NYT Crossword Clues & Answers - Sep 21

Gimme a Break!

By Adrianne Baik

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NYT Crossword Clues

Across

1Vineyard measure
5Does acid
10Tree with doubly serrated leaves
13[Hey!]
17Locations in the game Clue
19Grand duke of Luxembourg beginning in 2000
20Heart of the matter
22Palindromic Italian number
23Traditional form of Japanese drama
25Pro ___
26Key spot?
27Entered on tiptoe
28"Love, ___" (2014 rom-com starring Lily Collins)
30Far from conscious
32Kicked off, as a business
342012 Disney film set inside an arcade
36Had
37Turns off
38Lace protector
41"You may ___"
43The "me" of "Despicable Me"
44Bonds
48"About Us" pieces
49Holds dear
51Small square
52Longtime employer of Rachel Maddow
53Self-love
54Phases, to Taylor Swift
55Game with Indigenous origins
58___ Fighters ("Everlong" band)
59Festive outdoor lighting options
62Classic drinking "sport"
63"Sorry, maybe next time"
65"The Last Supper," e.g.
66Third-largest land animal
68Pokémon enthusiast's collection
69Puck's king
71Muscle firmness
72Place to perfect a recipe
76Swanson on "Parks and Recreation"
77Game typically played in the dark
80Muchas horas
81"Was ___ blame?"
82Bad spirit
84D.C. pro
85Fight the urge
87It gets bucks from Broncos
88Does a farm job
89___ Island (Georgia resort destination)
90Reform Party founder
91Feasts
92Like emailed files
95"The Silence of the Lambs" villain
98Certain rescue pet
101Gleeful feeling
104Miniaturized Amazon smart speaker
105Big jerks
107Remove, as a coupon
109Dangerous additive in old paint
110Whopping
112Bite-size chocolate-covered wafers ... or a hint to what's found in five squares in this puzzle
114Croft of video games
115___ homo
116Some slushies
117Perform horribly
118TV host Cohen
119Joke around
120"No man is an island" writer
121Slumps

Down

1Holiest locales in synagogues, traditionally
2Applications of polish
3Tik-Tok in the Oz books, for one
4Models after
51995 Sandra Bullock cyberthriller
6"V for Vendetta" actor Stephen
7Uninvited guest
8Doings before surgery, informally
9Dubbed ones
10They might be glowing
11Astrological lion
12Filing services?
13Programs hosted by SoundCloud
14Happy hour perch
15Make a big step, perhaps
16Rabbi's reading
18Regular at a park with half-pipes, informally
21Breaded, fried Japanese pork cutlet
24Big successes
29Victor's cry
31Creative pursuit
33Oscar-winning Ariana of "West Side Story"
35December drink
37Gone missing
38Assist illegally
391958 romantic comedy that won Best Picture
40"I made it big time!"
42Many a skin-care product
45Hip
46Black, in verse
47St. Andrews resident
49Esoteric knowledge
50Roald who wrote "Matilda"
51"... actually, let's go to plan B"
52Members of the mongoose family
54Jazz composer Garner
56Swipe
57Go after, as mosquitoes
60Graham Greene's "___ Man in Havana"
61One way to sell stock
64Public health agcy.
67Bank acct. entry
68Several CBS dramas
69United Way and UNICEF, in brief
70___-chic (dressing style)
71It incited a famous 18th-century "party"
73Cleaned up, in a way
74To be, in Nice
75Dozes (off)
78Ambush
79Neighbor of Lux.
83Gannett-owned newspaper
86"Here's the thing ..."
87Campground gathering spots
89Worked hard (for)
90Farm enclosures
91Jeans
93___ Talks
94Intense, as an argument
96Music protector, of a sort
97Slope
98Guy
99What the "dalai" of "Dalai Lama" translates to
100Broken piece of pottery
101Insurer with a green mascot
102Justice Sotomayor
103Seeking justice, in a way
106Leave tire marks, say
108Expressions of disapproval
111B.S. part: Abbr.
113Barbie's beau

