Thursday, May 14, 2026 – LA Times Crossword Answers & Hints

LA Times Crossword – May 14, 2026 (Thursday)

Today’s crossword puzzle is fun and a little tricky.

If you are stuck, don’t worry!

Here you can find the answers and help.

Crossword puzzles help us:

• Learn new words
• Improve spelling
• Think smart

Theme Answer: WOODCUT

Clue: Artistic printing method, and a feature of rows 2, 5, 11, and 14 in this puzzle

Answer: WOODCUT

Explanation:

A woodcut is a way of printing pictures. The artist carves a design into wood, puts ink on it, and prints it on paper. Today’s puzzle hides types of wood in four rows.

Across Clues

6A. Thurman of “Pretty Lethal”

Answer: UMA

Explanation: Uma Thurman is a famous actress.

13A. Moral principle

Answer: ETHIC

Explanation: An ethic is a rule about what is right or wrong.

14A. “MAS*H” setting, for short

Answer: KOR

Explanation: MASH takes place in Korea (KOR = short form).

15A. “Butterfly Dance” artist

Answer: YANNI

Explanation: Yanni is a music composer.

19A. College where Robert Frost taught English

Answer: AMHERST

Explanation: Robert Frost was a famous poet who taught at Amherst College.

22A. NYC home of Matisse’s “Landscape at Collioure”

Answer: MOMA

Explanation: MoMA is the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

25A. Taylor-Joy of “The Northman”

Answer: ANYA

Explanation: Anya Taylor-Joy is a movie actress.

34A. “Downton Abbey” cook

Answer: DAISY

Explanation: Daisy is a character in the TV show Downton Abbey.

38A. Here, in Honduras

Answer: ACA

Explanation: In Spanish, “aca” means “here.”

41A. Mod About You polish maker

Answer: OPI

Explanation: OPI is a brand that makes nail polish.

42A. Mexican sandwich

Answer: TORTA

Explanation: A torta is a Mexican sandwich.

50A. Electrically adaptable

Answer: AC/DC

Explanation: AC/DC means it can work with both types of electric current.

55A. Sazerac options

Answer: RYES

Explanation: Rye is a type of grain used in drinks.

58A. Abu Dhabi, e.g.

Answer: EMIRATE

Explanation: Abu Dhabi is one of the Emirates in the UAE.

61A. Expanse crossed by Odysseus

Answer: IONIAN SEA

Explanation: In Greek stories, Odysseus crossed the Ionian Sea.

65A. Like van Gogh and Vermeer

Answer: DUTCH

Explanation: Both artists were from the Netherlands (Dutch).

70A. Blades for some Olympians

Answer: EPEES

Explanation: An épée is a type of fencing sword used in the Olympics.

Down Clues

1D. Super Mario Bros. console

Answer: NES

Explanation: NES is a Nintendo gaming system.

2D. Jazzy James

Answer: ETTA

Explanation: Etta James was a famous singer.

3D. Guitar accessory that may create vibrato

Answer: WHAMMY BAR

Explanation: A whammy bar is used on guitars to change sound.

4D. Knights’ neighbors

Answer: BISHOPS

Explanation: In chess, bishops sit next to knights.

5D. Blueprint

Answer: SCHEMA

Explanation: A schema is a plan or design.

9D. Prehistoric supercontinent

Answer: PANGAEA

Explanation: Pangaea was one giant land before continents split.

11D. Moriarty, to Holmes

Answer: ENEMY

Explanation: Moriarty is the enemy of Sherlock Holmes.

18D. Latvian capital

Answer: RIGA

Explanation: Riga is the capital city of Latvia.

36D. Hormel product

Answer: SPAM

Explanation: Spam is a canned meat product.

43D. Elements of a strategy

Answer: TACTICS

Explanation: Tactics are small actions used in a plan.

51D. Easy part of a sky in a jigsaw puzzle

Answer: CLOUD

Explanation: Puzzle sky areas are often blue with clouds.

54D. Oscar winner Witherspoon

Answer: REESE

Explanation: Reese Witherspoon is an actress.

60D. Brontë orphan

Answer: EYRE

Explanation: Jane Eyre is a famous novel character.

