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 (42 clues)
- Down Clues - Detailed Hints
- Expert Solving Strategies
- Today's Puzzle Statistics
Today's Puzzle Difficulty: Moderate
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. Tried-and-true choice, informally | 4 |
| 2A | 5. It's perfect for some musicians | 5 |
| 3A | 10. Motorcyclist's invitation | 5 |
| 4A | 15. Asia's shrinking ___ Sea | 4 |
| 5A | 16. Ruckus | 5 |
| 6A | 17. Where Boise is | 5 |
| 7A | 18. It's a piece of cake | 10 |
| 8A | 20. Computer geeks | 5 |
| 9A | 21. Source of some South American wool | 5 |
| 10A | 22. Alaska politico Palin | 5 |
| 11A | 24. ___-Ball | 4 |
| 12A | 25. Alternative to a Word doc | 3 |
| 13A | 27. It's child's play | 9 |
| 14A | 29. Glassblower, e.g. | 7 |
| 15A | 33. One of three statistical averages | 4 |
| 16A | 34. M.L.B. stadium demolished in 2009 | 4 |
| 17A | 35. Ones always blowing off steam? | 7 |
| 18A | 39. Altar promise | 3 |
| 19A | 42. It's a no-brainer | 16 |
| 20A | 45. Starchy tuber | 3 |
| 21A | 46. 2016 Ariana Grande love song | 7 |
| 22A | 47. Drug buster | 4 |
| 23A | 48. Heavy, spiked club | 4 |
| 24A | 50. Bared one's teeth, say | 7 |
| 25A | 52. It's a breeze | 9 |
| 26A | 57. ___-fi | 3 |
| 27A | 58. Sudden or impulsive, as a decision | 4 |
| 28A | 59. Lipstick blunder | 5 |
| 29A | 61. Intermittently offered fast-food pork sandwich | 5 |
| 30A | 65. Oscars host, e.g. | 5 |
| 31A | 67. It's a walk in the park | 10 |
| 32A | 69. Abandon prematurely, as a mission | 5 |
| 33A | 70. Piano exercise | 5 |
| 34A | 71. Fencing blade | 4 |
| 35A | 72. "OMG, same!" | 5 |
| 36A | 73. About 50.7% of all Americans | 5 |
| 37A | 74. Like typical communicators in sign language | 4 |
Across Clues - Strategic Hints
1A: "1. Tried-and-true choice, informally"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
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2A: "5. It's perfect for some musicians"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the property of sound that varies with variation in the frequency of vibration
- Similar words include: auction pitch, tilt, toss
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
3A: "10. Motorcyclist's invitation"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
4A: "15. Asia's shrinking ___ Sea"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
5A: "16. Ruckus"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
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6A: "17. Where Boise is"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a state in the rocky mountains
- Similar words include: Gem State, ID
- Pattern: _____
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7A: "18. It's a piece of cake"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that small finger-shaped sponge cake
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
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8A: "20. Computer geeks"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a school teaching mechanical and industrial arts and the applied sciences
- Similar words include: technical school, tech
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
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9A: "21. Source of some South American wool"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that wild or domesticated south american cud-chewing animal related to camels but smaller and lacking a hump
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
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10A: "22. Alaska politico Palin"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that (old testament) the wife of abraham and mother of isaac
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
11A: "24. ___-Ball"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
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12A: "25. Alternative to a Word doc"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
13A: "27. It's child's play"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
14A: "29. Glassblower, e.g."
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a skilled worker who practices some trade or handicraft
- Similar words include: craftsman, artificer, journeyman
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
15A: "33. One of three statistical averages"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an average of n numbers computed by adding some function of the numbers and dividing by some function of n
- Similar words include: tight, signify, mean value
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
16A: "34. M.L.B. stadium demolished in 2009"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
17A: "35. Ones always blowing off steam?"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a metal pot for stewing or boiling; usually has a lid
- Similar words include: kettleful, kettle, boiler
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
18A: "39. Altar promise"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an artificial language that is a revision and simplification of esperanto
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
19A: "42. It's a no-brainer"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ________________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
20A: "45. Starchy tuber"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that edible tuber of any of several yams
- Similar words include: yam plant
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
21A: "46. 2016 Ariana Grande love song"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
22A: "47. Drug buster"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a lawman concerned with narcotics violations
- Similar words include: narcotics agent, nark
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
23A: "48. Heavy, spiked club"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that (trademark) a liquid that temporarily disables a person; prepared as an aerosol and sprayed in the face, it irritates the eyes and causes dizziness and immobilization
- Similar words include: Chemical Mace, macebearer, macer
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
24A: "50. Bared one's teeth, say"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that utter in an angry, sharp, or abrupt tone
- Similar words include: snarl up, entangle, knotty
- Opposite of: disentangle, unsnarl
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
25A: "52. It's a breeze"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
26A: "57. ___-fi"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
27A: "58. Sudden or impulsive, as a decision"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that any red eruption of the skin
- Similar words include: foolhardy, blizzard, efflorescence
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
28A: "59. Lipstick blunder"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that slanderous defamation
- Similar words include: calumniate, daub, smudge
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
29A: "61. Intermittently offered fast-food pork sandwich"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
30A: "65. Oscars host, e.g."
