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Showing posts sorted by relevance for query DROOLS. Sort by date Show all posts

Monday, June 22, 2026

XWordHint Crossword Answers June 22, 2026 | Expert Breakdown & Tips

Master today's NYT crossword with our expert hint system. We provide synonyms, antonyms, and strategic clues to help you solve without spoiling the fun. Perfect for crossword lovers who want that satisfying "aha!" moment.

Quick Navigation - Table of Contents

Today's Puzzle Difficulty: Challenging

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

Across Clues - Complete List

No. Clue Letters
1A 1. The "S" of N.S.F.W. 4
2A 5. Invite to enter 5
3A 10. Artist Salvador 4
4A 14. "___ Your Enthusiasm" 4
5A 15. Totally sus, say 5
6A 16. Scholarly "same" 4
7A 17. Wave of antigovernment protests in the early 2010s 10
8A 19. Old name of Thailand 4
9A 20. What's rolled out for yoga 3
10A 21. Pint in a pub, maybe 3
11A 22. Performance at Lincoln Center 5
12A 23. Heading back to where one lives 13
13A 28. Sitting on 4
14A 30. Shows signs of hunger 6
15A 31. Harsh, as a takedown 6
16A 34. Hollywood workplace 8
17A 38. Some undergrad degs. 3
18A 39. Low-tech cooler on a hot day 3
19A 41. Container at a beer blast 3
20A 42. "Wha-a-at?" 3
21A 43. "___ Got Talent" 8
22A 46. Madame : France :: ___ : Spain 6
23A 48. Playground denial 6
24A 50. Golf club often numbered 3 to 9 4
25A 51. Repository of seeds from all corners of the globe, informally 13
26A 56. What volcanoes do 5
27A 57. Pie ___ mode 3
28A 58. What the light from a lighthouse may pierce 3
29A 61. Singer James 4
30A 62. Track-and-field event with a sandpit ... or a hint to the ends of 17-, 23- and 51-Across 10
31A 66. "But ___ again ..." 4
32A 67. "Fingers crossed" 5
33A 68. Area east of the Urals 4
34A 69. Group 4
35A 70. Light brown and dull, as hair 5
36A 71. Actions at the Bellagio or Encore 4

Across Clues - Strategic Hints

1A: "1. The "S" of N.S.F.W."

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that strongbox where valuables can be safely kept
  • Similar words include: secure, good, safety
  • Opposite of: dangerous, out
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SAFE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

2A: "5. Invite to enter"

5 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

3A: "10. Artist Salvador"

4 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that surrealist spanish painter (1904-1989)
  • Similar words include: Salvador Dali
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DALI

Remember this word for future puzzles!

4A: "14. "___ Your Enthusiasm""

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an edge between a sidewalk and a roadway consisting of a line of curbstones (usually forming part of a gutter)
  • Similar words include: curb bit, subdue, control
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CURB

Remember this word for future puzzles!

5A: "15. Totally sus, say"

5 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a person who professes beliefs and opinions that he or she does not hold in order to conceal his or her real feelings or motives
  • Similar words include: dissembler, pretender, bogus
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PHONY

Remember this word for future puzzles!

6A: "16. Scholarly "same""

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

7A: "17. Wave of antigovernment protests in the early 2010s"

10 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

8A: "19. Old name of Thailand"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a country of southeastern asia that extends southward along the isthmus of kra to the malay peninsula
  • Similar words include: Kingdom of Thailand, Thailand
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SIAM

Remember this word for future puzzles!

9A: "20. What's rolled out for yoga"

3 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a thick flat pad used as a floor covering
  • Similar words include: Master of Arts in Teaching, matte, entangle
  • Opposite of: unsnarl, disentangle
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MAT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

10A: "21. Pint in a pub, maybe"

3 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a general name for beer made with a top fermenting yeast; in some of the united states an ale is (by law) a brew of more than 4% alcohol by volume
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ALE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

11A: "22. Performance at Lincoln Center"

5 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a drama set to music; consists of singing with orchestral accompaniment and an orchestral overture and interludes
  • Similar words include: opera house
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OPERA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

12A: "23. Heading back to where one lives"

13 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _____________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HOMEWARDBOUND

Remember this word for future puzzles!

13A: "28. Sitting on"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that on, to, or at the top
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ATOP

Remember this word for future puzzles!

