Alternative to truth

Latest answer — August 11, 2026

54 Across

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Clue explained

“Truth or dare” offers a dare as the alternative to truth. Thus DARE fits the clue’s omitted second half of the familiar game name.

Clue type:
Phrase or idiom
A group of people playing a truth-or-dare game.

NYT Crossword

This clue's Tuesday, August 11, 2026 appearance

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Across

  1. 1Popular tablets
  2. 6Big name in food wholesale
  3. 11"Exit full screen" key
  4. 14Still in bed
  5. 15Just peachy
  6. 16By way of
  7. 17Psychedelic rock band with the 2003 tune "Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, Pt. 1," with "the"
  8. 19Sam-___ (Seuss character)
  9. 20No rookie
  10. 21Missions, in brief
  11. 22Red denizen of Sesame Street
  12. 23Problem for a plumber
  13. 25Lollygag
  14. 27Against
  15. 30German film composer who wrote "Cornfield Chase" and "Time"
  16. 35Things to be mowed
  17. 37Passage ceremonies
  18. 38Word with cutie or sweetie
  19. 39Mario's video game brother
  20. 40Goat's bleat
  21. 41Scold
  22. 43Hosp. areas with gurneys
  23. 44In a cheery manner
  24. 46Tender spots
  25. 47Hip-hop group that wrote "C.R.E.A.M." and "Protect Ya Neck"
  26. 50Trifling
  27. 51"... or ___!" (threat)
  28. 52Opinion, informally
  29. 54Alternative to truth
  30. 56"Abso-freakin-lutely!"
  31. 59Big export of Myanmar
  32. 63Ingredient in a Dark 'n' Stormy
  33. 64First Chinese government to establish a permanent standing navy ... or a hint to 17-, 30- and 47-Across
  34. 66Portfolio portion, in brief
  35. 67Peripheral
  36. 68Religion of the Maldives
  37. 69"There, there" accompanier
  38. 70Stash away
  39. 71Prey for polar bears

Down

  1. 1Deets
  2. 2Opinion survey
  3. 3Ever so slightly
  4. 4Bit of Chinese food
  5. 5Steeple topper
  6. 6Droop
  7. 7"This is probably dumb but I'm doing it anyway" hashtag
  8. 8Go past
  9. 9Flip over, as a boat
  10. 10Yiddish laments
  11. 11The Soviet Union, to Reagan
  12. 12Thailand, before 1939
  13. 13Military wear, for short
  14. 18Head of a noted animal rescue project
  15. 22Stately tree
  16. 24Like a comeuppance, perhaps
  17. 26LPs and 45s
  18. 27"I'll ___ it"
  19. 28Island that's the world's third-smallest country, after Vatican City and Monaco
  20. 29People hold complicated positions on it
  21. 31Singer Horan of One Direction
  22. 32Patronize, as a hotel
  23. 33Duck down
  24. 34Angel ___, holder of the W.N.B.A. single-season record for offensive rebounds
  25. 36Stop and Yield
  26. 42Headquarters
  27. 45Got too old
  28. 48Pub drink
  29. 49___ a soul
  30. 53Mila of "That '70s Show"
  31. 54What icicles do
  32. 55Field you can feel, maybe
  33. 57"You're ___ something!"
  34. 58Longtime Disney boss Bob
  35. 60Cuba, por ejemplo
  36. 61And other authors: Abbr.
  37. 62Jazz singer Sylvia
  38. 64Castaway's call
  39. 65"Dr." from Compton

The answer to “Alternative to truth” in the New York Times crossword is DARE — a 4-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on August 11, 2026, a Tuesday puzzle, at 54-Across, and it has also run on 1 earlier date with the same answer. Below you'll find why that fill fits, every other answer we've recorded for this clue, and links into the puzzle it came from.

“Alternative to truth” answer

DARE (4 letters)

Reveal the solution one letter at a time with the tiles above if you'd rather nudge yourself toward it than see the whole word at once. Just want it outright? The answer is DARE.

What does DARE mean?

Reading the plain dictionary sense of DARE is often the fastest way to see why it answers this clue.

(verb)

  • have the courage to do something
  • defy or challenge (someone) to do something
  • take the risk of; brave

When else has “Alternative to truth” appeared?

New York Times reuses clues across dates, sometimes with a different answer depending on the grid. Here's where this exact clue has shown up, and what the answer was each time — handy when you're checking whether today's fill is the only one.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Alternative to truth”?

The answer is DARE, a 4-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on August 11, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Alternative to truth”?

4 letters: DARE.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the New York Times crossword on August 11, 2026 (a Tuesday puzzle), at 54-Across. Earlier appearances: July 6, 2025 → DARE.

Can “Alternative to truth” have a different answer?

Yes — New York Times sometimes reuses a clue with a different solution to fit the grid. The answers we've recorded for each date it appeared are listed above when available.

Where can I find the rest of this day's NYT Crossword answers?

The full grid for August 11, 2026 is on the NYT Crossword answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

New York Times Crossword is published by The New York Times; WordHint is an independent site and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the publisher.

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