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 (30 clues)
- Across Clues - Detailed Hints
- Down Clues Table (40 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. Coinage of the early 2000s? | 15 |
| 2A | 16. Sierra Nevada product | 15 |
| 3A | 17. Jeans material for a worn-out look | 15 |
| 4A | 18. Email folder | 6 |
| 5A | 19. Bear up? | 4 |
| 6A | 20. Most important part | 3 |
| 7A | 21. "___-roh!" (cry from Astro on "The Jetsons") | 3 |
| 8A | 22. Jerk | 3 |
| 9A | 23. Bird that Zeus disguised himself as in a much-told Greek myth | 4 |
| 10A | 25. Traditional folk dance | 4 |
| 11A | 27. Pantheon feature | 7 |
| 12A | 29. Rita on "The Masked Singer" | 3 |
| 13A | 30. Challenge | 4 |
| 14A | 31. Car requirement beginning in 1998 | 6 |
| 15A | 35. "___ regards ..." (letter sign-off) | 7 |
| 16A | 37. Raw, in a way | 7 |
| 17A | 38. Remove from office | 6 |
| 18A | 39. "It ___ easy" | 4 |
| 19A | 40. N.Y.P.D. rank: Abbr. | 3 |
| 20A | 41. Prepares, as coq au vin | 7 |
| 21A | 43. Chinese menu possessive | 4 |
| 22A | 44. Steps in diagnosing A.C.L. injuries, perhaps | 4 |
| 23A | 46. Carton amts. | 3 |
| 24A | 47. ___-de-sac | 3 |
| 25A | 48. Kung ___ chicken | 3 |
| 26A | 49. Concerning | 4 |
| 27A | 51. ___ the Great, king of ancient Persia | 6 |
| 28A | 54. Create a distraction, so to speak | 15 |
| 29A | 57. Heroine in the "Fifty Shades of Grey" books | 15 |
| 30A | 58. Midwest city dubbed the "Little Apple" | 15 |
Across Clues - Strategic Hints
1A: "1. Coinage of the early 2000s?"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
2A: "16. Sierra Nevada product"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
3A: "17. Jeans material for a worn-out look"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
4A: "18. Email folder"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a document ordering the payment of money; drawn by one person or bank on another
- Similar words include: potation, drawing, outline
- Opposite of: discharge
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
5A: "19. Bear up?"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
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6A: "20. Most important part"
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: key fruit, paint, identify
- Opposite of: atonality
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
7A: "21. "___-roh!" (cry from Astro on "The Jetsons")"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
8A: "22. Jerk"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a local and habitual twitching especially in the face
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
9A: "23. Bird that Zeus disguised himself as in a much-told Greek myth"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that stately heavy-bodied aquatic bird with very long neck and usually white plumage as adult
- Similar words include: roll, roam, drift
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
10A: "25. Traditional folk dance"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a roll of photographic film holding a series of frames to be projected by a movie projector
- Similar words include: Scottish reel, lurch, spin around
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
11A: "27. Pantheon feature"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a building having a circular plan and a dome
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
12A: "29. Rita on "The Masked Singer""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a mouth or mouthlike opening
- Similar words include: osmium, OS, Os
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
13A: "30. Challenge"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a challenge to do something dangerous or foolhardy
- Similar words include: daring, presume, make bold
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
14A: "31. Car requirement beginning in 1998"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
15A: "35. "___ regards ..." (letter sign-off)"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
- Similar words include: tolerant, genial, kind
- Opposite of: unkind
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
16A: "37. Raw, in a way"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
17A: "38. Remove from office"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that remove from political office
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
18A: "39. "It ___ easy""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
19A: "40. N.Y.P.D. rank: Abbr."
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
20A: "41. Prepares, as coq au vin"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that cook in liquid
- Similar words include: braise
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
21A: "43. Chinese menu possessive"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
22A: "44. Steps in diagnosing A.C.L. injuries, perhaps"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the use of nuclear magnetic resonance of protons to produce proton density images
- Similar words include: magnetic resonance imaging, MRI
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
23A: "46. Carton amts."