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Across

1. Vineyard measure — Answer: ACRE
5. Does acid — Answer: TRIPS
10. Tree with doubly serrated leaves — Answer: ELM
13. [Hey!] — Answer: PSST
17. Locations in the game Clue — Answer: ROOMS
19. Grand duke of Luxembourg beginning in 2000 — Answer: HENRI
20. Heart of the matter — Answer: MEAT
22. Palindromic Italian number — Answer: OTTO
23. Traditional form of Japanese drama — Answer: KABUKHEATER
25. Pro ___ — Answer: BONO
26. Key spot? — Answer: DOOR
27. Entered on tiptoe — Answer: STOLEIN
28. "Love, ___" (2014 rom-com starring Lily Collins) — Answer: ROSIE
30. Far from conscious — Answer: INACOMA
32. Kicked off, as a business — Answer: STARTEDUP
34. 2012 Disney film set inside an arcade — Answer: WRECKRALPH
36. Had — Answer: TASTED
37. Turns off — Answer: DISGUSTS
38. Lace protector — Answer: AGLET
41. "You may ___" — Answer: BEGIN
43. The "me" of "Despicable Me" — Answer: GRU
44. Bonds — Answer: TIES
48. "About Us" pieces — Answer: BIOS
49. Holds dear — Answer: ADORES
51. Small square — Answer: ONE
52. Longtime employer of Rachel Maddow — Answer: MSNBC
53. Self-love — Answer: EGO
54. Phases, to Taylor Swift — Answer: ERAS
55. Game with Indigenous origins — Answer: LACROSSE
58. ___ Fighters ("Everlong" band) — Answer: FOO
59. Festive outdoor lighting options — Answer: TIKORCHES
62. Classic drinking "sport" — Answer: PONG
63. "Sorry, maybe next time" — Answer: WECANT
65. "The Last Supper," e.g. — Answer: MURAL
66. Third-largest land animal — Answer: HIPPO
68. Pokémon enthusiast's collection — Answer: CARDS
69. Puck's king — Answer: OBERON
71. Muscle firmness — Answer: TONE
72. Place to perfect a recipe — Answer: TESTKCHEN
76. Swanson on "Parks and Recreation" — Answer: RON
77. Game typically played in the dark — Answer: LASERTAG
80. Muchas horas — Answer: DIAS
81. "Was ___ blame?" — Answer: ITO
82. Bad spirit — Answer: GHOUL
84. D.C. pro — Answer: NAT
85. Fight the urge — Answer: RESIST
87. It gets bucks from Broncos — Answer: FORD
88. Does a farm job — Answer: SOWS
89. ___ Island (Georgia resort destination) — Answer: SEA
90. Reform Party founder — Answer: PEROT
91. Feasts — Answer: DINES
92. Like emailed files — Answer: ATTACHED
95. "The Silence of the Lambs" villain — Answer: LECTER
98. Certain rescue pet — Answer: FOSTERKTEN
101. Gleeful feeling — Answer: GIDDINESS
104. Miniaturized Amazon smart speaker — Answer: ECHODOT
105. Big jerks — Answer: ASSES
107. Remove, as a coupon — Answer: CLIPOUT
109. Dangerous additive in old paint — Answer: LEAD
110. Whopping — Answer: VAST
112. Bite-size chocolate-covered wafers ... or a hint to what's found in five squares in this puzzle — Answer: KITKATMINIS
114. Croft of video games — Answer: LARA
115. ___ homo — Answer: ECCE
116. Some slushies — Answer: ICEES
117. Perform horribly — Answer: STINK
118. TV host Cohen — Answer: ANDY
119. Joke around — Answer: KID
120. "No man is an island" writer — Answer: DONNE
121. Slumps — Answer: SAGS

