A winning scenario in a best-of-three game

Crossword Answer — August 14, 2025

Answer

NYT Crossword

Thursday, August 14, 2025

By Gene Louise De Vera

Tap a square to reveal a letter.

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

NYT Crossword Clues

Across

  1. 1Molecule that stores energy in the body, in brief
  2. 4Word before rope or scare
  3. 8Loose-limbed
  4. 13Talk like a tippler
  5. 14Far from shore
  6. 15City on the Nile ... or a punny end to the joke "When a tight-knit group of cygnets votes, they vote ___"
  7. 16Do a collie's work
  8. 17["I'll take 'Tennis' for $200, Ken"] It means nothing
  9. 19Pre-med track precursor, in brief
  10. 21Cookie holder
  11. 22Not many
  12. 23["Let's go with 'Nickname's the Same' for $400"] Bruce Springsteen, Lance Armstrong and Melissa McCarthy in a 2016 comedy
  13. 27Transistor states
  14. 28Honda luxury brand
  15. 29Over yonder
  16. 31Bubbles, e.g.
  17. 34Hauls
  18. 36Muscle-and-bone doc
  19. 39["Give me 'The Academy' for $600"] This was only the second animated film to be nominated for Best Picture, after "Beauty and the Beast"
  20. 41["How about 'Sports and Comedy' for $800"] He was on first base, per Abbott and Costello
  21. 43The Supreme Court justices, collectively
  22. 44Charlie's Angels, e.g.
  23. 46Swanky
  24. 47Doubled or tripled, say
  25. 49Gas brand with a torch in its logo
  26. 51Savanna prey
  27. 53["I'll try 'Painted Ladies' for $1,000"] This piece by Impressionist Mary Cassatt shows two women enjoying a drink
  28. 58Kelly of morning TV
  29. 60Guile
  30. 61Key ring?
  31. 62At risk ... or where one might hear the clue-and-answer pairs at 17-, 23-, 39-, 41- and 53-Across?
  32. 66"Thus with a kiss ___" (Romeo's final words)
  33. 67Sea inlet surrounded by steep cliffs
  34. 68In one's birthday suit
  35. 69Try to win over
  36. 70Hasbro word game that comes with a 60-second hourglass
  37. 71Go like a geyser
  38. 72Word after kick or dumb

Down

  1. 1Hebrew leader?
  2. 2Booster for a dragster
  3. 3Result of a scandal going viral, in brief
  4. 4Prominent feature of a hippopotamus or crocodile
  5. 5Escort in the theater, informally
  6. 6Human, to a robot
  7. 7Outdoor party area
  8. 8___ Palmas, capital of the Canaries
  9. 9Cuba o Puerto Rico
  10. 10A winning scenario in a best-of-three game
  11. 11Sanctuary
  12. 12TV show that has existed since before online media, despite what its name suggests
  13. 13"Man and Superman" playwright
  14. 18Tech sch.
  15. 20Like easy-to-get meds, in brief
  16. 24Peacock competitor
  17. 25Go off
  18. 26Drive off
  19. 30Horatian work of ca. 18 B.C.
  20. 31Not rent, say
  21. 32Greek letter that looks like "p"
  22. 33Incredible work
  23. 35Does some strokes
  24. 37Dept. that oversees the F.D.A.
  25. 38"Look at that!"
  26. 40Gumbo, for one
  27. 42Terrifying sound for a field mouse
  28. 45Terrifying device for a field mouse
  29. 48Larrup
  30. 50When repeated, a dance
  31. 51Dirty money
  32. 52Symbol of stealth
  33. 54Emiratis, e.g.
  34. 55Some list items
  35. 56Mount St. ___, second-highest mountain in Canada
  36. 57Trebek who once hosted this puzzle's theme
  37. 59Nestlé chocolate bar
  38. 63Lead-in to meter
  39. 64Grammy-winning Dr. ___
  40. 65Poison source in Agatha Christie's "A Pocket Full of Rye"

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Across

  1. 1. Molecule that stores energy in the body, in brief — Answer: ATP
  2. 4. Word before rope or scare — Answer: JUMP
  3. 8. Loose-limbed — Answer: LITHE
  4. 13. Talk like a tippler — Answer: SLUR
  5. 14. Far from shore — Answer: ASEA
  6. 15. City on the Nile ... or a punny end to the joke "When a tight-knit group of cygnets votes, they vote ___" — Answer: ASWAN
  7. 16. Do a collie's work — Answer: HERD
  8. 17. ["I'll take 'Tennis' for $200, Ken"] It means nothing — Answer: WHATISLOVE
  9. 19. Pre-med track precursor, in brief — Answer: APBIO
  10. 21. Cookie holder — Answer: TIN
  11. 22. Not many — Answer: AFEW
  12. 23. ["Let's go with 'Nickname's the Same' for $400"] Bruce Springsteen, Lance Armstrong and Melissa McCarthy in a 2016 comedy — Answer: WHOSTHEBOSS
  13. 27. Transistor states — Answer: ONS
  14. 28. Honda luxury brand — Answer: ACURA
  15. 29. Over yonder — Answer: THAR
  16. 31. Bubbles, e.g. — Answer: ORBS
  17. 34. Hauls — Answer: LUGS
  18. 36. Muscle-and-bone doc — Answer: ORTHO
  19. 39. ["Give me 'The Academy' for $600"] This was only the second animated film to be nominated for Best Picture, after "Beauty and the Beast" — Answer: WHATSUP
  20. 41. ["How about 'Sports and Comedy' for $800"] He was on first base, per Abbott and Costello — Answer: WHOSWHO
  21. 43. The Supreme Court justices, collectively — Answer: NONET
  22. 44. Charlie's Angels, e.g. — Answer: TRIO
  23. 46. Swanky — Answer: POSH
  24. 47. Doubled or tripled, say — Answer: GREW
  25. 49. Gas brand with a torch in its logo — Answer: AMOCO
  26. 51. Savanna prey — Answer: GNU
  27. 53. ["I'll try 'Painted Ladies' for $1,000"] This piece by Impressionist Mary Cassatt shows two women enjoying a drink — Answer: WHATSTHETEA
  28. 58. Kelly of morning TV — Answer: RIPA
  29. 60. Guile — Answer: ART
  30. 61. Key ring? — Answer: ATOLL
  31. 62. At risk ... or where one might hear the clue-and-answer pairs at 17-, 23-, 39-, 41- and 53-Across? — Answer: INJEOPARDY
  32. 66. "Thus with a kiss ___" (Romeo's final words) — Answer: IDIE
  33. 67. Sea inlet surrounded by steep cliffs — Answer: FJORD
  34. 68. In one's birthday suit — Answer: BARE
  35. 69. Try to win over — Answer: COAX
  36. 70. Hasbro word game that comes with a 60-second hourglass — Answer: TABOO
  37. 71. Go like a geyser — Answer: SPEW
  38. 72. Word after kick or dumb — Answer: ASS

