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 (35 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. Puppetry and animation | 4 |
| 2A | 5. Piedmont province with a namesake wine | 4 |
| 3A | 9. Stopped lying | 5 |
| 4A | 14. Title for Jane Goodall | 4 |
| 5A | 15. "Those guys?" | 4 |
| 6A | 16. ___ Summer (program for Annapolis freshmen) | 5 |
| 7A | 17. Switch to a shorter line, say | 4 |
| 8A | 18. Product that might feature a dandelion on the label | 10 |
| 9A | 20. Spare part? | 3 |
| 10A | 21. Melts down | 11 |
| 11A | 22. Mention in passing | 7 |
| 12A | 24. It's -90° at the South Pole: Abbr. | 3 |
| 13A | 25. Like racehorses' hooves | 4 |
| 14A | 26. Ship-stabilizing materials | 8 |
| 15A | 31. Some repurposed cornfields | 5 |
| 16A | 33. Small branch of Marvel Comics? | 9 |
| 17A | 34. Pick | 5 |
| 18A | 35. Common adult ed. class | 3 |
| 19A | 36. Brand whose logo has an A-shaped caliper | 5 |
| 20A | 37. Doesn't take the regular train home, maybe | 9 |
| 21A | 39. Mylar alternative | 5 |
| 22A | 40. Capture a moment, in fiction | 8 |
| 23A | 41. Even outcome | 4 |
| 24A | 42. Chaney of classic horror | 3 |
| 25A | 43. Enter here! | 7 |
| 26A | 46. "Don't kid yourself" | 11 |
| 27A | 51. Elicit the facepalm emoji, say | 3 |
| 28A | 52. "Don't panic!" | 10 |
| 29A | 53. "Later, luv" | 4 |
| 30A | 54. Materialized | 5 |
| 31A | 55. Leader of China? | 4 |
| 32A | 56. Feeling the flu, say | 4 |
| 33A | 57. Steps on a scale | 5 |
| 34A | 58. "Whoa ... that's too much for my brain to handle!" | 4 |
| 35A | 59. Characters from Crete and Sparta? | 4 |
Across Clues - Strategic Hints
1A: "1. Puppetry and animation"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that studies intended to provide general knowledge and intellectual skills (rather than occupational or professional skills)
- Similar words include: graphics, nontextual matter, artistic production
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ARTS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
2A: "5. Piedmont province with a namesake wine"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ASTI
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3A: "9. Stopped lying"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SATUP
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4A: "14. Title for Jane Goodall"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that informal terms for a (young) woman
- Similar words include: bird, lady, chick
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DAME
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5A: "15. "Those guys?""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: THEM
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6A: "16. ___ Summer (program for Annapolis freshmen)"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a military trainee (as at a military academy)
- Similar words include: cadet
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PLEBE
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7A: "17. Switch to a shorter line, say"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that prepare for publication or presentation by correcting, revising, or adapting
- Similar words include: edit out, cut, redact
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EDIT
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8A: "18. Product that might feature a dandelion on the label"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a chemical agent that destroys plants or inhibits their growth
- Similar words include: weed killer, herbicide
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: WEEDKILLER
Remember this word for future puzzles!
9A: "20. Spare part?"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a piece of jewelry that is pinned onto the wearer's garment
- Similar words include: personal identification number, pivot, flag
- Opposite of: unpin
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PIN
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10A: "21. Melts down"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GOESBERSERK
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11A: "22. Mention in passing"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TOUCHON
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12A: "24. It's -90° at the South Pole: Abbr."
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a broad flat muscle on either side of the back
- Similar words include: latissimus dorsi
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LAT
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13A: "25. Like racehorses' hooves"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that furnish with shoes
- Similar words include: shodden, shoed, calced
- Opposite of: unshod, discalced
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SHOD
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14A: "26. Ship-stabilizing materials"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that any heavy material used to stabilize a ship or airship
- Similar words include: ballast, light ballast, ballast resistor
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BALLASTS
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15A: "31. Some repurposed cornfields"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that complex system of paths or tunnels in which it is easy to get lost
- Similar words include: tangle, labyrinth, maze
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MAZES
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16A: "33. Small branch of Marvel Comics?"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BABYGROOT
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17A: "34. Pick"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an exclusive group of people
- Similar words include: elite, chosen
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ELECT
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18A: "35. Common adult ed. class"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ESL
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19A: "36. Brand whose logo has an A-shaped caliper"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ACURA
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20A: "37. Doesn't take the regular train home, maybe"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: WORKSLATE
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21A: "39. Mylar alternative"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a milky exudate from certain plants that coagulates on exposure to air
- Similar words include: latex paint, rubber-base paint
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LATEX
Remember this word for future puzzles!
