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 (36 clues)
- Across Clues - Detailed Hints
- Down Clues Table (38 clues)
- Down Clues - Detailed Hints
- Expert Solving Strategies
- Today's Puzzle Statistics
Today's Puzzle Difficulty: Tricky
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. Insolence | 4 |
| 2A | 5. Scott ___, author of "Island of the Blue Dolphins" | 5 |
| 3A | 10. Be in need of ibuprofen, say | 4 |
| 4A | 14. Word with cap or socks | 4 |
| 5A | 15. Diet that eschews processed food | 5 |
| 6A | 16. In a minute | 4 |
| 7A | 17. With 58-Across, dad-joke response to the answers for each of this puzzle's starred clues | 10 |
| 8A | 19. Massage gun target | 4 |
| 9A | 20. Wyoming mountain range | 6 |
| 10A | 21. "Out with ya now!" | 3 |
| 11A | 23. Tax pro | 3 |
| 12A | 24. Primer mes del año | 5 |
| 13A | 25. *Essential oil with a musky scent | 9 |
| 14A | 28. Myrmecology subject | 3 |
| 15A | 29. Bonfire remains | 3 |
| 16A | 30. Concerning hearing | 5 |
| 17A | 31. *Home of the lowest town-level ZIP code in the continental U.S. (01001) | 13 |
| 18A | 36. Ruminant's mouthful | 3 |
| 19A | 37. Secondary social media account | 3 |
| 20A | 38. *"Until next time!" | 13 |
| 21A | 45. United | 5 |
| 22A | 47. Preposition in "The Star-Spangled Banner" | 3 |
| 23A | 48. Palindromic kitchen brand | 3 |
| 24A | 49. *Academy Award, e.g. | 9 |
| 25A | 51. ___ Taco (ice cream treat) | 5 |
| 26A | 53. The "S" of macOS: Abbr. | 3 |
| 27A | 54. Beam | 3 |
| 28A | 55. Bubble tea bubbles | 6 |
| 29A | 56. Some first responders, for short | 4 |
| 30A | 58. See 17-Across | 10 |
| 31A | 61. Director Johnson of the "Knives Out" movies | 4 |
| 32A | 62. Once more | 5 |
| 33A | 63. Spot to huddle under during a rainstorm | 4 |
| 34A | 64. Rat (on) | 4 |
| 35A | 65. Packs (down), as tobacco in a pipe | 5 |
| 36A | 66. Iditarod conveyance | 4 |
Across Clues - Strategic Hints
1A: "1. Insolence"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an impudent or insolent rejoinder
- Similar words include: sassing, back talk, mouth
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SASS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
2A: "5. Scott ___, author of "Island of the Blue Dolphins""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ODELL
Remember this word for future puzzles!
3A: "10. Be in need of ibuprofen, say"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a dull persistent (usually moderately intense) pain
- Similar words include: suffer, smart, aching
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ACHE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
4A: "14. Word with cap or socks"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella
- Similar words include: knee joint, stifle, articulatio genus
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: KNEE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
5A: "15. Diet that eschews processed food"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PALEO
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6A: "16. In a minute"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that in the near future
- Similar words include: presently, shortly, before long
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SOON
Remember this word for future puzzles!
7A: "17. With 58-Across, dad-joke response to the answers for each of this puzzle's starred clues"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ITSNOTHING
Remember this word for future puzzles!
8A: "19. Massage gun target"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a tight cluster of people or things
- Similar words include: nautical mile, naut mi, mi
- Opposite of: unknot, unravel
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: KNOT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
9A: "20. Wyoming mountain range"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a member of the large western branch of sioux people which was made up of several groups that lived on the plains
- Similar words include: Teton, Teton Dakota, Teton Sioux
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TETONS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
10A: "21. "Out with ya now!""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a person who is deemed to be despicable or contemptible
- Similar words include: lowlife, dirty dog, rat
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GIT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
11A: "23. Tax pro"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an accountant who has passed certain examinations and met all other statutory and licensing requirements of a united states state to be certified by that state
- Similar words include: certified public accountant
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CPA
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12A: "24. Primer mes del año"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ENERO
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13A: "25. *Essential oil with a musky scent"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that small east indian shrubby mint; fragrant oil from its leaves is used in perfumes
- Similar words include: pachouli, Pogostemon cablin, patchouly
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PATCHOULI
Remember this word for future puzzles!
14A: "28. Myrmecology subject"
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!
15A: "29. Bonfire remains"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the residue that remains when something is burned
- Similar words include: ash tree
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ASH
Remember this word for future puzzles!
16A: "30. Concerning hearing"
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!
17A: "31. *Home of the lowest town-level ZIP code in the continental U.S. (01001)"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a state in new england; one of the original 13 colonies
- Similar words include: Old Colony, Massachuset, MA
- Pattern: _____________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MASSACHUSETTS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
18A: "36. Ruminant's mouthful"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that food of a ruminant regurgitated to be chewed again
- Similar words include: chew, chaw, plug
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CUD
Remember this word for future puzzles!
