December 21, 2021 NYT Clues Solutions | XWordHint

Quick Navigation - Table of Contents

• Puzzle Overview & Difficulty
• Across Clues (39 clues)
• Down Clues (39 clues)
• Category Breakdown
• Complete Puzzle Statistics
• Pro Solving Tips

Puzzle Overview & Difficulty Analysis

Date: Tuesday, December 21, 2021

Difficulty Level: Medium Tuesday Puzzle

Total Clues: 78 (39 Across, 39 Down)

Average Word Length: 4.7 letters

Master Today's Across: NYT Tuesday Puzzle December 21, 2021

No.	Clue	Letters
1A	1. Bygone Russian ruler	4
2A	5. Rock band whose name also forms the call letters for a rock radio station in San Antonio	4
3A	9. Like some sprays	5
4A	14. "The Simpsons" character with a palindromic name	4
5A	15. Part of a foot	4
6A	16. "The best is ___ come"	5
7A	17. Capture the attention of	4
8A	18. Not quite shut	4
9A	19. Sing smoothly	5
10A	20. Hawk's home	5
11A	22. Russia's ___ Mountains	4
12A	24. Dating ___	3
13A	25. Skiing and snowboarding	12
14A	28. Fulfill completely	4
15A	29. With special importance	7
16A	32. Sewing shop supply	6
17A	35. Puts money (on)	4
18A	36. Lens holder	3
19A	37. Work hard for	4
20A	38. B or C of the Spice Girls	3
21A	39. Building with a loft	4
22A	40. Prominent feature of a fennec fox	3
23A	41. Pesky plant	4
24A	43. Card suit that symbolizes a medieval weapon	6
25A	45. Hare ___	7
26A	47. Sight near an exit sign	4
27A	48. Display of mentalism ... or a hint to this puzzle's shaded squares	12
28A	52. www.nytimes .com, for one	3
29A	53. Attempt, metaphorically	4
30A	54. Reserve	5
31A	56. Give away, as a story's ending	5
32A	58. Smooth (out)	4
33A	60. Walkie-talkie word	4
34A	61. Pinky and the Brain, for two	5
35A	62. It may be printed on a place mat	4
36A	63. ___-do-well	4
37A	64. Put into the pot	5
38A	65. First place?	4
39A	66. Wapitis	4

Let's Solve the Across Clues Together!

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

Clue 1 Across: "1. Bygone Russian ruler"

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

Here's how to solve it:

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

  The answer is: TSAR

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 2 Across: "5. Rock band whose name also forms the call letters for a rock radio station in San Antonio"

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

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that the act of caressing with the lips (or an instance thereof)
• Words that mean the same thing: osculate, osculation, candy kiss
• The word looks like this: ____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: KISS

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 3 Across: "9. Like some sprays"

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

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that a consonant produced through the nose with the mouth closed
• Words that mean the same thing: pinched, nasal bone, nasal consonant
• The word looks like this: _____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: NASAL

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 4 Across: "14. "The Simpsons" character with a palindromic name"

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

Here's how to solve it:

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

  The answer is: OTTO

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 5 Across: "15. Part of a foot"

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

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that a unit of length equal to one twelfth of a foot
• Words that mean the same thing: column inch, in, edge
• The word looks like this: ____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: INCH

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 6 Across: "16. "The best is ___ come""

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

Here's how to solve it:

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

  The answer is: YETTO

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 7 Across: "17. Capture the attention of"

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

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that a mechanical device for gripping an object
• Words that mean the same thing: snap up, catch, snap
• The word looks like this: ____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: GRAB

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 8 Across: "18. Not quite shut"

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

Here's how to solve it:

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

  The answer is: AJAR

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 9 Across: "19. Sing smoothly"

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

Here's how to solve it:

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

  The answer is: CROON

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 10 Across: "20. Hawk's home"

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

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that the lofty nest of a bird of prey (such as a hawk or eagle)
• Words that mean the same thing: aery, eyry, eyrie
• The word looks like this: _____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: AERIE

