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 (37 clues)
- Across Clues - Detailed Hints
- Down Clues Table (41 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. Don't believe it | 3 |
| 2A | 4. Soccer great Mia | 4 |
| 3A | 8. Prepared (for) | 6 |
| 4A | 14. Feature of a spy film | 8 |
| 5A | 16. Scalper's transaction | 6 |
| 6A | 17. Prairie bloom for which a creamery is named | 8 |
| 7A | 18. DC good guy | 6 |
| 8A | 19. They're found in a circle | 5 |
| 9A | 20. Dispensary inits. | 3 |
| 10A | 22. Late spring or early summer bloom | 5 |
| 11A | 23. Leave speechless | 3 |
| 12A | 24. Texter's "I can't even" | 3 |
| 13A | 26. In perpetuity | 4 |
| 14A | 28. Winter coat? | 3 |
| 15A | 29. Narrow margin of victory | 4 |
| 16A | 30. Lunchbox staple, informally | 3 |
| 17A | 33. All primes except 2 | 10 |
| 18A | 37. Country nearest to the Equator without touching it | 4 |
| 19A | 38. Hybridized, botanically ... or like four pairs of answers in this puzzle (and the circled letters they intersect on)? | 15 |
| 20A | 40. "Stop right there!" | 4 |
| 21A | 41. "Great Scott!" | 10 |
| 22A | 42. Bird adapted for silent flight | 3 |
| 23A | 43. Charging option | 4 |
| 24A | 44. Deciding periods, in brief | 3 |
| 25A | 45. Airdrops? | 4 |
| 26A | 46. [I'm a good boy!] | 3 |
| 27A | 47. Summer cooler | 3 |
| 28A | 50. Movement started by Tarana Burke in 2006 | 5 |
| 29A | 53. Dip | 3 |
| 30A | 55. Philosopher William of ___ | 5 |
| 31A | 57. Become part of a club | 6 |
| 32A | 59. ___ method (type of teaching) | 8 |
| 33A | 61. Bloom whose toxic nectar is one source of "mad honey" | 6 |
| 34A | 62. Flower found along a metaphorical path of ease | 8 |
| 35A | 63. A bad review might merit a rotten one | 6 |
| 36A | 64. Like some advice | 4 |
| 37A | 65. Manhattan liquor | 3 |
Across Clues - Strategic Hints
1A: "1. Don't believe it"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a statement that deviates from or perverts the truth
- Similar words include: prevarication, dwell, lie down
- Opposite of: stand, arise
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
2A: "4. Soccer great Mia"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
3A: "8. Prepared (for)"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that prepare (oneself) for something unpleasant or difficult
- Similar words include: stimulate, stabilize, stabilise
- Opposite of: sedate, de-energize
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
4A: "14. Feature of a spy film"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a crafty and involved plot to achieve your (usually sinister) ends
- Similar words include: scheme, machination, fascinate
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
5A: "16. Scalper's transaction"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the selling of something purchased
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
6A: "17. Prairie bloom for which a creamery is named"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that sometimes placed in genus scilla
- Similar words include: prairie gentian, Campanula rotundifolia, wood hyacinth
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
7A: "18. DC good guy"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an orderly assigned to serve a british military officer
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
8A: "19. They're found in a circle"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the length of a line segment between the center and circumference of a circle or sphere
- Similar words include: wheel spoke, radius, spoke
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
9A: "20. Dispensary inits."
