Reef setting

NYT Crossword Clue

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Sunday, July 12, 2026

By Collin Drown

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NYT Crossword Clues

Across

  1. 1One-named singer from County Donegal
  2. 5Spot treatment provider?
  3. 11You might need to lose a few to get them
  4. 14Problem with a story
  5. 18Shallot relatives
  6. 20Icon beside a username
  7. 21Push-up, for example
  8. 22Asia's rejuvenated North ___ Sea
  9. 23"I vant to suck your blood!"
  10. 25White Claws, e.g.
  11. 27Twisted balloon shapes, typically
  12. 28Doesn't wait to find out, say
  13. 29Video game setting for noobs
  14. 30Sculptor's degree, for short
  15. 31Little annoyance
  16. 32Turkey part
  17. 33"I know you're the one who used up the last of my artisanal coffee!"
  18. 40Apt letters missing from PRO_EC_T_
  19. 41Reef setting
  20. 42Profound
  21. 43Preserve
  22. 44Prepared to pray
  23. 47Contradictory
  24. 50"In ___," Colin Farrell dark comedy set in Belgium
  25. 52Digs in the snow?
  26. 53Gridiron unit that includes the nose tackle, informally
  27. 54Certain bony protrusions
  28. 55"If you don't find the rings this instant, I'm calling off the wedding!"
  29. 60Prodigal ___
  30. 61Apex
  31. 62Author Colfer of the "Artemis Fowl" series
  32. 63Palindromic family member
  33. 66"I love your paintings so much, I'd like to finance your next exhibition!"
  34. 73What fighter pilots fight, for short
  35. 76Noggins
  36. 77Device for sending group messages?
  37. 78Lap, maybe
  38. 79Oaf
  39. 81Surf in a daring way
  40. 83"You can say that again"
  41. 84Japanese city known for its beef
  42. 85Shop ___
  43. 86Pack-bearing beast
  44. 87"Wow! With form like that, you're headed to Wimbledon!"
  45. 95Stroke gently
  46. 96Puts away
  47. 97Planner unit
  48. 98"Don't fall for that!"
  49. 101Like many wines and cheeses
  50. 102Gallery collection
  51. 106Where one might drink a mai tai or piña colada
  52. 107"I'm so glad you shaved! I hated when you looked like a sexy lumberjack!"
  53. 109Kind of contraceptive
  54. 110Compete
  55. 111Josh of "No Country for Old Men"
  56. 112Love seats, e.g.
  57. 113Certain body-weight exercises
  58. 114The Big Crunch, theoretically, for our universe
  59. 115Daisy relatives
  60. 116Quitter's word