XWordHint Crossword Answers April 27, 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
• Across Clues Table (35 clues)
• Across Clues - Detailed Hints
• Down Clues Table (43 clues)
• Down Clues - Detailed Hints
• Expert Solving Strategies
• Today's Puzzle Statistics

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. Paths for lobbed tennis balls	4
2A	5. Tribe of Arizona	4
3A	9. Flinch, say	5
4A	14. Short blast from a horn	4
5A	15. Actor McGregor of "Trainspotting"	4
6A	16. Han Solo's response to Leia's "I love you"	5
7A	17. Singer's recovery period	9
8A	19. "Catch my drift?"	5
9A	20. Shop	5
10A	21. Spot for a soak	3
11A	23. Dear ___ (letter start)	3
12A	24. Pumice or basalt	12
13A	29. Chemical that speeds up a fruit's aging process	7
14A	32. Film director Coen	5
15A	33. "Our Lips ___ Sealed" (hit by the Go-Go's)	3
16A	34. Youngest woman ever elected to Congress, familiarly	3
17A	36. Betraying surprise, in a way	5
18A	39. Spinoff of "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills"	15
19A	44. Big name in microprocessors	5
20A	45. "Who's Who in the Cast" blurb	3
21A	46. Tie-breaking periods, for short	3
22A	47. How a picture book may be read at bedtime	5
23A	50. ___ of hand (magician's skill)	7
24A	53. Congressional history	12
25A	56. Palindrome akin to "Aha!"	3
26A	57. Work well together	3
27A	58. Florida's ___-Dade County	5
28A	62. Jousting weapon	5
29A	65. Device worn by a video gamer ... or a hint to 17-, 24-, 39- and 53-Across	9
30A	68. Basic piano chord	5
31A	69. Notes of indebtedness	4
32A	70. Gets eyes on	4
33A	71. Sends frisky messages	5
34A	72. Strong soapmaking solutions	4
35A	73. Like bourbon	4

Across Clues - Strategic Hints

1A: "1. Paths for lobbed tennis balls"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that electrical conduction through a gas in an applied electric field
• Similar words include: arc, bow, spark
• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: ARCS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

2A: "5. Tribe of Arizona"

4 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a member of the shoshonean people of northeastern arizona
• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: HOPI

Remember this word for future puzzles!

3A: "9. Flinch, say"

5 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that show a response or a reaction to something
• Similar words include: respond, oppose
• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: REACT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

4A: "14. Short blast from a horn"

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a blast of a horn
• Similar words include: carousal, beep, booze-up
• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: TOOT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

5A: "15. Actor McGregor of "Trainspotting""

4 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: EWAN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

6A: "16. Han Solo's response to Leia's "I love you""

5 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: IKNOW

Remember this word for future puzzles!

7A: "17. Singer's recovery period"

9 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: _________

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: VOCALREST

Remember this word for future puzzles!

8A: "19. "Catch my drift?""

5 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: GETME

Remember this word for future puzzles!

9A: "20. Shop"

5 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a mercantile establishment for the retail sale of goods or services
• Similar words include: computer storage, memory board, put in
• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: STORE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

10A: "21. Spot for a soak"

3 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a relatively large open container that you fill with water and use to wash the body
• Similar words include: tubful, bath, bathing tub
• Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: TUB

Remember this word for future puzzles!

11A: "23. Dear ___ (letter start)"

3 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that term of address for a man
• Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: SIR

Remember this word for future puzzles!

12A: "24. Pumice or basalt"

12 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ____________

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: VOLCANICROCK

Remember this word for future puzzles!

13A: "29. Chemical that speeds up a fruit's aging process"

7 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: _______

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: RIPENER

Remember this word for future puzzles!

14A: "32. Film director Coen"

5 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: ETHAN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

15A: "33. "Our Lips ___ Sealed" (hit by the Go-Go's)"

3 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a unit of surface area equal to 100 square meters
• Similar words include: equal, ar, be
• Opposite of: differ

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: ARE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

16A: "34. Youngest woman ever elected to Congress, familiarly"

3 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: AOC

Remember this word for future puzzles!

17A: "36. Betraying surprise, in a way"

5 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: AGASP

Remember this word for future puzzles!

18A: "39. Spinoff of "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills""

15 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: _______________

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: VANDERPUMPRULES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

19A: "44. Big name in microprocessors"

5 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: INTEL

Remember this word for future puzzles!

