Goes bad
Latest answer — August 31, 2026
53 Down
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Clue explained
“Rots” is the third-person singular present form of “rot,” meaning goes bad or decays. The subject is understood from the clue’s singular verb form.
- Clue type:
- Word form
NYT Crossword
This clue's Monday, August 31, 2026 appearance
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The answer to “Goes bad” in the New York Times crossword is ROTS — a 4-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on August 31, 2026, a Monday puzzle, at 53-Down, and it has also run on 1 earlier date with the same answer. 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.
“Goes bad” answer
ROTS (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 ROTS.
What does ROTS mean?
Reading the plain dictionary sense of ROTS is often the fastest way to see why it answers this clue.
(verb)
- (chiefly of animal or vegetable matter) decay or cause to decay by the action of bacteria and fungi; decompose
- make fun of; tease
When else has “Goes bad” 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 31, 2026 (most recent) → ROTS
- June 15, 2025 → ROTS
Frequently asked questions
What is the answer to “Goes bad”?
The answer is ROTS, a 4-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on August 31, 2026.
How many letters is the answer to “Goes bad”?
4 letters: ROTS.
When did this clue appear?
Most recently in the New York Times crossword on August 31, 2026 (a Monday puzzle), at 53-Down. Earlier appearances: June 15, 2025 → ROTS.
Can “Goes bad” 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 31, 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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