Bless, in a way

Editorially verified for the Oct 18, 2026

8 Across

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A ceremonial anointing with oil, a traditional way to bless or consecrate someone.

Clue explainedFact checked

To anoint someone is to bless or consecrate them, often by applying oil in a religious ceremony. The word can also be used figuratively when someone is selected or formally recognized for a role, as in being anointed a successor.

Clue type:
Definition

NYT Crossword

This clue's Sunday, October 18, 2026 appearance

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Across

  1. 59Zip
  2. 64Zip
  3. 112In
  4. 121In

Down

The answer to “Bless, in a way” in the New York Times crossword is ANOINT — a 6-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on October 18, 2026, a Sunday puzzle, at 8-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.

“Bless, in a way” answer

ANOINT (6 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 ANOINT.

What does ANOINT mean?

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

(verb)

  • smear or rub with oil, typically as part of a religious ceremony

When else has “Bless, in a way” 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) → ANOINT. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Bless, in a way”?

The answer is ANOINT, a 6-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on October 18, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Bless, in a way”?

6 letters: ANOINT.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the New York Times crossword on October 18, 2026 (a Sunday puzzle), at 8-Across.

Can “Bless, in a way” 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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