20A: "45. "Who's Who in the Cast" blurb"

3 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: BIO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

21A: "46. Tie-breaking periods, for short"

3 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: OTS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

22A: "47. How a picture book may be read at bedtime"

5 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that using the voice; not silently
• Similar words include: loud, loudly, out loud
• Opposite of: softly

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: ALOUD

Remember this word for future puzzles!

23A: "50. ___ of hand (magician's skill)"

7 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that adroitness in using the hands
• Similar words include: manual dexterity, dexterity
• Pattern: _______

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: SLEIGHT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

24A: "53. Congressional history"

12 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ____________

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: VOTINGRECORD

Remember this word for future puzzles!

25A: "56. Palindrome akin to "Aha!""

3 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: OHO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

26A: "57. Work well together"

3 letters Category: Common Word

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!

27A: "58. Florida's ___-Dade County"

5 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a member of the extinct algonquian people formerly living in northern indiana and southern michigan
• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: MIAMI

Remember this word for future puzzles!

28A: "62. Jousting weapon"

5 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a long pointed rod used as a tool or weapon
• Similar words include: spear, shaft, fizgig
• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: LANCE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

29A: "65. Device worn by a video gamer ... or a hint to 17-, 24-, 39- and 53-Across"

9 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: _________

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: VRHEADSET

Remember this word for future puzzles!

30A: "68. Basic piano chord"

5 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
• Similar words include: trine, trey, triple
• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: TRIAD

Remember this word for future puzzles!

31A: "69. Notes of indebtedness"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that an informal debt instrument; representing `i owe you'
• Similar words include: IOU
• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: IOUS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

32A: "70. Gets eyes on"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that the seat within a bishop's diocese where his cathedral is located
• Similar words include: fancy, take in, understand
• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: SEES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

33A: "71. Sends frisky messages"

5 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that the fourth of the seven canonical hours; about noon
• Similar words include: sext
• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: SEXTS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

34A: "72. Strong soapmaking solutions"

4 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a strong solution of sodium or potassium hydroxide
• Similar words include: lye
• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: LYES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

35A: "73. Like bourbon"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: OAKY

Remember this word for future puzzles!

Down Clues - Complete List

No.	Clue	Letters
1D	1. Four-wheelers, in brief	4
2D	2. Word before beer or after square	4
3D	3. Pixar film with the Oscar-winning song "Remember Me"	4
4D	4. "Feed a cold, ___ a fever" (dubious medical advice)	6
5D	5. That girl	3
6D	6. Have debts	3
7D	7. Many an Olive Garden entree	5
8D	8. Sounding good, as a musical instrument	6
9D	9. 18-wheeler	3
10D	10. Barely get (by)	3
11D	11. Snack with celery, peanut butter and raisins	10
12D	12. "Peanuts" or "Pickles"	5
13D	13. Do some booty-shaking	5
14D	18. Spinks who defeated Muhammad Ali	4
15D	22. One-eighth of a byte	3
16D	25. Titular Shakespearean king	4
17D	26. Remove outer parts from, as a photo	4
18D	27. Burn until black	4
19D	28. Prego alternative	4
20D	29. Sitar virtuoso Shankar	4
21D	30. Tehran's land	4
22D	31. Grammy-winning a cappella group famous for their Christmas albums	10
23D	35. Chicago slugger	3
24D	37. "Late Night" host Meyers	4
25D	38. "Hey! Over here!"	4
26D	40. Place to purchase pastrami	4
27D	41. North Carolina university	4
28D	42. Catchall category: Abbr.	4
29D	43. Sport on a horse	4
30D	48. Sheepskin boot brand	3
31D	49. Role for Mike Myers in the Austin Powers movies	6
32D	51. Columnist Bombeck	4
33D	52. Doubling-down assertion	6
34D	53. Battery measure	5
35D	54. Chicago airport	5
36D	55. "The Jetsons" boy	5
37D	59. On the waves	4
38D	60. Gentle and submissive	4
39D	61. ___-bitsy	4
40D	63. Garfield in the funny pages, e.g.	3
41D	64. Magazine bigwigs, in brief	3
42D	66. Gradation of color	3
43D	67. Letter before tee	3

Down Clues - Strategic Hints

1D: "1. Four-wheelers, in brief"

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: ATVS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

2D: "2. Word before beer or after square"

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that (botany) the usually underground organ that lacks buds or leaves or nodes; absorbs water and mineral salts; usually it anchors the plant to the ground
• Similar words include: rootage, theme, ancestor
• Opposite of: descendant

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: ROOT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

3D: "3. Pixar film with the Oscar-winning song "Remember Me""

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that tall palm tree bearing coconuts as fruits; widely planted throughout the tropics
• Similar words include: coco palm, cocoa palm, coconut tree
• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: COCO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

4D: "4. "Feed a cold, ___ a fever" (dubious medical advice)"

6 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that be hungry; go without food
• Similar words include: hunger, famish, lust
• Opposite of: feed, be full

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: STARVE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

5D: "5. That girl"

3 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: HER

Remember this word for future puzzles!

