XWordHint Crossword Complete Solution: July 01, 2025
Our expert breakdown helps you solve the July 01 XWordHint crossword while expanding your vocabulary. Learn answer strategies and discover word connections.
Across Clues and Answers (37)
Clue #1: 1. Potato chip, to Brits
Word Help: Synonyms: nipping, nippy, frosty
Clue #2: 6. Boxing call, informally
Word Help: Synonyms: TKO, technical_knockout
Clue #3: 9. Award you can wear
Word Help: Synonyms: decoration, medal, palm
Clue #4: 14. Tower of ___ (mathematical puzzle with disks)
Word Help: Synonyms: Hanoi, capital_of_Vietnam
Clue #5: 15. Cash in Kyoto
Word Help: Synonyms: hankering, yen, yearn
Clue #6: 16. Deliver a TED talk, say
Word Help: Synonyms: orate
Clue #7: 17. "Stop!," during roughhousing
Word Help: Synonyms: uncle
Antonyms: aunt
Antonyms: aunt
Clue #8: 18. Something found in a plum, but not a pear
Word Help: Synonyms: play_off, oppose, Inferno
Antonyms: Heaven
Antonyms: Heaven
Clue #9: 19. Situated long-term
Word Help: Synonyms: establish, based, ground
Clue #10: 20. *Most "wasabi" at sushi bars, in actuality
Word Help: Synonyms: Armoracia_rusticana, red_cole, horse_radish
Clue #11: 23. *Fruit whose name is also a synonym for a grouch
Word Help: Synonyms: wild_apple, crabapple, crab_apple
Clue #12: 24. Said "speaking of which," say
Word Help: Synonyms: segue
Clue #13: 27. Held office
Word Help: Synonyms: suffice, attend_to, swear_out
Clue #14: 31. Take a seat unceremoniously, with "down"
Word Help: Synonyms: plunk, plump, plonk
Clue #15: 32. Hoagie
Word Help: Synonyms: submarine, hero_sandwich, wedge
Clue #16: 35. Contest before a final, informally
Word Help: Synonyms: semifinal, trailer_truck, rig
Clue #17: 36. Bathroom, to Brits
Word Help: Synonyms: water_closet, loo, closet
Clue #18: 37. Handle, as a tough piece of information
Word Help: Synonyms: endure, belly, breadbasket
Clue #19: 41. Domain suffix that most civilians can't register
Clue #20: 42. "___ a free country"
Word Help: Synonyms: IT, information_technology
Clue #21: 43. Omnivorous fish of the Amazon
Word Help: Synonyms: pirana, marauder, predator
Clue #22: 44. Info from someone who's on the way
Word Help: Synonyms: Basque_Fatherland_and_Liberty, Basque_Homeland_and_Freedom, eta
Clue #23: 45. Like Nickelodeon's Mutant Ninja Turtles
Word Help: Synonyms: adolescent, teenaged, teenage
Clue #24: 47. Widens, as a pupil
Word Help: Synonyms: elaborate, expand, flesh_out
Antonyms: contract
Antonyms: contract
Clue #25: 49. Make yawn, say
Word Help: Synonyms: hold, endure, suffer
Antonyms: interest
Antonyms: interest
Clue #26: 50. Concluding part
Word Help: Synonyms: finale, coda
Clue #27: 51. Electronically produced echo effect
Clue #28: 53. "Fine, I guess"
Clue #29: 55. Ripped
Word Help: Synonyms: buck, bust, tore
Clue #30: 56. "Dead serious," in modern lingo
Clue #31: 58. ___ of the valley
Word Help: Synonyms: lily
Clue #32: 60. Rapper ___ Sweatshirt
Word Help: Synonyms: earl
Clue #33: 61. Bring together
Word Help: Synonyms: unite, link, join
Antonyms: disunify, divide
Antonyms: disunify, divide
Clue #34: 62. Pacify
Word Help: Synonyms: domesticize, chasten, cultivate
