2412 Mon Dec 16, 2024 NYT by Ailee Yoshida

Break down the NYT Crosswords: December 16, 2024

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

New York Times, Monday, December 16, 2024

Across Clues with Answers:

• The clue is 1. Team that won the most medals at the 2024 Olympics. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: USA

  Possible Answer : United_States, US, Army, United_States_of_America, USA, United_States_Army, America, U.S., U.S.A., US_Army, U._S._Army, the_States




• The clue is 4. Ann ___, Mich.. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: ARBOR

  Possible Answer : bower, mandril, spindle, mandrel, arbour, pergola, arbor




• The clue is 9. Some laptops. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: PCS

  Possible Answer : personal_computer, PC, microcomputer




• The clue is 12. Director Ephron. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: NORA




• The clue is 14. Real smooth. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: SUAVE

  Possible Answer : bland, debonaire, politic, debonair, suave, debonnaire, smooth




• The clue is 15. What cilantro tastes like to some people. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: SOAP

  Possible Answer : Georgia_home_boy, grievous_bodily_harm, scoop, goop, liquid_ecstasy, lather, max, easy_lay, soap




• The clue is 16. Enemy of the Jedi. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: SITH




• The clue is 17. Sound of an unfortunate bird poop landing. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: SPLAT

  Possible Answer : splat




• The clue is 18. Blab. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: TELL

  Possible Answer : William_Tell, order, tell_apart, Tell, narrate, severalise, secernate, say, differentiate, distinguish, assure, severalize, enjoin, secern, tell, evidence, state, separate, recount, recite




• The clue is 19. Tidbit in a nutritious pudding. Can you find the Answer?

  Here is a hint. It is a word with exactly (8 letters)

  The answer: CHIASEED




• The clue is 21. Bulgy belly button. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: OUTIE




• The clue is 22. Hi-___ image. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: RES

  Possible Answer : atomic_number_75, re, Re, RES, Ra, rhenium, ray, reticuloendothelial_system




• The clue is 23. Department handling media inquiries. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: PRESSOFFICE




• The clue is 26. Is distressing to. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: EATSAT




• The clue is 28. End of a college URL. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: EDU




• The clue is 29. Hornswoggle. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: CON

  Possible Answer : confidence_trick, confidence_game, gyp, hornswoggle, con, scam, memorise, bunko_game, sting, learn, gip, hustle, inmate, rook, short-change, defraud, con_game, yardbird, nobble, goldbrick, victimize, bunco, memorize, diddle, mulct, bunko, yard_bird, bunco_game, swindle, convict, flimflam

  Possible Opposite Answer : pro




• The clue is 30. Habeas corpus, e.g.. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: WRIT

  Possible Answer : writ, judicial_writ




• The clue is 31. Like the direction of this answer. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: ACROSS

  Possible Answer : crossways, across, crosswise




• The clue is 34. Timeout at work … as represented visually by this puzzle's circled letters. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: COFFEEBREAK




• The clue is 38. Bits of wisdom. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: PEARLS

  Possible Answer : drop, bone, off-white, pearl, bead, ivory




• The clue is 39. Faller during fall. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: LEAF

  Possible Answer : riff, leaf, flick, foliage, flip, leafage, riffle, thumb, folio




• The clue is 42. "Don't mind ___ do". Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: IFI




• The clue is 45. Prefix with -ceratops. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: TRI




• The clue is 46. Packaging for a stack of cookies. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: SLEEVE

  Possible Answer : sleeve, arm




• The clue is 48. Competition whose winner gets a tiara and sash. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: MISSAMERICA




• The clue is 52. Gesture of approval. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: NOD

  Possible Answer : nod




• The clue is 53. Carelessly sits (down). Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: PLOPS

  Possible Answer : plump, plop, plunk_down, plunk, plank, flump, plump_down, plonk




• The clue is 54. Refined grace. Can you find the Answer?