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 11 Across: "22. Russia's ___ Mountains"

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

Here's how to solve it:

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

  The answer is: URAL

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 12 Across: "24. Dating ___"

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

Here's how to solve it:

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

  The answer is: APP

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 13 Across: "25. Skiing and snowboarding"

Quick Info: This answer has 12 letters. It's a hard clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

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

  The answer is: WINTERSPORTS

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 14 Across: "28. Fulfill completely"

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

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that fill to satisfaction
• Words that mean the same thing: fill, satiate, replete
• The word looks like this: ____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: SATE

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 15 Across: "29. With special importance"

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

Here's how to solve it:

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

  The answer is: NOTEDLY

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 16 Across: "32. Sewing shop supply"

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

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that a winder around which thread or tape or film or other flexible materials can be wound
• Words that mean the same thing: spool, reel, bobbin
• The word looks like this: ______
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: SPOOLS

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 17 Across: "35. Puts money (on)"

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

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that the money risked on a gamble
• Words that mean the same thing: stakes, wager, reckon
• The word looks like this: ____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: BETS

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 18 Across: "36. Lens holder"

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

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that the organ of sight
• Words that mean the same thing: oculus, optic, eyeball
• The word looks like this: ___
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: EYE

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 19 Across: "37. Work hard for"

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

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that earn on some commercial or business transaction; earn as salary or wages
• Words that mean the same thing: pull in, realise, make
• The word looks like this: ____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: EARN

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 20 Across: "38. B or C of the Spice Girls"

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

Here's how to solve it:

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

  The answer is: MEL

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 21 Across: "39. Building with a loft"

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

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that an outlying farm building for storing grain or animal feed and housing farm animals
• Words that mean the same thing: b
• The word looks like this: ____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: BARN

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 22 Across: "40. Prominent feature of a fennec fox"

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

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
• Words that mean the same thing: pinna, auricle, capitulum
• The word looks like this: ___
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: EAR

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 23 Across: "41. Pesky plant"

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

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that any plant that crowds out cultivated plants
• Words that mean the same thing: green goddess, sess, pot
• The opposite would be: cultivated plant
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: WEED

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 24 Across: "43. Card suit that symbolizes a medieval weapon"

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

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that a playing card in the major suit that has one or more black figures on it
• Words that mean the same thing: nigger, spade, nigra
• The word looks like this: ______
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: SPADES

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 25 Across: "45. Hare ___"

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

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that 8th and most important avatar of vishnu; incarnated as a handsome young man playing a flute
• The word looks like this: _______
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: KRISHNA

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 26 Across: "47. Sight near an exit sign"

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

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
• Words that mean the same thing: doorway, room access, threshold
• The word looks like this: ____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: DOOR

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 27 Across: "48. Display of mentalism ... or a hint to this puzzle's shaded squares"

Quick Info: This answer has 12 letters. It's a expert clue about general knowledge.

Here's how to solve it:

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

  The answer is: SPOONBENDING

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 28 Across: "52. www.nytimes .com, for one"

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

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that the address of a web page on the world wide web
• Words that mean the same thing: uniform resource locator, universal resource locator
• The word looks like this: ___
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: URL

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 29 Across: "53. Attempt, metaphorically"

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

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that a sudden sharp feeling
• Words that mean the same thing: knife thrust, dig, twinge
• The word looks like this: ____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: STAB

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 30 Across: "54. Reserve"

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

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that a mercantile establishment for the retail sale of goods or services
• Words that mean the same thing: shop, memory, put in
• The word looks like this: _____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: STORE

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 31 Across: "56. Give away, as a story's ending"

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

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that (usually plural) valuables taken by violence (especially in war)
• Words that mean the same thing: cocker, featherbed, bumble
• The word looks like this: _____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: SPOIL

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 32 Across: "58. Smooth (out)"

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

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that a heavy ductile magnetic metallic element; is silver-white in pure form but readily rusts; used in construction and tools and armament; plays a role in the transport of oxygen by the blood
• Words that mean the same thing: branding iron, atomic number 26, cast-iron
• The word looks like this: ____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: IRON

