Labor pain?

Latest answer — September 12, 2026

37 Down

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Clue explained

A scab is a worker who crosses a strike or takes the place of striking laborers, giving “Labor pain?” a punning reference to labor disputes. The question mark signals this nonmedical interpretation of pain.

Clue type:
Pun or wordplay
Workers standing on a picket line during a labor strike

NYT Crossword

This clue's Saturday, September 12, 2026 appearance

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The answer to Labor pain? in the New York Times crossword is SCAB — a 4-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on September 12, 2026, a Saturday puzzle, at 37-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.

Labor pain?” answer

SCAB (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 SCAB.

What does SCAB mean?

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

(noun)

  • a dry, rough protective crust that forms over a cut or wound during healing
  • mange or a similar skin disease in animals
  • a person who refuses to strike or join a trade union or who takes the place of a striking worker

When else has “Labor pain?” 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.

September 12, 2026 (most recent) SCAB. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Labor pain?”?

The answer is SCAB, a 4-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on September 12, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Labor pain?”?

4 letters: SCAB.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the New York Times crossword on September 12, 2026 (a Saturday puzzle), at 37-Down.

Can “Labor pain?” 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 September 12, 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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