14A: "30. Shows signs of hunger"

6 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that pretentious or silly talk or writing
  • Similar words include: twaddle, drool, slabber
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DROOLS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

15A: "31. Harsh, as a takedown"

6 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that (of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering
  • Similar words include: roughshod, unrelenting, vicious
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BRUTAL

Remember this word for future puzzles!

16A: "34. Hollywood workplace"

8 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

17A: "38. Some undergrad degs."

3 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a soft silvery metallic element of the alkali earth group; found in barite
  • Similar words include: Artium Baccalaurens, atomic number 56, Ba
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BAS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

18A: "39. Low-tech cooler on a hot day"

3 letters Category: Abbreviation

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, devotee, lover
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FAN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

19A: "41. Container at a beer blast"

3 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the quantity contained in a keg
  • Similar words include: kegful
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: KEG

Remember this word for future puzzles!

20A: "42. "Wha-a-at?""

3 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

21A: "43. "___ Got Talent""

8 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that north american republic containing 50 states - 48 conterminous states in north america plus alaska in northwest north america and the hawaiian islands in the pacific ocean; achieved independence in 1776
  • Similar words include: US, United States, the States
  • Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AMERICAS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

22A: "46. Madame : France :: ___ : Spain"

6 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a spanish title or form of address for a married woman; similar to the english `mrs' or `madam'
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SENORA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

23A: "48. Playground denial"

6 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

24A: "50. Golf club often numbered 3 to 9"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a heavy ductile magnetic metallic element; is silver-white in pure form but readily rusts; used in construction and tools and armament; plays a role in the transport of oxygen by the blood
  • Similar words include: iron out, smoothing iron, atomic number 26
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: IRON

Remember this word for future puzzles!

25A: "51. Repository of seeds from all corners of the globe, informally"

13 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _____________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DOOMSDAYVAULT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

26A: "56. What volcanoes do"

5 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that start abruptly
  • Similar words include: come out, catch fire, ignite
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ERUPT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

27A: "57. Pie ___ mode"

3 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a flat wing-shaped process or winglike part of an organism
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ALA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

28A: "58. What the light from a lighthouse may pierce"

3 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that droplets of water vapor suspended in the air near the ground
  • Similar words include: befog, murkiness, murk
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FOG

Remember this word for future puzzles!

29A: "61. Singer James"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

30A: "62. Track-and-field event with a sandpit ... or a hint to the ends of 17-, 23- and 51-Across"

10 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

31A: "66. "But ___ again ...""

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that that time; that moment
  • Similar words include: and then, so, and so
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: THEN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

32A: "67. "Fingers crossed""

5 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

33A: "68. Area east of the Urals"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the largest continent with 60% of the earth's population; it is joined to europe on the west to form eurasia; it is the site of some of the world's earliest civilizations
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ASIA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

34A: "69. Group"

4 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
  • Similar words include: class, variety, sort out
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SORT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

35A: "70. Light brown and dull, as hair"

5 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that quiet and timid and ineffectual
  • Similar words include: mousey, mouselike, mouse-colored
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MOUSY

Remember this word for future puzzles!

36A: "71. Actions at the Bellagio or Encore"

4 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the money risked on a gamble
  • Similar words include: wager, count, stake
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BETS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

Down Clues - Complete List

No. Clue Letters
1D 1. Hoodwink 4
2D 2. Vibe 4
3D 3. Beer pong venue, maybe 9
4D 4. Flow out 3
5D 5. Garden of Eden fruit 5
6D 6. Brilliant at negotiating 6
7D 7. Ornamental fish in a pond 3
8D 8. Holiday ___ 3
9D 9. MetLife Stadium team, on scoreboards 3
10D 10. Get rid (of) 7
11D 11. "Goodbye, mes amis" 5
12D 12. "Live and ___" 5
13D 13. What the "face with steam from nose" emoji suggests 5
14D 18. Piano player in "Casablanca" 3
15D 22. Compel 6
16D 24. Pick, with "for" 3
17D 25. Elbow's place 3
18D 26. King's partner in castling 4
19D 27. Birds of peace 5
20D 28. Group whose "Gold: Greatest Hits" is the second-best-selling album in U.K. history 4
21D 29. Disneyland transport 4
22D 32. Unprecedented 6
23D 33. Fastened, as a corset or shoe 5
24D 35. Explosive personality trait 9
25D 36. Continental money 4
26D 37. Greater ___ 4
27D 40. Grandma, affectionately 4
28D 44. Spreading unchecked 7
29D 45. Miso bean 3
30D 47. Zero, in soccer 3
31D 49. The Roku Channel, Hulu and others 6
32D 51. Little specifics, in slang 5
33D 52. One dental specialty, informally 5
34D 53. ___ Banks (barrier islands of North Carolina) 5
35D 54. Narrow backstreet 5
36D 55. Abu Dhabi's land, for short 3
37D 59. Leave out 4
38D 60. Transcript figs. 4
39D 62. ___ Cook, longtime tech C.E.O. 3
40D 63. Letter before sigma 3
41D 64. Debtor's note 3
42D 65. Boxing punch 3

