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Monday, June 8, 2026

XWordHint Crossword Answers June 08, 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: Moderate

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. Deer sir? 4
2A 5. Free trial version 4
3A 9. Caspian or Mediterranean 3
4A 12. Designer ___ Boss 4
5A 13. Typographical embellishment 5
6A 14. Go across 4
7A 15. "Su-u-ure" 4
8A 16. Something green in a greenhouse 5
9A 17. Half ___ (when the minute hand points down) 4
10A 18. Popular board game adapted from India [1] 9
11A 20. They quickly spread online 5
12A 21. "Soldier, stop!" 4
13A 22. Page (through) 4
14A 23. Challenge for student drivers [2] 15
15A 30. Metals in mines 4
16A 31. Actor Stonestreet of "Modern Family" 4
17A 32. Apt zodiac sign for Bert Lahr, who played the Cowardly Lion 3
18A 33. Vitality 3
19A 34. Scoundrel's deeds 7
20A 37. A pair 3
21A 38. Card game whose name is something players cry 3
22A 39. Assistant 4
23A 40. Anthropologist Margaret 4
24A 41. Never stop having fun [3] 15
25A 46. "___ the night before Christmas ..." 4
26A 47. Word repeated in "___ ye, ___ ye!" 4
27A 48. Cube maker Erno 5
28A 50. Of the highest importance ... or, when parsed differently, what each bracketed number in the clues indicates? 9
29A 55. World's largest country with a four-letter name 4
30A 56. Underpinning 5
31A 57. Home of Columbus 4
32A 58. A single time 4
33A 59. Up in the air 5
34A 60. Zero 4
35A 61. "What a shame!" 3
36A 62. Test the weight of 4
37A 63. Backyard storage space 4

Across Clues - Strategic Hints

1A: "1. Deer sir?"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a male deer, especially an adult male red deer
  • Similar words include: hart, betray, grass
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: STAG

Remember this word for future puzzles!

2A: "5. Free trial version"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a visual presentation showing how something works
  • Similar words include: exhibit, demonstration, demonstrate
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DEMO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

3A: "9. Caspian or Mediterranean"

3 letters Category: General Knowledge

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!

4A: "12. Designer ___ Boss"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that french poet and novelist and dramatist; leader of the romantic movement in france (1802-1885)
  • Similar words include: Victor Hugo, Victor-Marie Hugo
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HUGO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

5A: "13. Typographical embellishment"

5 letters Category: General Knowledge

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!

6A: "14. Go across"

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the complete duration of something
  • Similar words include: couple, sweep, cross
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SPAN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

7A: "15. "Su-u-ure""

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

8A: "16. Something green in a greenhouse"

5 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that buildings for carrying on industrial labor
  • Similar words include: engraft, implant, flora
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PLANT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

9A: "17. Half ___ (when the minute hand points down)"

4 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the time that has elapsed
  • Similar words include: by, past tense, preceding
  • Opposite of: present, future
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PAST

Remember this word for future puzzles!

10A: "18. Popular board game adapted from India [1]"

9 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a modern board game based on pachisi
  • Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PARCHEESI

Remember this word for future puzzles!

11A: "20. They quickly spread online"

5 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a cultural unit (an idea or value or pattern of behavior) that is passed from one person to another by non-genetic means (as by imitation)
  • Similar words include: meme
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MEMES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

12A: "21. "Soldier, stop!""

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the state of inactivity following an interruption
  • Similar words include: check, game, hold
  • Opposite of: start
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HALT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

13A: "22. Page (through)"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants
  • Similar words include: flick, foliage, folio
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LEAF

Remember this word for future puzzles!

14A: "23. Challenge for student drivers [2]"

15 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

15A: "30. Metals in mines"

4 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a mineral that contains metal that is valuable enough to be mined
  • Similar words include: ore
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ORES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

16A: "31. Actor Stonestreet of "Modern Family""

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

17A: "32. Apt zodiac sign for Bert Lahr, who played the Cowardly Lion"

3 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that (astrology) a person who is born while the sun is in leo
  • Similar words include: Lion, Leo the Lion
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LEO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

18A: "33. Vitality"

3 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that liveliness and energy
  • Similar words include: ginger, peppiness
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PEP

Remember this word for future puzzles!

19A: "34. Scoundrel's deeds"

7 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that lack of honesty; acts of lying or cheating or stealing
  • Similar words include: dishonesty
  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: KNAVERY

Remember this word for future puzzles!

