Like the best bets

Latest answer — May 03, 2026

65 Across

Scroll down for rest of crossword answers

NYT Crossword

This clue's Sunday, May 03, 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. 1First person, in Austria
  2. 4Pressing activity, for short?
  3. 7Cleared to proceed
  4. 11Perched on
  5. 18Place for pigs to wallow
  6. 20Shawarma wrap
  7. 21"I'm here to learn"
  8. 22In sync
  9. 23Moisture barrier supplies
  10. 2623-Across, oddly?
  11. 28Vert. counterpart
  12. 29Geological layers
  13. 30They got the votes
  14. 31Saint Barthélemy, par exemple
  15. 32Sugar suffix
  16. 34Father of Deimos
  17. 35A hard job
  18. 4035-Across, oddly?
  19. 43Catch in a sting
  20. 44Cleveland-to-Akron dir.
  21. 45Ryder of "Stranger Things"
  22. 46Office memo starter
  23. 48Leprechaun's land
  24. 50Conflict-averse
  25. 55Fictional diary writer
  26. 6055-Across, oddly?
  27. 61A as in Austria
  28. 62Lock lips, in London
  29. 63Drive-___ menu
  30. 65Like the best bets
  31. 66Abandoned
  32. 68Off-center
  33. 70Time gone by
  34. 72Ending with the name Ann or Nan
  35. 73"Reason" given in a parental "explanation"
  36. 76Spots for grazing
  37. 78Pond scum, e.g.
  38. 80Craven behind the camera
  39. 81"One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" author
  40. 8381-Across, oddly?
  41. 87Political understanding
  42. 88___ Ed
  43. 89Book before Nehemiah
  44. 90Boot camp shout
  45. 92Stanford and Cal joined it in 2024
  46. 95From the heart, in a way
  47. 99Conan and others
  48. 10399-Across, oddly?
  49. 105"Essays of ___" (19th-century collection)
  50. 106Summer hours in N.Y.C.
  51. 107You smelt it!
  52. 108Inits. fittingly filling the blanks of Obam_ _ _re
  53. 109Luxor Temple deity
  54. 112Take an ax to
  55. 114Client's sales agent, in brief
  56. 118114-Across, oddly?
  57. 121Unspoken set of rules between dudes
  58. 122N next to the gearshift
  59. 123Ozzy Osbourne's "___, I'm Coming Home"
  60. 124More dimwitted
  61. 125Make more appealing, as something otherwise plain
  62. 126"Glad that's over!"
  63. 127Spot for charity, say, in brief
  64. 128Newsroom staffers, for short