Down Clues - Strategic Hints

1D: "1. Hoodwink"

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a fraudulent business scheme
  • Similar words include: mulct, hornswoggle, con
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SCAM

Remember this word for future puzzles!

2D: "2. Vibe"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

3D: "3. Beer pong venue, maybe"

9 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

4D: "4. Flow out"

3 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a gradual decline (in size or strength or power or number)
  • Similar words include: wane, ebb down, ebb out
  • Opposite of: tide
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EBB

Remember this word for future puzzles!

5D: "5. Garden of Eden fruit"

5 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that fruit with red or yellow or green skin and sweet to tart crisp whitish flesh
  • Similar words include: orchard apple tree, Malus pumila
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: APPLE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

6D: "6. Brilliant at negotiating"

6 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that marked by practical hardheaded intelligence
  • Similar words include: conniving, astute, sharp
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SHREWD

Remember this word for future puzzles!

7D: "7. Ornamental fish in a pond"

3 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

8D: "8. Holiday ___"

3 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a hotel providing overnight lodging for travelers
  • Similar words include: lodge, auberge, hostel
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: INN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

9D: "9. MetLife Stadium team, on scoreboards"

3 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

10D: "10. Get rid (of)"

7 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that give, sell, or transfer to another
  • Similar words include: throw out, toss out, discard
  • Opposite of: indispose, disqualify
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DISPOSE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

11D: "11. "Goodbye, mes amis""

5 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a farewell remark
  • Similar words include: au revoir, bye, goodbye
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ADIEU

Remember this word for future puzzles!

12D: "12. "Live and ___""

5 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that gain knowledge or skills
  • Similar words include: con, watch, pick up
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LEARN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

13D: "13. What the "face with steam from nose" emoji suggests"

5 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

14D: "18. Piano player in "Casablanca""

3 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a guided missile fired from land or shipboard against an airborne target
  • Similar words include: surface-to-air missile
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SAM

Remember this word for future puzzles!

15D: "22. Compel"

6 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that force somebody to do something
  • Similar words include: obligate, hold, bind
  • Opposite of: disoblige
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OBLIGE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

16D: "24. Pick, with "for""

3 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that select as an alternative over another
  • Similar words include: choose, prefer
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OPT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

17D: "25. Elbow's place"

3 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a human limb; technically the part of the superior limb between the shoulder and the elbow but commonly used to refer to the whole superior limb
  • Similar words include: subdivision, branch, weapon
  • Opposite of: disarm
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ARM

Remember this word for future puzzles!

18D: "26. King's partner in castling"

4 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that (chess) the piece that can move any number of unoccupied squares in a direction parallel to the sides of the chessboard
  • Similar words include: mulct, hornswoggle, con
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ROOK

Remember this word for future puzzles!

19D: "27. Birds of peace"

5 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that any of numerous small pigeons
  • Similar words include: Columba, Dove, dove
  • Opposite of: hawk
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DOVES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

20D: "28. Group whose "Gold: Greatest Hits" is the second-best-selling album in U.K. history"

4 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

21D: "29. Disneyland transport"

4 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a conveyance that transports passengers or freight in carriers suspended from cables and supported by a series of towers
  • Similar words include: tramway, trolley car, ropeway
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TRAM

Remember this word for future puzzles!

22D: "32. Unprecedented"

6 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

23D: "33. Fastened, as a corset or shoe"

5 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that spin,wind, or twist together
  • Similar words include: twine, spike, fortify
  • Opposite of: unlaced, untwine
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LACED

Remember this word for future puzzles!

