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 (37 clues)
- Across Clues - Detailed Hints
- Down Clues Table (41 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. Sound at the beginning and end of a meditation, perhaps | 4 |
| 2A | 5. Bit of smoke | 4 |
| 3A | 9. Primate native to Madagascar | 5 |
| 4A | 14. Where the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers meet | 4 |
| 5A | 15. Up the ___ (raise the stakes) | 4 |
| 6A | 16. Wipe off, as a blackboard | 5 |
| 7A | 17. Gotham City SOS | 9 |
| 8A | 19. Krypton and xenon | 5 |
| 9A | 20. Casino machines | 5 |
| 10A | 21. Tavern perch | 5 |
| 11A | 23. The first "T" of TNT | 3 |
| 12A | 24. "Sure thing" | 3 |
| 13A | 26. Administered an oath to | 7 |
| 14A | 28. Dissension cause, in Greek myth | 14 |
| 15A | 33. Clog or pump | 4 |
| 16A | 34. Exclamation of faux innocence | 3 |
| 17A | 35. One of 88 on a piano | 3 |
| 18A | 36. Not square | 3 |
| 19A | 37. Tacks on ... or, when parsed as two words, what 17-, 28-, 47- and 63-Across all have? | 7 |
| 20A | 40. Poetic homage | 3 |
| 21A | 43. Sedan or coupe | 3 |
| 22A | 45. The "G" in L.G.B.T. | 3 |
| 23A | 46. Much-admired person | 4 |
| 24A | 47. "Take it easy, will you?!" | 14 |
| 25A | 51. Food court loiterer, say | 7 |
| 26A | 52. Shipping company with a red-and-yellow logo | 3 |
| 27A | 53. Industrious little insect | 3 |
| 28A | 54. Made a boo-boo | 5 |
| 29A | 57. "Freddie Mercury" or "Lady Gaga" | 5 |
| 30A | 61. "___ truly ..." | 5 |
| 31A | 63. Poker tell, perhaps | 9 |
| 32A | 65. Green ___ (special military headwear) | 5 |
| 33A | 66. Field of study | 4 |
| 34A | 67. Prerogative of the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council | 4 |
| 35A | 68. Idyllic places | 5 |
| 36A | 69. Office message | 4 |
| 37A | 70. Give off, as radiation | 4 |
Across Clues - Strategic Hints
1A: "1. Sound at the beginning and end of a meditation, perhaps"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a dull resonant sound as of a bell
- Pattern: ____
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2A: "5. Bit of smoke"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a small tuft or lock
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
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3A: "9. Primate native to Madagascar"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that large-eyed arboreal prosimian having foxy faces and long furry tails
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
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4A: "14. Where the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers meet"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a republic in the middle east in western asia; the ancient civilization of mesopotamia was in the area now known as iraq
- Similar words include: Republic of Iraq, Irak, Al-Iraq
- Pattern: ____
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5A: "15. Up the ___ (raise the stakes)"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that (poker) the initial contribution that each player makes to the pot
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
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6A: "16. Wipe off, as a blackboard"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that remove from memory or existence
- Similar words include: rub out, delete, efface
- Opposite of: record
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
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7A: "17. Gotham City SOS"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
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8A: "19. Krypton and xenon"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the state of matter distinguished from the solid and liquid states by: relatively low density and viscosity; relatively great expansion and contraction with changes in pressure and temperature; the ability to diffuse readily; and the spontaneous tendency to become distributed uniformly throughout any container
- Similar words include: gasolene, throttle, natural gas
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
9A: "20. Casino machines"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a position in a grammatical linguistic construction in which a variety of alternative units are interchangeable
- Similar words include: expansion slot, one-armed bandit, time slot
- Pattern: _____
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10A: "21. Tavern perch"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a simple seat without a back or arms
- Similar words include: dejection, can, faecal matter
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
11A: "23. The first "T" of TNT"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
12A: "24. "Sure thing""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
13A: "26. Administered an oath to"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
14A: "28. Dissension cause, in Greek myth"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
15A: "33. Clog or pump"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that footwear shaped to fit the foot (below the ankle) with a flexible upper of leather or plastic and a sole and heel of heavier material
- Similar words include: brake shoe, skid, horseshoe
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
16A: "34. Exclamation of faux innocence"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
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17A: "35. One of 88 on a piano"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that metal device shaped in such a way that when it is inserted into the appropriate lock the lock's mechanism can be rotated
- Similar words include: primal, samara, describe
- Opposite of: atonality
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
18A: "36. Not square"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that either side of the body below the waist and above the thigh
- Similar words include: pelvic girdle, coxa, rose hip
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
19A: "37. Tacks on ... or, when parsed as two words, what 17-, 28-, 47- and 63-Across all have?"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that add to the very end
- Similar words include: tag on, add on, tack on
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
20A: "40. Poetic homage"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a lyric poem with complex stanza forms
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
21A: "43. Sedan or coupe"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine
- Similar words include: automobile, machine, railcar
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
22A: "45. The "G" in L.G.B.T."
