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Wednesday, July 1, 2026

XWordHint Crossword Answers July 01, 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: Medium

Pro Tip: Start with the fill-in-the-blank clues - they're usually the easiest entry points!

Across Clues - Complete List

No. Clue Letters
1A 1. Designation for a potato 5
2A 6. Kind of party 4
3A 10. Counter, as a claim 5
4A 15. ___ Holmes, 2020s role for Millie Bobby Brown 5
5A 16. Strongly nudge 4
6A 17. In opposition to everyone else 5
7A 18. Jack ___ 5
8A 19. Position in a bridge game 4
9A 20. Covers for campers 5
10A 21. Claim on property 4
11A 22. "Really?" 6
12A 24. Astrophysicist ___ deGrasse Tyson 4
13A 25. "I should care because ...?" 3
14A 26. It's just a little bit off 8
15A 28. Little bit of life? 3
16A 29. Chocolate toffee bar since 1981 4
17A 30. Modern component in a digital display, in brief 4
18A 32. Places to stretch out 5
19A 35. What may precede a texter's two cents 4
20A 38. Mexican milk 5
21A 42. Fitting kind of exam for a dental student 4
22A 43. Least friendly 6
23A 45. Anchor, as a boat 4
24A 46. 1880s-'90s veep ___ P. Morton 4
25A 47. Kids 6
26A 48. Rightmost compartment in a till 4
27A 49. Shape of a skating rink 4
28A 51. Subtle glow 4
29A 53. Theoretical world coexisting with ours ... as depicted in this puzzle 16
30A 61. Hit musical set in Buenos Aires 5
31A 62. Ceramic collectible, maybe 4
32A 63. Adjust the price on 5
33A 64. Theoretical timeline where things play out a little differently ... as featured in this puzzle 16
34A 67. "Call Me Maybe" singer Carly ___ Jepsen 3
35A 68. How one might dress in a professional setting 8
36A 69. Just one taste 3
37A 70. Abbr. in a birth announcement 3
38A 71. That ship 3
39A 72. Family member, familiarly 3
40A 73. C7H5N3O6, for short 3

Across Clues - Strategic Hints

1A: "1. Designation for a potato"

5 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a fleshy underground stem or root serving for reproductive and food storage
  • Similar words include: genus Tuber
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TUBER

Remember this word for future puzzles!

2A: "6. Kind of party"

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

3A: "10. Counter, as a claim"

5 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that overthrow by argument, evidence, or proof
  • Similar words include: refute, controvert
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: REBUT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

4A: "15. ___ Holmes, 2020s role for Millie Bobby Brown"

5 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

5A: "16. Strongly nudge"

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an instinctive motive
  • Similar words include: barrack, press, cheer
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: URGE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

6A: "17. In opposition to everyone else"

5 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that isolated from others
  • Similar words include: only, exclusively, solitary
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ALONE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

7A: "18. Jack ___"

5 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that small fatty european fish; usually smoked or canned like sardines
  • Similar words include: brisling, Clupea sprattus
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SPRAT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

8A: "19. Position in a bridge game"

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a space reserved for sitting (as in a theater or on a train or airplane)
  • Similar words include: tail, nates, buns
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SEAT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

9A: "20. Covers for campers"

5 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that waterproofed canvas
  • Similar words include: tarp, tarpaulin
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TARPS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

10A: "21. Claim on property"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the right to take another's property if an obligation is not discharged
  • Similar words include: spleen
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LIEN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

11A: "22. "Really?""

6 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

12A: "24. Astrophysicist ___ deGrasse Tyson"

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

13A: "25. "I should care because ...?""

3 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

14A: "26. It's just a little bit off"

8 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

15A: "28. Little bit of life?"

3 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

16A: "29. Chocolate toffee bar since 1981"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

17A: "30. Modern component in a digital display, in brief"

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a self-luminous diode (it glows when an electrical field is applied to the electrodes) that does not require backlighting or diffusers
  • Similar words include: organic light-emitting diode
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OLED

Remember this word for future puzzles!

