React with exaggerated surprise ... or how to form the shorter shaded answers from the longer ones
Latest answer — October 07, 2026
36 Across
Scroll down for rest of crossword answers
Clue explainedFact checked
A double take is the surprised second look someone gives when something seems startling or hard to believe, so “do a double take” fits the clue’s reaction. It also gives the puzzle’s theme instruction: take a double—repeated letters—out of longer entries to reveal the shorter shaded answers. In other words, the phrase is both an expression and a guide to the letter trick.
- Clue type:
- Pun or wordplay
NYT Crossword
This clue's Wednesday, October 07, 2026 appearance
Tap a square to reveal a letter.
Or reveal one clue at a time with the Hint and Answer buttons below.
Across
Down
The answer to “React with exaggerated surprise ... or how to form the shorter shaded answers from the longer ones” in the New York Times crossword is DOADOUBLETAKE — a 13-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on October 7, 2026, a Wednesday puzzle, at 36-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.
“React with exaggerated surprise ... or how to form the shorter shaded answers from the longer ones” answer
DOADOUBLETAKE (13 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 DOADOUBLETAKE.
When else has “React with exaggerated surprise ... or how to form the shorter shaded answers from the longer ones” 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 7, 2026 (most recent) → DOADOUBLETAKE. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.
Frequently asked questions
What is the answer to “React with exaggerated surprise ... or how to form the shorter shaded answers from the longer ones”?
The answer is DOADOUBLETAKE, a 13-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on October 7, 2026.
How many letters is the answer to “React with exaggerated surprise ... or how to form the shorter shaded answers from the longer ones”?
13 letters: DOADOUBLETAKE.
When did this clue appear?
Most recently in the New York Times crossword on October 7, 2026 (a Wednesday puzzle), at 36-Across.
Can “React with exaggerated surprise ... or how to form the shorter shaded answers from the longer ones” 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 7, 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.
Crossword Clues
Looking up a clue? Jump into today's answers and clue help from top puzzles.