Creature sometimes trained for bomb detection

Latest answer — August 25, 2026

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Clue explained

A RAT can be trained to detect explosives by scent, making it a creature used in some bomb-detection programs. The clue asks for the general animal rather than a specific species.

Clue type:
Definition
A trained rat being used in an explosive-detection program

NYT Crossword

This clue's Tuesday, August 25, 2026 appearance

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Or reveal one clue at a time with the Hint and Answer buttons below.

Across

  1. 1Sharpened point of a quill pen
  2. 4One-named Senegalese American singer with the #1 hits "I Wanna Love You" and "Don't Matter"
  3. 8South Asian royals
  4. 13Actress Longoria
  5. 14Free-spirited style, informally
  6. 15*6th
  7. 16Summer meteor shower named for a mythological hero
  8. 18Paradise
  9. 19Musical flutter
  10. 20Billion years, astronomically
  11. 22___ skirt
  12. 23"Miracle on Ice" foe, for short
  13. 24Smart set
  14. 26To, informally
  15. 27"___ it!" (shout in a game of tag)
  16. 28*2nd
  17. 30Arouses, as an appetite
  18. 32Captivate
  19. 34*1st
  20. 36Settled on the ground, say
  21. 38Something told with two hands?
  22. 39Bluish-silver Christmas trees, maybe
  23. 42Hosp. recovery area
  24. 46Great divide
  25. 47Moon believed to have a subsurface ocean
  26. 49Gamer's "off-line"
  27. 50Kool-Aid competitor
  28. 51*3rd
  29. 53McEntire of country music
  30. 54Some Monopoly properties: Abbr.
  31. 56Drink in a sippy cup, to a toddler
  32. 57Commence
  33. 58Mexican beer brand
  34. 60"I'd love to go"
  35. 62*7th
  36. 63Bygone Russian leader
  37. 64Pad
  38. 65Baker's glassware brand
  39. 66"Thing with feathers that perches in the soul," per Emily Dickinson
  40. 67"Y"-sounding pair of letters, in Spanish

Down

  1. 1*8th
  2. 2Allen who was the 2001 N.B.A. M.V.P.
  3. 3One known for the morning grind?
  4. 4Second-born son in the Bible
  5. 5___ pond
  6. 6"Wowza!"
  7. 7Tiny biting insect
  8. 8Creature sometimes trained for bomb detection
  9. 9Focus of some physicists
  10. 10*5th
  11. 11Desert quality
  12. 12Epitomes of slowness
  13. 15Symbols of fair weather
  14. 17Mirror-and-prism camera, for short
  15. 21Arrival of symptoms
  16. 25"Man, that's hardly fair!"
  17. 28Fullness, in hairstyling
  18. 29"The Little Mermaid" prince
  19. 31Shades
  20. 33*4th
  21. 35Kelly of morning TV
  22. 37Neon ___ (aquarium fish)
  23. 39Like someone emerging from freezing cold water, typically
  24. 40Raceway speed setter
  25. 41Mull over
  26. 43Reason to go into penalty kicks
  27. 44Like the paths of 45-Down, as visually depicted in this puzzle
  28. 45Celestial "wanderers" ... or what this puzzle's circled letters represent
  29. 46Flirt with, in a way
  30. 48"Are you sure?"
  31. 52Spellbinds
  32. 53Sunburned, perhaps
  33. 55Reasonable
  34. 57Reveal
  35. 59Black-and-white wedding rental
  36. 61Gullible sort

