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 (34 clues)
- Across Clues - Detailed Hints
- Down Clues Table (40 clues)
- Down Clues - Detailed Hints
- Expert Solving Strategies
- Today's Puzzle Statistics
Today's Puzzle Difficulty: Tricky
Pro Tip: Start with the fill-in-the-blank clues - they're usually the easiest entry points!
Across Clues - Complete List
| No. | Clue | Letters |
|---|---|---|
| 1A | 1. *Failed internet company? | 10 |
| 2A | 8. Rinse with water, as grain in the brewing process | 6 |
| 3A | 14. Exaggerated the merits of | 8 |
| 4A | 16. "That's actually pretty neat!" | 6 |
| 5A | 17. Trait for a good waiter? | 8 |
| 6A | 18. Ingredient in shepherd's pie | 6 |
| 7A | 19. Strange | 3 |
| 8A | 20. Pirate's booty | 4 |
| 9A | 22. Swabbie's tool | 3 |
| 10A | 23. In the ___ (intensely focused) | 4 |
| 11A | 25. *Assurance from an internet company? | 13 |
| 12A | 28. "Your pick" | 3 |
| 13A | 29. Lightly strike, as a windowpane | 5 |
| 14A | 30. Many a 24-hour eatery | 5 |
| 15A | 31. *Puzzling question for an internet company? | 11 |
| 16A | 33. Some épéeists' moves | 6 |
| 17A | 34. Had remorse for | 4 |
| 18A | 35. Trial version | 4 |
| 19A | 36. One-___ (pithy jokes) | 6 |
| 20A | 39. *Exposure for an internet company? | 11 |
| 21A | 43. Ancient theater | 5 |
| 22A | 44. Assuages | 5 |
| 23A | 45. Status ___ | 3 |
| 24A | 46. *Illustrative story from an internet company? | 13 |
| 25A | 48. What a track athlete may do three times in one attempt | 4 |
| 26A | 49. World War I Flying ___ (Snoopy alter ego) | 3 |
| 27A | 50. Just | 4 |
| 28A | 51. ___ Guofeng, successor to Mao Zedong | 3 |
| 29A | 52. Samples | 6 |
| 30A | 54. Rose up | 8 |
| 31A | 59. Get situated | 6 |
| 32A | 60. Shoe with a "kitten" variety | 8 |
| 33A | 61. Zeroes | 6 |
| 34A | 62. *Blog message from an internet company? | 10 |
Across Clues - Strategic Hints
1A: "1. *Failed internet company?"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DOTCOMBUST
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2A: "8. Rinse with water, as grain in the brewing process"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the act of sprinkling or splashing water
- Similar words include: besprinkle, sprinkle, sprinkling
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SPARGE
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3A: "14. Exaggerated the merits of"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OVERSOLD
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4A: "16. "That's actually pretty neat!""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OHCOOL
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5A: "17. Trait for a good waiter?"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that good-natured tolerance of delay or incompetence
- Similar words include: longanimity, forbearance, solitaire
- Opposite of: impatience
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PATIENCE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
6A: "18. Ingredient in shepherd's pie"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an edible tuber native to south america; a staple food of ireland
- Similar words include: tater, white potato vine, Solanum tuberosum
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: POTATO
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7A: "19. Strange"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that not divisible by two
- Similar words include: singular, unmatched, unmated
- Opposite of: even
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ODD
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8A: "20. Pirate's booty"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that goods or money obtained illegally
- Similar words include: scratch, ransack, dirty money
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LOOT
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9A: "22. Swabbie's tool"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that cleaning implement consisting of absorbent material fastened to a handle; for cleaning floors
- Similar words include: wipe up, mop up, swab
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MOP
Remember this word for future puzzles!
10A: "23. In the ___ (intensely focused)"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a locally circumscribed place characterized by some distinctive features
- Similar words include: geographical zone, district, partition
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ZONE
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11A: "25. *Assurance from an internet company?"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DOTCOMPROMISE
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12A: "28. "Your pick""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that one or some or every or all without specification
- Similar words include: whatever, whatsoever
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ANY
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13A: "29. Lightly strike, as a windowpane"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TAPAT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
14A: "30. Many a 24-hour eatery"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a person eating a meal (especially in a restaurant)
- Similar words include: dining car, dining compartment, buffet car
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DINER
Remember this word for future puzzles!
15A: "31. *Puzzling question for an internet company?"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DOTCOMPOSER
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16A: "33. Some épéeists' moves"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the act of moving forward suddenly
- Similar words include: lurch, passado, straight thrust
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LUNGES
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17A: "34. Had remorse for"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that feel remorse for; feel sorry for; be contrite about
- Similar words include: rue, repent, regret
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RUED
Remember this word for future puzzles!
18A: "35. Trial version"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a visual presentation showing how something works
- Similar words include: demonstrate, exhibit, present
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DEMO
Remember this word for future puzzles!