6D: "6. Have debts"

3 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that be obliged to pay or repay
• Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: OWE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

7D: "7. Many an Olive Garden entree"

5 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a dish that contains pasta as its main ingredient
• Similar words include: alimentary paste
• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: PASTA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

8D: "8. Sounding good, as a musical instrument"

6 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ______

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: INTUNE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

9D: "9. 18-wheeler"

3 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that gear (including necessary machinery) for a particular enterprise
• Similar words include: fishing rig, semi, set
• Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: RIG

Remember this word for future puzzles!

10D: "10. Barely get (by)"

3 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: EKE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

11D: "11. Snack with celery, peanut butter and raisins"

10 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: __________

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: ANTSONALOG

Remember this word for future puzzles!

12D: "12. "Peanuts" or "Pickles""

5 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a professional performer who tells jokes and performs comical acts
• Similar words include: risible, funny, amusing
• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: COMIC

Remember this word for future puzzles!

13D: "13. Do some booty-shaking"

5 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: TWERK

Remember this word for future puzzles!

14D: "18. Spinks who defeated Muhammad Ali"

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a historical area and former kingdom in northwestern spain
• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: LEON

Remember this word for future puzzles!

15D: "22. One-eighth of a byte"

3 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a small piece or quantity of something
• Similar words include: seize with teeth, scrap, morsel
• Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: BIT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

16D: "25. Titular Shakespearean king"

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that british artist and writer of nonsense verse (1812-1888)
• Similar words include: Edward Lear, King Lear
• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: LEAR

Remember this word for future puzzles!

17D: "26. Remove outer parts from, as a photo"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that the yield from plants in a single growing season
• Similar words include: dress, craw, cut back
• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: CROP

Remember this word for future puzzles!

18D: "27. Burn until black"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a charred substance
• Similar words include: cleaning lady, woman, sear
• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: CHAR

Remember this word for future puzzles!

19D: "28. Prego alternative"

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: RAGU

Remember this word for future puzzles!

20D: "29. Sitar virtuoso Shankar"

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: RAVI

Remember this word for future puzzles!

21D: "30. Tehran's land"

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a theocratic islamic republic in the middle east in western asia; iran was the core of the ancient empire that was known as persia until 1935; rich in oil
• Similar words include: Persia, Islamic Republic of Iran
• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: IRAN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

22D: "31. Grammy-winning a cappella group famous for their Christmas albums"

10 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: __________

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: PENTATONIX

Remember this word for future puzzles!

23D: "35. Chicago slugger"

3 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that an awkward and inexperienced youth
• Similar words include: greenhorn, sonny, lad
• Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: CUB

Remember this word for future puzzles!

24D: "37. "Late Night" host Meyers"

4 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that (old testament) third son of adam and eve; given by god in place of the murdered abel
• Similar words include: Set
• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: SETH

Remember this word for future puzzles!

25D: "38. "Hey! Over here!""

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: PSST

Remember this word for future puzzles!

26D: "40. Place to purchase pastrami"

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a shop selling ready-to-eat food products
• Similar words include: delicatessen, food shop
• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: DELI

Remember this word for future puzzles!

27D: "41. North Carolina university"

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: ELON

Remember this word for future puzzles!

28D: "42. Catchall category: Abbr."

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: MISC

Remember this word for future puzzles!

29D: "43. Sport on a horse"

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that venetian traveler who explored asia in the 13th century and served kublai khan (1254-1324)
• Similar words include: Marco Polo
• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: POLO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

30D: "48. Sheepskin boot brand"

3 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: UGG

Remember this word for future puzzles!

31D: "49. Role for Mike Myers in the Austin Powers movies"

6 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ______

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: DREVIL

Remember this word for future puzzles!

