Master today's NYT crossword with our expert hint system. We provide synonyms, antonyms, and strategic clues to help you solve without spoiling the fun. Perfect for crossword lovers who want that satisfying "aha!" moment.
Quick Navigation - Table of Contents
- Today's Puzzle Difficulty
- Across Clues Table (33 clues)
- Across Clues - Detailed Hints
- Down Clues Table (37 clues)
- Down Clues - Detailed Hints
- Expert Solving Strategies
- Today's Puzzle Statistics
Today's Puzzle Difficulty: Challenging
Pro Tip: Start with the fill-in-the-blank clues - they're usually the easiest entry points!
Across Clues - Complete List
| No. | Clue | Letters |
|---|---|---|
| 1A | 1. What suggests that relief is at hand? | 10 |
| 2A | 11. Some | 4 |
| 3A | 15. "News to me" | 10 |
| 4A | 16. Shankar who co-composed the score for 1982's "Gandhi" | 4 |
| 5A | 17. "Well, now everyone will know" | 15 |
| 6A | 19. Family nickname | 3 |
| 7A | 20. Spot for a light punishment | 5 |
| 8A | 21. Eponym of U.S. track and field's Male Athlete of the Year Award | 5 |
| 9A | 22. Member of the World Cup's "Tartan Army" fan base | 4 |
| 10A | 23. Acronymic weapon | 5 |
| 11A | 25. Tree whose name has multiple pronunciations | 5 |
| 12A | 27. Laugh, laugh, laugh | 8 |
| 13A | 30. Geneticist's finding | 5 |
| 14A | 31. Wasteful government spending, informally | 4 |
| 15A | 32. Big name in sandals | 4 |
| 16A | 33. "It's ___ or nothin'!" (classic kids' commercial slogan) | 4 |
| 17A | 34. Many of the characters in "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" | 5 |
| 18A | 35. Word with block or platform | 4 |
| 19A | 36. Tangy hybrid | 4 |
| 20A | 37. Gobsmacks | 4 |
| 21A | 38. Elephant mascot of the Alabama Crimson Tide | 5 |
| 22A | 39. Elf, say | 8 |
| 23A | 41. They may be covered | 5 |
| 24A | 42. Opportunity on Mars, say | 5 |
| 25A | 43. Piece of ice in the drink? | 4 |
| 26A | 44. Name of "the other reindeer" in a common Christmas mondegreen | 5 |
| 27A | 46. Waffle patterns | 5 |
| 28A | 48. Where baked Alaska is believed to have been invented, oddly enough: Abbr. | 3 |
| 29A | 51. Field you make tracks in | 15 |
| 30A | 54. Blue rasp-"brr!"-y treat? | 4 |
| 31A | 55. Flying nuisance | 10 |
| 32A | 56. Besmirches | 4 |
| 33A | 57. What someone might get quickly around lunchtime | 10 |
Across Clues - Strategic Hints
1A: "1. What suggests that relief is at hand?"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: STRESSBALL
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2A: "11. Some"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AFEW
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3A: "15. "News to me""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: IHADNOIDEA
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4A: "16. Shankar who co-composed the score for 1982's "Gandhi""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RAVI
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5A: "17. "Well, now everyone will know""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CATSOUTOFTHEBAG
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6A: "19. Family nickname"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a female person who has the same parents as another person
- Similar words include: te, sister, International System
- Opposite of: brother
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SIS
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7A: "20. Spot for a light punishment"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a joint between the distal end of the radius and the proximal row of carpal bones
- Similar words include: radiocarpal joint, carpus, articulatio radiocarpea
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: WRIST
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8A: "21. Eponym of U.S. track and field's Male Athlete of the Year Award"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that united states athlete and black american whose success in the 1936 olympic games in berlin outraged hitler (1913-1980)
- Similar words include: Owen, Robert Owen, Sir Richard Owen
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OWENS
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9A: "22. Member of the World Cup's "Tartan Army" fan base"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a native or inhabitant of scotland
- Similar words include: Scotsman, Scotchman
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SCOT
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10A: "23. Acronymic weapon"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TASER
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11A: "25. Tree whose name has multiple pronunciations"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that wood of a pecan tree
- Similar words include: Carya illinoensis, pecan tree, Carya illinoinsis
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PECAN
Remember this word for future puzzles!
12A: "27. Laugh, laugh, laugh"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BUSTAGUT
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13A: "30. Geneticist's finding"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a distinguishing feature of your personal nature
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TRAIT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
14A: "31. Wasteful government spending, informally"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that meat from a domestic hog or pig
- Similar words include: pork barrel, porc
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PORK
Remember this word for future puzzles!
15A: "32. Big name in sandals"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TEVA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
16A: "33. "It's ___ or nothin'!" (classic kids' commercial slogan)"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NERF
Remember this word for future puzzles!
