August 30, 2023 NYT Clues Solutions | XWordHint

Quick Navigation - Table of Contents

• Puzzle Overview & Difficulty
• Across Clues (40 clues)
• Down Clues (38 clues)
• Category Breakdown
• Complete Puzzle Statistics
• Pro Solving Tips

Puzzle Overview & Difficulty Analysis

Date: Wednesday, August 30, 2023

Difficulty Level: Medium Tuesday Puzzle

Total Clues: 78 (40 Across, 38 Down)

Average Word Length: 4.8 letters

August 30, 2023 Wednesday NYT - Complete Across Solutions

No.	Clue	Letters
1A	1. Once ___ a time,	4
2A	5. not so ___ ago,	4
3A	9. ___ was a girl named Ava.	5
4A	14. Ava's ___ joy was	4
5A	15. her prized ___.	4
6A	16. She had ___ her skill in band,	5
7A	17. despite sitting next to the noisy ___,	9
8A	19. which were an ___ distraction.	5
9A	20. One day, after school, Ava called a ___.	4
10A	21. It hadn't come ___ as she muttered,	3
11A	22. "___, I guess. At least the week's over."	4
12A	23. She was ___ with her music,	5
13A	25. and school was hardly an ___.	4
14A	26. Just then, Dana, a bandmate Ava was crushing on, walked up lugging a ___.	4
15A	29. As Ava ___ nearby, gathering her courage,	5
16A	31. Dana bent down to ___ the heavy instrument.	4
17A	34. Ava ___ at Dana.	6
18A	36. "Would it be a stretch to say I dig your ___ T-shirt?," Ava asked.	4
19A	38. Dana's reaction was the start of an ___ for Ava.	3
20A	39. Wheezing laughter like an ___ in an old tire and deep blushing	7
21A	41. were ___ that Dana was smitten, too.	7
22A	43. "That was a ___ joke!," Dana sputtered.	3
23A	44. "I got the shirt from ___; glad you like it."	4
24A	46. Ava mustered every ___ in her brain	6
25A	47. and felt her heart ___ as she blurted,	4
26A	49. "I'd love to hang out some time, no ___!"	5
27A	51. Dana grinned. "Then meditating together in corpse pose ___ an option!"	4
28A	52. Ava wrinkled her ___ and laughed.	4
29A	54. After that spark, the pair bonded in large ___.	5
30A	56. Dana learned that Ava loved chocolate ___ cookies,	4
31A	57. and Ava learned Dana loved "Much ___ About Nothing."	3
32A	58. Though Dana wanted to visit Timbuktu in ___	4
33A	61. and Ava preferred Accra in ___,	5
34A	62. the pair still felt the ___ of their connection.	9
35A	65. One night, after watching "___ Python,"	5
36A	66. bingeing subtitled dramas from ___, and	4
37A	67. listening to Nat King ___,	4
38A	68. Ava and Dana shared their first kiss over cream ___.	5
39A	69. And, of course, ___ lived	4
40A	70. happily ___ after.	4

Let's Solve the Across Clues Together!

Here are helpful hints to solve each clue. Remember, crossword puzzles are like word games - have fun with them!

Clue 1 Across: "1. Once ___ a time,"

Quick Info: This answer has 4 letters. It's a medium clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• The word looks like this: ____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: UPON

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 2 Across: "5. not so ___ ago,"

Quick Info: This answer has 4 letters. It's a medium clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that desire strongly or persistently
• Words that mean the same thing: recollective, farsighted, retentive
• The opposite would be: unretentive, short
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: LONG

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 3 Across: "9. ___ was a girl named Ava."

Quick Info: This answer has 5 letters. It's a hard clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that a location other than here; that place
• Words that mean the same thing: in that location, at that place, in that respect
• The opposite would be: here
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: THERE

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 4 Across: "14. Ava's ___ joy was"

Quick Info: This answer has 4 letters. It's a medium clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that the underside of footwear or a golf club
• Words that mean the same thing: lone, solitary, resole
• The word looks like this: ____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: SOLE

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 5 Across: "15. her prized ___."

Quick Info: This answer has 4 letters. It's a medium clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that a slender double-reed instrument; a woodwind with a conical bore and a double-reed mouthpiece
• Words that mean the same thing: hautbois, hautboy
• The word looks like this: ____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: OBOE

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 6 Across: "16. She had ___ her skill in band,"

Quick Info: This answer has 5 letters. It's a hard clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that sharpen with a hone
• Words that mean the same thing: perfect, hone
• The word looks like this: _____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: HONED

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 7 Across: "17. despite sitting next to the noisy ___,"

Quick Info: This answer has 9 letters. It's a expert clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that a single-reed instrument with a straight tube
• Words that mean the same thing: clarinet
• The word looks like this: _________
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: CLARINETS

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 8 Across: "19. which were an ___ distraction."

Quick Info: This answer has 5 letters. It's a medium clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that make an addition (to); join or combine or unite with others; increase the quality, quantity, size or scope of
• Words that mean the same thing: add together, supply, sum up
• The opposite would be: take away, subtract
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: ADDED

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 9 Across: "20. One day, after school, Ava called a ___."

Quick Info: This answer has 4 letters. It's a hard clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• The word looks like this: ____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: LYFT

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 10 Across: "21. It hadn't come ___ as she muttered,"

Quick Info: This answer has 3 letters. It's a medium clue about short answer.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that up to the present time
• Words that mean the same thing: til now, heretofore, in time
• The word looks like this: ___
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: YET

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 11 Across: "22. "___, I guess. At least the week's over.""

Quick Info: This answer has 4 letters. It's a hard clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• The word looks like this: ____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: TGIF

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 12 Across: "23. She was ___ with her music,"

Quick Info: This answer has 5 letters. It's a hard clue about music.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that cause to be bored
• Words that mean the same thing: drill, tire, bore
• The opposite would be: interest
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: BORED

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 13 Across: "25. and school was hardly an ___."

Quick Info: This answer has 4 letters. It's a hard clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that any place of complete bliss and delight and peace
• Words that mean the same thing: paradise, heaven, promised land
• The word looks like this: ____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: EDEN

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 14 Across: "26. Just then, Dana, a bandmate Ava was crushing on, walked up lugging a ___."

Quick Info: This answer has 4 letters. It's a hard clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that the lowest brass wind instrument
• Words that mean the same thing: bass horn, sousaphone
• The word looks like this: ____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: TUBA

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 15 Across: "29. As Ava ___ nearby, gathering her courage,"

Quick Info: This answer has 5 letters. It's a hard clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that run disconnected or idle
• Words that mean the same thing: slug, stagnate, idle
• The opposite would be: run, work
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: IDLED

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 16 Across: "31. Dana bent down to ___ the heavy instrument."

Quick Info: This answer has 4 letters. It's a hard clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that fill by packing tightly
• The word looks like this: ____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: STOW

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 17 Across: "34. Ava ___ at Dana."

Quick Info: This answer has 6 letters. It's a hard clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
• Words that mean the same thing: smile
• The word looks like this: ______
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: SMILED

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 18 Across: "36. "Would it be a stretch to say I dig your ___ T-shirt?," Ava asked."

Quick Info: This answer has 4 letters. It's a expert clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that hindu discipline aimed at training the consciousness for a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility that is achieved through the three paths of actions and knowledge and devotion
• The word looks like this: ____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: YOGA

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 19 Across: "38. Dana's reaction was the start of an ___ for Ava."

Quick Info: This answer has 3 letters. It's a medium clue about celebrity/entertainment.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that a period marked by distinctive character or reckoned from a fixed point or event
• Words that mean the same thing: earned run average, epoch, geological era
• The word looks like this: ___
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: ERA

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 20 Across: "39. Wheezing laughter like an ___ in an old tire and deep blushing"

Quick Info: This answer has 7 letters. It's a hard clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• The word looks like this: _______
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: AIRLEAK

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 21 Across: "41. were ___ that Dana was smitten, too."

Quick Info: This answer has 7 letters. It's a hard clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that any nonverbal action or gesture that encodes a message
• Words that mean the same thing: sign, bespeak, signal
• The word looks like this: _______
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: SIGNALS

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 22 Across: "43. "That was a ___ joke!," Dana sputtered."

Quick Info: This answer has 3 letters. It's a medium clue about short answer.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that a unit of absorbed ionizing radiation equal to 100 ergs per gram of irradiated material
• Words that mean the same thing: radian
• The word looks like this: ___
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: RAD

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 23 Across: "44. "I got the shirt from ___; glad you like it.""

Quick Info: This answer has 4 letters. It's a hard clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• The word looks like this: ____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: EBAY

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 24 Across: "46. Ava mustered every ___ in her brain"

Quick Info: This answer has 6 letters. It's a hard clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that a cell that is specialized to conduct nerve impulses
• Words that mean the same thing: nerve cell
• The word looks like this: ______
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: NEURON

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 25 Across: "47. and felt her heart ___ as she blurted,"

Quick Info: This answer has 4 letters. It's a hard clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that a gait in which steps and hops alternate
• Words that mean the same thing: bound off, skip over, skitter
• The word looks like this: ____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: SKIP

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 26 Across: "49. "I'd love to hang out some time, no ___!""

Quick Info: This answer has 5 letters. It's a hard clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that the deliberate act of deviating from the truth
• Words that mean the same thing: lie down, fabrication, lie
• The opposite would be: arise, stand
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: LYING

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 27 Across: "51. Dana grinned. "Then meditating together in corpse pose ___ an option!""

Quick Info: This answer has 4 letters. It's a hard clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• The word looks like this: ____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: ISNT

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 28 Across: "52. Ava wrinkled her ___ and laughed."

Quick Info: This answer has 4 letters. It's a hard clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that the organ of smell and entrance to the respiratory tract; the prominent part of the face of man or other mammals
• Words that mean the same thing: scent, horn in, nuzzle
• The word looks like this: ____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: NOSE

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 29 Across: "54. After that spark, the pair bonded in large ___."

Quick Info: This answer has 5 letters. It's a hard clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that a measured portion of medicine taken at any one time
• Words that mean the same thing: window pane, United States Department of State, Venus's curse
• The word looks like this: _____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: DOSES

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 30 Across: "56. Dana learned that Ava loved chocolate ___ cookies,"

Quick Info: This answer has 4 letters. It's a hard clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that a small fragment of something broken off from the whole
• Words that mean the same thing: splintering, knap, chip shot
• The word looks like this: ____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: CHIP

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 31 Across: "57. and Ava learned Dana loved "Much ___ About Nothing.""

Quick Info: This answer has 3 letters. It's a medium clue about short answer.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that a rapid active commotion
• Words that mean the same thing: bustle, flurry, hustle
• The word looks like this: ___
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: ADO

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 32 Across: "58. Though Dana wanted to visit Timbuktu in ___"

Quick Info: This answer has 4 letters. It's a hard clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that a landlocked republic in northwestern africa; achieved independence from france in 1960; mali was a center of west african civilization for more than 4,000 years
• Words that mean the same thing: Republic of Mali, French Sudan
• The word looks like this: ____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: MALI

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 33 Across: "61. and Ava preferred Accra in ___,"

Quick Info: This answer has 5 letters. It's a hard clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that a republic in west africa on the gulf of guinea
• Words that mean the same thing: Gold Coast, Republic of Ghana
• The word looks like this: _____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: GHANA

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 34 Across: "62. the pair still felt the ___ of their connection."

Quick Info: This answer has 9 letters. It's a expert clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that according with conscience or morality
• Words that mean the same thing: nicety, correctness, appropriateness
• The opposite would be: incorrectness, wrongness
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: RIGHTNESS

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 35 Across: "65. One night, after watching "___ Python,""

Quick Info: This answer has 5 letters. It's a hard clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• The word looks like this: _____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: MONTY

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 36 Across: "66. bingeing subtitled dramas from ___, and"

Quick Info: This answer has 4 letters. It's a hard clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be 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
• The word looks like this: ____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: ASIA

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 37 Across: "67. listening to Nat King ___,"

Quick Info: This answer has 4 letters. It's a medium clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that a hardy cabbage with coarse curly leaves that do not form a head
• Words that mean the same thing: kail, borecole, Brassica oleracea acephala
• The word looks like this: ____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: COLE

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 38 Across: "68. Ava and Dana shared their first kiss over cream ___."

Quick Info: This answer has 5 letters. It's a hard clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that a sodium salt of carbonic acid; used in making soap powders and glass and paper
• Words that mean the same thing: soda ash, tonic, pop
• The word looks like this: _____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: SODAS

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 39 Across: "69. And, of course, ___ lived"

Quick Info: This answer has 4 letters. It's a medium clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• The word looks like this: ____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: THEY

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 40 Across: "70. happily ___ after."

Quick Info: This answer has 4 letters. It's a medium clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that at any time
• Words that mean the same thing: e'er, ever so, of all time
• The opposite would be: never
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: EVER

  Great job if you got it right!

Down Clues Decoded - Wednesday NYT Crossword August 30, 2023

No.	Clue	Letters
1D	1. Trojans' sch.	3
2D	2. Straw vote, e.g.	4
3D	3. Skin cream brand	4
4D	4. Round, squishy toy	8
5D	5. Actor Chaney	3
6D	6. Followed	6
7D	7. With distinction	7
8D	8. Daring deed	4
9D	9. Contraction before "be great"	5
10D	10. Obergefell v. ___, Supreme Court decision legalizing gay marriage	6
11D	11. Conclude miserably	10
12D	12. Shipwreck site	4
13D	13. Reds great Roush	3
14D	18. Figure skater Midori	3
15D	24. Like buses and bicycles	7
16D	25. Curtain trims, e.g.	7
17D	26. Bygone Russian rulers	5
18D	27. Inuit skin boat	5
19D	28. It's a sure thing	10
20D	30. Dawn goddess	3
21D	32. Synthetic fabric	5
22D	33. Never existed	5
23D	35. Wide shoe spec	3
24D	37. Just a number, it's said	3
25D	40. Alabama governor Ivey	3
26D	42. Bother	8
27D	45. Language from which we get bupkis and shtick	7
28D	48. Starting place	6
29D	50. Knuckle-headed gesture?	6
30D	53. Neuters	5
31D	55. 911 responder	3
32D	56. When repeated, a toy train	4
33D	57. Hamlet's interrogative after "How now!"	4
34D	59. Pope after Benedict IV	4
35D	60. Bali, for one	4
36D	61. M.L.B. execs	3
37D	63. Stuff in a loft	3
38D	64. Title for "Game of Thrones" knights	3

