Hot takes?

Latest answer — February 28, 2025

14 Down

Scroll down for rest of crossword answers

NYT Crossword

This clue's Friday, February 28, 2025 appearance

Tap a square to reveal a letter.

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

Across

  1. 1Splashy government expenditure?
  2. 11Events subject to S.E.C. oversight, in brief
  3. 15Question that might elicit more questions
  4. 16Accrue annual leaves?
  5. 17"Whoa there, tiger!"
  6. 18Achaean strongman of myth
  7. 19Antediluvian
  8. 20Michael of fashion
  9. 21Red lights in D.C.
  10. 22"The Marvels" director DaCosta
  11. 23Some overhead expenses?
  12. 26Podcaster's need
  13. 27Common ingredient in Scotch pie
  14. 28Rescue from total ruin
  15. 30Coconut cookie
  16. 34Connected
  17. 35Self-doubter's words
  18. 36Big galoot
  19. 38Yearn for
  20. 39Star with Oscar nominations in five consecutive decades
  21. 41Goes pro?
  22. 43Attracted a larger crowd than
  23. 45Currency depicting statesman Mustafa Kemal Atatürk
  24. 46___ gow (Chinese gambling game with dominoes)
  25. 47Ambles
  26. 49Show with a "Point/Counterpoint" segment, in brief
  27. 52Creative pursuits
  28. 54Draped garment
  29. 55Fruit harvested by the ribeirinhos
  30. 56Subject of some grainy photographs?
  31. 57Pace quickener implemented by Major League Baseball in 2023
  32. 60Casual tops
  33. 61Work-from-home attire, perhaps
  34. 62Canadian gas brand
  35. 63People may visit them just for kicks

Down

  1. 1Jubilant song
  2. 2Caterpillar roll fish
  3. 3"... two if ___"
  4. 4W.N.B.A. star Jewell
  5. 5Party-eschewing type: Abbr.
  6. 6Business suit?
  7. 7Game that helps babies learn object permanence
  8. 8Kaitlin of "Hacks"
  9. 9God of life and the afterlife
  10. 10"Enjoy the spread!"
  11. 11Birthplace of Zoroastrianism, today
  12. 12Event with a casual dress code
  13. 13"Fine, just tell me"
  14. 14Hot takes?
  15. 23Gives something to get something
  16. 24Rock genre
  17. 25Providers of fresh cuts
  18. 27Like Olympic tracks
  19. 29Subcompact Nissan offering
  20. 30Staple ingredient in Japanese cuisine
  21. 31Premium computers
  22. 32They show models' names
  23. 33Sat ___ (locating aid)
  24. 37Hair-raising thing?
  25. 40Pooch-pampering places
  26. 42Up to
  27. 44Ghostly image
  28. 48Prefix meaning "straight"
  29. 49Search high and low
  30. 50Iridescent material
  31. 51Double-taps, say, as a post
  32. 53Just all right
  33. 55For another thing
  34. 58"___ Misstra Know-It-All" (1970s Stevie Wonder song)
  35. 59Footnote abbr.

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Across

  1. 1. Splashy government expenditure? — Answer: PUBLICPOOL
  2. 11. Events subject to S.E.C. oversight, in brief — Answer: IPOS
  3. 15. Question that might elicit more questions — Answer: ANYONEELSE
  4. 16. Accrue annual leaves? — Answer: RAKE
  5. 17. "Whoa there, tiger!" — Answer: EASYDOESIT
  6. 18. Achaean strongman of myth — Answer: AJAX
  7. 19. Antediluvian — Answer: AGED
  8. 20. Michael of fashion — Answer: KORS
  9. 21. Red lights in D.C. — Answer: NAYS
  10. 22. "The Marvels" director DaCosta — Answer: NIA
  11. 23. Some overhead expenses? — Answer: BEANIES
  12. 26. Podcaster's need — Answer: MIC
  13. 27. Common ingredient in Scotch pie — Answer: LAMB
  14. 28. Rescue from total ruin — Answer: SALVAGE
  15. 30. Coconut cookie — Answer: MACAROON
  16. 34. Connected — Answer: TIEDIN
  17. 35. Self-doubter's words — Answer: ICANT
  18. 36. Big galoot — Answer: OAF
  19. 38. Yearn for — Answer: CRAVE
  20. 39. Star with Oscar nominations in five consecutive decades — Answer: STREEP
  21. 41. Goes pro? — Answer: VOTESYES
  22. 43. Attracted a larger crowd than — Answer: OUTDREW
  23. 45. Currency depicting statesman Mustafa Kemal Atatürk — Answer: LIRA
  24. 46. ___ gow (Chinese gambling game with dominoes) — Answer: PAI
  25. 47. Ambles — Answer: STROLLS
  26. 49. Show with a "Point/Counterpoint" segment, in brief — Answer: SNL
  27. 52. Creative pursuits — Answer: ARTS
  28. 54. Draped garment — Answer: SARI
  29. 55. Fruit harvested by the ribeirinhos — Answer: ACAI
  30. 56. Subject of some grainy photographs? — Answer: SILO
  31. 57. Pace quickener implemented by Major League Baseball in 2023 — Answer: PITCHCLOCK
  32. 60. Casual tops — Answer: TEES
  33. 61. Work-from-home attire, perhaps — Answer: ATHLEISURE
  34. 62. Canadian gas brand — Answer: ESSO
  35. 63. People may visit them just for kicks — Answer: SHOESTORES