Antonyms: wild
Antonyms: wild
Clue #35: 63. Counterpart of Dreyer's east of the Rockies
Clue #36: 64. Actress Thompson of "Selma" and "Creed"
Clue #37: 65. Powdered sugar, for a gingerbread house
Word Help: Synonyms: C._P._Snow, coke, pull_the_wool_over_someone's_eyes
Across Clues and Answers (37)
Clue #1: 1. "Crazy Rich Asians" director Jon M. ___
Clue #2: 2. 1985 Kurosawa epic that is a retelling of "King Lear"
Word Help: Synonyms: endure, black_market, die_hard
Antonyms: malfunction, idle
Antonyms: malfunction, idle
Clue #3: 3. Creep (along)
Word Help: Synonyms: inch, edge, in
Clue #4: 4. Beverage holder that's typically red
Clue #5: 5. Capital of South Dakota
Word Help: Synonyms: Pierre, capital_of_South_Dakota
Clue #6: 6. Characteristically laid-back
Clue #7: 7. Actress Knightley
Clue #8: 8. Dispensed from a keg
Clue #9: 9. Like some homes and phones
Word Help: Synonyms: mobile, Mobile, Mobile_River
Antonyms: stabile, immobile
Antonyms: stabile, immobile
Clue #10: 10. Items on a blackboard tray
Word Help: Synonyms: eraser
Clue #11: 11. Recipe smidgen, as of salt
Word Help: Synonyms: dart, pall, frighten_away
Clue #12: 12. Supped
Word Help: Synonyms: exhaust, eat_up, consume
Clue #13: 13. Was ahead in a race
Word Help: Synonyms: run, extend, top
Antonyms: follow
Antonyms: follow
Clue #14: 21. Down
Word Help: Synonyms: deplorable, pitiful, sad
Antonyms: glad
Antonyms: glad
Clue #15: 22. They result in two baseball outs, for short
Word Help: Synonyms: displaced_person, DP, stateless_person
Clue #16: 24. Divorce
Word Help: Synonyms: carve_up, rive, break
Antonyms: unite
Antonyms: unite
Clue #17: 25. Mexican dish of corn on the cob with toppings
Clue #18: 26. *Fruit from a bush, much used in pies and jams
Word Help: Synonyms: Ribes_grossularia, gooseberry, Ribes_uva-crispa
Clue #19: 28. Like the foods that answer the starred clues, despite how their names start
Word Help: Synonyms: vegetarian
Clue #20: 29. Be overdramatic
Word Help: Synonyms: emote
Clue #21: 30. High-maintenance stars
Word Help: Synonyms: prima_donna, diva
Clue #22: 32. Ticked off
Word Help: Synonyms: sensitive, mad, painful
Clue #23: 33. "Gattaca" co-star Thurman
Word Help: Synonyms: genus_Uma, Uma
Clue #24: 34. Word after wedding or rubber
Word Help: Synonyms: isthmus, circle, stripe
Clue #25: 37. Tire on the back of a jeep
Word Help: Synonyms: superfluous, spare_part, redundant
Clue #26: 38. *Little tuber used to make Spanish horchata
Clue #27: 39. *Garbanzo, by another name
Word Help: Synonyms: chickpea, chickpea_plant, Cicer_arietinum
Clue #28: 40. Heavenly headwear
Word Help: Synonyms: glory, doughnut, aureole
Clue #29: 46. "Great Expectations" and "The Great Gatsby," for two
Word Help: Synonyms: novel
Clue #30: 48. Grown-ups
Word Help: Synonyms: grownup, adult
Antonyms: juvenile
Antonyms: juvenile
Clue #31: 51. There might be a fork in it
Word Help: Synonyms: road, route
Clue #32: 52. Barbecue discard
Word Help: Synonyms: pearl, drum, mug_up
Clue #33: 53. "Overnight" breakfast option
Word Help: Synonyms: oat
Clue #34: 54. Muppet who posts on social media in the third person
Clue #35: 55. Stand next to a club?