32D: "51. Columnist Bombeck"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: ERMA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

33D: "52. Doubling-down assertion"

6 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ______

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: IDIDSO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

34D: "53. Battery measure"

5 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a unit of potential equal to the potential difference between two points on a conductor carrying a current of 1 ampere when the power dissipated between the two points is 1 watt; equivalent to the potential difference across a resistance of 1 ohm when 1 ampere of current flows through it
• Similar words include: volt, V
• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: VOLTS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

35D: "54. Chicago airport"

5 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: OHARE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

36D: "55. "The Jetsons" boy"

5 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: ELROY

Remember this word for future puzzles!

37D: "59. On the waves"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that in the direction of the sea
• Similar words include: seaward, seawards
• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: ASEA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

38D: "60. Gentle and submissive"

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that humble in spirit or manner; suggesting retiring mildness or even cowed submissiveness
• Similar words include: modest, spiritless, mild
• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: MEEK

Remember this word for future puzzles!

39D: "61. ___-bitsy"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: ITSY

Remember this word for future puzzles!

40D: "63. Garfield in the funny pages, e.g."

3 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that feline mammal usually having thick soft fur and no ability to roar: domestic cats; wildcats
• Similar words include: computerized tomography, computed axial tomography, barf
• Opposite of: keep down

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: CAT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

41D: "64. Magazine bigwigs, in brief"

3 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a rapid automatic system to detect plastic explosives in passengers' luggage using x-ray technology and computers; designed for use in airports
• Similar words include: male erecticle dysfunction, erectile dysfunction, ED
• Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: EDS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

42D: "66. Gradation of color"

3 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that the quality of a color as determined by its dominant wavelength
• Similar words include: imbue, chromaticity
• Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: HUE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

43D: "67. Letter before tee"

3 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a radioactive transuranic element produced by bombarding plutonium with neutrons
• Similar words include: einsteinium, Es, atomic number 99
• Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: ESS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

Expert Solving Strategies

Start Smart

Begin with fill-in-the-blank clues and short 3-4 letter words. These are your foundation.

Decode the Clues

Question marks indicate wordplay or puns. "Maybe" suggests multiple interpretations.

Use Cross-References

Let intersecting letters guide you. One correct answer unlocks several others.

Build Vocabulary

Common crossword words repeat. Learning them speeds up future solving.

Today's Puzzle Stats

35 Across Clues

43 Down Clues

78 Total Clues

More NYT Crossword Help

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

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Last updated: April 27, 2026 at 06:14 AM

XWordHint Crossword Answers February 16, 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
• Across Clues Table (40 clues)
• Across Clues - Detailed Hints
• Down Clues Table (38 clues)
• Down Clues - Detailed Hints
• Expert Solving Strategies
• Today's Puzzle Statistics

Today's Puzzle Difficulty: Challenging

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

Across Clues - Complete List

No.	Clue	Letters
1A	1. Necklace fastener	5
2A	6. Physique, slangily	3
3A	9. "___ to that!"	4
4A	13. Textile city NNE of Paris	5
5A	14. New wave band with the hit "Whip It"	4
6A	15. Improvise, in jazz	4
7A	16. Stared rudely	5
8A	17. Late-night kitchen visit, e.g.	4
9A	18. Stench	4
10A	19. Longtime comic strip set in a medieval kingdom	13
11A	22. Home for pigs	3
12A	23. Teen wearing heavy eyeliner, maybe	4
13A	24. Really, really cool	6
14A	27. "My dude!"	3
15A	28. Computer operating system developed by Bell Labs	4
16A	30. ___-Hulk	3
17A	31. Charge for airing a commercial	5
18A	34. Fictional lab assistant with a hunchback	4
19A	35. Stylish	4
20A	36. Capital of the Gem State, in a mailing address	7
21A	38. Possible cybercrime, informally	7
22A	40. M.I.T. Mystery ___ (annual puzzle competition)	4
23A	41. Close by	4
24A	43. Corrosion signs	5
25A	44. Stadium cheer	3
26A	45. Glance through	4
27A	46. Reader's Digest or Golf Digest, in brief	3
28A	47. Where clams are served	6
29A	49. Knotted (up)	4
30A	51. Rep.'s counterpart	3
31A	54. "Makes no difference to me"	13
32A	57. Actress Kendrick	4
33A	59. Hourly pay rate	4
34A	60. Flock that honks	5
35A	61. Follow directions	4
36A	62. Conga, for one	4
37A	63. Chicago's ___ Planetarium	5
38A	64. Scottish girl	4
39A	65. Place to get a rubdown	3
40A	66. Voting spots	5

Across Clues - Strategic Hints

1A: "1. Necklace fastener"

5 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a fastener (as a buckle or hook) that is used to hold two things together
• Similar words include: clutches, grip, brooch
• Opposite of: unclasp, unbuckle

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: CLASP

Remember this word for future puzzles!

