Upper hand

Latest answer — June 16, 2026

33 Down

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NYT Crossword

This clue's Tuesday, June 16, 2026 appearance

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Across

  1. 1Bluffer's giveaway
  2. 5Dessert that wiggles
  3. 10Obsessive captain of fiction
  4. 14"___, poor Yorick! I knew him, Horatio"
  5. 15Like a loud crowd
  6. 16Trio minus one
  7. 17Pontiff's emblem with three horizontal bars
  8. 19Martial art with shoulder throws
  9. 20On the line
  10. 21Bottom of a long column, say
  11. 23"Capisce?"
  12. 24Spearheaded
  13. 25Think pieces, for short
  14. 28Incensed
  15. 29Amigo
  16. 32Ancient Brit for whom a language was named
  17. 34Opening of a news article, in journalism lingo
  18. 35It scratches the itch
  19. 36Hemingway tale about an elderly fisherman, with "The" ... or a phonetic hint to four sets of circled letters in this puzzle?
  20. 39Party with glowsticks
  21. 40Smidgens
  22. 41The Beatles' "Back in the ___"
  23. 42Crustaceans sometimes called "mudbugs"
  24. 44Test for a future Ph.D.
  25. 45Monsieur, in Madrid
  26. 46Fishing tool
  27. 47Maple tree harvest
  28. 50Where the rubber meets the road
  29. 53"That's my next move"
  30. 55"... ???"
  31. 57Open some bubbly with a bang
  32. 59"Logan" actor Jackman
  33. 60"The Price Is Right" unveiling
  34. 61Cleveland's lake
  35. 62Be a good dog, say
  36. 63Half-goat follower of Dionysus
  37. 64Honeybunch

Down

  1. 1Patatas bravas and croquetas, e.g.
  2. 2Fill with joy
  3. 3Momentary slip
  4. 4Exam for a future J.D.
  5. 5Very muscular, in slang
  6. 6Dropped the ball
  7. 7"Facilities," in Britain
  8. 8Place for the highest-scoring golfer
  9. 9Ish
  10. 10College-credit class that says sayonara to H.S.?
  11. 11Really booked it
  12. 12Charitable contributions, collectively
  13. 13"Dude!"
  14. 18Fingers-in-ears syllables
  15. 22Word with tank or tip
  16. 26Less sweet, as a wine
  17. 27"House" actress Ward
  18. 28Like an image just begging to be captioned and shared
  19. 29Word appearing on the nickel but not the dime or quarter, surprisingly
  20. 30Casino calculations
  21. 31Rendezvoused with
  22. 32Blinding light
  23. 33Upper hand
  24. 34Put down gently
  25. 36Green-skinned World of Warcraft characters
  26. 37Org. with Bulls and Bucks
  27. 38Obstacle to overcome
  28. 43"The Chronic" rapper, informally
  29. 44Animal symbol of the University of Minnesota
  30. 46Fancy-schmancy
  31. 47[Zzzz]
  32. 48Light-filled lobbies
  33. 49Game with a World Series held in Las Vegas
  34. 51Plates to share, informally
  35. 52Cartoon explorer who teaches Spanish
  36. 54Crushed, as a test
  37. 55Word sung over 100 times in "___ Are You" by the ___
  38. 56Center of activity
  39. 58Part of a speedway or the stomach

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Across

  1. 1. Bluffer's giveaway — Answer: TELL
  2. 5. Dessert that wiggles — Answer: JELLO
  3. 10. Obsessive captain of fiction — Answer: AHAB
  4. 14. "___, poor Yorick! I knew him, Horatio" — Answer: ALAS
  5. 15. Like a loud crowd — Answer: AROAR
  6. 16. Trio minus one — Answer: PAIR
  7. 17. Pontiff's emblem with three horizontal bars — Answer: PAPALCROSS
  8. 19. Martial art with shoulder throws — Answer: JUDO
  9. 20. On the line — Answer: ATSTAKE
  10. 21. Bottom of a long column, say — Answer: TOTAL
  11. 23. "Capisce?" — Answer: SEE
  12. 24. Spearheaded — Answer: LED
  13. 25. Think pieces, for short — Answer: OPEDS
  14. 28. Incensed — Answer: MAD
  15. 29. Amigo — Answer: COMPADRE
  16. 32. Ancient Brit for whom a language was named — Answer: GAEL
  17. 34. Opening of a news article, in journalism lingo — Answer: LEDE
  18. 35. It scratches the itch — Answer: NAIL
  19. 36. Hemingway tale about an elderly fisherman, with "The" ... or a phonetic hint to four sets of circled letters in this puzzle? — Answer: OLDMANANDTHESEA
  20. 39. Party with glowsticks — Answer: RAVE
  21. 40. Smidgens — Answer: BITS
  22. 41. The Beatles' "Back in the ___" — Answer: USSR
  23. 42. Crustaceans sometimes called "mudbugs" — Answer: CRAWDADS
  24. 44. Test for a future Ph.D. — Answer: GRE
  25. 45. Monsieur, in Madrid — Answer: SENOR
  26. 46. Fishing tool — Answer: ROD
  27. 47. Maple tree harvest — Answer: SAP
  28. 50. Where the rubber meets the road — Answer: TREAD
  29. 53. "That's my next move" — Answer: IPLANTO
  30. 55. "... ???" — Answer: WHAT
  31. 57. Open some bubbly with a bang — Answer: POPTHECORK
  32. 59. "Logan" actor Jackman — Answer: HUGH
  33. 60. "The Price Is Right" unveiling — Answer: PRIZE
  34. 61. Cleveland's lake — Answer: ERIE
  35. 62. Be a good dog, say — Answer: OBEY
  36. 63. Half-goat follower of Dionysus — Answer: SATYR
  37. 64. Honeybunch — Answer: DEAR

