Master the NYT crossword from January 01, 1990 with our expert hint system. We provide synonyms, antonyms, and strategic clues to help you solve without spoiling the fun.
Puzzle Difficulty: Medium
Pro Tip: Start with the fill-in-the-blank clues - they're usually the easiest entry points!
Across Clues - Strategic Hints (35 clues)
1A: "1. Jezebel's deity"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that any of numerous local fertility and nature deities worshipped by ancient semitic peoples; the hebrews considered baal a false god
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: BAAL
2A: "5. Capers"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an easy victory
- Similar words include: lark, lark about, cavort
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: ROMPS
3A: "10. Labyrinth"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that complex system of paths or tunnels in which it is easy to get lost
- Similar words include: snarl, labyrinth, tangle
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: MAZE
4A: "14. County site of Sugarloaf Mountain"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: ELKO
5A: "15. Antarctic cape"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: ADARE
6A: "16. E.P.A. calls this a pesticide"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a chemical sprayed on fruit trees to regulate their growth so the entire crop can be harvested at one time
- Similar words include: axillary, wing-shaped, aliform
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: ALAR
7A: "17. Did a Little job"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that imitate uncritically and in every aspect
- Similar words include: ape, caricature
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: APED
8A: "18. G. Burn's hot companion"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a roll of tobacco for smoking
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: CIGAR
9A: "19. Capital of Latvia"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a port city on the gulf of riga that is the capital and largest city of latvia; formerly a member of the hanseatic league
- Similar words include: capital of Latvia
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: RIGA
10A: "20. Period fondly remembered now"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______________
Click to reveal answer
Answer: THEGAYNINETIES
11A: "23. Less unreasonable"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that mentally healthy; free from mental disorder
- Similar words include: sane, reasonable
- Opposite of: insane
Click to reveal answer
Answer: SANER
12A: "24. Gnarl"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a tight cluster of people or things
- Similar words include: gnarl, international nautical mile, grayback
- Opposite of: unravel, unknot
Click to reveal answer
Answer: KNOT
13A: "25. ___ over a new leaf"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a circular segment of a curve
- Similar words include: turn of events, bend, routine
- Opposite of: unbend
Click to reveal answer
Answer: TURN
14A: "29. Film cutter"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a person responsible for the editorial aspects of publication; the person who determines the final content of a text (especially of a newspaper or magazine)
- Similar words include: editor program, editor in chief
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer
Answer: EDITOR
15A: "33. Place where nobody stops on a dime"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that (often followed by `of') a large number or amount or extent
- Similar words include: hatful, passel, quite a little
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: MINT
16A: "37. Elbow follower"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
- Similar words include: elbow room, way, board
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: ROOM
17A: "39. Juliet's emotion"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: AMORE
18A: "40. Difference between 20 and 57 Across"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______________
Click to reveal answer
Answer: ONEHUNDREDYEARS
19A: "43. Celestial hunter"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that (greek mythology) a giant boeotian hunter who pursued the pleiades and was eventually slain by artemis; was then placed in the sky as a constellation
- Similar words include: Hunter
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: ORION
20A: "44. Another Jan. 1 delight (see 32 Down)"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that freedom from difficulty or hardship or effort
- Similar words include: allay, repose, alleviate
- Opposite of: difficulty
Click to reveal answer
Answer: EASE
21A: "45. R.b.i., e.g."
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: STAT
22A: "46. Mislead"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that be false to; be dishonest with
- Similar words include: deceive, lead on, cozen
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer
Answer: DELUDE
23A: "48. Part of concrete"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a loose material consisting of grains of rock or coral
- Similar words include: moxie, backbone, Baroness Dudevant
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: SAND
24A: "50. Dispatched"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that 100 senti equal 1 kroon in estonia
- Similar words include: broadcast, institutionalise, institutionalize
- Opposite of: unsent
Click to reveal answer
Answer: SENT
25A: "52. "Sesame Street" grouch"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an annual award by the academy of motion picture arts and sciences for achievements in motion picture production and performance
- Similar words include: Academy Award
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: OSCAR
26A: "57. Event on Jan. 1, 1990"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______________
Click to reveal answer
Answer: STARTOFADECADE
27A: "62. Bridge"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the complete duration of something
- Similar words include: sweep, duo, twain
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: SPAN
28A: "63. Fatuous"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that devoid of intelligence
- Similar words include: fatuous, asinine, mindless
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: INANE
29A: "64. Solemnly declare"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that to declare or affirm solemnly and formally as true
- Similar words include: verify, affirm, assert
- Opposite of: disavow
Click to reveal answer
Answer: AVOW
30A: "65. " ... bearded like the ___": Shak."
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: PARD
31A: "66. Isabel was one"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: REINA
32A: "67. Fen footing"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a soft wet area of low-lying land that sinks underfoot
- Similar words include: morass, bog down, muck
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: MIRE
33A: "68. Fruit drinks"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a sweetened beverage of diluted fruit juice
- Similar words include: fruit drink, ade
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: ADES
34A: "69. A component of liquor"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that formed by reaction between an acid and an alcohol with elimination of water
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: ESTER
35A: "70. Present for a Me. lad"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a vehicle mounted on runners and pulled by horses or dogs; for transportation over snow
- Similar words include: sledge, sleigh
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: SLED
Down Clues - Strategic Hints (41 clues)
1D: "1. Defeats"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a united states youth subculture of the 1950s; rejected possessions or regular work or traditional dress; for communal living and psychedelic drugs and anarchism; favored modern forms of jazz (e.g., bebop)
- Similar words include: overreach, vanquish, shell
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: BEATS
2D: "2. Beta predecessor"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the 1st letter of the greek alphabet
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: ALPHA
3D: "3. "Fits a dull fighter and ___ guest": Shak."