Down

  1. 1. Hebrew leader? — Answer: ALEPH
  2. 2. Booster for a dragster — Answer: TURBO
  3. 3. Result of a scandal going viral, in brief — Answer: PRDISASTER
  4. 4. Prominent feature of a hippopotamus or crocodile — Answer: JAW
  5. 5. Escort in the theater, informally — Answer: USH
  6. 6. Human, to a robot — Answer: MEATBAG
  7. 7. Outdoor party area — Answer: PATIO
  8. 8. ___ Palmas, capital of the Canaries — Answer: LAS
  9. 9. Cuba o Puerto Rico — Answer: ISLA
  10. 10. A winning scenario in a best-of-three game — Answer: TWOFORTWO
  11. 11. Sanctuary — Answer: HAVEN
  12. 12. TV show that has existed since before online media, despite what its name suggests — Answer: ENEWS
  13. 13. "Man and Superman" playwright — Answer: SHAW
  14. 18. Tech sch. — Answer: INST
  15. 20. Like easy-to-get meds, in brief — Answer: OTC
  16. 24. Peacock competitor — Answer: HULU
  17. 25. Go off — Answer: ERUPT
  18. 26. Drive off — Answer: SHOO
  19. 30. Horatian work of ca. 18 B.C. — Answer: ARSPOETICA
  20. 31. Not rent, say — Answer: OWN
  21. 32. Greek letter that looks like "p" — Answer: RHO
  22. 33. Incredible work — Answer: BANGUPJOB
  23. 35. Does some strokes — Answer: SWIMS
  24. 37. Dept. that oversees the F.D.A. — Answer: HHS
  25. 38. "Look at that!" — Answer: OOH
  26. 40. Gumbo, for one — Answer: STEW
  27. 42. Terrifying sound for a field mouse — Answer: HOOT
  28. 45. Terrifying device for a field mouse — Answer: RATTRAP
  29. 48. Larrup — Answer: WHAP
  30. 50. When repeated, a dance — Answer: CHA
  31. 51. Dirty money — Answer: GRIFT
  32. 52. Symbol of stealth — Answer: NINJA
  33. 54. Emiratis, e.g. — Answer: ARABS
  34. 55. Some list items — Answer: TODOS
  35. 56. Mount St. ___, second-highest mountain in Canada — Answer: ELIAS
  36. 57. Trebek who once hosted this puzzle's theme — Answer: ALEX
  37. 59. Nestlé chocolate bar — Answer: AERO
  38. 63. Lead-in to meter — Answer: ODO
  39. 64. Grammy-winning Dr. ___ — Answer: DRE
  40. 65. Poison source in Agatha Christie's "A Pocket Full of Rye" — Answer: YEW

The answer to “A winning scenario in a best-of-three game” in the New York Times crossword is TWOFORTWO — a 9-letter word. This clue ran in the New York Times crossword on August 14, 2025, a Thursday puzzle, at 10-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.

“A winning scenario in a best-of-three game” answer

TWOFORTWO (9 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 TWOFORTWO.

Why the answer is TWOFORTWO

TWOFORTWO is the 9-letter solution that fits "A winning scenario in a best-of-three game" in the NYT Crossword crossword on August 14, 2025 (10-Down). Use the letter tiles above if you'd rather reveal it one letter at a time.

When else has “A winning scenario in a best-of-three game” 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.

August 14, 2025 (this puzzle) → TWOFORTWO. We haven't indexed an earlier appearance of this exact clue yet.

More clues from the NYT Crossword crossword on August 14, 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 August 14, 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 Thursday 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 “A winning scenario in a best-of-three game”?

The answer is TWOFORTWO, a 9-letter word. It appeared in the New York Times crossword on August 14, 2025.

How many letters is the answer to “A winning scenario in a best-of-three game”?

9 letters: TWOFORTWO.

Where did this clue appear?

In the New York Times crossword on August 14, 2025 (a Thursday puzzle), at 10-Down.

Can “A winning scenario in a best-of-three game” 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 August 14, 2025 is on the NYT Crossword answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

NYT Crossword Answers NYT Mini Crossword Answers NYT Crossword Answers — Aug 14 Wordle Hint Today Connections Hint Today Strands Hint Today Quordle Hint Today Contexto Hint Today Spotle Hint Today Pips Hint Today Jumble Answers Today 7 Little Words Answers