Not likely to make the first move, say
Latest answer — October 05, 2026
11 Down
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Clue explained
Someone shy may hesitate to initiate an interaction, so being unlikely to make the first move is an example of shyness. “Say” signals that the clue is offering an illustrative behavior.
- Clue type:
- Example
NYT Crossword
This clue's Monday, October 05, 2026 appearance
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The answer to “Not likely to make the first move, say” in the New York Times crossword is SHY — a 3-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on October 5, 2026, a Monday puzzle, at 11-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.
“Not likely to make the first move, say” answer
SHY (3 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 SHY.
What does SHY mean?
Reading the plain dictionary sense of SHY is often the fastest way to see why it answers this clue.
(adjective)
- nervous or timid in the company of other people
- less than; short of
- (of a plant) not bearing flowers or fruit well or prolifically
When else has “Not likely to make the first move, say” 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.
October 5, 2026 (most recent) → SHY. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.
Frequently asked questions
What is the answer to “Not likely to make the first move, say”?
The answer is SHY, a 3-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on October 5, 2026.
How many letters is the answer to “Not likely to make the first move, say”?
3 letters: SHY.
When did this clue appear?
Most recently in the New York Times crossword on October 5, 2026 (a Monday puzzle), at 11-Down.
Can “Not likely to make the first move, say” 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 October 5, 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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