Apt clue for the circled letters

Latest answer — June 29, 2025

22 Across

29 Across

46 Across

63 Across

84 Across

99 Across

110 Across

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NYT Crossword

This clue's Sunday, June 29, 2025 appearance

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Across

  1. 1Muslim leader
  2. 5Daffy Duck, for one
  3. 10Grueling process
  4. 14Unlocked?
  5. 18Consideration in the dating scene
  6. 19TV or radio station
  7. 20Capitulate
  8. 21Sacrificial site
  9. 22Apt clue for the circled letters
  10. 25Famed actress who portrayed Queen Christina in 1933's "Queen Christina"
  11. 26The Washington Monument, e.g.
  12. 27Twistable piece on Mr. Potato Head
  13. 28Eclectic cuisine style
  14. 29Apt clue for the circled letters
  15. 35Makes amends?
  16. 37Relative of a zither
  17. 38Caroler's tune
  18. 39Mind-clearing chants
  19. 40Takes down to the studs
  20. 41"Mighty" Mudville batter
  21. 43Staff symbol for violists
  22. 45Goon
  23. 46Apt clue for the circled letters
  24. 53Tart or torte
  25. 55R.p.m. gauge, for short
  26. 56"Parks and Recreation" character who says "Fishing relaxes me. It's like yoga, except I still get to kill something"
  27. 57Stadium chant
  28. 58Corp. worker concerned with employee development
  29. 60Choice on "Let's Make a Deal"
  30. 62What duelists and doodlers do
  31. 63Apt clue for the circled letters
  32. 71Employee welfare org.
  33. 72Issue with a scratched record
  34. 73Stick out
  35. 74He rhymed 19 different words with "Lenore" in his most famous work
  36. 75See 75-Down
  37. 78Some GPS calculations
  38. 80Ax handlers, perhaps
  39. 84Apt clue for the circled letters
  40. 89A.F.L.-___
  41. 90Hardware/software expert, in brief
  42. 91Exposed
  43. 92Variety of plant whose name is pronounced differently in the U.K. than the U.S.
  44. 93"Geez Louise!"
  45. 95Some fine art
  46. 97Remaining
  47. 98Kentucky Derby prize
  48. 99Apt clue for the circled letters
  49. 104Ajar, say
  50. 105___ Park, suburb of Chicago
  51. 106"Hey Ya" hip-hop duo
  52. 109Product in the paint department
  53. 110Apt clue for the circled letters
  54. 115Write by hand not using cursive
  55. 116Previously
  56. 117"The ___ is ..."
  57. 118At this point
  58. 119Stuff thrown over one's shoulder in an act of superstition
  59. 120Paint brand with an animal in its logo
  60. 121"Ditto!"
  61. 122Onetime high-speed fliers, for short

Down

  1. 1"So what's ___ you?"
  2. 2Initialism directed at the overly inquisitive
  3. 3Things you hope your dinner guests bring
  4. 4Alternatives to cabernets
  5. 5Copenhagen language, to locals
  6. 6Woman who is told "Don't Lose That Number" in a Steely Dan title
  7. 7The D-backs, on sports tickers
  8. 8"I'll take 'Crossword Clues' for $2,000, please, ___!"
  9. 9Bit of work
  10. 10Eight more than a dozen
  11. 11Nonprofessionals
  12. 12Fertilized ones become embryos
  13. 13Come together
  14. 14Cry following a countdown
  15. 15Open, light-filled area
  16. 16Works, works, works
  17. 17Bagpipe's sound
  18. 21___ fresca (refreshing Latin American beverage)
  19. 23Afflicts
  20. 24Like a $2 bill
  21. 28Became the duty of
  22. 30Besides
  23. 31Russian rebuff
  24. 32"You don't know what you're missing!"
  25. 33Pixar film that takes place in the Land of the Dead
  26. 34Happen again
  27. 35Old-style "OMG!"
  28. 36Fool
  29. 41Wispy streaks in the sky
  30. 42Pile of chips, maybe
  31. 44Many, many moons
  32. 46___ ball
  33. 47Did as expected on the links
  34. 48Class with many graphs, in brief
  35. 49"Beat it!"
  36. 50Sped
  37. 51Stylish vigor
  38. 52California ___, amphibian whose slippery skin produces a toxin lethal to humans
  39. 54Branch of Islam
  40. 59There are eight in a gallon: Abbr.
  41. 61Seasoning blend
  42. 62Contacted on social media, for short
  43. 63Fuzz
  44. 64Not worth ___
  45. 65Entertainer who doesn't sound very selfish?
  46. 66___-Ball
  47. 67"Runaway Bride" actress Wilson
  48. 68Breastfeed
  49. 69Obscure
  50. 70Jennifer who wrote "A Visit From the Goon Squad"
  51. 75With 75-Across, hearty baked entree
  52. 76Bring to the country
  53. 77Hair-raising
  54. 79Item turned upside down at a bar's closing time
  55. 81They barely scratch the surface
  56. 82Name on Irish stamps
  57. 83Blubbers
  58. 85"... if you get my drift"
  59. 86The Big Easy, in brief
  60. 87Cousin of a Nebula Award
  61. 88School founded as Kynge's College of Our Ladye of ___ besyde Windesore
  62. 92Pipes smoked at some lounges
  63. 93Phrase meant to be repeated
  64. 94Attack
  65. 96Incompetent person, so to speak
  66. 97Rug rat
  67. 98Campus mil. group
  68. 99Thresholds
  69. 100Patty or Selma, to Bart and Lisa
  70. 101Tattoo-removing option
  71. 102"You couldn't be more wrong!"
  72. 103Video game brother
  73. 107Ilk
  74. 108Square root of nueve
  75. 110Group of Black Friday shoppers, say
  76. 111Half and half
  77. 112"We come in peace" speakers, in brief
  78. 113Pi follower
  79. 114Help