  Here is a hint. It is a word with exactly (8 letters)

  The answer: ELEGANCE

  Possible Answer : elegance

  Possible Opposite Answer : inelegance




• The clue is 56. Muppet with his own "world" on "Sesame Street". Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: ELMO




• The clue is 57. Blingy piece of neckwear. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: CHAIN

  Possible Answer : chain_of_mountains, range, strand, chain, Chain, Ernst_Boris_Chain, concatenation, Sir_Ernst_Boris_Chain, range_of_mountains, mountain_range, string, mountain_chain, chemical_chain

  Possible Opposite Answer : unchain




• The clue is 59. Teddy Grahams shape. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: BEAR

  Possible Answer : endure, suffer, stand, assume, pay, yield, acquit, tolerate, bear, comport, put_up, give_birth, accept, support, deport, abide, birth, stomach, deliver, wear, hold, expect, have_a_bun_in_the_oven, turn_out, behave, brook, take_over, carry, gestate, stick_out, contain, have, conduct, digest

  Possible Opposite Answer : bull




• The clue is 60. Ingredient in bug spray. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: DEET




• The clue is 61. Worth. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: VALUE

  Possible Answer : respect, evaluate, valuate, rate, measure, prize, treasure, esteem, appraise, note_value, prise, value, economic_value, time_value, assess, appreciate

  Possible Opposite Answer : disrespect, disesteem




• The clue is 62. Initials on an "Organic" sticker. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: USDA

  Possible Answer : USDA, Department_of_Agriculture, Agriculture_Department, Agriculture




• The clue is 63. Make a mistake. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: ERR

  Possible Answer : slip, stray, drift, err, mistake




• The clue is 64. Phil ___, QB who won two Super Bowls with the Giants. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: SIMMS




• The clue is 65. Sun, in San Juan. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: SOL

  Possible Answer : Sol, soh, so, sol, colloidal_suspension, colloidal_solution

Down Clues and Answers:

• The clue is 1. Remove, as a bottle cap. Can you find the Answer?

  Here is a hint. It is a word with exactly (7 letters)

  The answer: UNSCREW

  Possible Answer: unscrew

  Possible Opposite Answer : screw

• The clue is 2. "That's the word on the street". Can you find the Answer?

  Here is a hint. It is a word with exactly (7 letters)

  The answer: SOIHEAR

• The clue is 3. Good with a paintbrush, perhaps. Can you find the Answer?

  Here is a hint. It is a word with exactly (8 letters)

  The answer: ARTISTIC

  Possible Answer: aesthetic, artistic, esthetic

• The clue is 4. Declare. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: ASSERT

  Possible Answer: verify, asseverate, swan, affirm, put_forward, avow, assert, swear, aver, insist, maintain

• The clue is 5. Calcutta currency. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: RUPEE

  Possible Answer: Pakistani_rupee, Sri_Lanka_rupee, rupee, Mauritian_rupee, Nepalese_rupee, Seychelles_rupee, Indian_rupee

• The clue is 6. Loses one's hair. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: BALDS

  Possible Answer: bald

• The clue is 7. Egg cells. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: OVA

  Possible Answer: egg_cell, ovum

• The clue is 8. No longer working: Abbr.. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: RET

  Possible Answer: ret

• The clue is 9. Like lines / that rhyme / and keep / good time. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: POETIC

  Possible Answer: poetical, poetic

• The clue is 10. Cat with a colorful coat. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: CALICO

  Possible Answer: multicolor, multi-coloured, particolored, particoloured, multi-colour, varicoloured, motley, pied, multi-color, multicoloured, painted, varicolored, multicolored, multi-colored, multicolour, calico, piebald

• The clue is 11. Bad temper. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: SPLEEN

  Possible Answer: irascibility, lien, spleen, quick_temper, short_temper

• The clue is 13. "I've got it!". Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: AHA

• The clue is 15. Double ___ Oreos. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: STUF

• The clue is 20. Place to get a cucumber mask. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: SPA

  Possible Answer: watering_place, watering_hole, resort_hotel, spa, health_club, health_spa

• The clue is 21. Coming in handy. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: OFUSE

• The clue is 24. Belgrade natives. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: SERBS

