False reason given for doing something

Latest answer — June 15, 2026

10 Down

Scroll down for rest of crossword answers

NYT Crossword

This clue's Monday, June 15, 2026 appearance

Tap a square to reveal a letter.

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

Across

  1. 1Tops of cups
  2. 5Canine command
  3. 10"That was a close one!"
  4. 14Cash crop of northern Brazil
  5. 15Speaker stands
  6. 16Was a passenger
  7. 17Device that helps you make a point in class?
  8. 20Brief moment
  9. 21Require
  10. 22Make up for past transgressions
  11. 23Mitigate
  12. 25Indy 500 competitors
  13. 27Toy likely to be found at a pop-up store?
  14. 31Surrounding glows
  15. 32"Where the heart is"
  16. 33"No more details, plz"
  17. 36GPS suggestion: Abbr.
  18. 37Sites with remains of mammoths
  19. 40Kerfuffle
  20. 42Come up short money-wise
  21. 44Red vegetable
  22. 45Former boxer Ali who voiced herself in a "Scooby Doo" series
  23. 47Revolutionary kitchen gadget?
  24. 50Did some engraving
  25. 52Semihard cheese of North Holland
  26. 53Hello in Honolulu
  27. 54Boarding pass info
  28. 56It literally takes ages
  29. 59Response to a series of complaints ... that also jokingly applies to 17-, 27- and 47-Across
  30. 63Erupt
  31. 64"You get what you give" principle
  32. 65End of a fishing line
  33. 66Loch ___ monster
  34. 67Boxing or bowling
  35. 68Hurdle for prospective attys.

Down

  1. 1Trips around the track
  2. 2Drink that might cause brain freeze
  3. 3Certain group of hip-hop performers
  4. 4[Not my mistake]
  5. 5White blood cell producer said to be shaped like a coffee bean
  6. 6Fire truck attachment
  7. 7Condition that may be treated with meds like Concerta
  8. 8Soul from Seoul
  9. 9Floppy part of a beagle
  10. 10False reason given for doing something
  11. 11On the ___ system
  12. 12Natural paradises
  13. 13"___ not worthy!" ("Wayne's World" quote)
  14. 18Not take "no" for an answer
  15. 19Fashion designer Rabanne
  16. 24Letters before an alias
  17. 25Transfers, as funds
  18. 26Help in crime
  19. 27Site that might contain saved cookies?
  20. 28Honda or Hyundai
  21. 29Series of messages on social media
  22. 30Wished (for)
  23. 34Navigational aids for website users
  24. 35Not working
  25. 38Up to the task
  26. 39Petite burger
  27. 41Rowing implement
  28. 43Forgoes
  29. 46Actress de Armas
  30. 48White whale chaser of literature
  31. 49Companion that might fall asleep on your keyboard
  32. 50Run off to get hitched
  33. 51Heavy books
  34. 53The "A" of P.T.A.: Abbr.
  35. 54Taverna wrap
  36. 55Soft, warm, tingly feeling, in brief
  37. 57Gumbo ingredient
  38. 58Russian refusal
  39. 60Green-lights
  40. 61High-five alternative
  41. 62Entirety

The answer to “False reason given for doing something” in the New York Times crossword is PRETEXT — a 7-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on June 15, 2026, a Monday puzzle, at 10-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.

“False reason given for doing something” answer

PRETEXT (7 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 PRETEXT.

Why the answer is PRETEXT

PRETEXT is the 7-letter solution that fits "False reason given for doing something" in the NYT Crossword crossword on June 15, 2026 (10-Down). Use the letter tiles above if you'd rather reveal it one letter at a time.

What does PRETEXT mean?

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

(noun)

  • a reason given in justification of a course of action that is not the real reason

When else has “False reason given for doing something” 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.

June 15, 2026 (most recent) → PRETEXT. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “False reason given for doing something”?

The answer is PRETEXT, a 7-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on June 15, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “False reason given for doing something”?

7 letters: PRETEXT.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the New York Times crossword on June 15, 2026 (a Monday puzzle), at 10-Down.

Can “False reason given for doing something” 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 June 15, 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.

Crossword Clues

Looking up a clue? Jump into today's answers and clue help from top puzzles.