NYT0904 Wednesday Sep 04, 2024 NY Times Crossword Clues Hints

Across Clues :

1. Visitor to Mecca, 5. Choices for party organizers, 11. Quick refresher, 14. Lamar ___, ex of Khloé Kardashian, 15. Top pilot, 16. Rapper Lil ___ Vert, 17. It will change the way you see yourself, 19. Operate, as a program, 20. Throw one's hands up, say, 21. Foreign policy grp., 22. Floral bubble tea flavoring, 24. On the line, 26. Spiral-horned antelope, 28. Point of no return on "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire", 32. Garment that might have a built-in bra, for short, 36. Work on Broadway, say, 37. Investigator's interest, 38. Pain, 40. AirPod holder, 42. Boxes for crackers?, 43. "A Hard Day's Night" songwriter, 45. U.K. military arm, 47. Monthly expense, 48. Warhead carriers, 51. Microwave no-no, 52. Cleaning product made in "Fight Club", 57. V fliers, 59. Frosty, 61. Symbol seen on eight national flags (though, ironically, not the U.S. flag), 62. Writer Rand, 63. First- and third-quarter moons, e.g. … or a hint to this puzzle's theme, 66. Call that might precede "first service", 67. Bartender's valve, 68. Comic book figure, 69. Major campaign expense, 70. Penny pinchers, 71. London's Royal Academy of ___

Down Clues :

1. Labor leader Jimmy, 2. What Peter Pan refuses to become, 3. Pop rock's ___ Brothers, 4. Duel cry, 5. … rho, sigma, ___, upsilon …, 6. Honorific for a Catholic cardinal, 7. Makes mistakes, 8. Painter Duchamp, 9. Prefix with efficiency, 10. Hot peppers, 11. Caregiver for a pregnant woman, 12. Blue, in Spanish, 13. Like much cotton candy, 18. "Frozen" snowman, 23. General Motors subsidiary with emergency services, 25. Its parent company is Hyundai, 27. On the ___, 29. Asteroids made a big impact on it in the 1980s, 30. Flat, 31. Conclude in court, 32. H.S. course in which one might be graded on a curve?, 33. Teen follower, 34. Mount Rushmore and the Taj Mahal, e.g., 35. Some navels, 39. Red-haired toon who is always seeing red, 41. Light racing vehicle, 44. Secretive org., 46. Tina of "30 Rock", 49. Covers in goo, 50. Forward-looking sort, 53. Comic actor ___ Baron Cohen, 54. Lewd looker, 55. On guard, 56. Cancún coins, 57. Ball, 58. Stared at, 60. Include in a footnote, 64. ___ Moskowitz, a.k.a. "Hawk" on Netflix's "Cobra Kai", 65. Computer addresses: Abbr.

Wednesday Sep 04, 2024 NY Times Crossword Clues

Break down the NYT Crosswords: September 04, 2024

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

Across Clues with Answers:

• The clue is 1. Visitor to Mecca. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: HAJI

  Possible Answer : hajji, hadji, haji




• The clue is 5. Choices for party organizers. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: THEMES

  Possible Answer : topic, base, root_word, motif, melodic_theme, radical, stem, musical_theme, report, root, paper, idea, theme, composition, subject




• The clue is 11. Quick refresher. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: NAP

  Possible Answer : forty_winks, Napoleon, catch_a_wink, short_sleep, nap, sleep, pile, snooze, cat_sleep, catnap




• The clue is 14. Lamar ___, ex of Khloé Kardashian. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: ODOM




• The clue is 15. Top pilot. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: AIRACE




• The clue is 16. Rapper Lil ___ Vert. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: UZI

  Possible Answer : Uzi




• The clue is 17. It will change the way you see yourself. Can you find the Answer?

  Here is a hint. It is a word with exactly (14 letters)

  The answer: FUNHOUSEMIRROR




• The clue is 19. Operate, as a program. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: RUN

  Possible Answer : move, trial, lam, foot_race, tally, die_hard, rivulet, fly_the_coop, runnel, test, take_to_the_woods, carry, tend, streak, escape, feed, operate, prevail, scarper, political_campaign, go, run, function, race, ladder, lean, incline, track_down, footrace, running, flow, ravel, course, consort, ply, hunt, draw, hunt_down, melt_down, run_for, play, endure, unravel, streamlet, work, lead, run_away, persist, discharge, range, pass, execute, break_away, melt, rill, campaign, be_given, head_for_the_hills, outpouring, running_play, guide, bleed, scat, black_market, bunk, hightail_it, turn_tail, running_game, extend

  Possible Opposite Answer : idle, malfunction




• The clue is 20. Throw one's hands up, say. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: FLAIL

  Possible Answer : lam, thrash, flail, thresh




• The clue is 21. Foreign policy grp.. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: NSC

  Possible Answer : NSC, National_Security_Council




• The clue is 22. Floral bubble tea flavoring. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: ROSEMILK




• The clue is 24. On the line. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: ATSTAKE