  Possible Answer: Serbian, Serb

• The clue is 25. This stinks!. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: ODOR

  Possible Answer: odour, scent, odor, olfactory_perception, olfactory_sensation, olfactory_property, aroma, smell

• The clue is 27. Word on the street?. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: STOP

  Possible Answer: halt, break_off, hitch, plosive_speech_sound, give_up, quit, hold_back, cease, layover, closure, diaphragm, occlusive, intercept, stay, block_up, stoppage, plosive_consonant, plosive, period, stop_over, blockage, terminate, break, stop, barricade, point, blockade, full_stop, occlusion, discontinue, stop_consonant, hold_on, full_point, bar, block, finish, check, lay_off, kibosh, turn_back, arrest, block_off, contain, end, catch, stopover

  Possible Opposite Answer : continuant_consonant, start, continue, begin

• The clue is 31. Eagle's nest. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: AERIE

  Possible Answer: aerie, eyry, aery, eyrie

• The clue is 32. Animation frame. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: CEL

• The clue is 33. Discount offer. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: SALE

  Possible Answer: sales_agreement, cut-rate_sale, sales_event, sale

• The clue is 35. Crumbly Greek cheeses. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: FETAS

• The clue is 36. U-pick locale. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: FARM

  Possible Answer: grow, farm, raise, produce

• The clue is 37. Observant quality. Can you find the Answer?

  Here is a hint. It is a word with exactly (8 letters)

  The answer: KEENNESS

  Possible Answer: avidness, acuteness, keenness, eagerness, avidity, sharpness, acuity

  Possible Opposite Answer : dullness

• The clue is 40. Guacamole ingredient. Can you find the Answer?

  Here is a hint. It is a word with exactly (7 letters)

  The answer: AVOCADO

  Possible Answer: avocado_tree, Persea_Americana, aguacate, avocado_pear, avocado, alligator_pear

• The clue is 41. The "F" of F.B.I.. Can you find the Answer?

  Here is a hint. It is a word with exactly (7 letters)

  The answer: FEDERAL

  Possible Answer: Federal, Fed, federal, Union, Union_soldier, Federal_soldier, federal_official

  Possible Opposite Answer : unitary

• The clue is 42. Stand in the way of. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: IMPEDE

  Possible Answer: hinder, occlude, block, close_up, jam, impede, obstruct, obturate

  Possible Opposite Answer : free

• The clue is 43. Lip-plumping injection. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: FILLER

  Possible Answer: makeweight, filler

• The clue is 44. Compound with the same number of atoms in a different arrangement. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: ISOMER

  Possible Answer: isomer

• The clue is 46. Behind the ___. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: SCENES

  Possible Answer: conniption, scene, vista, prospect, view, scenery, fit, shot, setting, picture, aspect, tantrum, panorama

• The clue is 47. Fall behind. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: LAG

  Possible Answer: interim, lag, remand, meanwhile, immure, fall_behind, incarcerate, jug, imprison, gaol, put_behind_bars, dawdle, meantime, retardation, fall_back, jail, stave, put_away, slowdown

• The clue is 49. Espy. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: SPOT

  Possible Answer: smudge, maculation, spy, tell_apart, spot, situation, descry, blot, recognize, pick_out, blob, smirch, espy, pip, topographic_point, touch, smear, place, billet, dapple, distinguish, fleck, discern, blemish, daub, point, stain, bit, patch, recognise, berth, make_out, speckle, slur, office, post, spotlight, position

• The clue is 50. King's domain. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: REALM

  Possible Answer: land, kingdom, realm, region

• The clue is 51. Pelvic bone. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: ILIUM

  Possible Answer: ilium, Troy, Ilion, Ilium

• The clue is 55. ___ Dhabi. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: ABU

• The clue is 57. Drugstore that prints famously long receipts. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: CVS

  Possible Answer: curriculum_vitae, CV, resume

• The clue is 58. Yes, in Japanese. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: HAI