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 33 Across: "60. Walkie-talkie word"

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

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that (cricket) the division of play during which six balls are bowled at the batsman by one player from the other team from the same end of the pitch
• Words that mean the same thing: terminated, all over, o'er
• The word looks like this: ____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: OVER

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 34 Across: "61. Pinky and the Brain, for two"

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

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that a film made by photographing a series of cartoon drawings to give the illusion of movement when projected in rapid sequence
• Words that mean the same thing: animated cartoon, toon, cartoon
• The word looks like this: _____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: TOONS

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 35 Across: "62. It may be printed on a place mat"

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

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that a list of dishes available at a restaurant
• Words that mean the same thing: bill of fare, fare, card
• The word looks like this: ____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: MENU

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 36 Across: "63. ___-do-well"

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

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that (meaning literally `born') used to indicate the maiden or family name of a married woman
• Words that mean the same thing: nee
• The word looks like this: ____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: NEER

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 37 Across: "64. Put into the pot"

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

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that place one's stake
• Words that mean the same thing: ante
• The word looks like this: _____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: ANTED

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 38 Across: "65. First place?"

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

Here's how to solve it:

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

  The answer is: EDEN

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 39 Across: "66. Wapitis"

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

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that large northern deer with enormous flattened antlers in the male; called `elk' in europe and `moose' in north america
• Words that mean the same thing: red deer, European elk, Cervus elaphus canadensis
• The word looks like this: ____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: ELKS

  Great job if you got it right!

Down Clues Decoded - Tuesday NYT Crossword December 21, 2021

No.	Clue	Letters
1D	1. Caesar dressing?	4
2D	2. Scatter	5
3D	3. Developer of the game Breakout	5
4D	4. M.L.B.'s first Rookie of the Year (1947)	8
5D	5. Sorento automaker	3
6D	6. Cause harm to	6
7D	7. Lasting marks	5
8D	8. Explosion fragments	8
9D	9. Home of the Met, the Whitney and the Frick, in brief	3
10D	10. Make fizzy	6
11D	11. Halts abruptly	9
12D	12. Crowning	4
13D	13. Actor Chaney nicknamed "The Man of a Thousand Faces"	3
14D	21. List shortener: Abbr.	4
15D	23. Plundered goods	4
16D	26. U.F.O. pilots	3
17D	27. Some N.F.L. blockers	3
18D	30. Orpheus' instrument	4
19D	31. Urges	4
20D	32. Ask for	4
21D	33. Talk show host Jack	4
22D	34. Ingredient in perfume and potpourri	9
23D	35. Furniture depicted in Frida Kahlo's "The Dream" (1940)	3
24D	38. Interim period	8
25D	39. Singing voice meaning "heavy-sounding"	8
26D	41. Question of identity	3
27D	42. First and only chimpanzee to orbit Earth	4
28D	43. Cronus, to Uranus	3
29D	44. Whale groups	4
30D	46. Long, thin strip used in building construction	6
31D	47. Prepare, in a way, as chicken	6
32D	49. Exposed for all to see	5
33D	50. Work of fiction	5
34D	51. One of Cyprus's two official languages	5
35D	52. "___ the housetop, click, click, click ..."	4
36D	55. Goofs	4
37D	56. Subway stop: Abbr.	3
38D	57. It may give you visuals	3
39D	59. Sister	3

Now Let's Solve the Down Clues!

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

Clue 1 Down: "1. Caesar dressing?"

