Bear with a hard bed and hot porridge

Crossword Answer — June 02, 2025

Answer

NYT Crossword

Monday, June 02, 2025

By Anthony V. Grubb

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Or reveal one clue at a time with the Hint and Answer buttons below.

NYT Crossword Clues

Across

  1. 1"Don't love it, don't hate it"
  2. 4"It's just one of ___ days"
  3. 9Prickly plants
  4. 14"Without further ___ ..."
  5. 15Crossed one's fingers
  6. 16Constellation with a belt
  7. 17Grab a chair
  8. 18"Go fly a kite!"
  9. 20Skewered meat dish
  10. 22"Nature of a ___" (1991 Queen Latifah album)
  11. 23One pouncing at a laser pointer, perhaps
  12. 24Thick noodle in Japanese soups
  13. 26Grandma, in Guatemala
  14. 28"Pipe down!"
  15. 33Like the name Parker, for a valet
  16. 34Thyme piece
  17. 35They might be sold à la carte at a Mexican restaurant
  18. 39[Gone ... like magic!]
  19. 41Some English noblemen
  20. 43Possess
  21. 44Per ___ (yearly)
  22. 46"Explosive" expletive
  23. 48Scratch or stain, e.g.
  24. 49"No skin off my nose!"
  25. 52Move upward
  26. 55Hook, line and sinker, for an angler
  27. 56Neither here ___ there
  28. 57Word before act or action
  29. 61Gunslinger Earp
  30. 64Where duds are draped to dry ... or a literal description of 18-, 28- and 49-Across?
  31. 67"___ sells seashells by the seashore"
  32. 68Actor Ethan whose surname sounds like a bird
  33. 69"The ___ Express" (kid-lit classic)
  34. 70Alternative to a trowel for an archaeologist
  35. 71It's nearly impossible to split their creme equally, per M.I.T.
  36. 72Poker-faced
  37. 73"Dee-lish!"

Down

  1. 1Part of a Halloween costume
  2. 2"The Sopranos" actress Falco
  3. 3Emotionally charged, as an issue
  4. 4Bruce Springsteen, to fans
  5. 5Rule-making grp. for a residential community
  6. 6Goes (for)
  7. 718-wheeler
  8. 8Ice cream brand known as Dreyer's on the West Coast
  9. 9Live together
  10. 10Preferring platonic relationships, informally
  11. 11Greek sorceress who took the phrase "men are pigs" literally
  12. 12Smash to smithereens
  13. 13Social media app with Reels and Stories, familiarly
  14. 19Superfan, in slang
  15. 21Accessibility law inits.
  16. 25"Negatory"
  17. 27Only U.S. state whose capital has a three-word name
  18. 28Bear with a hard bed and hot porridge
  19. 29"Once ___ a midnight dreary ..."
  20. 30Make by hand
  21. 31Pink Nintendo character from Planet Popstar
  22. 32Home on the "I" page of many ABC books
  23. 36Out of the picture, maybe?
  24. 37Actual shape of the Crab Nebula, disappointingly
  25. 38Feudal underling
  26. 40"Short" thing for someone with a temper
  27. 42High-and-mighty
  28. 45Snacks (on)
  29. 47Beermaking establishment
  30. 50Lollygag
  31. 51"Here's a thought ..."
  32. 52Dried chili in Mexican cuisine
  33. 53Kind of power using rooftop panels
  34. 54Actor Russell whose surname sounds like a bird
  35. 58Vile Nile reptiles
  36. 59Piggy bank opening
  37. 60Sight along a farm country road
  38. 62"O Brother, Where Art ___?" (2000 Coen brothers film)
  39. 63Abound
  40. 65Ring result, in brief
  41. 66Grandma, in Glasgow

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Across

  1. 1. "Don't love it, don't hate it" — Answer: MEH
  2. 4. "It's just one of ___ days" — Answer: THOSE
  3. 9. Prickly plants — Answer: CACTI. Hint: These desert dwellers know how to thrive in dry conditions! 🌵
  4. 14. "Without further ___ ..." — Answer: ADO
  5. 15. Crossed one's fingers — Answer: HOPED
  6. 16. Constellation with a belt — Answer: ORION
  7. 17. Grab a chair — Answer: SIT
  8. 18. "Go fly a kite!" — Answer: EATMYSHORTS
  9. 20. Skewered meat dish — Answer: KEBAB
  10. 22. "Nature of a ___" (1991 Queen Latifah album) — Answer: SISTA
  11. 23. One pouncing at a laser pointer, perhaps — Answer: CAT
  12. 24. Thick noodle in Japanese soups — Answer: UDON
  13. 26. Grandma, in Guatemala — Answer: ABUELA
  14. 28. "Pipe down!" — Answer: PUTASOCKINIT
  15. 33. Like the name Parker, for a valet — Answer: APT
  16. 34. Thyme piece — Answer: SPRIG
  17. 35. They might be sold à la carte at a Mexican restaurant — Answer: TACOS
  18. 39. [Gone ... like magic!] — Answer: POOF
  19. 41. Some English noblemen — Answer: EARLS
  20. 43. Possess — Answer: HAVE
  21. 44. Per ___ (yearly) — Answer: ANNUM
  22. 46. "Explosive" expletive — Answer: FBOMB
  23. 48. Scratch or stain, e.g. — Answer: MAR
  24. 49. "No skin off my nose!" — Answer: SUITYOURSELF
  25. 52. Move upward — Answer: ASCEND
  26. 55. Hook, line and sinker, for an angler — Answer: GEAR
  27. 56. Neither here ___ there — Answer: NOR. Hint: This word often comes up when you're indicating something is absent from two places! 🚫
  28. 57. Word before act or action — Answer: CLASS
  29. 61. Gunslinger Earp — Answer: WYATT
  30. 64. Where duds are draped to dry ... or a literal description of 18-, 28- and 49-Across? — Answer: CLOTHESLINE
  31. 67. "___ sells seashells by the seashore" — Answer: SHE
  32. 68. Actor Ethan whose surname sounds like a bird — Answer: HAWKE
  33. 69. "The ___ Express" (kid-lit classic) — Answer: POLAR
  34. 70. Alternative to a trowel for an archaeologist — Answer: HOE
  35. 71. It's nearly impossible to split their creme equally, per M.I.T. — Answer: OREOS
  36. 72. Poker-faced — Answer: STONY
  37. 73. "Dee-lish!" — Answer: YUM. Hint: When something tastes great, it might evoke this quick expression of delight! 😋

Down

  1. 1. Part of a Halloween costume — Answer: MASK
  2. 2. "The Sopranos" actress Falco — Answer: EDIE
  3. 3. Emotionally charged, as an issue — Answer: HOTBUTTON
  4. 4. Bruce Springsteen, to fans — Answer: THEBOSS
  5. 5. Rule-making grp. for a residential community — Answer: HOA
  6. 6. Goes (for) — Answer: OPTS
  7. 7. 18-wheeler — Answer: SEMI
  8. 8. Ice cream brand known as Dreyer's on the West Coast — Answer: EDYS
  9. 9. Live together — Answer: COHABIT
  10. 10. Preferring platonic relationships, informally — Answer: ARO
  11. 11. Greek sorceress who took the phrase "men are pigs" literally — Answer: CIRCE
  12. 12. Smash to smithereens — Answer: TOTAL
  13. 13. Social media app with Reels and Stories, familiarly — Answer: INSTA
  14. 19. Superfan, in slang — Answer: STAN
  15. 21. Accessibility law inits. — Answer: ADA
  16. 25. "Negatory" — Answer: NOPE
  17. 27. Only U.S. state whose capital has a three-word name — Answer: UTAH
  18. 28. Bear with a hard bed and hot porridge — Answer: PAPA
  19. 29. "Once ___ a midnight dreary ..." — Answer: UPON
  20. 30. Make by hand — Answer: CRAFT
  21. 31. Pink Nintendo character from Planet Popstar — Answer: KIRBY
  22. 32. Home on the "I" page of many ABC books — Answer: IGLOO
  23. 36. Out of the picture, maybe? — Answer: CAMERASHY
  24. 37. Actual shape of the Crab Nebula, disappointingly — Answer: OVAL
  25. 38. Feudal underling — Answer: SERF
  26. 40. "Short" thing for someone with a temper — Answer: FUSE
  27. 42. High-and-mighty — Answer: SMUG
  28. 45. Snacks (on) — Answer: MUNCHES
  29. 47. Beermaking establishment — Answer: BREWERY
  30. 50. Lollygag — Answer: IDLE
  31. 51. "Here's a thought ..." — Answer: SAY
  32. 52. Dried chili in Mexican cuisine — Answer: ANCHO
  33. 53. Kind of power using rooftop panels — Answer: SOLAR
  34. 54. Actor Russell whose surname sounds like a bird — Answer: CROWE
  35. 58. Vile Nile reptiles — Answer: ASPS
  36. 59. Piggy bank opening — Answer: SLOT
  37. 60. Sight along a farm country road — Answer: SILO
  38. 62. "O Brother, Where Art ___?" (2000 Coen brothers film) — Answer: THOU
  39. 63. Abound — Answer: TEEM
  40. 65. Ring result, in brief — Answer: TKO
  41. 66. Grandma, in Glasgow — Answer: NAN

The answer to “Bear with a hard bed and hot porridge” in the New York Times crossword is PAPA — a 4-letter word. This clue ran in the New York Times crossword on June 2, 2025, a Monday puzzle, at 28-Down. If it's the entry standing between you and a clean grid, that's the word you need — and below you'll find why it fits, plus links to the day's other clues if more than one square is giving you trouble.

“Bear with a hard bed and hot porridge” answer

PAPA (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 PAPA.

Why the answer is PAPA

PAPA is the 4-letter solution that fits "Bear with a hard bed and hot porridge" in the NYT Crossword crossword on June 2, 2025 (28-Down). Use the letter tiles above if you'd rather reveal it one letter at a time.

When else has “Bear with a hard bed and hot porridge” 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 before, and what the answer was each time — handy if you landed here from a puzzle on another date.

June 2, 2025 (this puzzle) → PAPA. We haven't indexed an earlier appearance of this exact clue yet.

More clues from the NYT Crossword crossword on June 2, 2025

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 2, 2025 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 Monday 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 “Bear with a hard bed and hot porridge”?

The answer is PAPA, a 4-letter word. It appeared in the New York Times crossword on June 2, 2025.

How many letters is the answer to “Bear with a hard bed and hot porridge”?

4 letters: PAPA.

Where did this clue appear?

In the New York Times crossword on June 2, 2025 (a Monday puzzle), at 28-Down.

Can “Bear with a hard bed and hot porridge” 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 June 2, 2025 is on the NYT Crossword answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

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