Squiggle shape
Latest answer — October 05, 2026
39 Across
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Clue explained
An ess is the name of the letter S, whose curved outline makes an S-shaped squiggle. The entry spells out the letter’s name rather than using the letter itself.
- Clue type:
- Pun or wordplay
NYT Crossword
This clue's Monday, October 05, 2026 appearance
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The answer to “Squiggle shape” in the New York Times crossword is ESS — a 3-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on October 5, 2026, a Monday puzzle, at 39-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.
“Squiggle shape” answer
ESS (3 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 ESS.
What does ESS mean?
Reading the plain dictionary sense of ESS is often the fastest way to see why it answers this clue.
(noun)
- a thing shaped like the letter S
When else has “Squiggle shape” 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 5, 2026 (most recent) → ESS. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.
Frequently asked questions
What is the answer to “Squiggle shape”?
The answer is ESS, a 3-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on October 5, 2026.
How many letters is the answer to “Squiggle shape”?
3 letters: ESS.
When did this clue appear?
Most recently in the New York Times crossword on October 5, 2026 (a Monday puzzle), at 39-Across.
Can “Squiggle shape” 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 5, 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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