Choice words

Latest answer — March 19, 2026

34 Down

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NYT Crossword

This clue's Thursday, March 19, 2026 appearance

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Across

  1. 1Exploiting an I.R.S. loophole, e.g.
  2. 9Forensic analyst's workspace
  3. 15Like the national dish tavë kosi (baked lamb with yogurt sauce)
  4. 16Moon that's a neighbor of Ganymede and Io
  5. 17A boatload
  6. 18How Jean Valjean repeatedly breaks out in "Les Misérables"
  7. 19Where to find the towns Bigfoot and Tarzan
  8. 20The o's in xoxo, symbolically
  9. 22Scratches (out)
  10. 23Cards in a wallet or purse, informally
  11. 25Resident of Muscat
  12. 27Clothes that are ready to be thrown away
  13. 30Mimicked
  14. 32Online gamer's bane
  15. 33Like some flaws
  16. 35Rump
  17. 39"Decidedly not"
  18. 40Homophone of 39-Across
  19. 41Peeve
  20. 42___ Lasso, fictional A.F.C. Richmond coach
  21. 43Big Bad Wolf's disguise
  22. 45___ badge
  23. 47Opposite of paleo-
  24. 48Voice of the modern age
  25. 50Site for indie designers
  26. 51Crooner Mel
  27. 53Beginning of the spelling of "Hera"
  28. 55U-___ (German subway)
  29. 56It has Earth's highest and lowest points
  30. 58N.C.A.A.'s ___ Eight
  31. 62Certain fatty acids, informally
  32. 64Certain hockey and soccer infractions ... or a hint to this puzzle's circled and shaded squares
  33. 66Country singer Lee Ann
  34. 67At peak pique
  35. 68Gaelic gals
  36. 69Locations for some posers

Down

  1. 1First president to sit in the Oval Office
  2. 2It's vera soothing!
  3. 3Halo console
  4. 4Jean Arp, e.g.
  5. 5Tripping, in a way
  6. 6German "the"
  7. 7Deep cut
  8. 8Lock in, so to speak
  9. 9Thomas Jefferson's belief
  10. 10Part of an order
  11. 11Ordnance depot
  12. 12"Hey, no argument here"
  13. 13Nighttime woe
  14. 14Luggage
  15. 21Master class?
  16. 24Setting for Arthur Miller's "The Crucible"
  17. 26Analogous
  18. 27Word with napkin or nose
  19. 28Miles away
  20. 29Lady Gaga's "Born This Way" and Diana Ross's "I'm Coming Out," to name two
  21. 31Tickles
  22. 34Choice words
  23. 36Actor Hammer
  24. 37Lepidopterists' needs
  25. 38Operation Neptune, familiarly
  26. 44Electric sign filler
  27. 46Showing things as they are
  28. 49Utter foolishness
  29. 51Nation whose name sounds like a plea for seconds
  30. 52Catchers' wear
  31. 54___ Virtue, three-time gold medalist ice dancer
  32. 55Word after finger or poke
  33. 57Do for Jimi Hendrix
  34. 59"Here's an ___ ..."
  35. 60Final, e.g.
  36. 61Contractors' figs.
  37. 63Of first rank
  38. 65Noted San Francisco weather phenomenon

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Across

  1. 1. Exploiting an I.R.S. loophole, e.g. — Answer: TAXDODGE
  2. 9. Forensic analyst's workspace — Answer: DNALAB
  3. 15. Like the national dish tavë kosi (baked lamb with yogurt sauce) — Answer: ALBANIAN
  4. 16. Moon that's a neighbor of Ganymede and Io — Answer: EUROPA
  5. 17. A boatload — Answer: FOODLESS
  6. 18. How Jean Valjean repeatedly breaks out in "Les Misérables" — Answer: INSONG
  7. 19. Where to find the towns Bigfoot and Tarzan — Answer: TEXAS
  8. 20. The o's in xoxo, symbolically — Answer: HUGS
  9. 22. Scratches (out) — Answer: EKES
  10. 23. Cards in a wallet or purse, informally — Answer: IDS
  11. 25. Resident of Muscat — Answer: ROMANIA
  12. 27. Clothes that are ready to be thrown away — Answer: RAGS
  13. 30. Mimicked — Answer: APED. Hint: Think of a word that means to copy someone's actions or behavior! 🐒
  14. 32. Online gamer's bane — Answer: LAG
  15. 33. Like some flaws — Answer: IFATALL
  16. 35. Rump — Answer: TAILEND
  17. 39. "Decidedly not" — Answer: NAY
  18. 40. Homophone of 39-Across — Answer: NEE
  19. 41. Peeve — Answer: IRK
  20. 42. ___ Lasso, fictional A.F.C. Richmond coach — Answer: TED
  21. 43. Big Bad Wolf's disguise — Answer: GRANDMA
  22. 45. ___ badge — Answer: EMERITA
  23. 47. Opposite of paleo- — Answer: NEO. Hint: Think of a modern twist on ancient things! 🆕
  24. 48. Voice of the modern age — Answer: SIRI
  25. 50. Site for indie designers — Answer: ETSY
  26. 51. Crooner Mel — Answer: STORMED
  27. 53. Beginning of the spelling of "Hera" — Answer: ETA
  28. 55. U-___ (German subway) — Answer: BAHN
  29. 56. It has Earth's highest and lowest points — Answer: ASIA
  30. 58. N.C.A.A.'s ___ Eight — Answer: ELITE
  31. 62. Certain fatty acids, informally — Answer: OMEGAS
  32. 64. Certain hockey and soccer infractions ... or a hint to this puzzle's circled and shaded squares — Answer: OFFSIDES
  33. 66. Country singer Lee Ann — Answer: WOMACK
  34. 67. At peak pique — Answer: CROSSEST
  35. 68. Gaelic gals — Answer: LASSES
  36. 69. Locations for some posers — Answer: YOGAMATS