Now Let's Solve the Down Clues!

Down clues go from top to bottom. Use the letters from your across answers to help!

Clue 1 Down: "1. Trojans' sch."

Quick Info: This answer has 3 letters. It's a easy clue about short answer.

Here's how to solve it:

• The word looks like this: ___
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: USC

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 2 Down: "2. Straw vote, e.g."

Quick Info: This answer has 4 letters. It's a medium clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that an inquiry into public opinion conducted by interviewing a random sample of people
• Words that mean the same thing: opinion poll, pate, pollard
• The word looks like this: ____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: POLL

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 3 Down: "3. Skin cream brand"

Quick Info: This answer has 4 letters. It's a medium clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• The word looks like this: ____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: OLAY

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 4 Down: "4. Round, squishy toy"

Quick Info: This answer has 8 letters. It's a hard clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• The word looks like this: ________
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: NERFBALL

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 5 Down: "5. Actor Chaney"

Quick Info: This answer has 3 letters. It's a easy clue about celebrity/entertainment.

Here's how to solve it:

• The word looks like this: ___
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: LON

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 6 Down: "6. Followed"

Quick Info: This answer has 6 letters. It's a medium clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that be obedient to
• Words that mean the same thing: obey
• The opposite would be: disobey
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: OBEYED

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 7 Down: "7. With distinction"

Quick Info: This answer has 7 letters. It's a medium clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• The word looks like this: _______
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: NOTEDLY

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 8 Down: "8. Daring deed"

Quick Info: This answer has 4 letters. It's a medium clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• The word looks like this: ____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: GEST

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 9 Down: "9. Contraction before "be great""

Quick Info: This answer has 5 letters. It's a medium clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• The word looks like this: _____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: THATD

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 10 Down: "10. Obergefell v. ___, Supreme Court decision legalizing gay marriage"

Quick Info: This answer has 6 letters. It's a hard clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• The word looks like this: ______
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: HODGES

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 11 Down: "11. Conclude miserably"

Quick Info: This answer has 10 letters. It's a hard clue about history.

Here's how to solve it:

• The word looks like this: __________
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: ENDINTEARS

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 12 Down: "12. Shipwreck site"

Quick Info: This answer has 4 letters. It's a medium clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that a submerged ridge of rock or coral near the surface of the water
• Words that mean the same thing: Rand, Witwatersrand
• The word looks like this: ____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: REEF

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 13 Down: "13. Reds great Roush"

Quick Info: This answer has 3 letters. It's a easy clue about short answer.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that a doctor's degree in education
• Words that mean the same thing: Doctor of Education, DEd
• The word looks like this: ___
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: EDD

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 14 Down: "18. Figure skater Midori"

Quick Info: This answer has 3 letters. It's a easy clue about short answer.

Here's how to solve it:

• The word looks like this: ___
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: ITO

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 15 Down: "24. Like buses and bicycles"

Quick Info: This answer has 7 letters. It's a hard clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• The word looks like this: _______
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: RIDABLE

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 16 Down: "25. Curtain trims, e.g."

Quick Info: This answer has 7 letters. It's a medium clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that border consisting of anything placed on the edge to finish something (such as a fringe on clothing or on a rug)
• Words that mean the same thing: edging
• The word looks like this: _______
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: EDGINGS

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 17 Down: "26. Bygone Russian rulers"

Quick Info: This answer has 5 letters. It's a medium clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that a male monarch or emperor (especially of russia prior to 1917)
• Words that mean the same thing: tzar, czar, tsar
• The word looks like this: _____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: TSARS

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 18 Down: "27. Inuit skin boat"

Quick Info: This answer has 5 letters. It's a medium clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• The word looks like this: _____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: UMIAK

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 19 Down: "28. It's a sure thing"

Quick Info: This answer has 10 letters. It's a hard clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• The word looks like this: __________
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: BIRDINHAND

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 20 Down: "30. Dawn goddess"

Quick Info: This answer has 3 letters. It's a easy clue about short answer.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that (greek mythology) the winged goddess of the dawn in ancient mythology; daughter of hyperion; identified with roman aurora
• The word looks like this: ___
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: EOS

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 21 Down: "32. Synthetic fabric"

Quick Info: This answer has 5 letters. It's a medium clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that an acrylic fiber or the lightweight crease-resistant fabric made with orlon yarns
• The word looks like this: _____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: ORLON

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 22 Down: "33. Never existed"

Quick Info: This answer has 5 letters. It's a medium clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• The word looks like this: _____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: WASNT

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 23 Down: "35. Wide shoe spec"

Quick Info: This answer has 3 letters. It's a easy clue about short answer.

