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 (36 clues)
- Across Clues - Detailed Hints
- Down Clues Table (36 clues)
- Down Clues - Detailed Hints
- Expert Solving Strategies
- Today's Puzzle Statistics
Today's Puzzle Difficulty: Tricky
Pro Tip: Start with the fill-in-the-blank clues - they're usually the easiest entry points!
Across Clues - Complete List
| No. | Clue | Letters |
|---|---|---|
| 1A | 1. One who makes a living from fish | 9 |
| 2A | 10. Taxing, as a test | 5 |
| 3A | 15. Screen grab? | 9 |
| 4A | 16. Prefix with -centric | 5 |
| 5A | 17. Like the crescendo in Ravel's "Boléro" | 9 |
| 6A | 18. Prayer presenter | 5 |
| 7A | 19. What travellers typically have in America? | 4 |
| 8A | 20. Flash | 4 |
| 9A | 21. Word that comes from the Japanese for "picture" + "character" | 5 |
| 10A | 22. M.R.I. induction units | 6 |
| 11A | 24. Makeup of a plot | 4 |
| 12A | 26. Walked off with | 3 |
| 13A | 27. Part of a Grim Reaper costume | 4 |
| 14A | 29. Controller of floods in the video game Pharaoh | 6 |
| 15A | 31. Closing | 5 |
| 16A | 35. Directive in an order | 4 |
| 17A | 37. R&B's Braxton | 4 |
| 18A | 38. "Does anyone else sense impending doom?" | 7 |
| 19A | 40. Sémillon rouge and Médoc noir | 7 |
| 20A | 42. Noncommittal | 4 |
| 21A | 43. You might dance on one | 4 |
| 22A | 45. Location of a notorious 33-Down: Abbr. | 5 |
| 23A | 46. Envelop with a ring | 6 |
| 24A | 48. When strikes go on the longest? | 4 |
| 25A | 50. Cavity | 3 |
| 26A | 51. No. 2 | 4 |
| 27A | 53. Like the layout of the central 13 black squares in this puzzle | 6 |
| 28A | 58. Open the gate for | 5 |
| 29A | 60. What first has over second | 4 |
| 30A | 62. Woman central to electioneering? | 4 |
| 31A | 63. "Big Little Lies" author Moriarty | 5 |
| 32A | 64. Totality of everything, in sci-fi-speak | 9 |
| 33A | 66. Ninnyhammer | 5 |
| 34A | 67. "Say whatever you're gonna say!" | 9 |
| 35A | 68. It keeps a narrow passage passable | 5 |
| 36A | 69. "Heavens!" | 9 |
Across Clues - Strategic Hints
1A: "1. One who makes a living from fish"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CARDSHARK
Remember this word for future puzzles!
2A: "10. Taxing, as a test"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the rear part of a ship
- Similar words include: nates, fundament, strict
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: STERN
Remember this word for future puzzles!
3A: "15. Screen grab?"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: STARPOWER
Remember this word for future puzzles!
4A: "16. Prefix with -centric"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HELIO
Remember this word for future puzzles!
5A: "17. Like the crescendo in Ravel's "Boléro""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: POCOAPOCO
Remember this word for future puzzles!
6A: "18. Prayer presenter"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that spiritual leader of a jewish congregation; qualified to expound and apply jewish law
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RABBI
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7A: "19. What travellers typically have in America?"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ONEL
Remember this word for future puzzles!
8A: "20. Flash"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a feeling of strong eagerness (usually in favor of a person or cause)
- Similar words include: style, dash, ardour
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ELAN
Remember this word for future puzzles!
9A: "21. Word that comes from the Japanese for "picture" + "character""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EMOJI
Remember this word for future puzzles!
10A: "22. M.R.I. induction units"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a unit of magnetic flux density equal to one weber per square meter
- Similar words include: Nikola Tesla, tesla, Tesla
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TESLAS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
11A: "24. Makeup of a plot"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the land on which real estate is located
- Similar words include: demesne, body politic, set down
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LAND
Remember this word for future puzzles!
12A: "26. Walked off with"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the basic unit of money in south korea
- Similar words include: acquire, advance, bring home the bacon
- Opposite of: lost, fall back
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: WON
Remember this word for future puzzles!
13A: "27. Part of a Grim Reaper costume"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that protective covering consisting of a metal part that covers the engine
- Similar words include: cowling, hood, bonnet
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: COWL
Remember this word for future puzzles!
14A: "29. Controller of floods in the video game Pharaoh"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that egyptian god of the underworld and judge of the dead; husband and brother of isis; father of horus
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OSIRIS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
15A: "31. Closing"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the final match between the winners of all previous matches in an elimination tournament
- Similar words include: terminal, final exam, final examination
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FINAL
Remember this word for future puzzles!
