Some deflections for argument's sake

The answer to “Some deflections for argument's sake” in the New York Times crossword is WHATABOUTISM — a 12-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on March 14, 2026, a Saturday puzzle, at 5-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.

“Some deflections for argument's sake” answer

WHATABOUTISM (12 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 WHATABOUTISM.

Why the answer is WHATABOUTISM

WHATABOUTISM is the 12-letter solution that fits "Some deflections for argument's sake" in the NYT Crossword crossword on March 14, 2026 (5-Down). Use the letter tiles above if you'd rather reveal it one letter at a time.

What does WHATABOUTISM mean?

Reading the plain dictionary sense of WHATABOUTISM is often the fastest way to see why it answers this clue.

When else has “Some deflections for argument's sake” 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.

March 14, 2026 (most recent) → WHATABOUTISM. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions