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 (35 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: Moderate
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. Safe place to stand on a diamond | 4 |
| 2A | 5. Bout rout | 4 |
| 3A | 9. Chatted via Teams, say | 4 |
| 4A | 13. Tail-less cat breed | 4 |
| 5A | 14. Still single | 5 |
| 6A | 15. Defense grp. since 1949 | 4 |
| 7A | 16. "Been a while! Any updates?" | 15 |
| 8A | 19. Take giant steps | 6 |
| 9A | 20. "Oof, that's rough" | 6 |
| 10A | 21. Locale for a lab rat | 4 |
| 11A | 22. Board game set in a mansion | 4 |
| 12A | 24. To the ___ degree | 3 |
| 13A | 26. Talks through a sticking point, say | 11 |
| 14A | 32. Angers | 4 |
| 15A | 34. Big name in pest control | 4 |
| 16A | 35. Catch the vibe of | 5 |
| 17A | 36. Network junction points | 5 |
| 18A | 38. Force of habit, for some, in brief | 3 |
| 19A | 39. Chess defeats | 5 |
| 20A | 40. Basic unit of work | 5 |
| 21A | 41. Boring routines | 4 |
| 22A | 43. Whiskey portion of a boilermaker | 4 |
| 23A | 44. Online storage option since 2011 | 11 |
| 24A | 47. Cincinnati trio? | 3 |
| 25A | 48. Capital of Qatar | 4 |
| 26A | 49. Batch of ale | 4 |
| 27A | 51. Disney film featuring the Oscar-winning song "Let It Go" | 6 |
| 28A | 55. Temp workers dressed in red | 6 |
| 29A | 57. Ranch fixtures for livestock | 15 |
| 30A | 61. Colorful eye part | 4 |
| 31A | 62. Quintet seen in order in 16-, 26-, 44- and 57-Across | 5 |
| 32A | 63. "Come on already!" | 4 |
| 33A | 64. Direction for prairie schooners | 4 |
| 34A | 65. ___ tide | 4 |
| 35A | 66. "Green-eyed" emotion | 4 |
Across Clues - Strategic Hints
1A: "1. Safe place to stand on a diamond"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that installation from which a military force initiates operations
- Similar words include: stand, foundation, substructure
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BASE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
2A: "5. Bout rout"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a blow that renders the opponent unconscious
- Similar words include: KO, knock cold, knock out
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: KAYO
Remember this word for future puzzles!
3A: "9. Chatted via Teams, say"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: IMED
Remember this word for future puzzles!
4A: "13. Tail-less cat breed"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the ancient gaelic formerly spoken on the isle of man; the language is sometimes used on ceremonial occasions
- Similar words include: Manx cat
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MANX
Remember this word for future puzzles!
5A: "14. Still single"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that of someone who has not been married
- Similar words include: unwedded
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: UNWED
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6A: "15. Defense grp. since 1949"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an international organization created in 1949 by the north atlantic treaty for purposes of collective security
- Similar words include: North Atlantic Treaty Organization
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NATO
Remember this word for future puzzles!
7A: "16. "Been a while! Any updates?""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: WHATSNEWWITHYOU
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8A: "19. Take giant steps"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a step in walking or running
- Similar words include: pace, footstep, tread
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: STRIDE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
9A: "20. "Oof, that's rough""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OHDANG
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10A: "21. Locale for a lab rat"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an enclosure made or wire or metal bars in which birds or animals can be kept
- Similar words include: coop, John Milton Cage Jr., cage in
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CAGE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
11A: "22. Board game set in a mansion"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a slight indication
- Similar words include: cue, clew, hint
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CLUE
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12A: "24. To the ___ degree"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that last or greatest in an indefinitely large series
- Similar words include: n-th
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NTH
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13A: "26. Talks through a sticking point, say"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HASHESITOUT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
14A: "32. Angers"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a strong emotion; a feeling that is oriented toward some real or supposed grievance
- Similar words include: wrath, anger, ira
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: IRES
Remember this word for future puzzles!
15A: "34. Big name in pest control"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DCON
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16A: "35. Catch the vibe of"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a general conscious awareness
- Similar words include: sensory faculty, feel, common sense
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SENSE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
17A: "36. Network junction points"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a connecting point at which several lines come together
- Similar words include: client, nod, knob
- Opposite of: antinode
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NODES
Remember this word for future puzzles!
18A: "38. Force of habit, for some, in brief"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OCD
Remember this word for future puzzles!
19A: "39. Chess defeats"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a pair of people who live together
- Similar words include: fellow, twin, matte
- Opposite of: disentangle, unsnarl
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MATES
Remember this word for future puzzles!