• The clue is 26. Spiral-horned antelope. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: ELAND

  Possible Answer : eland




• The clue is 28. Point of no return on "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire". Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: FINALANSWER




• The clue is 32. Garment that might have a built-in bra, for short. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: CAMI




• The clue is 36. Work on Broadway, say. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: ACT

  Possible Answer : move, behave, dissemble, pretend, number, deed, roleplay, act_as, playact, routine, play, represent, work, do, enactment, human_action, act, turn, human_activity, bit

  Possible Opposite Answer : refrain




• The clue is 37. Investigator's interest. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: MOTIVE

  Possible Answer : motif, need, motor, motivation, motive, motivative, motivating




• The clue is 38. Pain. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: AGONY

  Possible Answer : agony, excruciation, suffering, torment, torture




• The clue is 40. AirPod holder. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: EAR

  Possible Answer : auricle, spike, capitulum, pinna, ear




• The clue is 42. Boxes for crackers?. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: SAFES

  Possible Answer : rubber, condom, prophylactic, safety, safe




• The clue is 43. "A Hard Day's Night" songwriter. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: LENNON

  Possible Answer : John_Lennon, Lennon




• The clue is 45. U.K. military arm. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: RAF

  Possible Answer : Red_Army_Faction, Royal_Air_Force, RAF




• The clue is 47. Monthly expense. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: RENT

  Possible Answer : rend, economic_rent, split, hire, tear, take, charter, rive, snag, lease, engage, rent, pull, let, rip




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

  Here is a hint. It is a word with exactly (14 letters)

  The answer: CRUISEMISSILES




• The clue is 51. Microwave no-no. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: METAL

  Possible Answer : metal, metallic, alloy, metallic_element

  Possible Opposite Answer : nonmetallic




• The clue is 52. Cleaning product made in "Fight Club". Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: LYESOAP




• The clue is 57. V fliers. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: GEESE

  Possible Answer : goose, goofball, cuckoo, twat, fathead, jackass, bozo, goof, zany




• The clue is 59. Frosty. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: ICY

  Possible Answer : icy, wintry, gelid, polar, glacial, frigid, frozen, frosty, arctic




• The clue is 61. Symbol seen on eight national flags (though, ironically, not the U.S. flag). Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: EAGLE

  Possible Answer : eagle, double_birdie, bird_of_Jove




• The clue is 62. Writer Rand. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: AYN




• The clue is 63. First- and third-quarter moons, e.g. … or a hint to this puzzle's theme. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: SEMICIRCLES

  Possible Answer : hemicycle, semicircle




• The clue is 66. Call that might precede "first service". Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: LET

  Possible Answer : permit, Army_of_the_Righteous, let, net_ball, lease, countenance, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Lashkar-e-Toiba, allow, get, Army_of_the_Pure, rent, LET, have, Lashkar-e-Tayyiba

  Possible Opposite Answer : prevent, forbid, disallow




• The clue is 67. Bartender's valve. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: ALETAP




• The clue is 68. Comic book figure. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: HERO

  Possible Answer : sub, fighter, hero, torpedo, Cuban_sandwich, Hero, champion, Italian_sandwich, bomber, Hero_of_Alexandria, submarine, zep, wedge, Heron, submarine_sandwich, hero_sandwich, paladin, grinder, hoagy, hoagie, poor_boy




• The clue is 69. Major campaign expense. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: ADS

  Possible Answer : advertisement, advertizement, advert, advertizing, ad, advertising




• The clue is 70. Penny pinchers. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: MISERS

  Possible Answer : miser




• The clue is 71. London's Royal Academy of ___. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: ARTS

  Possible Answer : humanistic_discipline, artistic_creation, artistry, liberal_arts, humanities, nontextual_matter, art, arts, artistic_production, fine_art, prowess, graphics, artwork

Down Clues and Answers:

• The clue is 1. Labor leader Jimmy. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: HOFFA

  Possible Answer: Jimmy_Hoffa, Hoffa, James_Riddle_Hoffa

• The clue is 2. What Peter Pan refuses to become. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: ADULT

  Possible Answer: full-grown, grown, pornographic, fully_grown, adult, big, grownup

  Possible Opposite Answer : juvenile

• The clue is 3. Pop rock's ___ Brothers. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: JONAS

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

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

  The answer: IMHIT

• The clue is 5. … rho, sigma, ___, upsilon …. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: TAU

  Possible Answer: tau

• The clue is 6. Honorific for a Catholic cardinal. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: HISEMINENCE

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

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

  The answer: ERRS

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

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

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

  The answer: MARCEL

  Possible Answer: marcel

• The clue is 9. Prefix with efficiency. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: ECO

• The clue is 10. Hot peppers. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: SERRANOS

• The clue is 11. Caregiver for a pregnant woman. Can you find the Answer?

