Hardly a genius

Crossword Answer — October 19, 2025

Answer

NYT Crossword

Sunday, October 19, 2025

By Daniel Grinberg

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

NYT Crossword Clues

Across

  1. 1Huge success
  2. 6Seal, say
  3. 11From the beginning
  4. 15___ sequencing (lab technique)
  5. 18Lively Bohemian dances
  6. 20Alternative to a tissue, informally
  7. 21Bit in a hippie's necklace
  8. 23Poker declaration
  9. 24Remove, as a ribbon
  10. 25Share confidences with
  11. 26Business traveler's convenience
  12. 28Divisions on a map
  13. 29Brian ___, songwriter who popularized the term "generative music"
  14. 30Second volume
  15. 31"hahaha im DEAD!"
  16. 32Broadband inits.
  17. 33Fights back tears?
  18. 34Michelle Obama, to Princeton
  19. 36Indulge (in)
  20. 40National Arab American Heritage Month
  21. 43Place to hang at home?
  22. 45Oppressive political regime, so to speak, with "the"
  23. 46Have an ominous presence
  24. 50Sound of a joke going over one's head
  25. 52Giant Middle-earth creature
  26. 53Arched recess
  27. 54Person I truly am
  28. 56"Hey!" from on high
  29. 59Word with pack or rug
  30. 60Senior, informally
  31. 61Org. that confiscates liquids
  32. 62Knocked out of the park
  33. 65Pop culture hit about dystopian technology
  34. 67Former parent of NBC
  35. 69Eliminators of some teams
  36. 72Corn chip with a "Fuego" flavor
  37. 73In the vein of
  38. 75Smallish batteries
  39. 77Rapper ___ Milli
  40. 78Get involved
  41. 80Perceptive
  42. 81Hawaiian shindig
  43. 82Clothes for a doze, in brief
  44. 85Native of the Delaware Valley
  45. 87Pursuers of utopian goals
  46. 89Coffees that aren't single-origin
  47. 92Self-admiring sort
  48. 94Major Ukrainian seaport
  49. 95Sisterly
  50. 97Sneaky plot
  51. 98Pilgrims in Saudi Arabia
  52. 101Ear-related prefix
  53. 102Not fully open
  54. 104Hybrid pastry
  55. 106P, to Pericles
  56. 109Injection associated with a certain toxin
  57. 112Annoyances for ticket holders
  58. 114Palm Springs or Puerto Vallarta, notably
  59. 115Brown songbirds
  60. 116Tale-telling brothers
  61. 117Turned up
  62. 118"Strike up the band!"
  63. 119Neighbor of a Saudi
  64. 120Nickname for Rachel
  65. 121Verbally expresses disdain
  66. 122Warning signs
  67. 123Tightly packed

