XWordHint Crossword Answers June 21, 2025 | Expert Breakdown & Tips

XWordHint Crossword Complete Solution: June 21, 2025

Published on Saturday, June 21, 2025 • Updated daily

Our expert breakdown helps you solve the June 21 XWordHint crossword while expanding your vocabulary. Learn answer strategies and discover word connections.

Across Clues and Answers (32)

Clue #1: 1. Olympics event in which Germany is the traditional powerhouse

7-letter answer Answer: BOBSLED

Word Help: Synonyms: bob, bobsled, bobsleigh

Clue #2: 8. Scattered

6-letter answer Answer: SPARSE

Word Help: Synonyms: thin, sparse

Clue #3: 14. Words before ask, admit or go

7-letter answer Answer: IHAVETO

Clue #4: 15. First name of the "Princess of Pop"

6-letter answer Answer: ARIANA

Word Help: Synonyms: Ariana

Clue #5: 16. Donned quickly

7-letter answer Answer: THREWON

Clue #6: 17. Puts in order

6-letter answer Answer: TIDIES

Word Help: Synonyms: square_away, tidy, tidy_up

Clue #7: 18. Fuel for a family feud

14-letter answer Answer: SIBLINGRIVALRY

Clue #8: 20. "Oh, ___ on!"

3-letter answer Answer: ITS

Word Help: Synonyms: IT, information_technology

Clue #9: 21. Rita of the "Fifty Shades" movies

3-letter answer Answer: ORA

Word Help: Synonyms: bone, OS, atomic_number_76

Clue #10: 22. Food label abbr.

3-letter answer Answer: RDA

Clue #11: 23. Kitchen alternative to tallow

4-letter answer Answer: GHEE

Word Help: Synonyms: ghee

Clue #12: 25. Grammy-winning song (2013) that begins "The snow glows white on the mountain tonight"

7-letter answer Answer: LETITGO

Clue #13: 28. Gen-Xer's "excellent"

3-letter answer Answer: RAD

Word Help: Synonyms: radian, rad

Clue #14: 29. Black-and-yellow demarcation

10-letter answer Answer: POLICETAPE

Clue #15: 32. Cootie-free greeting

7-letter answer Answer: AIRKISS

Clue #16: 34. Foster kid in "Taxi Driver"?

5-letter answer Answer: JODIE

Clue #17: 35. Bargaining subjects

5-letter answer Answer: PLEAS

Word Help: Synonyms: supplication, plea

Clue #18: 36. Frank who wrote the music and lyrics to "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying"

7-letter answer Answer: LOESSER

Clue #19: 38. Like a Mediterranean diet

10-letter answer Answer: HEARTSMART

Clue #20: 41. Endurance event, for short

3-letter answer Answer: TRI

Clue #21: 42. Bending over, perhaps

7-letter answer Answer: MOONING

Word Help: Synonyms: moon_on, moon_around, daydream

Clue #22: 43. Word before or after book

4-letter answer Answer: CASE

Word Help: Synonyms: lawsuit, sheath, compositor's_case

Clue #23: 44. "Ugh!"

3-letter answer Answer: GAH

Clue #24: 46. QB Dawson who faced Bart Starr in Super Bowl I

3-letter answer Answer: LEN

Clue #25: 47. Prune, say

3-letter answer Answer: CUT

Word Help: Synonyms: dilute, slice, burn
Antonyms: switch_on, uncut

Clue #26: 48. Exhibited perfect brakes

14-letter answer Answer: STOPPEDONADIME

Clue #27: 54. Sommelier, e.g.

6-letter answer Answer: POURER

Clue #28: 55. Tolled

7-letter answer Answer: RANGOUT

Clue #29: 56. In the shop, say

6-letter answer Answer: ONSITE

Clue #30: 57. Dish, at times

7-letter answer Answer: ANTENNA

Word Help: Synonyms: transmitting_aerial, aerial, feeler

Clue #31: 58. Was overrun

6-letter answer Answer: TEEMED

Word Help: Synonyms: swarm, pullulate, pour

Clue #32: 59. Performs a perfect dismount, e.g.