18A: "32. Places to stretch out"

5 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an upholstered seat for more than one person
  • Similar words include: lounge, couch, sofa
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SOFAS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

19A: "35. What may precede a texter's two cents"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

20A: "38. Mexican milk"

5 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

21A: "42. Fitting kind of exam for a dental student"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an examination conducted by spoken communication
  • Similar words include: oral examination, oral exam, viva
  • Opposite of: anal, aboral
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ORAL

Remember this word for future puzzles!

22A: "43. Least friendly"

6 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that devoid of warmth and cordiality; expressive of unfriendliness or disdain
  • Similar words include: gelid, wintry, polar
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ICIEST

Remember this word for future puzzles!

23A: "45. Anchor, as a boat"

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that one of the muslim people of north africa; of mixed arab and berber descent; converted to islam in the 8th century; conqueror of spain in the 8th century
  • Similar words include: tie up, wharf, berth
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MOOR

Remember this word for future puzzles!

24A: "46. 1880s-'90s veep ___ P. Morton"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that (new testament) disciple of jesus; traditionally considered to be the author of the first gospel
  • Similar words include: Matthew, Saint Matthew, St. Matthew
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LEVI

Remember this word for future puzzles!

25A: "47. Kids"

6 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that someone given to teasing (as by mocking or stirring curiosity)
  • Similar words include: vexer, ride, beleaguer
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TEASES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

26A: "48. Rightmost compartment in a till"

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the smallest whole number or a numeral representing this number
  • Similar words include: single, unity, 1
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ONES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

27A: "49. Shape of a skating rink"

4 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a closed plane curve resulting from the intersection of a circular cone and a plane cutting completely through it
  • Similar words include: elliptical, ellipse, ovate
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OVAL

Remember this word for future puzzles!

28A: "51. Subtle glow"

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a sensation (as of a cold breeze or bright light) that precedes the onset of certain disorders such as a migraine attack or epileptic seizure
  • Similar words include: gloriole, nimbus, aureole
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AURA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

29A: "53. Theoretical world coexisting with ours ... as depicted in this puzzle"

16 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

30A: "61. Hit musical set in Buenos Aires"

5 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

31A: "62. Ceramic collectible, maybe"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an open jar of glass or porcelain used as an ornament or to hold flowers
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: VASE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

32A: "63. Adjust the price on"

5 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

33A: "64. Theoretical timeline where things play out a little differently ... as featured in this puzzle"

16 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

34A: "67. "Call Me Maybe" singer Carly ___ Jepsen"

3 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

35A: "68. How one might dress in a professional setting"

8 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that with modesty; in a modest manner
  • Opposite of: immodestly
  • Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MODESTLY

Remember this word for future puzzles!

36A: "69. Just one taste"

3 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a small drink
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SIP

Remember this word for future puzzles!

37A: "70. Abbr. in a birth announcement"

3 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that 16 ounces avoirdupois
  • Similar words include: lb, pound
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LBS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

38A: "71. That ship"

3 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

39A: "72. Family member, familiarly"

3 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a female person who has the same parents as another person
  • Similar words include: Si, atomic number 14, SI unit
  • Opposite of: brother
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SIS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

40A: "73. C7H5N3O6, for short"

3 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that explosive consisting of a yellow crystalline compound that is a flammable toxic derivative of toluene
  • Similar words include: trinitrotoluene
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TNT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