17A: "34. Many of the characters in "Who Framed Roger Rabbit""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a film made by photographing a series of cartoon drawings to give the illusion of movement when projected in rapid sequence
- Similar words include: animated cartoon, toon, cartoon
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TOONS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
18A: "35. Word with block or platform"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the bottom of a shoe or boot; the back part of a shoe or boot that touches the ground and provides elevation
- Similar words include: dog, bounder, cad
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HEEL
Remember this word for future puzzles!
19A: "36. Tangy hybrid"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that large sweet juicy hybrid between tangerine and grapefruit having a thick wrinkled skin
- Similar words include: ugli fruit, tangelo
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: UGLI
Remember this word for future puzzles!
20A: "37. Gobsmacks"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an overwhelming feeling of wonder or admiration
- Similar words include: awe, veneration, fear
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AWES
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21A: "38. Elephant mascot of the Alabama Crimson Tide"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BIGAL
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22A: "39. Elf, say"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TOYMAKER
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23A: "41. They may be covered"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a short musical composition with words
- Similar words include: vocal, strain, birdsong
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SONGS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
24A: "42. Opportunity on Mars, say"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that someone who leads a wandering unsettled life
- Similar words include: bird of passage, roamer, scouter
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ROVER
Remember this word for future puzzles!
25A: "43. Piece of ice in the drink?"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a large mass of ice floating at sea; usually broken off of a polar glacier
- Similar words include: iceberg, Alban Berg
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BERG
Remember this word for future puzzles!
26A: "44. Name of "the other reindeer" in a common Christmas mondegreen"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that small ovoid fruit of the european olive tree; important food and source of oil
- Similar words include: Olea europaea, European olive tree
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OLIVE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
27A: "46. Waffle patterns"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a pattern of regularly spaced horizontal and vertical lines
- Similar words include: power grid, power system, control grid
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GRIDS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
28A: "48. Where baked Alaska is believed to have been invented, oddly enough: Abbr."
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NYC
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29A: "51. Field you make tracks in"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MUSICPRODUCTION
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30A: "54. Blue rasp-"brr!"-y treat?"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ICEE
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31A: "55. Flying nuisance"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GATECHANGE
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32A: "56. Besmirches"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that any of various dark heavy viscid substances obtained as a residue
- Similar words include: gob, seafarer, mariner
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TARS
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33A: "57. What someone might get quickly around lunchtime"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ABITETOEAT
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Down Clues - Complete List
| No. | Clue | Letters |
|---|---|---|
| 1D | 1. Sets (on) | 4 |
| 2D | 2. Cuisine with the #1 dish in a CNN "World's 50 Best Foods" poll | 4 |
| 3D | 3. Intruders in urban trash cans | 4 |
| 4D | 4. Ones who might cut the line, in brief? | 3 |
| 5D | 5. Ski slope vehicle | 7 |
| 6D | 6. Lose affection for | 6 |
| 7D | 7. Wiped out, in slang | 5 |
| 8D | 8. Fusses | 4 |
| 9D | 9. No-nos at some highway intersections | 9 |
| 10D | 10. Trap neighbor | 3 |
| 11D | 11. Relationship-defining question | 11 |
| 12D | 12. Bejeweled target of a heist in "Ocean's Twelve" | 10 |
| 13D | 13. McMullin of Utah politics | 4 |
| 14D | 14. Features of some early presidential portraits | 4 |
| 15D | 18. Whole lot | 4 |
| 16D | 22. Films in which many stars might appear | 11 |
| 17D | 24. Grills, say | 4 |
| 18D | 25. Competitor of Rao's | 5 |
| 19D | 26. One likely to be "healthy, wealthy and wise," per Benjamin Franklin | 10 |
| 20D | 27. Vocal critic | 5 |
| 21D | 28. Iris settings | 5 |
| 22D | 29. Lofty | 4 |
| 23D | 30. Bit of threaded hardware | 4 |
| 24D | 31. Attempt to seize control | 9 |
| 25D | 34. Perspective | 4 |
| 26D | 38. One dish commonly in the 12-dish Sviata Vecheria, a traditional Ukrainian Christmas dinner | 7 |
| 27D | 40. Faire ___ (get by with, in French) | 4 |
| 28D | 41. Charm | 6 |
| 29D | 43. European fixture | 5 |
| 30D | 44. Skip over | 4 |
| 31D | 45. Title boy in a 2021 Pixar film | 4 |
| 32D | 47. Word that comes from Sanskrit for "bread" | 4 |
| 33D | 48. Score somewhat akin to an A- | 4 |
| 34D | 49. Flexible practice? | 4 |
| 35D | 50. Website associated with the domain www.news.com | 4 |
| 36D | 52. Tour org. | 3 |
| 37D | 53. Fields Medal winner Terence | 3 |
Down Clues - Strategic Hints
1D: "1. Sets (on)"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that urge to attack someone
- Similar words include: set, sic
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SICS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
2D: "2. Cuisine with the #1 dish in a CNN "World's 50 Best Foods" poll"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a native or inhabitant of thailand
- Similar words include: Tai, Central Thai, Siamese
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: THAI
Remember this word for future puzzles!