Word Help: Synonyms: teeing_ground, tee, golf_tee
Clue #36: 57. Gender prefix
Word Help: Synonyms: Commonwealth_of_Independent_States, Ci, CIS
Clue #37: 59. Tree whose name sounds like a pronoun
Word Help: Synonyms: yew
Expert Solving Strategies
- Look for fill-in-the-blank clues first (they're often easiest)
- Watch for question marks indicating wordplay
- Check vowel patterns in partially solved words
Related Search Terms
NYT Crossword Help, Daily Puzzle Solutions, Crossword Answer Finder, July Crossword Answers
Saturday, April 18, 2026
Complete Solutions for NYT Mini Trivia Week 3 April 18, 2026
Trivia Week 3 April 18, 2026 NYT Mini Crossword Hints
Quick Summary: Today's NYT Mini Crossword has 20 clues total. We have all the answers plus helpful hints to make solving easier!
Popular Puzzles: July 14 2022 NYT Clues Solutions | January 11 2020 NYT Clues Solutions | September 02 2021 NYT Clues Solutions |
About Today's Puzzle
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Date | April 18, 2026 |
| Grid Size | 5 x 5 squares |
| Total Clues | 20 clues |
| Across Clues | 10 clues |
| Down Clues | 10 clues |
| Average Solve Time | Under 1 minute |
Today's Trivia Week {week_num} NYT Mini Crossword Grid Layout
This puzzle uses a 5 by 5 grid. That means 5 boxes across and 5 boxes down.
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | Column 4 | Column 5 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Row 1 | |||||
| Row 2 | |||||
| Row 3 | |||||
| Row 4 | |||||
| Row 5 |
How to Solve This Puzzle Fast
- Read all the clues first - your brain will start working on them
- Fill in the short words first (3 letters or less)
- Use the crossing letters to help with harder words
- If a clue has a question mark (?), it's probably a joke or play on words
- Common short words: THE, AND, ARE, FOR, NOT
Quick Facts About This Puzzle
- Total squares in grid: 25 (5 times 5)
- Average time to solve: Less than 1 minute
- Best time to play: During a coffee break
- Difficulty level: Made for everyone to enjoy
Across Clues - 10 Total
These clues go from left to right in the puzzle.
| Number | Clue |
|---|---|
| 1 Across | 23. Unite |
| 2 Across | 18. New outfit or accessory for a character, in video game-speak |
| 3 Across | 40. Mathematics writer Gardner |
| 4 Across | 27. "Wait just a sec" |
| 5 Across | 21. Term in the bedroom, maybe |
| 6 Across | 29. Cowboy's friend, informally |
| 7 Across | 34. "You've got nothing to worry about" |
| 8 Across | 47. Daredevil's calculation |
| 9 Across | 31. Finalized |
| 10 Across | 16. Thawing |
Hints and Answers for Across Clues
Need help? Here are hints and answers for each clue above. Also check out these helpful guides:
- August 27 2021 NYT Clues Solutions
- July 14 2022 NYT Clues Solutions
- August 14 2019 NYT Clues Solutions
1 Across: "23. Unite"
Helpful hints:
- This word has 3 letters
- It starts with 'W' and ends with 'D'
- Another word like this: espouse
Answer:
Click to reveal
WED2 Across: "18. New outfit or accessory for a character, in video game-speak"
Helpful hints:
- This word has 3 letters
- It starts with 'M' and ends with 'D'
- Another word like this: modern
Answer:
Click to reveal
MOD3 Across: "40. Mathematics writer Gardner"
Helpful hints:
- This word has 6 letters
- It starts with 'M' and ends with 'N'
- Word pattern: M____N
Answer:
Click to reveal
MARTIN4 Across: "27. "Wait just a sec""
Helpful hints:
- This word has 9 letters
- It starts with 'H' and ends with 'T'
- Word pattern: H_______T
Answer:
Click to reveal
HANGTIGHT5 Across: "21. Term in the bedroom, maybe"
Helpful hints:
- This word has 8 letters
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'D'
- Word pattern: S______D
Answer:
Click to reveal
SAFEWORD6 Across: "29. Cowboy's friend, informally"
Helpful hints:
- This word has 4 letters
- It starts with 'P' and ends with 'D'
- Word pattern: P__D
Answer:
Click to reveal
PARD7 Across: "34. "You've got nothing to worry about""
Helpful hints:
- This word has 8 letters
- It starts with 'R' and ends with 'Y'
- Word pattern: R______Y
Answer:
Click to reveal
RESTEASY8 Across: "47. Daredevil's calculation"
Helpful hints:
- This word has 4 letters
- It starts with 'O' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: O__S
Answer:
Click to reveal
ODDS9 Across: "31. Finalized"
Helpful hints:
- This word has 3 letters
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'T'
- Another word like this: jell
Answer:
Click to reveal
SET10 Across: "16. Thawing"
Helpful hints:
- This word has 7 letters
- It starts with 'D' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: D_____E
Answer:
Click to reveal
DETENTEDown Clues - 10 Total
These clues go from top to bottom in the puzzle.