20A: "37. A pair"

3 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
  • Similar words include: 2, deuce, ii
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TWO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

21A: "38. Card game whose name is something players cry"

3 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

22A: "39. Assistant"

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an officer who acts as military assistant to a more senior officer
  • Similar words include: auxiliary, adjutant, aide-de-camp
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AIDE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

23A: "40. Anthropologist Margaret"

4 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that united states anthropologist noted for her claims about adolescence and sexual behavior in polynesian cultures (1901-1978)
  • Similar words include: Margaret Mead, George Herbert Mead
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MEAD

Remember this word for future puzzles!

24A: "41. Never stop having fun [3]"

15 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

25A: "46. "___ the night before Christmas ...""

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

26A: "47. Word repeated in "___ ye, ___ ye!""

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
  • Similar words include: try, learn, listen
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HEAR

Remember this word for future puzzles!

27A: "48. Cube maker Erno"

5 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

28A: "50. Of the highest importance ... or, when parsed differently, what each bracketed number in the clues indicates?"

9 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that having superior power and influence
  • Similar words include: preponderant, predominate, preponderating
  • Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PARAMOUNT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

29A: "55. World's largest country with a four-letter name"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a theocratic islamic republic in the middle east in western asia; iran was the core of the ancient empire that was known as persia until 1935; rich in oil
  • Similar words include: Persia, Islamic Republic of Iran
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: IRAN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

30A: "56. Underpinning"

5 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a relation that provides the foundation for something
  • Similar words include: cornerstone, base, fundament
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BASIS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

31A: "57. Home of Columbus"

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a midwestern state in north central united states in the great lakes region
  • Similar words include: Buckeye State, Ohio River, OH
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OHIO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

32A: "58. A single time"

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that on one occasion
  • Similar words include: erstwhile, formerly, in one case
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ONCE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

33A: "59. Up in the air"

5 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that at or on or to the masthead or upper rigging of a ship
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ALOFT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

34A: "60. Zero"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a canonical hour that is the ninth hour of the day counting from sunrise
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NONE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

35A: "61. "What a shame!""

3 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that utter `tsk,' `tut,' or `tut-tut,' as in disapproval
  • Similar words include: tut, tut-tut
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TSK

Remember this word for future puzzles!

36A: "62. Test the weight of"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the property of being large in mass
  • Similar words include: heave up, ponderousness, heftiness
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HEFT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

37A: "63. Backyard storage space"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an outbuilding with a single story; used for shelter or storage
  • Similar words include: slough, throw off, cast
  • Opposite of: persistent
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SHED

Remember this word for future puzzles!

Down Clues - Complete List

No. Clue Letters
1D 1. Steamer or cruiser 4
2D 2. Oom-pah instrument 4
3D 3. Follower of New or teen 4
4D 4. Hidden snags 7
5D 5. Key to the right of "+" and "=" on a Mac keyboard 6
6D 6. What Taylor Swift calls the stages of her career 4
7D 7. 5x5-square crossword 4
8D 8. Frequently, in poetry 3
9D 9. Email winnower 10
10D 10. Effortlessness 4
11D 11. Tiny hill builders 4
12D 13. Characterize? 5
13D 14. Orate 5
14D 19. Nickname akin to Harry 3
15D 20. Compassion 5
16D 22. Den 4
17D 23. Short-term kind of store 5
18D 24. Sports locale 5
19D 25. Give a debriefing (to) 10
20D 26. Prime use for a crowbar 5
21D 27. Opposite of post- 3
22D 28. Starting to learn 5
23D 29. "Oh boy!" 5
24D 34. Watercraft for an Inuit 5
25D 35. Small bites 4
26D 36. Accessibility law inits. 3
27D 40. Leaves stranded 7
28D 42. Strong string 5
29D 43. What misers take to an extreme 6
30D 44. Bread maker's supply 5
31D 45. ___ Beesly, character who has the last line in the finale of "The Office" 3
32D 48. Civil uprising 4
33D 49. Caterer's containers 4
34D 50. Whitish 4
35D 51. Starting, timewise 4
36D 52. "This looks like trouble!" 4
37D 53. Number in a nonet 4
38D 54. Follower of pointy or pigeon 4
39D 56. Expression of contempt 3

Down Clues - Strategic Hints

1D: "1. Steamer or cruiser"

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a vessel that carries passengers or freight
  • Similar words include: embark, transport, send
  • Opposite of: disembark
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SHIP

Remember this word for future puzzles!

