Master the NYT crossword from January 03, 1990 with our expert hint system. We provide synonyms, antonyms, and strategic clues to help you solve without spoiling the fun.
Puzzle Difficulty: Tricky
Pro Tip: Start with the fill-in-the-blank clues - they're usually the easiest entry points!
Across Clues - Strategic Hints (33 clues)
1A: "1. Marten's fur"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an artist's brush made of sable hairs
- Similar words include: coal black, sable's hair pencil, ebony
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: SABLE
2A: "6. Cudgel"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a team of professional baseball players who play and travel together
- Similar words include: golf-club, nightclub, night club
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: CLUB
3A: "10. Neat"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a state of arrangement or appearance
- Similar words include: shipshape, well-kept, garnish
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: TRIM
4A: "14. Swiftly, to a poet"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that at full speed; with great haste
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: AMAIN
5A: "15. Singer Coolidge"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: RITA
6A: "16. Decorate anew"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that do over, as of (part of) a house
- Similar words include: reconstruct, make over, remake
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: REDO
7A: "17. Make merry"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______________
Click to reveal answer
Answer: KICKUPONESHEELS
8A: "20. Native"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that existing as an essential constituent or characteristic
- Similar words include: implicit in, constitutional, built-in
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer
Answer: INHERENT
9A: "21. Mollifies"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that freedom from difficulty or hardship or effort
- Similar words include: relief, rest, Emergency Alert System
- Opposite of: difficulty
Click to reveal answer
Answer: EASES
10A: "22. Bridge ace Culbertson"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer
Answer: ELY
11A: "23. Hit hard"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that sing loudly and forcefully
- Similar words include: belt, belt out
- Opposite of: unbelt, unbelted
Click to reveal answer
Answer: BELTED
12A: "25. Reserved; retiring"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that marked by simplicity; having a humble opinion of yourself
- Similar words include: humble, mild, meek
- Opposite of: immodest
Click to reveal answer
Answer: MODEST
13A: "29. Frolics"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an easy victory
- Similar words include: tomboy, frisk, caper
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: ROMPS
14A: "30. Incite"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that assist or encourage, usually in some wrongdoing
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: ABET
15A: "31. Avian perch"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the lofty nest of a bird of prey (such as a hawk or eagle)
- Similar words include: aery, eyry, eyrie
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: AERIE
16A: "32. Delight"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the emotion of great happiness
- Similar words include: delight, joyousness, rejoice
- Opposite of: sorrow, sadden
Click to reveal answer
Answer: JOY
17A: "35. Carouse"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______________
Click to reveal answer
Answer: SOWONESWILDOATS
18A: "39. Fla.'s ___ Largo"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that metal device shaped in such a way that when it is inserted into the appropriate lock the lock's mechanism can be rotated
- Similar words include: winder, samara, Florida key
- Opposite of: atonality
Click to reveal answer
Answer: KEY
19A: "40. Adlai's running mate: 1956"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: ESTES
20A: "41. Sacrament"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an established ceremony prescribed by a religion
- Similar words include: religious rite, ritual
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: RITE
21A: "42. Admitted"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that have ownership or possession of
- Similar words include: have, own, possess
- Opposite of: unowned
Click to reveal answer
Answer: OWNED
22A: "43. Kind of car or game"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that reception room in an inn or club where visitors can be received
- Similar words include: sitting room, living room, front room
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer
Answer: PARLOR
23A: "45. Run at full speed"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the particular occupation for which you are trained
- Similar words include: vocation, calling, life history
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer
Answer: CAREER
24A: "47. Range of vision"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that range of what one can know or understand
- Similar words include: cognizance, sight
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer
Answer: KEN
25A: "48. Wall decoration"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a wall hanging of heavy handwoven fabric with pictorial designs
- Similar words include: tapestry
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: ARRAS
26A: "49. Deter from doing"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that turn away from by persuasion
- Similar words include: deter
- Opposite of: persuade
Click to reveal answer
Answer: DISSUADE
27A: "54. Go on a spree"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______________
Click to reveal answer
Answer: PAINTTHETOWNRED
28A: "57. Stolen goods"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that valuable goods
- Similar words include: dirty money, booty, prize
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: SWAG
29A: "58. Artifice"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a deceptive maneuver (especially to avoid capture)
- Similar words include: artifice
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: RUSE
30A: "59. Moved gradually"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that advance slowly, as if by inches
- Similar words include: inch, butt on, adjoin
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: EDGED
31A: "60. Other"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: ELSE
32A: "61. Long-billed bird"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that wading birds of warm regions having long slender down-curved bills
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: IBIS
33A: "62. Spacious"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an associate who shares a room with you
- Similar words include: roommate, roomie, spacious
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: ROOMY
Down Clues - Strategic Hints (43 clues)
1D: "1. "The Square Egg" author"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that british writer of short stories (1870-1916)
- Similar words include: H. H. Munro, rice beer, sake
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: SAKI
2D: "2. Ugandan exile"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: AMIN
3D: "3. Famed organist-composer"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that german baroque organist and contrapuntist; composed mostly keyboard music; one of the greatest creators of western music (1685-1750)
- Similar words include: Johann Sebastian Bach, bachelor
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: BACH
4D: "4. Comparable to"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a similar kind; ,
- Similar words include: ilk, care, alike
- Opposite of: dislike, unalike
Click to reveal answer
Answer: LIKE
5D: "5. Acclimates"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer
Answer: ENURES
6D: "6. Close friend"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a close friend who accompanies his buddies in their activities
- Similar words include: buddy, sidekick, pal
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: CRONY
7D: "7. Fuzz"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that fine ravellings of cotton or linen fibers
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: LINT
8D: "8. Western Amerind"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a member of the shoshonean people of utah and colorado and new mexico
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer
Answer: UTE
9D: "9. Kind of relief"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a soft silvery metallic element of the alkali earth group; found in barite
- Similar words include: BA, Bachelor of Arts, Ba
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer
Answer: BAS
10D: "10. Gives medical aid to"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that something considered choice to eat
- Similar words include: kickshaw, process, deal
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer
Answer: TREATS
11D: "11. Singer Della"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: REESE
12D: "12. Dawdled"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that run disconnected or idle
- Similar words include: stagnate, idle, slug
- Opposite of: run, work
Click to reveal answer
Answer: IDLED
13D: "13. Sphagnum, e.g."