Down

  1. 1. Patatas bravas and croquetas, e.g. — Answer: TAPAS
  2. 2. Fill with joy — Answer: ELATE
  3. 3. Momentary slip — Answer: LAPSE
  4. 4. Exam for a future J.D. — Answer: LSAT
  5. 5. Very muscular, in slang — Answer: JACKED
  6. 6. Dropped the ball — Answer: ERRED
  7. 7. "Facilities," in Britain — Answer: LOO
  8. 8. Place for the highest-scoring golfer — Answer: LAST
  9. 9. Ish — Answer: ORSO
  10. 10. College-credit class that says sayonara to H.S.? — Answer: APJAPANESE
  11. 11. Really booked it — Answer: HAULEDASS
  12. 12. Charitable contributions, collectively — Answer: AID
  13. 13. "Dude!" — Answer: BRO
  14. 18. Fingers-in-ears syllables — Answer: LALALA
  15. 22. Word with tank or tip — Answer: TOP
  16. 26. Less sweet, as a wine — Answer: DRIER
  17. 27. "House" actress Ward — Answer: SELA
  18. 28. Like an image just begging to be captioned and shared — Answer: MEMEWORTHY
  19. 29. Word appearing on the nickel but not the dime or quarter, surprisingly — Answer: CENTS
  20. 30. Casino calculations — Answer: ODDS
  21. 31. Rendezvoused with — Answer: MET
  22. 32. Blinding light — Answer: GLARE
  23. 33. Upper hand — Answer: ADVANTAGE
  24. 34. Put down gently — Answer: LAID
  25. 36. Green-skinned World of Warcraft characters — Answer: ORCS
  26. 37. Org. with Bulls and Bucks — Answer: NBA
  27. 38. Obstacle to overcome — Answer: HURDLE
  28. 43. "The Chronic" rapper, informally — Answer: DRE
  29. 44. Animal symbol of the University of Minnesota — Answer: GOPHER
  30. 46. Fancy-schmancy — Answer: RITZY
  31. 47. [Zzzz] — Answer: SNORE
  32. 48. Light-filled lobbies — Answer: ATRIA
  33. 49. Game with a World Series held in Las Vegas — Answer: POKER
  34. 51. Plates to share, informally — Answer: APPS
  35. 52. Cartoon explorer who teaches Spanish — Answer: DORA
  36. 54. Crushed, as a test — Answer: ACED
  37. 55. Word sung over 100 times in "___ Are You" by the ___ — Answer: WHO
  38. 56. Center of activity — Answer: HUB
  39. 58. Part of a speedway or the stomach — Answer: PIT

Recent NYT Crossword Answers

The last 7 days of solutions

NYT Crossword 15 June 2026NYT Crossword 14 June 2026NYT Crossword 13 June 2026NYT Crossword 12 June 2026NYT Crossword 11 June 2026NYT Crossword 10 June 2026NYT Crossword 9 June 2026

The answer to “Upper hand” in the New York Times crossword is ADVANTAGE — a 9-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on June 16, 2026, a Tuesday puzzle, at 33-Down. Other answers we've seen for this clue include EDGE. 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.

“Upper hand” answer

ADVANTAGE (9 letters) — most recent; also seen as EDGE

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 ADVANTAGE.

Why the answer is ADVANTAGE

ADVANTAGE is the 9-letter solution that fits "Upper hand" in the NYT Crossword crossword on June 16, 2026 (33-Down). Use the letter tiles above if you'd rather reveal it one letter at a time.

Other answers for “Upper hand”

New York Times has used this clue with more than one solution. Besides ADVANTAGE, it has also been EDGE. Every appearance we've indexed is listed below with the date it ran.

More clues from the NYT Crossword on June 16, 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 June 16, 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 “Upper hand”?

The answer is ADVANTAGE, a 9-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on June 16, 2026. Other answers for this clue include EDGE.

How many letters is the answer to “Upper hand”?

9 letters: ADVANTAGE. Earlier fills for this clue have also been EDGE (4).

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the New York Times crossword on June 16, 2026 (a Tuesday puzzle), at 33-Down. Earlier appearances: April 16, 2026 → EDGE.

Can “Upper hand” have a different answer?

Yes. Besides ADVANTAGE, New York Times has also used EDGE for this clue. Every date and answer is listed above.

Where can I find the rest of this day's NYT Crossword answers?

The full grid for June 16, 2026 is on the NYT Crossword answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

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