Tending to cling

Latest answer — January 27, 2026

53 Down

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NYT Crossword

This clue's Tuesday, January 27, 2026 appearance

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Across

  1. 1Potpourri piece
  2. 6Bit of pandemic attire
  3. 10Cry from a crib, perhaps
  4. 14Came up
  5. 15Et ___ (and others)
  6. 16Some stadium shouts
  7. 17Give friendly bites, as a puppy might
  8. 18Heaps
  9. 19Wrangler on the road
  10. 20Hosp. hookups
  11. 21Far from any urban center, colloquially
  12. 24Trickster figure in Native American folklore
  13. 26Cousin of a cravat
  14. 27Add as an afterthought
  15. 29Lacking a conscience
  16. 33Potentially at risk, metaphorically
  17. 36Spanish gold
  18. 37Nashville has a "grand ole" one
  19. 38___ Speed Wagon (old vehicle)
  20. 39Air passage
  21. 40Title for M.L.K. Jr.
  22. 41In a soaring mood, so to speak
  23. 45"Moving right along ..."
  24. 47Kind of fund
  25. 48Jump and shout for joy
  26. 51Ragamuffin
  27. 54Metaphor for a parent whose youngest has "launched" ... like the little bird whose progress is suggested by 21-, 33- and 41-Across
  28. 58Poem of praise
  29. 59"Captain" on Mount Ararat
  30. 60Chew as a beaver might
  31. 61"Yay me!"
  32. 63Doofus
  33. 64To be, in Toulouse
  34. 65Assuaged
  35. 66Corset component
  36. 67Medical measure
  37. 68In poor condition

Down

  1. 1Freak out
  2. 2"Wicked" co-star Cynthia ___
  3. 3Downside-up
  4. 4Happy ___ lark
  5. 5"Forgive and forget"
  6. 6Barley product
  7. 7Hi in HI
  8. 8Loci
  9. 9Source of some Jumbotron entertainment
  10. 10Cuban rum cocktail
  11. 11Actor Guinness
  12. 12Like the ones who shall inherit the earth, in Matthew 5:5
  13. 13Horned vipers
  14. 22Like some highlighter colors
  15. 23___ of the Unknown Soldier
  16. 25Like some cookies and milk
  17. 28Not, colloquially
  18. 30Engage in boisterous activity
  19. 31St. Louis landmark
  20. 32Area to build on
  21. 33Request from a dentist
  22. 34Floral ring
  23. 35Charged particles
  24. 37Singer Rita
  25. 39Chip shape
  26. 41Cunning, like Mr. Tod or Swiper
  27. 42Chillaxed, say
  28. 43It's binding
  29. 44Gets a move on
  30. 46Possible pronoun pairing
  31. 49Slowly, in scores
  32. 50Ivan the Terrible and Peter the Great
  33. 52Did diddly-squat
  34. 53Tending to cling
  35. 54Winds up
  36. 55Debatable
  37. 56Cry from a crib, perhaps
  38. 57Britishly precious
  39. 62Issa of "The Lovebirds"

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Across

  1. 1. Potpourri piece — Answer: PETAL
  2. 6. Bit of pandemic attire — Answer: MASK
  3. 10. Cry from a crib, perhaps — Answer: MAMA
  4. 14. Came up — Answer: AROSE. Hint: Think of what someone did when they rose from bed or a chair. 🌅
  5. 15. Et ___ (and others) — Answer: ALII
  6. 16. Some stadium shouts — Answer: OLES
  7. 17. Give friendly bites, as a puppy might — Answer: NIPAT
  8. 18. Heaps — Answer: LOTS
  9. 19. Wrangler on the road — Answer: JEEP
  10. 20. Hosp. hookups — Answer: IVS
  11. 21. Far from any urban center, colloquially — Answer: INTHESTICKS
  12. 24. Trickster figure in Native American folklore — Answer: COYOTE
  13. 26. Cousin of a cravat — Answer: ASCOT
  14. 27. Add as an afterthought — Answer: TAGON
  15. 29. Lacking a conscience — Answer: AMORAL
  16. 33. Potentially at risk, metaphorically — Answer: OUTONALIMB
  17. 36. Spanish gold — Answer: ORO. Hint: This term for precious metal is also the Spanish word for the color of the sun! 🌞
  18. 37. Nashville has a "grand ole" one — Answer: OPRY
  19. 38. ___ Speed Wagon (old vehicle) — Answer: REO
  20. 39. Air passage — Answer: DUCT
  21. 40. Title for M.L.K. Jr. — Answer: REV
  22. 41. In a soaring mood, so to speak — Answer: FLYINGHIGH
  23. 45. "Moving right along ..." — Answer: ANYHOO
  24. 47. Kind of fund — Answer: SLUSH
  25. 48. Jump and shout for joy — Answer: EXULT
  26. 51. Ragamuffin — Answer: URCHIN
  27. 54. Metaphor for a parent whose youngest has "launched" ... like the little bird whose progress is suggested by 21-, 33- and 41-Across — Answer: EMPTYNESTER
  28. 58. Poem of praise — Answer: ODE. Hint: Think of a lyrical tribute that celebrates something special! 🎶
  29. 59. "Captain" on Mount Ararat — Answer: NOAH
  30. 60. Chew as a beaver might — Answer: GNAW
  31. 61. "Yay me!" — Answer: IRULE
  32. 63. Doofus — Answer: DOPE
  33. 64. To be, in Toulouse — Answer: ETRE
  34. 65. Assuaged — Answer: EASED
  35. 66. Corset component — Answer: STAY
  36. 67. Medical measure — Answer: DOSE
  37. 68. In poor condition — Answer: SEEDY

