Lose ground?

Crossword Answer — July 27, 2025

Answer

NYT Crossword

Sunday, July 27, 2025

By John Kugelman

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NYT Crossword Clues

Across

  1. 1Maintains, as a superstition
  2. 9Subject of the 2017 musical film "The Greatest Showman"
  3. 15"Same with me"
  4. 20Not funny
  5. 22Ralph Ellison novel about a nameless protagonist's journey in racist America
  6. 24Forgiving middle-aged dads for their dad jokes, say?
  7. 26Picket line?
  8. 27Bud in Cooperstown
  9. 28Dorm room staple food
  10. 29Cross-country conveyances
  11. 30Darth Vader's childhood nickname
  12. 32Inflexible
  13. 34Have away with words?
  14. 36Muppet of Mexican descent
  15. 39Knows just when to hold 'em and when to fold 'em, maybe
  16. 42Gives lip
  17. 47Attire for Larry Page and Sergey Brin when visiting Google incognito?
  18. 51Columbus sch.
  19. 52Carnage
  20. 53Down Easter
  21. 54One with a set of pipes
  22. 55Come out of one's shell
  23. 57Sherlock's sister on TV
  24. 60___ bag
  25. 62Much-maligned 2019 movie about which one review said "It's 'Battlefield Earth' with whiskers"
  26. 63One of classical music's Three B's
  27. 66Landscaper's supply
  28. 69Tundra or taiga
  29. 71"You think that hunk of junk'll pass inspection? Please!"?
  30. 78Trademarked refrigerant
  31. 79Uncle Sam's land, informally
  32. 80Lithe
  33. 81+/-
  34. 84Drink mixed in mixed drinks
  35. 86Handy
  36. 89Avatar of Vishnu
  37. 90Back in, in a way
  38. 92Try to hit in laser tag
  39. 95Older sister of Rachel, in Genesis
  40. 98Basic BASIC statements
  41. 99Real chess playa?
  42. 104Contemporary of Gauss and Faraday
  43. 105James who played Scotty on "Star Trek"
  44. 106"No ___, Bob"
  45. 107Part of une pièce de théâtre
  46. 110Plunderers of Rome
  47. 112Hindu honorific
  48. 113Clock toggle
  49. 117Hollowed out, as an apple
  50. 120Hogwarts's "Half-Blood Prince"
  51. 122Burnt pigment
  52. 126Greeting from a famous Italian character to a famous Italian American actress?
  53. 130DC power player in the late 1800s?
  54. 131Good thing to play in a trick-taking game
  55. 132Magical symbol
  56. 133Dispensing, with "out"
  57. 134Art lovers