Down

  1. 1Actor Idris
  2. 2German dissent
  3. 3Himalayan menace
  4. 4With hands on hips
  5. 5Common occurrences for scratch golfers
  6. 6Apple consumer
  7. 7Mesoamerican staple cooked in a cornhusk
  8. 8Equilibria
  9. 9Heavy coats
  10. 10Torah vessels
  11. 11Things marked during attendance
  12. 12End it
  13. 13They might be green or red
  14. 14Dress for a job you probably don't want?
  15. 15Apt name for a tuxedo cat
  16. 16Embellish as with unnecessary words
  17. 17Alternatively
  18. 19Screw-up
  19. 24Ricochet
  20. 26Supermodel Banks
  21. 31Groovy
  22. 32Crushed, in a way
  23. 33Rarin' to go
  24. 34Land, as a fish
  25. 35Palindromic family member
  26. 36Contributed
  27. 37Shakespeare character who declares "I am not what I am"
  28. 38Baker's necessity
  29. 39Loch ___
  30. 40Sketches
  31. 45Vast span
  32. 46[That was a good one]
  33. 47The thing in "The Thing," for one
  34. 48"Open ___ midnight"
  35. 49United
  36. 50No es ___ (Spanish put-down)
  37. 51Cellular messenger
  38. 53Audience stat
  39. 54___-a-brac
  40. 56David who directed the final four Harry Potter films
  41. 57Tape players
  42. 582020 Christopher Nolan sci-fi movie
  43. 59Uses more than one's fair share of
  44. 63Tofu alternative
  45. 64As a joke
  46. 65Obsessive supporters, in modern lingo
  47. 66Bull rings?
  48. 67Some summer purchases, informally
  49. 68Laid off
  50. 69Madhouse
  51. 70Texter's qualifier
  52. 71Dude in Jamaica
  53. 72Root beer order
  54. 73Clutch
  55. 74Disaster relief org.
  56. 75Noted example of oligopoly, in brief
  57. 79"Have a safe trip"
  58. 80Fivers
  59. 81"2001" villain
  60. 82Far from basic
  61. 84Baking recipe instruction
  62. 85Biden and Bush, once, in brief
  63. 88Professional responsibilities, colloquially
  64. 89Show up
  65. 90Cubans, e.g.
  66. 91Spotted wildcat
  67. 92Put your nose where it doesn't belong, say
  68. 93Flowing tresses
  69. 94One looking after pupils, for short
  70. 98Device outmoded by the smartphone
  71. 99"Holesome" figures
  72. 100Carving material for beginners
  73. 101___ Arena, concert venue in London's Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
  74. 102Waves a hand in front of, maybe
  75. 103___ Romeo
  76. 104Director Johnson of "Knives Out"
  77. 105Word repeated into a mic
  78. 108Symbol on an Oregon license plate

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Across

  1. 1. One-named singer from County Donegal — Answer: ENYA
  2. 5. Spot treatment provider? — Answer: PETSPA
  3. 11. You might need to lose a few to get them — Answer: ABS
  4. 14. Problem with a story — Answer: HOLE
  5. 18. Shallot relatives — Answer: LEEKS
  6. 20. Icon beside a username — Answer: AVATAR
  7. 21. Push-up, for example — Answer: BRA
  8. 22. Asia's rejuvenated North ___ Sea — Answer: ARAL
  9. 23. "I vant to suck your blood!" — Answer: BITINGREMARK
  10. 25. White Claws, e.g. — Answer: SELTZERS
  11. 27. Twisted balloon shapes, typically — Answer: ANIMALS
  12. 28. Doesn't wait to find out, say — Answer: ASKS
  13. 29. Video game setting for noobs — Answer: EASYMODE
  14. 30. Sculptor's degree, for short — Answer: BFA
  15. 31. Little annoyance — Answer: FLEA
  16. 32. Turkey part — Answer: ANKARA
  17. 33. "I know you're the one who used up the last of my artisanal coffee!" — Answer: GROUNDLESSACCUSATION
  18. 40. Apt letters missing from PRO_EC_T_ — Answer: SUE
  19. 41. Reef setting — Answer: CAY
  20. 42. Profound — Answer: DEEP
  21. 43. Preserve — Answer: SAVE
  22. 44. Prepared to pray — Answer: KNEELED
  23. 47. Contradictory — Answer: ATODDS
  24. 50. "In ___," Colin Farrell dark comedy set in Belgium — Answer: BRUGES
  25. 52. Digs in the snow? — Answer: IGLOO
  26. 53. Gridiron unit that includes the nose tackle, informally — Answer: DLINE
  27. 54. Certain bony protrusions — Answer: BUNIONS
  28. 55. "If you don't find the rings this instant, I'm calling off the wedding!" — Answer: THINLYVEILEDTHREAT
  29. 60. Prodigal ___ — Answer: SON
  30. 61. Apex — Answer: ACME
  31. 62. Author Colfer of the "Artemis Fowl" series — Answer: EOIN
  32. 63. Palindromic family member — Answer: SIS
  33. 66. "I love your paintings so much, I'd like to finance your next exhibition!" — Answer: PATRONIZINGCOMMENT
  34. 73. What fighter pilots fight, for short — Answer: GFORCES
  35. 76. Noggins — Answer: DOMES
  36. 77. Device for sending group messages? — Answer: OUIJA
  37. 78. Lap, maybe — Answer: REPASS
  38. 79. Oaf — Answer: GALOOT
  39. 81. Surf in a daring way — Answer: HANGTEN
  40. 83. "You can say that again" — Answer: AMEN
  41. 84. Japanese city known for its beef — Answer: KOBE
  42. 85. Shop ___ — Answer: VAC
  43. 86. Pack-bearing beast — Answer: ASS
  44. 87. "Wow! With form like that, you're headed to Wimbledon!" — Answer: BACKHANDEDCOMPLIMENT
  45. 95. Stroke gently — Answer: CARESS. Hint: Think of a tender touch that conveys affection. 💕
  46. 96. Puts away — Answer: ICES
  47. 97. Planner unit — Answer: DAY
  48. 98. "Don't fall for that!" — Answer: ITSATRAP
  49. 101. Like many wines and cheeses — Answer: AGED
  50. 102. Gallery collection — Answer: FINEART
  51. 106. Where one might drink a mai tai or piña colada — Answer: POOLSIDE
  52. 107. "I'm so glad you shaved! I hated when you looked like a sexy lumberjack!" — Answer: BALDFACEDLIE
  53. 109. Kind of contraceptive — Answer: ORAL
  54. 110. Compete — Answer: VIE
  55. 111. Josh of "No Country for Old Men" — Answer: BROLIN
  56. 112. Love seats, e.g. — Answer: SOFAS
  57. 113. Certain body-weight exercises — Answer: DIPS
  58. 114. The Big Crunch, theoretically, for our universe — Answer: END
  59. 115. Daisy relatives — Answer: ASTERS
  60. 116. Quitter's word — Answer: CANT