XWordHint Crossword Answers February 07, 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
• Across Clues Table (27 clues)
• Across Clues - Detailed Hints
• Down Clues Table (35 clues)
• Down Clues - Detailed Hints
• Expert Solving Strategies
• Today's Puzzle Statistics

Today's Puzzle Difficulty: Medium

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

Across Clues - Complete List

No.	Clue	Letters
1A	1. Breakfast bar item	11
2A	12. Summer picnic side dish	13
3A	14. Homo sapiens, e.g.	15
4A	16. Curio shop treasure	6
5A	17. Singer with the 2016 Grammy-winning soul ballad "Cranes in the Sky"	7
6A	18. Losing propositions?	5
7A	19. Keep-on-keeping-on quality	4
8A	21. Cause for getting stuck	4
9A	22. Not, colloquially	4
10A	23. Misdirect	4
11A	24. Airbnb inclusion, usually	5
12A	25. Some control buttons	3
13A	26. Like hand-to-hand fighting	10
14A	28. On the starting line	9
15A	29. Over/under and point spread	10
16A	31. Small squeeze from a tube	3
17A	34. Dome-shaped Buddhist shrine	5
18A	35. Fancy-schmancy	4
19A	36. Pronoun in Texas	4
20A	37. Instrument depicted in paintings by Hals and Caravaggio	4
21A	38. "OMG"-evoking deed	4
22A	39. Use for a yew	5
23A	40. As good as it gets	7
24A	42. Isle of Sappho	6
25A	43. They make low digits smaller	15
26A	46. What a pitcher tries to do	13
27A	47. Former e-book devices, until 2014	11

Across Clues - Strategic Hints

1A: "1. Breakfast bar item"

11 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ___________

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: WAFFLEMAKER

Remember this word for future puzzles!

2A: "12. Summer picnic side dish"

13 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: _____________

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: MACARONISALAD

Remember this word for future puzzles!

3A: "14. Homo sapiens, e.g."

15 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: _______________

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: GENUSANDSPECIES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

4A: "16. Curio shop treasure"

6 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that eccentricity that is not easily explained
• Similar words include: quirk, oddment, crotchet
• Pattern: ______

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: ODDITY

Remember this word for future puzzles!

5A: "17. Singer with the 2016 Grammy-winning soul ballad "Cranes in the Sky""

7 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: _______

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: SOLANGE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

6A: "18. Losing propositions?"

5 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a prescribed selection of foods
• Similar words include: diet, dieting
• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: DIETS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

7A: "19. Keep-on-keeping-on quality"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a hard coarse-grained siliceous sandstone
• Similar words include: sand, gumption, guts
• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: GRIT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

8A: "21. Cause for getting stuck"

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a soft wet area of low-lying land that sinks underfoot
• Similar words include: entangle, quag, grind to a halt
• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: MIRE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

9A: "22. Not, colloquially"

4 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that (used with singular count nouns) colloquial for `not a' or `not one' or `never a'
• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: NARY

Remember this word for future puzzles!

10A: "23. Misdirect"

4 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a person who lacks good judgment
• Similar words include: tomfool, mug, befool
• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: FOOL

Remember this word for future puzzles!

11A: "24. Airbnb inclusion, usually"

5 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a fabric woven with fibers from the flax plant
• Similar words include: linen paper
• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: LINEN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

12A: "25. Some control buttons"

3 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: ONS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

13A: "26. Like hand-to-hand fighting"

10 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: __________

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: CLOSERANGE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

14A: "28. On the starting line"

9 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: _________

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: READYTOGO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

15A: "29. Over/under and point spread"

10 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: __________

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: SPORTSBETS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

16A: "31. Small squeeze from a tube"

3 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a light touch or stroke
• Similar words include: swab, splatter, swob
• Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: DAB

Remember this word for future puzzles!

17A: "34. Dome-shaped Buddhist shrine"

5 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a dome-shaped shrine erected by buddhists
• Similar words include: tope
• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: STUPA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

18A: "35. Fancy-schmancy"

4 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that elegant and fashionable; ; ; ; - julia child
• Similar words include: swish, classy
• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: POSH

Remember this word for future puzzles!