2D: "2. Oom-pah instrument"

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the lowest brass wind instrument
  • Similar words include: bass horn, sousaphone
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TUBA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

3D: "3. Follower of New or teen"

4 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

4D: "4. Hidden snags"

7 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

5D: "5. Key to the right of "+" and "=" on a Mac keyboard"

6 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that remove or make invisible
  • Similar words include: cancel, blue-pencil, edit
  • Opposite of: record
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DELETE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

6D: "6. What Taylor Swift calls the stages of her career"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

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, epoch, earned run average
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ERAS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

7D: "7. 5x5-square crossword"

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a very short skirt
  • Similar words include: miniskirt
  • Opposite of: midi
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MINI

Remember this word for future puzzles!

8D: "8. Frequently, in poetry"

3 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that many times at short intervals
  • Similar words include: frequently, ofttimes, often
  • Opposite of: infrequently, rarely
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OFT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

9D: "9. Email winnower"

10 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

10D: "10. Effortlessness"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that freedom from difficulty or hardship or effort
  • Similar words include: still, relieve, alleviate
  • Opposite of: difficulty
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EASE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

11D: "11. Tiny hill builders"

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that social insect living in organized colonies; characteristically the males and fertile queen have wings during breeding season; wingless sterile females are the workers
  • Similar words include: ant, pismire, emmet
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ANTS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

12D: "13. Characterize?"

5 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a psychological state induced by (or as if induced by) a magical incantation
  • Similar words include: turn, magical spell, spell out
  • Opposite of: unspell
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SPELL

Remember this word for future puzzles!

13D: "14. Orate"

5 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that express in speech
  • Similar words include: verbalize, address, mouth
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SPEAK

Remember this word for future puzzles!

14D: "19. Nickname akin to Harry"

3 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

15D: "20. Compassion"

5 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that leniency and compassion shown toward offenders by a person or agency charged with administering justice
  • Similar words include: mercifulness, clemency
  • Opposite of: mercilessness
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MERCY

Remember this word for future puzzles!

16D: "22. Den"

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the habitation of wild animals
  • Similar words include: den
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LAIR

Remember this word for future puzzles!

17D: "23. Short-term kind of store"

5 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

18D: "24. Sports locale"

5 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a particular environment or walk of life
  • Similar words include: stadium, orbit, sphere
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ARENA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

19D: "25. Give a debriefing (to)"

10 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

20D: "26. Prime use for a crowbar"

5 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a rigid bar pivoted about a fulcrum
  • Similar words include: prise, pry, jimmy
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LEVER

Remember this word for future puzzles!

21D: "27. Opposite of post-"

3 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

22D: "28. Starting to learn"

5 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

23D: "29. "Oh boy!""

5 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that something considered choice to eat
  • Similar words include: kickshaw, dainty, treat
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GOODY

Remember this word for future puzzles!

24D: "34. Watercraft for an Inuit"

5 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a small canoe consisting of a light frame made watertight with animal skins; used by eskimos
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: KAYAK

Remember this word for future puzzles!

25D: "35. Small bites"

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a small drink of liquor
  • Similar words include: squeeze, twinge, tanginess
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NIPS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

26D: "36. Accessibility law inits."

3 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an enzyme found in mammals that can catalyze the deamination of adenosine into inosine and ammonia
  • Similar words include: adenosine deaminase
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ADA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

27D: "40. Leaves stranded"

7 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a person who is stranded (as on an island)
  • Similar words include: strand, maroon
  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MAROONS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

28D: "42. Strong string"

5 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a lightweight cord
  • Similar words include: entwine, enlace, interlace
  • Opposite of: untwine, untwist
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TWINE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

29D: "43. What misers take to an extreme"

6 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that any of numerous sun-loving low-growing evergreens of the genus armeria having round heads of pink or white flowers
  • Similar words include: parsimony, parsimoniousness, penny-pinching
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: THRIFT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

30D: "44. Bread maker's supply"

5 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a commercial leavening agent containing yeast cells; used to raise the dough in making bread and for fermenting beer or whiskey
  • Similar words include: barm
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: YEAST

Remember this word for future puzzles!

31D: "45. ___ Beesly, character who has the last line in the finale of "The Office""

3 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

32D: "48. Civil uprising"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a public act of violence by an unruly mob
  • Similar words include: howler, debauchery, orgy
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RIOT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

33D: "49. Caterer's containers"

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a large vase that usually has a pedestal or feet
  • Similar words include: urn
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: URNS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

34D: "50. Whitish"

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a wooden strip forming part of a fence
  • Similar words include: picket, wan, pallid
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PALE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

35D: "51. Starting, timewise"

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

36D: "52. "This looks like trouble!""