Down

  1. 1"Just picture this!"
  2. 2Rudely interrupt, as a dance partner
  3. 3Man cave fixture
  4. 4Snow jobs
  5. 5Heartfelt ask
  6. 6Website with an alien logo
  7. 7Treat badly, in a way
  8. 8Potter's furnace
  9. 9Uber ride info, informally
  10. 10Small amount in the kitchen
  11. 11Adds with a spoon, say
  12. 12Org. for J. Robert Oppenheimer
  13. 13U.S.S.R. news source
  14. 14Zwei quadrupled
  15. 15What one might take or beat
  16. 16World Golf Hall-of-Famer Mark
  17. 17Caressed
  18. 19Sector of a color wheel
  19. 24"Yer darn ___!"
  20. 25Pert blurt
  21. 27Cry often accompanied by a sigh
  22. 33Cut-rate, in brand names
  23. 36Parched
  24. 37Named names
  25. 38Belgian battle site in W.W. I
  26. 39"Neato!"
  27. 40Sounding like taffeta, say
  28. 41More than suspects
  29. 42When tripled, "You get the picture"
  30. 47Sicilian spewer
  31. 49Part of A.A.R.P.: Abbr.
  32. 51Loaded (with)
  33. 52When teething might end
  34. 53Produce aisle device
  35. 54Swear
  36. 55Mimic
  37. 56Chewy chocolate candy brand
  38. 57One sporting a onesie
  39. 58Loose-cheeked, as a mastiff
  40. 59Fantastic beast
  41. 60Jarringly sensational
  42. 64"u slay me"
  43. 67Day care charge
  44. 69Blue blood vessels?
  45. 71"What ___ can I say?"
  46. 74German actress Berger with a career spanning eight decades
  47. 75Big name in blenders
  48. 77Reluctant to mingle, say
  49. 79Classic elevator tunes
  50. 82Start of a choosing rhyme
  51. 84"The time ___ hand"
  52. 85Stage item
  53. 86___-mutuel betting
  54. 88Kick starter?
  55. 91Didn't go it alone, say
  56. 93One of the so-called Five Civilized Tribes
  57. 94Magazine fig.
  58. 96Fragrant garden hybrid
  59. 97Gave consent
  60. 98The lords in "The 12 Days of Christmas," e.g.
  61. 99Noggin
  62. 100Vegan milk source
  63. 101Mob scene extra
  64. 102French financial institution
  65. 104Jazz subgenre for Wynton Marsalis
  66. 110Daily grinds
  67. 111Puts on
  68. 113Chicken (out)
  69. 114"I'm in such a fix"
  70. 115Metro regions, informally
  71. 116___ bene
  72. 117The Horned Frogs of Ft. Worth
  73. 11919th of 24
  74. 120"Why, why, why?!"

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Across

  1. 1. First person, in Austria — Answer: ICH
  2. 4. Pressing activity, for short? — Answer: CPR
  3. 7. Cleared to proceed — Answer: OKED
  4. 11. Perched on — Answer: SATATOP
  5. 18. Place for pigs to wallow — Answer: MUDHOLE
  6. 20. Shawarma wrap — Answer: PITA
  7. 21. "I'm here to learn" — Answer: TEACHME
  8. 22. In sync — Answer: ATTUNED
  9. 23. Moisture barrier supplies — Answer: PLASTICSHEETS
  10. 26. 23-Across, oddly? — Answer: GIVESADARN