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

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that a one-piece cloak worn by men in ancient rome
• The word looks like this: ____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: TOGA

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 2 Down: "2. Scatter"

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

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that spread by scattering ( is archaic)
• Words that mean the same thing: straw
• The word looks like this: _____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: STREW

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 3 Down: "3. Developer of the game Breakout"

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

Here's how to solve it:

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

  The answer is: ATARI

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 4 Down: "4. M.L.B.'s first Rookie of the Year (1947)"

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

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that english chemist noted for his studies of molecular structures in plants (1886-1975)
• Words that mean the same thing: Jackie Robinson, Lennox Robinson, Edwin Arlington Robinson
• The word looks like this: ________
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: ROBINSON

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 5 Down: "5. Sorento automaker"

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

Here's how to solve it:

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

  The answer is: KIA

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 6 Down: "6. Cause harm to"

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

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that cause injuries or bodily harm to
• Words that mean the same thing: hurt, offend, bruise
• The word looks like this: ______
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: INJURE

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 7 Down: "7. Lasting marks"

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

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that a mark left (usually on the skin) by the healing of injured tissue
• Words that mean the same thing: cicatrice, scar, scratch
• The word looks like this: _____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: SCARS

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 8 Down: "8. Explosion fragments"

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

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that shell containing lead pellets that explodes in flight
• The word looks like this: ________
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: SHRAPNEL

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 9 Down: "9. Home of the Met, the Whitney and the Frick, in brief"

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

Here's how to solve it:

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

  The answer is: NYC

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 10 Down: "10. Make fizzy"

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

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that expose to fresh air
• Words that mean the same thing: oxygenise, air out, air
• The word looks like this: ______
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: AERATE

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 11 Down: "11. Halts abruptly"

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

Here's how to solve it:

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

  The answer is: STOPSDEAD

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 12 Down: "12. Crowning"

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

Here's how to solve it:

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

  The answer is: ATOP

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 13 Down: "13. Actor Chaney nicknamed "The Man of a Thousand Faces""

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

Here's how to solve it:

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

  The answer is: LON

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 14 Down: "21. List shortener: Abbr."

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

Here's how to solve it:

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

  The answer is: ETAL

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 15 Down: "23. Plundered goods"

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

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that goods or money obtained illegally
• Words that mean the same thing: boodle, scratch, clams
• The word looks like this: ____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: LOOT

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 16 Down: "26. U.F.O. pilots"

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

Here's how to solve it:

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

  The answer is: ETS

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 17 Down: "27. Some N.F.L. blockers"

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

Here's how to solve it:

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

  The answer is: RTS

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 18 Down: "30. Orpheus' instrument"

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

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that a harp used by ancient greeks for accompaniment
• The word looks like this: ____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: LYRE

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 19 Down: "31. Urges"

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

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that a yearning for something or to do something
• Words that mean the same thing: hankering, languish, pine
• The word looks like this: ____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: YENS

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 20 Down: "32. Ask for"

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

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that the movement of a read/write head to a specific data track on a disk
• Words that mean the same thing: essay, look for, search
• The word looks like this: ____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: SEEK

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 21 Down: "33. Talk show host Jack"

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

Here's how to solve it:

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

  The answer is: PAAR

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 22 Down: "34. Ingredient in perfume and potpourri"

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

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that fragrant rootstock of various irises especially florentine iris; used in perfumes and medicines
• Words that mean the same thing: orris
• The word looks like this: _________
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: ORRISROOT

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 23 Down: "35. Furniture depicted in Frida Kahlo's "The Dream" (1940)"

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

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
• Words that mean the same thing: bonk, retire, go to bed
• The opposite would be: get up, turn out
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: BED

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 24 Down: "38. Interim period"

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

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that the time between one event, process, or period and another
• Words that mean the same thing: interim, lag, in the meantime
• The word looks like this: ________
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: MEANTIME

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 25 Down: "39. Singing voice meaning "heavy-sounding""

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

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that a male singer
• Words that mean the same thing: baritone horn, baritone voice, barytone
• The word looks like this: ________
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: BARITONE

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 26 Down: "41. Question of identity"

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

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that a united nations agency to coordinate international health activities and to help governments improve health services
• Words that mean the same thing: World Health Organization
• The word looks like this: ___
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: WHO

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 27 Down: "42. First and only chimpanzee to orbit Earth"

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

Here's how to solve it:

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

  The answer is: ENOS

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 28 Down: "43. Cronus, to Uranus"

