Difficult position

Latest answer — November 16, 2025

52 Down

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NYT Crossword

This clue's Sunday, November 16, 2025 appearance

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Across

  1. 1They're charged for long trips
  2. 7Tool with a point
  3. 10No longer in as good a place
  4. 18Here
  5. 20Early smartphone model of the 2000s
  6. 21Conflict that ended with the Treaty of Nanking
  7. 22King's assessment of his son the Crusader?
  8. 25Parisian possessive
  9. 26D.O.J. branch that deals with trafficking
  10. 27Nickname heard in 8-Down
  11. 28Harder to grasp, in a way
  12. 29Done deal
  13. 30"Swan Lake" role
  14. 32Disney World souvenir
  15. 35Davis of old Hollywood
  16. 36The possibility of losing one's job, e.g.
  17. 38Radiate
  18. 40Santa's view on loyalty for those who help him?
  19. 46"I didn't expect that!"
  20. 47Corner key
  21. 48Platt who starred in Broadway's "Dear Evan Hansen"
  22. 49Marine menace
  23. 51With 61-Down and 78-Across, "Food at this restaurant stinks, but the duck seems fine"?
  24. 56Nail salon brand
  25. 58Gal from Israel
  26. 59Something athletes strive to break
  27. 60Dots on faces
  28. 61Gam_ show purchas_ from Ryan S_acr_st
  29. 62Customarily
  30. 64Frequent question about the spelling of "Caribbean"?
  31. 68Team transports
  32. 71Inserted, as into a printer
  33. 72It's over your head
  34. 73Capture
  35. 76No Mr. Nice Guy
  36. 77Scratch the surface of, say
  37. 78See 51-Across
  38. 81Fly in the ointment
  39. 82Weed killer
  40. 84Where the C.D.C. is headquartered: Abbr.
  41. 86Shake off
  42. 87Schnozz, honker or beak?
  43. 94Broke down
  44. 95Castle fortifications
  45. 96Leave red-faced
  46. 100Sign of a smashing success
  47. 101Right-leaning?
  48. 102Olympian queen
  49. 106Sunni or Shiite
  50. 108One wearing a striped shirt, informally
  51. 110___Arts, school in Santa Clarita
  52. 111Pool equipment
  53. 112Warning to a beachgoer on St. Patrick's Day?
  54. 118Very quickly
  55. 119Getting warm
  56. 120"The Godfather" weapon
  57. 121Movable parts of record players
  58. 122"Might I ___ ..."
  59. 123Competes for, as a contract