19A: "37. Secondary social media account"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that angular distance above the horizon (especially of a celestial object)
- Similar words include: altitude, EL, elevation
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ALT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
20A: "38. *"Until next time!""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CATCHYOULATER
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21A: "45. United"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ASONE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
22A: "47. Preposition in "The Star-Spangled Banner""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OER
Remember this word for future puzzles!
23A: "48. Palindromic kitchen brand"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OXO
Remember this word for future puzzles!
24A: "49. *Academy Award, e.g."
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a small carved or molded figure
- Similar words include: figurine
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: STATUETTE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
25A: "51. ___ Taco (ice cream treat)"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CHOCO
Remember this word for future puzzles!
26A: "53. The "S" of macOS: Abbr."
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SYS
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27A: "54. Beam"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a column of light (as from a beacon)
- Similar words include: beam, electron beam, ray of light
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RAY
Remember this word for future puzzles!
28A: "55. Bubble tea bubbles"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a smooth lustrous round structure inside the shell of a clam or oyster; much valued as a jewel
- Similar words include: bead, ivory, drop
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PEARLS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
29A: "56. Some first responders, for short"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EMTS
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30A: "58. See 17-Across"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TOSNEEZEAT
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31A: "61. Director Johnson of the "Knives Out" movies"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RIAN
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32A: "62. Once more"
Solving Hints:
- Similar words include: over again, once again, once more
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AGAIN
Remember this word for future puzzles!
33A: "63. Spot to huddle under during a rainstorm"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EAVE
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34A: "64. Rat (on)"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a swiss patriot who lived in the early 14th century and who was renowned for his skill as an archer; according to legend an austrian governor compelled him to shoot an apple from his son's head with his crossbow (which he did successfully without mishap)
- Similar words include: recount, state, differentiate
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TELL
Remember this word for future puzzles!
35A: "65. Packs (down), as tobacco in a pipe"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a tool for tamping (e.g., for tamping tobacco into a pipe bowl or a charge into a drill hole etc.)
- Similar words include: tamp down, pack, tamper
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TAMPS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
36A: "66. Iditarod conveyance"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a vehicle mounted on runners and pulled by horses or dogs; for transportation over snow
- Similar words include: sledge, sleigh
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SLED
Remember this word for future puzzles!
Down Clues - Complete List
| No. | Clue | Letters |
|---|---|---|
| 1D | 1. Sporting group at a cold-weather school | 7 |
| 2D | 2. Insect's feeler | 7 |
| 3D | 3. Six-line poems | 7 |
| 4D | 4. Honorific for many Spanish teachers | 5 |
| 5D | 5. Finishes deliberating | 4 |
| 6D | 6. "Well, lah-di-___!" | 3 |
| 7D | 7. Name that's an anagram of an untruth | 3 |
| 8D | 8. Units in horse racing | 7 |
| 9D | 9. Skill needed to solve a sudoku puzzle | 5 |
| 10D | 10. Query | 3 |
| 11D | 11. Plays the yes-man | 7 |
| 12D | 12. Muss and fuss | 6 |
| 13D | 13. Involve | 6 |
| 14D | 18. 1969 "bed-in" participant | 3 |
| 15D | 22. "___ be the day!" | 6 |
| 16D | 25. Expression of disgust that sounds like a family member | 3 |
| 17D | 26. Sun Devils' sch. | 3 |
| 18D | 27. "Straight ___ Compton" (1989 N.W.A album) | 5 |
| 19D | 32. Triflingly little | 5 |
| 20D | 33. Artistic visionary | 6 |
| 21D | 34. Org. mentioned in many zombie movies | 3 |
| 22D | 35. Evian, Perrier or Badoit | 3 |
| 23D | 38. Along a gulf, say | 7 |
| 24D | 39. Sweaty stretching session | 7 |
| 25D | 40. Up to this point | 3 |
| 26D | 41. Mined find | 3 |
| 27D | 42. "Oof, painfully true" | 7 |
| 28D | 43. Part of a country located entirely within another country | 7 |
| 29D | 44. Landed for the night | 7 |
| 30D | 45. Claim to be true | 6 |
| 31D | 46. Hinder | 6 |
| 32D | 50. Bother, as one's conscience | 5 |
| 33D | 51. Letter that can take a cedilla | 3 |
| 34D | 52. Puts through a harsh initiation | 5 |
| 35D | 55. Items sometimes chained to a desk | 4 |
| 36D | 57. Its alums include Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, in brief | 3 |
| 37D | 59. Rock singer ___ Fender | 3 |
| 38D | 60. Alcoholic equivalent of a fun-size candy bar | 3 |
Down Clues - Strategic Hints
1D: "1. Sporting group at a cold-weather school"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SKITEAM
Remember this word for future puzzles!
2D: "2. Insect's feeler"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an electrical device that sends or receives radio or television signals
- Similar words include: transmitting aerial, feeler, aerial
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ANTENNA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
3D: "3. Six-line poems"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one
- Similar words include: sextette, VI, sixer
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SESTETS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
4D: "4. Honorific for many Spanish teachers"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a spanish title or form of address for a man; similar to the english `mr' or `sir'
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SENOR
Remember this word for future puzzles!