24D: "35. Explosive personality trait"

9 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

25D: "36. Continental money"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the basic monetary unit of most members of the european union (introduced in 1999); in 2002 twelve european nations (germany, france, belgium, luxembourg, the netherlands, italy, spain, portugal, ireland, greece, austria, finland) adopted the euro as their basic unit of money and abandoned their traditional currencies
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EURO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

26D: "37. Greater ___"

4 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

27D: "40. Grandma, affectionately"

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

28D: "44. Spreading unchecked"

7 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that unrestrained and violent
  • Similar words include: rearing
  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RAMPANT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

29D: "45. Miso bean"

3 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a source of oil; used for forage and soil improvement and as food
  • Similar words include: soya, soya bean, soybean plant
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SOY

Remember this word for future puzzles!

30D: "47. Zero, in soccer"

3 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a quantity of no importance
  • Similar words include: nothing, nada, zippo
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NIL

Remember this word for future puzzles!

31D: "49. The Roku Channel, Hulu and others"

6 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

32D: "51. Little specifics, in slang"

5 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

33D: "52. One dental specialty, informally"

5 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

34D: "53. ___ Banks (barrier islands of North Carolina)"

5 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that being on the outside or further from a center
  • Similar words include: verboten, tabu, out
  • Opposite of: inner, safe
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OUTER

Remember this word for future puzzles!

35D: "54. Narrow backstreet"

5 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a narrow street with walls on both sides
  • Similar words include: skittle alley, bowling alley, alleyway
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ALLEY

Remember this word for future puzzles!

36D: "55. Abu Dhabi's land, for short"

3 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

37D: "59. Leave out"

4 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that prevent from being included or considered or accepted
  • Similar words include: except, neglect, pretermit
  • Opposite of: attend to, include
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OMIT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

38D: "60. Transcript figs."

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a measure of a student's academic achievement at a college or university; calculated by dividing the total number of grade points received by the total number attempted
  • Similar words include: GPA, grade point average
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GPAS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

39D: "62. ___ Cook, longtime tech C.E.O."

3 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

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

Remember this word for future puzzles!

40D: "63. Letter before sigma"

3 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the 17th letter of the greek alphabet
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RHO

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41D: "64. Debtor's note"

3 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an informal debt instrument; representing `i owe you'
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: IOU

Remember this word for future puzzles!

42D: "65. Boxing punch"

3 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a sharp hand gesture (resembling a blow)
  • Similar words include: poke, dig, stab
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: JAB

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
42 Down Clues
78 Total Clues

More NYT Crossword Help

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Last updated: June 22, 2026 at 09:27 AM

Saturday, December 21, 2024

27434 Sat Dec 21, 2024 NY Times Crossword Clues Hints

Break down the NYT Crosswords: December 21, 2024

Let's go into the puzzle, starting with the across clues and answers, followed by the down clues and answers.



Across Clues with Answers:
  • The clue is 1. Shifty little sucker?. Can you find the Answer?

    Here is a hint. It is a word with exactly (10 letters)

    The answer: BENDYSTRAW


  • The clue is 11. C.D., e.g.: Abbr.. Can you find the Answer?

    Here is a hint. It is a word with exactly (4 letters)

    The answer: ACCT


  • The clue is 15. Madrid's Teatro Real, for one. Can you find the Answer?

    Here is a hint. It is a word with exactly (10 letters)

    The answer: OPERAHOUSE


  • The clue is 16. Character who says "I am short, fat and proud of that". Can you find the Answer?

    Here is a hint. It is a word with exactly (4 letters)

    The answer: POOH


  • The clue is 17. The "King of Mambo". Can you find the Answer?

    Here is a hint. It is a word with exactly (10 letters)

    The answer: TITOPUENTE


  • The clue is 18. Austrian composer Mahler. Can you find the Answer?

    Here is a hint. It is a word with exactly (4 letters)

    The answer: ALMA


  • The clue is 19. No longer waffle. Can you find the Answer?

    Here is a hint. It is a word with exactly (3 letters)

    The answer: OPT

    Possible Answer : prefer, choose, opt


  • The clue is 20. Pill alternatives, in brief. Can you find the Answer?

    Here is a hint. It is a word with exactly (4 letters)

    The answer: IUDS

    Possible Answer : IUD, intrauterine_device


  • The clue is 22. Returner's call. Can you find the Answer?