4 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

37D: "53. Number in a nonet"

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the cardinal number that is the sum of eight and one
  • Similar words include: niner, club, IX
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NINE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

38D: "54. Follower of pointy or pigeon"

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that walk so that the toes assume an indicated position or direction
  • Similar words include: toe, toenail
  • Opposite of: toeless
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TOED

Remember this word for future puzzles!

39D: "56. Expression of contempt"

3 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

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

37 Across Clues
39 Down Clues
76 Total Clues

More NYT Crossword Help

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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: June 08, 2026 at 08:28 AM

Friday, May 22, 2026

XWordHint Crossword Answers May 22, 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: 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. Guns, so to speak 6
2A 7. Prefix with American 4
3A 11. Charcuterie spread 4
4A 15. Footnote phrase 6
5A 16. Sherwood, e.g. 9
6A 18. Qualifier to an embarrassing question 16
7A 20. Location for some osteoarthritis 4
8A 21. ___-Saint-Michel (French commune on a tidal island) 4
9A 22. Saps 5
10A 23. Sign of desperation 3
11A 24. Consider as one's residence 8
12A 27. Mrs. Addams, to Mr. Addams 4
13A 29. Val who played Iceman in "Top Gun" 6
14A 30. Guimarães greeting 3
15A 33. "Neato!" 6
16A 35. "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" character ___ Linetti 4
17A 36. Genre for Blackpink and Twice 4
18A 37. Counteract negativity using lavish generosity 16
19A 40. Former boy band with the members Harry, Liam, Louis, Niall and Zayn, familiarly 4
20A 41. Bit of marginalia 4
21A 42. Dealt with 6
22A 43. Weight plate units: Abbr. 3
23A 44. Place to get "pawmpered," say 6
24A 46. Case for military police 4
25A 47. Like the Millennium Problems of the Clay Mathematics Institute 8
26A 49. Suffix with peace but not war 3
27A 51. Philosopher William of ___ 5
28A 55. Product for manscaping 4
29A 56. Assuming that 4
30A 57. More sizzle than steak 16
31A 61. Infamous chess trap that ends the game in two moves 9
32A 62. Contents of a kitchen rack 6
33A 63. Bump on a lid 4
34A 64. Thin board 4
35A 65. What some streakers are charged with? 6

Across Clues - Strategic Hints

1A: "1. Guns, so to speak"

6 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that any skeletal muscle having two origins (but especially the muscle that flexes the forearm)
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BICEPS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

2A: "7. Prefix with American"

4 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

3A: "11. Charcuterie spread"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that soft creamy white cheese; milder than camembert
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BRIE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

4A: "15. Footnote phrase"

6 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

5A: "16. Sherwood, e.g."

9 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

6A: "18. Qualifier to an embarrassing question"

16 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ________________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ASKINGFORAFRIEND

Remember this word for future puzzles!

7A: "20. Location for some osteoarthritis"

4 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella
  • Similar words include: stifle, human knee, knee joint
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: KNEE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

8A: "21. ___-Saint-Michel (French commune on a tidal island)"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

9A: "22. Saps"

5 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a person who is not very bright
  • Similar words include: stupe, stupid person, pudding head
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DOLTS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

10A: "23. Sign of desperation"

3 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an internationally recognized distress signal in radio code
  • Similar words include: sol, so, soh
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SOS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

11A: "24. Consider as one's residence"

8 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

12A: "27. Mrs. Addams, to Mr. Addams"

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

13A: "29. Val who played Iceman in "Top Gun""

6 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

14A: "30. Guimarães greeting"

3 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that leaf or strip from a leaf of the talipot palm used in india for writing paper
  • Similar words include: olla
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OLA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

15A: "33. "Neato!""

6 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

16A: "35. "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" character ___ Linetti"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

17A: "36. Genre for Blackpink and Twice"

4 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

18A: "37. Counteract negativity using lavish generosity"

16 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ________________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: KILLWITHKINDNESS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

19A: "40. Former boy band with the members Harry, Liam, Louis, Niall and Zayn, familiarly"

4 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

20A: "41. Bit of marginalia"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a brief written record
  • Similar words include: short letter, notation, musical note
  • Opposite of: ignore
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NOTE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

21A: "42. Dealt with"

6 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

22A: "43. Weight plate units: Abbr."