Down

  1. 1Food enlivener
  2. 2Hardly a genius
  3. 3Home to a chapel with the Texas flag flying beside it
  4. 4Spotify button
  5. 5Loves, loves, loves the occasion
  6. 6Hurls
  7. 7Feature of a Hawaiian house
  8. 8Being prosecuted
  9. 9Go downhill fast, say
  10. 10___ candy
  11. 11Chilly
  12. 12Orange juice preference
  13. 13With no one ahead or behind
  14. 14Lost all liquid resources
  15. 15Remove hair from
  16. 16Main antagonist on HBO's "Euphoria"
  17. 17Clamors
  18. 19Mexicali mister
  19. 22Ruptures
  20. 27Over there, poetically
  21. 28Openly reveal one's sexuality
  22. 31Process for would-be Greeks
  23. 33It's over a quarter of a quarter
  24. 35Features of the names of many Apple products
  25. 37N.Y.C. stadium eponym
  26. 38Doll of a guy?
  27. 39Vitals checker, in brief
  28. 40Interrupter of dreams, maybe
  29. 41Genre for Keith Haring
  30. 42Political platforms?
  31. 43Saxon's foe
  32. 44Competitive athlete's goal, perhaps
  33. 47Guthrie who sang "Alice's Restaurant"
  34. 48Bureaucratic barriers
  35. 49Fuel source
  36. 51"Care to dance?"
  37. 55Sea, to Seurat
  38. 57They may be caught in the summer
  39. 58Prefix with sphere
  40. 60Tribute in the Tribune, say
  41. 63Flow out
  42. 64Keys above C's
  43. 66Blesses
  44. 68"That feels ama-a-azing!"
  45. 70Alan with six Emmys
  46. 71Composer who led the U.S. Marine Band
  47. 74Canniest, for instance
  48. 76Artist's feedback session, informally
  49. 79Olaf's creator in "Frozen"
  50. 81Tops
  51. 82Channel supported by pledge drives
  52. 83"Jenny From the Block" singer, to fans
  53. 84Immune cell variation
  54. 86Flow (out)
  55. 88Hung around idly
  56. 90"Sorry, I'm unavailable!"
  57. 91Tried to convey
  58. 93Hide
  59. 96Surgical instrument
  60. 98Lifts with a pulley
  61. 99"Dear ___" (greeting in an old advice column)
  62. 100Overly fault-finding
  63. 103"The Grapes of Wrath" family
  64. 105Entered quickly
  65. 106Food traditionally eaten with chopsticks
  66. 107Songs on Sundays
  67. 108Actor Davis who delivered Malcolm X's eulogy
  68. 109Gelatinous thickener
  69. 110___ Valley
  70. 111Shade lighter than cappuccino
  71. 112Decorative auto upgrade
  72. 113Mojito garnish
  73. 11550,000-watt clear-channel radio station in Iowa

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Across

  1. 1. Huge success — Answer: SMASH
  2. 6. Seal, say — Answer: CLOSE
  3. 11. From the beginning — Answer: ANEW
  4. 15. ___ sequencing (lab technique) — Answer: DNA
  5. 18. Lively Bohemian dances — Answer: POLKAS
  6. 20. Alternative to a tissue, informally — Answer: HANKY
  7. 21. Bit in a hippie's necklace — Answer: LOVEBEAD
  8. 23. Poker declaration — Answer: IRAISE
  9. 24. Remove, as a ribbon — Answer: UNTIE
  10. 25. Share confidences with — Answer: OPENUPTO