  Here is a hint. It is a word with exactly (12 letters)

  The answer: NURSEMIDWIFE

• The clue is 12. Blue, in Spanish. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: AZUL

• The clue is 13. Like much cotton candy. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: PINK

  Possible Answer: pinkish, tap, rap, pinko, ping, knock, pink, garden_pink

• The clue is 18. "Frozen" snowman. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: OLAF

• The clue is 23. General Motors subsidiary with emergency services. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: ONSTAR

• The clue is 25. Its parent company is Hyundai. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: KIA

• The clue is 27. On the ___. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: LAM

  Possible Answer: scarper, lam, run, flail, head_for_the_hills, fly_the_coop, getaway, thrash, run_away, take_to_the_woods, scat, thresh, bunk, hightail_it, turn_tail, break_away, escape

• The clue is 29. Asteroids made a big impact on it in the 1980s. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: ATARI

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

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

  The answer: EVEN

  Possible Answer: even, evening, level, fifty-fifty, tied, eventide, eve, yet, regular, still, flush, even_out

  Possible Opposite Answer : uneven, odd

• The clue is 31. Conclude in court. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: REST

  Possible Answer: eternal_rest, catch_one's_breath, eternal_sleep, perch, relief, relaxation, residuum, respite, repose, remainder, residual, breathe, take_a_breather, lie, balance, stay, roost, residue, sleep, reside, rest_period, remain, ease, rest, pillow, quietus

  Possible Opposite Answer : change, be_active

• The clue is 32. H.S. course in which one might be graded on a curve?. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: CALC

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

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

  The answer: AGER

• The clue is 34. Mount Rushmore and the Taj Mahal, e.g.. Can you find the Answer?

  Here is a hint. It is a word with exactly (9 letters)

  The answer: MONUMENTS

  Possible Answer: monument, repository, memorial

• The clue is 35. Some navels. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: INNIES

• The clue is 39. Red-haired toon who is always seeing red. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: YOSEMITESAM

• The clue is 41. Light racing vehicle. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: RALLYCAR

• The clue is 44. Secretive org.. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: NSA

  Possible Answer: National_Security_Agency, NSA

• The clue is 46. Tina of "30 Rock". Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: FEY

  Possible Answer: fey, elfin, touched

• The clue is 49. Covers in goo. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: SLIMES

  Possible Answer: melt_off, slim, gook, slim_down, muck, slime, slenderize, ooze, lose_weight, goo, gunk, thin, sludge, guck, reduce, goop

  Possible Opposite Answer : gain

• The clue is 50. Forward-looking sort. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: SEER

  Possible Answer: prophesier, visionary, prophet, oracle, illusionist, seer, vaticinator

• The clue is 53. Comic actor ___ Baron Cohen. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: SACHA

• The clue is 54. Lewd looker. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: OGLER

  Possible Answer: ogler

• The clue is 55. On guard. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: ALERT

  Possible Answer: lively, snappy, qui_vive, rattling, alive, alert, alerting, warning_signal, alarm, brisk, zippy, spanking, alarum, awake, watchful, merry

  Possible Opposite Answer : unalert

• The clue is 56. Cancún coins. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: PESOS

  Possible Answer: Uruguayan_peso, Guinea-Bissau_peso, peso, Dominican_peso, Chilean_peso, Cuban_peso, Philippine_peso, Colombian_peso, Mexican_peso

• The clue is 57. Ball. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: GALA

  Possible Answer: jamboree, blowout, gala_affair, gala

• The clue is 58. Stared at. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: EYED

  Possible Answer: eyed, eye, eyeball

  Possible Opposite Answer : eyeless

• The clue is 60. Include in a footnote. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: CITE

  Possible Answer: summons, refer, summon, quotation, advert, acknowledgment, abduce, credit, reference, citation, bring_up, adduce, quote, mention, cite, name

• The clue is 64. ___ Moskowitz, a.k.a. "Hawk" on Netflix's "Cobra Kai". Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: ELI

• The clue is 65. Computer addresses: Abbr.. Can you find the Answer?

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

  The answer: IPS

  Possible Answer: informatics, information_science, IP, information_processing

Monday's NYT Mini Dec 22 - All 10 Across & 10 Down Clues Decoded

NYT Mini Crossword December 22, 2025 Hints & Answers - Beat the Average 1-Minute Time

Quick Summary: Today's NYT Mini Crossword has 20 clues total. We have all the answers plus helpful hints to make solving easier!

Popular Puzzles: December 08 2022 NYT Clues Solutions | February 08 2021 NYT Clues Solutions | Xwordhint Crossword Answers September_28 |

Jump To Section

• Puzzle Information
• Grid Layout
• Across Clues (10 total)
• Down Clues (10 total)
• How to Solve Faster
• Common Questions

About Today's Puzzle

NYT Mini Crossword Grid - Monday, December 22, 2025

Puzzle Statistics

Detail	Information
Date	December 22, 2025
Grid Size	5 x 5 squares
Total Clues	20 clues
Across Clues	10 clues
Down Clues	10 clues
Average Solve Time	Under 1 minute

Today's NYT Mini Crossword Grid Layout

This puzzle uses a 5 by 5 grid. That means 5 boxes across and 5 boxes down.