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that tiny leafy-stemmed flowerless plants
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: MOSS
14D: "18. Animal's skin"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the dressed hairy coat of a mammal
- Similar words include: rain cats and dogs, pour, bombard
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: PELT
15D: "19. Succored"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that give help or assistance; be of service
- Similar words include: serve, aid, facilitate
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer
Answer: HELPED
16D: "23. Writer Pasternak"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: BORIS
17D: "24. Writer Ludwig"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: EMIL
18D: "25. Mummer's cover-up"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a covering to disguise or conceal the face
- Similar words include: dissemble, masquerade, cloak
- Opposite of: unmask
Click to reveal answer
Answer: MASK
19D: "26. A double-reed"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a slender double-reed instrument; a woodwind with a conical bore and a double-reed mouthpiece
- Similar words include: hautbois, hautboy
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: OBOE
20D: "27. Moist"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that wet with dew
- Similar words include: bedewed
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: DEWY
21D: "28. D.D.E.'s command"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer
Answer: ETO
22D: "29. Tied the knot again"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: REWED
23D: "31. Daisylike flower"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that any of various chiefly fall-blooming herbs of the genus aster with showy daisylike flowers
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: ASTER
24D: "32. Lockup"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a correctional institution used to detain persons who are in the lawful custody of the government (either accused persons awaiting trial or convicted persons serving a sentence)
- Similar words include: incarcerate, jailhouse, poky
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: JAIL
25D: "33. Lyricist Harbach"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: OTTO
26D: "34. North Sea feeder"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: YSER
27D: "36. Most recent"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
- Similar words include: newfangled, unexampled, novel
- Opposite of: worn, old
Click to reveal answer
Answer: NEWEST
28D: "37. Anglo-Saxon laborer"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: ESNE
29D: "38. Bruin great"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that canadian hockey player (born 1948)
- Similar words include: Robert Orr, Bobby Orr
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer
Answer: ORR
30D: "42. Mandarin or Temple"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that round yellow to orange fruit of any of several citrus trees
- Similar words include: orangish, Orange River, orange tree
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer
Answer: ORANGE
31D: "43. Jalapa coin"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the basic unit of money in uruguay; equal to 100 centesimos
- Similar words include: Uruguayan peso, Colombian peso, Guinea-Bissau peso
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: PESO
32D: "44. Rebuttal"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a statement (either spoken or written) that is made to reply to a question or request or criticism or accusation
- Similar words include: serve, reply, solution
- Opposite of: question
Click to reveal answer
Answer: ANSWER
33D: "45. Swimmer's stroke"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a very slow movement
- Similar words include: cringe, Australian crawl, cower
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: CRAWL
34D: "46. Costa Rican statesman"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an elaborate song for solo voice
- Similar words include: aria
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: ARIAS
35D: "47. Predatory birds"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a bank check that has been fraudulently altered to increase its face value
- Similar words include: kite, kit out, kit up
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: KITES
36D: "48. Cathedral's projection"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a domed or vaulted recess or projection on a building especially the east end of a church; usually contains the altar
- Similar words include: apsis
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: APSE
37D: "49. An Arnaz"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: DESI
38D: "50. Cause the ruin of"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that cancel, annul, or reverse an action or its effect
- Similar words include: loosen, unwrap, unmake
- Opposite of: wrap, make
Click to reveal answer
Answer: UNDO
39D: "51. Jason's ship"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that formerly a large constellation in the southern hemisphere between canis major and the southern cross; now divided into carina and pyxis and puppis and vela
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: ARGO
40D: "52. Consider"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that keep in mind or convey as a conviction or view
- Similar words include: take for, view as, hold
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: DEEM
41D: "53. Small whirlpool"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that founder of christian science in 1866 (1821-1910)
- Similar words include: purl, twist, whirl
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer
Answer: EDDY
42D: "55. Prefix with corn or pod"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer
Answer: TRI
43D: "56. Focal point"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the central part of a car wheel (or fan or propeller etc) through which the shaft or axle passes
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer
Answer: HUB
Puzzle Stats
33 Across
43 Down
76 Total
