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 (34 clues)
- Across Clues - Detailed Hints
- Down Clues Table (42 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. "Fancy seeing you here!" | 4 |
| 2A | 5. Wishy-washy words | 4 |
| 3A | 9. Utah ski resort | 4 |
| 4A | 13. Lowly sorts | 5 |
| 5A | 15. Online "Yay!" | 4 |
| 6A | 16. Pixar franchise in which buses and taxis exist, despite serving seemingly no purpose | 4 |
| 7A | 17. Lament while dealing with "kids these days" | 15 |
| 8A | 20. Fish in a negitoro roll | 4 |
| 9A | 21. Where "music and passion were always the fashion," in a Barry Manilow hit | 7 |
| 10A | 22. 1990s feminist movement rooted in punk rock | 9 |
| 11A | 26. ___ Rae Jepsen ("Call Me Maybe" singer) | 5 |
| 12A | 27. "___ be my pleasure" | 3 |
| 13A | 28. Playroom pile | 4 |
| 14A | 30. "Capisce?" | 3 |
| 15A | 31. Thai noodle dish | 8 |
| 16A | 35. Contents of la Seine | 3 |
| 17A | 37. Subtle acknowledgments | 7 |
| 18A | 38. Disease for which China's Tu Youyou discovered a lifesaving treatment, earning her a Nobel Prize | 7 |
| 19A | 42. "Knives Out" co-star ___ de Armas | 3 |
| 20A | 43. Research institute where radio astronomy began | 8 |
| 21A | 44. Compound in a joint | 3 |
| 22A | 46. Polite term of address | 4 |
| 23A | 48. Workout unit, for short | 3 |
| 24A | 49. "Hang loose" sign | 5 |
| 25A | 51. Where to find queens and kings | 9 |
| 26A | 55. As, in chemistry | 7 |
| 27A | 57. Literary character who hopes to get whale soon? | 4 |
| 28A | 58. Physical copy, colloquially | 15 |
| 29A | 63. "Othello" villain | 4 |
| 30A | 64. Rustic verse | 4 |
| 31A | 65. Linda of the band 4 Non Blondes | 5 |
| 32A | 66. ___ mess (traditional English dessert) | 4 |
| 33A | 67. Pursue | 4 |
| 34A | 68. Event captured in the photograph "Into the Jaws of Death" | 4 |
Across Clues - Strategic Hints
1A: "1. "Fancy seeing you here!""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OHHI
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2A: "5. Wishy-washy words"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ORSO
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3A: "9. Utah ski resort"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ALTA
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4A: "13. Lowly sorts"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a laborer who is obliged to do menial work
- Similar words include: navvy, galley slave, peon
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PEONS
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5A: "15. Online "Yay!""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: WOOT
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6A: "16. Pixar franchise in which buses and taxis exist, despite serving seemingly no purpose"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine
- Similar words include: railcar, automobile, elevator car
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CARS
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7A: "17. Lament while dealing with "kids these days""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: IMTOOOLDFORTHIS
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8A: "20. Fish in a negitoro roll"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that tropical american prickly pear of jamaica
- Similar words include: Opuntia tuna, tunny, tuna fish
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TUNA
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9A: "21. Where "music and passion were always the fashion," in a Barry Manilow hit"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: THECOPA
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10A: "22. 1990s feminist movement rooted in punk rock"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RIOTGRRRL
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11A: "26. ___ Rae Jepsen ("Call Me Maybe" singer)"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CARLY
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12A: "27. "___ be my pleasure""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ITD
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13A: "28. Playroom pile"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an artifact designed to be played with
- Similar words include: play, dally, fiddle
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TOYS
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14A: "30. "Capisce?""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the seat within a bishop's diocese where his cathedral is located
- Similar words include: figure, escort, get a line
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SEE
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15A: "31. Thai noodle dish"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PADSEEEW
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16A: "35. Contents of la Seine"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EAU
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17A: "37. Subtle acknowledgments"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SLYNODS
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18A: "38. Disease for which China's Tu Youyou discovered a lifesaving treatment, earning her a Nobel Prize"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an infective disease caused by sporozoan parasites that are transmitted through the bite of an infected anopheles mosquito; marked by paroxysms of chills and fever
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MALARIA
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19A: "42. "Knives Out" co-star ___ de Armas"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that mother of the ancient irish gods; sometimes identified with danu
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ANA
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20A: "43. Research institute where radio astronomy began"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BELLLABS
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21A: "44. Compound in a joint"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that psychoactive substance present in marijuana
- Similar words include: tetrahydrocannabinol
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: THC