5D: "5. Finishes deliberating"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that select as an alternative over another
- Similar words include: prefer, opt, choose
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OPTS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
6D: "6. "Well, lah-di-___!""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the longer of the two telegraphic signals used in morse code
- Similar words include: dash
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DAH
Remember this word for future puzzles!
7D: "7. Name that's an anagram of an untruth"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ELI
Remember this word for future puzzles!
8D: "8. Units in horse racing"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place
- Similar words include: duration, distance, length
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LENGTHS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
9D: "9. Skill needed to solve a sudoku puzzle"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the branch of philosophy that analyzes inference
- Similar words include: logical system, system of logic
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LOGIC
Remember this word for future puzzles!
10D: "10. Query"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that inquire about
- Similar words include: expect, need, take
- Opposite of: obviate
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ASK
Remember this word for future puzzles!
11D: "11. Plays the yes-man"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that be in accord; be in agreement
- Similar words include: agree, hold, concur
- Opposite of: disagree
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CONCURS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
12D: "12. Muss and fuss"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that blatant or sensational promotion
- Similar words include: ballyhoo, plug, hype
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HOOPLA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
13D: "13. Involve"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that land received by fee tail
- Similar words include: imply, mean, fee-tail
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ENTAIL
Remember this word for future puzzles!
14D: "18. 1969 "bed-in" participant"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that united states musician (born in japan) who married john lennon and collaborated with him on recordings (born in 1933)
- Similar words include: Yoko Ono
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ONO
Remember this word for future puzzles!
15D: "22. "___ be the day!""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: THATLL
Remember this word for future puzzles!
16D: "25. Expression of disgust that sounds like a family member"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PAH
Remember this word for future puzzles!
17D: "26. Sun Devils' sch."
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ASU
Remember this word for future puzzles!
18D: "27. "Straight ___ Compton" (1989 N.W.A album)"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OUTTA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
19D: "32. Triflingly little"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that work hastily or carelessly; deal with inadequately and superficially
- Similar words include: short, stint, light
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SCANT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
20D: "33. Artistic visionary"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a filmmaker who has a personal style and keeps creative control over his or her works
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AUTEUR
Remember this word for future puzzles!
21D: "34. Org. mentioned in many zombie movies"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a federal agency in the department of health and human services; located in atlanta; investigates and diagnoses and tries to control or prevent diseases (especially new and unusual diseases)
- Similar words include: Center for Disease Control and Prevention
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CDC
Remember this word for future puzzles!
22D: "35. Evian, Perrier or Badoit"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EAU
Remember this word for future puzzles!
23D: "38. Along a gulf, say"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that of or relating to a coast
- Opposite of: inland
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: COASTAL
Remember this word for future puzzles!
24D: "39. Sweaty stretching session"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HOTYOGA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
25D: "40. Up to this point"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that up to the present time
- Similar words include: til now, in time, so far
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: YET
Remember this word for future puzzles!
26D: "41. Mined find"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a mineral that contains metal that is valuable enough to be mined
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ORE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
27D: "42. "Oof, painfully true""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TOOREAL
Remember this word for future puzzles!
28D: "43. Part of a country located entirely within another country"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EXCLAVE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
29D: "44. Landed for the night"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that sit, as on a branch
- Similar words include: roost, rest, perch
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ROOSTED
Remember this word for future puzzles!
30D: "45. Claim to be true"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that state categorically
- Similar words include: swan, asseverate, avow
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ASSERT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
31D: "46. Hinder"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a situation in golf where an opponent's ball blocks the line between your ball and the hole
- Similar words include: embarrass, hinder, obstruct
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: STYMIE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
32D: "50. Bother, as one's conscience"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EATAT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
33D: "51. Letter that can take a cedilla"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CEE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
34D: "52. Puts through a harsh initiation"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that atmospheric moisture or dust or smoke that causes reduced visibility
- Similar words include: haze, daze, fog
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HAZES
Remember this word for future puzzles!
35D: "55. Items sometimes chained to a desk"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a writing implement with a point from which ink flows
- Similar words include: penitentiary, playpen, pen
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PENS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
36D: "57. Its alums include Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, in brief"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SNL
Remember this word for future puzzles!
37D: "59. Rock singer ___ Fender"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a guided missile fired from land or shipboard against an airborne target
- Similar words include: surface-to-air missile
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SAM
Remember this word for future puzzles!
38D: "60. Alcoholic equivalent of a fun-size candy bar"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a small drink of liquor
- Similar words include: shot, flavour, tanginess
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NIP
Remember this word for future puzzles!
Expert Solving Strategies
Start Smart
Begin with fill-in-the-blank clues and short 3-4 letter words. These are your foundation.
Decode the Clues
Question marks indicate wordplay or puns. "Maybe" suggests multiple interpretations.
Use Cross-References
Let intersecting letters guide you. One correct answer unlocks several others.
Build Vocabulary
Common crossword words repeat. Learning them speeds up future solving.
Today's Puzzle Stats
36 Across Clues
38 Down Clues
74 Total Clues
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