5x5 Crossword Grid Pattern

	Column 1	Column 2	Column 3	Column 4	Column 5
Row 1
Row 2
Row 3
Row 4
Row 5

How to Solve This Puzzle Fast

1. Read all the clues first - your brain will start working on them
2. Fill in the short words first (3 letters or less)
3. Use the crossing letters to help with harder words
4. If a clue has a question mark (?), it's probably a joke or play on words
5. Common short words: THE, AND, ARE, FOR, NOT

Quick Facts About This Puzzle

• Total squares in grid: 25 (5 times 5)
• Average time to solve: Less than 1 minute
• Best time to play: During a coffee break
• Difficulty level: Made for everyone to enjoy

Across Clues - 10 Total

These clues go from left to right in the puzzle.

Across Clues List

Number	Clue
1 Across	59. Cheat ... or a punny hint to the four sets of circled letters
2 Across	64. Hearing-related
3 Across	15. Older but ___
4 Across	42. Rode the bench
5 Across	14. One of a battery's poles
6 Across	24. Rapper ___ Uzi Vert
7 Across	66. Kind of lamp that's energy-efficient
8 Across	20. "Garfield" dog
9 Across	55. Pink ___ (rock band)
10 Across	17. Saxophone, trumpet, piano and bass, perhaps

Hints and Answers for Across Clues

Need help? Here are hints and answers for each clue above. Also check out these helpful guides:

• October 15 2020 NYT Clues Solutions
• Down Clues NYT November 10 2025 Todays
• February 08 2021 NYT Clues Solutions

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1 Across: "59. Cheat ... or a punny hint to the four sets of circled letters"

Helpful hints:

• This word has 11 letters
• It starts with 'S' and ends with 'E'
• Word pattern: S_________E

Answer:

Click to reveal

SHORTCHANGE

---

2 Across: "64. Hearing-related"

Helpful hints:

• This word has 5 letters
• It starts with 'A' and ends with 'L'
• Word pattern: A___L

Answer:

Click to reveal

AURAL

---

3 Across: "15. Older but ___"

Helpful hints:

• This word has 5 letters
• It starts with 'W' and ends with 'R'
• Word pattern: W___R

Answer:

Click to reveal

WISER

---

4 Across: "42. Rode the bench"

Helpful hints:

• This word has 3 letters
• It starts with 'S' and ends with 'T'
• Another word like this: ride

Answer:

Click to reveal

SAT

---

5 Across: "14. One of a battery's poles"

Helpful hints:

• This word has 5 letters
• It starts with 'A' and ends with 'E'
• Word pattern: A___E

Answer:

Click to reveal

ANODE

---

6 Across: "24. Rapper ___ Uzi Vert"

Helpful hints:

• This word has 3 letters
• It starts with 'L' and ends with 'L'
• This is a short form or acronym

Answer:

Click to reveal

LIL

---

7 Across: "66. Kind of lamp that's energy-efficient"

Helpful hints:

• This word has 3 letters
• It starts with 'L' and ends with 'D'
• Another word like this: guide

Answer:

Click to reveal

LED

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8 Across: "20. "Garfield" dog"

Helpful hints:

• This word has 4 letters
• It starts with 'O' and ends with 'E'
• Word pattern: O__E

Answer:

Click to reveal

ODIE

---

9 Across: "55. Pink ___ (rock band)"

Helpful hints:

• This word has 5 letters
• It starts with 'F' and ends with 'D'
• Word pattern: F___D

Answer:

Click to reveal

FLOYD

---

10 Across: "17. Saxophone, trumpet, piano and bass, perhaps"

Helpful hints:

• This word has 11 letters
• It starts with 'J' and ends with 'T'
• Word pattern: J_________T

Answer:

Click to reveal

JAZZQUARTET

Down Clues - 10 Total

These clues go from top to bottom in the puzzle.

Down Clues List

Number	Clue
1 Down	61. Surgery sites, in brief
2 Down	7. Wispy clouds
3 Down	27. Em, to Dorothy
4 Down	62. Beanie or bowler
5 Down	12. Reaction to pollen, e.g.
6 Down	48. Is over by
7 Down	60. Shade of color
8 Down	38. "No sweat!"
9 Down	45. Nine-sided figure
10 Down	8. Approx.

