Muscular

Crossword Answer — March 02, 2026

Answer
NYT Crossword Answers

NYT Crossword

Monday, March 02, 2026

By Leslie Benson

D
I
T
C
H
S
C
A
N
C
L
A
M
I
D
A
H
O
L
I
N
E
R
E
P
O
F
O
R
E
S
H
A
D
O
W
A
T
O
P
S
E
I
N
E
A
I
S
L
E
A
P
R
S
S
T
R
I
K
E
G
O
L
D
R
O
O
M
S
F
A
R
N
O
S
E
N
T
O
M
B
A
S
B
A
D
G
I
V
E
A
S
H
O
U
T
O
U
T
E
A
R
N
S
L
E
C
H
E
S
P
A
S
G
O
A
S
T
O
R
K
A
C
T
I
O
N
P
L
A
N
O
H
M
Y
R
U
R
A
L
A
R
E
A
R
A
T
O
M
T
I
M
B
E
R
W
O
L
F
D
E
N
S
H
O
B
O
C
H
A
I
R
E
R
G
O
U
S
S
R
H
O
K
E
Y

Across

  1. 1Leave behind, informallyDITCH
  2. 6Read, as a bar codeSCAN
  3. 10Happy as a ___CLAM
  4. 14The Potato StateIDAHO
  5. 15Bit of dialogueLINE
  6. 16Seized vehicle, in briefREPO
  7. 17Hint at, as what's to comeFORESHADOW
  8. 19Sitting onATOP
  9. 20Parisian riverSEINE
  10. 21Wedding walkwayAISLE
  11. 22Figs. that include interestAPRS
  12. 25Hit the jackpot, so to speakSTRIKEGOLD
  13. 28Hotel unitsROOMS
  14. 30DistantFAR
  15. 31RefusalsNOS
  16. 32Place in a pyramid, as a mummified pharaohENTOMB
  17. 34"There's no such thing ___ publicity"ASBAD
  18. 36Acknowledge during a broadcast, say ... and a hint to the shaded squaresGIVEASHOUTOUT
  19. 40Brings home the baconEARNS
  20. 41Tres ___ cakeLECHES
  21. 43DadsPAS
  22. 46Popular coastal destination in IndiaGOA
  23. 47Bird featured on many baby shower decorationsSTORK
  24. 48Sequence of steps to accomplish a goalACTIONPLAN
  25. 53"Good heavens!"OHMY
  26. 54In the countrysideRURAL
  27. 55Toward the backAREAR
  28. 57Tiny unit of matterATOM
  29. 58Wild canid of the Great Lakes regionTIMBERWOLF
  30. 63Foxholes, e.g.DENS
  31. 64DrifterHOBO
  32. 65Committee headCHAIR
  33. 66ThereforeERGO
  34. 67The Beatles' "Back in the ___"USSR
  35. 68"The ___ Pokey" (children's dance song)HOKEY

Down

  1. 1"What's the ___?" ("Who cares?")DIF
  2. 2Wedding vowIDO
  3. 3Black gooTAR
  4. 4Knight captures bishop, e.g.CHESSMOVE
  5. 5Garden faucet attachmentHOSE
  6. 6BiasSLANT
  7. 7Fermented apple juiceCIDER
  8. 8Year on the YucatánANO
  9. 9Just purchasedNEW
  10. 10Daniel ___, 007 portrayerCRAIG
  11. 11DivulgesLETSON
  12. 12Moon-landing programAPOLLO
  13. 13Bikes with small enginesMOPEDS
  14. 18___ and hersHIS
  15. 21Infuses with bubblesAERATES
  16. 22"Things ___ looking up!"ARE
  17. 23Ping's partnerPONG
  18. 24Indian flatbreadROTI
  19. 26"In that case ..."IFSO
  20. 27Afghan capitalKABUL
  21. 29Obsessor over "the precious" in Tolkien loreSMEAGOL
  22. 33British noblemanBARON
  23. 34Sounds of satisfactionAHS
  24. 35Sci-fi series with a "Time Lord" traveling in a TARDISDOCTORWHO
  25. 37"___, crackle, pop"SNAP
  26. 38"Yikes ...!"UHOH
  27. 39Glossary componentTERM
  28. 42Where the stars areSKY
  29. 43Veterans Day eventPARADE
  30. 44SharperACUTER
  31. 45MuscularSTRONG
  32. 49"You are not!" retortIAMSO
  33. 50Baby sheepLAMBS
  34. 51___ Day (tree-planting celebration)ARBOR
  35. 52Maiden name precederNEE
  36. 56Part of a footARCH
  37. 58Wed. followerTHU
  38. 59Apple platformIOS
  39. 60Sturdy bookcase materialOAK
  40. 61What one should let sleeping dogs do, proverbiallyLIE
  41. 62Word after deep, stir or smallFRY