19A: "36. One-___ (pithy jokes)"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that (baseball) a hit that flies straight out from the batter
- Similar words include: liner, ocean liner, lining
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LINERS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
20A: "39. *Exposure for an internet company?"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DOTCOMPRESS
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21A: "43. Ancient theater"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ODEON
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22A: "44. Assuages"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that steadiness of mind under stress
- Similar words include: quiet, sedate, equanimity
- Opposite of: stimulate, discomposure
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CALMS
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23A: "45. Status ___"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: QUO
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24A: "46. *Illustrative story from an internet company?"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DOTCOMPARABLE
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25A: "48. What a track athlete may do three times in one attempt"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a sudden and decisive increase
- Similar words include: climb up, jumpstart, start
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: JUMP
Remember this word for future puzzles!
26A: "49. World War I Flying ___ (Snoopy alter ego)"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the smallest whole number or a numeral representing this number
- Similar words include: first-rate, superstar, sweep through
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ACE
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27A: "50. Just"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a small pond of standing water
- Similar words include: bare, simple
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MERE
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28A: "51. ___ Guofeng, successor to Mao Zedong"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an islamic fundamentalist group in pakistan that fought the soviet union in afghanistan in the 1980s; now operates as a terrorist organization primarily in kashmir and seeks kashmir's accession by pakistan
- Similar words include: Al Faran, Harkat-ul-Mujahidin, Movement of Holy Warriors
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HUA
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29A: "52. Samples"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the sensation that results when taste buds in the tongue and throat convey information about the chemical composition of a soluble stimulus
- Similar words include: sample, appreciation, perceptiveness
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TASTES
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30A: "54. Rose up"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that take part in a rebellion; renounce a former allegiance
- Similar words include: arise, renegade, rise up
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: REBELLED
Remember this word for future puzzles!
31A: "59. Get situated"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the countries of asia
- Similar words include: point, East, eastern hemisphere
- Opposite of: disorient
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ORIENT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
32A: "60. Shoe with a "kitten" variety"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a small dagger with a tapered blade
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: STILETTO
Remember this word for future puzzles!
33A: "61. Zeroes"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that device for resetting instruments or controls
- Similar words include: readjust, reset
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RESETS
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34A: "62. *Blog message from an internet company?"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DOTCOMPOST
Remember this word for future puzzles!
Down Clues - Complete List
| No. | Clue | Letters |
|---|---|---|
| 1D | 1. Robber's pursuer | 3 |
| 2D | 2. Reproductive cells | 3 |
| 3D | 3. "Wall Street," for the U.S. financial industry | 7 |
| 4D | 4. Half of many a union-to-be | 5 |
| 5D | 5. Secondhand | 4 |
| 6D | 6. Recipient of many dad jokes | 3 |
| 7D | 7. "Little People, Big World" network | 3 |
| 8D | 8. Deep sleep | 5 |
| 9D | 9. Uncurated Instagram collections | 10 |
| 10D | 10. Do something | 3 |
| 11D | 11. On a different network, say | 7 |
| 12D | 12. Visit | 7 |
| 13D | 13. They usually get no reception | 7 |
| 14D | 15. Coastal resort city in southern California | 6 |
| 15D | 21. Select, with "for" | 3 |
| 16D | 23. Actor Efron | 3 |
| 17D | 24. "Mrs. Lennon" writer | 3 |
| 18D | 25. They're on the docket | 5 |
| 19D | 26. Paper view? | 4 |
| 20D | 27. Student's subspecialty | 5 |
| 21D | 29. Where seeds might be placed | 10 |
| 22D | 32. Before surgery, for short | 5 |
| 23D | 33. "___ at 'em!" | 5 |
| 24D | 35. Cabbage Patch Kid, e.g. | 4 |
| 25D | 36. Part of URL | 7 |
| 26D | 37. "Actually, this matters to me a lot!" | 7 |
| 27D | 38. The Road Runner, to Wile E. Coyote | 7 |
| 28D | 39. Poles tossed in a Highland competition | 6 |
| 29D | 40. On par with | 7 |
| 30D | 41. Total | 3 |
| 31D | 42. Soak (up), as gravy | 3 |
| 32D | 44. Elevator part | 3 |
| 33D | 47. Takes a breather | 5 |
| 34D | 48. Derby drink | 5 |
| 35D | 51. Spot for a ship's captain | 4 |
| 36D | 53. Control center? | 3 |
| 37D | 55. ... and so on | 3 |
| 38D | 56. Life story, for short | 3 |
| 39D | 57. Trisolarans in "The Three-Body Problem," e.g., informally | 3 |
| 40D | 58. Preceder of the answer to each of this puzzle's starred clues | 3 |
Down Clues - Strategic Hints
1D: "1. Robber's pursuer"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that uncomplimentary terms for a policeman
- Similar words include: glom, bull, collar
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: COP
Remember this word for future puzzles!
2D: "2. Reproductive cells"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the female reproductive cell; the female gamete
- Similar words include: egg cell, ovum
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OVA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
3D: "3. "Wall Street," for the U.S. financial industry"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a word that denotes one thing but refers to a related thing
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: METONYM
Remember this word for future puzzles!