Down Clues - Complete List

No. Clue Letters
1D 1. Automotive giant headquartered in Austin, Tex. 5
2D 2. Detach from a bulletin board 5
3D 3. Used a drill on 5
4D 4. Spirit 4
5D 5. Chinese zodiac creature 3
6D 6. Bed for fish? 9
7D 7. Reward for a dog 5
8D 8. Marbled gemstone 5
9D 9. Escapes, as a dog 9
10D 10. Double-crosser 3
11D 11. Zip 4
12D 12. Yawning, say 5
13D 13. Shift from the top of a social media feed 5
14D 14. Pioneer in developing alternating current 5
15D 22. On the other hand, in brief 3
16D 23. Component of most salad dressings 3
17D 26. Mo. parts 3
18D 27. Lurker in a reef 3
19D 29. Get ready for dinner, say 8
20D 31. Aspiring actor's submission 8
21D 32. The sun 3
22D 33. It might be conveyed on a conveyor belt 3
23D 34. Websites whose URLs are stored, typically 9
24D 36. Lost, for short 3
25D 37. Gentlemen 3
26D 39. Trickster 9
27D 40. Garden tool 3
28D 41. Places where people are usually lying, for short 3
29D 43. "___ be fine" 4
30D 44. Taiwanese president ___ Ing-wen 4
31D 50. Clear warnings 6
32D 52. Tanning agents, informally 6
33D 53. Gemstone with biological roots 5
34D 54. H.S. media room 5
35D 55. Dodge deceptively 5
36D 56. Behind 4
37D 57. Purposes 4
38D 58. "Phooey!" 5
39D 59. Posh clothing material 5
40D 60. Site of the Ten Plagues 5
41D 65. Traditional Japanese drama 3
42D 66. QB Manning 3

Down Clues - Strategic Hints

1D: "1. Automotive giant headquartered in Austin, Tex."

5 letters ๐Ÿ’ญ Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a unit of magnetic flux density equal to one weber per square meter
  • Similar words include: Nikola Tesla
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TESLA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

2D: "2. Detach from a bulletin board"

5 letters ๐Ÿ’ญ Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that remove the pins from; unfasten the pins of
  • Opposite of: pin
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: UNPIN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

3D: "3. Used a drill on"

5 letters ๐Ÿ’ญ Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that cause to be bored
  • Similar words include: world-weary, bore, drill
  • Opposite of: interest
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BORED

Remember this word for future puzzles!

4D: "4. Spirit"

4 letters ๐Ÿ’ญ Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a feeling of strong eagerness (usually in favor of a person or cause)
  • Similar words include: panache, zeal, ardour
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ELAN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

5D: "5. Chinese zodiac creature"

3 letters ๐Ÿ’ญ Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that any of various long-tailed rodents similar to but larger than a mouse
  • Similar words include: tell on, shit, blackleg
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RAT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

6D: "6. Bed for fish?"

9 letters ๐Ÿ’ญ Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

7D: "7. Reward for a dog"

5 letters ๐Ÿ’ญ Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

8D: "8. Marbled gemstone"

5 letters ๐Ÿ’ญ Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an impure form of quartz consisting of banded chalcedony; used as a gemstone and for making mortars and pestles
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AGATE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

9D: "9. Escapes, as a dog"

9 letters ๐Ÿ’ญ Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

10D: "10. Double-crosser"

3 letters ๐Ÿ’ญ Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that any of various long-tailed rodents similar to but larger than a mouse
  • Similar words include: tell on, shit, blackleg
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RAT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

11D: "11. Zip"

4 letters ๐Ÿ’ญ Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a feeling of strong eagerness (usually in favor of a person or cause)
  • Similar words include: panache, zeal, ardour
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ELAN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

12D: "12. Yawning, say"

5 letters ๐Ÿ’ญ Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that cause to be bored
  • Similar words include: world-weary, bore, drill
  • Opposite of: interest
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BORED

Remember this word for future puzzles!

13D: "13. Shift from the top of a social media feed"

5 letters ๐Ÿ’ญ Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that remove the pins from; unfasten the pins of
  • Opposite of: pin
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: UNPIN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

14D: "14. Pioneer in developing alternating current"

5 letters ๐Ÿ’ญ Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a unit of magnetic flux density equal to one weber per square meter
  • Similar words include: Nikola Tesla
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TESLA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

15D: "22. On the other hand, in brief"

3 letters ๐Ÿ’ญ Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a branch of the tai languages
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: THO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

16D: "23. Component of most salad dressings"

3 letters ๐Ÿ’ญ Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a slippery or viscous liquid or liquefiable substance not miscible with water
  • Similar words include: inunct, anele, rock oil
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OIL

Remember this word for future puzzles!