Down

  1. 1One always cooking up new ideas?
  2. 2Ritzy
  3. 3"That's my cue"
  4. 4___ compensation (stock options, for instance)
  5. 5Revegetation, e.g.
  6. 6Canon option, in brief
  7. 7They may be Thai or chai
  8. 8Cuisinart competitor
  9. 9Noted rapper with an oxymoronic name
  10. 10Director Lee
  11. 11Traveler in no need of hotels, for short
  12. 12Columbian caravel
  13. 13"I'm your guy"
  14. 14Bogged down
  15. 15___-right (political category)
  16. 16Twice tres
  17. 17Out of control
  18. 18Nail salon request, familiarly
  19. 191980s band among Australia's all-time best-selling groups
  20. 21Quartz compound
  21. 23Cast out
  22. 25When doubled, "Sleep well"
  23. 31Langston Hughes poem that begins "___, sing America"
  24. 33Word with mine or dump
  25. 35___ the Town (punny fast-food restaurant name)
  26. 36Vacation package offerer, perhaps
  27. 37Visionary?
  28. 38Lot unit
  29. 40Prefix with angular
  30. 41D.C. 100: Abbr.
  31. 43Mickey Mouse's boss in "Fantasia"
  32. 44Whale of a tale
  33. 45Géorgie, par exemple
  34. 46Identity thief's acquisitions, in brief
  35. 47The pyramids, essentially
  36. 48Stimpy's TV pal
  37. 49Rookies
  38. 50Bond's man?
  39. 56Skill taught to Luke Skywalker
  40. 58Texter's gasp
  41. 59Feast with kalua pig
  42. 61Skedaddles
  43. 64___ de Glace (glacier in the French Alps)
  44. 65Fr. holy women
  45. 67Desperate pursuit of fame, in modern lingo
  46. 68Weight
  47. 70Channel that popularized video jockeys
  48. 72Shower scrubber
  49. 73Split
  50. 74Mai ___
  51. 75TV friend of Jerry, George and Kramer
  52. 76Money for your money
  53. 77Slightest
  54. 81Black-and-white hunter
  55. 82Longtime NPR host Diane
  56. 83Part of a flight
  57. 85Bone-dry
  58. 87Business entity inits.
  59. 88Shrill cries
  60. 91Slimy veggie
  61. 93Brian who co-founded the Long Now Foundation
  62. 94In awe
  63. 96Chums, in Chamonix
  64. 97"Bah, humbug!"
  65. 100Nashville and New Orleans, for musicians
  66. 101Stomping ground
  67. 102Bringing up the rear
  68. 103[Yuck!]
  69. 108Sacred object
  70. 109Lose ground?
  71. 111Slash on a scoresheet
  72. 113Qtys.
  73. 114When repeated, a tropical fish
  74. 115___ rock (genre for Pink Floyd and Dream Theater, familiarly)
  75. 116Apt name for a narcissist?
  76. 118Release
  77. 119He loved Lucy
  78. 121Nesting pair in the Outback
  79. 123Army ___
  80. 124The Emerald Isle
  81. 125Photosensitive cells
  82. 127Seasoning for una margarita
  83. 128Bit of plasma
  84. 129One whose uniform bears the Star of Life, for short

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Across

  1. 1. Maintains, as a superstition — Answer: CLINGSTO
  2. 9. Subject of the 2017 musical film "The Greatest Showman" — Answer: BARNUM
  3. 15. "Same with me" — Answer: ASAMI
  4. 20. Not funny — Answer: HUMORLESS