7-letter answer Answer: NAILSIT

Across Clues and Answers (32)

Clue #1: 1. Storage units

4-letter answer Answer: BITS

Word Help: Synonyms: flake, minute, moment

Clue #2: 2. "Didn't see ya there!"

4-letter answer Answer: OHHI

Clue #3: 3. Crib for a doll

16-letter answer Answer: BARBIEDREAMHOUSE

Clue #4: 4. Trim

6-letter answer Answer: SVELTE

Word Help: Synonyms: sylphlike, slim, lissome

Clue #5: 5. Literature Nobelist who wrote "Dodsworth" and "Kingsblood Royal"

5-letter answer Answer: LEWIS

Word Help: Synonyms: Sinclair_Lewis, C._S._Lewis, Lewis

Clue #6: 6. Berkshire institution

4-letter answer Answer: ETON

Clue #7: 7. Vietnamese currency

4-letter answer Answer: DONG

Word Help: Synonyms: ding, dingdong, dong

Clue #8: 8. Like "Animal Farm" and "Don Quixote"

7-letter answer Answer: SATIRIC

Word Help: Synonyms: satirical, satiric

Clue #9: 9. Flight of fancy?

10-letter answer Answer: PRIVATEJET

Clue #10: 10. "Ritorna vincitor" singer

4-letter answer Answer: AIDA

Clue #11: 11. Training facilities?

16-letter answer Answer: RAILROADSTATIONS

Clue #12: 12. Mortimer who once made a guest appearance on "The Muppet Show"

5-letter answer Answer: SNERD

Clue #13: 13. Average booster

5-letter answer Answer: EASYA

Clue #14: 19. Side order with curry

4-letter answer Answer: ROTI

Clue #15: 23. It has its peaks and valleys

5-letter answer Answer: GRAPH

Word Help: Synonyms: chart, graph, graphical_record

Clue #16: 24. Ethiopian emperor Selassie

5-letter answer Answer: HAILE

Clue #17: 25. Part of U.C.L.A.

3-letter answer Answer: LOS

Clue #18: 26. High ways

3-letter answer Answer: ELS

Word Help: Synonyms: altitude, EL, elevated_railroad

Clue #19: 27. Vehicles seen in the films "Dazed and Confused" and "Two-Lane Blacktop"

4-letter answer Answer: GTOS

Clue #20: 29. Basketball legend Maravich's nickname

10-letter answer Answer: PISTOLPETE

Clue #21: 30. Some seaside attractions

5-letter answer Answer: PIERS

Word Help: Synonyms: pier, wharfage, dock

Clue #22: 31. Disturbing, in a way

5-letter answer Answer: EERIE

Word Help: Synonyms: eery, eerie

Clue #23: 33. Name in the baking aisle

4-letter answer Answer: KARO

Clue #24: 36. Brief office hookup?

3-letter answer Answer: LAN

Word Help: Synonyms: local_area_network, LAN

Clue #25: 37. ___ chart

3-letter answer Answer: ORG

Clue #26: 39. Dismissed, with "at"

7-letter answer Answer: SNEERED

Word Help: Synonyms: sneer

Clue #27: 40. Word with game or control

4-letter answer Answer: MIND

Word Help: Synonyms: intellect, beware, head
Antonyms: forget

Clue #28: 43. Old-fashioned club

6-letter answer Answer: CUDGEL

Word Help: Synonyms: fustigate, cudgel

Clue #29: 44. Sex therapy topic

5-letter answer Answer: GSPOT

Clue #30: 45. Pay (for)

5-letter answer Answer: ATONE

Word Help: Synonyms: abye, repent, aby

Clue #31: 47. "C'mon, please?"