17D: "26. Mo. parts"

3 letters ๐Ÿ’ญ Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

18D: "27. Lurker in a reef"

3 letters ๐Ÿ’ญ Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the fatty flesh of eel; an elongate fish found in fresh water in europe and america; large eels are usually smoked or pickled
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EEL

Remember this word for future puzzles!

19D: "29. Get ready for dinner, say"

8 letters ๐Ÿ’ญ Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that produce saliva
  • Similar words include: drool
  • Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SALIVATE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

20D: "31. Aspiring actor's submission"

8 letters ๐Ÿ’ญ Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

21D: "32. The sun"

3 letters ๐Ÿ’ญ Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a colloid that has a continuous liquid phase in which a solid is suspended in a liquid
  • Similar words include: colloidal solution, soh, colloidal suspension
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SOL

Remember this word for future puzzles!

22D: "33. It might be conveyed on a conveyor belt"

3 letters ๐Ÿ’ญ Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a mineral that contains metal that is valuable enough to be mined
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ORE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

23D: "34. Websites whose URLs are stored, typically"

9 letters ๐Ÿ’ญ Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that something regarded with special favor or liking
  • Similar words include: favourite, front-runner, ducky
  • Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FAVORITES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

24D: "36. Lost, for short"

3 letters ๐Ÿ’ญ Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

25D: "37. Gentlemen"

3 letters ๐Ÿ’ญ Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a very light colorless element that is one of the six inert gasses; the most difficult gas to liquefy; occurs in economically extractable amounts in certain natural gases (as those found in texas and kansas)
  • Similar words include: he, helium, He
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

26D: "39. Trickster"

9 letters ๐Ÿ’ญ Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

27D: "40. Garden tool"

3 letters ๐Ÿ’ญ Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a tool with a flat blade attached at right angles to a long handle
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HOE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

28D: "41. Places where people are usually lying, for short"

3 letters ๐Ÿ’ญ Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a trivalent metallic element of the rare earth group; occurs with yttrium
  • Similar words include: erbium, Er, emergency room
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ERS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

29D: "43. "___ be fine""

4 letters ๐Ÿ’ญ Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

30D: "44. Taiwanese president ___ Ing-wen"

4 letters ๐Ÿ’ญ Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

31D: "50. Clear warnings"

6 letters ๐Ÿ’ญ Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that fear resulting from the awareness of danger
  • Similar words include: alarm system, consternation, alarum
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ALARMS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

32D: "52. Tanning agents, informally"

6 letters ๐Ÿ’ญ Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

33D: "53. Gemstone with biological roots"

5 letters ๐Ÿ’ญ Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a smooth lustrous round structure inside the shell of a clam or oyster; much valued as a jewel
  • Similar words include: ivory, bead, off-white
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PEARL

Remember this word for future puzzles!

34D: "54. H.S. media room"

5 letters ๐Ÿ’ญ Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

35D: "55. Dodge deceptively"

5 letters ๐Ÿ’ญ Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that avoid or try to avoid fulfilling, answering, or performing (duties, questions, or issues)
  • Similar words include: bilk, hedge, elude
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EVADE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

36D: "56. Behind"

4 letters ๐Ÿ’ญ Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
  • Similar words include: deep, belatedly, tardily
  • Opposite of: early
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LATE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

37D: "57. Purposes"

4 letters ๐Ÿ’ญ Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the act of using
  • Similar words include: enjoyment, USA, purpose
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: USES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

38D: "58. "Phooey!""