20A: "40. Basic unit of work"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a unit of electrical energy equal to the work done when a current of one ampere passes through a resistance of one ohm for one second
- Similar words include: J, watt second, James Prescott Joule
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: JOULE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
21A: "41. Boring routines"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a groove or furrow (especially one in soft earth caused by wheels)
- Similar words include: groove, furrow, rut
- Opposite of: anestrus
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RUTS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
22A: "43. Whiskey portion of a boilermaker"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the act of firing a projectile
- Similar words include: flash, pip, spud
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SHOT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
23A: "44. Online storage option since 2011"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: APPLEICLOUD
Remember this word for future puzzles!
24A: "47. Cincinnati trio?"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that half the width of an em
- Similar words include: nut, en
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ENS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
25A: "48. Capital of Qatar"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the capital and chief port of qatar
- Similar words include: Bida, capital of Qatar, El Beda
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DOHA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
26A: "49. Batch of ale"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that drink made by steeping and boiling and fermenting rather than distilling
- Similar words include: brewage
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BREW
Remember this word for future puzzles!
27A: "51. Disney film featuring the Oscar-winning song "Let It Go""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that stop moving or become immobilized
- Similar words include: immobilise, glacial, stop dead
- Opposite of: unblock, boil
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FROZEN
Remember this word for future puzzles!
28A: "55. Temp workers dressed in red"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the legendary patron saint of children; an imaginary being who is thought to bring presents to children at christmas
- Similar words include: Kriss Kringle, Father Christmas, Santa
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SANTAS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
29A: "57. Ranch fixtures for livestock"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: WATERINGTROUGHS
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30A: "61. Colorful eye part"
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: flag, fleur-de-lis, iris diaphragm
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: IRIS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
31A: "62. Quintet seen in order in 16-, 26-, 44- and 57-Across"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AEIOU
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32A: "63. "Come on already!""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DOIT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
33A: "64. Direction for prairie schooners"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the countries of (originally) europe and (now including) north america and south america
- Similar words include: Benjamin West, Rebecca West, due west
- Opposite of: east
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: WEST
Remember this word for future puzzles!
34A: "65. ___ tide"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a less than average tide occurring at the first and third quarters of the moon
- Similar words include: neap tide
- Opposite of: springtide
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NEAP
Remember this word for future puzzles!
35A: "66. "Green-eyed" emotion"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a feeling of grudging admiration and desire to have something that is possessed by another
- Similar words include: invidia, begrudge, enviousness
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ENVY
Remember this word for future puzzles!
Down Clues - Complete List
| No. | Clue | Letters |
|---|---|---|
| 1D | 1. Mini maker | 3 |
| 2D | 2. Circus crowd chorus | 4 |
| 3D | 3. Grabbed, as sale items | 10 |
| 4D | 4. Surplus | 5 |
| 5D | 5. Lederhosen typically end just above one | 4 |
| 6D | 6. "Totes adorbs!" | 3 |
| 7D | 7. Bowmaker's wood | 3 |
| 8D | 8. Repulsive | 6 |
| 9D | 9. Like most TV shows, nowadays | 4 |
| 10D | 10. Chichén Itzá people | 4 |
| 11D | 11. Prep school on the Thames | 4 |
| 12D | 12. ___ Ross, George Clooney's role on "ER" | 4 |
| 13D | 14. Zombie's status | 6 |
| 14D | 17. [Alas!] | 4 |
| 15D | 18. Belief in God or gods | 6 |
| 16D | 22. Count in the cereal aisle | 7 |
| 17D | 23. Furnish with temporarily | 6 |
| 18D | 24. Expert in stealth | 5 |
| 19D | 25. Scouting party | 5 |
| 20D | 27. Burn while ironing, say | 6 |
| 21D | 28. Lipton choices | 4 |
| 22D | 29. Done with boozing | 10 |
| 23D | 30. Apply to, as an ointment | 5 |
| 24D | 31. Lab work | 5 |
| 25D | 33. Auction off | 4 |
| 26D | 37. Lawn-starting tool | 6 |
| 27D | 42. Automaker with a six-star logo | 6 |
| 28D | 45. ___ Sea, body between Sicily and Greece | 6 |
| 29D | 46. Early 007 adversary | 4 |
| 30D | 50. Piano practice piece | 5 |
| 31D | 51. "Just so you know," online | 4 |
| 32D | 52. Few and far between | 4 |
| 33D | 53. Soul legend Redding | 4 |
| 34D | 54. Salsa quality | 4 |
| 35D | 55. Dot on a transit map | 4 |
| 36D | 56. Jailhouse weapon | 4 |
| 37D | 58. Originally named | 3 |
| 38D | 59. Actress Scala | 3 |
| 39D | 60. Complete dump | 3 |
Down Clues - Strategic Hints
1D: "1. Mini maker"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BMW
Remember this word for future puzzles!
2D: "2. Circus crowd chorus"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that express admiration and pleasure by uttering `ooh' or `aah'
- Similar words include: ooh, aah
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AAHS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
3D: "3. Grabbed, as sale items"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SNATCHEDUP
Remember this word for future puzzles!