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
24A: "47. ___-de-sac"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a passage with access only at one end
- Similar words include: cul de sac, dead end
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
25A: "48. Kung ___ chicken"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
26A: "49. Concerning"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
27A: "51. ___ the Great, king of ancient Persia"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
28A: "54. Create a distraction, so to speak"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
29A: "57. Heroine in the "Fifty Shades of Grey" books"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
30A: "58. Midwest city dubbed the "Little Apple""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
Down Clues - Complete List
| No. | Clue | Letters |
|---|---|---|
| 1D | 1. Travel safety grp. at school | 4 |
| 2D | 2. Arabic male name meaning "prince" | 4 |
| 3D | 3. Delivery methods? | 9 |
| 4D | 4. Slick, say | 6 |
| 5D | 5. Tailor's measurement | 5 |
| 6D | 6. Three-time W.N.B.A. champs of the 2020s | 4 |
| 7D | 7. Happened | 3 |
| 8D | 8. Adjoining, in a way | 7 |
| 9D | 9. Illuminating point | 6 |
| 10D | 10. Soda brand since 1937 | 4 |
| 11D | 11. Antediluvian | 9 |
| 12D | 12. Second-most-common surname in Korea, after Kim | 3 |
| 13D | 13. Sri ___ | 5 |
| 14D | 14. World traveler? | 5 |
| 15D | 15. Big name in Cognac | 4 |
| 16D | 22. Suit material? | 4 |
| 17D | 24. Blemish | 4 |
| 18D | 25. Modern streaming device | 4 |
| 19D | 26. You can find her in this clue (hidden!) | 4 |
| 20D | 27. Like Snoop Dogg, faith-wise, when he changed his name to Snoop Lion | 5 |
| 21D | 28. Flatbread choices | 5 |
| 22D | 30. Start of a child's letter | 9 |
| 23D | 32. Funk music features | 9 |
| 24D | 33. Carrier of the Golden Fleece | 4 |
| 25D | 34. Picks up | 4 |
| 26D | 36. Actress Mazar | 4 |
| 27D | 37. Hitches | 4 |
| 28D | 39. Neighborhood in New York City where Zohran Mamdani lived before being elected the city's mayor | 7 |
| 29D | 42. Brightness measurement of a sort | 6 |
| 30D | 43. Serving piece | 6 |
| 31D | 44. Hawaiian for "mountain" | 5 |
| 32D | 45. Saoirse of 2019's "Little Women" | 5 |
| 33D | 47. Magna ___ | 5 |
| 34D | 48. Carriage in Coventry | 4 |
| 35D | 50. "Right away!" | 4 |
| 36D | 51. Secretary, for example | 4 |
| 37D | 52. Where Jackie Robinson played four(!) college sports, in brief | 4 |
| 38D | 53. Accompanies (to) | 4 |
| 39D | 55. Standoff's conclusion? | 3 |
| 40D | 56. Blow air on | 3 |
Down Clues - Strategic Hints
1D: "1. Travel safety grp. at school"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
2D: "2. Arabic male name meaning "prince""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an independent ruler or chieftain (especially in africa or arabia)
- Similar words include: emeer, ameer, emir
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
3D: "3. Delivery methods?"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the delivery of a fetus by surgical incision through the abdominal wall and uterus (from the belief that julius caesar was born that way)
- Similar words include: cesarean section, abdominal delivery, cesarean delivery
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
4D: "4. Slick, say"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that not straightforward or candid; giving a false appearance of frankness; - david cannadine
- Similar words include: disingenuous
- Opposite of: artless, ingenuous
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
5D: "5. Tailor's measurement"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the distance around a person's body
- Similar words include: cinch
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
6D: "6. Three-time W.N.B.A. champs of the 2020s"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the smallest whole number or a numeral representing this number
- Similar words include: breeze through, sail through, maven
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
7D: "7. Happened"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a state in northwestern united states on the pacific
- Similar words include: personify, exist, make up
- Opposite of: differ
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
8D: "8. Adjoining, in a way"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
9D: "9. Illuminating point"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a short synopsis
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
10D: "10. Soda brand since 1937"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an informal term for a father; probably derived from baby talk
- Similar words include: pop, dad, pappa
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
11D: "11. Antediluvian"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
12D: "12. Second-most-common surname in Korea, after Kim"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that united states filmmaker whose works explore the richness of black culture in america (born in 1957)
- Similar words include: Robert E. Lee, Shelton Jackson Lee, Rose Louise Hovick
- Opposite of: windward
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
13D: "13. Sri ___"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
14D: "14. World traveler?"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a person who comes from a foreign country; someone who does not owe allegiance to your country
- Similar words include: estrange, foreigner, stranger
- Opposite of: acquaintance, citizen
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
15D: "15. Big name in Cognac"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
16D: "22. Suit material?"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that (law) any wrongdoing for which an action for damages may be brought
- Similar words include: civil wrong
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
17D: "24. Blemish"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that any small rounded protuberance (as on certain plants or animals)
- Similar words include: verruca
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
18D: "25. Modern streaming device"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
19D: "26. You can find her in this clue (hidden!)"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an early name of ireland that is now used in poetry
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
20D: "27. Like Snoop Dogg, faith-wise, when he changed his name to Snoop Lion"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that follower of rastafarianism
- Similar words include: Rastafarian
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
21D: "28. Flatbread choices"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that leavened bread baked in a clay oven in india; usually shaped like a teardrop
- Similar words include: nan, naan
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
22D: "30. Start of a child's letter"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
23D: "32. Funk music features"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
24D: "33. Carrier of the Golden Fleece"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that formerly a large constellation in the southern hemisphere between canis major and the southern cross; now divided into carina and pyxis and puppis and vela
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
25D: "34. Picks up"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a return on a shot that seemed impossible to reach and would normally have resulted in a point for the opponent
- Similar words include: pay back, start, find
- Opposite of: end, leave
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
26D: "36. Actress Mazar"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
27D: "37. Hitches"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that neckwear consisting of a long narrow piece of material worn (mostly by men) under a collar and tied in knot at the front
- Similar words include: association, tie beam, standoff
- Opposite of: untie, disconnect
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
28D: "39. Neighborhood in New York City where Zohran Mamdani lived before being elected the city's mayor"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
29D: "42. Brightness measurement of a sort"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
30D: "43. Serving piece"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that large deep serving dish with a cover; for serving soups and stews
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
31D: "44. Hawaiian for "mountain""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
32D: "45. Saoirse of 2019's "Little Women""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
33D: "47. Magna ___"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
34D: "48. Carriage in Coventry"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a small vehicle with four wheels in which a baby or child is pushed around
- Similar words include: pusher, baby buggy, perambulator
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
35D: "50. "Right away!""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
36D: "51. Secretary, for example"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a piece of furniture with a writing surface and usually drawers or other compartments
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
37D: "52. Where Jackie Robinson played four(!) college sports, in brief"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
38D: "53. Accompanies (to)"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the seat within a bishop's diocese where his cathedral is located
- Similar words include: realise, get wind, find
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
39D: "55. Standoff's conclusion?"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
40D: "56. Blow air on"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a device for creating a current of air by movement of a surface or surfaces
- Similar words include: buff, sports fan, lover
- 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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