Hints and Answers for Down Clues

Need help? Here are hints and answers for each clue above. You might also like:

• October 15 2020 NYT Clues Solutions
• Todays 55 NYT Mini December 13 2025
• Down Clues NYT November 10 2025 Todays

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1 Down: "61. Surgery sites, in brief"

Helpful hints:

• This word has 3 letters
• It starts with 'O' and ends with 'S'
• Another word like this: surgery

Answer:

Click to reveal

ORS

---

2 Down: "7. Wispy clouds"

Helpful hints:

• This word has 5 letters
• It starts with 'C' and ends with 'I'
• Word pattern: C___I

Answer:

Click to reveal

CIRRI

---

3 Down: "27. Em, to Dorothy"

Helpful hints:

• This word has 4 letters
• It starts with 'A' and ends with 'T'
• Word pattern: A__T

Answer:

Click to reveal

AUNT

---

4 Down: "62. Beanie or bowler"

Helpful hints:

• This word has 3 letters
• It starts with 'H' and ends with 'T'
• Another word like this: chapeau

Answer:

Click to reveal

HAT

---

5 Down: "12. Reaction to pollen, e.g."

Helpful hints:

• This word has 7 letters
• It starts with 'A' and ends with 'Y'
• Word pattern: A_____Y

Answer:

Click to reveal

ALLERGY

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6 Down: "48. Is over by"

Helpful hints:

• This word has 6 letters
• It starts with 'E' and ends with 'T'
• Word pattern: E____T

Answer:

Click to reveal

ENDSAT

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7 Down: "60. Shade of color"

Helpful hints:

• This word has 3 letters
• It starts with 'H' and ends with 'E'
• Another word like this: imbue

Answer:

Click to reveal

HUE

---

8 Down: "38. "No sweat!""

Helpful hints:

• This word has 4 letters
• It starts with 'E' and ends with 'Y'
• Word pattern: E__Y

Answer:

Click to reveal

EASY

---

9 Down: "45. Nine-sided figure"

Helpful hints:

• This word has 7 letters
• It starts with 'N' and ends with 'N'
• Word pattern: N_____N

Answer:

Click to reveal

NONAGON

---

10 Down: "8. Approx."

Helpful hints:

• This word has 3 letters
• It starts with 'E' and ends with 'T'
• This is a short form or acronym

Answer:

Click to reveal

EST

How to Solve the NYT Mini Crossword Faster

Here are the best tips from expert solvers:

Step-by-Step Strategy

1. Quick Scan: Read all clues once. Your brain starts working on them right away.
2. Easy First: Fill in the shortest words (2-3 letters). These are usually simple words like "IT" or "ON".
3. Use Crossings: When letters cross, they help you figure out harder words.
4. Watch for Wordplay: Clues with question marks (?) are jokes or puns.
5. Common Words: Remember these appear often: ERA, ORE, ATE, ICE.

Letter Tips That Really Help

• The letter E is the most common in English
• Words ending in S are often plurals
• If you see "___" in a clue, the answer fits those blanks exactly
• Abbreviations in clues mean the answer is also abbreviated

Time Goals to Aim For

Your Time	Skill Level	What It Means
Under 30 seconds	Expert	You know the puzzle patterns very well!
30-60 seconds	Advanced	Great job! You solve quickly.
1-2 minutes	Good	You're doing well. Keep practicing!
Over 2 minutes	Learning	You'll get faster with practice.

Puzzle Numbers and Facts

Today's Puzzle by the Numbers

Total Clues:	20 clues to solve
Grid Size:	5 boxes across, 5 boxes down
Total Squares:	25 squares to fill
Average Time:	Most people solve in 1 minute 3 seconds
Difficulty:	Normal

More Puzzle Help

If you like the NYT Mini, you might enjoy these other puzzles too:

Recent Crossword Solutions:

• June 28 2022 NYT Clues Solutions
• April 25 2020 NYT Clues Solutions
• Down Clues NYT November 10 2025 Todays
• Xwordhint Crossword Answers September_28
• NYT Crossword Down November 06 2025 All
• March 26 2021 NYT Clues Solutions

Common Questions About NYT Mini Crossword

When can I play the NYT Mini?

The puzzle comes out at 10 PM Eastern Time the night before. So you can play Monday's puzzle starting Sunday at 10 PM.

How fast should I be able to solve it?

Most people solve the Mini in 30 seconds to 2 minutes. Don't worry if you take longer - speed comes with practice!

Do I need to pay to play?

No! The NYT Mini is completely free. You don't need a subscription like the big crossword.

What makes a good Mini solver?

Good Mini solvers know common short words, can spot wordplay quickly, and use crossing letters well. Practice helps a lot!

Are the puzzles harder on certain days?

Unlike the big NYT crossword, the Mini stays about the same difficulty every day. Sometimes Saturday might be a tiny bit harder.

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About This Page: We provide hints and answers for the NYT Mini Crossword to help you learn and improve. This site is not connected to The New York Times.