  11. 28. Vert. counterpart — Answer: HOR
  12. 29. Geological layers — Answer: STRATA
  13. 30. They got the votes — Answer: INS
  14. 31. Saint Barthélemy, par exemple — Answer: ILE
  15. 32. Sugar suffix — Answer: OSE
  16. 34. Father of Deimos — Answer: ARES
  17. 35. A hard job — Answer: NOEASYTASK
  18. 40. 35-Across, oddly? — Answer: STICKYPADS
  19. 43. Catch in a sting — Answer: ENTRAP
  20. 44. Cleveland-to-Akron dir. — Answer: SSE
  21. 45. Ryder of "Stranger Things" — Answer: WINONA
  22. 46. Office memo starter — Answer: INRE
  23. 48. Leprechaun's land — Answer: ERIN
  24. 50. Conflict-averse — Answer: NODRAMA
  25. 55. Fictional diary writer — Answer: BRIDGETJONES
  26. 60. 55-Across, oddly? — Answer: LOWDIGIT
  27. 61. A as in Austria — Answer: EIN
  28. 62. Lock lips, in London — Answer: SNOG
  29. 63. Drive-___ menu — Answer: THRU
  30. 65. Like the best bets — Answer: SAFEST
  31. 66. Abandoned — Answer: LEFT
  32. 68. Off-center — Answer: AWRY
  33. 70. Time gone by — Answer: YORE
  34. 72. Ending with the name Ann or Nan — Answer: ETTE
  35. 73. "Reason" given in a parental "explanation" — Answer: ISAYSO
  36. 76. Spots for grazing — Answer: LEAS
  37. 78. Pond scum, e.g. — Answer: FILM
  38. 80. Craven behind the camera — Answer: WES
  39. 81. "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" author — Answer: KENKESEY
  40. 83. 81-Across, oddly? — Answer: CHILDSUPPORT
  41. 87. Political understanding — Answer: ENTENTE
  42. 88. ___ Ed — Answer: PHYS
  43. 89. Book before Nehemiah — Answer: EZRA
  44. 90. Boot camp shout — Answer: TENHUT
  45. 92. Stanford and Cal joined it in 2024 — Answer: ACC
  46. 95. From the heart, in a way — Answer: AORTAL
  47. 99. Conan and others — Answer: BARBARIANS
  48. 103. 99-Across, oddly? — Answer: THINKPIECE
  49. 105. "Essays of ___" (19th-century collection) — Answer: ELIA
  50. 106. Summer hours in N.Y.C. — Answer: EDT
  51. 107. You smelt it! — Answer: ORE
  52. 108. Inits. fittingly filling the blanks of Obam_ _ _re — Answer: ACA
  53. 109. Luxor Temple deity — Answer: AMONRA
  54. 112. Take an ax to — Answer: HEW
  55. 114. Client's sales agent, in brief — Answer: ACCOUNTREP
  56. 118. 114-Across, oddly? — Answer: NOTQUITERIGHT
  57. 121. Unspoken set of rules between dudes — Answer: BROCODE
  58. 122. N next to the gearshift — Answer: NEUTRAL
  59. 123. Ozzy Osbourne's "___, I'm Coming Home" — Answer: MAMA
  60. 124. More dimwitted — Answer: OBTUSER
  61. 125. Make more appealing, as something otherwise plain — Answer: DRESSUP
  62. 126. "Glad that's over!" — Answer: PHEW
  63. 127. Spot for charity, say, in brief — Answer: PSA
  64. 128. Newsroom staffers, for short — Answer: EDS

