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Showing posts sorted by date for query summate. Sort by relevance Show all posts

Monday, May 11, 2026

XWordHint Crossword Answers May 11, 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. ___ Spiegel (German magazine) 3
2A 4. Animal that ranges around Peru 5
3A 9. Pointed, as a weapon 5
4A 14. Lumberjack's tool 3
5A 15. Cameroon neighbor 5
6A 16. Yell "#$%!" 5
7A 17. Rankings of song popularity used as the music industry standard 15
8A 20. Swells up 6
9A 21. Number in a septet 5
10A 22. Pb, in chemistry 4
11A 23. Own (up) 4
12A 24. Freeze's opposite 4
13A 28. Whirling water 4
14A 29. Up to, as a certain time 3
15A 30. Take fowl foully 5
16A 31. Canapé or deviled egg, for example 11
17A 34. Clears of charges 7
18A 38. A million gazillion 7
19A 39. Movie production facilities with controlled acoustics 11
20A 41. Leave stunned 5
21A 42. Monk's counterpart 3
22A 43. Cut of pork or lamb 4
23A 47. Spa service on the toes, in brief 4
24A 48. "Please, no more!" 4
25A 50. "That is so funny" 4
26A 51. Braid 5
27A 53. Helping for someone very, very hungry 6
28A 55. Insignificant amount 15
29A 59. Tired from overexposure 5
30A 60. "It was the ___ I could do" 5
31A 61. Big part of an elephant 3
32A 62. Storage places for lawn mowers 5
33A 63. Go kaboom, as a volcano 5
34A 64. Deadpan 3

Across Clues - Strategic Hints

1A: "1. ___ Spiegel (German magazine)"

3 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that denoting a quantity consisting of 500 items or units
  • Similar words include: five hundred, d, 500
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DER

Remember this word for future puzzles!

2A: "4. Animal that ranges around Peru"

5 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that wild or domesticated south american cud-chewing animal related to camels but smaller and lacking a hump
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LLAMA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

3A: "9. Pointed, as a weapon"

5 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that point or cause to go (blows, weapons, or objects such as photographic equipment) towards
  • Similar words include: purpose, point, aim
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AIMED

Remember this word for future puzzles!

4A: "14. Lumberjack's tool"

3 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an edge tool with a heavy bladed head mounted across a handle
  • Similar words include: ax
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AXE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

5A: "15. Cameroon neighbor"

5 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a republic on the west coast of africa
  • Similar words include: Gabun, Gabonese Republic
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GABON

Remember this word for future puzzles!

6A: "16. Yell "#$%!""

5 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that utter obscenities or profanities
  • Similar words include: curse, affirm, depose
  • Opposite of: mistrust
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SWEAR

Remember this word for future puzzles!

7A: "17. Rankings of song popularity used as the music industry standard"

15 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

8A: "20. Swells up"

6 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that swelling of the rumen or intestinal tract of domestic animals caused by excessive gas
  • Similar words include: bloat
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BLOATS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

9A: "21. Number in a septet"

5 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the cardinal number that is the sum of six and one
  • Similar words include: sevener, 7, septet
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SEVEN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

10A: "22. Pb, in chemistry"

4 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an advantage held by a competitor in a race
  • Similar words include: atomic number 82, tether, pass
  • Opposite of: follow, deficit
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LEAD

Remember this word for future puzzles!

11A: "23. Own (up)"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that (heraldry) an ordinary consisting of a broad horizontal band across a shield
  • Similar words include: Fes, fesse, Fez
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FESS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

12A: "24. Freeze's opposite"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the process whereby heat changes something from a solid to a liquid
  • Similar words include: unfreeze, melting, dethaw
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: THAW

Remember this word for future puzzles!

13A: "28. Whirling water"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that founder of christian science in 1866 (1821-1910)
  • Similar words include: Mary Baker Eddy, swirl, Mary Morse Baker Eddy
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EDDY

Remember this word for future puzzles!

14A: "29. Up to, as a certain time"

3 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

15A: "30. Take fowl foully"

5 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that hunt illegally
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: POACH

Remember this word for future puzzles!

