Apt name for a thief
Editorially verified for the Oct 18, 2026
76 Across
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Clue explainedFact checked
ROB works as both a common name and a verb: a thief may rob someone. That makes it an apt name for a fictional thief, too—the clue’s small joke is that the name describes what he does.
- Clue type:
- Pun or wordplay
NYT Crossword
This clue's Sunday, October 18, 2026 appearance
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The answer to “Apt name for a thief” in the New York Times crossword is ROB — a 3-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on October 18, 2026, a Sunday puzzle, at 76-Across. 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 name for a thief” answer
ROB (3 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 ROB.
What does ROB mean?
Reading the plain dictionary sense of ROB is often the fastest way to see why it answers this clue.
(verb)
- take property unlawfully from (a person or place) by force or threat of force
When else has “Apt name for a thief” 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.
October 18, 2026 (most recent) → ROB. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.
Frequently asked questions
What is the answer to “Apt name for a thief”?
The answer is ROB, a 3-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on October 18, 2026.
How many letters is the answer to “Apt name for a thief”?
3 letters: ROB.
When did this clue appear?
Most recently in the New York Times crossword on October 18, 2026 (a Sunday puzzle), at 76-Across.
Can “Apt name for a thief” 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 October 18, 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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