Use a divining rod
Editorially verified for the Oct 18, 2026
66 Down
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Clue explainedFact checked
To dowse is to search for underground water or minerals with a divining rod, traditionally a forked branch or a pair of rods believed to point toward a hidden source. The clue names the practice itself; it doesn’t imply that dowsing has been shown to work.
- Clue type:
- Definition
NYT Crossword
This clue's Sunday, October 18, 2026 appearance
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The answer to “Use a divining rod” in the New York Times crossword is DOWSE — a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on October 18, 2026, a Sunday puzzle, at 66-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.
“Use a divining rod” answer
DOWSE (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 DOWSE.
What does DOWSE mean?
Reading the plain dictionary sense of DOWSE is often the fastest way to see why it answers this clue.
(verb)
- practise dowsing
When else has “Use a divining rod” 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 18, 2026 (most recent) → DOWSE. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.
Frequently asked questions
What is the answer to “Use a divining rod”?
The answer is DOWSE, a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on October 18, 2026.
How many letters is the answer to “Use a divining rod”?
5 letters: DOWSE.
When did this clue appear?
Most recently in the New York Times crossword on October 18, 2026 (a Sunday puzzle), at 66-Down.
Can “Use a divining rod” 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 18, 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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