5 letters ๐Ÿ’ญ Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

39D: "59. Posh clothing material"

5 letters ๐Ÿ’ญ Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a smooth fabric of silk or rayon; has a glossy face and a dull back
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SATIN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

40D: "60. Site of the Ten Plagues"

5 letters ๐Ÿ’ญ Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a republic in northeastern africa known as the united arab republic until 1971; site of an ancient civilization that flourished from 2600 to 30 bc
  • Similar words include: Egyptian Empire, United Arab Republic, Arab Republic of Egypt
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EGYPT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

41D: "65. Traditional Japanese drama"

3 letters ๐Ÿ’ญ Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

42D: "66. QB Manning"

3 letters ๐Ÿ’ญ Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

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

40 Across Clues
42 Down Clues
82 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: July 01, 2026 at 07:52 AM

Thursday, February 12, 2026

XWordHint Crossword Answers February 12, 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. *Succeed 6
2A 6. Home of War in the Pacific National Historical Park 4
3A 10. Sign on some restroom doors 3
4A 13. Angular unit of measurement 6
5A 15. Sapa ___ ("the only emperor" in Quechua) 4
6A 16. Kitchen gadget brand 3
7A 17. Must pay 6
8A 18. *Public messages of appreciation 9
9A 20. Heavy metal band whose name is a big cat in Spanish 7
10A 22. Alternatively ... !!! 6
11A 23. Sign out? 4
12A 24. Firehouse supply 7
13A 26. Take out, in a way 3
14A 28. "An idea ..." 3
15A 30. Mount known to produce rare volcanic "smoke rings" 4
16A 31. Off-road ride, for short 3
17A 32. Horned mountain climber 4
18A 34. Pen 6
19A 36. Dennis's sister on "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" 3
20A 37. *New England-style chowder, for one 8
21A 39. ___-weekly (mag type) 3
22A 40. Small surgical instrument 6
23A 42. Wraps up 4
24A 43. Wield 3
25A 44. Ingrid Bergman's "Casablanca" role 4
26A 45. Stuff with strands 3
27A 46. College subj. that can be evolutionary or behavioral 3
28A 47. Lightweight fabric for a handkerchief 7
29A 50. Tomato type 4
30A 53. Pet project? 6
31A 54. *Long-legged wader 8
32A 58. Provide comfort, in a way ... or a hint to the answers to the four starred Across clues 8
33A 60. Northeastern prep school or its town 6
34A 61. "What's the ___?!" 3
35A 62. Surrender 4
36A 63. Ceramics component 6
37A 64. Web portal with a butterfly logo 3
38A 65. Schooner's stabilizer 4
39A 66. Some spa treatments 5

Across Clues - Strategic Hints

1A: "1. *Succeed"

6 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

2A: "6. Home of War in the Pacific National Historical Park"

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the largest and southernmost island in the marianas which is administered as a territory of the united states; it was ceded by spain to the united states in 1898
  • Similar words include: GU
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GUAM

Remember this word for future puzzles!

3A: "10. Sign on some restroom doors"

3 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the force of workers available
  • Similar words include: military man, Man, homo
  • Opposite of: woman, civilian
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MEN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

4A: "13. Angular unit of measurement"

6 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the unit of plane angle adopted under the systeme international d'unites; equal to the angle at the center of a circle subtended by an arc equal in length to the radius (approximately 57.295 degrees)
  • Similar words include: rad
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RADIAN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

5A: "15. Sapa ___ ("the only emperor" in Quechua)"

4 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a ruler of the incas (or a member of his family)
  • Similar words include: Inka, Incan
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: INCA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

6A: "16. Kitchen gadget brand"

3 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

7A: "17. Must pay"

6 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

8A: "18. *Public messages of appreciation"

9 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

9A: "20. Heavy metal band whose name is a big cat in Spanish"

7 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

10A: "22. Alternatively ... !!!"

6 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

11A: "23. Sign out?"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an opening that permits escape or release
  • Similar words include: give-up the ghost, passing, buy the farm
  • Opposite of: be born, enter
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EXIT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

12A: "24. Firehouse supply"

7 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that steps consisting of two parallel members connected by rungs; for climbing up or down
  • Similar words include: ladder, run, ravel
  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LADDERS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

13A: "26. Take out, in a way"

3 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the seat within a bishop's diocese where his cathedral is located
  • Similar words include: regard, come across, interpret
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SEE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

14A: "28. "An idea ...""