3D: "3. Intruders in urban trash cans"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that any of various long-tailed rodents similar to but larger than a mouse
- Similar words include: crumb, stinker, betray
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RATS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
4D: "4. Ones who might cut the line, in brief?"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a rapid automatic system to detect plastic explosives in passengers' luggage using x-ray technology and computers; designed for use in airports
- Similar words include: male erecticle dysfunction, ED, explosive detection system
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EDS
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5D: "5. Ski slope vehicle"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SNOWCAT
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6D: "6. Lose affection for"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SOURON
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7D: "7. Wiped out, in slang"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BITIT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
8D: "8. Fusses"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a rapid active commotion
- Similar words include: stir, hustle, flurry
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ADOS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
9D: "9. No-nos at some highway intersections"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LEFTTURNS
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10D: "10. Trap neighbor"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a broad flat muscle on either side of the back
- Similar words include: latissimus dorsi
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LAT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
11D: "11. Relationship-defining question"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AREWEATHING
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12D: "12. Bejeweled target of a heist in "Ocean's Twelve""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FABERGEEGG
Remember this word for future puzzles!
13D: "13. McMullin of Utah politics"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EVAN
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14D: "14. Features of some early presidential portraits"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that hairpiece covering the head and made of real or synthetic hair
- Similar words include: wig, wigging
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: WIGS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
15D: "18. Whole lot"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a person who invites guests to a social event (such as a party in his or her own home) and who is responsible for them while they are there
- Similar words include: innkeeper, master of ceremonies, boniface
- Opposite of: parasite
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HOST
Remember this word for future puzzles!
16D: "22. Films in which many stars might appear"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SCIFIMOVIES
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17D: "24. Grills, say"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that inquire about
- Similar words include: take, necessitate, enquire
- Opposite of: obviate
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ASKS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
18D: "25. Competitor of Rao's"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PREGO
Remember this word for future puzzles!
19D: "26. One likely to be "healthy, wealthy and wise," per Benjamin Franklin"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EARLYRISER
Remember this word for future puzzles!
20D: "27. Vocal critic"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BOOER
Remember this word for future puzzles!
21D: "28. Iris settings"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the part of the eye that contains the iris and ciliary body and choroid
- Similar words include: uvea
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: UVEAS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
22D: "29. Lofty"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a garment size for a tall person
- Similar words include: improbable, marvellous, grandiloquent
- Opposite of: short
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TALL
Remember this word for future puzzles!
23D: "30. Bit of threaded hardware"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TNUT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
24D: "31. Attempt to seize control"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: POWERGRAB
Remember this word for future puzzles!
25D: "34. Perspective"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the income or profit arising from such transactions as the sale of land or other property
- Similar words include: select, choose, film
- Opposite of: give, refuse
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TAKE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
26D: "38. One dish commonly in the 12-dish Sviata Vecheria, a traditional Ukrainian Christmas dinner"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a russian or polish soup usually containing beet juice as a foundation
- Similar words include: borsht, bortsch, borsh
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BORSCHT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
27D: "40. Faire ___ (get by with, in French)"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AVEC
Remember this word for future puzzles!
28D: "41. Charm"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that induce to have sex
- Similar words include: score, make
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SEDUCE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
29D: "43. European fixture"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a basin for washing genitals and anal area
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BIDET
Remember this word for future puzzles!
30D: "44. Skip over"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that prevent from being included or considered or accepted
- Similar words include: leave out, exclude, drop
- Opposite of: include, attend to
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OMIT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
31D: "45. Title boy in a 2021 Pixar film"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LUCA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
32D: "47. Word that comes from Sanskrit for "bread""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ROTI
Remember this word for future puzzles!
33D: "48. Score somewhat akin to an A-"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the cardinal number that is the sum of eight and one
- Similar words include: ix, Nina from Carolina, niner
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NINE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
34D: "49. Flexible practice?"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that hindu discipline aimed at training the consciousness for a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility that is achieved through the three paths of actions and knowledge and devotion
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: YOGA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
35D: "50. Website associated with the domain www.news.com"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CNET
Remember this word for future puzzles!
36D: "52. Tour org."
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PGA
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37D: "53. Fields Medal winner Terence"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an adherent of any branch of taoism
- Similar words include: Taoist
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TAO
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
33 Across Clues
37 Down Clues
70 Total Clues
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