4D: "4. Half of many a union-to-be"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a woman who has recently been married
- Similar words include: Bridget, St. Brigid, Saint Brigid
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BRIDE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
5D: "5. Secondhand"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that put into service; make work or employ for a particular purpose or for its inherent or natural purpose
- Similar words include: practice, secondhand, utilise
- Opposite of: misused
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: USED
Remember this word for future puzzles!
6D: "6. Recipient of many dad jokes"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a male human offspring
- Similar words include: Logos, Word, boy
- Opposite of: daughter, girl
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SON
Remember this word for future puzzles!
7D: "7. "Little People, Big World" network"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that considerate and solicitous care
- Similar words include: tender loving care
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TLC
Remember this word for future puzzles!
8D: "8. Deep sleep"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a torpid state resembling deep sleep
- Similar words include: sleep
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SOPOR
Remember this word for future puzzles!
9D: "9. Uncurated Instagram collections"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PHOTODUMPS
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10D: "10. Do something"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a legal document codifying the result of deliberations of a committee or society or legislative body
- Similar words include: behave, bit, play
- Opposite of: refrain
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ACT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
11D: "11. On a different network, say"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment
- Similar words include: stray, ramble, tramp
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ROAMING
Remember this word for future puzzles!
12D: "12. Visit"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GOTOSEE
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13D: "13. They usually get no reception"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ELOPERS
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14D: "15. Coastal resort city in southern California"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DELMAR
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15D: "21. Select, with "for""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that select as an alternative over another
- Similar words include: prefer, choose
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OPT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
16D: "23. Actor Efron"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ZAC
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17D: "24. "Mrs. Lennon" writer"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that united states musician (born in japan) who married john lennon and collaborated with him on recordings (born in 1933)
- Similar words include: Yoko Ono
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ONO
Remember this word for future puzzles!
18D: "25. They're on the docket"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an occurrence of something
- Similar words include: example, subject, typesetter's case
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CASES
Remember this word for future puzzles!
19D: "26. Paper view?"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OPED
Remember this word for future puzzles!
20D: "27. Student's subspecialty"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a young person of either sex
- Similar words include: underage, venial, kid
- Opposite of: major
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MINOR
Remember this word for future puzzles!
21D: "29. Where seeds might be placed"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a sporting competition in which contestants play a series of games to decide the winner
- Similar words include: tourney
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TOURNAMENT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
22D: "32. Before surgery, for short"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PREOP
Remember this word for future puzzles!
23D: "33. "___ at 'em!""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LEMME
Remember this word for future puzzles!
24D: "35. Cabbage Patch Kid, e.g."
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a small replica of a person; used as a toy
- Similar words include: dolly, chick, skirt
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DOLL
Remember this word for future puzzles!
25D: "36. Part of URL"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a person who fixes the boundaries of land claims
- Similar words include: locater
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LOCATOR
Remember this word for future puzzles!
26D: "37. "Actually, this matters to me a lot!""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: IDOCARE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
27D: "38. The Road Runner, to Wile E. Coyote"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that (greek mythology) the goddess of divine retribution and vengeance
- Similar words include: bane, curse, scourge
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NEMESIS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
28D: "39. Poles tossed in a Highland competition"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a heavy wooden pole (such as the trunk of a young fir) that is tossed as a test of strength (in the highlands of northern scotland)
- Similar words include: caber
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CABERS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
29D: "40. On par with"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EQUALTO
Remember this word for future puzzles!
30D: "41. Total"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a quantity of money
- Similar words include: join, summarize, total
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SUM
Remember this word for future puzzles!
31D: "42. Soak (up), as gravy"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that piece of solid food for dipping in a liquid
- Similar words include: soak, sops, drench
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SOP
Remember this word for future puzzles!
32D: "44. Elevator part"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine
- Similar words include: gondola, railroad car, railway car
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CAR
Remember this word for future puzzles!
33D: "47. Takes a breather"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that something left after other parts have been taken away
- Similar words include: rest period, breathe, residue
- Opposite of: be active, change
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RESTS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
34D: "48. Derby drink"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that bourbon and sugar and mint over crushed ice
- Similar words include: mint julep
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: JULEP
Remember this word for future puzzles!
35D: "51. Spot for a ship's captain"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that steering mechanism for a vessel; a mechanical device by which a vessel is steered
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HELM
Remember this word for future puzzles!
36D: "53. Control center?"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the starting place for each hole on a golf course
- Similar words include: football tee, golf tee, tee up
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TEE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
37D: "55. ... and so on"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ETC
Remember this word for future puzzles!
38D: "56. Life story, for short"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BIO
Remember this word for future puzzles!
39D: "57. Trisolarans in "The Three-Body Problem," e.g., informally"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ETS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
40D: "58. Preceder of the answer to each of this puzzle's starred clues"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a very small circular shape
- Similar words include: point, sprinkle, disperse
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DOT
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
34 Across Clues
40 Down Clues
74 Total Clues
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