3 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the chance to speak
  • Similar words include: read, articulate, sound out
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SAY

Remember this word for future puzzles!

15A: "30. Mount known to produce rare volcanic "smoke rings""

4 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an inactive volcano in sicily; last erupted in 1961; the highest volcano in europe (10,500 feet)
  • Similar words include: Mount Etna, bunsen, Mt Etna
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ETNA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

16A: "31. Off-road ride, for short"

3 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

17A: "32. Horned mountain climber"

4 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that wild goat of mountain areas of eurasia and northern africa having large recurved horns
  • Similar words include: Capra ibex
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: IBEX

Remember this word for future puzzles!

18A: "34. Pen"

6 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a pen for cattle
  • Similar words include: cattle pen, cow pen
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CORRAL

Remember this word for future puzzles!

19A: "36. Dennis's sister on "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia""

3 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

20A: "37. *New England-style chowder, for one"

8 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

21A: "39. ___-weekly (mag type)"

3 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

22A: "40. Small surgical instrument"

6 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an acutely pointed gothic arch, like a lance
  • Similar words include: lancet arch, lance
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LANCET

Remember this word for future puzzles!

23A: "42. Wraps up"

4 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that either extremity of something that has length
  • Similar words include: end, final stage, closing
  • Opposite of: begin, beginning
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ENDS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

24A: "43. Wield"

3 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that one of the strands twisted together to make yarn or rope or thread; often used in combination
  • Similar words include: cater, run, provide
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PLY

Remember this word for future puzzles!

25A: "44. Ingrid Bergman's "Casablanca" role"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

26A: "45. Stuff with strands"

3 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

27A: "46. College subj. that can be evolutionary or behavioral"

3 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

28A: "47. Lightweight fabric for a handkerchief"

7 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a thin plain-weave cotton or linen fabric; used for shirts or dresses
  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BATISTE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

29A: "50. Tomato type"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a member of a people with dark skin and hair who speak romany and who traditionally live by seasonal work and fortunetelling; they are believed to have originated in northern india but now are living on all continents (but mostly in europe, north africa, and north america)
  • Similar words include: Italian capital, Rommany, ROM
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ROMA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

30A: "53. Pet project?"

6 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that outbuilding that serves as a shelter for a dog
  • Similar words include: doghouse, dog house
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: KENNEL

Remember this word for future puzzles!

31A: "54. *Long-legged wader"

8 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that large pink to scarlet web-footed wading bird with down-bent bill; inhabits brackish lakes
  • Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FLAMINGO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

32A: "58. Provide comfort, in a way ... or a hint to the answers to the four starred Across clues"

8 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

33A: "60. Northeastern prep school or its town"

6 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

34A: "61. "What's the ___?!""

3 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the act of using
  • Similar words include: expend, apply, role
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: USE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

35A: "62. Surrender"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that give over; surrender or relinquish to the physical control of another
  • Similar words include: give up, yield, concede
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CEDE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

36A: "63. Ceramics component"

6 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a white or colorless vitreous insoluble solid (sio2); various forms occur widely in the earth's crust as quartz or cristobalite or tridymite or lechatelierite
  • Similar words include: silicon oxide, silicon dioxide
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SILICA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

37A: "64. Web portal with a butterfly logo"

3 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

38A: "65. Schooner's stabilizer"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a projection or ridge that suggests a keel
  • Similar words include: careen, swag, stagger
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: KEEL

Remember this word for future puzzles!