Last Updated: December 22, 2025 at 04:27 AM

Search terms: NYT Mini, Mini crossword, today, answers, hints, December 22 2025 mini crossword

XWordHint Crossword Answers December 22, 2025 | 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 (39 clues)
• Across Clues - Detailed Hints
• Down Clues Table (37 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. Deep sleeps	5
2A	6. High-speed Amtrak train	5
3A	11. Word with punching or sleeping	3
4A	14. One of a battery's poles	5
5A	15. Older but ___	5
6A	16. Under the weather	3
7A	17. Saxophone, trumpet, piano and bass, perhaps	11
8A	19. Day-___ paint	3
9A	20. "Garfield" dog	4
10A	21. "It's freezing!"	3
11A	22. Typical "Survivor" locales	5
12A	24. Rapper ___ Uzi Vert	3
13A	25. Yoda and Obi-Wan Kenobi, for two	11
14A	28. Fish that may have an electric charge	3
15A	29. Stammering sounds	3
16A	30. Indignation	7
17A	31. What each U.S. senator represents	5
18A	33. Raggedy ___	3
19A	34. Breyers competitor	4
20A	35. Some exams allow them	9
21A	39. Cops, slangily	4
22A	42. Rode the bench	3
23A	43. Yoga pose	5
24A	47. Enjoying great success	7
25A	49. What electric cars don't use	3
26A	51. Like a 49-Across gauge that's near "Empty"	3
27A	52. Overly fussy	11
28A	54. Bit of forensic evidence	3
29A	55. Pink ___ (rock band)	5
30A	56. Singer DiFranco	3
31A	57. Bill	4
32A	58. Mideast export	3
33A	59. Cheat ... or a punny hint to the four sets of circled letters	11
34A	63. French "a"	3
35A	64. Hearing-related	5
36A	65. Playwright Chekhov	5
37A	66. Kind of lamp that's energy-efficient	3
38A	67. Easily irritated	5
39A	68. Romeo and Juliet, agewise	5

Across Clues - Strategic Hints

1A: "1. Deep sleeps"

5 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a state of deep and often prolonged unconsciousness; usually the result of disease or injury
• Similar words include: coma, comatoseness
• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: COMAS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

2A: "6. High-speed Amtrak train"

5 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: ACELA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

3A: "11. Word with punching or sleeping"

3 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a flexible container with a single opening
• Similar words include: suitcase, pocketbook, travelling bag
• Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: BAG

Remember this word for future puzzles!

4A: "14. One of a battery's poles"

5 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a positively charged electrode by which electrons leave an electrical device
• Opposite of: cathode
• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: ANODE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

5A: "15. Older but ___"

5 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that having or prompted by wisdom or discernment
• Similar words include: saucy, fresh, impudent
• Opposite of: foolish

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: WISER

Remember this word for future puzzles!

6A: "16. Under the weather"

3 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that an often persistent bodily disorder or disease; a cause for complaining
• Similar words include: ailment, poorly, ominous
• Opposite of: well

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: ILL

Remember this word for future puzzles!

7A: "17. Saxophone, trumpet, piano and bass, perhaps"

11 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ___________

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: JAZZQUARTET

Remember this word for future puzzles!

8A: "19. Day-___ paint"

3 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: GLO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

9A: "20. "Garfield" dog"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: ODIE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

10A: "21. "It's freezing!""

3 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: BRR

Remember this word for future puzzles!

11A: "22. Typical "Survivor" locales"

5 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a small island
• Similar words include: isle, islet
• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: ISLES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

12A: "24. Rapper ___ Uzi Vert"

3 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: LIL

Remember this word for future puzzles!

13A: "25. Yoda and Obi-Wan Kenobi, for two"

11 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ___________

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: JEDIMASTERS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

14A: "28. Fish that may have an electric charge"

3 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that the fatty flesh of eel; an elongate fish found in fresh water in europe and america; large eels are usually smoked or pickled
• Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: EEL

Remember this word for future puzzles!

15A: "29. Stammering sounds"

3 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a trivalent metallic element of the rare earth group; occurs with yttrium
• Similar words include: emergency room, ER, erbium
• Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: ERS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

16A: "30. Indignation"

7 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a feeling of righteous anger
• Similar words include: scandalise, appal, desecrate
• Pattern: _______

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: OUTRAGE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

17A: "31. What each U.S. senator represents"

5 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
• Similar words include: land, say, nation
• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: STATE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

18A: "33. Raggedy ___"

3 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: ANN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

19A: "34. Breyers competitor"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: EDYS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

20A: "35. Some exams allow them"

9 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: _________

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: OPENNOTES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

21A: "39. Cops, slangily"

4 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: POPO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

22A: "42. Rode the bench"

3 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the sabbath by jews and some christians
• Similar words include: sit around, seat, pose
• Opposite of: stand, arise

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: SAT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

23A: "43. Yoga pose"

5 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that (hinduism) a posture or manner of sitting (as in the practice of yoga)
• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: ASANA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

24A: "47. Enjoying great success"

7 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: _______

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: ONATEAR

Remember this word for future puzzles!

25A: "49. What electric cars don't use"

3 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that the state of matter distinguished from the solid and liquid states by: relatively low density and viscosity; relatively great expansion and contraction with changes in pressure and temperature; the ability to diffuse readily; and the spontaneous tendency to become distributed uniformly throughout any container
• Similar words include: bluster, petrol, gun
• Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: GAS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

26A: "51. Like a 49-Across gauge that's near "Empty""

3 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that an air mass of lower pressure; often brings precipitation
• Similar words include: miserable, lowly, downhearted
• Opposite of: high

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: LOW

Remember this word for future puzzles!