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Across

  1. 1. Sharpened point of a quill pen — Answer: NIB. Hint: It is the small writing tip that touches the page. 🖋️
  2. 4. One-named Senegalese American singer with the #1 hits "I Wanna Love You" and "Don't Matter" — Answer: AKON. Hint: Think of the chart-topping artist behind those early-2000s hits. 🎤
  3. 8. South Asian royals — Answer: RAJAS. Hint: These traditional rulers held court in the Indian subcontinent. 👑
  4. 13. Actress Longoria — Answer: EVA. Hint: This actress is known for her role in a popular TV show about a quiet suburban life. 🎬
  5. 14. Free-spirited style, informally — Answer: BOHO. Hint: Picture relaxed, artsy fashion with earthy colors and flowing fabrics. 🌼
  6. 15. *6th — Answer: SATURN. Hint: Count outward from the Sun to find this famous ringed world. 🪐
  7. 16. Summer meteor shower named for a mythological hero — Answer: PERSEIDS. Hint: Look for the annual August display linked to a heroic figure from Greek myth. ☄️
  8. 18. Paradise — Answer: UTOPIA. Hint: Imagine a flawless society where everything works wonderfully. 🌈
  9. 19. Musical flutter — Answer: TRILL. Hint: A singer or instrumentalist makes this effect by rapidly alternating nearby notes. 🎶
  10. 20. Billion years, astronomically — Answer: AEON. Hint: Think of an immense stretch of cosmic time. 🌌
  11. 22. ___ skirt — Answer: MIDI. Hint: This skirt length falls around the middle of the lower leg. 👗
  12. 23. "Miracle on Ice" foe, for short — Answer: USSR. Hint: The legendary 1980 hockey opponent represented the Soviet state. 🏒
  13. 24. Smart set — Answer: MENSA. Hint: This exclusive organization welcomes people with exceptionally high intelligence scores. 🧠
  14. 26. To, informally — Answer: TIL. Hint: Use this casual shorthand when indicating a destination. ➡️
  15. 27. "___ it!" (shout in a game of tag) — Answer: NOT. Hint: A playful refusal can precede the word shouted during a chase. 🏃
  16. 28. *2nd — Answer: VENUS. Hint: This bright neighboring world is the second planet from the Sun. ✨
  17. 30. Arouses, as an appetite — Answer: WHETS. Hint: A tantalizing smell can stimulate hunger. 🍽️
  18. 32. Captivate — Answer: ENAMOR. Hint: To do this is to charm someone deeply. 💘
  19. 34. *1st — Answer: MERCURY. Hint: The smallest planet is also the closest one to the Sun. ☀️
  20. 36. Settled on the ground, say — Answer: ALIT. Hint: A bird that has come down from flight has done this. 🐦
  21. 38. Something told with two hands? — Answer: TIME. Hint: A clock can reveal this while using both hands. ⏰
  22. 39. Bluish-silver Christmas trees, maybe — Answer: SPRUCES. Hint: These evergreen trees can have a cool, silvery-blue hue. 🎄
  23. 42. Hosp. recovery area — Answer: POSTOP. Hint: This is where patients recover immediately after surgery 🏥
  24. 46. Great divide — Answer: CHASM. Hint: Picture a vast, dramatic gap splitting the landscape 🌄
  25. 47. Moon believed to have a subsurface ocean — Answer: TITAN. Hint: This Saturnian moon is famous for its lakes and possible hidden sea 🌙
  26. 49. Gamer's "off-line" — Answer: IRL. Hint: Gamers use this for life beyond the screen 🎮
  27. 50. Kool-Aid competitor — Answer: HIC. Hint: Think of another fruity powdered drink mix 🥤
  28. 51. *3rd — Answer: EARTH. Hint: The third planet from the Sun is our home 🌍
  29. 53. McEntire of country music — Answer: REBA. Hint: This country superstar also starred in a popular sitcom 🎤
  30. 54. Some Monopoly properties: Abbr. — Answer: AVES. Hint: On the game board, certain streets are shortened in this way 🎲
  31. 56. Drink in a sippy cup, to a toddler — Answer: WAWA. Hint: A little one might use this playful word for water 🧃
  32. 57. Commence — Answer: BEGIN. Hint: To do this is to get started 🚦
  33. 58. Mexican beer brand — Answer: TECATE. Hint: This Mexican lager shares its name with a city in Baja California. 🍺
  34. 60. "I'd love to go" — Answer: ITSADATE. Hint: This enthusiastic reply accepts an invitation 💌
  35. 62. *7th — Answer: URANUS. Hint: The seventh planet from the Sun is an ice giant 🪐
  36. 63. Bygone Russian leader — Answer: TSAR. Hint: This was the traditional title of an imperial Russian ruler 👑
  37. 64. Pad — Answer: MAT. Hint: A small floor covering can serve as one of these 🧼
  38. 65. Baker's glassware brand — Answer: PYREX. Hint: This heat-resistant brand is a kitchen classic 🧪
  39. 66. "Thing with feathers that perches in the soul," per Emily Dickinson — Answer: HOPE. Hint: Dickinson poetically placed this uplifting feeling within us 🕊️
  40. 67. "Y"-sounding pair of letters, in Spanish — Answer: ELS. Hint: In Spanish, these letters are pronounced like the name of a single consonant 🔤

