Sticks in locks

Latest answer — May 01, 2026

1 Across

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NYT Crossword

This clue's Friday, May 01, 2026 appearance

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Across

  1. 1Sticks in locks
  2. 5Philosopher who championed simple explanations
  3. 10CAT or PET follower
  4. 14Element between fluorine and sodium
  5. 15Spongy exfoliator
  6. 16Body-sculpting procedure, informally
  7. 17Animals whose Aztec name translates to "turtle-rabbit"
  8. 19Talks and talks
  9. 20Prepare, in military slang
  10. 22It may be bitter
  11. 23Some winds
  12. 24Holiday that's also a Hebrew letter
  13. 25"WandaVision" co-star Elizabeth ___
  14. 27Baguettes, e.g.
  15. 28Sign of canine contentment
  16. 29Rests on one's laurels
  17. 30Storybook, say
  18. 32Announcements before giveaways?
  19. 35Like some romantic resorts
  20. 36Voids
  21. 37Authorizes
  22. 38Satellite alternative
  23. 42Retinue
  24. 43Combat sport, for short
  25. 44Company whose name comes from a term in the board game Go
  26. 45Word with thou
  27. 46A craving for snacks
  28. 49Dutch for "farmer"
  29. 51Eliminates entirely
  30. 52Skulk in the shadows
  31. 53Myosin's partner protein
  32. 54Scruff : cat :: ___ : human
  33. 55Big name in petrol
  34. 56Angle variable, in math
  35. 57ENE and WSW

Down

  1. 1Bump's place, idiomatically
  2. 2Oxygen-dependent micro-organism
  3. 3"Crazy Rich Asians," for one
  4. 4Backstabbers
  5. 5"Hunters" actress Lena
  6. 6Uncontroversial opinions
  7. 7Dorm buddy
  8. 8Underway
  9. 9Dough in tamales
  10. 10Foxy
  11. 11Plant overseas, perhaps
  12. 12Devices that come with Siri Remotes
  13. 13What a babbler makes
  14. 18Court figs.
  15. 21"Tom ___" (classic folk song that became a #1 hit in 1958)
  16. 26Place to hibernate
  17. 28Home of Swansea and Wrexham
  18. 29There are approximately 30 trillion of these in the human body
  19. 30Gluten-free grain
  20. 31Annual F.D.I.C. requirement
  21. 32Deep and full
  22. 33Lovers of homophones, say
  23. 34Impressive work
  24. 35Adjective that's synonymous with its last four letters
  25. 38Convenient
  26. 39Tiki bar staple
  27. 40What positive news coverage is for business
  28. 41Section of a dress shop
  29. 43Swag
  30. 44U.N.C.'s athletic org.
  31. 47Part of a race
  32. 48"Project Runway" judge Garcia
  33. 50"King Kong" studio

The answer to “Sticks in locks” in the New York Times crossword is OARS — a 4-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on May 1, 2026, a Friday puzzle, at 1-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.

“Sticks in locks” answer

OARS (4 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 OARS.

Why the answer is OARS

OARS is the 4-letter solution that fits "Sticks in locks" in the NYT Crossword crossword on May 1, 2026 (1-Across). Use the letter tiles above if you'd rather reveal it one letter at a time.

What does OARS mean?

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

(noun)

  • a pole with a flat blade, used to row or steer a boat through the water

When else has “Sticks in locks” 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.

May 1, 2026 (most recent) → OARS. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Sticks in locks”?

The answer is OARS, a 4-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on May 1, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Sticks in locks”?

4 letters: OARS.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the New York Times crossword on May 1, 2026 (a Friday puzzle), at 1-Across.

Can “Sticks in locks” 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 May 1, 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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