| Number | Clue |
|---|---|
| 1 Down | 21. Start to give |
| 2 Down | 37. Brings about, as havoc |
| 3 Down | 22. "Hey, no backing out now!" |
| 4 Down | 32. Cuts a line? |
| 5 Down | 2. Blowgun projectile |
| 6 Down | 1. Did business with, in a way |
| 7 Down | 27. Relatives of ottomans |
| 8 Down | 33. It takes two hands to show |
| 9 Down | 17. Texas air hub, for short |
| 10 Down | 6. Into |
Hints and Answers for Down Clues
Need help? Here are hints and answers for each clue above. You might also like:
- October 30 2019 NYT Clues Solutions
- April 22 2022 NYT Clues Solutions
- August 27 2021 NYT Clues Solutions
1 Down: "21. Start to give"
Helpful hints:
- This word has 3 letters
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'G'
- Another word like this: swag
Answer:
Click to reveal
SAG2 Down: "37. Brings about, as havoc"
Helpful hints:
- This word has 6 letters
- It starts with 'W' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: W____S
Answer:
Click to reveal
WREAKS3 Down: "22. "Hey, no backing out now!""
Helpful hints:
- This word has 10 letters
- It starts with 'W' and ends with 'L'
- Word pattern: W________L
Answer:
Click to reveal
WEHADADEAL4 Down: "32. Cuts a line?"
Helpful hints:
- This word has 5 letters
- It starts with 'E' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: E___S
Answer:
Click to reveal
EDITS5 Down: "2. Blowgun projectile"
Helpful hints:
- This word has 10 letters
- It starts with 'P' and ends with 'T'
- Word pattern: P________T
Answer:
Click to reveal
POISONDART6 Down: "1. Did business with, in a way"
Helpful hints:
- This word has 6 letters
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'O'
- Word pattern: S____O
Answer:
Click to reveal
SOLDTO7 Down: "27. Relatives of ottomans"
Helpful hints:
- This word has 8 letters
- It starts with 'H' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: H______S
Answer:
Click to reveal
HASSOCKS8 Down: "33. It takes two hands to show"
Helpful hints:
- This word has 3 letters
- It starts with 'T' and ends with 'N'
- Another word like this: decade
Answer:
Click to reveal
TEN9 Down: "17. Texas air hub, for short"
Helpful hints:
- This word has 3 letters
- It starts with 'D' and ends with 'W'
- This is a short form or acronym
Answer:
Click to reveal
DFW10 Down: "6. Into"
Helpful hints:
- This word has 6 letters
- It starts with 'F' and ends with 'F'
- Word pattern: F____F
Answer:
Click to reveal
FONDOFHow to Solve the NYT Mini Crossword Faster
Here are the best tips from expert solvers:
Step-by-Step Strategy
- Quick Scan: Read all clues once. Your brain starts working on them right away.
- Easy First: Fill in the shortest words (2-3 letters). These are usually simple words like "IT" or "ON".
- Use Crossings: When letters cross, they help you figure out harder words.
- Watch for Wordplay: Clues with question marks (?) are jokes or puns.
- Common Words: Remember these appear often: ERA, ORE, ATE, ICE.