Here's how to solve it:

• The word looks like this: ___
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: EEE

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 24 Down: "37. Just a number, it's said"

Quick Info: This answer has 3 letters. It's a medium clue about short answer.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that how long something has existed
• Words that mean the same thing: mature, maturate, years
• The opposite would be: rejuvenate
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: AGE

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 25 Down: "40. Alabama governor Ivey"

Quick Info: This answer has 3 letters. It's a easy clue about short answer.

Here's how to solve it:

• The word looks like this: ___
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: KAY

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 26 Down: "42. Bother"

Quick Info: This answer has 8 letters. It's a medium clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that (law) a broad legal concept including anything that disturbs the reasonable use of your property or endangers life and health or is offensive
• Words that mean the same thing: pain, pain in the neck
• The word looks like this: ________
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: NUISANCE

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 27 Down: "45. Language from which we get bupkis and shtick"

Quick Info: This answer has 7 letters. It's a hard clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that a dialect of high german including some hebrew and other words; spoken in europe as a vernacular by many jews; written in the hebrew script
• The word looks like this: _______
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: YIDDISH

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 28 Down: "48. Starting place"

Quick Info: This answer has 6 letters. It's a medium clue about celebrity/entertainment.

Here's how to solve it:

• The word looks like this: ______
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: POINTA

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 29 Down: "50. Knuckle-headed gesture?"

Quick Info: This answer has 6 letters. It's a hard clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• The word looks like this: ______
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: NOOGIE

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 30 Down: "53. Neuters"

Quick Info: This answer has 5 letters. It's a easy clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that remove the ovaries of
• Words that mean the same thing: neuter, spay, castrate
• The word looks like this: _____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: SPAYS

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 31 Down: "55. 911 responder"

Quick Info: This answer has 3 letters. It's a easy clue about short answer.

Here's how to solve it:

• The word looks like this: ___
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: EMT

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 32 Down: "56. When repeated, a toy train"

Quick Info: This answer has 4 letters. It's a medium clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• The word looks like this: ____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: CHOO

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 33 Down: "57. Hamlet's interrogative after "How now!""

Quick Info: This answer has 4 letters. It's a medium clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• The word looks like this: ____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: ARAT

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 34 Down: "59. Pope after Benedict IV"

Quick Info: This answer has 4 letters. It's a medium clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• The word looks like this: ____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: LEOV

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 35 Down: "60. Bali, for one"

Quick Info: This answer has 4 letters. It's a medium clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that a small island
• Words that mean the same thing: islet
• The word looks like this: ____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: ISLE

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 36 Down: "61. M.L.B. execs"

Quick Info: This answer has 3 letters. It's a easy clue about short answer.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that a metric unit of weight equal to one thousandth of a kilogram
• Words that mean the same thing: gramme, gm, g
• The word looks like this: ___
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: GMS

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 37 Down: "63. Stuff in a loft"

Quick Info: This answer has 3 letters. It's a medium clue about short answer.

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that grass mowed and cured for use as fodder
• The word looks like this: ___
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: HAY

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 38 Down: "64. Title for "Game of Thrones" knights"

Quick Info: This answer has 3 letters. It's a medium clue about sports.

Here's how to solve it:

• The word looks like this: ___
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: SER

  Great job if you got it right!

Category Breakdown

Category	Number of Clues	Percentage
General Knowledge	59	75.6%
Short Answer	13	16.7%
Celebrity/Entertainment	3	3.8%
Music	1	1.3%
History	1	1.3%
Sports	1	1.3%

Complete Puzzle Statistics

Metric	Value
Across Clues	40
Down Clues	38
Total Clues	78
Average Answer Length	4.8 letters
Shortest Answer	3 letters
Longest Answer	10 letters

Fun Tips to Solve Crossword Puzzles!

• Start with short words first - they're usually easier!
• Look for clues with blanks to fill in - these are like fill-in-the-blank questions at school
• When letters cross, they must be the same in both words - this helps you check if you're right!
• Today is Wednesday, and these puzzles are usually medium level
• Most clues today are about general knowledge
• The average word today has about 4 letters
• Remember: It's okay to take breaks and come back later with fresh eyes!
• Ask someone for help if you need it - crosswords are more fun with friends!