3 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that one thousand grams; the basic unit of mass adopted under the systeme international d'unites
  • Similar words include: kilogram, kg, kilo
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: KGS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

23A: "44. Place to get "pawmpered," say"

6 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

24A: "46. Case for military police"

4 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that one who is away or absent without leave
  • Similar words include: truant
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AWOL

Remember this word for future puzzles!

25A: "47. Like the Millennium Problems of the Clay Mathematics Institute"

8 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Similar words include: unresolved
  • Opposite of: solved
  • Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: UNSOLVED

Remember this word for future puzzles!

26A: "49. Suffix with peace but not war"

3 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a family of languages of the fulani of west africa and used as a lingua franca in the sub-saharan regions from senegal to chad; the best known of the west african languages
  • Similar words include: Fulani, Peul, Fula
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FUL

Remember this word for future puzzles!

27A: "51. Philosopher William of ___"

5 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that english scholastic philosopher and assumed author of occam's razor (1285-1349)
  • Similar words include: Ockham, William of Occam, William of Ockham
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OCCAM

Remember this word for future puzzles!

28A: "55. Product for manscaping"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

29A: "56. Assuming that"

4 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

30A: "57. More sizzle than steak"

16 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ________________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ALLBARKANDNOBITE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

31A: "61. Infamous chess trap that ends the game in two moves"

9 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

32A: "62. Contents of a kitchen rack"

6 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that aromatic substances of vegetable origin used as a preservative
  • Similar words include: zest, spice up, spicery
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SPICES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

33A: "63. Bump on a lid"

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an infection of the sebaceous gland of the eyelid
  • Similar words include: eye infection, sty, hordeolum
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: STYE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

34A: "64. Thin board"

4 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a thin strip (wood or metal)
  • Similar words include: spline
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SLAT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

35A: "65. What some streakers are charged with?"

6 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

Down Clues - Complete List

No. Clue Letters
1D 1. Woodpeckers' peckers 5
2D 2. "Really, my pleasure" 10
3D 3. "Sticky" birthday treats? 10
4D 4. Tahari or Saab of fashion 4
5D 5. Blame (on) 3
6D 6. Symbol used in summation 5
7D 7. Classical piece said to be the inspiration for Chopin's "Fantaisie-Impromptu" 15
8D 8. Kepler-22b or Kepler-186f, e.g. 15
9D 9. Calypso cousin 3
10D 10. Flat, say 3
11D 11. Zest 4
12D 12. Highlight ___ 4
13D 13. ___ fussy (can be very flexible) 4
14D 14. Some airport data, in brief 4
15D 17. Carnivora or Lagomorpha 5
16D 19. Word with rock or medicine 4
17D 24. When doubled, a fluffy Chinese dog 4
18D 25. Hilton competitor 4
19D 26. Is 5
20D 28. Went (for) 4
21D 30. Workplace with few barriers 10
22D 31. Became tarnished 10
23D 32. Lhasa ___ 4
24D 33. "I heard you the first time! Geez!" 4
25D 34. Wrapping material in mummification 5
26D 36. Had no doubt 4
27D 38. Deep-fried side dish, familiarly 4
28D 39. Unexciting, as a party 4
29D 44. Catamounts 5
30D 45. Like some readers 4
31D 48. Young's partner in accounting 5
32D 50. Rich soil deposit 5
33D 51. Saps 4
34D 52. Stop the bleeding, say 4
35D 53. Sicken with sweetness 4
36D 54. Fit 4
37D 56. Sacred bird to the Egyptians 4
38D 58. Info on Zillow: Abbr. 3
39D 59. ___-El (Superman) 3
40D 60. Shout at a Greek wedding 3

Down Clues - Strategic Hints

1D: "1. Woodpeckers' peckers"

5 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that beaklike mouth of animals other than birds (e.g., turtles)
  • Similar words include: bill, neb, schnozzle
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BEAKS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

2D: "2. "Really, my pleasure""

10 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

3D: "3. "Sticky" birthday treats?"

10 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

4D: "4. Tahari or Saab of fashion"

4 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

5D: "5. Blame (on)"

3 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a piece of jewelry that is pinned onto the wearer's garment
  • Similar words include: tholepin, peg, bowling pin
  • Opposite of: unpin
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PIN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

6D: "6. Symbol used in summation"

5 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the 18th letter of the greek alphabet
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SIGMA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

7D: "7. Classical piece said to be the inspiration for Chopin's "Fantaisie-Impromptu""

15 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

8D: "8. Kepler-22b or Kepler-186f, e.g."