16A: "35. Directive in an order"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that as soon as possible
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ASAP
Remember this word for future puzzles!
17A: "37. R&B's Braxton"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TONI
Remember this word for future puzzles!
18A: "38. "Does anyone else sense impending doom?""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AMINUTS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
19A: "40. Sémillon rouge and Médoc noir"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that black wine grape originally from the region of bordeaux
- Similar words include: Merlot
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MERLOTS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
20A: "42. Noncommittal"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that showing self-interest and shrewdness in dealing with others
- Similar words include: canny, clever, cagey
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CAGY
Remember this word for future puzzles!
21A: "43. You might dance on one"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a sudden desire
- Similar words include: whimsy, caprice, notion
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: WHIM
Remember this word for future puzzles!
22A: "45. Location of a notorious 33-Down: Abbr."
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ELMST
Remember this word for future puzzles!
23A: "46. Envelop with a ring"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ENHALO
Remember this word for future puzzles!
24A: "48. When strikes go on the longest?"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the middle of the day
- Similar words include: midday, noontide, noonday
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NOON
Remember this word for future puzzles!
25A: "50. Cavity"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a sizeable hole (usually in the ground)
- Similar words include: nether region, pock, cavity
- Opposite of: Heaven
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PIT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
26A: "51. No. 2"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ASST
Remember this word for future puzzles!
27A: "53. Like the layout of the central 13 black squares in this puzzle"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that scatter or intersperse like dots or studs
- Similar words include: specked, scatter, constellate
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DOTTED
Remember this word for future puzzles!
28A: "58. Open the gate for"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that declare to be true or admit the existence or reality or truth of
- Similar words include: take on, take, allow
- Opposite of: exclude, reject
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ADMIT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
29A: "60. What first has over second"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an advantage held by a competitor in a race
- Similar words include: take, tip, star
- Opposite of: deficit, follow
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LEAD
Remember this word for future puzzles!
30A: "62. Woman central to electioneering?"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: IONE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
31A: "63. "Big Little Lies" author Moriarty"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LIANE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
32A: "64. Totality of everything, in sci-fi-speak"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OMNIVERSE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
33A: "66. Ninnyhammer"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a person of subnormal intelligence
- Similar words include: retard, half-wit, imbecile
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MORON
Remember this word for future puzzles!
34A: "67. "Say whatever you're gonna say!""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SPITITOUT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
35A: "68. It keeps a narrow passage passable"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a slender tube inserted inside a tubular body part (as a blood vessel) to provide support during and after surgical anastomosis
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: STENT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
36A: "69. "Heavens!""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HOLYMOSES
Remember this word for future puzzles!
Down Clues - Complete List
| No. | Clue | Letters |
|---|---|---|
| 1D | 1. 100 bones | 5 |
| 2D | 2. Act constructively from contrition | 5 |
| 3D | 3. Wife-carrying in Finland and cheese-rolling in England | 5 |
| 4D | 4. Waggish | 5 |
| 5D | 5. Spot for a sweat | 3 |
| 6D | 6. "God willing!" | 6 |
| 7D | 7. Ex-P.F.C. Wintergreen's status, repeatedly, in "Catch-22" | 4 |
| 8D | 8. Takes off-road? | 7 |
| 9D | 9. Money in Reykjavík | 5 |
| 10D | 10. Throws spray, in surfer lingo | 6 |
| 11D | 11. Band | 4 |
| 12D | 12. What's lacking in a crowded elevator | 9 |
| 13D | 13. Establishments where smoking is allowed | 9 |
| 14D | 14. Reply while fighting for the check | 9 |
| 15D | 23. First Amendment protector, in brief | 4 |
| 16D | 25. "Far from it" | 4 |
| 17D | 28. Dry streambed | 4 |
| 18D | 30. "___ do" | 4 |
| 19D | 31. Gestures of incredulity | 9 |
| 20D | 32. "D'oh!" | 9 |
| 21D | 33. Cause of a cold sweat, perhaps | 9 |
| 22D | 34. Taylor-Joy of "Furiosa" | 4 |
| 23D | 36. What arms may hold, informally | 4 |
| 24D | 39. Low notes, but not the lowest | 4 |
| 25D | 41. Home of the National Automobile Museum | 4 |
| 26D | 44. At the designated speed | 7 |
| 27D | 47. Not yet seen, say | 6 |
| 28D | 49. Rare bird | 6 |
| 29D | 52. Move about, as liquid | 5 |
| 30D | 54. Connect with | 5 |
| 31D | 55. Estoques are pointed at them | 5 |
| 32D | 56. Transpire thereupon | 5 |
| 33D | 57. Not just the headline gossip, slangily | 5 |
| 34D | 59. Part of, as a racket | 4 |
| 35D | 61. Dye-yielding shrub | 4 |
| 36D | 65. Energy | 3 |
Down Clues - Strategic Hints
1D: "1. 100 bones"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CSPOT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
2D: "2. Act constructively from contrition"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that make amends for
- Similar words include: aby, repent, expiate
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ATONE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
3D: "3. Wife-carrying in Finland and cheese-rolling in England"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that any competition
- Similar words include: subspecies, cannonball along, raceway
- Opposite of: linger
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RACES
Remember this word for future puzzles!