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that someone who practices homosexuality; having a sexual attraction to persons of the same sex
- Similar words include: jolly, homosexual, mirthful
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
23A: "46. Much-admired person"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a material effigy that is worshipped
- Similar words include: graven image, god, beau ideal
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
24A: "47. "Take it easy, will you?!""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
25A: "51. Food court loiterer, say"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
26A: "52. Shipping company with a red-and-yellow logo"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
27A: "53. Industrious little insect"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that social insect living in organized colonies; characteristically the males and fertile queen have wings during breeding season; wingless sterile females are the workers
- Similar words include: pismire, emmet
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
28A: "54. Made a boo-boo"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that to make a mistake or be incorrect
- Similar words include: stray, drift, err
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
29A: "57. "Freddie Mercury" or "Lady Gaga""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a name that has been assumed temporarily
- Similar words include: also known as, assumed name, a.k.a.
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
30A: "61. "___ truly ...""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
31A: "63. Poker tell, perhaps"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
32A: "65. Green ___ (special military headwear)"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a cap with no brim or bill; made of soft cloth
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
33A: "66. Field of study"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a particular geographical region of indefinite boundary (usually serving some special purpose or distinguished by its people or culture or geography)
- Similar words include: region, surface area, country
- Pattern: ____
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34A: "67. Prerogative of the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a vote that blocks a decision
- Similar words include: prohibit, nix, negative
- Opposite of: permit, allow
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
35A: "68. Idyllic places"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that any place of complete bliss and delight and peace
- Similar words include: nirvana, Garden of Eden, Eden
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
36A: "69. Office message"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a written proposal or reminder
- Similar words include: memoranda, memorandum
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
37A: "70. Give off, as radiation"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that expel (gases or odors)
- Similar words include: let out, give off, utter
- Opposite of: absorb
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
Down Clues - Complete List
| No. | Clue | Letters |
|---|---|---|
| 1D | 1. Protective wear for lobster eaters | 4 |
| 2D | 2. Exam that doesn't need pen or paper | 4 |
| 3D | 3. Grp. joined by Finland in 2023 and Sweden in 2024 | 4 |
| 4D | 4. Men's fashion magazine | 7 |
| 5D | 5. Show a dog's excitement, as a tail | 3 |
| 6D | 6. B&Bs | 4 |
| 7D | 7. Field goal percentage, for one | 4 |
| 8D | 8. Politico Nancy | 6 |
| 9D | 9. Certain submission moves in wrestling | 8 |
| 10D | 10. Period to live through | 3 |
| 11D | 11. Jedi who trained Luke, formally | 10 |
| 12D | 12. Bit of log-in info | 6 |
| 13D | 13. Sticky tree secretion | 5 |
| 14D | 18. "Now it's clear!" | 4 |
| 15D | 22. Cries of pain | 3 |
| 16D | 25. Ceremonial splendor | 4 |
| 17D | 27. Kind of deer | 3 |
| 18D | 28. It's flicked from a cigarette | 3 |
| 19D | 29. ___ Beta Kappa | 3 |
| 20D | 30. Highbrow critics may sneer at it | 10 |
| 21D | 31. Dandy | 3 |
| 22D | 32. ___ Maradona, Argentine soccer legend | 5 |
| 23D | 37. Possible causes of in-flight disputes | 8 |
| 24D | 38. "Platoon" setting, in brief | 3 |
| 25D | 39. Not natural, as hair color | 4 |
| 26D | 41. Medic | 3 |
| 27D | 42. Antlered animal | 3 |
| 28D | 44. The Falcons, on scoreboards | 3 |
| 29D | 46. "'Tis but a scratch" | 7 |
| 30D | 47. Went paddling | 6 |
| 31D | 48. Part of the body with a lobe | 3 |
| 32D | 49. Go live on the internet, say | 6 |
| 33D | 50. Playwright George Bernard ___ | 4 |
| 34D | 51. Fence-sitter's response | 5 |
| 35D | 55. Jane of Brit Lit | 4 |
| 36D | 56. Judge (to be) | 4 |
| 37D | 58. Tabloid twosome | 4 |
| 38D | 59. When Macbeth meets the witches | 4 |
| 39D | 60. Basketball attempt | 4 |
| 40D | 62. Stimpy's canine pal | 3 |
| 41D | 64. "___ Te Ching" | 3 |
Down Clues - Strategic Hints
1D: "1. Protective wear for lobster eaters"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that top part of an apron; covering the chest
- Similar words include: bib, tipple
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
2D: "2. Exam that doesn't need pen or paper"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an examination conducted by spoken communication
- Similar words include: oral examination, oral exam, unwritten
- Opposite of: anal, aboral
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
3D: "3. Grp. joined by Finland in 2023 and Sweden in 2024"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an international organization created in 1949 by the north atlantic treaty for purposes of collective security
- Similar words include: North Atlantic Treaty Organization
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
4D: "4. Men's fashion magazine"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
5D: "5. Show a dog's excitement, as a tail"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a witty amusing person who makes jokes
- Similar words include: waggle, card, wit
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
6D: "6. B&Bs"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a hotel providing overnight lodging for travelers