22A: "40. Capture a moment, in fiction"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: STOPTIME
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23A: "41. Even outcome"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a thin coat of water-base paint
- Similar words include: laundry, wash drawing, rinse
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: WASH
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24A: "42. Chaney of classic horror"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LON
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25A: "43. Enter here!"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TEXTBOX
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26A: "46. "Don't kid yourself""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FACEREALITY
Remember this word for future puzzles!
27A: "51. Elicit the facepalm emoji, say"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that to make a mistake or be incorrect
- Similar words include: drift, stray, mistake
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ERR
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28A: "52. "Don't panic!""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: REMAINCALM
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29A: "53. "Later, luv""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TATA
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30A: "54. Materialized"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that come into existence; take on form or shape
- Similar words include: develop, bob up, go up
- Opposite of: go to bed, sit down
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AROSE
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31A: "55. Leader of China?"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: INDO
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32A: "56. Feeling the flu, say"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that causing a dull and steady pain
- Similar words include: aching
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ACHY
Remember this word for future puzzles!
33A: "57. Steps on a scale"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the quality of a person's voice
- Similar words include: tonus, musical note, tonicity
- Opposite of: atonicity
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TONES
Remember this word for future puzzles!
34A: "58. "Whoa ... that's too much for my brain to handle!""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the central and most intense or profound part
- Similar words include: oceanic abyss, rich, thick
- Opposite of: shallow
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DEEP
Remember this word for future puzzles!
35A: "59. Characters from Crete and Sparta?"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the 17th letter of the greek alphabet
- Similar words include: rho
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RHOS
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Down Clues - Complete List
| No. | Clue | Letters |
|---|---|---|
| 1D | 1. Skilled | 5 |
| 2D | 2. Call ahead, in a way | 5 |
| 3D | 3. End of a NASA countdown | 10 |
| 4D | 4. Completist's goal | 3 |
| 5D | 5. "The Handmaid's Tale" author | 6 |
| 6D | 6. Eggshell, for one | 5 |
| 7D | 7. Much merch | 4 |
| 8D | 8. Cinephile's online resource | 4 |
| 9D | 9. Milky Way, e.g. | 12 |
| 10D | 10. Feature of a big-budget feature, perhaps | 11 |
| 11D | 11. HDTV component? | 4 |
| 12D | 12. Transportation company in more than 60 countries | 4 |
| 13D | 13. Bonus | 4 |
| 14D | 19. ___ green | 5 |
| 15D | 21. Tales told by flashlight | 12 |
| 16D | 23. Request from someone who has completed all the courses? | 11 |
| 17D | 26. Turkey Day instruction | 5 |
| 18D | 27. Fit | 4 |
| 19D | 28. Florida setting for "The Birdcage" | 10 |
| 20D | 29. Whizzed | 4 |
| 21D | 30. "Elvis at ___" (classic album of Memphis recordings) | 4 |
| 22D | 31. British rowhouses | 4 |
| 23D | 32. Every day, say | 4 |
| 24D | 33. More than just smile | 4 |
| 25D | 38. Fabric made from flax | 5 |
| 26D | 41. It might get put through the wringer | 6 |
| 27D | 43. Jalapeño topper | 5 |
| 28D | 44. Popular brand of 18-Across | 5 |
| 29D | 45. Looks below the surface? | 5 |
| 30D | 46. Group of Alpha males? | 4 |
| 31D | 47. Nestlé's bubbly chocolate brand | 4 |
| 32D | 48. "This way, guys!" | 4 |
| 33D | 49. Certain psychedelic | 4 |
| 34D | 50. Pool assignment | 4 |
| 35D | 53. Bitumen lookalike | 3 |
Down Clues - Strategic Hints
1D: "1. Skilled"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that someone who is dazzlingly skilled in any field
- Similar words include: maven, champion, genius
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ADEPT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
2D: "2. Call ahead, in a way"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that medium for communication
- Similar words include: radio receiver, receiving set, radio set
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RADIO
Remember this word for future puzzles!