Letter Tips That Really Help
- The letter E is the most common in English
- Words ending in S are often plurals
- If you see "___" in a clue, the answer fits those blanks exactly
- Abbreviations in clues mean the answer is also abbreviated
Time Goals to Aim For
| Your Time | Skill Level | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| Under 30 seconds | Expert | You know the puzzle patterns very well! |
| 30-60 seconds | Advanced | Great job! You solve quickly. |
| 1-2 minutes | Good | You're doing well. Keep practicing! |
| Over 2 minutes | Learning | You'll get faster with practice. |
Puzzle Numbers and Facts
| Total Clues: | 20 clues to solve |
| Grid Size: | 5 boxes across, 5 boxes down |
| Total Squares: | 25 squares to fill |
| Average Time: | Most people solve in 45 seconds |
| Difficulty: | Normal |
Common Questions About Trivia Week 3
When can I play the Trivia Week 3 Mini?
The Trivia Week 3 puzzle is available at 10 PM Eastern Time the night before.
How fast should I be able to solve Trivia Week 3?
Most people solve the Trivia Week 3 Mini in 30 seconds to 2 minutes. Don't worry if you take longer - speed comes with practice!
Do I need to pay to play Trivia Week 3?
No! The Trivia Week 3 NYT Mini is completely free. You don't need a subscription like the big crossword.
What makes a good Trivia Week 3 solver?
Good Trivia Week 3 solvers know common short words, can spot wordplay quickly, and use crossing letters well. Practice helps a lot!
Are the puzzles harder during Trivia Week 3?
Trivia Week 3 puzzles can vary in difficulty. Saturdays are often the hardest, while Mondays are the easiest.
Saturday, July 18, 2026
XWordHint Crossword Answers July 18, 2026 | Expert Breakdown & Tips
Master today's NYT crossword with our expert hint system. We provide synonyms, antonyms, and strategic clues to help you solve without spoiling the fun. Perfect for crossword lovers who want that satisfying "aha!" moment.
Quick Navigation - Table of Contents
- Today's Puzzle Difficulty
- Across Clues Table (36 clues)
- Across Clues - Detailed Hints
- Down Clues Table (34 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. Unite, with "up" | 4 |
| 2A | 5. Many an extra in the "Lord of the Rings" movies | 3 |
| 3A | 8. Like fondue, traditionally | 5 |
| 4A | 13. Nairobi-based collection of NGOs | 5 |
| 5A | 15. Restriction on how much one can serve | 9 |
| 6A | 17. Conductor's reference | 5 |
| 7A | 18. Opportunity to compare notes, perhaps | 9 |
| 8A | 19. Very traditional sort | 6 |
| 9A | 21. Khloe, Kim or Kourtney, familiarly | 3 |
| 10A | 22. Jennifer who won a Pulitzer for "A Visit From the Goon Squad" | 4 |
| 11A | 23. Concerning | 4 |
| 12A | 24. Weight | 4 |
| 13A | 26. Orange video game character who appears in "Wreck-It Ralph" | 5 |
| 14A | 27. Retailer with mountains in its logo | 3 |
| 15A | 28. Persuade, as on a course of action | 4 |
| 16A | 29. Shade | 3 |
| 17A | 30. Smartphone feature that debuted worldwide in 2011 | 13 |
| 18A | 34. Hot | 6 |
| 19A | 35. Kind of acid partly responsible for sourdough's tang | 6 |
| 20A | 37. "Sorry, that's way above my pay grade" | 13 |
| 21A | 40. Black ___ | 3 |
| 22A | 41. Line holders | 4 |
| 23A | 42. Brilliant example | 3 |
| 24A | 43. Digs up by the roots | 5 |
| 25A | 46. Cry at the end of a countdown | 4 |
| 26A | 47. Dead center? | 4 |
| 27A | 48. Song whose titular subject has a "dark brown voice" | 4 |
| 28A | 49. Mesh | 3 |
| 29A | 50. One side of many a transaction | 6 |
| 30A | 52. Backs up on its own, say | 9 |
| 31A | 55. Titular animated dog of children's TV | 5 |
| 32A | 56. Go down swinging, perhaps | 9 |
| 33A | 57. What might add a bit of flavor to a salsa? | 5 |
| 34A | 58. Company bought by Tempur-Pedic in 2012 | 5 |
| 35A | 59. W.W. II-era occupation for baseball's Moe Berg, following his playing career | 3 |
| 36A | 60. Rides | 4 |
Across Clues - Strategic Hints
1A: "1. Unite, with "up""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a cooperative unit (especially in sports)
- Similar words include: squad, team up
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TEAM
Remember this word for future puzzles!