Down

  1. 1. *8th — Answer: NEPTUNE. Hint: The eighth planet from the Sun is a deep-blue world 🌌
  2. 2. Allen who was the 2001 N.B.A. M.V.P. — Answer: IVERSON. Hint: This basketball legend was nicknamed The Answer 🏀
  3. 3. One known for the morning grind? — Answer: BARISTA. Hint: This café professional starts the day by making coffee ☕
  4. 4. Second-born son in the Bible — Answer: ABEL. Hint: This biblical brother met a tragic fate at the hands of his older sibling. 📖
  5. 5. ___ pond — Answer: KOI. Hint: This ornamental pond features colorful fish. 🐟
  6. 6. "Wowza!" — Answer: OHDAMN. Hint: A spirited exclamation of surprise or admiration. 😲
  7. 7. Tiny biting insect — Answer: NOSEEUM. Hint: Look closely for this nearly invisible pest that leaves itchy bites. 🦟
  8. 8. Creature sometimes trained for bomb detection — Answer: RAT. Hint: This rodent can be trained to sniff out hidden explosives. 🐀
  9. 9. Focus of some physicists — Answer: ATOM. Hint: This tiny unit is a basic building block of matter. ⚛️
  10. 10. *5th — Answer: JUPITER. Hint: This enormous planet is famous for its giant red storm. 🪐
  11. 11. Desert quality — Answer: ARIDITY. Hint: A landscape with very little rainfall has this quality. 🏜️
  12. 12. Epitomes of slowness — Answer: SNAILS. Hint: These garden visitors are famous for moving at a crawl. 🐌
  13. 15. Symbols of fair weather — Answer: SUNS. Hint: These bright celestial bodies often represent clear skies. ☀️
  14. 17. Mirror-and-prism camera, for short — Answer: SLR. Hint: This camera lets you view a scene through the same optics used to capture it. 📷
  15. 21. Arrival of symptoms — Answer: ONSET. Hint: The beginning of illness signs is called this. 🤒
  16. 25. "Man, that's hardly fair!" — Answer: AWCMON. Hint: A playful protest when someone feels unfairly treated. 😤
  17. 28. Fullness, in hairstyling — Answer: VOLUME. Hint: Stylists seek this quality to make hair look thicker and bouncier. 💇
  18. 29. "The Little Mermaid" prince — Answer: ERIC. Hint: A handsome royal who falls for Ariel 🧜‍♂️
  19. 31. Shades — Answer: HUES. Hint: Think of the different colors on a painter’s palette. 🎨
  20. 33. *4th — Answer: MARS. Hint: The fourth planet is famously known as the Red Planet. 🔴
  21. 35. Kelly of morning TV — Answer: RIPA. Hint: This TV personality cohosts a long-running daytime talk show. 📺
  22. 37. Neon ___ (aquarium fish) — Answer: TETRA. Hint: This small, brightly striped freshwater fish is popular in aquariums. 🐠
  23. 39. Like someone emerging from freezing cold water, typically — Answer: SHIVERY. Hint: Someone stepping from icy water may feel this way. 🥶
  24. 40. Raceway speed setter — Answer: PACECAR. Hint: This lead vehicle controls the pace until racing begins. 🏎️
  25. 41. Mull over — Answer: SITWITH. Hint: Consider an idea carefully before deciding. 🤔
  26. 43. Reason to go into penalty kicks — Answer: TIEGAME. Hint: A deadlocked score sends the match to this dramatic tiebreaker ⚽
  27. 44. Like the paths of 45-Down, as visually depicted in this puzzle — Answer: ORBITAL. Hint: Think of the curved routes followed by objects circling in space 🪐
  28. 45. Celestial "wanderers" ... or what this puzzle's circled letters represent — Answer: PLANETS. Hint: These familiar space travelers circle stars and fill the solar system 🌌
  29. 46. Flirt with, in a way — Answer: CHATUP. Hint: You might do this through playful messages or conversation 😉
  30. 48. "Are you sure?" — Answer: THATSO. Hint: A doubtful response that asks someone to confirm their claim 🤨
  31. 52. Spellbinds — Answer: AWES. Hint: Captivates someone with an impressive display ✨
  32. 53. Sunburned, perhaps — Answer: RED. Hint: A little too much sunshine may leave skin looking this way ☀️
  33. 55. Reasonable — Answer: SANE. Hint: Describes a sensible and levelheaded idea 🧠
  34. 57. Reveal — Answer: BARE. Hint: To uncover or expose something previously hidden 🔍
  35. 59. Black-and-white wedding rental — Answer: TUX. Hint: A formal outfit often rented for a wedding ceremony 🤵
  36. 61. Gullible sort — Answer: SAP. Hint: This person is especially easy to fool 🎭

The answer to “Creature sometimes trained for bomb detection” in the New York Times crossword is RAT — a 3-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on August 25, 2026, a Tuesday puzzle, at 8-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.

“Creature sometimes trained for bomb detection” 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.

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 “Creature sometimes trained for bomb detection” 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.

August 25, 2026 (most recent) → RAT. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Creature sometimes trained for bomb detection”?

The answer is RAT, a 3-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on August 25, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Creature sometimes trained for bomb detection”?

3 letters: RAT.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the New York Times crossword on August 25, 2026 (a Tuesday puzzle), at 8-Down.

Can “Creature sometimes trained for bomb detection” 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 August 25, 2026 is on the NYT Crossword answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

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