    Here is a hint. It is a word with exactly (3 letters)

    The answer: LET

    Possible Answer : permit, have, rent, get, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Lashkar-e-Toiba, lease, Army_of_the_Righteous, LET, net_ball, countenance, Army_of_the_Pure, let, Lashkar-e-Tayyiba, allow

    Possible Opposite Answer : prevent, forbid, disallow


  • The clue is 23. À la king?. Can you find the Answer?

    Here is a hint. It is a word with exactly (5 letters)

    The answer: NOBLY

    Possible Answer : nobly


  • The clue is 26. Reason for foot-tapping. Can you find the Answer?

    Here is a hint. It is a word with exactly (9 letters)

    The answer: ANTSINESS


  • The clue is 28. Lines in bars. Can you find the Answer?

    Here is a hint. It is a word with exactly (4 letters)

    The answer: URLS

    Possible Answer : universal_resource_locator, uniform_resource_locator, URL


  • The clue is 29. Confirmation, for one. Can you find the Answer?

    Here is a hint. It is a word with exactly (4 letters)

    The answer: RITE

    Possible Answer : religious_rite, ritual, rite


  • The clue is 30. Mount ___, Canada's highest peak. Can you find the Answer?

    Here is a hint. It is a word with exactly (5 letters)

    The answer: LOGAN

    Possible Answer : Mount_Logan, Logan


  • The clue is 31. Certain tech exec. Can you find the Answer?

    Here is a hint. It is a word with exactly (3 letters)

    The answer: CIO

    Possible Answer : CIO, Congress_of_Industrial_Organizations


  • The clue is 32. Chinese dog breed, for short. Can you find the Answer?

    Here is a hint. It is a word with exactly (4 letters)

    The answer: PEKE

    Possible Answer : Peke, Pekinese, Pekingese


  • The clue is 33. All the greater. Can you find the Answer?

    Here is a hint. It is a word with exactly (6 letters)

    The answer: MORESO


  • The clue is 34. Alabama is in it, but Alaska is not. Can you find the Answer?

    Here is a hint. It is a word with exactly (15 letters)

    The answer: LOWERFORTYEIGHT


  • The clue is 37. Adds to the code, say. Can you find the Answer?

    Here is a hint. It is a word with exactly (6 letters)

    The answer: ENACTS

    Possible Answer : enact, ordain, act_out, reenact


  • The clue is 38. Stake. Can you find the Answer?

    Here is a hint. It is a word with exactly (4 letters)

    The answer: FUND

    Possible Answer : store, stock, investment_company, investment_firm, fund, monetary_fund, investment_trust


  • The clue is 39. Apt name for a thief. Can you find the Answer?

    Here is a hint. It is a word with exactly (3 letters)

    The answer: ROB

    Possible Answer : surcharge, plume, rob, hook, soak, gazump, fleece, overcharge, pluck

    Possible Opposite Answer : undercharge


  • The clue is 40. "The Hate U Give" author Thomas. Can you find the Answer?

    Here is a hint. It is a word with exactly (5 letters)

    The answer: ANGIE


  • The clue is 41. First name in country. Can you find the Answer?

    Here is a hint. It is a word with exactly (4 letters)

    The answer: REBA


  • The clue is 42. Rooney of "Women Talking". Can you find the Answer?

    Here is a hint. It is a word with exactly (4 letters)

    The answer: MARA

    Possible Answer : mara, Mara, Dolichotis_patagonum


  • The clue is 43. Most of the 1980s. Can you find the Answer?

    Here is a hint. It is a word with exactly (9 letters)

    The answer: REAGANERA


  • The clue is 45. Slogged (through). Can you find the Answer?

    Here is a hint. It is a word with exactly (5 letters)

    The answer: WADED

    Possible Answer : chock_up, bundle, jam, ram, compact, wade, jampack, cram, pack, wad


  • The clue is 46. Its first airing was "The French Chef" with Julia Child. Can you find the Answer?

    Here is a hint. It is a word with exactly (3 letters)

    The answer: PBS

    Possible Answer : petabit, PiB, pebibyte, atomic_number_82, PB, petabyte, PBS, lead, Pb, phosphate_buffer_solution, Pbit


  • The clue is 47. "And the ___ raths outgrabe" ("Jabberwocky" line). Can you find the Answer?

    Here is a hint. It is a word with exactly (4 letters)

    The answer: MOME


  • The clue is 48. Exclamation with a shake. Can you find the Answer?

