disagree
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FIT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

3A: "9. Cuban poet/philosopher José"

5 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that cuban poet and revolutionary who fought for cuban independence from spain (1853-1895)
  • Similar words include: Jose Julian Marti
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MARTI

Remember this word for future puzzles!

4A: "14. 2000 hit song with the lyric "But to lose all my senses / That is just so typically me""

15 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _______________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OOPSIDIDITAGAIN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

5A: "17. Mail-centric fiction?"

15 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _______________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EPISTOLARYNOVEL

Remember this word for future puzzles!

6A: "18. Virginia is in it, in brief"

3 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a command that is the primary provider of air combat weapon systems to the united states air force; operates fighter, bomber, reconnaissance, battle-management, and rescue aircraft
  • Similar words include: Air Combat Command
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ACC

Remember this word for future puzzles!

7A: "19. "Hah!""

7 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

8A: "20. "___ had it!""

3 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

9A: "21. Former home of Mr. and Mrs. Met"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

10A: "23. "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" spinoff"

5 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

11A: "24. Riot"

4 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a loud raucous cry (as of an owl)
  • Similar words include: boo, darn, razz
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HOOT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

12A: "25. Spiller of tea"

5 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that (yiddish) a vulgar shrew; a shallow coarse termagant
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: YENTA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

13A: "27. Smelling things?"

5 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a compound formed by replacing hydrogen in an acid by a metal (or a radical that acts like a metal)
  • Similar words include: common salt, salt, table salt
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SALTS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

14A: "28. Date night viewing, often"

13 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

15A: "34. High concept?"

9 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

16A: "35. They explain what's in the cards"

13 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

17A: "39. Comic strip sound of impact"

5 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

18A: "40. Infant discomfort"

5 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that acute abdominal pain (especially in infants)
  • Similar words include: intestinal colic, gripes, griping
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: COLIC

Remember this word for future puzzles!

19A: "42. Battery-powered string instrument player"

4 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

20A: "43. Predicated"

5 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that use as a basis for; found on
  • Similar words include: free-base, found, establish
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BASED

Remember this word for future puzzles!

21A: "48. It has its highs and lows"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the periodic rise and fall of the sea level under the gravitational pull of the moon
  • Similar words include: lunar time period, surge
  • Opposite of: ebb
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TIDE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

22A: "49. Rocky openings?"

3 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

23A: "50. Burrowing animal whose name is made up of two other animals"

7 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

24A: "52. It may begin with a +1: Abbr."

3 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

25A: "53. Idolizes"

15 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _______________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PUTSONAPEDESTAL

Remember this word for future puzzles!

26A: "56. Indiana Jones or Rocky Balboa, e.g."

15 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _______________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ALLAMERICANHERO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

27A: "57. Losing causes?"

5 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a prescribed selection of foods
  • Similar words include: dieting, diet
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DIETS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

28A: "58. Yoga ___"

3 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a thick flat pad used as a floor covering
  • Similar words include: snarl, lustrelessness, matting
  • Opposite of: unsnarl, disentangle
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MAT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

29A: "59. The 22nd Amendment limits them"

5 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that status with respect to the relations between people or groups
  • Similar words include: full term, price, damage
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TERMS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

Down Clues - Complete List

No. Clue Letters
1D 1. "Piece of cake!" 6
2D 2. Reality show whose contestants report to the Judge's Table 7
3D 3. Not gendered 7
4D 4. Dope 3
5D 5. Some emergency resources 4
6D 6. Serious dirt 5
7D 7. State whose official fruit is the huckleberry 5
8D 8. Done to death 5
9D 9. Flow down the neck 4
10D 10. Past word 3
11D 11. Hot pockets? 7
12D 12. 20-20, e.g. 7
13D 13. Small sounds 6
14D 15. One of 412 in the White House 4
15D 16. Supermodel Banks 4
16D 22. Took back one's words 7
17D 24. One struggling to make ends meet 7
18D 26. Grant 5
19D 27. Foe of Dr. Eggman, in video games 5
20D 29. Procured 3
21D 30. "___ Share of Night" (acclaimed 2019 Mariana Enríquez book) 3
22D 31. Complimentary lines 3
23D 32. Tool for tracing family trees 3
24D 33. Prefix with the name of any month 3
25D 35. Mideast salad, in one spelling 7
26D 36. Simon the Zealot, e.g. 7
27D 37. Sparkly bits in a school art project 7
28D 38. Like some deliveries 7
29D 39. Holder of all the digits, from 1 to 0 6
30D 41. Stage-left orchestra section 6
31D 43. Coccyx or phalange, e.g. 4
32D 44. Unwelcome sound during a dream 5
33D 45. Brown tint 5
34D 46. Construct 5
35D 47. Art movement proclaimed in a 1916 manifesto 4
36D 50. May honorees 4
37D 51. Outdoor item with flaps 4
38D 54. Took a load off 3
39D 55. 2011 platinum single by Tyler, the Creator 3

Down Clues - Strategic Hints

1D: "1. "Piece of cake!""

6 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

2D: "2. Reality show whose contestants report to the Judge's Table"

7 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

3D: "3. Not gendered"

7 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that one having both male and female sexual characteristics and organs; at birth an unambiguous assignment of male or female cannot be made
  • Similar words include: bisexual, sissy, epicene person
  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EPICENE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

4D: "4. Dope"

3 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the fleshy part of the human body that you sit on
  • Similar words include: can, screw, behind
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ASS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

5D: "5. Some emergency resources"

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a case for containing a set of articles
  • Similar words include: outfit, kit up, kit
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: KITS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

6D: "6. Serious dirt"

5 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that any substance considered disgustingly foul or unpleasant
  • Similar words include: soil, dirt, dirty word
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FILTH

Remember this word for future puzzles!