3D: "3. End of a NASA countdown"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TMINUSZERO
Remember this word for future puzzles!
4D: "4. Completist's goal"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a group of things of the same kind that belong together and are so used
- Similar words include: put, exercise set, placed
- Opposite of: rise
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SET
Remember this word for future puzzles!
5D: "5. "The Handmaid's Tale" author"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ATWOOD
Remember this word for future puzzles!
6D: "6. Eggshell, for one"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the visual property of something that shines with reflected light
- Similar words include: shininess, lustre, luster
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SHEEN
Remember this word for future puzzles!
7D: "7. Much merch"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the starting place for each hole on a golf course
- Similar words include: football tee, tee up, teeing ground
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TEES
Remember this word for future puzzles!
8D: "8. Cinephile's online resource"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: IMDB
Remember this word for future puzzles!
9D: "9. Milky Way, e.g."
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SPIRALGALAXY
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10D: "10. Feature of a big-budget feature, perhaps"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ALLSTARCAST
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11D: "11. HDTV component?"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TELE
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12D: "12. Transportation company in more than 60 countries"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: UBER
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13D: "13. Bonus"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an incidental benefit awarded for certain types of employment (especially if it is regarded as a right)
- Similar words include: gain vigor, percolate, pick up
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PERK
Remember this word for future puzzles!
14D: "19. ___ green"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that united states circus clown (1898-1979)
- Similar words include: Grace Patricia Kelly, Grace Kelly, Eugene Curran Kelly
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: KELLY
Remember this word for future puzzles!
15D: "21. Tales told by flashlight"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GHOSTSTORIES
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16D: "23. Request from someone who has completed all the courses?"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CHECKPLEASE
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17D: "26. Turkey Day instruction"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a loose temporary sewing stitch to hold layers of fabric together
- Similar words include: batter, clobber, tack
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BASTE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
18D: "27. Fit"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that (usually followed by `to') having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
- Similar words include: capable, able-bodied
- Opposite of: unable
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ABLE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
19D: "28. Florida setting for "The Birdcage""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SOUTHBEACH
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20D: "29. Whizzed"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that commonly the lowest molding at the base of a column
- Similar words include: charge, deplumate, pull
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TORE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
21D: "30. "Elvis at ___" (classic album of Memphis recordings)"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: STAX
Remember this word for future puzzles!
22D: "31. British rowhouses"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that street lined with buildings that were originally private stables but have been remodeled as dwellings
- Similar words include: miaow, sea mew, meow
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MEWS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
23D: "32. Every day, say"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ALOT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
24D: "33. More than just smile"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a signal transmitted along a narrow path; guides airplane pilots in darkness or bad weather
- Similar words include: glow, shaft of light, beam of light
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BEAM
Remember this word for future puzzles!
25D: "38. Fabric made from flax"
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!
26D: "41. It might get put through the wringer"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: WETMOP
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27D: "43. Jalapeño topper"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a diacritical mark (~) placed over the letter n in spanish to indicate a palatal nasal sound or over a vowel in portuguese to indicate nasalization
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TILDE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
28D: "44. Popular brand of 18-Across"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ORTHO
Remember this word for future puzzles!
29D: "45. Looks below the surface?"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: XRAYS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
30D: "46. Group of Alpha males?"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a social club for male undergraduates
- Similar words include: fraternity
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FRAT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
31D: "47. Nestlé's bubbly chocolate brand"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AERO
Remember this word for future puzzles!
32D: "48. "This way, guys!""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CMON
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33D: "49. Certain psychedelic"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that any of various water-soluble compounds having a sour taste and capable of turning litmus red and reacting with a base to form a salt
- Similar words include: window pane, sulfurous, loony toons
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ACID
Remember this word for future puzzles!
34D: "50. Pool assignment"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a narrow way or road
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LANE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
35D: "53. Bitumen lookalike"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that any of various dark heavy viscid substances obtained as a residue
- Similar words include: seaman, Jack-tar, Jack
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TAR
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
35 Across Clues
35 Down Clues
70 Total Clues
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