16A: "31. Canapé or deviled egg, for example"

11 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ___________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HORSDOEUVRE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

17A: "34. Clears of charges"

7 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that pronounce not guilty of criminal charges
  • Similar words include: behave, carry, acquit
  • Opposite of: convict
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ACQUITS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

18A: "38. A million gazillion"

7 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that innumerable but many
  • Similar words include: umteen
  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: UMPTEEN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

19A: "39. Movie production facilities with controlled acoustics"

11 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ___________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SOUNDSTAGES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

20A: "41. Leave stunned"

5 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that affect with wonder
  • Similar words include: flummox, puzzle, beat
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AMAZE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

21A: "42. Monk's counterpart"

3 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a woman religious
  • Similar words include: nun buoy, conical buoy
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NUN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

22A: "43. Cut of pork or lamb"

4 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the irregular motion of waves (usually caused by wind blowing in a direction opposite to the tide)
  • Similar words include: chopper, hack, chop up
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CHOP

Remember this word for future puzzles!

23A: "47. Spa service on the toes, in brief"

4 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

24A: "48. "Please, no more!""

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the event of something ending
  • Similar words include: full point, cease, block off
  • Opposite of: begin, start
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: STOP

Remember this word for future puzzles!

25A: "50. "That is so funny""

4 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

26A: "51. Braid"

5 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a hairdo formed by braiding or twisting the hair
  • Similar words include: tress, braid, pleat
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PLAIT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

27A: "53. Helping for someone very, very hungry"

6 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that one of three equal parts of a divisible whole
  • Similar words include: tierce, third base, third gear
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: THIRDS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

28A: "55. Insignificant amount"

15 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

29A: "59. Tired from overexposure"

5 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that lose interest or become bored with something or somebody
  • Similar words include: weary, fag, jade
  • Opposite of: refresh
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: JADED

Remember this word for future puzzles!

30A: "60. "It was the ___ I could do""

5 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that something that is of no importance
  • Similar words include: to the lowest degree
  • Opposite of: most
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LEAST

Remember this word for future puzzles!

31A: "61. Big part of an elephant"

3 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
  • Similar words include: spike, pinna, capitulum
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EAR

Remember this word for future puzzles!

32A: "62. Storage places for lawn mowers"

5 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an outbuilding with a single story; used for shelter or storage
  • Similar words include: throw off, drop, moult
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SHEDS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

33A: "63. Go kaboom, as a volcano"

5 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that start abruptly
  • Similar words include: push through, irrupt, ignite
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ERUPT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

34A: "64. Deadpan"

3 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a reformer who opposes the use of intoxicating beverages
  • Similar words include: juiceless, teetotal, ironic
  • Opposite of: sweet, phlegmy
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DRY

Remember this word for future puzzles!

Down Clues - Complete List

No. Clue Letters
1D 1. Practice casually, with "in" 6
2D 2. Kicked out, as from a country 6
3D 3. Fill with more ammunition 6
4D 4. Pride letters 4
5D 5. Vientiane is its capital 4
6D 6. Lawyers' org. 3
7D 7. Tasty little bites 7
8D 8. Peruvian mountains 5
9D 9. Tennis star Arthur 4
10D 10. "Don't involve me anymore" 8
11D 11. French for "sea" 3
12D 12. Gobble down 3
13D 13. Medical pros: Abbr. 3
14D 18. Noblewoman 4
15D 19. Rival of Walgreens 3
16D 23. Winning a blue ribbon 5
17D 25. Possess 4
18D 26. Unit initially conceived as the amount of land that can be plowed in a day 4
19D 27. "___ in doubt ..." 4
20D 29. Pre-K enrollees 4
21D 30. Enlivens, with "up" 4
22D 31. ___-and-seek 4
23D 32. Unearthed 5
24D 33. Rain clouds, to some 4
25D 34. Rapper ___ Rocky 4
26D 35. "___ as you are" 4
27D 36. College courtyard 4
28D 37. Opened, as a fly 8
29D 40. Request from someone craving more 7
30D 43. Fashionable 4
31D 44. Listened, poetically 6
32D 45. "Goodness me!" ... or a phonetic hint to 17-, 31-, 39- and 55-Across 6
33D 46. Croissant, éclair or Danish 6
34D 48. The "S" of S.F. 3
35D 49. Mr., Ms. or Mrs. 5
36D 52. Tube tops? 4
37D 53. Recipe amt. 4
38D 54. Jabba the ___ ("Star Wars" villain) 4
39D 55. Party pros playing tunes 3
40D 56. "Go team!" 3
41D 57. Poem of praise 3
42D 58. Contents of l'océan 3

Down Clues - Strategic Hints

1D: "1. Practice casually, with "in""

6 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that dip a foot or hand briefly into a liquid
  • Similar words include: smatter, paddle, splash around
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DABBLE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

2D: "2. Kicked out, as from a country"

6 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that expel from a country
  • Similar words include: exile, expatriate, deport
  • Opposite of: repatriate
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EXILED

Remember this word for future puzzles!