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

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that a male human offspring
• Words that mean the same thing: Logos, boy, Word
• The opposite would be: daughter, girl
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: SON

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 29 Down: "44. Whale groups"

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

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that the vessel that contains the seeds of a plant (not the seeds themselves)
• Words that mean the same thing: seedcase, fuel pod, pod
• The word looks like this: ____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: PODS

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 30 Down: "46. Long, thin strip used in building construction"

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

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that a flexible strip (wood or rubber) used in drawing curved lines
• Words that mean the same thing: slat
• The word looks like this: ______
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: SPLINE

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 31 Down: "47. Prepare, in a way, as chicken"

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

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that remove the bones from
• Words that mean the same thing: bone
• The word looks like this: ______
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: DEBONE

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 32 Down: "49. Exposed for all to see"

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

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that make public
• Words that mean the same thing: bar, block off, publicise
• The opposite would be: unbar
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: BARED

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 33 Down: "50. Work of fiction"

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

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that an extended fictional work in prose; usually in the form of a story
• Words that mean the same thing: refreshing, new, fresh
• The word looks like this: _____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: NOVEL

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 34 Down: "51. One of Cyprus's two official languages"

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

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that the hellenic branch of the indo-european family of languages
• Words that mean the same thing: Hellene, Hellenic, Hellenic language
• The word looks like this: _____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: GREEK

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 35 Down: "52. "___ the housetop, click, click, click ...""

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

Here's how to solve it:

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

  The answer is: UPON

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 36 Down: "55. Goofs"

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

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that to make a mistake or be incorrect
• Words that mean the same thing: mistake, drift, err
• The word looks like this: ____
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: ERRS

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 37 Down: "56. Subway stop: Abbr."

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

Here's how to solve it:

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

  The answer is: STA

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 38 Down: "57. It may give you visuals"

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

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that a powerful hallucinogenic drug manufactured from lysergic acid
• Words that mean the same thing: lysergic acid diethylamide
• The word looks like this: ___
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: LSD

  Great job if you got it right!

Clue 39 Down: "59. Sister"

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

Here's how to solve it:

• This could be something that a woman religious
• Words that mean the same thing: conical buoy, nun buoy
• The word looks like this: ___
• Still stuck? Remember to use the crossing words to help you!
• Ready for the answer? Click here!

  The answer is: NUN

  Great job if you got it right!

Category Breakdown

Category	Number of Clues	Percentage
General Knowledge	59	75.6%
Short Answer	14	17.9%
Abbreviation	2	2.6%
Geography	1	1.3%
Sports	1	1.3%
Celebrity/Entertainment	1	1.3%

Complete Puzzle Statistics

Metric	Value
Across Clues	39
Down Clues	39
Total Clues	78
Average Answer Length	4.7 letters
Shortest Answer	3 letters
Longest Answer	12 letters

Fun Tips to Solve Crossword Puzzles!

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

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

Last Updated: September 13, 2025 at 01:24 AM

XWordHint Crossword Answers January 02, 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 (33 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: Challenging

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

Across Clues - Complete List

No.	Clue	Letters
1A	1. Havanese greeting	3
2A	4. Tolstoy book whose title asks a question	9
3A	13. Reluctantly stoop	5
4A	16. They rate up to 350,000 on the Scoville scale	9
5A	17. H.S. class for tough life lessons?	5
6A	18. "Just tell me when it's over"	9
7A	19. Dance move also known as a backslide	8
8A	21. Skims, as soup stock	6
9A	22. Fig. that cannot start with 9	3
10A	23. Org. for The Rock and Brock Lesnar	3
11A	24. Tunnel-making machine	5
12A	25. Not many	4
13A	27. Windfalls	5
14A	28. Keep coming up	5
15A	30. One might lead to pay back	9
16A	34. Make some introductions, say	5
17A	35. The Cowboys of the N.C.A.A.	3
18A	36. Word from the Lakota for "they dwell"	5
19A	37. Emotional manipulation tactic	9
20A	39. Meaty meal	5
21A	40. Attraction on the western side of Carson Range	5
22A	41. "Oof!"	4
23A	42. Seems less impressive, so to speak	5
24A	43. Spray in the kitchen	3
25A	44. German stock market index	3
26A	47. Cumbrous	6
27A	49. One-to-one relationship	8
28A	51. Exchanges blows?	9
29A	53. Up to	5
30A	54. Eggless bread spread	9
31A	55. "A-a-a-and ___!" (improv show ender)	5
32A	56. High-carb snack	9
33A	57. May day celebrant	3