19A: "36. Pronoun in Texas"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: YALL

Remember this word for future puzzles!

20A: "37. Instrument depicted in paintings by Hals and Caravaggio"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a substance for packing a joint or coating a porous surface to make it impervious to gas or liquid
• Similar words include: luting
• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: LUTE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

21A: "38. "OMG"-evoking deed"

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a notable achievement
• Similar words include: effort, exploit
• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: FEAT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

22A: "39. Use for a yew"

5 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a fence formed by a row of closely planted shrubs or bushes
• Similar words include: sidestep, hedging, elude
• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: HEDGE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

23A: "40. As good as it gets"

7 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that most desirable possible under a restriction expressed or implied
• Similar words include: optimum
• Pattern: _______

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: OPTIMAL

Remember this word for future puzzles!

24A: "42. Isle of Sappho"

6 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that an island of eastern greece in the eastern aegean sea; in antiquity it was famous for lyric poetry
• Similar words include: Lesvos, Mytilene
• Pattern: ______

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: LESBOS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

25A: "43. They make low digits smaller"

15 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: _______________

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: TOENAILSCISSORS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

26A: "46. What a pitcher tries to do"

13 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: _____________

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: RETIRETHESIDE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

27A: "47. Former e-book devices, until 2014"

11 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ___________

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: SONYREADERS

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Down Clues - Complete List

No.	Clue	Letters
1D	1. Can't keep on topic	7
2D	2. Sharpshooter's asset	6
3D	3. Preps for surgery, perhaps	5
4D	4. Wear out around the edges	4
5D	5. First name in Universal horror	3
6D	6. Seldom-used PC key	3
7D	7. Long shot practice	11
8D	8. "Save me ___!"	5
9D	9. Pauline ___, former New Yorker film critic	4
10D	10. Classic Chevy model	8
11D	11. Not fair, in a way	7
12D	12. Strip down the Interstate	6
13D	13. Student's goal	6
14D	14. "That can't possibly be right!"	5
15D	15. Enjoying recognition	4
16D	19. One of many in a bee, typically	11
17D	20. Reptile with a colorful name	7
18D	23. Having lost all its fizz	4
19D	24. Isn't keeping up	4
20D	26. Michael who plays Allan in "Barbie"	4
21D	27. "Divergent" author Veronica	4
22D	28. Ensnare for, as some undertakings	8
23D	29. A heavy drinker may be found in one	6
24D	30. Woolen leggings, as worn by W.W. I soldiers	7
25D	31. Physiques that have gone a little soft	7
26D	32. Former veep with a Nobel Prize	6
27D	33. "___ This Mess"	5
28D	34. Opening for a mail carrier	4
29D	36. Private reply	6
30D	38. One of Oberon's subjects	5
31D	39. Author of "Steppenwolf'	5
32D	41. Street ending at Disneyland's Sleeping Beauty Castle	4
33D	42. Wrote fiction?	4
34D	44. Many a professional office: Abbr.	3
35D	45. The Hornets, on scoreboards	3

Down Clues - Strategic Hints

1D: "1. Can't keep on topic"

7 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment
• Similar words include: ramble, stray, rove
• Pattern: _______

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: WANDERS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

2D: "2. Sharpshooter's asset"

6 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that sharpness of vision; the visual ability to resolve fine detail (usually measured by a snellen chart)
• Similar words include: sharp-sightedness, keenness, acuteness
• Pattern: ______

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: ACUITY

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3D: "3. Preps for surgery, perhaps"

5 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that abstaining from food
• Similar words include: fasting, fast
• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: FASTS

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4D: "4. Wear out around the edges"

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a noisy fight
• Similar words include: disturbance, chafe, frazzle
• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: FRAY

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5D: "5. First name in Universal horror"

3 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: LON

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6D: "6. Seldom-used PC key"

3 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that either extremity of something that has length
• Similar words include: cease, closing, close
• Opposite of: begin, beginning

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: END

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7D: "7. Long shot practice"

11 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ___________

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: MISSILETEST

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8D: "8. "Save me ___!""