27A: "52. Overly fussy"

11 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that (used colloquially) overly conceited or arrogant; -laurent le sage
• Similar words include: snot-nosed, bigheaded, pernickety
• Pattern: ___________

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: PERSNICKETY

Remember this word for future puzzles!

28A: "54. Bit of forensic evidence"

3 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that (biochemistry) a long linear polymer found in the nucleus of a cell and formed from nucleotides and shaped like a double helix; associated with the transmission of genetic information
• Similar words include: deoxyribonucleic acid, desoxyribonucleic acid
• Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: DNA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

29A: "55. Pink ___ (rock band)"

5 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: FLOYD

Remember this word for future puzzles!

30A: "56. Singer DiFranco"

3 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that black tropical american cuckoo
• Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: ANI

Remember this word for future puzzles!

31A: "57. Bill"

4 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that beaklike mouth of animals other than birds (e.g., turtles)
• Similar words include: pecker, snoot, nib
• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: BEAK

Remember this word for future puzzles!

32A: "58. Mideast export"

3 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a slippery or viscous liquid or liquefiable substance not miscible with water
• Similar words include: anele, crude, fossil oil
• Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: OIL

Remember this word for future puzzles!

33A: "59. Cheat ... or a punny hint to the four sets of circled letters"

11 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ___________

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: SHORTCHANGE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

34A: "63. French "a""

3 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: UNE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

35A: "64. Hearing-related"

5 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that of or pertaining to hearing or the ear
• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: AURAL

Remember this word for future puzzles!

36A: "65. Playwright Chekhov"

5 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: ANTON

Remember this word for future puzzles!

37A: "66. Kind of lamp that's energy-efficient"

3 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that diode such that light emitted at a p-n junction is proportional to the bias current; color depends on the material used
• Similar words include: light-emitting diode, leave, top
• Opposite of: follow

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: LED

Remember this word for future puzzles!

38A: "67. Easily irritated"

5 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that easily irritated or annoyed
• Similar words include: cranky, tetchy, irritable
• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: TESTY

Remember this word for future puzzles!

39A: "68. Romeo and Juliet, agewise"

5 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that the time of life between the ages of 12 and 20
• Similar words include: adolescent, teenager, stripling
• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: TEENS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

Down Clues - Complete List

No.	Clue	Letters
1D	1. Persuades with flattery	7
2D	2. Doing keto, perhaps	7
3D	3. Creator of Firefox and Thunderbird	7
4D	4. Woodworking tool	4
5D	5. Orderly arrangement: Abbr.	3
6D	6. Oscars and Grammys, e.g.	6
7D	7. Wispy clouds	5
8D	8. Approx.	3
9D	9. Harper ___, author of "To Kill a Mockingbird"	3
10D	10. Monet or Manet	6
11D	11. Don't blow it!	7
12D	12. Reaction to pollen, e.g.	7
13D	13. Shiny coatings	7
14D	18. Lyft competitor	4
15D	23. Heart attack risk factor	6
16D	25. Cherokee maker	4
17D	26. "The kissing disease"	4
18D	27. Em, to Dorothy	4
19D	32. Foot, in baby talk	6
20D	33. Word after fire or carpenter	3
21D	36. Actor Morales	4
22D	37. Drug agent, informally	4
23D	38. "No sweat!"	4
24D	39. Ball batted up and behind the catcher, say	7
25D	40. Length of a pithy joke	7
26D	41. Released from jail early	7
27D	44. Pasta preference	7
28D	45. Nine-sided figure	7
29D	46. Stirs from sleep	7
30D	48. Is over by	6
31D	49. With a light touch	6
32D	50. Suffix with problem	4
33D	53. Gold standard	5
34D	57. Scourge	4
35D	60. Shade of color	3
36D	61. Surgery sites, in brief	3
37D	62. Beanie or bowler	3

Down Clues - Strategic Hints

1D: "1. Persuades with flattery"

7 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that influence or urge by gentle urging, caressing, or flattering
• Similar words include: inveigle, palaver, blarney
• Pattern: _______

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: CAJOLES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

2D: "2. Doing keto, perhaps"

7 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: _______

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: ONADIET

Remember this word for future puzzles!

3D: "3. Creator of Firefox and Thunderbird"

7 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: _______

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: MOZILLA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

4D: "4. Woodworking tool"

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that an edge tool used to cut and shape wood
• Similar words include: adz
• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: ADZE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

5D: "5. Orderly arrangement: Abbr."

3 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: SEQ

Remember this word for future puzzles!

6D: "6. Oscars and Grammys, e.g."

6 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a grant made by a law court
• Similar words include: prize, honour, award
• Pattern: ______

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: AWARDS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

7D: "7. Wispy clouds"

5 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that usually coiled
• Similar words include: cirrus, cirrus cloud, cirrhus
• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: CIRRI

Remember this word for future puzzles!

8D: "8. Approx."