2A: "5. Many an extra in the "Lord of the Rings" movies"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that (folklore) fairies that are somewhat mischievous
- Similar words include: extremely low frequency, brownie, pixy
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ELF
Remember this word for future puzzles!
3A: "8. Like fondue, traditionally"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the natives or inhabitants of switzerland
- Similar words include: Swiss people
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SWISS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
4A: "13. Nairobi-based collection of NGOs"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OXFAM
Remember this word for future puzzles!
5A: "15. Restriction on how much one can serve"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TERMLIMIT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
6A: "17. Conductor's reference"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a number or letter indicating quality (especially of a student's performance)
- Similar words include: hit, musical score, sexual conquest
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SCORE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
7A: "18. Opportunity to compare notes, perhaps"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: STUDYDATE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
8A: "19. Very traditional sort"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that someone who insists on great precision and correctness (especially in the use of words)
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PURIST
Remember this word for future puzzles!
9A: "21. Khloe, Kim or Kourtney, familiarly"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a female person who has the same parents as another person
- Similar words include: te, atomic number 14, sister
- Opposite of: brother
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SIS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
10A: "22. Jennifer who won a Pulitzer for "A Visit From the Goon Squad""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EGAN
Remember this word for future puzzles!
11A: "23. Concerning"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ASTO
Remember this word for future puzzles!
12A: "24. Weight"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the property of being large in mass
- Similar words include: ponderousness, ponderosity, heave up
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HEFT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
13A: "26. Orange video game character who appears in "Wreck-It Ralph""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: QBERT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
14A: "27. Retailer with mountains in its logo"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: REI
Remember this word for future puzzles!
15A: "28. Persuade, as on a course of action"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the activity of persuading someone to buy
- Similar words include: deal, trade, betray
- Opposite of: buy
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SELL
Remember this word for future puzzles!
16A: "29. Shade"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the quality of a color as determined by its dominant wavelength
- Similar words include: imbue, chromaticity
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HUE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
17A: "30. Smartphone feature that debuted worldwide in 2011"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EMOJIKEYBOARD
Remember this word for future puzzles!
18A: "34. Hot"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an erotic person
- Similar words include: titillating
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EROTIC
Remember this word for future puzzles!
19A: "35. Kind of acid partly responsible for sourdough's tang"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that of or relating to or obtained from milk (especially sour milk or whey)
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LACTIC
Remember this word for future puzzles!
20A: "37. "Sorry, that's way above my pay grade""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: IJUSTWORKHERE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
21A: "40. Black ___"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that (roman mythology) goddess of abundance and fertility; wife of saturn; counterpart of greek rhea and cybele of ancient asia minor
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OPS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
22A: "41. Line holders"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a long thin implement made of metal or wood
- Similar words include: retinal rod, pole, rod
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RODS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
23A: "42. Brilliant example"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that art highly prized for its beauty or perfection
- Similar words include: stone, precious stone, gemstone
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GEM
Remember this word for future puzzles!
24A: "43. Digs up by the roots"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that informal terms for a meal
- Similar words include: mooch, eats, bum
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GRUBS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
25A: "46. Cry at the end of a countdown"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an instance or single occasion for some event
- Similar words include: clock time, clock, sentence
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TIME
Remember this word for future puzzles!
26A: "47. Dead center?"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a place for the burial of a corpse (especially beneath the ground and marked by a tombstone)
- Similar words include: grave
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TOMB
Remember this word for future puzzles!
27A: "48. Song whose titular subject has a "dark brown voice""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LOLA
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28A: "49. Mesh"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a display of bad temper
- Similar words include: agree, fit out, primed
- Opposite of: disagree, unfit
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FIT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
29A: "50. One side of many a transaction"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that someone who purchases and maintains an inventory of goods to be sold
- Similar words include: principal, trader, monger
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DEALER
Remember this word for future puzzles!