    Here is a hint. It is a word with exactly (3 letters)

    The answer: BRR


  • The clue is 49. Black-and-white divers. Can you find the Answer?

    Here is a hint. It is a word with exactly (4 letters)

    The answer: AUKS

    Possible Answer : auk


  • The clue is 51. It's a little shady. Can you find the Answer?

    Here is a hint. It is a word with exactly (10 letters)

    The answer: BONSAITREE


  • The clue is 56. Last ruler of the Ptolemaic Kingdom, familiarly. Can you find the Answer?

    Here is a hint. It is a word with exactly (4 letters)

    The answer: CLEO


  • The clue is 57. "Worth a shot". Can you find the Answer?

    Here is a hint. It is a word with exactly (10 letters)

    The answer: ITCANTHURT


  • The clue is 58. What some people display after getting stuck?. Can you find the Answer?

    Here is a hint. It is a word with exactly (4 letters)

    The answer: TATS

    Possible Answer : intertwine, cheapness, TAT, Thematic_Apperception_Test, tackiness, sleaze, tat


  • The clue is 59. Far below the surface. Can you find the Answer?

    Here is a hint. It is a word with exactly (10 letters)

    The answer: DEEPSEATED


Down Clues and Answers:
  • The clue is 1. X follower, perhaps. Can you find the Answer?

    Here is a hint. It is a word with exactly (3 letters)

    The answer: BOT

    Possible Answer: bot

  • The clue is 2. Lead-in to -gram. Can you find the Answer?

    Here is a hint. It is a word with exactly (3 letters)

    The answer: EPI

    Possible Answer: EPI, Eysenck_Personality_Inventory

  • The clue is 3. Losing athlete in the 2002 and 2003 N.B.A. Finals. Can you find the Answer?

    Here is a hint. It is a word with exactly (3 letters)

    The answer: NET

    Possible Answer: lucre, sack_up, final, meshing, web, last, profit, mesh, internet, net_profit, profits, clear, sack, cyberspace, nett, earnings, meshwork, network, net, net_income

    Possible Opposite Answer : gross

  • The clue is 4. Runs off at the mouth?. Can you find the Answer?

    Here is a hint. It is a word with exactly (6 letters)

    The answer: DROOLS

    Possible Answer: humbug, bosh, drivel, tosh, slobber, bilgewater, slabber, tarradiddle, salivate, boloney, slaver, dribble, twaddle, drool, taradiddle, baloney, tommyrot

  • The clue is 5. Like a noisy toy. Can you find the Answer?

    Here is a hint. It is a word with exactly (5 letters)

    The answer: YAPPY

  • The clue is 6. Turned (off). Can you find the Answer?

    Here is a hint. It is a word with exactly (4 letters)

    The answer: SHUT

    Possible Answer: keep_out, exclude, shut, shut_out, close, unopen, closed

    Possible Opposite Answer : admit, open

  • The clue is 7. Oft-kissed part of the statue of St. Peter in Vatican City. Can you find the Answer?

    Here is a hint. It is a word with exactly (3 letters)

    The answer: TOE

    Possible Answer: toe, toenail

  • The clue is 8. Shield, with "for". Can you find the Answer?

    Here is a hint. It is a word with exactly (15 letters)

    The answer: RUNINTERFERENCE

  • The clue is 9. Not born yesterday, so to speak. Can you find the Answer?

    Here is a hint. It is a word with exactly (6 letters)

    The answer: ASTUTE

    Possible Answer: astute, sharp, shrewd

  • The clue is 10. Bed hogs, at times. Can you find the Answer?

    Here is a hint. It is a word with exactly (5 letters)

    The answer: WEEDS

    Possible Answer: locoweed, Mary_Jane, weeds, smoke, weed, pot, widow's_weeds, gage, sens, green_goddess, dope, sess, grass, skunk, mourning_band

    Possible Opposite Answer : cultivated_plant

  • The clue is 11. Shrinks' org.. Can you find the Answer?

    Here is a hint. It is a word with exactly (3 letters)

    The answer: APA

  • The clue is 12. One who's made it to some degree?. Can you find the Answer?

    Here is a hint. It is a word with exactly (11 letters)

    The answer: COLLEGEGRAD

  • The clue is 13. Lands. Can you find the Answer?

    Here is a hint. It is a word with exactly (11 letters)

    The answer: COMESASHORE

  • The clue is 14. "I kinda like it!". Can you find the Answer?

