Softens with sudden sympathy or affection
Editorially verified for the Oct 18, 2026
28 Across
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Clue explainedFact checked
When someone “melts,” a sudden wave of affection or sympathy softens their feelings. The image is of something rigid turning soft, applied to a person’s emotional response.
- Clue type:
- Definition
NYT Crossword
This clue's Sunday, October 18, 2026 appearance
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The answer to “Softens with sudden sympathy or affection” in the New York Times crossword is MELTS — a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on October 18, 2026, a Sunday puzzle, at 28-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.
“Softens with sudden sympathy or affection” answer
MELTS (5 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 MELTS.
What does MELTS mean?
Reading the plain dictionary sense of MELTS is often the fastest way to see why it answers this clue.
(verb)
- make or become liquefied by heat
- make or become more tender or loving
- leave or disappear unobtrusively
When else has “Softens with sudden sympathy or affection” 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 18, 2026 (most recent) → MELTS. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.
Frequently asked questions
What is the answer to “Softens with sudden sympathy or affection”?
The answer is MELTS, a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on October 18, 2026.
How many letters is the answer to “Softens with sudden sympathy or affection”?
5 letters: MELTS.
When did this clue appear?
Most recently in the New York Times crossword on October 18, 2026 (a Sunday puzzle), at 28-Across.
Can “Softens with sudden sympathy or affection” 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 18, 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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