Down

  1. 1. Jubilant song — Answer: PAEAN
  2. 2. Caterpillar roll fish — Answer: UNAGI
  3. 3. "... two if ___" — Answer: BYSEA
  4. 4. W.N.B.A. star Jewell — Answer: LOYD
  5. 5. Party-eschewing type: Abbr. — Answer: IND
  6. 6. Business suit? — Answer: CEO
  7. 7. Game that helps babies learn object permanence — Answer: PEEKABOO
  8. 8. Kaitlin of "Hacks" — Answer: OLSON
  9. 9. God of life and the afterlife — Answer: OSIRIS
  10. 10. "Enjoy the spread!" — Answer: LETSEAT
  11. 11. Birthplace of Zoroastrianism, today — Answer: IRAN
  12. 12. Event with a casual dress code — Answer: PAJAMADAY
  13. 13. "Fine, just tell me" — Answer: OKAYIGIVE
  14. 14. Hot takes? — Answer: SEXSCENES
  15. 23. Gives something to get something — Answer: BARTERS
  16. 24. Rock genre — Answer: EMO
  17. 25. Providers of fresh cuts — Answer: SLICERS
  18. 27. Like Olympic tracks — Answer: LANED
  19. 29. Subcompact Nissan offering — Answer: VERSA
  20. 30. Staple ingredient in Japanese cuisine — Answer: MISOPASTE
  21. 31. Premium computers — Answer: ACTUARIES
  22. 32. They show models' names — Answer: CARTITLES
  23. 33. Sat ___ (locating aid) — Answer: NAV
  24. 37. Hair-raising thing? — Answer: FOLLICLE
  25. 40. Pooch-pampering places — Answer: PETSPAS. Hint: Think of places where pampered dogs receive deluxe treatments. 🐶
  26. 42. Up to — Answer: TIL
  27. 44. Ghostly image — Answer: WRAITH
  28. 48. Prefix meaning "straight" — Answer: ORTHO
  29. 49. Search high and low — Answer: SCOUR
  30. 50. Iridescent material — Answer: NACRE
  31. 51. Double-taps, say, as a post — Answer: LIKES
  32. 53. Just all right — Answer: SOSO
  33. 55. For another thing — Answer: ALSO
  34. 58. "___ Misstra Know-It-All" (1970s Stevie Wonder song) — Answer: HES
  35. 59. Footnote abbr. — Answer: CIT

Recent NYT Crossword Answers

The last 7 days of solutions

NYT Crossword 27 February 2025NYT Crossword 26 February 2025NYT Crossword 25 February 2025NYT Crossword 24 February 2025NYT Crossword 23 February 2025NYT Crossword 22 February 2025NYT Crossword 21 February 2025

The answer to “Hot takes?” in the New York Times crossword is SEXSCENES — a 9-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on February 28, 2025, a Friday puzzle, at 14-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.

“Hot takes?” answer

SEXSCENES (9 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 SEXSCENES.

Why the answer is SEXSCENES

SEXSCENES is the 9-letter solution that fits "Hot takes?" in the NYT Crossword crossword on February 28, 2025 (14-Down). Use the letter tiles above if you'd rather reveal it one letter at a time.

When else has “Hot takes?” 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.

February 28, 2025 (most recent) → SEXSCENES. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

More clues from the NYT Crossword on February 28, 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 February 28, 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 Friday 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 “Hot takes?”?

The answer is SEXSCENES, a 9-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on February 28, 2025.

How many letters is the answer to “Hot takes?”?

9 letters: SEXSCENES.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the New York Times crossword on February 28, 2025 (a Friday puzzle), at 14-Down.

Can “Hot takes?” 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 February 28, 2025 is on the NYT Crossword answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

Crossword Clues

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