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
10A: "22. Late spring or early summer bloom"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that any of numerous plants widely cultivated for their showy single or double red or pink or white flowers
- Similar words include: paeony
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
11A: "23. Leave speechless"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an overwhelming feeling of wonder or admiration
- Similar words include: fear, veneration, reverence
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
12A: "24. Texter's "I can't even""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
13A: "26. In perpetuity"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that at any time
- Similar words include: always, of all time, ever so
- Opposite of: never
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
14A: "28. Winter coat?"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that water frozen in the solid state
- Similar words include: meth, frappe, ice-skating rink
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
15A: "29. Narrow margin of victory"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss
- Similar words include: tomentum, pilus, hairsbreadth
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
16A: "30. Lunchbox staple, informally"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
17A: "33. All primes except 2"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
18A: "37. Country nearest to the Equator without touching it"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a republic in western south america; achieved independence from spain in 1821; was the heart of the inca empire from the 12th to 16th centuries
- Similar words include: Republic of Peru
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
19A: "38. Hybridized, botanically ... or like four pairs of answers in this puzzle (and the circled letters they intersect on)?"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
20A: "40. "Stop right there!""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the state of inactivity following an interruption
- Similar words include: stay, stanch, halting
- Opposite of: start
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
21A: "41. "Great Scott!""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
22A: "42. Bird adapted for silent flight"
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 Minerva, hooter, bird of night
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
23A: "43. Charging option"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an endorsement made in a passport that allows the bearer to enter the country issuing it
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
24A: "44. Deciding periods, in brief"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
25A: "45. Airdrops?"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a thin fog with condensation near the ground
- Similar words include: fog, obscure, mist over
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
26A: "46. [I'm a good boy!]"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
27A: "47. Summer cooler"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a sweetened beverage of diluted fruit juice
- Similar words include: fruit drink
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
28A: "50. Movement started by Tarana Burke in 2006"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
29A: "53. Dip"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a shape that sags
- Similar words include: sag down, flag, swag
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
30A: "55. Philosopher William of ___"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that english scholastic philosopher and assumed author of occam's razor (1285-1349)
- Similar words include: Ockham, William of Occam, William of Ockham
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
31A: "57. Become part of a club"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that register formally as a participant or member
- Similar words include: enter, enrol, recruit
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
32A: "59. ___ method (type of teaching)"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that of or relating to socrates or to his method of teaching
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
33A: "61. Bloom whose toxic nectar is one source of "mad honey""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that any of numerous ornamental shrubs grown for their showy flowers of various colors
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
34A: "62. Flower found along a metaphorical path of ease"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that any of numerous short-stemmed plants of the genus primula having tufted basal leaves and showy flowers clustered in umbels or heads
- Similar words include: primula
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
35A: "63. A bad review might merit a rotten one"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that mildly acid red or yellow pulpy fruit eaten as a vegetable
- Similar words include: love apple, tomato plant, Lycopersicon esculentum
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
36A: "64. Like some advice"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a mentor in spiritual and philosophical topics who is renowned for profound wisdom
- Similar words include: salvia, sage-green
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
37A: "65. Manhattan liquor"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the seed of the cereal grass
- Similar words include: Secale cereale, rye whiskey, rye whisky
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
Down Clues - Complete List
| No. | Clue | Letters |
|---|---|---|
| 1D | 1. First sign of fall | 5 |
| 2D | 2. Family tree addition | 5 |
| 3D | 3. One of 12 in a Pulitzer-winning piece by composer/pianist William Bolcom | 5 |
| 4D | 4. Blossom in a lei | 8 |
| 5D | 5. Period in history | 3 |
| 6D | 6. Bed cover | 5 |
| 7D | 7. Scary Spice, by another nickname | 4 |
| 8D | 8. Texter's "just a sec" | 3 |
| 9D | 9. Harvesting machine | 6 |
| 10D | 10. Cousin of edelweiss | 5 |
| 11D | 11. Pattern based on nature, for short | 4 |
| 12D | 12. Stylish flair | 4 |
| 13D | 13. Turn down | 4 |
| 14D | 15. King, in Portuguese | 3 |
| 15D | 21. First word from a wedding officiant | 6 |
| 16D | 25. Home of the Stax Museum of American Soul Music | 7 |
| 17D | 27. Alice, in Wonderland | 7 |
| 18D | 28. Part of M.I.T.: Abbr. | 4 |
| 19D | 29. Very, slangily | 5 |
| 20D | 30. Politician Buttigieg | 4 |
| 21D | 31. Partner of born | 4 |
| 22D | 32. Sport with throws | 4 |
| 23D | 33. Siete + uno | 4 |
| 24D | 34. Cry in a gunfight | 4 |
| 25D | 35. Cutie pie | 4 |
| 26D | 36. Gives a lift | 6 |
| 27D | 37. Besties | 4 |
| 28D | 39. "I'll pass" | 8 |
| 29D | 43. Flower found at the end of a rainbow? | 6 |
| 30D | 45. Cold, hard cash | 5 |
| 31D | 46. Ancient marketplace | 5 |
| 32D | 47. Company man? | 5 |
| 33D | 48. "Link" in a botanical chain | 5 |
| 34D | 49. Play the host | 5 |
| 35D | 50. Nitty-gritty | 4 |
| 36D | 51. Automaker Ferrari | 4 |
| 37D | 52. Airport transport | 4 |
| 38D | 54. Some vipers | 4 |
| 39D | 56. Viper, e.g. | 3 |
| 40D | 58. Language of Vientiane | 3 |
| 41D | 60. Smoke | 3 |
Down Clues - Strategic Hints
1D: "1. First sign of fall"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that (astrology) a person who is born while the sun is in libra
- Similar words include: Libra the Scales, Libra the Balance, Balance
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
2D: "2. Family tree addition"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
3D: "3. One of 12 in a Pulitzer-winning piece by composer/pianist William Bolcom"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a short composition for a solo instrument; intended as an exercise or to demonstrate technical virtuosity