5-letter answer Answer: CANTI

Clue #32: 49. Starched

4-letter answer Answer: PRIM

Word Help: Synonyms: prissy, tight-laced, strait-laced

Clue #33: 50. Port WSW of Algiers

4-letter answer Answer: ORAN

Word Help: Synonyms: Oran

Clue #34: 51. Gram alternative

4-letter answer Answer: NANA

Clue #35: 52. Certain bond, informally

4-letter answer Answer: MUNI

Clue #36: 53. Ministre d'___

4-letter answer Answer: ETAT

Expert Solving Strategies

• Look for fill-in-the-blank clues first (they're often easiest)
• Watch for question marks indicating wordplay
• Check vowel patterns in partially solved words

Related Search Terms

NYT Crossword Help, Daily Puzzle Solutions, Crossword Answer Finder, June Crossword Answers

27454 Fri Jan 10, 2025 NY Times Crossword Clues Hints

NYT Crosswords: January 10, 2025

 Fri Jan 10, 2025 NY Times Crossword Clues Hints

Across Clues with Answers:

• The clue is 1. Ducked (out). Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: SNUCK

  Possible Answer : mouse, pinch, abstract, slip, nobble, sneak, swipe, snarf, creep, lift, filch, hook, pussyfoot, pilfer, cabbage, purloin




• The clue is 6. High chairs?. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: STOOLS

  Possible Answer : faeces, faecal_matter, crap, pot, take_a_shit, take_a_crap, BM, can, toilet, ordure, stool, dejection, shit, fecal_matter, feces, make, defecate, crapper, ca-ca, throne, potty, commode, tiller




• The clue is 12. Polo participants. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: PONIES

  Possible Answer : shot_glass, pony, trot, crib, jigger




• The clue is 14. Sarcastic response to an obvious statement. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: WHOKNEW




• The clue is 15. GarageBand and iMovie, e.g.. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: IOSAPPS




• The clue is 17. "Don't wait up" occasion, perhaps. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: HOTDATE




• The clue is 18. "This is ___". Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: CNN




• The clue is 19. Makes fit. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: TAILORS

  Possible Answer : sartor, sew, tailor-make, orient, seamster, cut, tailor




• The clue is 21. It might change your perspective. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: LSD

  Possible Answer : lysergic_acid_diethylamide, LSD




• The clue is 22. "No doubt in my mind". Can you find the Answer?

  Here is a hint. It is a word with exactly (10 letters)

  The answer: YEAHIMSURE




• The clue is 24. Do some light work?. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: LASE




• The clue is 25. Brainstorm out loud. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: SPITBALL

  Possible Answer : spitball, spitter




• The clue is 26. Text with 114 suwar, in a classic spelling. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: KORAN

  Possible Answer : al-Qur'an, Quran, Koran, Book




• The clue is 27. Walk in the park, maybe. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: STROLL

  Possible Answer : amble, perambulation, promenade, saunter, stroll




• The clue is 28. ___ swear. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: PINKY

  Possible Answer : little_finger, pinky, pinkie




• The clue is 29. M.L.B. team that was the first to trade a player for himself (Harry Chiti in 1962). Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: METS




• The clue is 30. Group. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: GANG

  Possible Answer : gang_up, bunch, pack, work_party, crowd, ring, crew, gang, mob




• The clue is 31. Some court statements. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: PLEAS

  Possible Answer : plea, supplication




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

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

  The answer: BURDEN

  Possible Answer : gist, weight, burthen, encumbrance, onus, loading, effect, core, burden, charge, saddle, essence, incumbrance, weight_down, load

  Possible Opposite Answer : unburden




• The clue is 35. Capital where the won is spent. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: SEOUL

  Possible Answer : capital_of_South_Korea, Seoul




• The clue is 36. "Be right there!". Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: WAITASEC




• The clue is 38. Org. for seniors. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: AARP

  Possible Answer : AARP, Association_for_the_Advancement_of_Retired_Persons




• The clue is 39. Insert in a tall glass, perhaps. Can you find the Answer?