39A: "66. Some spa treatments"

5 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a covering to disguise or conceal the face
  • Similar words include: masquerade, disguise, masque
  • Opposite of: unmask
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MASKS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

Down Clues - Complete List

No. Clue Letters
1D 1. What a phone call or new album might do 4
2D 2. 7-Eleven competitor on the East Coast 4
3D 3. Tree of knowledge locale 4
4D 4. Directory name 6
5D 5. *Behind in payment 4
6D 6. Ones "over there" in "Over There," in brief 3
7D 7. Sacrilegious 6
8D 8. Legend, e.g. 5
9D 9. Beat in chess 5
10D 10. Mechanisms that are often spring-loaded 10
11D 11. *Forevermore 9
12D 12. Us, in Spanish 3
13D 14. Sushi seaweed type 4
14D 19. From further back 5
15D 21. Befuddled 5
16D 25. Coarse, as language 5
17D 26. Quickly smooch ... or a hint to the answers to the four starred Down clues 10
18D 27. Square 10
19D 29. *Word appearing 51 times in the New Testament 4
20D 31. Speak extemporaneously 5
21D 32. Makeup of some shelves 3
22D 33. Lunch item usually eaten with two hands, in brief 3
23D 34. Cow's mouthful 3
24D 35. Photo ___ 3
25D 38. Wolf (down) 5
26D 41. Michael nominated for Oscars in five different decades 5
27D 45. Fool 6
28D 46. Hollywood's Anderson or Bach 6
29D 48. Nosh 5
30D 49. Little laugh 5
31D 51. Sounds from un estadio 4
32D 52. *Severely harm 4
33D 55. Words of affirmation 4
34D 56. Resting place for a boa 4
35D 57. Pรขtรฉ de foie ___ 4
36D 58. Unpleasant discovery under a desk 3
37D 59. Hair raiser? 3

Down Clues - Strategic Hints

1D: "1. What a phone call or new album might do"

4 letters ๐Ÿ’ญ Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a shape that is spherical and small
  • Similar words include: expend, send packing, shake off
  • Opposite of: sharpen, attend to
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DROP

Remember this word for future puzzles!

2D: "2. 7-Eleven competitor on the East Coast"

4 letters ๐Ÿ’ญ Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

3D: "3. Tree of knowledge locale"

4 letters ๐Ÿ’ญ Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that any place of complete bliss and delight and peace
  • Similar words include: paradise, nirvana, heaven
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EDEN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

4D: "4. Directory name"

6 letters ๐Ÿ’ญ Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

5D: "5. *Behind in payment"

4 letters ๐Ÿ’ญ Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
  • Similar words include: tardily, recently, recent
  • Opposite of: early
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LATE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

6D: "6. Ones "over there" in "Over There," in brief"

3 letters ๐Ÿ’ญ Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a unit of magnetomotive force equal to 0.7958 ampere-turns
  • Similar words include: Gb, gilbert, Gi
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GIS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

7D: "7. Sacrilegious"

6 letters ๐Ÿ’ญ Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that not hallowed or consecrated
  • Similar words include: infernal, fiendish, hellish
  • Opposite of: holy
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: UNHOLY

Remember this word for future puzzles!

8D: "8. Legend, e.g."

5 letters ๐Ÿ’ญ Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

9D: "9. Beat in chess"

5 letters ๐Ÿ’ญ Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that engage in sexual intercourse
  • Similar words include: snarl, tangle, felt up
  • Opposite of: disentangle, unmated
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MATED

Remember this word for future puzzles!

10D: "10. Mechanisms that are often spring-loaded"

10 letters ๐Ÿ’ญ Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a trap for catching mice
  • Similar words include: trap play, mousetrap
  • Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MOUSETRAPS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

11D: "11. *Forevermore"

9 letters ๐Ÿ’ญ Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that for a limitless time; ; - p.p.bliss
  • Similar words include: forever, evermore, everlastingly
  • Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ETERNALLY

Remember this word for future puzzles!

12D: "12. Us, in Spanish"

3 letters ๐Ÿ’ญ Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a radioactive transuranic element synthesized by bombarding curium with carbon ions; 7 isotopes are known
  • Similar words include: nobelium, atomic number 102, No
  • Opposite of: yes
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NOS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

13D: "14. Sushi seaweed type"

4 letters ๐Ÿ’ญ Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

14D: "19. From further back"

5 letters ๐Ÿ’ญ Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that advanced in years; (`aged' is pronounced as two syllables)
  • Similar words include: one-time, quondam, Old
  • Opposite of: new, young
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OLDER

Remember this word for future puzzles!

