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 (39 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. He's always hard to find | 5 |
| 2A | 6. State tree of Massachusetts and North Dakota | 3 |
| 3A | 9. Popular pub pastime | 5 |
| 4A | 14. Superman is one, notably | 5 |
| 5A | 15. "O Sole ___" | 3 |
| 6A | 16. Best effort | 5 |
| 7A | 17. Perfect | 5 |
| 8A | 18. Red flag for a mortgage applicant | 9 |
| 9A | 20. November 19, 1863 | 12 |
| 10A | 22. Things exchanged at an altar | 4 |
| 11A | 23. Univ. in Troy, N.Y. | 3 |
| 12A | 24. Includes in an email | 3 |
| 13A | 27. Sorcerer | 4 |
| 14A | 30. January 20, 1961 | 10 |
| 15A | 33. Lennon's mate ... and onetime bandmate | 3 |
| 16A | 34. Low-lying landform | 4 |
| 17A | 35. Filming location for the archaeological dig in "Raiders of the Lost Ark" | 6 |
| 18A | 36. Musical piece with repeated themes | 5 |
| 19A | 38. Delhi lentil stew | 3 |
| 20A | 40. Not one for company | 5 |
| 21A | 41. Worship, in a way | 6 |
| 22A | 43. Osso buco meat | 4 |
| 23A | 45. See | 3 |
| 24A | 46. August 28, 1963 | 10 |
| 25A | 48. Numbers that aren't entered on bowling scorecards | 4 |
| 26A | 49. Hit way up in the air, as a baseball | 3 |
| 27A | 50. "Li'l ol' me?!" | 3 |
| 28A | 51. Gossip | 4 |
| 29A | 53. Noun or verb ... or a description of 20-, 30-, or 46-Across? | 12 |
| 30A | 58. Engineering competition with two "battling" devices | 9 |
| 31A | 61. Round house | 5 |
| 32A | 62. Multiple-choice choices, maybe | 5 |
| 33A | 63. "Feliz ___ Novo!" | 3 |
| 34A | 64. "Rocky" actress Shire | 5 |
| 35A | 65. Walk-off inning, usually | 5 |
| 36A | 66. Ignited | 3 |
| 37A | 67. Big name in shapewear | 5 |
Across Clues - Strategic Hints
1A: "1. He's always hard to find"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: WALDO
Remember this word for future puzzles!
2A: "6. State tree of Massachusetts and North Dakota"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that any of various trees of the genus ulmus: important timber or shade trees
- Similar words include: elm tree, elmwood
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ELM
Remember this word for future puzzles!
3A: "9. Popular pub pastime"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a game in which small pointed missiles are thrown at a dartboard
- Similar words include: flash, dash, fleet
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DARTS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
4A: "14. Superman is one, notably"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a person who comes from a foreign country; someone who does not owe allegiance to your country
- Similar words include: exotic, alienate, extraterrestrial being
- Opposite of: acquaintance, citizen
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ALIEN
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5A: "15. "O Sole ___""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MIO
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6A: "16. Best effort"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AGAME
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7A: "17. Perfect"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the idea of something that is perfect; something that one hopes to attain
- Similar words include: idealistic, apotheosis, nonpareil
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: IDEAL
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8A: "18. Red flag for a mortgage applicant"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BADCREDIT
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9A: "20. November 19, 1863"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FOURSCOREAND
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10A: "22. Things exchanged at an altar"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an artificial language that is a revision and simplification of esperanto
- Similar words include: Ido
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: IDOS
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11A: "23. Univ. in Troy, N.Y."
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RPI
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12A: "24. Includes in an email"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a metric unit of volume equal to one thousandth of a liter
- Similar words include: cubic centimeter, milliliter, cubic centimetre
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CCS
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13A: "27. Sorcerer"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MAGE
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14A: "30. January 20, 1961"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ASKNOTWHAT
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15A: "33. Lennon's mate ... and onetime bandmate"
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
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16A: "34. Low-lying landform"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a narrow secluded valley (in the mountains)
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GLEN
Remember this word for future puzzles!
17A: "35. Filming location for the archaeological dig in "Raiders of the Lost Ark""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the world's largest desert (3,500,000 square miles) in northern africa
- Similar words include: Sahara Desert
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SAHARA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
18A: "36. Musical piece with repeated themes"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a musical form that is often the last movement of a sonata
- Similar words include: rondeau
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RONDO
Remember this word for future puzzles!
19A: "38. Delhi lentil stew"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a metric unit of volume or capacity equal to 10 liters
- Similar words include: dkl, dekalitre, decalitre
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DAL
Remember this word for future puzzles!
20A: "40. Not one for company"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a person who avoids the company or assistance of others
- Similar words include: lone hand, lone wolf
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LONER
Remember this word for future puzzles!
21A: "41. Worship, in a way"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PRAYTO
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22A: "43. Osso buco meat"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that meat from a calf
- Similar words include: veau
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: VEAL
Remember this word for future puzzles!