4D: "4. Surplus"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a minor actor in crowd scenes
- Similar words include: surplus, spear carrier, superfluous
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EXTRA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
5D: "5. Lederhosen typically end just above one"
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, genu, stifle
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: KNEE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
6D: "6. "Totes adorbs!""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AWW
Remember this word for future puzzles!
7D: "7. Bowmaker's wood"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that wood of a yew; especially the durable fine-grained light brown or red wood of the english yew valued for cabinetwork and archery bows
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: YEW
Remember this word for future puzzles!
8D: "8. Repulsive"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that unequivocally detestable; ; ; ; - edmund burke
- Similar words include: abominable, execrable, detestable
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ODIOUS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
9D: "9. Like most TV shows, nowadays"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: INHD
Remember this word for future puzzles!
10D: "10. Chichén Itzá people"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a member of an american indian people of yucatan and belize and guatemala who had a culture (which reached its peak between ad 300 and 900) characterized by outstanding architecture and pottery and astronomy
- Similar words include: Mayan, Mayan language
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MAYA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
11D: "11. Prep school on the Thames"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ETON
Remember this word for future puzzles!
12D: "12. ___ Ross, George Clooney's role on "ER""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DOUG
Remember this word for future puzzles!
13D: "14. Zombie's status"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: UNDEAD
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14D: "17. [Alas!]"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an utterance made by exhaling audibly
- Similar words include: suspiration, suspire
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SIGH
Remember this word for future puzzles!
15D: "18. Belief in God or gods"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the doctrine or belief in the existence of a god or gods
- Opposite of: atheism
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: THEISM
Remember this word for future puzzles!
16D: "22. Count in the cereal aisle"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CHOCULA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
17D: "23. Furnish with temporarily"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LENDTO
Remember this word for future puzzles!
18D: "24. Expert in stealth"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a member of the ninja who were trained in martial arts and hired for espionage or sabotage or assassinations; a person skilled in ninjutsu
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NINJA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
19D: "25. Scouting party"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a group of soldiers
- Similar words include: scout troop, scout group, promenade
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TROOP
Remember this word for future puzzles!
20D: "27. Burn while ironing, say"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a surface burn
- Similar words include: singe, sear, blacken
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SCORCH
Remember this word for future puzzles!
21D: "28. Lipton choices"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a beverage made by steeping tea leaves in water
- Similar words include: tea, teatime, afternoon tea
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TEAS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
22D: "29. Done with boozing"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ONTHEWAGON
Remember this word for future puzzles!
23D: "30. Apply to, as an ointment"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: USEON
Remember this word for future puzzles!
24D: "31. Lab work"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that trying something to find out about it
- Similar words include: try, psychometric test, mental test
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TESTS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
25D: "33. Auction off"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the activity of persuading someone to buy
- Similar words include: deal, betray, trade
- Opposite of: buy
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SELL
Remember this word for future puzzles!
26D: "37. Lawn-starting tool"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a person who seeds clouds
- Similar words include: cloud seeder
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SEEDER
Remember this word for future puzzles!
27D: "42. Automaker with a six-star logo"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SUBARU
Remember this word for future puzzles!
28D: "45. ___ Sea, body between Sicily and Greece"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a member of one of four linguistic divisions of the prehistoric greeks
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: IONIAN
Remember this word for future puzzles!
29D: "46. Early 007 adversary"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DRNO
Remember this word for future puzzles!
30D: "50. Piano practice piece"
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!)
Answer: ETUDE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
31D: "51. "Just so you know," online"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FWIW
Remember this word for future puzzles!
32D: "52. Few and far between"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that not widely known; especially valued for its uncommonness
- Similar words include: rarefied, rarified, uncommon
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RARE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
33D: "53. Soul legend Redding"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that united states inventor who manufactured the first elevator with a safety device (1811-1861)
- Similar words include: Elisha Graves Otis, genus Otis
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OTIS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
34D: "54. Salsa quality"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that vigorous and enthusiastic enjoyment
- Similar words include: spice up, tanginess, piquancy
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ZEST
Remember this word for future puzzles!
35D: "55. Dot on a transit map"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the event of something ending
- Similar words include: occlusive, period, blockage
- Opposite of: start, continue
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: STOP
Remember this word for future puzzles!
36D: "56. Jailhouse weapon"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a knife used as a weapon
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SHIV
Remember this word for future puzzles!
37D: "58. Originally named"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that (meaning literally `born') used to indicate the maiden or family name of a married woman
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NEE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
38D: "59. Actress Scala"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a terrorist organization of islamic extremists whose violent activities began in 1992; aims to overthrow the secular algerian regime and replace it with an islamic state
- Similar words include: Armed Islamic Group
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GIA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
39D: "60. Complete dump"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an infection of the sebaceous gland of the eyelid
- Similar words include: hordeolum, stye, eye infection
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: STY
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
35 Across Clues
39 Down Clues
74 Total Clues
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