Odd duck, aptly

Latest answer — June 03, 2026

39 Down

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NYT Crossword

This clue's Wednesday, June 03, 2026 appearance

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Across

  1. 1"Fancy seeing you here!"
  2. 5Wishy-washy words
  3. 9Utah ski resort
  4. 13Lowly sorts
  5. 15Online "Yay!"
  6. 16Pixar franchise in which buses and taxis exist, despite serving seemingly no purpose
  7. 17Lament while dealing with "kids these days"
  8. 20Fish in a negitoro roll
  9. 21Where "music and passion were always the fashion," in a Barry Manilow hit
  10. 221990s feminist movement rooted in punk rock
  11. 26___ Rae Jepsen ("Call Me Maybe" singer)
  12. 27"___ be my pleasure"
  13. 28Playroom pile
  14. 30"Capisce?"
  15. 31Thai noodle dish
  16. 35Contents of la Seine
  17. 37Subtle acknowledgments
  18. 38Disease for which China's Tu Youyou discovered a lifesaving treatment, earning her a Nobel Prize
  19. 42"Knives Out" co-star ___ de Armas
  20. 43Research institute where radio astronomy began
  21. 44Compound in a joint
  22. 46Polite term of address
  23. 48Workout unit, for short
  24. 49"Hang loose" sign
  25. 51Where to find queens and kings
  26. 55As, in chemistry
  27. 57Literary character who hopes to get whale soon?
  28. 58Physical copy, colloquially
  29. 63"Othello" villain
  30. 64Rustic verse
  31. 65Linda of the band 4 Non Blondes
  32. 66___ mess (traditional English dessert)
  33. 67Pursue
  34. 68Event captured in the photograph "Into the Jaws of Death"

Down

  1. 1Big name in nail polish
  2. 2Skirt's edge
  3. 3"Southern cough syrup"
  4. 4Two-way, as a door
  5. 5Bird with "barn" and "barred" varieties
  6. 6Angler's stick
  7. 7On little cat feet, say
  8. 8"Then again ...," to a texter
  9. 9"Don't look suspicious!"
  10. 10Punjabi metropolis
  11. 11With 44-Down, many an EGOT contender ... or what's spelled out by this puzzle's shaded squares?
  12. 12Give a makeup test?
  13. 14Dynasty after the Tang
  14. 18Raft turner
  15. 19Suggestion, informally
  16. 22Tears
  17. 23Tilted type: Abbr.
  18. 24Blvds. and rds.
  19. 25Use an 18-Down
  20. 29Animal whose crabeater variety does not, in fact, eat crabs
  21. 32Enjoyed, as finger food
  22. 33Forever and a day
  23. 34Cheese in the Czech dish smazený sýr
  24. 36Without exception
  25. 38Product of the internet that might be "dank" or "deep-fried"
  26. 39Odd duck, aptly
  27. 40"Yeah, right!"
  28. 41Nile biters
  29. 43"Pshaw!"
  30. 44See 11-Down
  31. 45Tries
  32. 47Submit
  33. 49Actress Sink of "Stranger Things"
  34. 50Insect that has reportedly passed the "mirror test" of self-recognition
  35. 52Down in the dumps
  36. 53Pequod, e.g.
  37. 54Overfilled
  38. 56Colored part of the 59-Down
  39. 59See 56-Down
  40. 60Wanderer in a forest
  41. 61Singer Rita
  42. 62M.L.B. team for "Mr. October" and "Mr. November"

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Across

  1. 1. "Fancy seeing you here!" — Answer: OHHI
  2. 5. Wishy-washy words — Answer: ORSO
  3. 9. Utah ski resort — Answer: ALTA
  4. 13. Lowly sorts — Answer: PEONS
  5. 15. Online "Yay!" — Answer: WOOT
  6. 16. Pixar franchise in which buses and taxis exist, despite serving seemingly no purpose — Answer: CARS
  7. 17. Lament while dealing with "kids these days" — Answer: IMTOOOLDFORTHIS
  8. 20. Fish in a negitoro roll — Answer: TUNA
  9. 21. Where "music and passion were always the fashion," in a Barry Manilow hit — Answer: THECOPA
  10. 22. 1990s feminist movement rooted in punk rock — Answer: RIOTGRRRL
  11. 26. ___ Rae Jepsen ("Call Me Maybe" singer) — Answer: CARLY
  12. 27. "___ be my pleasure" — Answer: ITD
  13. 28. Playroom pile — Answer: TOYS
  14. 30. "Capisce?" — Answer: SEE
  15. 31. Thai noodle dish — Answer: PADSEEEW
  16. 35. Contents of la Seine — Answer: EAU
  17. 37. Subtle acknowledgments — Answer: SLYNODS
  18. 38. Disease for which China's Tu Youyou discovered a lifesaving treatment, earning her a Nobel Prize — Answer: MALARIA
  19. 42. "Knives Out" co-star ___ de Armas — Answer: ANA
  20. 43. Research institute where radio astronomy began — Answer: BELLLABS
  21. 44. Compound in a joint — Answer: THC
  22. 46. Polite term of address — Answer: MAAM
  23. 48. Workout unit, for short — Answer: REP
  24. 49. "Hang loose" sign — Answer: SHAKA
  25. 51. Where to find queens and kings — Answer: CHESSSETS
  26. 55. As, in chemistry — Answer: ARSENIC
  27. 57. Literary character who hopes to get whale soon? — Answer: AHAB
  28. 58. Physical copy, colloquially — Answer: DEADTREEEDITION
  29. 63. "Othello" villain — Answer: IAGO
  30. 64. Rustic verse — Answer: IDYL
  31. 65. Linda of the band 4 Non Blondes — Answer: PERRY
  32. 66. ___ mess (traditional English dessert) — Answer: ETON
  33. 67. Pursue — Answer: SEEK. Hint: It's what you do when you're on a quest for something important! 🔍
  34. 68. Event captured in the photograph "Into the Jaws of Death" — Answer: DDAY