    Here is a hint. It is a word with exactly (11 letters)

    The answer: THATSNOTBAD

  • The clue is 21. Isolated. Can you find the Answer?

    Here is a hint. It is a word with exactly (6 letters)

    The answer: SILOED

  • The clue is 23. SALT, but not PEPPER. Can you find the Answer?

    Here is a hint. It is a word with exactly (11 letters)

    The answer: NUCLEARPACT

  • The clue is 24. Star-forming region nearest to Earth. Can you find the Answer?

    Here is a hint. It is a word with exactly (11 letters)

    The answer: ORIONNEBULA

  • The clue is 25. Go ballistic. Can you find the Answer?

    Here is a hint. It is a word with exactly (11 letters)

    The answer: BLOWAGASKET

  • The clue is 26. Jhené ___, Grammy-nominated R&B singer. Can you find the Answer?

    Here is a hint. It is a word with exactly (4 letters)

    The answer: AIKO

  • The clue is 27. Japanese food that's a good source of what it spells backward. Can you find the Answer?

    Here is a hint. It is a word with exactly (4 letters)

    The answer: NORI

  • The clue is 29. Some who whistle while they work. Can you find the Answer?

    Here is a hint. It is a word with exactly (4 letters)

    The answer: REFS

    Possible Answer: referee, ref

  • The clue is 32. Comms group. Can you find the Answer?

    Here is a hint. It is a word with exactly (6 letters)

    The answer: PRTEAM

  • The clue is 33. Noisy Asian bird. Can you find the Answer?

    Here is a hint. It is a word with exactly (4 letters)

    The answer: MYNA

    Possible Answer: mynah, mynah_bird, myna_bird, myna, mina, minah

  • The clue is 35. Pen for a hit. Can you find the Answer?

    Here is a hint. It is a word with exactly (4 letters)

    The answer: ECIG

  • The clue is 36. Latin for "trumpet". Can you find the Answer?

    Here is a hint. It is a word with exactly (4 letters)

    The answer: TUBA

    Possible Answer: sousaphone, bass_horn, tuba

  • The clue is 41. Like many on a Zoom call. Can you find the Answer?

    Here is a hint. It is a word with exactly (6 letters)

    The answer: REMOTE

    Possible Answer: removed, remote, remote_control, outside, distant, outback

    Possible Opposite Answer : close

  • The clue is 42. Vineyard eponym. Can you find the Answer?

    Here is a hint. It is a word with exactly (6 letters)

    The answer: MARTHA

  • The clue is 44. Like a sole-source contract. Can you find the Answer?

    Here is a hint. It is a word with exactly (5 letters)

    The answer: NOBID

  • The clue is 45. Form letters?. Can you find the Answer?

    Here is a hint. It is a word with exactly (5 letters)

    The answer: WRITE

    Possible Answer: drop_a_line, pen, compose, save, spell, write, publish, indite

  • The clue is 48. Blue laws, e.g.. Can you find the Answer?

    Here is a hint. It is a word with exactly (4 letters)

    The answer: BANS

    Possible Answer: ostracise, shun, cast_out, proscription, prohibition, ban, banish, BAN, forbidding, Bachelor_of_Arts_in_Nursing, banning, ostracize, censor, forbiddance, blackball

  • The clue is 50. This means trouble. Can you find the Answer?

    Here is a hint. It is a word with exactly (3 letters)

    The answer: SOS

    Possible Answer: sol, soh, SOS, so

  • The clue is 52. Woodpecker's fare. Can you find the Answer?

    Here is a hint. It is a word with exactly (3 letters)

    The answer: SAP

    Possible Answer: cosh, run_down, muggins, play_out, sap, exhaust, tire, saphead, fool, tomfool, blackjack

  • The clue is 53. Bad place to be stuck. Can you find the Answer?

    Here is a hint. It is a word with exactly (3 letters)

    The answer: RUT

    Possible Answer: estrus, rut, furrow, groove, oestrus, heat

    Possible Opposite Answer : anestrus

  • The clue is 54. Short palindrome in the middle of a famous longer one. Can you find the Answer?

    Here is a hint. It is a word with exactly (3 letters)

    The answer: ERE

  • The clue is 55. Track stat. Can you find the Answer?

    Here is a hint. It is a word with exactly (3 letters)

    The answer: ETD

    Possible Answer: explosive_trace_detection, ETD