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Across

  1. 1. Leave behind, informally — Answer: DITCH
  2. 6. Read, as a bar code — Answer: SCAN
  3. 10. Happy as a ___ — Answer: CLAM
  4. 14. The Potato State — Answer: IDAHO
  5. 15. Bit of dialogue — Answer: LINE
  6. 16. Seized vehicle, in brief — Answer: REPO
  7. 17. Hint at, as what's to come — Answer: FORESHADOW
  8. 19. Sitting on — Answer: ATOP
  9. 20. Parisian river — Answer: SEINE
  10. 21. Wedding walkway — Answer: AISLE
  11. 22. Figs. that include interest — Answer: APRS
  12. 25. Hit the jackpot, so to speak — Answer: STRIKEGOLD
  13. 28. Hotel units — Answer: ROOMS
  14. 30. Distant — Answer: FAR
  15. 31. Refusals — Answer: NOS
  16. 32. Place in a pyramid, as a mummified pharaoh — Answer: ENTOMB
  17. 34. "There's no such thing ___ publicity" — Answer: ASBAD
  18. 36. Acknowledge during a broadcast, say ... and a hint to the shaded squares — Answer: GIVEASHOUTOUT
  19. 40. Brings home the bacon — Answer: EARNS
  20. 41. Tres ___ cake — Answer: LECHES
  21. 43. Dads — Answer: PAS. Hint: They’re the male parents in a family. 👨‍👧‍👦
  22. 46. Popular coastal destination in India — Answer: GOA
  23. 47. Bird featured on many baby shower decorations — Answer: STORK
  24. 48. Sequence of steps to accomplish a goal — Answer: ACTIONPLAN
  25. 53. "Good heavens!" — Answer: OHMY
  26. 54. In the countryside — Answer: RURAL
  27. 55. Toward the back — Answer: AREAR
  28. 57. Tiny unit of matter — Answer: ATOM
  29. 58. Wild canid of the Great Lakes region — Answer: TIMBERWOLF
  30. 63. Foxholes, e.g. — Answer: DENS
  31. 64. Drifter — Answer: HOBO
  32. 65. Committee head — Answer: CHAIR
  33. 66. Therefore — Answer: ERGO
  34. 67. The Beatles' "Back in the ___" — Answer: USSR
  35. 68. "The ___ Pokey" (children's dance song) — Answer: HOKEY

Down

  1. 1. "What's the ___?" ("Who cares?") — Answer: DIF
  2. 2. Wedding vow — Answer: IDO
  3. 3. Black goo — Answer: TAR
  4. 4. Knight captures bishop, e.g. — Answer: CHESSMOVE
  5. 5. Garden faucet attachment — Answer: HOSE
  6. 6. Bias — Answer: SLANT
  7. 7. Fermented apple juice — Answer: CIDER
  8. 8. Year on the Yucatán — Answer: ANO
  9. 9. Just purchased — Answer: NEW
  10. 10. Daniel ___, 007 portrayer — Answer: CRAIG
  11. 11. Divulges — Answer: LETSON
  12. 12. Moon-landing program — Answer: APOLLO
  13. 13. Bikes with small engines — Answer: MOPEDS
  14. 18. ___ and hers — Answer: HIS
  15. 21. Infuses with bubbles — Answer: AERATES
  16. 22. "Things ___ looking up!" — Answer: ARE
  17. 23. Ping's partner — Answer: PONG
  18. 24. Indian flatbread — Answer: ROTI. Hint: This versatile staple is often served with curries and is perfect for scooping! 🍞
  19. 26. "In that case ..." — Answer: IFSO
  20. 27. Afghan capital — Answer: KABUL
  21. 29. Obsessor over "the precious" in Tolkien lore — Answer: SMEAGOL
  22. 33. British nobleman — Answer: BARON
  23. 34. Sounds of satisfaction — Answer: AHS
  24. 35. Sci-fi series with a "Time Lord" traveling in a TARDIS — Answer: DOCTORWHO
  25. 37. "___, crackle, pop" — Answer: SNAP. Hint: Think of a familiar sound that brings back memories of a certain morning treat! 🍬
  26. 38. "Yikes ...!" — Answer: UHOH
  27. 39. Glossary component — Answer: TERM
  28. 42. Where the stars are — Answer: SKY
  29. 43. Veterans Day event — Answer: PARADE
  30. 44. Sharper — Answer: ACUTER
  31. 45. Muscular — Answer: STRONG
  32. 49. "You are not!" retort — Answer: IAMSO
  33. 50. Baby sheep — Answer: LAMBS
  34. 51. ___ Day (tree-planting celebration) — Answer: ARBOR
  35. 52. Maiden name preceder — Answer: NEE. Hint: This tiny word signals the surname someone had before marriage. 💍
  36. 56. Part of a foot — Answer: ARCH
  37. 58. Wed. follower — Answer: THU
  38. 59. Apple platform — Answer: IOS. Hint: Think mobile and fruity for this operating system! 🍏
  39. 60. Sturdy bookcase material — Answer: OAK
  40. 61. What one should let sleeping dogs do, proverbially — Answer: LIE
  41. 62. Word after deep, stir or small — Answer: FRY

The answer to “Muscular” in the New York Times crossword is STRONG — a 6-letter word. This clue ran in the New York Times crossword on March 2, 2026, a Monday puzzle, at 45-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.

“Muscular” answer

STRONG (6 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 STRONG.

Why the answer is STRONG

STRONG is the 6-letter solution that fits "Muscular" in the NYT Crossword crossword on March 2, 2026 (45-Down). Use the letter tiles above if you'd rather reveal it one letter at a time.

When else has “Muscular” 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.

  • March 2, 2026 (this puzzle) → STRONG
  • July 2, 2025 → BUILT

More clues from the NYT Crossword on March 2, 2026

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 March 2, 2026 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 “Muscular”?

The answer is STRONG, a 6-letter word. It appeared in the New York Times crossword on March 2, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Muscular”?

6 letters: STRONG.

Where did this clue appear?

In the New York Times crossword on March 2, 2026 (a Monday puzzle), at 45-Down.

Can “Muscular” 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 March 2, 2026 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 — Mar 2 Wordle Hint Today Connections Hint Today Strands Hint Today Quordle Hint Today Contexto Hint Today Spotle Hint Today Minute Cryptic Answer Today Pips Hint Today Jumble Answers Today