Disclaimer: Crossword clues are property of The New York Times. This educational content is designed to help puzzle enthusiasts improve their solving skills.

Last Updated: August 31, 2025 at 05:19 AM

XWordHint Crossword Answers December 11, 2025 | 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
• Across Clues Table (37 clues)
• Across Clues - Detailed Hints
• Down Clues Table (39 clues)
• Down Clues - Detailed Hints
• Expert Solving Strategies
• Today's Puzzle Statistics

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. Against	4
2A	5. Greek goddess swallowed by her father and rescued by her future husband	4
3A	9. Suisse peak	4
4A	13. Spoils	4
5A	14. Work of Bellini or Bizet	5
6A	16. Stead	4
7A	17. SEAL ... SWAT... B ...	10
8A	19. Some ways off	4
9A	20. Plane divider	5
10A	21. English town known for its salt	5
11A	23. Sustainable start?	3
12A	24. Contraction that's a homophone of 20-Across	3
13A	26. Author Zora ___ Hurston	5
14A	28. Utopia ... 10 ... ideal ...	14
15A	34. Warms up for a race, say	4
16A	35. Columbus's smallest ship	4
17A	36. "No harm, no foul"	5
18A	37. Bus. page news	3
19A	38. Landing area in a long jump	7
20A	40. Sign for cheap admission	3
21A	41. Word with heavy or scrap	5
22A	43. Slip (out), in a way	4
23A	44. Cry over spilt milk?	4
24A	45. Puff ... Komodo ... Smaug ...	14
25A	48. Take inspiration from	5
26A	49. Quote from Homer	3
27A	50. Cable staple since 1972	3
28A	51. A replay might be seen in this	5
29A	55. Echo starter	5
30A	59. Prepares to throw	4
31A	61. Fish ... scuba ... Army ...	10
32A	63. Reunion group	4
33A	64. Subject of an Oscars announcement	5
34A	65. What a dog might do to its owner	4
35A	66. Lottery-style gambling game	4
36A	67. Dreamcast developer	4
37A	68. Puts two and two together, say	4

Across Clues - Strategic Hints

1A: "1. Against"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a person who is opposed (to an action or policy or practice etc.)
• Opposite of: pro
• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: ANTI

Remember this word for future puzzles!

2A: "5. Greek goddess swallowed by her father and rescued by her future husband"

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that queen of the olympian gods in ancient greek mythology; sister and wife of zeus remembered for her jealously of the many mortal women zeus fell in love with; identified with roman juno
• Similar words include: Here
• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: HERA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

3A: "9. Suisse peak"

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: ALPE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

4A: "13. Spoils"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that goods or money obtained illegally
• Similar words include: cabbage, despoil, shekels
• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: LOOT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

5A: "14. Work of Bellini or Bizet"

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!

6A: "16. Stead"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that the post or function properly or customarily occupied or served by another
• Similar words include: place, stead, position
• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: LIEU

Remember this word for future puzzles!

7A: "17. SEAL ... SWAT... B ..."

10 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: __________

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: DREAMTEAMS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

8A: "19. Some ways off"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that (old-fashioned) at or from or to a great distance; far
• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: AFAR

Remember this word for future puzzles!

9A: "20. Plane divider"

5 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a long narrow passage (as in a cave or woods)
• Similar words include: gangway
• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: AISLE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

10A: "21. English town known for its salt"

5 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: EPSOM

Remember this word for future puzzles!

11A: "23. Sustainable start?"

3 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: ECO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

12A: "24. Contraction that's a homophone of 20-Across"

3 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that an often persistent bodily disorder or disease; a cause for complaining
• Similar words include: sick, poorly, badly
• Opposite of: well

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: ILL

Remember this word for future puzzles!

13A: "26. Author Zora ___ Hurston"

5 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: NEALE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

14A: "28. Utopia ... 10 ... ideal ..."

14 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ______________

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: PICTUREPERFECT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

15A: "34. Warms up for a race, say"

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a sharp change in direction
• Similar words include: even up, square up, lope
• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: JOGS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

16A: "35. Columbus's smallest ship"

4 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that the babylonian goddess of the watery deep and daughter of ea
• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: NINA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

17A: "36. "No harm, no foul""

5 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: ITSOK

Remember this word for future puzzles!

18A: "37. Bus. page news"

3 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a corporation's first offer to sell stock to the public
• Similar words include: initial offering, initial public offering
• Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: IPO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

19A: "38. Landing area in a long jump"

7 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a large pit in sandy ground from which sand is dug
• Similar words include: sandpile, sandbox
• Pattern: _______

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: SANDPIT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

20A: "40. Sign for cheap admission"

3 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: SRO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

21A: "41. Word with heavy or scrap"

5 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that any of several chemical elements that are usually shiny solids that conduct heat or electricity and can be formed into sheets etc.
• Similar words include: metallic, alloy, metallic element
• Opposite of: nonmetallic

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: METAL

Remember this word for future puzzles!