23A: "45. See"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a return on a shot that seemed impossible to reach and would normally have resulted in a point for the opponent
- Similar words include: capture, mother, receive
- Opposite of: leave, end
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GET
Remember this word for future puzzles!
24A: "46. August 28, 1963"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HAVEADREAM
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25A: "48. Numbers that aren't entered on bowling scorecards"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
- Similar words include: ten-spot, X, decade
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TENS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
26A: "49. Hit way up in the air, as a baseball"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
- Similar words include: flip, pitch, toss
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SKY
Remember this word for future puzzles!
27A: "50. "Li'l ol' me?!""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MOI
Remember this word for future puzzles!
28A: "51. Gossip"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a piece of dishware normally used as a container for holding or serving food
- Similar words include: dish up, looker, stunner
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DISH
Remember this word for future puzzles!
29A: "53. Noun or verb ... or a description of 20-, 30-, or 46-Across?"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PARTOFSPEECH
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30A: "58. Engineering competition with two "battling" devices"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ROBOTSUMO
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31A: "61. Round house"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an eskimo hut; usually built of blocks (of sod or snow) in the shape of a dome
- Similar words include: iglu
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: IGLOO
Remember this word for future puzzles!
32A: "62. Multiple-choice choices, maybe"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ABORC
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33A: "63. "Feliz ___ Novo!""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a palestinian international terrorist organization that split from the plo in 1974; has conducted terrorist attacks in 20 countries
- Similar words include: Fatah Revolutionary Council, Fatah-RC, Revolutionary Organization of Socialist Muslims
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ANO
Remember this word for future puzzles!
34A: "64. "Rocky" actress Shire"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TALIA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
35A: "65. Walk-off inning, usually"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that position nine in a countable series of things
- Similar words include: 9th, one-ninth
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NINTH
Remember this word for future puzzles!
36A: "66. Ignited"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the humanistic study of a body of literature
- Similar words include: light, illume, illuminated
- Opposite of: unlighted, extinguish
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LIT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
37A: "67. Big name in shapewear"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SPANX
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Down Clues - Complete List
| No. | Clue | Letters |
|---|---|---|
| 1D | 1. Dickens's Oliver Twist, for one | 4 |
| 2D | 2. Style magnate Gucci | 4 |
| 3D | 3. Stead | 4 |
| 4D | 4. "Honey" alternative | 6 |
| 5D | 5. Tripping, perhaps | 5 |
| 6D | 6. Decorated with a raised design | 8 |
| 7D | 7. One with a fake account? | 4 |
| 8D | 8. "The ___ Prometheus," Mary Shelley's subtitle to "Frankenstein" | 6 |
| 9D | 9. "Fiddlesticks!" | 9 |
| 10D | 10. Like many wines and cheeses | 4 |
| 11D | 11. "Far out" | 3 |
| 12D | 12. "Please, no more!" | 3 |
| 13D | 13. Fine just the way things are | 3 |
| 14D | 19. Pitch-altering clamps on guitars | 5 |
| 15D | 21. Steam engine need | 4 |
| 16D | 24. Nickels and dimes | 6 |
| 17D | 25. Veer this way and that | 6 |
| 18D | 26. Gets going | 6 |
| 19D | 27. Transforms (into) | 6 |
| 20D | 28. All-powerful avatar in "Ready Player One" | 6 |
| 21D | 29. College chant accompanying "Beat Army!" | 6 |
| 22D | 31. Rapscallion | 5 |
| 23D | 32. "Sorry, do I know them?" | 3 |
| 24D | 34. Question from one smoker to another | 9 |
| 25D | 37. Salon supply | 3 |
| 26D | 39. Speedy driver, slangily | 8 |
| 27D | 42. Locker room emanations | 5 |
| 28D | 44. Friends in Cannes | 4 |
| 29D | 47. Something you do every day, say | 6 |
| 30D | 48. Sister outlet to Banana Republic | 6 |
| 31D | 52. Rotisserie rods | 5 |
| 32D | 53. Word with wine or city | 4 |
| 33D | 54. All-encompassing prefix? | 4 |
| 34D | 55. 2004's "___ Enchanted" | 4 |
| 35D | 56. Nickel or dime | 4 |
| 36D | 57. Elaborate trick | 4 |
| 37D | 58. Sought a seat | 3 |
| 38D | 59. Japanese sash | 3 |
| 39D | 60. When doubled, a chocolaty treat | 3 |
Down Clues - Strategic Hints
1D: "1. Dickens's Oliver Twist, for one"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a homeless child especially one forsaken or orphaned
- Similar words include: street child
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: WAIF
Remember this word for future puzzles!
2D: "2. Style magnate Gucci"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ALDO
Remember this word for future puzzles!
3D: "3. Stead"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the post or function properly or customarily occupied or served by another
- Similar words include: stead, position, place
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LIEU
Remember this word for future puzzles!
4D: "4. "Honey" alternative"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a special loved one
- Similar words include: deary, ducky, favourite
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DEARIE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
5D: "5. Tripping, perhaps"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ONLSD
Remember this word for future puzzles!