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22A: "46. Polite term of address"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MAAM
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23A: "48. Workout unit, for short"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that informal abbreviation of `representative'
- Similar words include: repp
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: REP
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24A: "49. "Hang loose" sign"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SHAKA
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25A: "51. Where to find queens and kings"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CHESSSETS
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26A: "55. As, in chemistry"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a white powdered poisonous trioxide of arsenic; used in manufacturing glass and as a pesticide (rat poison) and weed killer
- Similar words include: arsenous anhydride, white arsenic, arsenous oxide
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ARSENIC
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27A: "57. Literary character who hopes to get whale soon?"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that according to the old testament he was a pagan king of israel and husband of jezebel (9th century bc)
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AHAB
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28A: "58. Physical copy, colloquially"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DEADTREEEDITION
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29A: "63. "Othello" villain"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the villain in william shakespeare's tragedy who tricked othello into murdering his wife
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: IAGO
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30A: "64. Rustic verse"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a musical composition that evokes rural life
- Similar words include: eclogue, bucolic, pastorale
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: IDYL
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31A: "65. Linda of the band 4 Non Blondes"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that united states philosopher (1876-1957)
- Similar words include: Oliver Hazard Perry, Ralph Barton Perry, Commodore Perry
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PERRY
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32A: "66. ___ mess (traditional English dessert)"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ETON
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33A: "67. Pursue"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the movement of a read/write head to a specific data track on a disk
- Similar words include: search, essay, try
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SEEK
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34A: "68. Event captured in the photograph "Into the Jaws of Death""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DDAY
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Down Clues - Complete List
| No. | Clue | Letters |
|---|---|---|
| 1D | 1. Big name in nail polish | 3 |
| 2D | 2. Skirt's edge | 3 |
| 3D | 3. "Southern cough syrup" | 8 |
| 4D | 4. Two-way, as a door | 5 |
| 5D | 5. Bird with "barn" and "barred" varieties | 3 |
| 6D | 6. Angler's stick | 3 |
| 7D | 7. On little cat feet, say | 6 |
| 8D | 8. "Then again ...," to a texter | 4 |
| 9D | 9. "Don't look suspicious!" | 9 |
| 10D | 10. Punjabi metropolis | 6 |
| 11D | 11. With 44-Down, many an EGOT contender ... or what's spelled out by this puzzle's shaded squares? | 6 |
| 12D | 12. Give a makeup test? | 5 |
| 13D | 14. Dynasty after the Tang | 4 |
| 14D | 18. Raft turner | 3 |
| 15D | 19. Suggestion, informally | 3 |
| 16D | 22. Tears | 4 |
| 17D | 23. Tilted type: Abbr. | 4 |
| 18D | 24. Blvds. and rds. | 4 |
| 19D | 25. Use an 18-Down | 3 |
| 20D | 29. Animal whose crabeater variety does not, in fact, eat crabs | 4 |
| 21D | 32. Enjoyed, as finger food | 9 |
| 22D | 33. Forever and a day | 3 |
| 23D | 34. Cheese in the Czech dish smažený sýr | 4 |
| 24D | 36. Without exception | 3 |
| 25D | 38. Product of the internet that might be "dank" or "deep-fried" | 4 |
| 26D | 39. Odd duck, aptly | 8 |
| 27D | 40. "Yeah, right!" | 4 |
| 28D | 41. Nile biters | 4 |
| 29D | 43. "Pshaw!" | 3 |
| 30D | 44. See 11-Down | 6 |
| 31D | 45. Tries | 6 |
| 32D | 47. Submit | 6 |
| 33D | 49. Actress Sink of "Stranger Things" | 5 |
| 34D | 50. Insect that has reportedly passed the "mirror test" of self-recognition | 3 |
| 35D | 52. Down in the dumps | 3 |
| 36D | 53. Pequod, e.g. | 4 |
| 37D | 54. Overfilled | 5 |
| 38D | 56. Colored part of the 59-Down | 4 |
| 39D | 59. See 56-Down | 3 |
| 40D | 60. Wanderer in a forest | 3 |
| 41D | 61. Singer Rita | 3 |
| 42D | 62. M.L.B. team for "Mr. October" and "Mr. November" | 3 |
Down Clues - Strategic Hints
1D: "1. Big name in nail polish"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OPI
Remember this word for future puzzles!
2D: "2. Skirt's edge"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the edge of a piece of cloth; especially the finished edge that has been doubled under and stitched down
- Similar words include: ahem
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HEM
Remember this word for future puzzles!
3D: "3. "Southern cough syrup""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HOTTODDY
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4D: "4. Two-way, as a door"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: INOUT
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5D: "5. Bird with "barn" and "barred" varieties"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that nocturnal bird of prey with hawk-like beak and claws and large head with front-facing eyes
- Similar words include: bird of night, hooter, bird of Minerva
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OWL
Remember this word for future puzzles!
6D: "6. Angler's stick"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a long thin implement made of metal or wood
- Similar words include: perch, gat, retinal rod
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ROD
Remember this word for future puzzles!