22A: "43. Slip (out), in a way"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that pass gradually or leak through or as if through small openings
• Similar words include: ooze
• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: SEEP

Remember this word for future puzzles!

23A: "44. Cry over spilt milk?"

4 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: OOPS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

24A: "45. Puff ... Komodo ... Smaug ..."

14 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ______________

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: IMAGINEDRAGONS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

25A: "48. Take inspiration from"

5 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: OWETO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

26A: "49. Quote from Homer"

3 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that the syllable naming the first (tonic) note of any major scale in solmization
• Similar words include: ut, do
• Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: DOH

Remember this word for future puzzles!

27A: "50. Cable staple since 1972"

3 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: HBO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

28A: "51. A replay might be seen in this"

5 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: SLOMO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

29A: "55. Echo starter"

5 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: ALEXA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

30A: "59. Prepares to throw"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions
• Similar words include: intention, aim, train
• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: AIMS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

31A: "61. Fish ... scuba ... Army ..."

10 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: __________

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: THINKTANKS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

32A: "63. Reunion group"

4 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that group of people related by blood or marriage
• Similar words include: kin, kindred, kin group
• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: CLAN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

33A: "64. Subject of an Oscars announcement"

5 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a person who acts as host at formal occasions (makes an introductory speech and introduces other speakers)
• Similar words include: host, compere, master of ceremonies
• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: EMCEE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

34A: "65. What a dog might do to its owner"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a salt deposit that animals regularly lick
• Similar words include: poke, puzzle out, bat
• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: LICK

Remember this word for future puzzles!

35A: "66. Lottery-style gambling game"

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a game in which numbered balls are drawn at random and players cover the corresponding numbers on their cards
• Similar words include: lotto, bingo, beano
• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: KENO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

36A: "67. Dreamcast developer"

4 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: SEGA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

37A: "68. Puts two and two together, say"

4 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a condition (mostly in boys) characterized by behavioral and learning disorders
• Similar words include: minimal brain dysfunction, append, bring
• Opposite of: subtract, take away

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: ADDS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

Down Clues - Complete List

No.	Clue	Letters
1D	1. Alan of PBS's "Scientific American Frontiers"	4
2D	2. Wrapper at a Japanese restaurant	4
3D	3. Steps up to, as the line	4
4D	4. Right-leaning type	7
5D	5. Super-trendy	3
6D	6. Electrified Olympic weapon	4
7D	7. Collect, as rewards	4
8D	8. Huggers	4
9D	9. In the style of	3
10D	10. Something learned the hard way, often	10
11D	11. Organization promoting international goodwill	10
12D	12. Coin with 12 stars on it	4
13D	15. Acting collectively	5
14D	18. Un-solid-ify	4
15D	22. Be worthy of	5
16D	25. Sol's sister	4
17D	27. Toward the back of the boat	3
18D	28. Big wheels in the Vatican?	10
19D	29. Ray Charles's first #1 R&B single (1954)	10
20D	30. Hand sanitizer eliminates the need to do this	5
21D	31. Quit	5
22D	32. Art class staple	5
23D	33. Abrupt endings, of a sort	4
24D	34. 2022 book paying tribute to a 1960s rock legend	4
25D	38. Narrow openings	5
26D	39. Big Apple debut in 2010	4
27D	42. This clue's number, for the youngest U.S. president	3
28D	44. "Lux-ur-ious!"	7
29D	46. Nick of "Cape Fear"	5
30D	47. Pan in the butt?	4
31D	50. Cybersecurity concern	4
32D	52. Electrical units	4
33D	53. Maze runners, sometimes	4
34D	54. Universal donor's type, informally	4
35D	56. Children's author Blyton	4
36D	57. Popular stick-figure webcomic	4
37D	58. Quizzes	4
38D	60. ___-cone	3
39D	62. New Zealand parrot whose name sounds like a Korean automaker	3

Down Clues - Strategic Hints

1D: "1. Alan of PBS's "Scientific American Frontiers""

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: ALDA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

2D: "2. Wrapper at a Japanese restaurant"

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: NORI

Remember this word for future puzzles!