  5. 22. Ralph Ellison novel about a nameless protagonist's journey in racist America — Answer: INVISIBLEMAN
  6. 24. Forgiving middle-aged dads for their dad jokes, say? — Answer: EXONERATINGGENERATIONX
  7. 26. Picket line? — Answer: FENCE
  8. 27. Bud in Cooperstown — Answer: SELIG
  9. 28. Dorm room staple food — Answer: RAMEN
  10. 29. Cross-country conveyances — Answer: SKIS
  11. 30. Darth Vader's childhood nickname — Answer: ANI
  12. 32. Inflexible — Answer: RIGID
  13. 34. Have away with words? — Answer: EDIT
  14. 36. Muppet of Mexican descent — Answer: ROSITA
  15. 39. Knows just when to hold 'em and when to fold 'em, maybe — Answer: CHEATS
  16. 42. Gives lip — Answer: SASSES
  17. 47. Attire for Larry Page and Sergey Brin when visiting Google incognito? — Answer: TECHNOCRATSTRENCHCOATS
  18. 51. Columbus sch. — Answer: OSU
  19. 52. Carnage — Answer: GORE
  20. 53. Down Easter — Answer: MAINER
  21. 54. One with a set of pipes — Answer: ORGAN
  22. 55. Come out of one's shell — Answer: MOLT
  23. 57. Sherlock's sister on TV — Answer: ENOLA
  24. 60. ___ bag — Answer: SWAG
  25. 62. Much-maligned 2019 movie about which one review said "It's 'Battlefield Earth' with whiskers" — Answer: CATS
  26. 63. One of classical music's Three B's — Answer: BRAHMS
  27. 66. Landscaper's supply — Answer: MULCH
  28. 69. Tundra or taiga — Answer: BIOME
  29. 71. "You think that hunk of junk'll pass inspection? Please!"? — Answer: STREETLEGALLETSGETREAL
  30. 78. Trademarked refrigerant — Answer: FREON
  31. 79. Uncle Sam's land, informally — Answer: USOFA
  32. 80. Lithe — Answer: SVELTE
  33. 81. +/- — Answer: ORSO
  34. 84. Drink mixed in mixed drinks — Answer: SODA
  35. 86. Handy — Answer: UTILE
  36. 89. Avatar of Vishnu — Answer: RAMA
  37. 90. Back in, in a way — Answer: RETRO
  38. 92. Try to hit in laser tag — Answer: FIREAT
  39. 95. Older sister of Rachel, in Genesis — Answer: LEAH
  40. 98. Basic BASIC statements — Answer: IFS
  41. 99. Real chess playa? — Answer: CHECKMATINGCHICKMAGNET
  42. 104. Contemporary of Gauss and Faraday — Answer: AMPERE
  43. 105. James who played Scotty on "Star Trek" — Answer: DOOHAN
  44. 106. "No ___, Bob" — Answer: SIRREE
  45. 107. Part of une pièce de théâtre — Answer: ACTE
  46. 110. Plunderers of Rome — Answer: GAULS
  47. 112. Hindu honorific — Answer: SRI
  48. 113. Clock toggle — Answer: AMPM
  49. 117. Hollowed out, as an apple — Answer: CORED
  50. 120. Hogwarts's "Half-Blood Prince" — Answer: SNAPE
  51. 122. Burnt pigment — Answer: UMBER
  52. 126. Greeting from a famous Italian character to a famous Italian American actress? — Answer: MARISATOMEIITSAMEMARIO
  53. 130. DC power player in the late 1800s? — Answer: THOMASEDISON
  54. 131. Good thing to play in a trick-taking game — Answer: TRUMPCARD
  55. 132. Magical symbol — Answer: SIGIL
  56. 133. Dispensing, with "out" — Answer: METING
  57. 134. Art lovers — Answer: ESTHETES