3 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that standard time in the 5th time zone west of greenwich, reckoned at the 75th meridian; used in the eastern united states
• Similar words include: Eastern Time, Eastern Standard Time
• Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: EST

Remember this word for future puzzles!

9D: "9. Harper ___, author of "To Kill a Mockingbird""

3 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that united states filmmaker whose works explore the richness of black culture in america (born in 1957)
• Similar words include: Gypsy Rose Lee, Richard Henry Lee, Henry Lee
• Opposite of: windward

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: LEE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

10D: "10. Monet or Manet"

6 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a person whose creative work shows sensitivity and imagination
• Similar words include: creative person
• Pattern: ______

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: ARTIST

Remember this word for future puzzles!

11D: "11. Don't blow it!"

7 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: _______

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: BIGLEAD

Remember this word for future puzzles!

12D: "12. Reaction to pollen, e.g."

7 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that hypersensitivity reaction to a particular allergen; symptoms can vary greatly in intensity
• Similar words include: allergic reaction
• Pattern: _______

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: ALLERGY

Remember this word for future puzzles!

13D: "13. Shiny coatings"

7 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that an explanation or definition of an obscure word in a text
• Similar words include: color, colour, polish
• Pattern: _______

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: GLOSSES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

14D: "18. Lyft competitor"

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: UBER

Remember this word for future puzzles!

15D: "23. Heart attack risk factor"

6 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that the relative prominence of a syllable or musical note (especially with regard to stress or pitch)
• Similar words include: tension, accentuate, strain
• Pattern: ______

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: STRESS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

16D: "25. Cherokee maker"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a car suitable for traveling over rough terrain
• Similar words include: landrover
• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: JEEP

Remember this word for future puzzles!

17D: "26. "The kissing disease""

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that an acute disease characterized by fever and swollen lymph nodes and an abnormal increase of mononuclear leucocytes or monocytes in the bloodstream; not highly contagious; some believe it can be transmitted by kissing
• Similar words include: glandular fever, monophonic, infectious mononucleosis
• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: MONO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

18D: "27. Em, to Dorothy"

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle
• Similar words include: auntie, aunty
• Opposite of: uncle

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: AUNT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

19D: "32. Foot, in baby talk"

6 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ______

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: TOOTSY

Remember this word for future puzzles!

20D: "33. Word after fire or carpenter"

3 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that social insect living in organized colonies; characteristically the males and fertile queen have wings during breeding season; wingless sterile females are the workers
• Similar words include: emmet, pismire
• Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: ANT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

21D: "36. Actor Morales"

4 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: ESAI

Remember this word for future puzzles!

22D: "37. Drug agent, informally"

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

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!)

Answer: NARC

Remember this word for future puzzles!

23D: "38. "No sweat!""

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
• Similar words include: well-situated, promiscuous, slowly
• Opposite of: difficult, quickly

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: EASY

Remember this word for future puzzles!

24D: "39. Ball batted up and behind the catcher, say"

7 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: _______

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: POPFOUL

Remember this word for future puzzles!

25D: "40. Length of a pithy joke"

7 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: _______

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: ONELINE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

26D: "41. Released from jail early"

7 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that release a criminal from detention and place him on parole
• Similar words include: parole
• Pattern: _______

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: PAROLED

Remember this word for future puzzles!

27D: "44. Pasta preference"

7 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: _______

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: ALDENTE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

28D: "45. Nine-sided figure"

7 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a nine-sided polygon
• Pattern: _______

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: NONAGON

Remember this word for future puzzles!

29D: "46. Stirs from sleep"

7 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that cause to become awake or conscious
• Similar words include: awake, rouse, wake up
• Opposite of: cause to sleep, fall asleep

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: AWAKENS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

30D: "48. Is over by"

6 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ______

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: ENDSAT

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31D: "49. With a light touch"

6 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that in a gradual manner
• Similar words include: mildly, lightly, softly
• Pattern: ______

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: GENTLY

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32D: "50. Suffix with problem"

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: ATIC

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33D: "53. Gold standard"

5 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that the unit of measurement for the proportion of gold in an alloy; 18-karat gold is 75% gold; 24-karat gold is pure gold
• Similar words include: kt, carat
• Pattern: _____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: KARAT

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34D: "57. Scourge"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that something causing misery or death
• Similar words include: nemesis, scourge, curse
• Pattern: ____

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: BANE

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35D: "60. Shade of color"

3 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that the quality of a color as determined by its dominant wavelength
• Similar words include: chromaticity, imbue
• Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: HUE

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36D: "61. Surgery sites, in brief"

3 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that a state in northwestern united states on the pacific
• Similar words include: Oregon, operating theatre, operating theater
• Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: ORS

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37D: "62. Beanie or bowler"

3 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

• Think of something that headdress that protects the head from bad weather; has shaped crown and usually a brim
• Similar words include: chapeau, lid
• Pattern: ___

Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)

Answer: HAT

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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

39 Across Clues

37 Down Clues

76 Total Clues

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Last updated: December 22, 2025 at 04:27 AM