2A: "6. Physique, slangily"

3 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that alternative names for the body of a human being
• Similar words include: chassis, human body, form
• Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: BOD

Remember this word for future puzzles!

3A: "9. "___ to that!""

4 letters 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!

4A: "13. Textile city NNE of Paris"

5 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that an industrial city in northern france near the belgian border; was the medieval capital of flanders
• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: LILLE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

5A: "14. New wave band with the hit "Whip It""

4 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: DEVO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

6A: "15. Improvise, in jazz"

4 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a seductive woman who uses her sex appeal to exploit men
• Similar words include: tease, flirt, vamper
• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: VAMP

Remember this word for future puzzles!

7A: "16. Stared rudely"

5 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that look at with amorous intentions
• Similar words include: ogle
• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: OGLED

Remember this word for future puzzles!

8A: "17. Late-night kitchen visit, e.g."

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a sudden short attack
• Similar words include: maraud, bust, foray
• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: RAID

Remember this word for future puzzles!

9A: "18. Stench"

4 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that any property detected by the olfactory system
• Similar words include: olfactory sensation, olfactory perception, scent
• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: ODOR

Remember this word for future puzzles!

10A: "19. Longtime comic strip set in a medieval kingdom"

13 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: _____________

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: THEWIZARDOFID

Remember this word for future puzzles!

11A: "22. Home for pigs"

3 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that an infection of the sebaceous gland of the eyelid
• Similar words include: pigsty, hordeolum, stye
• Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: STY

Remember this word for future puzzles!

12A: "23. Teen wearing heavy eyeliner, maybe"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a crude uncouth ill-bred person lacking culture or refinement
• Similar words include: tike, boor, peasant
• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: GOTH

Remember this word for future puzzles!

13A: "24. Really, really cool"

6 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ______

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: BADASS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

14A: "27. "My dude!""

3 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: BRO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

15A: "28. Computer operating system developed by Bell Labs"

4 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that trademark for a powerful operating system
• Similar words include: UNIX operating system, UNIX system
• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: UNIX

Remember this word for future puzzles!

16A: "30. ___-Hulk"

3 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: SHE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

17A: "31. Charge for airing a commercial"

5 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: ADFEE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

18A: "34. Fictional lab assistant with a hunchback"

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: IGOR

Remember this word for future puzzles!

19A: "35. Stylish"

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that elegance by virtue of being fashionable
• Similar words include: chicness, last word, stylishness
• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: CHIC

Remember this word for future puzzles!

20A: "36. Capital of the Gem State, in a mailing address"

7 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: _______

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: BOISEID

Remember this word for future puzzles!

21A: "38. Possible cybercrime, informally"

7 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: _______

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: IDTHEFT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

22A: "40. M.I.T. Mystery ___ (annual puzzle competition)"

4 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that englishman and pre-raphaelite painter (1827-1910)
• Similar words include: Leigh Hunt, hunt down, Holman Hunt
• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: HUNT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

23A: "41. Close by"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that move towards
• Similar words include: come near, draw near, nearly
• Opposite of: far

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: NEAR

Remember this word for future puzzles!

24A: "43. Corrosion signs"

5 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a red or brown oxide coating on iron or steel caused by the action of oxygen and moisture
• Similar words include: eat, rust fungus, rust
• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: RUSTS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

25A: "44. Stadium cheer"

3 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: OLE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

26A: "45. Glance through"

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that the act of scanning; systematic examination of a prescribed region
• Similar words include: glance over, rake, CAT scan
• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: SCAN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

27A: "46. Reader's Digest or Golf Digest, in brief"

3 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a periodic publication containing pictures and stories and articles of interest to those who purchase it or subscribe to it
• Similar words include: magazine
• Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: MAG

Remember this word for future puzzles!

28A: "47. Where clams are served"

6 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ______

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: RAWBAR

Remember this word for future puzzles!