- Similar words include: lodge, inn, auberge
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
7D: "7. Field goal percentage, for one"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
8D: "8. Politico Nancy"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
9D: "9. Certain submission moves in wrestling"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
10D: "10. Period to live through"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a period marked by distinctive character or reckoned from a fixed point or event
- Similar words include: geological era, epoch, earned run average
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
11D: "11. Jedi who trained Luke, formally"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
12D: "12. Bit of log-in info"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
13D: "13. Sticky tree secretion"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that any of a class of solid or semisolid viscous substances obtained either as exudations from certain plants or prepared by polymerization of simple molecules
- Similar words include: rosin
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
14D: "18. "Now it's clear!""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
15D: "22. Cries of pain"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
16D: "25. Ceremonial splendor"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that cheap or pretentious or vain display
- Similar words include: eclat, gaudery
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
17D: "27. Kind of deer"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that fish eggs or egg-filled ovary; having a grainy texture
- Similar words include: hard roe
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
18D: "28. It's flicked from a cigarette"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the residue that remains when something is burned
- Similar words include: ash tree
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
19D: "29. ___ Beta Kappa"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the 21st letter of the greek alphabet
- Pattern: ___
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Remember this word for future puzzles!
20D: "30. Highbrow critics may sneer at it"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
21D: "31. Dandy"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a man who is much concerned with his dress and appearance
- Similar words include: dandy, sheik, clotheshorse
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
22D: "32. ___ Maradona, Argentine soccer legend"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
23D: "37. Possible causes of in-flight disputes"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a support for the arm
- Similar words include: armrest
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
24D: "38. "Platoon" setting, in brief"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
25D: "39. Not natural, as hair color"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that color with dye
- Similar words include: bleached, colored, coloured
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
26D: "41. Medic"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a licensed medical practitioner
- Similar words include: Department of Commerce, Dr., Commerce
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
27D: "42. Antlered animal"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that large northern deer with enormous flattened antlers in the male; called `elk' in europe and `moose' in north america
- Similar words include: Alces alces, European elk, American elk
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
28D: "44. The Falcons, on scoreboards"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
29D: "46. "'Tis but a scratch""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
30D: "47. Went paddling"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that travel by canoe
- Similar words include: canoe
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
31D: "48. Part of the body with a lobe"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
- Similar words include: spike, capitulum, pinna
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
32D: "49. Go live on the internet, say"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth
- Similar words include: pour, teem, watercourse
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
33D: "50. Playwright George Bernard ___"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that united states clarinetist and leader of a swing band (1910-2004)
- Similar words include: G. B. Shaw, Henry Wheeler Shaw, George Bernard Shaw
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
34D: "51. Fence-sitter's response"
Solving Hints:
- Similar words include: possibly, mayhap, perchance
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
35D: "55. Jane of Brit Lit"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a shallow salt lake in south central australia about 35 feet below sea level; the largest lake in the country and the lowest point on the continent
- Similar words include: Lake Eyre
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
36D: "56. Judge (to be)"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that keep in mind or convey as a conviction or view
- Similar words include: take for, hold, view as
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
37D: "58. Tabloid twosome"
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: point, token, detail
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
38D: "59. When Macbeth meets the witches"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
39D: "60. Basketball attempt"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the act of firing a projectile
- Similar words include: charge, dart, chatoyant
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
40D: "62. Stimpy's canine pal"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
41D: "64. "___ Te Ching""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an adherent of any branch of taoism
- Similar words include: Taoist
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
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
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