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: compere, host, master of ceremonies
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
31A: "67. It's a walk in the park"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
32A: "69. Abandon prematurely, as a mission"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the act of terminating a project or procedure before it is completed
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
33A: "70. Piano exercise"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a short composition for a solo instrument; intended as an exercise or to demonstrate technical virtuosity
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
34A: "71. Fencing blade"
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!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
35A: "72. "OMG, same!""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a capacious bag or basket
- Similar words include: total, tote, tug
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
36A: "73. About 50.7% of all Americans"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
- Similar words include: woman, cleaning woman, adult female
- Opposite of: man
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
37A: "74. Like typical communicators in sign language"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that people who have severe hearing impairments
- Similar words include: indifferent, deafen
- Opposite of: hearing
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
Down Clues - Complete List
| No. | Clue | Letters |
|---|---|---|
| 1D | 1. Effrontery | 4 |
| 2D | 2. Not in writing, as an exam | 4 |
| 3D | 3. Magician's "Look what I did!" | 4 |
| 4D | 4. International competition in math, science and other disciplines | 8 |
| 5D | 5. Greek letter that looks like an "O" superimposed with an "I" | 3 |
| 6D | 6. Charged particles | 4 |
| 7D | 7. Roman robes | 5 |
| 8D | 8. French sweetheart | 5 |
| 9D | 9. Prohibited in Islam | 5 |
| 10D | 10. Chart-topper | 3 |
| 11D | 11. Texas setting for 2004's "Friday Night Lights" | 6 |
| 12D | 12. Mule or burro | 10 |
| 13D | 13. "Fancy seeing you here!" | 5 |
| 14D | 14. They may be counted when taking attendance | 5 |
| 15D | 19. Bell-bottom jeans and pet rocks, in the 1970s | 4 |
| 16D | 23. Undeniable successes | 8 |
| 17D | 26. Media misinformation | 8 |
| 18D | 28. Loch ___ monster | 4 |
| 19D | 29. Like a campfire by morning, typically | 4 |
| 20D | 30. Flightless bird from South America | 4 |
| 21D | 31. Figure in a school pep rally | 10 |
| 22D | 32. Empty ___ (home after the kids go off to college) | 4 |
| 23D | 36. Chinese general on a menu | 3 |
| 24D | 37. "___ will be done" | 3 |
| 25D | 38. English facilities | 4 |
| 26D | 40. "Don't you ___!" | 4 |
| 27D | 41. How much 1990s music was issued | 4 |
| 28D | 43. Pet pests | 4 |
| 29D | 44. Having added nutrients | 8 |
| 30D | 49. Obey, with "to" | 6 |
| 31D | 51. Apex | 4 |
| 32D | 52. Pay for at a restaurant, say | 5 |
| 33D | 53. Title role for Sylvester Stallone | 5 |
| 34D | 54. "This is my first day on the job" | 5 |
| 35D | 55. "Groovy" | 5 |
| 36D | 56. Unit of information | 5 |
| 37D | 60. Like checking a dating app while you're on a date | 4 |
| 38D | 62. Fully matured | 4 |
| 39D | 63. Swedish furniture supplier | 4 |
| 40D | 64. Complaint, informally | 4 |
| 41D | 66. Arrivals in the 2016 thriller "Arrival," in brief | 3 |
| 42D | 68. ___ Faire (historical event) | 3 |
Down Clues - Strategic Hints
1D: "1. Effrontery"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an open sore on the back of a horse caused by ill-fitting or badly adjusted saddle
- Similar words include: saddle sore, freshness, irk
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
2D: "2. Not in writing, as an exam"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an examination conducted by spoken communication
- Similar words include: viva voce, viva, oral exam
- Opposite of: aboral, anal
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
3D: "3. Magician's "Look what I did!""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
4D: "4. International competition in math, science and other disciplines"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that one of the four-year intervals between olympic games; used to reckon time in ancient greece for twelve centuries beginning in 776 bc
- Similar words include: Olympics, Olympic Games
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
5D: "5. Greek letter that looks like an "O" superimposed with an "I""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the 21st letter of the greek alphabet
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
6D: "6. Charged particles"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a particle that is electrically charged (positive or negative); an atom or molecule or group that has lost or gained one or more electrons
- Similar words include: ion
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
7D: "7. Roman robes"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a one-piece cloak worn by men in ancient rome
- Similar words include: toga
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
8D: "8. French sweetheart"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
9D: "9. Prohibited in Islam"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
10D: "10. Chart-topper"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that (baseball) a successful stroke in an athletic contest (especially in baseball)
- Similar words include: stumble, reach, slay
- Opposite of: miss
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
11D: "11. Texas setting for 2004's "Friday Night Lights""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a port city of south central ukraine on an arm of the black sea