7D: "7. State whose official fruit is the huckleberry"

5 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a state in the rocky mountains
  • Similar words include: ID, Gem State
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: IDAHO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

8D: "8. Done to death"

5 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that lose interest or become bored with something or somebody
  • Similar words include: well-worn, exhaust, outwear
  • Opposite of: interest, refresh
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TIRED

Remember this word for future puzzles!

9D: "9. Flow down the neck"

4 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that long coarse hair growing from the crest of the animal's neck
  • Similar words include: head of hair
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MANE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

10D: "10. Past word"

3 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that gone by; or in the past
  • Similar words include: agone
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AGO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

11D: "11. Hot pockets?"

7 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that small circular or square cases of dough with savory fillings
  • Similar words include: cappelletti
  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RAVIOLI

Remember this word for future puzzles!

12D: "12. 20-20, e.g."

7 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

13D: "13. Small sounds"

6 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an arm off of a larger body of water (often between rocky headlands)
  • Similar words include: intake, recess, inlet
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: INLETS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

14D: "15. One of 412 in the White House"

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
  • Similar words include: doorway, room access, threshold
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DOOR

Remember this word for future puzzles!

15D: "16. Supermodel Banks"

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

16D: "22. Took back one's words"

7 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

17D: "24. One struggling to make ends meet"

7 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

18D: "26. Grant"

5 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that make it possible through a specific action or lack of action for something to happen
  • Similar words include: earmark, let, set aside
  • Opposite of: forbid, prevent
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ALLOW

Remember this word for future puzzles!

19D: "27. Foe of Dr. Eggman, in video games"

5 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that (of speed) having or caused by speed approximately equal to that of sound in air at sea level
  • Similar words include: transonic
  • Opposite of: subsonic
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SONIC

Remember this word for future puzzles!

20D: "29. Procured"

3 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
  • Similar words include: flummox, drive, aim
  • Opposite of: leave, take away
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GOT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

21D: "30. "___ Share of Night" (acclaimed 2019 Mariana Enríquez book)"

3 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

22D: "31. Complimentary lines"

3 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a lyric poem with complex stanza forms
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ODE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

23D: "32. Tool for tracing family trees"

3 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that (biochemistry) a long linear polymer found in the nucleus of a cell and formed from nucleotides and shaped like a double helix; associated with the transmission of genetic information
  • Similar words include: deoxyribonucleic acid, desoxyribonucleic acid
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DNA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

24D: "33. Prefix with the name of any month"

3 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that used in combination to denote the middle
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MID

Remember this word for future puzzles!

25D: "35. Mideast salad, in one spelling"

7 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

26D: "36. Simon the Zealot, e.g."

7 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an ardent early supporter of a cause or reform
  • Similar words include: Apostelic Father
  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: APOSTLE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

27D: "37. Sparkly bits in a school art project"

7 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the quality of shining with a bright reflected light
  • Similar words include: coruscation, scintillation, glisten
  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GLITTER

Remember this word for future puzzles!

28D: "38. Like some deliveries"

7 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that (of pitches) made with the arm moving parallel to the ground
  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SIDEARM

Remember this word for future puzzles!

29D: "39. Holder of all the digits, from 1 to 0"

6 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a keyboard that is a data input device for computers; arrangement of keys is modelled after the typewriter keyboard
  • Similar words include: computer keyboard
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: KEYPAD

Remember this word for future puzzles!

30D: "41. Stage-left orchestra section"

6 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a large stringed instrument; seated player holds it upright while playing
  • Similar words include: violoncello, cello
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CELLOS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

31D: "43. Coccyx or phalange, e.g."

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that rigid connective tissue that makes up the skeleton of vertebrates
  • Similar words include: swot, swot up, ivory
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BONE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

32D: "44. Unwelcome sound during a dream"

5 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that fear resulting from the awareness of danger
  • Similar words include: warning device, appal, appall
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ALARM

Remember this word for future puzzles!

33D: "45. Brown tint"

5 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a shade of brown with a tinge of red
  • Similar words include: mahogany, genus Sepia, Venetian red
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SEPIA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

34D: "46. Construct"

5 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that construct, build, or erect
  • Similar words include: set up, raise, vertical
  • Opposite of: unerect, level
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ERECT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

35D: "47. Art movement proclaimed in a 1916 manifesto"

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an informal term for a father; probably derived from baby talk
  • Similar words include: pa, pop, daddy
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DADA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

36D: "50. May honorees"

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that informal terms for a mother
  • Similar words include: mommy, mammy, mummy
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MOMS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

37D: "51. Outdoor item with flaps"

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a portable shelter (usually of canvas stretched over supporting poles and fastened to the ground with ropes and pegs)
  • Similar words include: collapsible shelter, bivouac, encamp
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TENT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

38D: "54. Took a load off"

3 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

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: posture, sit, Saturday
  • Opposite of: arise, stand
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SAT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

39D: "55. 2011 platinum single by Tyler, the Creator"

3 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

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

29 Across Clues
39 Down Clues
68 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: October 16, 2026 at 08:20 AM

on No comments:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)