  11. 26. Business traveler's convenience — Answer: COMPANYCARD
  12. 28. Divisions on a map — Answer: COUNTRIES
  13. 29. Brian ___, songwriter who popularized the term "generative music" — Answer: ENO
  14. 30. Second volume — Answer: BOOKII
  15. 31. "hahaha im DEAD!" — Answer: ROFL
  16. 32. Broadband inits. — Answer: DSL
  17. 33. Fights back tears? — Answer: DARNS
  18. 34. Michelle Obama, to Princeton — Answer: ALUM
  19. 36. Indulge (in) — Answer: PARTAKE
  20. 40. National Arab American Heritage Month — Answer: APRIL
  21. 43. Place to hang at home? — Answer: CLOSET
  22. 45. Oppressive political regime, so to speak, with "the" — Answer: SYSTEM
  23. 46. Have an ominous presence — Answer: LOOMLARGE
  24. 50. Sound of a joke going over one's head — Answer: WHOOSH
  25. 52. Giant Middle-earth creature — Answer: ENT
  26. 53. Arched recess — Answer: APSE
  27. 54. Person I truly am — Answer: REALME
  28. 56. "Hey!" from on high — Answer: UPHERE
  29. 59. Word with pack or rug — Answer: RAT
  30. 60. Senior, informally — Answer: OLDSTER
  31. 61. Org. that confiscates liquids — Answer: TSA
  32. 62. Knocked out of the park — Answer: ACED
  33. 65. Pop culture hit about dystopian technology — Answer: MRROBOTO
  34. 67. Former parent of NBC — Answer: RCA
  35. 69. Eliminators of some teams — Answer: PLAYOFFS
  36. 72. Corn chip with a "Fuego" flavor — Answer: TAKI
  37. 73. In the vein of — Answer: ALA
  38. 75. Smallish batteries — Answer: AACELLS
  39. 77. Rapper ___ Milli — Answer: FLO
  40. 78. Get involved — Answer: STEPIN
  41. 80. Perceptive — Answer: SHREWD
  42. 81. Hawaiian shindig — Answer: LUAU
  43. 82. Clothes for a doze, in brief — Answer: PJS
  44. 85. Native of the Delaware Valley — Answer: LENAPE
  45. 87. Pursuers of utopian goals — Answer: IDEALISTS
  46. 89. Coffees that aren't single-origin — Answer: BLENDS
  47. 92. Self-admiring sort — Answer: EGOIST
  48. 94. Major Ukrainian seaport — Answer: ODESA
  49. 95. Sisterly — Answer: SORORAL
  50. 97. Sneaky plot — Answer: RUSE
  51. 98. Pilgrims in Saudi Arabia — Answer: HAJIS
  52. 101. Ear-related prefix — Answer: OTO
  53. 102. Not fully open — Answer: AJAR
  54. 104. Hybrid pastry — Answer: CRONUT
  55. 106. P, to Pericles — Answer: RHO
  56. 109. Injection associated with a certain toxin — Answer: ANTIVENOM
  57. 112. Annoyances for ticket holders — Answer: TRAINDELAYS
  58. 114. Palm Springs or Puerto Vallarta, notably — Answer: GAYMECCA
  59. 115. Brown songbirds — Answer: WRENS
  60. 116. Tale-telling brothers — Answer: GRIMMS
  61. 117. Turned up — Answer: APPEARED
  62. 118. "Strike up the band!" — Answer: HITIT
  63. 119. Neighbor of a Saudi — Answer: YEMENI
  64. 120. Nickname for Rachel — Answer: RAE
  65. 121. Verbally expresses disdain — Answer: TUTS
  66. 122. Warning signs — Answer: OMENS
  67. 123. Tightly packed — Answer: DENSE