Down

  1. 1. "Just picture this!" — Answer: IMAGINE
  2. 2. Rudely interrupt, as a dance partner — Answer: CUTINON
  3. 3. Man cave fixture — Answer: HDTVSET
  4. 4. Snow jobs — Answer: CONS
  5. 5. Heartfelt ask — Answer: PLEA
  6. 6. Website with an alien logo — Answer: REDDIT
  7. 7. Treat badly, in a way — Answer: OPPRESS
  8. 8. Potter's furnace — Answer: KILN
  9. 9. Uber ride info, informally — Answer: ETA
  10. 10. Small amount in the kitchen — Answer: DASH
  11. 11. Adds with a spoon, say — Answer: STIRSIN
  12. 12. Org. for J. Robert Oppenheimer — Answer: AEC
  13. 13. U.S.S.R. news source — Answer: TASS
  14. 14. Zwei quadrupled — Answer: ACHT
  15. 15. What one might take or beat — Answer: THERAP
  16. 16. World Golf Hall-of-Famer Mark — Answer: OMEARA
  17. 17. Caressed — Answer: PETTED
  18. 19. Sector of a color wheel — Answer: HUE
  19. 24. "Yer darn ___!" — Answer: TOOTIN
  20. 25. Pert blurt — Answer: SASS
  21. 27. Cry often accompanied by a sigh — Answer: ALAS
  22. 33. Cut-rate, in brand names — Answer: ECONO
  23. 36. Parched — Answer: ARID
  24. 37. Named names — Answer: SANG. Hint: A tattletale may have done this when revealing others’ identities 🤫
  25. 38. Belgian battle site in W.W. I — Answer: YPRES
  26. 39. "Neato!" — Answer: KEEN
  27. 40. Sounding like taffeta, say — Answer: SWISHY
  28. 41. More than suspects — Answer: KNOWS
  29. 42. When tripled, "You get the picture" — Answer: YADDA
  30. 47. Sicilian spewer — Answer: ETNA
  31. 49. Part of A.A.R.P.: Abbr. — Answer: RET
  32. 51. Loaded (with) — Answer: RIFE
  33. 52. When teething might end — Answer: AGETWO
  34. 53. Produce aisle device — Answer: MISTER
  35. 54. Swear — Answer: ATTEST
  36. 55. Mimic — Answer: BELIKE
  37. 56. Chewy chocolate candy brand — Answer: RIESEN
  38. 57. One sporting a onesie — Answer: INFANT
  39. 58. Loose-cheeked, as a mastiff — Answer: JOWLY
  40. 59. Fantastic beast — Answer: OGRE
  41. 60. Jarringly sensational — Answer: LURID
  42. 64. "u slay me" — Answer: ROFL
  43. 67. Day care charge — Answer: TYKE
  44. 69. Blue blood vessels? — Answer: YACHTS
  45. 71. "What ___ can I say?" — Answer: ELSE. Hint: A polite way to ask what other option remains in the conversation 😊
  46. 74. German actress Berger with a career spanning eight decades — Answer: SENTA
  47. 75. Big name in blenders — Answer: OSTER
  48. 77. Reluctant to mingle, say — Answer: SHY
  49. 79. Classic elevator tunes — Answer: MUZAK
  50. 82. Start of a choosing rhyme — Answer: EENIE
  51. 84. "The time ___ hand" — Answer: ISAT
  52. 85. Stage item — Answer: PROP
  53. 86. ___-mutuel betting — Answer: PARI
  54. 88. Kick starter? — Answer: PUNTER
  55. 91. Didn't go it alone, say — Answer: HADHELP
  56. 93. One of the so-called Five Civilized Tribes — Answer: CHOCTAW
  57. 94. Magazine fig. — Answer: CIRC
  58. 96. Fragrant garden hybrid — Answer: TEAROSE
  59. 97. Gave consent — Answer: ACCEDED
  60. 98. The lords in "The 12 Days of Christmas," e.g. — Answer: LEAPERS
  61. 99. Noggin — Answer: BEAN
  62. 100. Vegan milk source — Answer: ALMOND
  63. 101. Mob scene extra — Answer: RIOTER
  64. 102. French financial institution — Answer: BANQUE
  65. 104. Jazz subgenre for Wynton Marsalis — Answer: NEOBOP
  66. 110. Daily grinds — Answer: RUTS
  67. 111. Puts on — Answer: AIRS
  68. 113. Chicken (out) — Answer: WIMP
  69. 114. "I'm in such a fix" — Answer: AHME
  70. 115. Metro regions, informally — Answer: URBS
  71. 116. ___ bene — Answer: NOTA
  72. 117. The Horned Frogs of Ft. Worth — Answer: TCU
  73. 119. 19th of 24 — Answer: TAU
  74. 120. "Why, why, why?!" — Answer: GAH

Recent NYT Crossword Answers

The last 7 days of solutions

NYT Crossword 2 May 2026NYT Crossword 1 May 2026NYT Crossword 30 April 2026NYT Crossword 29 April 2026NYT Crossword 28 April 2026NYT Crossword 27 April 2026NYT Crossword 26 April 2026

The answer to “Like the best bets” in the New York Times crossword is SAFEST — a 6-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on May 3, 2026, a Sunday puzzle, at 65-Across. 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.

“Like the best bets” answer

SAFEST (6 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 SAFEST.

Why the answer is SAFEST

SAFEST is the 6-letter solution that fits "Like the best bets" in the NYT Crossword crossword on May 3, 2026 (65-Across). Use the letter tiles above if you'd rather reveal it one letter at a time.

When else has “Like the best bets” 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.

May 3, 2026 (most recent) → SAFEST. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

More clues from the NYT Crossword on May 3, 2026

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 May 3, 2026 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 “Like the best bets”?

The answer is SAFEST, a 6-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on May 3, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Like the best bets”?

6 letters: SAFEST.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the New York Times crossword on May 3, 2026 (a Sunday puzzle), at 65-Across.

Can “Like the best bets” 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 May 3, 2026 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.