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: AKEEN
4D: "4. Elks congregate here"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that english physicist who studied electromagnetic radiation and was a pioneer of radiotelegraphy (1851-1940)
- Similar words include: indian lodge, order, auberge
- Opposite of: dislodge
Click to reveal answer
Answer: LODGE
5D: "5. Like James Bond"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that full of zest or vigor
- Similar words include: robust, blue, naughty
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: RACY
6D: "6. Valhalla V.I.P."
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that (norse mythology) ruler of the aesir; supreme god of war and poetry and knowledge and wisdom (for which he gave an eye) and husband of frigg; identified with the teutonic wotan
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: ODIN
7D: "7. Crèche characters"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that (new testament) the sages who visited jesus and mary and joseph shortly after jesus was born; the gospel according to matthew says they were guided by a star and brought gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh; because there were three gifts it is usually assumed that there were three of them
- Similar words include: Wise Men, magus
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: MAGI
8D: "8. Dido"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that acting like a clown or buffoon
- Similar words include: caper, clowning, antic
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: PRANK
9D: "9. Calm"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that not agitated; without losing self-possession
- Similar words include: tranquil, unagitated, calm
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer
Answer: SERENE
10D: "10. Some Canadian provinces, with "The""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the collective name for the canadian provinces of new brunswick and nova scotia and prince edward island
- Similar words include: Maritime Provinces, Canadian Maritime Provinces
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer
Answer: MARITIMES
11D: "11. "It's a Sin to Tell ___""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: ALIE
12D: "12. Parts of slaloms"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an angular shape characterized by sharp turns in alternating directions
- Similar words include: zig, zigzag, zag
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: ZAGS
13D: "13. Epoch"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a period marked by distinctive character or reckoned from a fixed point or event
- Similar words include: earned run average, epoch, geological era
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer
Answer: ERA
14D: "21. Tate offering"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the products of human creativity; works of art collectively
- Similar words include: artistry, prowess, artistic creation
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer
Answer: ART
15D: "22. Tomorrow's preceder"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the present time or age
- Similar words include: nowadays, now
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: TODAY
16D: "26. Samovar"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a large vase that usually has a pedestal or feet
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer
Answer: URN
17D: "27. Took a taxi"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that sit and travel on the back of animal, usually while controlling its motions
- Similar words include: tantalize, drive, depend on
- Opposite of: walk
Click to reveal answer
Answer: RODE
18D: "28. Mrs. Helmer and Mrs. Charles"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: NORAS
19D: "30. Exactly"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: TOAT
20D: "31. Odd, in Ayr"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: ORRA
21D: "32. What workers enjoy on Jan. 1"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that something left after other parts have been taken away
- Similar words include: balance, catch one's breath, stay
- Opposite of: change, be active
Click to reveal answer
Answer: REST
22D: "33. Disposition"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a characteristic (habitual or relatively temporary) state of feeling
- Similar words include: temper, mode, humour
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: MOOD
23D: "34. Concerning"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: INRE
24D: "35. Diamond developed in Brooklyn"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: NEIL
25D: "36. How many assemble at Times Square on New Year's Eve?"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the cardinal number that is the product of 10 and 100
- Similar words include: grand, thousand, thou
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer
Answer: THOUSANDS
26D: "38. Big butte"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that flat tableland with steep edges
- Similar words include: table
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: MESA
27D: "41. Beneath"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that located below or beneath something else
- Similar words include: nether, below
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: UNDER
28D: "42. Retreat"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the habitation of wild animals
- Similar words include: hideaway, hideout, lair
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer
Answer: DEN
29D: "47. All"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that uncastrated adult male horse
- Similar words include: stallion, total, integral
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer
Answer: ENTIRE
30D: "49. Bambi's mom"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the federal department responsible for maintaining a national energy policy of the united states; created in 1977
- Similar words include: Energy, Energy Department, Department of Energy
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer
Answer: DOE
31D: "51. Inflections"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the quality of a person's voice
- Similar words include: pure tone, feeling, spirit
- Opposite of: atonicity
Click to reveal answer
Answer: TONES
32D: "53. Certain snow jobs"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a fraudulent business scheme
- Similar words include: nobble, diddle, cozenage
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: SCAMS
33D: "54. Carp"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an evasion of the point of an argument by raising irrelevant distinctions or objections
- Similar words include: chicane, quiddity, quibble
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: CAVIL
34D: "55. Emulate Gaspar"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that love intensely
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: ADORE
35D: "56. Emulate Zsa Zsa"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: REWED
36D: "57. W.W. I plane"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: SPAD
37D: "58. Darnel"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an adjustment made for the weight of the packaging in order to determine the net weight of the goods
- Similar words include: darnel, cheat, bearded darnel
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: TARE
38D: "59. ___ accompli"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: FAIT
39D: "60. British queen or princess"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that queen of england and scotland and ireland; daughter if james ii and the last of the stuart monarchs; in 1707 she was the last english ruler to exercise the royal veto over parliament (1665-1714)
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: ANNE
40D: "61. Expensive"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a beloved person; used as terms of endearment
- Similar words include: honey, heartfelt, high-priced
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: DEAR
41D: "62. Health resort"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a health resort near a spring or at the seaside
- Similar words include: watering place, watering hole, resort hotel
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer
Answer: SPA
Puzzle Stats
35 Across
41 Down
76 Total