Down

  1. 1. Food enlivener — Answer: SPICE
  2. 2. Hardly a genius — Answer: MORON
  3. 3. Home to a chapel with the Texas flag flying beside it — Answer: ALAMO
  4. 4. Spotify button — Answer: SKIP
  5. 5. Loves, loves, loves the occasion — Answer: HASABALL
  6. 6. Hurls — Answer: CHUCKS
  7. 7. Feature of a Hawaiian house — Answer: LANAI
  8. 8. Being prosecuted — Answer: ONTRIAL
  9. 9. Go downhill fast, say — Answer: SKID
  10. 10. ___ candy — Answer: EYE
  11. 11. Chilly — Answer: ALOOF
  12. 12. Orange juice preference — Answer: NOPULP
  13. 13. With no one ahead or behind — Answer: EVEN
  14. 14. Lost all liquid resources — Answer: WENTDRY
  15. 15. Remove hair from — Answer: DEPILATE
  16. 16. Main antagonist on HBO's "Euphoria" — Answer: NATE
  17. 17. Clamors — Answer: ADOS
  18. 19. Mexicali mister — Answer: SENOR
  19. 22. Ruptures — Answer: BURSTS
  20. 27. Over there, poetically — Answer: YON
  21. 28. Openly reveal one's sexuality — Answer: COMEOUT
  22. 31. Process for would-be Greeks — Answer: RUSH
  23. 33. It's over a quarter of a quarter — Answer: DIME
  24. 35. Features of the names of many Apple products — Answer: LOWERCASEIS
  25. 37. N.Y.C. stadium eponym — Answer: ASHE
  26. 38. Doll of a guy? — Answer: KEN
  27. 39. Vitals checker, in brief — Answer: EMT
  28. 40. Interrupter of dreams, maybe — Answer: ALARM
  29. 41. Genre for Keith Haring — Answer: POPART
  30. 42. Political platforms? — Answer: ROSTRA
  31. 43. Saxon's foe — Answer: CELT
  32. 44. Competitive athlete's goal, perhaps — Answer: TOPSPEED
  33. 47. Guthrie who sang "Alice's Restaurant" — Answer: ARLO
  34. 48. Bureaucratic barriers — Answer: REDTAPE
  35. 49. Fuel source — Answer: GASOLINE
  36. 51. "Care to dance?" — Answer: SHALLWE
  37. 55. Sea, to Seurat — Answer: MER
  38. 57. They may be caught in the summer — Answer: RAYS
  39. 58. Prefix with sphere — Answer: ECO
  40. 60. Tribute in the Tribune, say — Answer: OBIT
  41. 63. Flow out — Answer: EFFUSE
  42. 64. Keys above C's — Answer: DFLATS
  43. 66. Blesses — Answer: OKS
  44. 68. "That feels ama-a-azing!" — Answer: AAH
  45. 70. Alan with six Emmys — Answer: ALDA
  46. 71. Composer who led the U.S. Marine Band — Answer: SOUSA
  47. 74. Canniest, for instance — Answer: ANAGRAM
  48. 76. Artist's feedback session, informally — Answer: CRIT
  49. 79. Olaf's creator in "Frozen" — Answer: ELSA
  50. 81. Tops — Answer: LIDS
  51. 82. Channel supported by pledge drives — Answer: PBS
  52. 83. "Jenny From the Block" singer, to fans — Answer: JLO
  53. 84. Immune cell variation — Answer: SEROTYPE
  54. 86. Flow (out) — Answer: POUR
  55. 88. Hung around idly — Answer: LOITERED
  56. 90. "Sorry, I'm unavailable!" — Answer: NOTIME
  57. 91. Tried to convey — Answer: DROVEAT
  58. 93. Hide — Answer: SECRETE
  59. 96. Surgical instrument — Answer: LANCET
  60. 98. Lifts with a pulley — Answer: HOISTS
  61. 99. "Dear ___" (greeting in an old advice column) — Answer: ANN
  62. 100. Overly fault-finding — Answer: JUDGY
  63. 103. "The Grapes of Wrath" family — Answer: JOADS
  64. 105. Entered quickly — Answer: RANIN
  65. 106. Food traditionally eaten with chopsticks — Answer: RAMEN
  66. 107. Songs on Sundays — Answer: HYMNS
  67. 108. Actor Davis who delivered Malcolm X's eulogy — Answer: OSSIE
  68. 109. Gelatinous thickener — Answer: AGAR
  69. 110. ___ Valley — Answer: NAPA
  70. 111. Shade lighter than cappuccino — Answer: ECRU
  71. 112. Decorative auto upgrade — Answer: TRIM
  72. 113. Mojito garnish — Answer: LIME
  73. 115. 50,000-watt clear-channel radio station in Iowa — Answer: WHO

The answer to “Hardly a genius” in the New York Times crossword is MORON — a 5-letter word. This clue ran in the New York Times crossword on October 19, 2025, a Sunday puzzle, at 2-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.

“Hardly a genius” answer

MORON (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 MORON.

Why the answer is MORON

MORON is the 5-letter solution that fits "Hardly a genius" in the NYT Crossword crossword on October 19, 2025 (2-Down). Use the letter tiles above if you'd rather reveal it one letter at a time.

When else has “Hardly a genius” 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.

October 19, 2025 (this puzzle) → MORON. We haven't indexed an earlier appearance of this exact clue yet.

More clues from the NYT Crossword crossword on October 19, 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 October 19, 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 “Hardly a genius”?

The answer is MORON, a 5-letter word. It appeared in the New York Times crossword on October 19, 2025.

How many letters is the answer to “Hardly a genius”?

5 letters: MORON.

Where did this clue appear?

In the New York Times crossword on October 19, 2025 (a Sunday puzzle), at 2-Down.

Can “Hardly a genius” 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 19, 2025 is on the NYT Crossword answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

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