Across Clues - Strategic Hints

1A: "1. Havanese greeting"

3 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: ARF

Remember this word for future puzzles!

2A: "4. Tolstoy book whose title asks a question"

9 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: _________

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: WHATISART

Remember this word for future puzzles!

3A: "13. Reluctantly stoop"

5 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that do something that one considers to be below one's dignity
• Similar words include: descend, condescend
• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: DEIGN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

4A: "16. They rate up to 350,000 on the Scoville scale"

9 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: _________

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: HABANEROS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

5A: "17. H.S. class for tough life lessons?"

5 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: APBIO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

6A: "18. "Just tell me when it's over""

9 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: _________

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: ICANTLOOK

Remember this word for future puzzles!

7A: "19. Dance move also known as a backslide"

8 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a kind of dance step in which the dancer seems to be sliding on the spot
• Pattern: ________

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: MOONWALK

Remember this word for future puzzles!

8A: "21. Skims, as soup stock"

6 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that remove the fat from
• Similar words include: defat
• Pattern: ______

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: DEFATS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

9A: "22. Fig. that cannot start with 9"

3 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: SSN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

10A: "23. Org. for The Rock and Brock Lesnar"

3 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: WWE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

11A: "24. Tunnel-making machine"

5 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a drill for penetrating rock
• Similar words include: woodborer, rock drill, stone drill
• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: BORER

Remember this word for future puzzles!

12A: "25. Not many"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: AFEW

Remember this word for future puzzles!

13A: "27. Windfalls"

5 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a desirable state
• Similar words include: blessing, boon
• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: BOONS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

14A: "28. Keep coming up"

5 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that happen or occur again
• Similar words include: repeat, fall back, resort
• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: RECUR

Remember this word for future puzzles!

15A: "30. One might lead to pay back"

9 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: _________

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: TAXRETURN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

16A: "34. Make some introductions, say"

5 letters Category: Proper Noun

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, master of ceremonies, host
• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: EMCEE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

17A: "35. The Cowboys of the N.C.A.A."

3 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: OSU

Remember this word for future puzzles!

18A: "36. Word from the Lakota for "they dwell""

5 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a native american tent; usually of conical shape
• Similar words include: teepee, tipi
• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: TEPEE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

19A: "37. Emotional manipulation tactic"

9 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: _________

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: GUILTTRIP

Remember this word for future puzzles!

20A: "39. Meaty meal"

5 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a ceremonial dinner party for many people
• Similar words include: junket, fete, spread
• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: FEAST

Remember this word for future puzzles!

21A: "40. Attraction on the western side of Carson Range"

5 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: TAHOE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

22A: "41. "Oof!""

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that something of little value
• Similar words include: darn, bedamn, darned
• Opposite of: bless

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: DAMN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

23A: "42. Seems less impressive, so to speak"

5 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a wooden strip forming part of a fence
• Similar words include: pale, picket, pal
• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: PALES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

24A: "43. Spray in the kitchen"

3 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: PAM

Remember this word for future puzzles!

25A: "44. German stock market index"

3 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: DAX

Remember this word for future puzzles!

26A: "47. Cumbrous"

6 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that lacking grace in movement or posture
• Similar words include: clumsy, ungainly, gawky
• Pattern: ______

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: CLUNKY

Remember this word for future puzzles!

27A: "49. One-to-one relationship"

8 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that having only one spouse at a time
• Similar words include: monogamousness
• Pattern: ________

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: MONOGAMY

Remember this word for future puzzles!