Down

  1. 1. One always cooking up new ideas? — Answer: CHEF
  2. 2. Ritzy — Answer: LUXE
  3. 3. "That's my cue" — Answer: IMON
  4. 4. ___ compensation (stock options, for instance) — Answer: NONCASH
  5. 5. Revegetation, e.g. — Answer: GREENING
  6. 6. Canon option, in brief — Answer: SLR
  7. 7. They may be Thai or chai — Answer: TEAS
  8. 8. Cuisinart competitor — Answer: OSTER
  9. 9. Noted rapper with an oxymoronic name — Answer: BIGGIESMALLS
  10. 10. Director Lee — Answer: ANG
  11. 11. Traveler in no need of hotels, for short — Answer: RVER
  12. 12. Columbian caravel — Answer: NINA
  13. 13. "I'm your guy" — Answer: USEME
  14. 14. Bogged down — Answer: MIRED
  15. 15. ___-right (political category) — Answer: ALT
  16. 16. Twice tres — Answer: SEIS
  17. 17. Out of control — Answer: AMOK
  18. 18. Nail salon request, familiarly — Answer: MANI
  19. 19. 1980s band among Australia's all-time best-selling groups — Answer: INXS
  20. 21. Quartz compound — Answer: SILICA
  21. 23. Cast out — Answer: BANISH
  22. 25. When doubled, "Sleep well" — Answer: NIGHT
  23. 31. Langston Hughes poem that begins "___, sing America" — Answer: ITOO
  24. 33. Word with mine or dump — Answer: DATA
  25. 35. ___ the Town (punny fast-food restaurant name) — Answer: TACO
  26. 36. Vacation package offerer, perhaps — Answer: RESORT
  27. 37. Visionary? — Answer: OCULAR
  28. 38. Lot unit — Answer: ACRE
  29. 40. Prefix with angular — Answer: TRI
  30. 41. D.C. 100: Abbr. — Answer: SENS
  31. 43. Mickey Mouse's boss in "Fantasia" — Answer: SORCERER
  32. 44. Whale of a tale — Answer: SAGA
  33. 45. Géorgie, par exemple — Answer: ETAT
  34. 46. Identity thief's acquisitions, in brief — Answer: SSNS
  35. 47. The pyramids, essentially — Answer: TOMBS
  36. 48. Stimpy's TV pal — Answer: REN
  37. 49. Rookies — Answer: NEWBS
  38. 50. Bond's man? — Answer: CRAIG
  39. 56. Skill taught to Luke Skywalker — Answer: THEFORCE
  40. 58. Texter's gasp — Answer: OMG
  41. 59. Feast with kalua pig — Answer: LUAU
  42. 61. Skedaddles — Answer: GOES
  43. 64. ___ de Glace (glacier in the French Alps) — Answer: MER
  44. 65. Fr. holy women — Answer: STES
  45. 67. Desperate pursuit of fame, in modern lingo — Answer: CLOUTCHASING
  46. 68. Weight — Answer: HEFT. Hint: Think about how heavy something feels when you pick it up! ⚖️
  47. 70. Channel that popularized video jockeys — Answer: MTV
  48. 72. Shower scrubber — Answer: LOOFA
  49. 73. Split — Answer: ENDIT
  50. 74. Mai ___ — Answer: TAI. Hint: This fruity cocktail is a tropical favorite often associated with Hawaiian vibes! 🍹
  51. 75. TV friend of Jerry, George and Kramer — Answer: ELAINE
  52. 76. Money for your money — Answer: ATMFEE
  53. 77. Slightest — Answer: LEAST
  54. 81. Black-and-white hunter — Answer: ORCA
  55. 82. Longtime NPR host Diane — Answer: REHM
  56. 83. Part of a flight — Answer: STEP
  57. 85. Bone-dry — Answer: ARID
  58. 87. Business entity inits. — Answer: LLC
  59. 88. Shrill cries — Answer: EEKS
  60. 91. Slimy veggie — Answer: OKRA
  61. 93. Brian who co-founded the Long Now Foundation — Answer: ENO
  62. 94. In awe — Answer: AGOG
  63. 96. Chums, in Chamonix — Answer: AMIS
  64. 97. "Bah, humbug!" — Answer: HARRUMPH
  65. 100. Nashville and New Orleans, for musicians — Answer: MECCAS
  66. 101. Stomping ground — Answer: HAUNT
  67. 102. Bringing up the rear — Answer: INLAST
  68. 103. [Yuck!] — Answer: GRIMACE
  69. 108. Sacred object — Answer: TOTEM
  70. 109. Lose ground? — Answer: ERODE
  71. 111. Slash on a scoresheet — Answer: SPARE
  72. 113. Qtys. — Answer: AMTS
  73. 114. When repeated, a tropical fish — Answer: MAHI
  74. 115. ___ rock (genre for Pink Floyd and Dream Theater, familiarly) — Answer: PROG
  75. 116. Apt name for a narcissist? — Answer: MIMI
  76. 118. Release — Answer: EMIT
  77. 119. He loved Lucy — Answer: DESI
  78. 121. Nesting pair in the Outback — Answer: EMUS
  79. 123. Army ___ — Answer: BRAT
  80. 124. The Emerald Isle — Answer: EIRE
  81. 125. Photosensitive cells — Answer: RODS
  82. 127. Seasoning for una margarita — Answer: SAL
  83. 128. Bit of plasma — Answer: ION
  84. 129. One whose uniform bears the Star of Life, for short — Answer: EMT

The answer to “Lose ground?” in the New York Times crossword is ERODE — a 5-letter word. This clue ran in the New York Times crossword on July 27, 2025, a Sunday puzzle, at 109-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.

“Lose ground?” answer

ERODE (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 ERODE.

Why the answer is ERODE

ERODE is the 5-letter solution that fits "Lose ground?" in the NYT Crossword crossword on July 27, 2025 (109-Down). Use the letter tiles above if you'd rather reveal it one letter at a time.

When else has “Lose ground?” 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.

July 27, 2025 (this puzzle) → ERODE. We haven't indexed an earlier appearance of this exact clue yet.

More clues from the NYT Crossword crossword on July 27, 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 July 27, 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 Sunday 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 “Lose ground?”?

The answer is ERODE, a 5-letter word. It appeared in the New York Times crossword on July 27, 2025.

How many letters is the answer to “Lose ground?”?

5 letters: ERODE.

Where did this clue appear?

In the New York Times crossword on July 27, 2025 (a Sunday puzzle), at 109-Down.

Can “Lose ground?” 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 July 27, 2025 is on the NYT Crossword answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

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