30A: "52. Backs up on its own, say"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AUTOSAVES
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31A: "55. Titular animated dog of children's TV"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BLUEY
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32A: "56. Go down swinging, perhaps"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an out resulting from the batter getting three strikes
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: STRIKEOUT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
33A: "57. What might add a bit of flavor to a salsa?"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a small drum; played with the hands
- Similar words include: Tragelaphus eurycerus, bongo drum, Boocercus eurycerus
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BONGO
Remember this word for future puzzles!
34A: "58. Company bought by Tempur-Pedic in 2012"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SEALY
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35A: "59. W.W. II-era occupation for baseball's Moe Berg, following his playing career"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that (military) a secret agent hired by a state to obtain information about its enemies or by a business to obtain industrial secrets from competitors
- Similar words include: stag, spot, snoop
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SPY
Remember this word for future puzzles!
36A: "60. Rides"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that someone (especially a woman) who annoys people by constantly finding fault
- Similar words include: scold, plug, hen-peck
- Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NAGS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
Down Clues - Complete List
| No. | Clue | Letters |
|---|---|---|
| 1D | 1. Left | 7 |
| 2D | 2. "Um ... what?!" | 8 |
| 3D | 3. With even stronger reasoning, in law | 9 |
| 4D | 4. Super man? | 5 |
| 5D | 5. Quite a few characters in 2025's "Elio," for short | 3 |
| 6D | 6. Unleashes | 7 |
| 7D | 7. Results of one's labors, so to speak | 5 |
| 8D | 8. Shrewd | 3 |
| 9D | 9. You might give this to someone you want to avoid | 9 |
| 10D | 10. Outward appearance | 5 |
| 11D | 11. Instrument that's held at about a 45-degree angle from the player's body | 5 |
| 12D | 12. Inner tube? | 5 |
| 13D | 14. "Bonjour, ___ amis!" | 3 |
| 14D | 16. Figures listed on Zocdoc, for short | 3 |
| 15D | 20. Gustav Klimt masterpiece | 7 |
| 16D | 25. Choose | 5 |
| 17D | 26. Charlatans | 6 |
| 18D | 28. Exercises with a "butterfly" variation, in which the soles of one's feet are pressed together | 6 |
| 19D | 29. Overtook? | 7 |
| 20D | 31. Cosmetic additive that comes from the Southwest | 9 |
| 21D | 32. Flowering period | 5 |
| 22D | 33. Actor who plays the title role on TV's "Andor" | 9 |
| 23D | 36. Classic Easter treat | 8 |
| 24D | 38. Report | 7 |
| 25D | 39. Items frozen in cryopreservation | 7 |
| 26D | 43. Flute, for one | 5 |
| 27D | 44. Way | 5 |
| 28D | 45. Prefix with marathon | 5 |
| 29D | 46. Bygone recorders | 5 |
| 30D | 47. Grabber | 5 |
| 31D | 49. Race of supernatural spirits | 3 |
| 32D | 51. Fall back | 3 |
| 33D | 53. You might look up to this | 3 |
| 34D | 54. Unpleasant digs | 3 |
Down Clues - Strategic Hints
1D: "1. Left"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TOSPARE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
2D: "2. "Um ... what?!""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EXCUSEME
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3D: "3. With even stronger reasoning, in law"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AFORTIORI
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4D: "4. Super man?"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MARIO
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5D: "5. Quite a few characters in 2025's "Elio," for short"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ETS
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6D: "6. Unleashes"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LETSFLY
Remember this word for future puzzles!
7D: "7. Results of one's labors, so to speak"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the ripened reproductive body of a seed plant
- Similar words include: yield
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FRUIT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
8D: "8. Shrewd"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that marked by skill in deception
- Similar words include: guileful, slick, dodgy
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SLY
Remember this word for future puzzles!
9D: "9. You might give this to someone you want to avoid"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: WIDEBERTH
Remember this word for future puzzles!