Down

  1. 1Costume garments made from bedsheets
  2. 2___ Holmes, 2020s role for Millie Bobby Brown
  3. 3Hub for K-pop
  4. 4Many a casual fitted top
  5. 5Flood protection?
  6. 6Depot: Abbr.
  7. 7Specialized skill
  8. 8Wayne's world?
  9. 9Rob of "The West Wing"
  10. 10Tribulation
  11. 11Get off the fence
  12. 12Like dark green avocados
  13. 13No-lose situation
  14. 14Microphone inventor ___ Berliner
  15. 15Take full responsibility for something
  16. 16Aspect
  17. 17"___ Jacques"
  18. 19Like some cameras and agendas
  19. 20"Really?"
  20. 23Honkers
  21. 24Stand out
  22. 30"... ___ quit!"
  23. 31Spa handout
  24. 33Formerly with law enforcement, informally
  25. 34Garage job
  26. 37What a detail-oriented person might "dot"
  27. 39Animal house
  28. 40Cuisine with boat noodles
  29. 41No Mr. Nice Guy
  30. 42Prefix suggesting low cost
  31. 43Nature calls
  32. 44Language that's the source of the word "khaki"
  33. 45Earth Day subj.
  34. 46Many a time
  35. 50Absorbed, as a cost
  36. 52Difficult position
  37. 53Little untruths
  38. 54Special ___
  39. 55Uncle Sam's land, informally
  40. 57Lead-in to dollar or chemical
  41. 58Talk at length
  42. 61See 51-Across
  43. 62Gone wrong, for short?
  44. 63L.A.'s ___ Stadium, site of the opening ceremony of the 2028 Olympics
  45. 64"Scent of a Woman" dance
  46. 65Twisted
  47. 66Tried for a second term, say
  48. 67AAA job
  49. 68Meditation sounds
  50. 69TV role for Lucy Lawless
  51. 70James of "Misery"
  52. 73Author who coined the word "munchkin"
  53. 74Campaign worker
  54. 75Coll. senior's test
  55. 77Selina ___, the veep on "Veep"
  56. 78Parade attraction
  57. 79On its way
  58. 80Memorization tool
  59. 82___ honor (honorific for a judge)
  60. 83Eastern ties
  61. 85Represented
  62. 88Wally ___, astronaut who commanded Apollo 7
  63. 89Find charming
  64. 90Lost shipment inquiry
  65. 91"Papa Bear" of the N.F.L.
  66. 92Final words
  67. 93Partner of parks, for short
  68. 96Scope
  69. 97Spanish for "good"
  70. 98Dam on the Nile
  71. 99List of candidates
  72. 103Mozart can be seen on some of them
  73. 104Odd-numbered page
  74. 105Ghost-faced
  75. 107Israeli P.M. before Rabin
  76. 109Europe's tallest active volcano
  77. 113Channel for cinephiles
  78. 114"___ All That" (2021 rom-com)
  79. 115Family man
  80. 116"Marvy!"
  81. 117Doctor's order, for short

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Across

  1. 1. They're charged for long trips — Answer: TESLAS
  2. 7. Tool with a point — Answer: AWL
  3. 10. No longer in as good a place — Answer: WORSEOFF
  4. 18. Here — Answer: ONEARTH
  5. 20. Early smartphone model of the 2000s — Answer: TREO
  6. 21. Conflict that ended with the Treaty of Nanking — Answer: OPIUMWAR
  7. 22. King's assessment of his son the Crusader? — Answer: GOODKNIGHTSWEETPRINCE
  8. 25. Parisian possessive — Answer: ALUI
  9. 26. D.O.J. branch that deals with trafficking — Answer: DEA
  10. 27. Nickname heard in 8-Down — Answer: TEX
  11. 28. Harder to grasp, in a way — Answer: EELIER
  12. 29. Done deal — Answer: SALE
  13. 30. "Swan Lake" role — Answer: ODETTE
  14. 32. Disney World souvenir — Answer: CEL
  15. 35. Davis of old Hollywood — Answer: BETTE
  16. 36. The possibility of losing one's job, e.g. — Answer: STRESSOR
  17. 38. Radiate — Answer: EXUDE
  18. 40. Santa's view on loyalty for those who help him? — Answer: TOTHINEOWNELFBETRUE
  19. 46. "I didn't expect that!" — Answer: OHGEE
  20. 47. Corner key — Answer: ESC
  21. 48. Platt who starred in Broadway's "Dear Evan Hansen" — Answer: BEN
  22. 49. Marine menace — Answer: ORCA
  23. 51. With 61-Down and 78-Across, "Food at this restaurant stinks, but the duck seems fine"? — Answer: FAREISFOUL
  24. 56. Nail salon brand — Answer: OPI. Hint: This brand is known for its vibrant nail colors and clever names! 💅
  25. 58. Gal from Israel — Answer: GADOT
  26. 59. Something athletes strive to break — Answer: TIE
  27. 60. Dots on faces — Answer: PIPS
  28. 61. Gam_ show purchas_ from Ryan S_acr_st — Answer: ANE
  29. 62. Customarily — Answer: ASARULE
  30. 64. Frequent question about the spelling of "Caribbean"? — Answer: TWOBSORNOTTWOBS
  31. 68. Team transports — Answer: OXCARTS
  32. 71. Inserted, as into a printer — Answer: FED
  33. 72. It's over your head — Answer: ROOF
  34. 73. Capture — Answer: BAG
  35. 76. No Mr. Nice Guy — Answer: MEANY
  36. 77. Scratch the surface of, say — Answer: MAR. Hint: Think of what a careless fingernail might do to a polished table. 🪵
  37. 78. See 51-Across — Answer: FOWLISFAIR
  38. 81. Fly in the ointment — Answer: SNAG
  39. 82. Weed killer — Answer: HOE
  40. 84. Where the C.D.C. is headquartered: Abbr. — Answer: ATL
  41. 86. Shake off — Answer: ELUDE
  42. 87. Schnozz, honker or beak? — Answer: ANOSEBYANYOTHERNAME
  43. 94. Broke down — Answer: CRIED
  44. 95. Castle fortifications — Answer: PARAPETS
  45. 96. Leave red-faced — Answer: ABASH
  46. 100. Sign of a smashing success — Answer: SRO
  47. 101. Right-leaning? — Answer: ITALIC
  48. 102. Olympian queen — Answer: HERA
  49. 106. Sunni or Shiite — Answer: MUSLIM
  50. 108. One wearing a striped shirt, informally — Answer: REF
  51. 110. ___Arts, school in Santa Clarita — Answer: CAL
  52. 111. Pool equipment — Answer: CUES
  53. 112. Warning to a beachgoer on St. Patrick's Day? — Answer: BEWARETHETIDESOFMARCH
  54. 118. Very quickly — Answer: INATRICE
  55. 119. Getting warm — Answer: NEAR
  56. 120. "The Godfather" weapon — Answer: GARROTE
  57. 121. Movable parts of record players — Answer: TONEARMS
  58. 122. "Might I ___ ..." — Answer: ADD
  59. 123. Competes for, as a contract — Answer: BIDSON