5 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: ASPOT

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9D: "9. Pauline ___, former New Yorker film critic"

4 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: KAEL

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10D: "10. Classic Chevy model"

8 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ________

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: ELCAMINO

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11D: "11. Not fair, in a way"

7 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that precipitate as rain
• Similar words include: rain, rain down
• Pattern: _______

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: RAINING

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12D: "12. Strip down the Interstate"

6 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that the value below which 50% of the cases fall
• Similar words include: average, median value, medial
• Pattern: ______

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: MEDIAN

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13D: "13. Student's goal"

6 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality
• Similar words include: point, grade, arcdegree
• Pattern: ______

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: DEGREE

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14D: "14. "That can't possibly be right!""

5 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: GODNO

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15D: "15. Enjoying recognition"

4 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
• Similar words include: visualize, meet, encounter
• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: SEEN

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16D: "19. One of many in a bee, typically"

11 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ___________

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: GOODSPELLER

Remember this word for future puzzles!

17D: "20. Reptile with a colorful name"

7 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: _______

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: ROSYBOA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

18D: "23. Having lost all its fizz"

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a level tract of land
• Similar words include: apartment, 2-dimensional, categorical
• Opposite of: natural, contrasty

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: FLAT

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19D: "24. Isn't keeping up"

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that the act of slowing down or falling behind
• Similar words include: incarcerate, gaol, interim
• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: LAGS

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20D: "26. Michael who plays Allan in "Barbie""

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: CERA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

21D: "27. "Divergent" author Veronica"

4 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that united states writer whose novels portray middle-class jewish life (born in 1933)
• Similar words include: Philip Roth, Philip Milton Roth
• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: ROTH

Remember this word for future puzzles!

22D: "28. Ensnare for, as some undertakings"

8 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ________

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: ROPEINTO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

23D: "29. A heavy drinker may be found in one"

6 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that the feeling of distress and disbelief that you have when something bad happens accidentally
• Similar words include: grogginess, semiconsciousness, shock
• Pattern: ______

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: STUPOR

Remember this word for future puzzles!

24D: "30. Woolen leggings, as worn by W.W. I soldiers"

7 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a strip of cloth wound around the leg to form legging; used by soldiers in world war i
• Similar words include: puttee
• Pattern: _______

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: PUTTEES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

25D: "31. Physiques that have gone a little soft"

7 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: _______

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: DADBODS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

26D: "32. Former veep with a Nobel Prize"

6 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ______

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: ALGORE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

27D: "33. "___ This Mess""

5 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that give a benediction to
• Similar words include: sign, sanctify, consecrate
• Opposite of: curse, desecrate

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: BLESS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

28D: "34. Opening for a mail carrier"

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a position in a grammatical linguistic construction in which a variety of alternative units are interchangeable
• Similar words include: one-armed bandit, expansion slot, time slot
• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: SLOT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

29D: "36. Private reply"

6 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ______

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: YESSIR

Remember this word for future puzzles!

30D: "38. One of Oberon's subjects"

5 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a small being, human in form, playful and having magical powers
• Similar words include: pansy, faggot, poof
• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: FAIRY

Remember this word for future puzzles!

31D: "39. Author of "Steppenwolf'"

5 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that swiss writer (born in germany) whose novels and poems express his interests in eastern spiritual values (1877-1962)
• Similar words include: Hermann Hesse
• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: HESSE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

32D: "41. Street ending at Disneyland's Sleeping Beauty Castle"

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that any very large body of (salt) water
• Similar words include: master, independent, chief
• Opposite of: dependent

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: MAIN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

33D: "42. Wrote fiction?"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a german art song of the 19th century for voice and piano
• Similar words include: lie down, lie in, lie
• Opposite of: stand, arise

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: LIED

Remember this word for future puzzles!

34D: "44. Many a professional office: Abbr."

3 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: STE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

35D: "45. The Hornets, on scoreboards"

3 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: CHA

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

27 Across Clues

35 Down Clues

62 Total Clues

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Last updated: February 07, 2026 at 04:51 AM