29A: "49. Knotted (up)"

4 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that fasten or secure with a rope, string, or cord
• Similar words include: connect, draw, level
• Opposite of: untied, disconnect

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: TIED

Remember this word for future puzzles!

30A: "51. Rep.'s counterpart"

3 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: DEM

Remember this word for future puzzles!

31A: "54. "Makes no difference to me""

13 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: _____________

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: IDGOEITHERWAY

Remember this word for future puzzles!

32A: "57. Actress Kendrick"

4 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a former copper coin of pakistan and india
• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: ANNA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

33A: "59. Hourly pay rate"

4 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that something that remunerates
• Similar words include: pay, salary, earnings
• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: WAGE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

34A: "60. Flock that honks"

5 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that web-footed long-necked typically gregarious migratory aquatic birds usually larger and less aquatic than ducks
• Similar words include: goose, goofball, jackass
• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: GEESE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

35A: "61. Follow directions"

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that be obedient to
• Opposite of: disobey
• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: OBEY

Remember this word for future puzzles!

36A: "62. Conga, for one"

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a musical percussion instrument; usually consists of a hollow cylinder with a membrane stretched across each end
• Similar words include: cram, grind away, bone
• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: DRUM

Remember this word for future puzzles!

37A: "63. Chicago's ___ Planetarium"

5 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: ADLER

Remember this word for future puzzles!

38A: "64. Scottish girl"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a girl or young woman who is unmarried
• Similar words include: lassie, jeune fille, young girl
• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: LASS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

39A: "65. Place to get a rubdown"

3 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a health resort near a spring or at the seaside
• Similar words include: health spa, health club, resort hotel
• Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: SPA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

40A: "66. Voting spots"

5 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that the place where people vote
• Similar words include: public opinion poll, crown, canvass
• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: POLLS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

Down Clues - Complete List

No.	Clue	Letters
1D	1. Thickens, as cream	5
2D	2. Not heavy	5
3D	3. Narrow way between city buildings	5
4D	4. Whole bunch	4
5D	5. Horse's ancestral line	8
6D	6. Hearty embrace	7
7D	7. Roman poet who wrote "Metamorphoses"	4
8D	8. Dull-witted sort	8
9D	9. Eschew	5
10D	10. Frantic scrambles	9
11D	11. Rock subgenre with confessional lyrics	3
12D	12. "All Things Considered" airer	3
13D	14. "Fiddlesticks!"	4
14D	20. D.C.'s National ___	3
15D	21. Kind of number on an old business card	3
16D	25. Change gears	5
17D	26. Religious offshoots	5
18D	27. Top-tier	4
19D	29. Pinot ___	4
20D	31. Give 0 stars in a review, say	5
21D	32. One giving support during childbirth	5
22D	33. High-quality reds and whites	9
23D	34. Something to noodle on	4
24D	35. Drink very quickly	4
25D	37. Glitterati	8
26D	39. Shortfall of exports vis-à-vis imports	8
27D	42. One of the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean	7
28D	45. Droop	3
29D	46. "It's just OK"	3
30D	48. Occasions for blowing out candles on cakes, informally	5
31D	50. Agenda bullet point	4
32D	51. Linger (on), as a topic	5
33D	52. Art supporter	5
34D	53. Mike who voiced Shrek in "Shrek"	5
35D	55. Wyatt at the O.K. Corral	4
36D	56. Make over	4
37D	57. Early leader in instant messaging	3
38D	58. Org. for the Raptors, but not the Blue Jays	3

Down Clues - Strategic Hints

1D: "1. Thickens, as cream"

5 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a lump of material formed from the content of a liquid
• Similar words include: clog, coagulum, clabber
• Opposite of: homogenize

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: CLOTS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

2D: "2. Not heavy"

5 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that (physics) electromagnetic radiation that can produce a visual sensation
• Similar words include: easy, Light Within, illumine
• Opposite of: extinguish, heavy

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: LIGHT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

3D: "3. Narrow way between city buildings"

5 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a narrow street with walls on both sides
• Similar words include: alleyway, back street, skittle alley
• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: ALLEY

Remember this word for future puzzles!

4D: "4. Whole bunch"

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that (often followed by `of') a large number or amount or extent
• Similar words include: heap, mountain, spate
• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: SLEW

Remember this word for future puzzles!

