Chinese zodiac creature

Latest answer — July 01, 2026

5 Down

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NYT Crossword

This clue's Wednesday, July 01, 2026 appearance

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Across

  1. 1Designation for a potato
  2. 6Kind of party
  3. 10Counter, as a claim
  4. 15___ Holmes, 2020s role for Millie Bobby Brown
  5. 16Strongly nudge
  6. 17In opposition to everyone else
  7. 18Jack ___
  8. 19Position in a bridge game
  9. 20Covers for campers
  10. 21Claim on property
  11. 22"Really?"
  12. 24Astrophysicist ___ deGrasse Tyson
  13. 25"I should care because ...?"
  14. 26It's just a little bit off
  15. 28Little bit of life?
  16. 29Chocolate toffee bar since 1981
  17. 30Modern component in a digital display, in brief
  18. 32Places to stretch out
  19. 35What may precede a texter's two cents
  20. 38Mexican milk
  21. 42Fitting kind of exam for a dental student
  22. 43Least friendly
  23. 45Anchor, as a boat
  24. 461880s-'90s veep ___ P. Morton
  25. 47Kids
  26. 48Rightmost compartment in a till
  27. 49Shape of a skating rink
  28. 51Subtle glow
  29. 53Theoretical world coexisting with ours ... as depicted in this puzzle
  30. 61Hit musical set in Buenos Aires
  31. 62Ceramic collectible, maybe
  32. 63Adjust the price on
  33. 64Theoretical timeline where things play out a little differently ... as featured in this puzzle
  34. 67"Call Me Maybe" singer Carly ___ Jepsen
  35. 68How one might dress in a professional setting
  36. 69Just one taste
  37. 70Abbr. in a birth announcement
  38. 71That ship
  39. 72Family member, familiarly
  40. 73C7H5N3O6, for short

Down

  1. 1Automotive giant headquartered in Austin, Tex.
  2. 2Detach from a bulletin board
  3. 3Used a drill on
  4. 4Spirit
  5. 5Chinese zodiac creature
  6. 6Bed for fish?
  7. 7Reward for a dog
  8. 8Marbled gemstone
  9. 9Escapes, as a dog
  10. 10Double-crosser
  11. 11Zip
  12. 12Yawning, say
  13. 13Shift from the top of a social media feed
  14. 14Pioneer in developing alternating current
  15. 22On the other hand, in brief
  16. 23Component of most salad dressings
  17. 26Mo. parts
  18. 27Lurker in a reef
  19. 29Get ready for dinner, say
  20. 31Aspiring actor's submission
  21. 32The sun
  22. 33It might be conveyed on a conveyor belt
  23. 34Websites whose URLs are stored, typically
  24. 36Lost, for short
  25. 37Gentlemen
  26. 39Trickster
  27. 40Garden tool
  28. 41Places where people are usually lying, for short
  29. 43"___ be fine"
  30. 44Taiwanese president ___ Ing-wen
  31. 50Clear warnings
  32. 52Tanning agents, informally
  33. 53Gemstone with biological roots
  34. 54H.S. media room
  35. 55Dodge deceptively
  36. 56Behind
  37. 57Purposes
  38. 58"Phooey!"
  39. 59Posh clothing material
  40. 60Site of the Ten Plagues
  41. 65Traditional Japanese drama
  42. 66QB Manning

The answer to “Chinese zodiac creature” in the New York Times crossword is RAT — a 3-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on July 1, 2026, a Wednesday puzzle, at 5-Down. 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.

“Chinese zodiac creature” answer

RAT (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 RAT.

Why the answer is RAT

RAT is the 3-letter solution that fits "Chinese zodiac creature" in the NYT Crossword crossword on July 1, 2026 (5-Down). Use the letter tiles above if you'd rather reveal it one letter at a time.

What does RAT mean?

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

(noun)

  • a rodent that resembles a large mouse, typically having a pointed snout and a long tail. Some kinds have become cosmopolitan and are sometimes responsible for transmitting diseases
  • a despicable person, especially a man who has been deceitful or disloyal
  • a person who is associated with or frequents a specified place

When else has “Chinese zodiac creature” 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.

July 1, 2026 (most recent) → RAT. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Chinese zodiac creature”?

The answer is RAT, a 3-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on July 1, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Chinese zodiac creature”?

3 letters: RAT.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the New York Times crossword on July 1, 2026 (a Wednesday puzzle), at 5-Down.

Can “Chinese zodiac creature” 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 July 1, 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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