15D: "21. Befuddled"

5 letters ๐Ÿ’ญ Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

16D: "25. Coarse, as language"

5 letters ๐Ÿ’ญ Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that engagingly stimulating or provocative
  • Similar words include: piquant
  • Opposite of: fresh
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SALTY

Remember this word for future puzzles!

17D: "26. Quickly smooch ... or a hint to the answers to the four starred Down clues"

10 letters ๐Ÿ’ญ Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

18D: "27. Square"

10 letters ๐Ÿ’ญ Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

19D: "29. *Word appearing 51 times in the New Testament"

4 letters ๐Ÿ’ญ Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a primeval egyptian personification of air and breath; worshipped especially at thebes
  • Similar words include: Amon, Amun
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AMEN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

20D: "31. Speak extemporaneously"

5 letters ๐Ÿ’ญ Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

21D: "32. Makeup of some shelves"

3 letters ๐Ÿ’ญ Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that water frozen in the solid state
  • Similar words include: chicken feed, frost, shabu
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ICE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

22D: "33. Lunch item usually eaten with two hands, in brief"

3 letters ๐Ÿ’ญ Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that sandwich filled with slices of bacon and tomato with lettuce
  • Similar words include: bacon-lettuce-tomato sandwich
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BLT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

23D: "34. Cow's mouthful"

3 letters ๐Ÿ’ญ Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that food of a ruminant regurgitated to be chewed again
  • Similar words include: rechewed food, chew, quid
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CUD

Remember this word for future puzzles!

24D: "35. Photo ___"

3 letters ๐Ÿ’ญ Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that (roman mythology) goddess of abundance and fertility; wife of saturn; counterpart of greek rhea and cybele of ancient asia minor
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OPS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

25D: "38. Wolf (down)"

5 letters ๐Ÿ’ญ Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that make off with belongings of others
  • Similar words include: pinch, purloin, nobble
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SNARF

Remember this word for future puzzles!

26D: "41. Michael nominated for Oscars in five different decades"

5 letters ๐Ÿ’ญ Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

27D: "45. Fool"

6 letters ๐Ÿ’ญ Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that be false to; be dishonest with
  • Similar words include: deceive, cozen, lead on
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DELUDE

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28D: "46. Hollywood's Anderson or Bach"

6 letters ๐Ÿ’ญ Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

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29D: "48. Nosh"

5 letters ๐Ÿ’ญ Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a light informal meal
  • Similar words include: collation, nosh, bite
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SNACK

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30D: "49. Little laugh"

5 letters ๐Ÿ’ญ Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

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31D: "51. Sounds from un estadio"

4 letters ๐Ÿ’ญ Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

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32D: "52. *Severely harm"

4 letters ๐Ÿ’ญ Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that injure or wound seriously and leave permanent disfiguration or mutilation
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MAIM

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33D: "55. Words of affirmation"

4 letters ๐Ÿ’ญ Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

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34D: "56. Resting place for a boa"

4 letters ๐Ÿ’ญ Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the part of an organism (human or animal) that connects the head to the rest of the body
  • Similar words include: neck opening, cervix, make out
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NECK

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35D: "57. Pรขtรฉ de foie ___"

4 letters ๐Ÿ’ญ Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

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36D: "58. Unpleasant discovery under a desk"

3 letters ๐Ÿ’ญ Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a preparation (usually made of sweetened chicle) for chewing
  • Similar words include: chewing gum, gum tree, mucilage
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GUM

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37D: "59. Hair raiser?"

3 letters ๐Ÿ’ญ Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a colloid in a more solid form than a sol
  • Similar words include: gelatin, colloidal gel, mousse
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GEL

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

39 Across Clues
37 Down Clues
76 Total Clues

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Last updated: February 12, 2026 at 05:12 AM