  Here is a hint. It is a word with exactly (10 letters)

  The answer: BENDYSTRAW




• The clue is 41. Basic cable channel. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: USA

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




• The clue is 42. Component of many a trial. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: PLACEBO

  Possible Answer : placebo




• The clue is 43. Bear necessity?. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: FUR

  Possible Answer : pelt, fur




• The clue is 44. Private watering hole?. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: CANTEEN

  Possible Answer : canteen, mobile_canteen




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

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

  The answer: SURMISE

  Possible Answer : speculation, hypothesis, surmisal, surmise, conjecture, supposition, guess, suspect




• The clue is 48. Rivet. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: ENGROSS

  Possible Answer : engage, immerse, steep, plunge, absorb, soak_up, engross, occupy, engulf




• The clue is 49. They're set in rings. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: STONES

  Possible Answer : Harlan_F._Stone, gemstone, Harlan_Fiske_Stone, Oliver_Stone, endocarp, gem, Stone, Harlan_Stone, Harlan_Fisk_Stone, Lucy_Stone, Edward_Durell_Stone, Isidor_Feinstein_Stone, lapidate, stone, pit, I._F._Stone, rock




• The clue is 50. Rathskeller supply. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: STEINS

  Possible Answer : stein, beer_mug, Gertrude_Stein, Stein




• The clue is 51. Growing pain?. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: ANGST

  Possible Answer : angst

Down Clues and Answers:

• The clue is 1. Salacious. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: SPICY

  Possible Answer: piquant, racy, gamy, hot, risque, juicy, gamey, savory, naughty, spicy, zesty, savoury, blue

• The clue is 2. Unclaimed. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: NOONES

• The clue is 3. Opens, as a onesie. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: UNSNAPS

• The clue is 4. Counterpart to Britain's MI6. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: CIA

  Possible Answer: CIA, Central_Intelligence_Agency

• The clue is 5. Didn't soft-pedal something, say. Can you find the Answer?

  Here is a hint. It is a word with exactly (10 letters)

  The answer: KEPTITREAL

• The clue is 6. Surf site. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: SHORE

  Possible Answer: land, shore_up, set_ashore, shoring, prop_up, prop, shore

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

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

  The answer: TOTS

  Possible Answer: yearling, tote_up, add_together, sum_up, add_up, sum, tally, total, add, bambino, summate, tot_up, tot, toddler

• The clue is 8. Approved. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: OKD

• The clue is 9. For fun. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: ONALARK

• The clue is 10. Hypothetical starting point?. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: LETSSAY

• The clue is 11. 2024 NATO inductee. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: SWEDEN

  Possible Answer: Sweden, Sverige, Kingdom_of_Sweden

• The clue is 13. Sources of many unwelcome messages online. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: SPAMBOTS

• The clue is 14. It stands out in a print. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: WHORL

  Possible Answer: spiral, gyre, volute, curlicue, helix, roll, whorl, coil, scroll, curl, ringlet, lock

• The clue is 16. Natural rug fibers. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: SISALS

  Possible Answer: sisal, Agave_sisalana, sisal_hemp

• The clue is 20. Quiet. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: LULL

  Possible Answer: tranquillize, lull, tranquilize, quieten, still, letup, calm, calm_down, tranquillise, quiet

  Possible Opposite Answer : agitate

• The clue is 23. "Feel free to reach out". Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: HITMEUP

• The clue is 24. Nile superlative. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: LONGEST

  Possible Answer: longsighted, tenacious, farseeing, prospicient, farsighted, foresightful, foresighted, long, longest, recollective, retentive

  Possible Opposite Answer : unretentive, short

• The clue is 26. Not quite, informally. Can you find the Answer?