Down

1. Holiest locales in synagogues, traditionally — Answer: ARKS
2. Applications of polish — Answer: COATS
3. Tik-Tok in the Oz books, for one — Answer: ROBOT
4. Models after — Answer: EMULATES
5. 1995 Sandra Bullock cyberthriller — Answer: THENET
6. "V for Vendetta" actor Stephen — Answer: REA
7. Uninvited guest — Answer: INTRUDER
8. Doings before surgery, informally — Answer: PREOP
9. Dubbed ones — Answer: SIRS
10. They might be glowing — Answer: EMBERS
11. Astrological lion — Answer: LEO
12. Filing services? — Answer: MANICURES
13. Programs hosted by SoundCloud — Answer: PODCASTS
14. Happy hour perch — Answer: STOOL
15. Make a big step, perhaps — Answer: STOMP
16. Rabbi's reading — Answer: TORAH
18. Regular at a park with half-pipes, informally — Answer: SKERAT
21. Breaded, fried Japanese pork cutlet — Answer: TONKSU
24. Big successes — Answer: HITS
29. Victor's cry — Answer: IWIN
31. Creative pursuit — Answer: ART
33. Oscar-winning Ariana of "West Side Story" — Answer: DEBOSE
35. December drink — Answer: EGGNOG
37. Gone missing — Answer: DISAPPEARED
38. Assist illegally — Answer: ABET
39. 1958 romantic comedy that won Best Picture — Answer: GIGI
40. "I made it big time!" — Answer: LOOKMENOW
42. Many a skin-care product — Answer: GEL
45. Hip — Answer: INFASHION
46. Black, in verse — Answer: EBON
47. St. Andrews resident — Answer: SCOT
49. Esoteric knowledge — Answer: ARCANA
50. Roald who wrote "Matilda" — Answer: DAHL
51. "... actually, let's go to plan B" — Answer: ORNOT
52. Members of the mongoose family — Answer: MEERKS
54. Jazz composer Garner — Answer: ERROLL
56. Swipe — Answer: COP
57. Go after, as mosquitoes — Answer: SWATAT
60. Graham Greene's "___ Man in Havana" — Answer: OUR
61. One way to sell stock — Answer: SHORT
64. Public health agcy. — Answer: CDC
67. Bank acct. entry — Answer: INT
68. Several CBS dramas — Answer: CSIS
69. United Way and UNICEF, in brief — Answer: ORGS
70. ___-chic (dressing style) — Answer: BOHO
71. It incited a famous 18th-century "party" — Answer: TEAACT
73. Cleaned up, in a way — Answer: EDITED
74. To be, in Nice — Answer: ETRE
75. Dozes (off) — Answer: NODS
78. Ambush — Answer: SNEAKTACK
79. Neighbor of Lux. — Answer: GER
83. Gannett-owned newspaper — Answer: USATODAY
86. "Here's the thing ..." — Answer: SOLISTEN
87. Campground gathering spots — Answer: FIREPITS
89. Worked hard (for) — Answer: STROVE
90. Farm enclosures — Answer: PENS
91. Jeans — Answer: DENIMS
93. ___ Talks — Answer: TED
94. Intense, as an argument — Answer: HEATED
96. Music protector, of a sort — Answer: CDCASE
97. Slope — Answer: TILT
98. Guy — Answer: FELLA
99. What the "dalai" of "Dalai Lama" translates to — Answer: OCEAN
100. Broken piece of pottery — Answer: SHARD
101. Insurer with a green mascot — Answer: GEICO
102. Justice Sotomayor — Answer: SONIA
103. Seeking justice, in a way — Answer: SUING
106. Leave tire marks, say — Answer: SKID
108. Expressions of disapproval — Answer: TSKS
111. B.S. part: Abbr. — Answer: SCI
113. Barbie's beau — Answer: KEN

Here are the NYT Crossword answers for Sunday, September 21, 2025 — every solution for that day's 15×15 (21×21 on Sunday) puzzle, listed at the top of this page. Whether you're catching up on a puzzle you missed, settling a “what was the answer on September 21?” question, or checking a grid you finished that day, the complete clue-by-clue solution is right here. Looking for today's puzzle instead? Head to our live NYT Crossword answers page.

NYT Crossword answers for September 21, 2025

The full solution for the September 21 NYT Crossword is shown above, laid out clue by clue — every Across answer followed by every Down answer, exactly as that day's grid read. Each answer is listed separately, so you can check just the clue you were stuck on and leave the rest. This is the confirmed grid as published on Sunday, September 21.

Hints for the September 21 puzzle

Not ready for the full answer? Here are lighter, spoiler-free nudges for that day's grid, above the solutions. The September 21 puzzle fell on a Sunday, and with the New York Times crossword that matters: the grid gets harder as the week goes on, from an easy Monday to a fiendish Saturday, with a large themed puzzle on Sunday. So a Sunday grid tells you how much misdirection to expect — and if a clue that day seemed to make no sense, the weekday is usually the reason. Use the hints for the trickiest clues, then reveal the answers above only if you need them.

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