The answer to “Apt clue for the circled letters” in the New York Times crossword is TOPRANKINGROYAL — a 15-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on June 29, 2025, a Sunday puzzle, at 22-Across. Other answers we've seen for this clue include TOLKIENTREECREATURE, NINETIMESOUTOFTEN, PACIFISTSRENOUNCEMENT, OURHOMENEARTHESUN, CASTAREALLYLONGLOOK, and MOUSEERADICATOR. 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.

“Apt clue for the circled letters” answer

TOPRANKINGROYAL (15 letters) — most recent; also seen as TOLKIENTREECREATURE, NINETIMESOUTOFTEN, PACIFISTSRENOUNCEMENT, OURHOMENEARTHESUN, CASTAREALLYLONGLOOK, MOUSEERADICATOR

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 TOPRANKINGROYAL.

Why the answer is TOPRANKINGROYAL

TOPRANKINGROYAL is the 15-letter solution that fits "Apt clue for the circled letters" in the NYT Crossword crossword on June 29, 2025 (22-Across). Use the letter tiles above if you'd rather reveal it one letter at a time.

Other answers for “Apt clue for the circled letters”

New York Times has used this clue with more than one solution. Besides TOPRANKINGROYAL, it has also been TOLKIENTREECREATURE, NINETIMESOUTOFTEN, PACIFISTSRENOUNCEMENT, OURHOMENEARTHESUN, CASTAREALLYLONGLOOK, and MOUSEERADICATOR. Every appearance we've indexed is listed below with the date it ran.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Apt clue for the circled letters”?

The answer is TOPRANKINGROYAL, a 15-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on June 29, 2025. Other answers for this clue include TOLKIENTREECREATURE, NINETIMESOUTOFTEN, PACIFISTSRENOUNCEMENT, OURHOMENEARTHESUN, CASTAREALLYLONGLOOK, and MOUSEERADICATOR.

How many letters is the answer to “Apt clue for the circled letters”?

15 letters: TOPRANKINGROYAL. Earlier fills for this clue have also been TOLKIENTREECREATURE (19), NINETIMESOUTOFTEN (17), PACIFISTSRENOUNCEMENT (21), OURHOMENEARTHESUN (17), CASTAREALLYLONGLOOK (19), MOUSEERADICATOR (15).

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the New York Times crossword on June 29, 2025 (a Sunday puzzle), at 22-Across. Earlier appearances: June 29, 2025 → TOLKIENTREECREATURE; June 29, 2025 → NINETIMESOUTOFTEN; June 29, 2025 → PACIFISTSRENOUNCEMENT; June 29, 2025 → OURHOMENEARTHESUN; June 29, 2025 → CASTAREALLYLONGLOOK; June 29, 2025 → MOUSEERADICATOR.

Can “Apt clue for the circled letters” have a different answer?

Yes. Besides TOPRANKINGROYAL, New York Times has also used TOLKIENTREECREATURE, NINETIMESOUTOFTEN, PACIFISTSRENOUNCEMENT, OURHOMENEARTHESUN, CASTAREALLYLONGLOOK, and MOUSEERADICATOR for this clue. Every date and answer is listed above.

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

The full grid for June 29, 2025 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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