  Here is a hint. It is a word with exactly (10 letters)

  The answer: KINDASORTA

• The clue is 28. Rolling source of entertainment. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: PARTYBUS

• The clue is 30. They'll show you the way. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: GUIDES

  Possible Answer: run, maneuver, pathfinder, guide_on, guidebook, scout, lead, direct, draw, channelise, manoeuver, manoeuvre, point, guide, conduct, channelize, usher, take, template, templet, steer, pass, head

• The clue is 31. ___ poet (description of Robert Burns). Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: PEASANT

  Possible Answer: provincial, Goth, tyke, churl, tike, peasant, bucolic, boor, barbarian

• The clue is 32. Grand Marnier ingredient avec un cognac. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: LORANGE

• The clue is 33. Court seat. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: BANC

• The clue is 34. Making weaker, in gamer jargon. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: NERFING

• The clue is 35. Sriracha and sambal. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: SAUCES

  Possible Answer: sauce

• The clue is 36. Ceases nursing. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: WEANS

  Possible Answer: ablactate, wean

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

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

  The answer: CAUSES

  Possible Answer: do, crusade, reason, cause, movement, have, induce, lawsuit, stimulate, campaign, make, causal_agent, causa, drive, effort, get, causal_agency, case, suit, grounds

• The clue is 39. "God ___". Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: BLESS

  Possible Answer: sanctify, bless, sign, consecrate, hallow

  Possible Opposite Answer : desecrate, curse

• The clue is 40. Pull with force. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: WREST

  Possible Answer: wrest

• The clue is 42. Serf. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: PEON

  Possible Answer: navvy, drudge, galley_slave, peon

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

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

  The answer: TRI

• The clue is 47. Start to work?: Abbr.. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: MON

  Possible Answer: Mon, Monday

NY Times Crossword Answers May 01, 2025 | Expert Breakdown & Tips

NY Times Crossword Complete Solution: May 01, 2025

Published on Thursday, May 01, 2025 • Updated daily

Our expert breakdown helps you solve the May 01 NYT crossword while expanding your vocabulary. Learn answer strategies and discover word connections.

NY Times Crossword Answers May 01, 2025

Across Clues and Answers (37)

Clue #1: 1. Schoolroom that serves as a studio

6-letter answer Answer: ARTLAB

Clue #2: 7. Original airer of "Doctor Who"

3-letter answer Answer: BBC

Clue #3: 10. Covenant

4-letter answer Answer: PACT

Word Help: Synonyms: pact, treaty, accord

Clue #4: 14. Give a lashing

6-letter answer Answer: BERATE

Word Help: Synonyms: call_on_the_carpet, call_down, lecture

Clue #5: 15. Whom Will Smith played in a 2001 sports biopic

3-letter answer Answer: ALI

Word Help: Synonyms: Cassius_Clay, Ali, Cassius_Marcellus_Clay

Clue #6: 16. Son of Zeus and Hera

4-letter answer Answer: ARES

Word Help: Synonyms: ar, Ares, are

Clue #7: 17. Sweetener in some diet sodas

6-letter answer Answer: STEVIA

Word Help: Synonyms: stevia

Clue #8: 18. *Cat breed named after an Indonesian island from which it didn't originate

8-letter answer Answer: BALINESE

Word Help: Synonyms: Balinese

Clue #9: 20. Places to carry out some takeout orders, for short?

3-letter answer Answer: ORS

Word Help: Synonyms: Oregon, operating_theater, surgery

Clue #10: 21. Light unit

5-letter answer Answer: LUMEN

Word Help: Synonyms: lm, lumen

Clue #11: 23. "Not in the ___!"

5-letter answer Answer: LEAST

Word Help: Synonyms: to_the_lowest_degree, least
Antonyms: most

Clue #12: 24. *It's "read" as a stern warning

7-letter answer Answer: RIOTACT

Clue #13: 26. *Relative of a snowboard

7-letter answer Answer: MONOSKI

Clue #14: 28. ___ Men (group that won a Grammy Award in 2001 for Best Dance Recording)

4-letter answer Answer: BAHA

Clue #15: 29. Old tone

5-letter answer Answer: SEPIA

Word Help: Synonyms: genus_Sepia, Sepia, sepia

Clue #16: 31. Is for the people?

3-letter answer Answer: ARE

Word Help: Synonyms: exist, follow, embody
Antonyms: differ

Clue #17: 32. Daffy Duck speaking feature

4-letter answer Answer: LISP

Word Help: Synonyms: LISP, lisp, list-processing_language

Clue #18: 34. "I wanna!"

