Mild-mannered characteristic?

Latest answer — September 02, 2026

39 Down

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Clue explained

“Mild-mannered” is characteristically written with a hyphen between its two parts. The question mark signals this playful punctuation-based reading.

Clue type:
Pun or wordplay
The compound adjective “mild-mannered” shown with a hyphen.

NYT Crossword

This clue's Wednesday, September 02, 2026 appearance

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Across

  1. 1"Melts in your mouth" candies ... or a hint to this puzzle's theme
  2. 7Mattress or memo follower
  3. 10Maine city near the mouth of the Kennebec River
  4. 14Mama Morton of "Chicago," for one
  5. 15Meaning of "mono-"
  6. 16Marco Polo made his way across it
  7. 17Much of Mali
  8. 18Meet and glance off a bumper, as a pool ball might
  9. 20Multicolored implements in many art drawers
  10. 22Markdown on Cyber Monday, e.g.
  11. 24Maroon and mahogany, for two
  12. 25Man's "monkey suit"
  13. 26Mom-to-aunt moniker
  14. 28Muscular part of a marathoner
  15. 29Marshall Mathers ___ Eminem
  16. 32Met melody
  17. 34Make sure not to miss it!
  18. 36Made eyes at in the manner of a satyr
  19. 38Marauder's Map encryption phrase in "Harry Potter"
  20. 42Minced-meat cake
  21. 43Male meower
  22. 44"Mega cool!," in modern lingo
  23. 45Multiple-choice selection on a midterm, say: Abbr.
  24. 46Making out openly or a mobile device, in brief
  25. 49Modern-day name for the American Messenger Co.
  26. 51Make free (of), maybe
  27. 52Munificent man
  28. 54Maximum measure of attractiveness, say
  29. 56M.L.B. M.V.P. nicknamed the "Commerce Comet"
  30. 60Midwest state that's home to Moline
  31. 61Many-toothed metal tool
  32. 65Much-heard sound from a horse in motion
  33. 66Martial arts master Bruce
  34. 67Maneuver a monoplane, e.g.
  35. 68Mechanics might provide them for their work: Abbr.
  36. 69Modern modem inits.
  37. 70Maniacs, maybe

Down

  1. 1Metric measurements: Abbr.
  2. 2Motorists make up this org.
  3. 3Maximum degree in math
  4. 4Molière's or Mamet's field
  5. 5Maxims discouraging misconduct
  6. 6Minor mishap
  7. 7Many a mailbox locale
  8. 8Marmot or marmoset
  9. 9Month multiplied by 120
  10. 10Musters support for, as a mission
  11. 11Men's tennis champ with a Presidential Medal of Freedom
  12. 12Measure of a membership
  13. 13Milliners manufacture them
  14. 19Milwaukie and Mount Hood are here
  15. 21Matter to mull over
  16. 22Malodorous Malaysian fruit
  17. 23Manifests in the material world
  18. 25Major metropolis on a bay of the same name
  19. 27Map word in Marseille
  20. 29Main man for Bill Clinton, 1993-2001
  21. 30Maintain, as movie footage
  22. 31Made a basic math calculation
  23. 33Magician's or marionettist's performance
  24. 35Movement of money digitally from bank to bank, in brief
  25. 37Meander mindlessly (about)
  26. 39Mild-mannered characteristic?
  27. 40Miss badly, maybe
  28. 41Music magnifier at a concert
  29. 47Made a mere 24 hours ago
  30. 48Military groups that meet in battle
  31. 50Mouth moistener
  32. 52Moves merrily
  33. 53Mobile stand at a meeting
  34. 55Meh ... or medium-temp
  35. 56Miniature maze runners
  36. 57Major misfortunes
  37. 58Medical mass
  38. 59Means of transport in a mine
  39. 62Musician Cooke who sang "You Send Me"
  40. 63Made a meal of
  41. 64Ming-Na of 1998's "Mulan"

The answer to “Mild-mannered characteristic?” in the New York Times crossword is HYPHEN — a 6-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on September 2, 2026, a Wednesday puzzle, at 39-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.

“Mild-mannered characteristic?” answer

HYPHEN (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 HYPHEN.

What does HYPHEN mean?

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

(noun)

  • the sign -, used to join words to indicate that they have a combined meaning or that they are linked in the grammar of a sentence (as in a pick-me-up, rock-forming minerals), to indicate the division of a word at the end of a line, or to indicate a missing element (as in short- and long-term)

When else has “Mild-mannered characteristic?” 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 2, 2026 (most recent) → HYPHEN. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Mild-mannered characteristic?”?

The answer is HYPHEN, a 6-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on September 2, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Mild-mannered characteristic?”?

6 letters: HYPHEN.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the New York Times crossword on September 2, 2026 (a Wednesday puzzle), at 39-Down.

Can “Mild-mannered characteristic?” 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 2, 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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