28A: "51. Exchanges blows?"

9 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: _________

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: AIRKISSES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

29A: "53. Up to"

5 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: UNTIL

Remember this word for future puzzles!

30A: "54. Eggless bread spread"

9 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: _________

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: VEGENAISE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

31A: "55. "A-a-a-and ___!" (improv show ender)"

5 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that the place where some action occurs
• Similar words include: shot, tantrum, prospect
• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: SCENE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

32A: "56. High-carb snack"

9 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: _________

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: ENERGYBAR

Remember this word for future puzzles!

33A: "57. May day celebrant"

3 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that informal terms for a mother
• Similar words include: mammy, momma, mummy
• Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: MOM

Remember this word for future puzzles!

Down Clues - Complete List

No.	Clue	Letters
1D	1. President who wrote "Posterity! You will never know how much it cost the present generation to preserve your freedom! I hope you will make a good use of it"	5
2D	2. Default outcomes, perhaps	5
3D	3. Kind of sequence that that proceeds 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, ...	9
4D	4. Duration	5
5D	5. Modern security threat	4
6D	6. Org. with the Rule of Law Initiative	3
7D	7. Cylindrical oven	7
8D	8. Extremely well-liked?	14
9D	9. Personal opinion?	10
10D	10. Hooting and hollering	5
11D	11. Part of an underground network	4
12D	12. Pithy put-downs	4
13D	14. Main ingredient in an aviation cocktail	3
14D	15. "I like the sound of that!"	14
15D	20. "So adorable!"	3
16D	24. Prepare to ship, say	5
17D	26. Delivery means to a gas station	10
18D	27. Count in the Blues Hall of Fame	5
19D	28. On the ___ (frequently, informally)	3
20D	29. Bird whose eggs are sometimes a canvas for Aboriginal art	3
21D	30. Capotes are flapped at them	5
22D	31. "Let's go, sleepyhead!"	9
23D	32. Booking, for short	3
24D	33. Server's obstacle	3
25D	38. "Word on the street is ..."	7
26D	41. ___ Brown, author of "The Da Vinci Code"	3
27D	42. Night of lawlessness in a long-running horror franchise, with "the"	5
28D	43. Try-hard	5
29D	45. Kind of acid	5
30D	46. Stem component	5
31D	47. Capitulate	4
32D	48. Lender's security	4
33D	49. Table outside	4
34D	50. Big purveyor of health supplements	3
35D	52. Gender-neutral term in a family	3

Down Clues - Strategic Hints

1D: "1. President who wrote "Posterity! You will never know how much it cost the present generation to preserve your freedom! I hope you will make a good use of it""

5 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that american revolutionary leader and patriot; an organizer of the boston tea party and signer of the declaration of independence (1722-1803)
• Similar words include: John Adams, Mount Adams, disco biscuit
• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: ADAMS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

2D: "2. Default outcomes, perhaps"

5 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: REPOS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

3D: "3. Kind of sequence that that proceeds 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, ..."

9 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: _________

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: FIBONACCI

Remember this word for future puzzles!

4D: "4. Duration"

5 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a period of indeterminate length (usually short) marked by some action or condition
• Similar words include: patch, piece, spell
• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: WHILE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

5D: "5. Modern security threat"

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that one who works hard at boring tasks
• Similar words include: chop, taxi, political hack
• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: HACK

Remember this word for future puzzles!

6D: "6. Org. with the Rule of Law Initiative"

3 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a loose sleeveless outer garment made from aba cloth; worn by arabs
• Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: ABA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

7D: "7. Cylindrical oven"

7 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a clay oven used in northern india and pakistan
• Pattern: _______

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: TANDOOR

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8D: "8. Extremely well-liked?"

14 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ______________

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: INTERNETFAMOUS

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9D: "9. Personal opinion?"