3D: "3. Fill with more ammunition"

6 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that place a new load on
  • Similar words include: recharge
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RELOAD

Remember this word for future puzzles!

4D: "4. Pride letters"

4 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

5D: "5. Vientiane is its capital"

4 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a mountainous landlocked communist state in southeastern asia; achieved independence from france in 1949
  • Similar words include: Laotian, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lao
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LAOS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

6D: "6. Lawyers' org."

3 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a loose sleeveless outer garment made from aba cloth; worn by arabs
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ABA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

7D: "7. Tasty little bites"

7 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a small quantity of anything
  • Similar words include: morsel, bit, bite
  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MORSELS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

8D: "8. Peruvian mountains"

5 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a mountain range in south america running 5000 miles along the pacific coast
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ANDES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

9D: "9. Tennis star Arthur"

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that united states tennis player who was the first black to win united states and english singles championships (1943-1993)
  • Similar words include: Arthur Ashe, Arthur Robert Ashe
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ASHE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

10D: "10. "Don't involve me anymore""

8 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

11D: "11. French for "sea""

3 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that denoting a quantity consisting of 1,000 items or units
  • Similar words include: one thousand, thousand, 1000
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MER

Remember this word for future puzzles!

12D: "12. Gobble down"

3 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that take in solid food
  • Similar words include: feed, run through, exhaust
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EAT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

13D: "13. Medical pros: Abbr."

3 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

14D: "18. Noblewoman"

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a polite name for any woman
  • Similar words include: noblewoman, ma'am, madam
  • Opposite of: Lord, nobleman
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LADY

Remember this word for future puzzles!

15D: "19. Rival of Walgreens"

3 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a summary of your academic and work history
  • Similar words include: resume, CV, curriculum vitae
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CVS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

16D: "23. Winning a blue ribbon"

5 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the first or highest in an ordering or series
  • Similar words include: offset, first of all, world-class
  • Opposite of: middle, last
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FIRST

Remember this word for future puzzles!

17D: "25. Possess"

4 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a person who possesses great material wealth
  • Similar words include: make, give, birth
  • Opposite of: abstain, refuse
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HAVE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

18D: "26. Unit initially conceived as the amount of land that can be plowed in a day"

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a unit of area (4840 square yards) used in english-speaking countries
  • Similar words include: Akko, Akka, Accho
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ACRE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

19D: "27. "___ in doubt ...""

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

20D: "29. Pre-K enrollees"

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

21D: "30. Enlivens, with "up""

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

22D: "31. ___-and-seek"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the dressed skin of an animal (especially a large animal)
  • Similar words include: obliterate, hide out, enshroud
  • Opposite of: show
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HIDE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

23D: "32. Unearthed"

5 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

24D: "33. Rain clouds, to some"

4 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a sign of something about to happen
  • Similar words include: presage, predict, forecast
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OMEN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

25D: "34. Rapper ___ Rocky"

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that as soon as possible
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ASAP

Remember this word for future puzzles!

26D: "35. "___ as you are""

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the thick white fluid containing spermatozoa that is ejaculated by the male genital tract
  • Similar words include: descend, ejaculate, fare
  • Opposite of: go, leave
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: COME

Remember this word for future puzzles!

27D: "36. College courtyard"

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that one of four children born at the same time from the same pregnancy
  • Similar words include: quadriceps, musculus quadriceps femoris, quadrangle
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: QUAD

Remember this word for future puzzles!

28D: "37. Opened, as a fly"

8 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that open the zipper of
  • Similar words include: unzip
  • Opposite of: zip up
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: UNZIPPED

Remember this word for future puzzles!

29D: "40. Request from someone craving more"

7 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that any of various alternatives; some other
  • Similar words include: some other
  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ANOTHER

Remember this word for future puzzles!

30D: "43. Fashionable"

4 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that elegance by virtue of being fashionable
  • Similar words include: chichi, stylishness, last word
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CHIC

Remember this word for future puzzles!

31D: "44. Listened, poetically"

6 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that listen; used mostly in the imperative
  • Similar words include: harken, hearken, hark
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HARKED

Remember this word for future puzzles!

32D: "45. "Goodness me!" ... or a phonetic hint to 17-, 31-, 39- and 55-Across"

6 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

33D: "46. Croissant, éclair or Danish"

6 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a dough of flour and water and shortening
  • Similar words include: pastry dough
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PASTRY

Remember this word for future puzzles!