Down

  1. 1. Costume garments made from bedsheets — Answer: TOGAS
  2. 2. ___ Holmes, 2020s role for Millie Bobby Brown — Answer: ENOLA
  3. 3. Hub for K-pop — Answer: SEOUL
  4. 4. Many a casual fitted top — Answer: LADIESTEE
  5. 5. Flood protection? — Answer: ARK
  6. 6. Depot: Abbr. — Answer: STN
  7. 7. Specialized skill — Answer: ART
  8. 8. Wayne's world? — Answer: WESTERNS
  9. 9. Rob of "The West Wing" — Answer: LOWE
  10. 10. Tribulation — Answer: WOE
  11. 11. Get off the fence — Answer: OPT
  12. 12. Like dark green avocados — Answer: RIPE
  13. 13. No-lose situation — Answer: SUREBET
  14. 14. Microphone inventor ___ Berliner — Answer: EMILE
  15. 15. Take full responsibility for something — Answer: OWNIT
  16. 16. Aspect — Answer: FACET
  17. 17. "___ Jacques" — Answer: FRERE
  18. 19. Like some cameras and agendas — Answer: HIDDEN
  19. 20. "Really?" — Answer: THATSO
  20. 23. Honkers — Answer: GEESE
  21. 24. Stand out — Answer: EXCEL
  22. 30. "... ___ quit!" — Answer: ORI
  23. 31. Spa handout — Answer: TOWEL
  24. 33. Formerly with law enforcement, informally — Answer: EXFBI
  25. 34. Garage job — Answer: LUBE
  26. 37. What a detail-oriented person might "dot" — Answer: THEI
  27. 39. Animal house — Answer: DEN
  28. 40. Cuisine with boat noodles — Answer: THAI
  29. 41. No Mr. Nice Guy — Answer: OGRE
  30. 42. Prefix suggesting low cost — Answer: ECONO
  31. 43. Nature calls — Answer: ROARS
  32. 44. Language that's the source of the word "khaki" — Answer: URDU
  33. 45. Earth Day subj. — Answer: ECOL
  34. 46. Many a time — Answer: OFT
  35. 50. Absorbed, as a cost — Answer: ATE. Hint: Think of what a budget does when it takes a charge into account. 💸
  36. 52. Difficult position — Answer: SPOT
  37. 53. Little untruths — Answer: FIBS
  38. 54. Special ___ — Answer: OPS
  39. 55. Uncle Sam's land, informally — Answer: USOFA
  40. 57. Lead-in to dollar or chemical — Answer: PETRO
  41. 58. Talk at length — Answer: GAB
  42. 61. See 51-Across — Answer: AND
  43. 62. Gone wrong, for short? — Answer: AWOL
  44. 63. L.A.'s ___ Stadium, site of the opening ceremony of the 2028 Olympics — Answer: SOFI
  45. 64. "Scent of a Woman" dance — Answer: TANGO
  46. 65. Twisted — Answer: WRY
  47. 66. Tried for a second term, say — Answer: RERAN
  48. 67. AAA job — Answer: TOW. Hint: What roadside service might your car need after a breakdown? 🚗
  49. 68. Meditation sounds — Answer: OMS
  50. 69. TV role for Lucy Lawless — Answer: XENA
  51. 70. James of "Misery" — Answer: CAAN
  52. 73. Author who coined the word "munchkin" — Answer: BAUM
  53. 74. Campaign worker — Answer: AIDE
  54. 75. Coll. senior's test — Answer: GRE
  55. 77. Selina ___, the veep on "Veep" — Answer: MEYER
  56. 78. Parade attraction — Answer: FLOAT
  57. 79. On its way — Answer: SENT
  58. 80. Memorization tool — Answer: FLASHCARD
  59. 82. ___ honor (honorific for a judge) — Answer: HER
  60. 83. Eastern ties — Answer: OBIS
  61. 85. Represented — Answer: TYPIFIED
  62. 88. Wally ___, astronaut who commanded Apollo 7 — Answer: SCHIRRA
  63. 89. Find charming — Answer: ADORE
  64. 90. Lost shipment inquiry — Answer: TRACER
  65. 91. "Papa Bear" of the N.F.L. — Answer: HALAS
  66. 92. Final words — Answer: EPILOG
  67. 93. Partner of parks, for short — Answer: REC
  68. 96. Scope — Answer: AMBIT
  69. 97. Spanish for "good" — Answer: BUENO
  70. 98. Dam on the Nile — Answer: ASWAN
  71. 99. List of candidates — Answer: SLATE
  72. 103. Mozart can be seen on some of them — Answer: EUROS
  73. 104. Odd-numbered page — Answer: RECTO
  74. 105. Ghost-faced — Answer: ASHEN
  75. 107. Israeli P.M. before Rabin — Answer: MEIR
  76. 109. Europe's tallest active volcano — Answer: ETNA
  77. 113. Channel for cinephiles — Answer: TCM
  78. 114. "___ All That" (2021 rom-com) — Answer: HES
  79. 115. Family man — Answer: DAD
  80. 116. "Marvy!" — Answer: FAB
  81. 117. Doctor's order, for short — Answer: MRI

Recent NYT Crossword Answers

The last 7 days of solutions

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The answer to “Difficult position” in the New York Times crossword is SPOT — a 4-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on November 16, 2025, a Sunday puzzle, at 52-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.

“Difficult position” answer

SPOT (4 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 SPOT.

Why the answer is SPOT

SPOT is the 4-letter solution that fits "Difficult position" in the NYT Crossword crossword on November 16, 2025 (52-Down). Use the letter tiles above if you'd rather reveal it one letter at a time.

When else has “Difficult position” 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.

November 16, 2025 (most recent) → SPOT. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

More clues from the NYT Crossword on November 16, 2025

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 November 16, 2025 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 Sunday 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 “Difficult position”?

The answer is SPOT, a 4-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on November 16, 2025.

How many letters is the answer to “Difficult position”?

4 letters: SPOT.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the New York Times crossword on November 16, 2025 (a Sunday puzzle), at 52-Down.

Can “Difficult position” 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 November 16, 2025 is on the NYT Crossword answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

Crossword Clues

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