10 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: __________

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: SELFESTEEM

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10D: "10. Hooting and hollering"

5 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: AROAR

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11D: "11. Part of an underground network"

4 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that (botany) the usually underground organ that lacks buds or leaves or nodes; absorbs water and mineral salts; usually it anchors the plant to the ground
• Similar words include: tooth root, ancestor, source
• Opposite of: descendant

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: ROOT

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12D: "12. Pithy put-downs"

4 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that utter `tsk,' `tut,' or `tut-tut,' as in disapproval
• Similar words include: tut-tut, tsk, tut
• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: TSKS

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13D: "14. Main ingredient in an aviation cocktail"

3 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that strong liquor flavored with juniper berries
• Similar words include: snare, noose, knock rummy
• Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: GIN

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14D: "15. "I like the sound of that!""

14 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ______________

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: NOWWERETALKING

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15D: "20. "So adorable!""

3 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: AWW

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16D: "24. Prepare to ship, say"

5 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: BOXUP

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17D: "26. Delivery means to a gas station"

10 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: __________

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: FUELTANKER

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18D: "27. Count in the Blues Hall of Fame"

5 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: BASIE

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19D: "28. On the ___ (frequently, informally)"

3 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: REG

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20D: "29. Bird whose eggs are sometimes a canvas for Aboriginal art"

3 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that any of various systems of units for measuring electricity and magnetism
• Similar words include: Dromaius novaehollandiae, electromagnetic unit, Emu novaehollandiae
• Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: EMU

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21D: "30. Capotes are flapped at them"

5 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: TOROS

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22D: "31. "Let's go, sleepyhead!""

9 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: _________

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: UPANDATEM

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23D: "32. Booking, for short"

3 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a widely distributed system consisting of all the cells able to ingest bacteria or colloidal particles etc, except for certain white blood cells
• Similar words include: re, Re, rhenium
• Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: RES

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24D: "33. Server's obstacle"

3 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a computer network consisting of a worldwide network of computer networks that use the tcp/ip network protocols to facilitate data transmission and exchange
• Similar words include: network, profit, web
• Opposite of: gross

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: NET

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25D: "38. "Word on the street is ...""

7 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: _______

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: THEYSAY

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26D: "41. ___ Brown, author of "The Da Vinci Code""

3 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: DAN

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27D: "42. Night of lawlessness in a long-running horror franchise, with "the""

5 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that the act of clearing yourself (or another) from some stigma or charge
• Similar words include: be sick, disgorge, regorge
• Opposite of: keep down, rehabilitate

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: PURGE

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28D: "43. Try-hard"

5 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a person who habitually pretends to be something he is not
• Similar words include: stumper, toughie, model
• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: POSER

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29D: "45. Kind of acid"

5 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that the radical -nh2
• Similar words include: amino group, aminic
• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: AMINO

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30D: "46. Stem component"

5 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that the woody part of plants: the supporting and water-conducting tissue, consisting primarily of tracheids and vessels
• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: XYLEM

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31D: "47. Capitulate"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a geological formation consisting of an underground enclosure with access from the surface of the ground or from the sea
• Similar words include: undermine, spelunk
• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: CAVE

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32D: "48. Lender's security"

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that the right to take another's property if an obligation is not discharged
• Similar words include: spleen
• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: LIEN

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33D: "49. Table outside"

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that flat tableland with steep edges
• Similar words include: table
• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: MESA

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34D: "50. Big purveyor of health supplements"

3 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: GNC

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35D: "52. Gender-neutral term in a family"

3 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a person's brother or sister
• Similar words include: blood relative, cognate, sibling
• Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: SIB

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Expert Solving Strategies

Start Smart

Begin with fill-in-the-blank clues and short 3-4 letter words. These are your foundation.

Decode the Clues

Question marks indicate wordplay or puns. "Maybe" suggests multiple interpretations.

Use Cross-References

Let intersecting letters guide you. One correct answer unlocks several others.

Build Vocabulary

Common crossword words repeat. Learning them speeds up future solving.

Today's Puzzle Stats

33 Across Clues

35 Down Clues

68 Total Clues

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Last updated: January 02, 2026 at 04:26 AM