- Similar words include: Odesa
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
12D: "12. Mule or burro"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
13D: "13. "Fancy seeing you here!""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
14D: "14. They may be counted when taking attendance"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the organ of smell and entrance to the respiratory tract; the prominent part of the face of man or other mammals
- Similar words include: horn in, wind, pry
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
15D: "19. Bell-bottom jeans and pet rocks, in the 1970s"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an interest followed with exaggerated zeal
- Similar words include: craze, rage, cult
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
16D: "23. Undeniable successes"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
17D: "26. Media misinformation"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
18D: "28. Loch ___ monster"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a strip of land projecting into a body of water
- Similar words include: cape
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
19D: "29. Like a campfire by morning, typically"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that of a light grey
- Similar words include: ash-grey, ash-gray
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
20D: "30. Flightless bird from South America"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that fertility goddess in ancient greek mythology; wife of cronus and mother of zeus; identified with roman ops and cybele of ancient asia minor
- Similar words include: nandu, Pterocnemia pennata, Rhea americana
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
21D: "31. Figure in a school pep rally"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
22D: "32. Empty ___ (home after the kids go off to college)"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a structure in which animals lay eggs or give birth to their young
- Similar words include: snuggle, draw close, cuddle
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
23D: "36. Chinese general on a menu"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
24D: "37. "___ will be done""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
25D: "38. English facilities"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that austrian architect (1870-1933)
- Similar words include: closet, Adolf Loos, water closet
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
26D: "40. "Don't you ___!""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a challenge to do something dangerous or foolhardy
- Similar words include: defy, presume, make bold
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
27D: "41. How much 1990s music was issued"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
28D: "43. Pet pests"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that wingless usually flattened bloodsucking insect parasitic on warm-blooded animals
- Similar words include: bird louse, worm, dirt ball
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
29D: "44. Having added nutrients"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that make better or improve in quality
- Similar words include: enrich
- Opposite of: deprive, impoverish
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
30D: "49. Obey, with "to""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that be compatible or in accordance with
- Similar words include: bind, bond, hold fast
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
31D: "51. Apex"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the highest level or degree attainable; the highest stage of development
- Similar words include: vertex, summit, pinnacle
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
32D: "52. Pay for at a restaurant, say"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that something considered choice to eat
- Similar words include: care for, plow, deal
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
33D: "53. Title role for Sylvester Stallone"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
34D: "54. "This is my first day on the job""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
35D: "55. "Groovy""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
36D: "56. Unit of information"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an item of factual information derived from measurement or research
- Similar words include: data point
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
37D: "60. Like checking a dating app while you're on a date"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that socially incorrect in behavior
- Similar words include: uncivil, unmannered, underbred
- Opposite of: civil
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
38D: "62. Fully matured"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that fully developed or matured and ready to be eaten or used
- Similar words include: right, advanced, mature
- Opposite of: green
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
39D: "63. Swedish furniture supplier"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
40D: "64. Complaint, informally"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that cattle that are reared for their meat
- Similar words include: gripe, bellyache, bitch
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
41D: "66. Arrivals in the 2016 thriller "Arrival," in brief"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
42D: "68. ___ Faire (historical event)"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
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
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