7D: "7. On little cat feet, say"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that with low volume
- Similar words include: gently, lightly, piano
- Opposite of: forte, loudly
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SOFTLY
Remember this word for future puzzles!
8D: "8. "Then again ...," to a texter"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OTOH
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9D: "9. "Don't look suspicious!""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ACTCASUAL
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10D: "10. Punjabi metropolis"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that city in northeast pakistan
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LAHORE
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11D: "11. With 44-Down, many an EGOT contender ... or what's spelled out by this puzzle's shaded squares?"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a base hit at which the batter stops safely at third base
- Similar words include: triad, three-base hit, treble
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TRIPLE
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12D: "12. Give a makeup test?"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an appraisal of the state of affairs
- Similar words include: seek, essay, check
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ASSAY
Remember this word for future puzzles!
13D: "14. Dynasty after the Tang"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a short musical composition with words
- Similar words include: strain, birdcall, birdsong
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SONG
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14D: "18. Raft turner"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an implement used to propel or steer a boat
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OAR
Remember this word for future puzzles!
15D: "19. Suggestion, informally"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: REC
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16D: "22. Tears"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a dissolute man in fashionable society
- Similar words include: rip, split, roue
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RIPS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
17D: "23. Tilted type: Abbr."
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ITAL
Remember this word for future puzzles!
18D: "24. Blvds. and rds."
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RTES
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19D: "25. Use an 18-Down"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an arrangement of objects or people side by side in a line
- Similar words include: rowing, course, quarrel
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ROW
Remember this word for future puzzles!
20D: "29. Animal whose crabeater variety does not, in fact, eat crabs"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that fastener consisting of a resinous composition that is plastic when warm; used for sealing documents and parcels and letters
- Similar words include: cachet, seal of approval, varnish
- Opposite of: unseal
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SEAL
Remember this word for future puzzles!
21D: "32. Enjoyed, as finger food"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SNACKEDON
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22D: "33. Forever and a day"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the longest division of geological time
- Similar words include: aeon
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EON
Remember this word for future puzzles!
23D: "34. Cheese in the Czech dish smažený sýr"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that mild yellow dutch cheese made in balls encased in a red covering
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EDAM
Remember this word for future puzzles!
24D: "36. Without exception"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that quantifier; used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
- Similar words include: wholly, completely, whole
- Opposite of: partly, some
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ALL
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25D: "38. Product of the internet that might be "dank" or "deep-fried""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a cultural unit (an idea or value or pattern of behavior) that is passed from one person to another by non-genetic means (as by imitation)
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MEME
Remember this word for future puzzles!
26D: "39. Odd duck, aptly"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RAREBIRD
Remember this word for future puzzles!
27D: "40. "Yeah, right!""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: IBET
Remember this word for future puzzles!
28D: "41. Nile biters"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that of southern europe; similar to but smaller than the adder
- Similar words include: Egyptian cobra, Vipera aspis, asp
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ASPS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
29D: "43. "Pshaw!""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BAH
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30D: "44. See 11-Down"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that something that is a source of danger
- Similar words include: scourge, menace, terror
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: THREAT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
31D: "45. Tries"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HASAGO
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32D: "47. Submit"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that yield to another's wish or opinion
- Similar words include: enter, defer, assent
- Opposite of: dissent
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ACCEDE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
33D: "49. Actress Sink of "Stranger Things""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SADIE
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34D: "50. Insect that has reportedly passed the "mirror test" of self-recognition"
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: pismire, emmet
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ANT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
35D: "52. Down in the dumps"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that experiencing or showing sorrow or unhappiness; ; - christina rossetti
- Similar words include: deplorable, pitiful, sorry
- Opposite of: glad
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SAD
Remember this word for future puzzles!
36D: "53. Pequod, e.g."
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a vessel that carries passengers or freight
- Similar words include: send, transport, embark
- Opposite of: disembark
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SHIP
Remember this word for future puzzles!
37D: "54. Overfilled"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that fill to satisfaction
- Similar words include: satiate, sate, replete
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SATED
Remember this word for future puzzles!
38D: "56. Colored part of the 59-Down"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that plants with sword-shaped leaves and erect stalks bearing bright-colored flowers composed of three petals and three drooping sepals
- Similar words include: iris diaphragm, sword lily, fleur-de-lis
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: IRIS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
39D: "59. See 56-Down"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the organ of sight
- Similar words include: centre, oculus, center
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EYE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
40D: "60. Wanderer in a forest"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that large northern deer with enormous flattened antlers in the male; called `elk' in europe and `moose' in north america
- Similar words include: Alces alces, American elk, European elk
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ELK
Remember this word for future puzzles!
41D: "61. Singer Rita"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a mouth or mouthlike opening
- Similar words include: atomic number 76, bone, osmium
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ORA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
42D: "62. M.L.B. team for "Mr. October" and "Mr. November""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NYY
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
34 Across Clues
42 Down Clues
76 Total Clues
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