5-letter answer Answer: LEMME

Clue #19: 37. Brings up a prior topic … or a hint to making sense of the answers to this puzzle's starred clues

11-letter answer Answer: CIRCLESBACK

Clue #20: 41. Country that was home to the Ebla library, thought to be the world's first (2500 B.C.)

5-letter answer Answer: SYRIA

Word Help: Synonyms: Syrian_Arab_Republic, Syria

Clue #21: 42. Sheet music symbol

4-letter answer Answer: CLEF

Word Help: Synonyms: clef

Clue #22: 44. Past-tense verb that's potentially confusing (but grammatically correct!) when written twice in a row

3-letter answer Answer: HAD

Word Help: Synonyms: make, birth, own
Antonyms: refuse, lack

Clue #23: 47. ___ salt (form of magnesium sulfate)

5-letter answer Answer: EPSOM

Clue #24: 50. Lead-in to -nautics

4-letter answer Answer: AERO

Clue #25: 52. *Carve out, in a way

7-letter answer Answer: ENGRAVE

Word Help: Synonyms: etch, inscribe, engrave

Clue #26: 55. *Comedy club fare

7-letter answer Answer: STANDUP

Clue #27: 57. Columbus's birthplace

5-letter answer Answer: GENOA

Word Help: Synonyms: Genova, Genoa

Clue #28: 58. "___ My Heart in San Francisco"

5-letter answer Answer: ILEFT

Clue #29: 60. Video game character speaking a gibberish language

3-letter answer Answer: SIM

Clue #30: 61. *Villain's expression

8-letter answer Answer: EVILGRIN

Clue #31: 63. Like does

6-letter answer Answer: FEMALE

Word Help: Synonyms: female_person, distaff, female
Antonyms: androgynous, male

Clue #32: 65. ___ Mendoza, former first lady of Puerto Rico

4-letter answer Answer: INES

Clue #33: 66. Onetime C.I.A. foe

3-letter answer Answer: KGB

Word Help: Synonyms: KGB, Committee_for_State_Security, Soviet_KGB

Clue #34: 67. Like government secrets, occasionally

6-letter answer Answer: LEAKED

Word Help: Synonyms: leak, leak_out

Clue #35: 68. Title friend of Marlin in an animated film

4-letter answer Answer: DORY

Word Help: Synonyms: dinghy, dory, jack_salmon

Clue #36: 69. Times Square ball drop setting, in brief

3-letter answer Answer: EST

Word Help: Synonyms: Eastern_Time, EST, Eastern_Standard_Time

Clue #37: 70. Revered sorts

6-letter answer Answer: ELDERS

Word Help: Synonyms: elder, elderberry_bush, senior

Across Clues and Answers (37)

Clue #1: 1. Soak up

6-letter answer Answer: ABSORB

Word Help: Synonyms: suck_up, engage, take_up
Antonyms: emit

Clue #2: 2. Outcome of a hung jury

7-letter answer Answer: RETRIAL

Word Help: Synonyms: retrial

Clue #3: 3. "How stylish!"

8-letter answer Answer: TRESCHIC

Clue #4: 4. W.C.

3-letter answer Answer: LAV

Word Help: Synonyms: lavatory, toilet, john

Clue #5: 5. Not quite straight up

5-letter answer Answer: ATILT

Word Help: Synonyms: atilt, leaning, tilted

Clue #6: 6. Gorgeous ones, informally

6-letter answer Answer: BEAUTS

Word Help: Synonyms: beauty, beaut

Clue #7: 7. Film based on the 1983 children's novel "The Sheep-Pig"

4-letter answer Answer: BABE

Word Help: Synonyms: infant, sister, babe

Clue #8: 8. Some comforters for toddlers

8-letter answer Answer: BLANKIES

Clue #9: 9. Modern prefix with normativity

3-letter answer Answer: CIS

Word Help: Synonyms: curie, Commonwealth_of_Independent_States, CIS

Clue #10: 10. Dairy-less diet

5-letter answer Answer: PALEO

Clue #11: 11. Singer Grande

6-letter answer Answer: ARIANA

Word Help: Synonyms: Ariana

Clue #12: 12. Turn into stars, say?