5D: "5. Horse's ancestral line"

8 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that the descendants of one individual
• Similar words include: stemma, stock, line
• Pattern: ________

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: PEDIGREE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

6D: "6. Hearty embrace"

7 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: _______

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: BEARHUG

Remember this word for future puzzles!

7D: "7. Roman poet who wrote "Metamorphoses""

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that roman poet remembered for his elegiac verses on love (43 bc - ad 17)
• Similar words include: Publius Ovidius Naso
• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: OVID

Remember this word for future puzzles!

8D: "8. Dull-witted sort"

8 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ________

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: DODOBIRD

Remember this word for future puzzles!

9D: "9. Eschew"

5 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that stay clear from; keep away from; keep out of the way of someone or something
• Similar words include: head off, obviate, annul
• Opposite of: validate, confront

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: AVOID

Remember this word for future puzzles!

10D: "10. Frantic scrambles"

9 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: _________

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: MADDASHES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

11D: "11. Rock subgenre with confessional lyrics"

3 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: EMO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

12D: "12. "All Things Considered" airer"

3 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: NPR

Remember this word for future puzzles!

13D: "14. "Fiddlesticks!""

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: DRAT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

14D: "20. D.C.'s National ___"

3 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that the facility where wild animals are housed for exhibition
• Similar words include: menagerie, zoological garden
• Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: ZOO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

15D: "21. Kind of number on an old business card"

3 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that duplicator that transmits the copy by wire or radio
• Similar words include: facsimile, facsimile machine, telefax
• Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: FAX

Remember this word for future puzzles!

16D: "25. Change gears"

5 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that an event in which something is displaced without rotation
• Similar words include: shift key, agitate, transfer
• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: SHIFT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

17D: "26. Religious offshoots"

5 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a subdivision of a larger religious group
• Similar words include: sect, religious sect, faction
• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: SECTS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

18D: "27. Top-tier"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that the supreme effort one can make
• Similar words include: Charles Herbert Best, sound, serious
• Opposite of: badly, bad

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: BEST

Remember this word for future puzzles!

19D: "29. Pinot ___"

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: NOIR

Remember this word for future puzzles!

20D: "31. Give 0 stars in a review, say"

5 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that find repugnant
• Similar words include: execrate, loathe, abominate
• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: ABHOR

Remember this word for future puzzles!

21D: "32. One giving support during childbirth"

5 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that an assistant (often the father of the soon-to-be-born child) who provides support for a woman in labor by encouraging her to use techniques learned in childbirth-preparation classes
• Similar words include: birthing coach, monitrice, labor coach
• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: DOULA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

22D: "33. High-quality reds and whites"

9 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: _________

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: FINEWINES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

23D: "34. Something to noodle on"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
• Similar words include: melodic theme, theme, approximation
• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: IDEA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

24D: "35. Drink very quickly"

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that the dull explosive noise made by an engine
• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: CHUG

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25D: "37. Glitterati"

8 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ________

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: INCROWDS

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26D: "39. Shortfall of exports vis-à-vis imports"

8 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ________

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: TRADEGAP

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27D: "42. One of the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean"

7 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that the largest of the islands comprising antigua and barbuda
• Pattern: _______

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: ANTIGUA

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28D: "45. Droop"

3 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a shape that sags
• Similar words include: flag, swag, sag down
• Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: SAG

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29D: "46. "It's just OK""

3 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: MEH

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30D: "48. Occasions for blowing out candles on cakes, informally"

5 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: BDAYS

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31D: "50. Agenda bullet point"

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a distinct part that can be specified separately in a group of things that could be enumerated on a list
• Similar words include: particular, point, detail
• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: ITEM

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32D: "51. Linger (on), as a topic"

5 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that think moodily or anxiously about something
• Similar words include: inhabit, lie, harp
• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: DWELL

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33D: "52. Art supporter"

5 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that an upright tripod for displaying something (usually an artist's canvas)
• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: EASEL

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34D: "53. Mike who voiced Shrek in "Shrek""

5 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: MYERS

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35D: "55. Wyatt at the O.K. Corral"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: EARP

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36D: "56. Make over"

4 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that do over, as of (part of) a house
• Similar words include: remodel, refashion, reconstruct
• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: REDO

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37D: "57. Early leader in instant messaging"

3 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: AOL

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38D: "58. Org. for the Raptors, but not the Blue Jays"

3 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: NBA

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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

38 Down Clues

78 Total Clues

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Last updated: February 16, 2026 at 05:14 AM