Down

  1. 1. Big name in nail polish — Answer: OPI
  2. 2. Skirt's edge — Answer: HEM
  3. 3. "Southern cough syrup" — Answer: HOTTODDY
  4. 4. Two-way, as a door — Answer: INOUT
  5. 5. Bird with "barn" and "barred" varieties — Answer: OWL
  6. 6. Angler's stick — Answer: ROD
  7. 7. On little cat feet, say — Answer: SOFTLY
  8. 8. "Then again ...," to a texter — Answer: OTOH
  9. 9. "Don't look suspicious!" — Answer: ACTCASUAL
  10. 10. Punjabi metropolis — Answer: LAHORE
  11. 11. With 44-Down, many an EGOT contender ... or what's spelled out by this puzzle's shaded squares? — Answer: TRIPLE
  12. 12. Give a makeup test? — Answer: ASSAY
  13. 14. Dynasty after the Tang — Answer: SONG
  14. 18. Raft turner — Answer: OAR
  15. 19. Suggestion, informally — Answer: REC
  16. 22. Tears — Answer: RIPS. Hint: When something is pulled apart, it can cause a bit of a mess! 🧨
  17. 23. Tilted type: Abbr. — Answer: ITAL
  18. 24. Blvds. and rds. — Answer: RTES
  19. 25. Use an 18-Down — Answer: ROW
  20. 29. Animal whose crabeater variety does not, in fact, eat crabs — Answer: SEAL
  21. 32. Enjoyed, as finger food — Answer: SNACKEDON
  22. 33. Forever and a day — Answer: EON. Hint: Think of a time period so long it feels almost endless! ⏳
  23. 34. Cheese in the Czech dish smazený sýr — Answer: EDAM
  24. 36. Without exception — Answer: ALL
  25. 38. Product of the internet that might be "dank" or "deep-fried" — Answer: MEME
  26. 39. Odd duck, aptly — Answer: RAREBIRD
  27. 40. "Yeah, right!" — Answer: IBET
  28. 41. Nile biters — Answer: ASPS
  29. 43. "Pshaw!" — Answer: BAH
  30. 44. See 11-Down — Answer: THREAT
  31. 45. Tries — Answer: HASAGO
  32. 47. Submit — Answer: ACCEDE
  33. 49. Actress Sink of "Stranger Things" — Answer: SADIE
  34. 50. Insect that has reportedly passed the "mirror test" of self-recognition — Answer: ANT
  35. 52. Down in the dumps — Answer: SAD. Hint: Sometimes, you just need a good hug to lift this feeling! 😢
  36. 53. Pequod, e.g. — Answer: SHIP
  37. 54. Overfilled — Answer: SATED
  38. 56. Colored part of the 59-Down — Answer: IRIS
  39. 59. See 56-Down — Answer: EYE
  40. 60. Wanderer in a forest — Answer: ELK
  41. 61. Singer Rita — Answer: ORA. Hint: Think of the British pop singer known for hits like “Anywhere” and “Let You Love Me” 🎤
  42. 62. M.L.B. team for "Mr. October" and "Mr. November" — Answer: NYY

Recent NYT Crossword Answers

The last 7 days of solutions

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The answer to “Odd duck, aptly” in the New York Times crossword is RAREBIRD — a 8-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on June 3, 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.

“Odd duck, aptly” answer

RAREBIRD (8 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 RAREBIRD.

Why the answer is RAREBIRD

RAREBIRD is the 8-letter solution that fits "Odd duck, aptly" in the NYT Crossword crossword on June 3, 2026 (39-Down). Use the letter tiles above if you'd rather reveal it one letter at a time.

When else has “Odd duck, aptly” 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.

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

More clues from the NYT Crossword on June 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 June 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 Wednesday 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 “Odd duck, aptly”?

The answer is RAREBIRD, a 8-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on June 3, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Odd duck, aptly”?

8 letters: RAREBIRD.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the New York Times crossword on June 3, 2026 (a Wednesday puzzle), at 39-Down.

Can “Odd duck, aptly” 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 June 3, 2026 is on the NYT Crossword answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

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