6-letter answer Answer: CENSOR

Word Help: Synonyms: censor, ban

Clue #13: 13. Tswana for "fly"

6-letter answer Answer: TSETSE

Word Help: Synonyms: tzetze_fly, tsetse, tsetse_fly

Clue #14: 19. West ___ (furniture retailer)

3-letter answer Answer: ELM

Word Help: Synonyms: elm_tree, elm, elmwood

Clue #15: 22. Trailblazing astronaut Jemison

3-letter answer Answer: MAE

Clue #16: 25. Refuge from the heat

5-letter answer Answer: OASIS

Word Help: Synonyms: haven, oasis

Clue #17: 27. It's one foot long

4-letter answer Answer: IAMB

Word Help: Synonyms: iamb, iambus

Clue #18: 30. Calls for sympathy

5-letter answer Answer: PLEAS

Word Help: Synonyms: plea, supplication

Clue #19: 33. Snoop

3-letter answer Answer: PRY

Word Help: Synonyms: prize, lever, crowbar

Clue #20: 35. Big thing in fast food?

3-letter answer Answer: MAC

Word Help: Synonyms: mac, mackintosh, mack

Clue #21: 36. Splendor

5-letter answer Answer: ECLAT

Word Help: Synonyms: acclaim, acclamation, plaudit

Clue #22: 38. Language that gave us "Saskatchewan"

4-letter answer Answer: CREE

Word Help: Synonyms: Cree

Clue #23: 39. Piercings that might be felt while kissing

8-letter answer Answer: LIPRINGS

Clue #24: 40. Memento

8-letter answer Answer: KEEPSAKE

Word Help: Synonyms: keepsake, souvenir, token

Clue #25: 43. More delicate and weak

7-letter answer Answer: FRAILER

Word Help: Synonyms: delicate, fallible, weak
Antonyms: robust

Clue #26: 44. Who says "You're a wizard, Harry"

6-letter answer Answer: HAGRID

Clue #27: 45. Skin-care brand

6-letter answer Answer: AVEENO

Clue #28: 46. City that lends its name to a style of omelet

6-letter answer Answer: DENVER

Word Help: Synonyms: capital_of_Colorado, Denver, Mile-High_City

Clue #29: 48. Uplifting work

3-letter answer Answer: ODE

Word Help: Synonyms: ode

Clue #30: 49. Quiet

6-letter answer Answer: MUFFLE

Word Help: Synonyms: dampen, repress, tone_down

Clue #31: 51. Popping pills, say

6-letter answer Answer: ONMEDS

Clue #32: 53. Racket-raising

5-letter answer Answer: NOISY

Word Help: Synonyms: noisy
Antonyms: quiet

Clue #33: 54. ___ pal

3-letter answer Answer: GAL

Word Help: Synonyms: gal, gallon

Clue #34: 56. Source of Andrew Carnegie's wealth

5-letter answer Answer: STEEL

Word Help: Synonyms: blade, steel, sword

Clue #35: 59. Community associated with Out magazine

4-letter answer Answer: LGBT

Clue #36: 62. President posthumously inducted in the World Golf Hall of Fame, informally

3-letter answer Answer: IKE

Word Help: Synonyms: Dwight_D._Eisenhower, Dwight_Eisenhower, President_Eisenhower

Clue #37: 64. Crackpot

3-letter answer Answer: MAD

Word Help: Synonyms: brainsick, crazy, delirious

Expert Solving Strategies

• Look for fill-in-the-blank clues first (they're often easiest)
• Watch for question marks indicating wordplay
• Check vowel patterns in partially solved words

Related Search Terms

NYT Crossword Help, Daily Puzzle Solutions, Crossword Answer Finder, May Crossword Answers