34D: "48. The "S" of S.F."

3 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

35D: "49. Mr., Ms. or Mrs."

5 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a heading that names a statute or legislative bill; may give a brief summary of the matters it deals with
  • Similar words include: entitle, deed of conveyance, claim
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TITLE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

36D: "52. Tube tops?"

4 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that either of two folds of skin that can be moved to cover or open the eye
  • Similar words include: palpebra, chapeau, lid
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LIDS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

37D: "53. Recipe amt."

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

38D: "54. Jabba the ___ ("Star Wars" villain)"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

39D: "55. Party pros playing tunes"

3 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a person who announces and plays popular recorded music
  • Similar words include: dj, disk-jockey, disc jockey
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DJS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

40D: "56. "Go team!""

3 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

41D: "57. Poem of praise"

3 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

42D: "58. Contents of l'océan"

3 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

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

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Today's Puzzle Stats

34 Across Clues
42 Down Clues
76 Total Clues

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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: May 11, 2026 at 06:54 AM

Saturday, February 28, 2026

XWordHint Crossword Answers February 28, 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: 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. Set unambitious goals 6
2A 7. One playing beerball, perhaps 7
3A 14. Tolkien ring bearer 7
4A 16. Precious person 7
5A 17. Phrase you might say while pointing at a photograph 7
6A 18. Goes against the rule? 7
7A 19. Musical set in Alphabet City 4
8A 20. Term of endearment appropriated from 9-Down 3
9A 22. Part of a Blues Brothers outfit 6
10A 23. Animated friend of Sebastian the crab 5
11A 25. Some arm muscles, informally 4
12A 27. Cassiterite is a source of it 3
13A 28. Robert Frost's middle name 3
14A 29. ___ Allen Express, Amtrak train from New York City to Burlington, Vt. 5
15A 31. Innermost moon of Neptune 5
16A 33. Pressure gauge? 11
17A 35. Past, colloquially 11
18A 36. Symbols used to group blocks of computer code 11
19A 37. Was on the sidelines 5
20A 38. Breathlessness 5
21A 39. Polynesian staple 3
22A 42. Not mainstream, as some music genres 3
23A 43. Fuss 4
24A 44. Weakens, as an overly strong character, in video game lingo 5
25A 46. Angora fabric 6
26A 49. Utmost 3
27A 51. ___ Tung, star of cable TV's "The Summer I Turned Pretty" 4
28A 52. Did a bedtime task 7
29A 54. Modern banking convenience 7
30A 56. Musical sample added for excitement 7
31A 57. Animals in an early-2000s virtual fad 7
32A 58. Entered again 7
33A 59. One might play at home 6

Across Clues - Strategic Hints

1A: "1. Set unambitious goals"

6 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

2A: "7. One playing beerball, perhaps"

7 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

3A: "14. Tolkien ring bearer"

7 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

4A: "16. Precious person"

7 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

5A: "17. Phrase you might say while pointing at a photograph"

7 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

6A: "18. Goes against the rule?"

7 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that organized opposition to authority; a conflict in which one faction tries to wrest control from another
  • Similar words include: gross out, uprising, insurrection
  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: REVOLTS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

7A: "19. Musical set in Alphabet City"

4 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a payment or series of payments made by the lessee to an owner for use of some property, facility, equipment, or service
  • Similar words include: let, lease, snag
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RENT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

8A: "20. Term of endearment appropriated from 9-Down"

3 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

9A: "22. Part of a Blues Brothers outfit"

6 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a hat made of felt with a creased crown
  • Similar words include: felt hat, homburg, Stetson
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FEDORA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

10A: "23. Animated friend of Sebastian the crab"

5 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

11A: "25. Some arm muscles, informally"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

12A: "27. Cassiterite is a source of it"

3 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a silvery malleable metallic element that resists corrosion; used in many alloys and to coat other metals to prevent corrosion; obtained chiefly from cassiterite where it occurs as tin oxide
  • Similar words include: can, Sn, put up
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TIN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

13A: "28. Robert Frost's middle name"

3 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that united states filmmaker whose works explore the richness of black culture in america (born in 1957)
  • Similar words include: Bruce Lee, Tsung Dao Lee, leeward
  • Opposite of: windward
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LEE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

14A: "29. ___ Allen Express, Amtrak train from New York City to Burlington, Vt."