6D: "6. Decorated with a raised design"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that raise in a relief
- Similar words include: boss, brocaded, stamp
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EMBOSSED
Remember this word for future puzzles!
7D: "7. One with a fake account?"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a person who has lied or who lies repeatedly
- Similar words include: prevaricator
- Opposite of: square shooter
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LIAR
Remember this word for future puzzles!
8D: "8. "The ___ Prometheus," Mary Shelley's subtitle to "Frankenstein""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a contemporary person
- Similar words include: Bodoni font, forward-looking, advanced
- Opposite of: nonmodern, old style
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MODERN
Remember this word for future puzzles!
9D: "9. "Fiddlesticks!""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DARNITALL
Remember this word for future puzzles!
10D: "10. Like many wines and cheeses"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that people who are old collectively
- Similar words include: get on, age, elderly
- Opposite of: young, rejuvenate
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AGED
Remember this word for future puzzles!
11D: "11. "Far out""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a unit of absorbed ionizing radiation equal to 100 ergs per gram of irradiated material
- Similar words include: radian
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RAD
Remember this word for future puzzles!
12D: "12. "Please, no more!""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TMI
Remember this word for future puzzles!
13D: "13. Fine just the way things are"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a group of things of the same kind that belong together and are so used
- Similar words include: lot, limit, localise
- Opposite of: rise
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SET
Remember this word for future puzzles!
14D: "19. Pitch-altering clamps on guitars"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the head of a branch of an organized crime syndicate
- Similar words include: capo
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CAPOS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
15D: "21. Steam engine need"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that fossil fuel consisting of carbonized vegetable matter deposited in the carboniferous period
- Similar words include: char, ember
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: COAL
Remember this word for future puzzles!
16D: "24. Nickels and dimes"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an event that occurs when something passes from one state or phase to another
- Similar words include: variety, interchange, convert
- Opposite of: stay
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CHANGE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
17D: "25. Veer this way and that"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that pitching dangerously to one side
- Similar words include: sway, lurch, rock
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CAREEN
Remember this word for future puzzles!
18D: "26. Gets going"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the beginning of anything
- Similar words include: bug out, showtime, originate
- Opposite of: end, finish
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: STARTS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
19D: "27. Transforms (into)"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that cause to change shape in a computer animation
- Similar words include: morph
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MORPHS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
20D: "28. All-powerful avatar in "Ready Player One""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a kind of heavy jacket (`windcheater' is a british term)
- Similar words include: parka, windbreaker, windcheater
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ANORAK
Remember this word for future puzzles!
21D: "29. College chant accompanying "Beat Army!""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GONAVY
Remember this word for future puzzles!
22D: "31. Rapscallion"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a deceitful and unreliable scoundrel
- Similar words include: varlet, rascal, rogue
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: KNAVE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
23D: "32. "Sorry, do I know them?""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a united nations agency to coordinate international health activities and to help governments improve health services
- Similar words include: World Health Organization
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: WHO
Remember this word for future puzzles!
24D: "34. Question from one smoker to another"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GOTAMATCH
Remember this word for future puzzles!
25D: "37. Salon supply"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a usually soluble substance for staining or coloring e.g. fabrics or hair
- Similar words include: dyestuff
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DYE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
26D: "39. Speedy driver, slangily"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LEADFOOT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
27D: "42. Locker room emanations"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that any property detected by the olfactory system
- Similar words include: olfactory sensation, olfactory perception, olfactory property
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ODORS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
28D: "44. Friends in Cannes"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AMIS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
29D: "47. Something you do every day, say"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that any customary observance or practice
- Similar words include: rite
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RITUAL
Remember this word for future puzzles!
30D: "48. Sister outlet to Banana Republic"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: THEGAP
Remember this word for future puzzles!
31D: "52. Rotisserie rods"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a narrow strip of land that juts out into the sea
- Similar words include: spit out, sprinkle, spitting
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SPITS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
32D: "53. Word with wine or city"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a place (seaport or airport) where people and merchandise can enter or leave a country
- Similar words include: porthole, port wine, interface
- Opposite of: starboard
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PORT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
33D: "54. All-encompassing prefix?"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OMNI
Remember this word for future puzzles!
34D: "55. 2004's "___ Enchanted""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ELLA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
35D: "56. Nickel or dime"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a flat metal piece (usually a disc) used as money
- Similar words include: strike, mint
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: COIN
Remember this word for future puzzles!
36D: "57. Elaborate trick"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that something intended to deceive; deliberate trickery intended to gain an advantage
- Similar words include: humbug, play a joke on, fraudulence
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HOAX
Remember this word for future puzzles!
37D: "58. Sought a seat"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
- Similar words include: take to the woods, operate, incline
- Opposite of: idle, malfunction
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RAN
Remember this word for future puzzles!
38D: "59. Japanese sash"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that (west indies) followers of a religious system involving witchcraft and sorcery
- Similar words include: obeah
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OBI
Remember this word for future puzzles!
39D: "60. When doubled, a chocolaty treat"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BON
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
37 Across Clues
39 Down Clues
76 Total Clues
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