Down

  1. 1. Freak out — Answer: PANIC
  2. 2. "Wicked" co-star Cynthia ___ — Answer: ERIVO
  3. 3. Downside-up — Answer: TOPSYTURVY
  4. 4. Happy ___ lark — Answer: ASA
  5. 5. "Forgive and forget" — Answer: LETITGO
  6. 6. Barley product — Answer: MALT
  7. 7. Hi in HI — Answer: ALOHA
  8. 8. Loci — Answer: SITES
  9. 9. Source of some Jumbotron entertainment — Answer: KISSCAM
  10. 10. Cuban rum cocktail — Answer: MOJITO
  11. 11. Actor Guinness — Answer: ALEC
  12. 12. Like the ones who shall inherit the earth, in Matthew 5:5 — Answer: MEEK
  13. 13. Horned vipers — Answer: ASPS
  14. 22. Like some highlighter colors — Answer: NEON
  15. 23. ___ of the Unknown Soldier — Answer: TOMB
  16. 25. Like some cookies and milk — Answer: OATY
  17. 28. Not, colloquially — Answer: NARY
  18. 30. Engage in boisterous activity — Answer: ROUGHHOUSE
  19. 31. St. Louis landmark — Answer: ARCH
  20. 32. Area to build on — Answer: LOT
  21. 33. Request from a dentist — Answer: OPEN
  22. 34. Floral ring — Answer: LEI
  23. 35. Charged particles — Answer: IONS
  24. 37. Singer Rita — Answer: ORA. Hint: Think of the British pop singer known for hits like “Anywhere” and “Let You Love Me” 🎤
  25. 39. Chip shape — Answer: DISC
  26. 41. Cunning, like Mr. Tod or Swiper — Answer: FOXY
  27. 42. Chillaxed, say — Answer: LOUNGED
  28. 43. It's binding — Answer: GLUE
  29. 44. Gets a move on — Answer: HURRIES
  30. 46. Possible pronoun pairing — Answer: HETHEY
  31. 49. Slowly, in scores — Answer: LENTO. Hint: Look for the musical direction telling performers to take their time. 🎼
  32. 50. Ivan the Terrible and Peter the Great — Answer: TSARS
  33. 52. Did diddly-squat — Answer: IDLED
  34. 53. Tending to cling — Answer: NEEDY
  35. 54. Winds up — Answer: ENDS. Hint: Think of what something does when it reaches its conclusion. 🏁
  36. 55. Debatable — Answer: MOOT
  37. 56. Cry from a crib, perhaps — Answer: PAPA
  38. 57. Britishly precious — Answer: TWEE
  39. 62. Issa of "The Lovebirds" — Answer: RAE

Recent NYT Crossword Answers

The last 7 days of solutions

NYT Crossword 26 January 2026NYT Crossword 25 January 2026NYT Crossword 24 January 2026NYT Crossword 23 January 2026NYT Crossword 22 January 2026NYT Crossword 21 January 2026NYT Crossword 20 January 2026

The answer to “Tending to cling” in the New York Times crossword is NEEDY — a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on January 27, 2026, a Tuesday puzzle, at 53-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.

“Tending to cling” answer

NEEDY (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 NEEDY.

Why the answer is NEEDY

NEEDY is the 5-letter solution that fits "Tending to cling" in the NYT Crossword crossword on January 27, 2026 (53-Down). Use the letter tiles above if you'd rather reveal it one letter at a time.

When else has “Tending to cling” 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.

January 27, 2026 (most recent) → NEEDY. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

More clues from the NYT Crossword on January 27, 2026

Stuck elsewhere in the grid? Here are some of the crossing and nearby clues from the same puzzle — tap any for its answer and explanation.

Want every clue in one place? The full New York Times answer list for January 27, 2026 is on that day's grid page, and today's live NYT Crossword answers are always one tap from the today page.

About the NYT Crossword

The New York Times crossword, edited by Will Shortz, is the most famous daily puzzle in the United States. It runs a 15×15 grid Monday through Saturday and a larger 21×21 grid on Sunday, and its difficulty deliberately ramps through the week: Monday is the most approachable, Saturday the toughest, with Thursday often reserved for a trick or twist like rebus squares. This page covers a Tuesday puzzle. A straight-definition entry is the kind of solid mid-grid answer that anchors the trickier crossings around it. Because the NYT reuses short, crossing-friendly words regularly, seeing them once makes them easier to spot next time.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Tending to cling”?

The answer is NEEDY, a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on January 27, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Tending to cling”?

5 letters: NEEDY.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the New York Times crossword on January 27, 2026 (a Tuesday puzzle), at 53-Down.

Can “Tending to cling” 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 January 27, 2026 is on the NYT Crossword answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

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