5 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

15A: "31. Innermost moon of Neptune"

5 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that submerged aquatic plant having narrow leaves and small flowers; of fresh or brackish water
  • Similar words include: water nymph
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NAIAD

Remember this word for future puzzles!

16A: "33. Pressure gauge?"

11 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ___________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: STRESSLEVEL

Remember this word for future puzzles!

17A: "35. Past, colloquially"

11 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ___________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BEFORETIMES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

18A: "36. Symbols used to group blocks of computer code"

11 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ___________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CURLYBRACES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

19A: "37. Was on the sidelines"

5 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

20A: "38. Breathlessness"

5 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that transient cessation of respiration
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: APNEA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

21A: "39. Polynesian staple"

3 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that hawaiian dish of taro root pounded to a paste and often allowed to ferment
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: POI

Remember this word for future puzzles!

22A: "42. Not mainstream, as some music genres"

3 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that angular distance above the horizon (especially of a celestial object)
  • Similar words include: elevation, altitude, EL
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ALT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

23A: "43. Fuss"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that agitation resulting from active worry
  • Similar words include: sweat, gall, swither
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FRET

Remember this word for future puzzles!

24A: "44. Weakens, as an overly strong character, in video game lingo"

5 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

25A: "46. Angora fabric"

6 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that fabric made with yarn made from the silky hair of the angora goat
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MOHAIR

Remember this word for future puzzles!

26A: "49. Utmost"

3 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that last or greatest in an indefinitely large series
  • Similar words include: n-th
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NTH

Remember this word for future puzzles!

27A: "51. ___ Tung, star of cable TV's "The Summer I Turned Pretty""

4 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

28A: "52. Did a bedtime task"

7 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that rub with a brush, or as if with a brush
  • Similar words include: napped, fleecy, sweep
  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BRUSHED

Remember this word for future puzzles!

29A: "54. Modern banking convenience"

7 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

30A: "56. Musical sample added for excitement"

7 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

31A: "57. Animals in an early-2000s virtual fad"

7 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

32A: "58. Entered again"

7 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

33A: "59. One might play at home"

6 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that reproducer in which two microphones feed two or more loudspeakers to give a three-dimensional effect to the sound
  • Similar words include: two-channel, stereophonic, stereo system
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: STEREO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

Down Clues - Complete List

No. Clue Letters
1D 1. Kind of projection 6
2D 2. Call at a roll call 6
3D 3. Big jerk 6
4D 4. Drink often sipped 5
5D 5. Rap pioneers, slangily 3
6D 6. Space to develop as a person? 4
7D 7. In brief, to whom Grover Cleveland once said "I am making a strange wish for you ... that you may never be president of the United States" 3
8D 8. School houses? 5
9D 9. Dialect that is responsible for a large majority of Gen Z slang 4
10D 10. Put one's foot down 4
11D 11. Decorative items worn at Western galas 8
12D 12. Like defendants at court 7
13D 13. Principle of improv comedy 6
14D 15. Gay nightlife spot with a dress requirement 10
15D 21. Error correction tool 9
16D 24. Uncork, so to speak 6
17D 26. Body bronzer 10
18D 30. ___ Story (punny nickname for the "Iliad") 4
19D 31. Like the lion killed by Hercules 6
20D 32. Scientific classification for birds 4
21D 33. Tesla, for one 4
22D 34. Affliction treated with a nit comb 4
23D 35. Acting like a sore loser, informally 8
24D 36. ___ counter 7
25D 37. South Indian lentil stew 6
26D 39. Following etiquette 6
27D 40. Recently 6
28D 41. Declaration after "because" 6
29D 43. French relative 5
30D 45. Skip the ceremony, say 5
31D 47. Like some unmoisturized skin 4
32D 48. Blue-roofed restaurant 4
33D 50. Coral and sand, for two 4
34D 53. Popular role-playing game since 1974, informally 3
35D 55. One whose eyes are "all aglow" in "The Christmas Song" 3

Down Clues - Strategic Hints

1D: "1. Kind of projection"

6 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that being or relating to or resembling or emanating from stars
  • Similar words include: stellar
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ASTRAL

Remember this word for future puzzles!

2D: "2. Call at a roll call"

6 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

3D: "3. Big jerk"

6 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a person of mean disposition
  • Similar words include: unkind person, meany
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MEANIE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

4D: "4. Drink often sipped"

5 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that strong espresso coffee with a topping of frothed steamed milk
  • Similar words include: caffe latte
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LATTE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

5D: "5. Rap pioneers, slangily"

3 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

6D: "6. Space to develop as a person?"

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a hollow muscular organ in the pelvic cavity of females; contains the developing fetus
  • Similar words include: uterus
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: WOMB

Remember this word for future puzzles!

7D: "7. In brief, to whom Grover Cleveland once said "I am making a strange wish for you ... that you may never be president of the United States""

3 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that 32nd president of the united states; elected four times; instituted new deal to counter the great depression and led country during world war ii (1882-1945)
  • Similar words include: F. D. Roosevelt, Roosevelt, President Roosevelt
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FDR

Remember this word for future puzzles!

8D: "8. School houses?"

5 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a submerged ridge of rock or coral near the surface of the water
  • Similar words include: Witwatersrand, reef, Reef
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: REEFS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

9D: "9. Dialect that is responsible for a large majority of Gen Z slang"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a nonstandard form of american english characteristically spoken by african americans in the united states
  • Similar words include: Black English Vernacular, African American English, Ebonics
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AAVE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

10D: "10. Put one's foot down"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that put down or press the foot, place the foot
  • Similar words include: step, trample, tread
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TROD

Remember this word for future puzzles!

11D: "11. Decorative items worn at Western galas"

8 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

12D: "12. Like defendants at court"

7 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

13D: "13. Principle of improv comedy"

6 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

14D: "15. Gay nightlife spot with a dress requirement"

10 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

15D: "21. Error correction tool"

9 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

16D: "24. Uncork, so to speak"

6 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

17D: "26. Body bronzer"

10 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

18D: "30. ___ Story (punny nickname for the "Iliad")"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a system of weights used for precious metals and gemstones; based on a 12-ounce pound and an ounce of 480 grains
  • Similar words include: Ilium, troy weight, Ilion
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TROY

Remember this word for future puzzles!

19D: "31. Like the lion killed by Hercules"

6 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

20D: "32. Scientific classification for birds"

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that (ornithology) the class of birds
  • Similar words include: class Aves
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AVES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

21D: "33. Tesla, for one"

4 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a member of a slavic people who settled in serbia and neighboring areas in the 6th and 7th centuries
  • Similar words include: Serbian
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SERB

Remember this word for future puzzles!

22D: "34. Affliction treated with a nit comb"

4 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that wingless usually flattened bloodsucking insect parasitic on warm-blooded animals
  • Similar words include: insect, biting louse, bird louse
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LICE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

23D: "35. Acting like a sore loser, informally"

8 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

24D: "36. ___ counter"

7 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a unit of heat equal to the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one kilogram of water by one degree at one atmosphere pressure; used by nutritionists to characterize the energy-producing potential in food
  • Similar words include: large calorie, small calorie, kilogram calorie
  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CALORIE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

25D: "37. South Indian lentil stew"

6 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a deer of southern asia with antlers that have three tines
  • Similar words include: Cervus unicolor, sambur
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SAMBAR

Remember this word for future puzzles!

26D: "39. Following etiquette"

6 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that marked by suitability or rightness or appropriateness
  • Similar words include: right
  • Opposite of: improper
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PROPER

Remember this word for future puzzles!

27D: "40. Recently"

6 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

28D: "41. Declaration after "because""

6 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

29D: "43. French relative"

5 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

30D: "45. Skip the ceremony, say"

5 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that run away secretly with one's beloved
  • Similar words include: run off
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ELOPE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

31D: "47. Like some unmoisturized skin"

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that of a light grey
  • Similar words include: ash-grey, ash-gray
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ASHY

Remember this word for future puzzles!

32D: "48. Blue-roofed restaurant"

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

33D: "50. Coral and sand, for two"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the quality of a color as determined by its dominant wavelength
  • Similar words include: imbue, hue, chromaticity
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HUES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

34D: "53. Popular role-playing game since 1974, informally"

3 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

35D: "55. One whose eyes are "all aglow" in "The Christmas Song""

3 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a small amount (especially of a drink)
  • Similar words include: yearling, summate, tote up
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TOT

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
35 Down Clues
68 Total Clues

More NYT Crossword Help

Looking for more puzzle solutions? Check out our comprehensive archive of NYT crossword hints and answers. We update daily with expert analysis and solving strategies.

Disclaimer: Crossword clues and grid © The New York Times. This site provides hints and educational content for puzzle enthusiasts. XWordHint is not affiliated with The New York Times.

Last updated: February 28, 2026 at 04:39 AM