Down

  1. 1. First president to sit in the Oval Office — Answer: TAFT
  2. 2. It's vera soothing! — Answer: ALOE
  3. 3. Halo console — Answer: XBOX
  4. 4. Jean Arp, e.g. — Answer: DADAIST
  5. 5. Tripping, in a way — Answer: ONLSD
  6. 6. German "the" — Answer: DIE
  7. 7. Deep cut — Answer: GASH
  8. 8. Lock in, so to speak — Answer: ENSURE
  9. 9. Thomas Jefferson's belief — Answer: DEISM
  10. 10. Part of an order — Answer: NUN
  11. 11. Ordnance depot — Answer: ARSENAL
  12. 12. "Hey, no argument here" — Answer: LOOKIGETIT
  13. 13. Nighttime woe — Answer: APNEA
  14. 14. Luggage — Answer: BAGS
  15. 21. Master class? — Answer: GODTIER
  16. 24. Setting for Arthur Miller's "The Crucible" — Answer: SALEM
  17. 26. Analogous — Answer: ALIKE
  18. 27. Word with napkin or nose — Answer: RING
  19. 28. Miles away — Answer: AFAR
  20. 29. Lady Gaga's "Born This Way" and Diana Ross's "I'm Coming Out," to name two — Answer: GAYANTHEMS
  21. 31. Tickles — Answer: PLEASES
  22. 34. Choice words — Answer: ANDOR
  23. 36. Actor Hammer — Answer: ARMIE
  24. 37. Lepidopterists' needs — Answer: NETS
  25. 38. Operation Neptune, familiarly — Answer: DDAY
  26. 44. Electric sign filler — Answer: NEONGAS
  27. 46. Showing things as they are — Answer: REALISM
  28. 49. Utter foolishness — Answer: IDIOCY
  29. 51. Nation whose name sounds like a plea for seconds — Answer: SAMOA
  30. 52. Catchers' wear — Answer: MASKS
  31. 54. ___ Virtue, three-time gold medalist ice dancer — Answer: TESSA
  32. 55. Word after finger or poke — Answer: BOWL
  33. 57. Do for Jimi Hendrix — Answer: AFRO
  34. 59. "Here's an ___ ..." — Answer: IDEA
  35. 60. Final, e.g. — Answer: TEST
  36. 61. Contractors' figs. — Answer: ESTS
  37. 63. Of first rank — Answer: ACE
  38. 65. Noted San Francisco weather phenomenon — Answer: FOG

Recent NYT Crossword Answers

The last 7 days of solutions

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The answer to “Choice words” in the New York Times crossword is ANDOR — a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on March 19, 2026, a Thursday puzzle, at 34-Down. Other answers we've seen for this clue include ORS. 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.

“Choice words” answer

ANDOR (5 letters) — most recent; also seen as ORS

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 ANDOR.

Why the answer is ANDOR

ANDOR is the 5-letter solution that fits "Choice words" in the NYT Crossword crossword on March 19, 2026 (34-Down). Use the letter tiles above if you'd rather reveal it one letter at a time.

Other answers for “Choice words”

New York Times has used this clue with more than one solution. Besides ANDOR, it has also been ORS. Every appearance we've indexed is listed below with the date it ran.

More clues from the NYT Crossword on March 19, 2026

Stuck elsewhere in the grid? Here are some of the crossing and nearby clues from the same puzzle — tap any for its answer and explanation.

Want every clue in one place? The full New York Times answer list for March 19, 2026 is on that day's grid page, and today's live NYT Crossword answers are always one tap from the today page.

About the NYT Crossword

The New York Times crossword, edited by Will Shortz, is the most famous daily puzzle in the United States. It runs a 15×15 grid Monday through Saturday and a larger 21×21 grid on Sunday, and its difficulty deliberately ramps through the week: Monday is the most approachable, Saturday the toughest, with Thursday often reserved for a trick or twist like rebus squares. This page covers a Thursday puzzle. A straight-definition entry is the kind of solid mid-grid answer that anchors the trickier crossings around it. Because the NYT reuses short, crossing-friendly words regularly, seeing them once makes them easier to spot next time.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Choice words”?

The answer is ANDOR, a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on March 19, 2026. Other answers for this clue include ORS.

How many letters is the answer to “Choice words”?

5 letters: ANDOR. Earlier fills for this clue have also been ORS (3).

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the New York Times crossword on March 19, 2026 (a Thursday puzzle), at 34-Down. Earlier appearances: March 9, 2025 → ORS.

Can “Choice words” have a different answer?

Yes. Besides ANDOR, New York Times has also used ORS 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 March 19, 2026 is on the NYT Crossword answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

Crossword Clues

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