3D: "3. Steps up to, as the line"

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that one of the digits of the foot
• Similar words include: toe, toenail
• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: TOES

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4D: "4. Right-leaning type"

7 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a style of handwriting with the letters slanting to the right
• Similar words include: Italic, italic, Italic language
• Pattern: _______

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: ITALICS

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5D: "5. Super-trendy"

3 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that used of physical heat; having a high or higher than desirable temperature or giving off heat or feeling or causing a sensation of heat or burning
• Similar words include: raging, live, blistering
• Opposite of: cold

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: HOT

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6D: "6. Electrified Olympic weapon"

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a fencing sword similar to a foil but with a heavier blade
• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: EPEE

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7D: "7. Collect, as rewards"

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that gather, as of natural products
• Similar words include: glean, harvest, draw
• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: REAP

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8D: "8. Huggers"

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that weapons considered collectively
• Similar words include: munition, weapon system, blazon
• Opposite of: disarm

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: ARMS

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9D: "9. In the style of"

3 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

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

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10D: "10. Something learned the hard way, often"

10 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: __________

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: LIFELESSON

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11D: "11. Organization promoting international goodwill"

10 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: __________

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: PEACECORPS

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12D: "12. Coin with 12 stars on it"

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

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

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13D: "15. Acting collectively"

5 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: ASONE

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14D: "18. Un-solid-ify"

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that the process whereby heat changes something from a solid to a liquid
• Similar words include: fade, melt down, thaw
• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: MELT

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15D: "22. Be worthy of"

5 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that any admirable quality or attribute
• Similar words include: deservingness, virtue, meritoriousness
• Opposite of: demerit

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: MERIT

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16D: "25. Sol's sister"

4 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that (roman mythology) the goddess of the moon; counterpart of greek selene
• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: LUNA

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17D: "27. Toward the back of the boat"

3 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that (nautical, aeronautical) situated at or toward the stern or tail
• Similar words include: abaft, astern
• Opposite of: fore

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: AFT

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18D: "28. Big wheels in the Vatican?"

10 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: __________

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: POPEMOBILE

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19D: "29. Ray Charles's first #1 R&B single (1954)"

10 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: __________

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: IGOTAWOMAN

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20D: "30. Hand sanitizer eliminates the need to do this"

5 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a liquid preparation used on wet hair to give it a tint
• Similar words include: wash, rinse off, gargle
• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: RINSE

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21D: "31. Quit"

5 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that have an end, in a temporal, spatial, or quantitative sense; either spatial or metaphorical
• Similar words include: concluded, stop, terminated
• Opposite of: begin

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: ENDED

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22D: "32. Art class staple"

5 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses
• Similar words include: newspaper, report, newspaper publisher
• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: PAPER

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23D: "33. Abrupt endings, of a sort"

4 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a knockout declared by the referee who judges one boxer unable to continue
• Similar words include: technical knockout, TKO
• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: TKOS

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24D: "34. 2022 book paying tribute to a 1960s rock legend"

4 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: JIMI

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25D: "38. Narrow openings"

5 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a long narrow opening
• Similar words include: pussy, slit, dent
• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: SLITS

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26D: "39. Big Apple debut in 2010"

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: IPAD

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27D: "42. This clue's number, for the youngest U.S. president"

3 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that how long something has existed
• Similar words include: geezerhood, mature, old age
• Opposite of: rejuvenate

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: AGE

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28D: "44. "Lux-ur-ious!""

7 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: _______

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: OOHLALA

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29D: "46. Nick of "Cape Fear""

5 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: NOLTE

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30D: "47. Pan in the butt?"

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that any of numerous agile ruminants related to sheep but having a beard and straight horns
• Similar words include: stooge, laughingstock, Capricorn the Goat
• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: GOAT

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31D: "50. Cybersecurity concern"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that one who works hard at boring tasks
• Similar words include: whoop, nag, ward-heeler
• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: HACK

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32D: "52. Electrical units"

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a unit of electrical resistance equal to the resistance between two points on a conductor when a potential difference of one volt between them produces a current of one ampere
• Similar words include: ohm, Georg Simon Ohm, Ohm
• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: OHMS

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33D: "53. Maze runners, sometimes"

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that any of numerous small rodents typically resembling diminutive rats having pointed snouts and small ears on elongated bodies with slender usually hairless tails
• Similar words include: black eye, computer mouse, mouse
• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: MICE

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34D: "54. Universal donor's type, informally"

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: ONEG

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35D: "56. Children's author Blyton"

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a town in north central oklahoma
• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: ENID

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36D: "57. Popular stick-figure webcomic"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: XKCD

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37D: "58. Quizzes"

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that inquire about
• Similar words include: need, take, expect
• Opposite of: obviate

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: ASKS

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38D: "60. ___-cone"

3 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: SNO

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39D: "62. New Zealand parrot whose name sounds like a Korean automaker"

3 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that large brownish-green new zealand parrot
• Similar words include: Nestor notabilis
• Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: KEA

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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

37 Across Clues

39 Down Clues

76 Total Clues

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Last updated: December 11, 2025 at 04:09 AM