4D: "4. Waggish"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that comical in an odd or whimsical manner
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DROLL
Remember this word for future puzzles!
5D: "5. Spot for a sweat"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a health resort near a spring or at the seaside
- Similar words include: watering hole, health spa, resort hotel
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SPA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
6D: "6. "God willing!""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HOPESO
Remember this word for future puzzles!
7D: "7. Ex-P.F.C. Wintergreen's status, repeatedly, in "Catch-22""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that one who is away or absent without leave
- Similar words include: truant
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AWOL
Remember this word for future puzzles!
8D: "8. Takes off-road?"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a request by the manufacturer of a defective product to return the product (as for replacement or repair)
- Similar words include: recall, think, hark back
- Opposite of: issue, forget
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RECALLS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
9D: "9. Money in Reykjavík"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the basic unit of money in sweden
- Similar words include: Icelandic krona, Swedish krona
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: KRONA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
10D: "10. Throws spray, in surfer lingo"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a tiny or scarcely detectable amount
- Similar words include: tittle, smidgen, tag
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SHREDS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
11D: "11. Band"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a cooperative unit (especially in sports)
- Similar words include: squad, team up
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TEAM
Remember this word for future puzzles!
12D: "12. What's lacking in a crowded elevator"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ELBOWROOM
Remember this word for future puzzles!
13D: "13. Establishments where smoking is allowed"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RIBJOINTS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
14D: "14. Reply while fighting for the check"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NOIINSIST
Remember this word for future puzzles!
15D: "23. First Amendment protector, in brief"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ACLU
Remember this word for future puzzles!
16D: "25. "Far from it""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NOPE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
17D: "28. Dry streambed"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a thin coat of water-base paint
- Similar words include: wash off, laundry, dampen
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: WASH
Remember this word for future puzzles!
18D: "30. "___ do""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ITLL
Remember this word for future puzzles!
19D: "31. Gestures of incredulity"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FACEPALMS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
20D: "32. "D'oh!""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: IMANIDIOT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
21D: "33. Cause of a cold sweat, perhaps"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a situation resembling a terrifying dream
- Similar words include: incubus
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NIGHTMARE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
22D: "34. Taylor-Joy of "Furiosa""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ANYA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
23D: "36. What arms may hold, informally"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that projectiles to be fired from a gun
- Similar words include: ammunition
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AMMO
Remember this word for future puzzles!
24D: "39. Low notes, but not the lowest"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
- Similar words include: two, deuce, II
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TWOS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
25D: "41. Home of the National Automobile Museum"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a city in western nevada at the foot of the sierra nevada mountains; known for gambling casinos and easy divorce and remarriage
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RENO
Remember this word for future puzzles!
26D: "44. At the designated speed"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: INTEMPO
Remember this word for future puzzles!
27D: "47. Not yet seen, say"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that potentially existing but not presently evident or realized
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LATENT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
28D: "49. Rare bird"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that eccentricity that is not easily explained
- Similar words include: crotchet, oddness, rarity
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ODDITY
Remember this word for future puzzles!
29D: "52. Move about, as liquid"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that make a splashing sound
- Similar words include: slush around, splosh, slop
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SLOSH
Remember this word for future puzzles!
30D: "54. Connect with"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TIETO
Remember this word for future puzzles!
31D: "55. Estoques are pointed at them"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TOROS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
32D: "56. Transpire thereupon"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that issue or terminate (in a specified way, state, etc.); end
- Similar words include: result
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ENSUE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
33D: "57. Not just the headline gossip, slangily"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DEETS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
34D: "59. Part of, as a racket"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: INON
Remember this word for future puzzles!
35D: "61. Dye-yielding shrub"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a blue dye obtained from plants or made synthetically
- Similar words include: Indigofera anil, indigotin, Indigofera suffruticosa
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ANIL
Remember this word for future puzzles!
36D: "65. Energy"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a healthy capacity for vigorous activity
- Similar words include: muscularity, vigor, vitality
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: VIM
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
36 Across Clues
36 Down Clues
72 Total Clues
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