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
4D: "4. Blossom in a lei"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that any plant of the genus hibiscus
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
5D: "5. Period in history"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that how long something has existed
- Similar words include: mature, historic period, maturate
- Opposite of: rejuvenate
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
6D: "6. Bed cover"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a protective covering of rotting vegetable matter spread to reduce evaporation and soil erosion
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
7D: "7. Scary Spice, by another nickname"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
8D: "8. Texter's "just a sec""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
9D: "9. Harvesting machine"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that someone who helps to gather the harvest
- Similar words include: harvester, Grim Reaper
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
10D: "10. Cousin of edelweiss"
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 (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
11D: "11. Pattern based on nature, for short"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that fabric dyed with splotches of green and brown and black and tan; intended to make the wearer of a garment made of this fabric hard to distinguish from the background
- Similar words include: camouflage
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
12D: "12. Stylish flair"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a feeling of strong eagerness (usually in favor of a person or cause)
- Similar words include: dash, flair, panache
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
13D: "13. Turn down"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that declare untrue; contradict
- Similar words include: traverse, refuse, abnegate
- Opposite of: admit, allow
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
14D: "15. King, in Portuguese"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
15D: "21. First word from a wedding officiant"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that in a sincere and heartfelt manner
- Similar words include: affectionately, dear, in a heartfelt way
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
16D: "25. Home of the Stax Museum of American Soul Music"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that largest city of tennessee; located in southwestern tennessee on bluffs overlooking the mississippi river
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
17D: "27. Alice, in Wonderland"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that someone who visits
- Similar words include: visitant
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
18D: "28. Part of M.I.T.: Abbr."
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that in or of the present month
- Similar words include: instant
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
19D: "29. Very, slangily"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
20D: "30. Politician Buttigieg"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
21D: "31. Partner of born"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that copulate with a female, used especially of horses
- Similar words include: engender, multiply, cover
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
22D: "32. Sport with throws"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a sport adapted from jujitsu (using principles of not resisting) and similar to wrestling; developed in japan
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
23D: "33. Siete + uno"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
24D: "34. Cry in a gunfight"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a gully that is shallower than a ravine
- Similar words include: drawing card, tie, delineate
- Opposite of: push, deposit
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
25D: "35. Cutie pie"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a small replica of a person; used as a toy
- Similar words include: chick, bird, skirt
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
26D: "36. Gives a lift"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the act of giving hope or support to someone
- Similar words include: cost increase, boost, hike up
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
27D: "37. Besties"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a close friend who accompanies his buddies in their activities
- Similar words include: pal, brother, chum
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
28D: "39. "I'll pass""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
29D: "43. Flower found at the end of a rainbow?"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that any of numerous low-growing violas with small flowers
- Similar words include: purplish, reddish blue, purple
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
30D: "45. Cold, hard cash"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
31D: "46. Ancient marketplace"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that 100 agorot equal 1 shekel in israel
- Similar words include: public square
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
32D: "47. Company man?"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a theatrical performer
- Similar words include: doer, thespian, role player
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
33D: "48. "Link" in a botanical chain"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that any of numerous composite plants having flower heads with well-developed ray flowers usually arranged in a single whorl
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
34D: "49. Play the host"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a person who acts as host at formal occasions (makes an introductory speech and introduces other speakers)
- Similar words include: host, compere, master of ceremonies
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
35D: "50. Nitty-gritty"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the flesh of animals (including fishes and birds and snails) used as food
- Similar words include: gist, center, sum
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
36D: "51. Automaker Ferrari"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
37D: "52. Airport transport"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a conveyance that transports passengers or freight in carriers suspended from cables and supported by a series of towers
- Similar words include: trolley car, tramway, aerial tramway
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
38D: "54. Some vipers"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that of southern europe; similar to but smaller than the adder
- Similar words include: asp viper, Naja haje, Vipera aspis
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
39D: "56. Viper, e.g."
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine
- Similar words include: railcar, railway car, auto
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
40D: "58. Language of Vientiane"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a member of a buddhist people inhabiting the area of the mekong river in laos and thailand and speaking the lao language; related to the thais
- Similar words include: Laotian
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Remember this word for future puzzles!
41D: "60. Smoke"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
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
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