10D: "10. Outward appearance"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an iconic mental representation
- Similar words include: visualise, paradigm, ikon
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: IMAGE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
11D: "11. Instrument that's held at about a 45-degree angle from the player's body"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a stringed instrument of india; has a long neck and movable frets; has 6 or 7 metal strings for playing and usually 13 resonating strings
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SITAR
Remember this word for future puzzles!
12D: "12. Inner tube?"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a slender tube inserted inside a tubular body part (as a blood vessel) to provide support during and after surgical anastomosis
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: STENT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
13D: "14. "Bonjour, ___ amis!""
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a state in new england
- Similar words include: ME, Pine Tree State, Maine
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MES
Remember this word for future puzzles!
14D: "16. Figures listed on Zocdoc, for short"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a radioactive transuranic element synthesized by bombarding einsteinium with alpha particles (md is the current symbol for mendelevium but mv was formerly the symbol)
- Similar words include: Dr., Md, physician
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MDS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
15D: "20. Gustav Klimt masterpiece"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: THEKISS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
16D: "25. Choose"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an exclusive group of people
- Similar words include: elite, chosen
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ELECT
Remember this word for future puzzles!
17D: "26. Charlatans"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an untrained person who pretends to be a physician and who dispenses medical advice
- Similar words include: quack
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: QUACKS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
18D: "28. Exercises with a "butterfly" variation, in which the soles of one's feet are pressed together"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SITUPS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
19D: "29. Overtook?"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that save up as for future use
- Similar words include: collect, hoard, stash
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HOARDED
Remember this word for future puzzles!
20D: "31. Cosmetic additive that comes from the Southwest"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: JOJOBAOIL
Remember this word for future puzzles!
21D: "32. Flowering period"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the organic process of bearing flowers
- Similar words include: heyday, rosiness, bloom of youth
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BLOOM
Remember this word for future puzzles!
22D: "33. Actor who plays the title role on TV's "Andor""
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DIEGOLUNA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
23D: "36. Classic Easter treat"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CREMEEGG
Remember this word for future puzzles!
24D: "38. Report"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: WRITEUP
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25D: "39. Items frozen in cryopreservation"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that (botany) a minute rudimentary plant contained within a seed or an archegonium
- Similar words include: embryo, fertilized egg, conceptus
- Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EMBRYOS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
26D: "43. Flute, for one"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a brittle transparent solid with irregular atomic structure
- Similar words include: drinking glass, meth, deoxyephedrine
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GLASS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
27D: "44. Way"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an established line of travel or access
- Similar words include: itinerary, road, path
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ROUTE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
28D: "45. Prefix with marathon"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that (used of opinions and actions) far beyond the norm
- Similar words include: radical, extremist
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ULTRA
Remember this word for future puzzles!
29D: "46. Bygone recorders"
Solving Hints:
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TIVOS
Remember this word for future puzzles!
30D: "47. Grabber"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a sharp hooked claw especially on a bird of prey
- Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TALON
Remember this word for future puzzles!
31D: "49. Race of supernatural spirits"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a device consisting of a container of fuel and two explosive charges; the first charge bursts open the fuel container at a predetermined height and spreads the fuel in a cloud that mixes with atmospheric oxygen; the second charge detonates the cloud which creates an enormous blast wave and incinerates whatever is below
- Similar words include: fuel-air explosive
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FAE
Remember this word for future puzzles!
32D: "51. Fall back"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that a gradual decline (in size or strength or power or number)
- Similar words include: ebbing, ebb out, wane
- Opposite of: tide
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EBB
Remember this word for future puzzles!
33D: "53. You might look up to this"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
- Similar words include: flip, toss, pitch
- Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SKY
Remember this word for future puzzles!
34D: "54. Unpleasant digs"
Solving Hints:
- Think of something that an infection of the sebaceous gland of the eyelid
- Similar words include: stye, pigsty, 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
36 Across Clues
34 Down Clues
70 Total Clues
More NYT Crossword Help
Looking for more puzzle solutions? Check out our comprehensive archive of NYT crossword hints and answers. We update daily with expert analysis and solving strategies.
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