15 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

9D: "9. Calypso cousin"

3 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

10D: "10. Flat, say"

3 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that kill intentionally and with premeditation
  • Similar words include: polish off, murder, cancelled
  • Opposite of: on
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OFF

Remember this word for future puzzles!

11D: "11. Zest"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that quality of being active or spirited or alive and vigorous
  • Similar words include: vivification, spiritedness, invigoration
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BRIO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

12D: "12. Highlight ___"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a roll of photographic film holding a series of frames to be projected by a movie projector
  • Similar words include: stagger, bobbin, whirl
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: REEL

Remember this word for future puzzles!

13D: "13. ___ fussy (can be very flexible)"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

14D: "14. Some airport data, in brief"

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a system for screening luggage in airports; an agent passes a swab around or inside luggage and then runs the swab through a machine that can detect trace amounts of explosives
  • Similar words include: explosive trace detection, ETD
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ETDS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

15D: "17. Carnivora or Lagomorpha"

5 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that (often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
  • Similar words include: rules of order, prescribe, ordain
  • Opposite of: disorderliness, disorder
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ORDER

Remember this word for future puzzles!

16D: "19. Word with rock or medicine"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that people in general (often used in the plural)
  • Similar words include: common people, family line, sept
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FOLK

Remember this word for future puzzles!

17D: "24. When doubled, a fluffy Chinese dog"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the imperial dynasty of china from 1122 to 221 bc; notable for the rise of confucianism and taoism
  • Similar words include: eats, grub, Chow dynasty
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CHOW

Remember this word for future puzzles!

18D: "25. Hilton competitor"

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

19D: "26. Is"

5 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that how a result is obtained or an end is achieved
  • Similar words include: entail, think, substance
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MEANS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

20D: "28. Went (for)"

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that exchange or deliver for money or its equivalent
  • Similar words include: sell, trade, deal
  • Opposite of: buy, unsold
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SOLD

Remember this word for future puzzles!

21D: "30. Workplace with few barriers"

10 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

22D: "31. Became tarnished"

10 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

23D: "32. Lhasa ___"

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

24D: "33. "I heard you the first time! Geez!""

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

25D: "34. Wrapping material in mummification"

5 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a fabric woven with fibers from the flax plant
  • Similar words include: linen paper
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LINEN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

26D: "36. Had no doubt"

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
  • Similar words include: know, do it, roll in the hay
  • Opposite of: ignore
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: KNEW

Remember this word for future puzzles!

27D: "38. Deep-fried side dish, familiarly"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a small amount (especially of a drink)
  • Similar words include: tot, yearling, bambino
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TOTS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

28D: "39. Unexciting, as a party"

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that people who are no longer living
  • Similar words include: short, bushed, all in
  • Opposite of: alive, living
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DEAD

Remember this word for future puzzles!

29D: "44. Catamounts"

5 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that large american feline resembling a lion
  • Similar words include: mountain lion, Felis concolor, catamount
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PUMAS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

30D: "45. Like some readers"

4 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that (often followed by `for') ardently or excessively desirous
  • Similar words include: devouring, esurient, zealous
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AVID

Remember this word for future puzzles!

31D: "48. Young's partner in accounting"

5 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that painter (born in germany, resident of france and the united states) who was a cofounder of dadaism; developed the technique of collage (1891-1976)
  • Similar words include: Max Ernst
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ERNST

Remember this word for future puzzles!

32D: "50. Rich soil deposit"

5 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a fine-grained unstratified accumulation of clay and silt deposited by the wind
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LOESS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

33D: "51. Saps"

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an awkward stupid person
  • Similar words include: lout, clod, gawk
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OAFS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

34D: "52. Stop the bleeding, say"

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a lump of material formed from the content of a liquid
  • Similar words include: coagulate, coagulum, clabber
  • Opposite of: homogenize
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CLOT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

35D: "53. Sicken with sweetness"

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that supply or feed to surfeit
  • Similar words include: pall, surfeit
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CLOY

Remember this word for future puzzles!

36D: "54. Fit"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

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: able-bodied, capable
  • Opposite of: unable
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ABLE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

37D: "56. Sacred bird to the Egyptians"

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that wading birds of warm regions having long slender down-curved bills
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: IBIS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

38D: "58. Info on Zillow: Abbr."

3 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

39D: "59. ___-El (Superman)"

3 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

40D: "60. Shout at a Greek wedding"

3 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

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

35 Across Clues
40 Down Clues
75 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.

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Last updated: May 22, 2026 at 07:00 AM