Part of a three-word phrase expressing regret

The answer to “Part of a three-word phrase expressing regret” in the New York Times crossword is SHOULDA — a 7-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on September 6, 2026, a Sunday puzzle, at 88-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.

“Part of a three-word phrase expressing regret” answer

SHOULDA (7 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 SHOULDA.

When else has “Part of a three-word phrase expressing regret” 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 6, 2026 (most recent) → SHOULDA. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

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