Down

  1. 1. Actor Idris — Answer: ELBA
  2. 2. German dissent — Answer: NEIN
  3. 3. Himalayan menace — Answer: YETI
  4. 4. With hands on hips — Answer: AKIMBO
  5. 5. Common occurrences for scratch golfers — Answer: PARS
  6. 6. Apple consumer — Answer: EVE
  7. 7. Mesoamerican staple cooked in a cornhusk — Answer: TAMALE
  8. 8. Equilibria — Answer: STASES
  9. 9. Heavy coats — Answer: PARKAS
  10. 10. Torah vessels — Answer: ARKS
  11. 11. Things marked during attendance — Answer: ABSENCES
  12. 12. End it — Answer: BREAKUP
  13. 13. They might be green or red — Answer: SALSAS
  14. 14. Dress for a job you probably don't want? — Answer: HAZMATSUIT
  15. 15. Apt name for a tuxedo cat — Answer: OREO
  16. 16. Embellish as with unnecessary words — Answer: LARD
  17. 17. Alternatively — Answer: ELSE
  18. 19. Screw-up — Answer: SNAFU
  19. 24. Ricochet — Answer: GLANCE
  20. 26. Supermodel Banks — Answer: TYRA
  21. 31. Groovy — Answer: FLY
  22. 32. Crushed, in a way — Answer: ACED
  23. 33. Rarin' to go — Answer: GUNGHO
  24. 34. Land, as a fish — Answer: REELIN
  25. 35. Palindromic family member — Answer: DAD
  26. 36. Contributed — Answer: ADDED
  27. 37. Shakespeare character who declares "I am not what I am" — Answer: IAGO
  28. 38. Baker's necessity — Answer: OVEN
  29. 39. Loch ___ — Answer: NESS
  30. 40. Sketches — Answer: SKITS
  31. 45. Vast span — Answer: EON
  32. 46. [That was a good one] — Answer: LOL
  33. 47. The thing in "The Thing," for one — Answer: ALIEN
  34. 48. "Open ___ midnight" — Answer: TIL
  35. 49. United — Answer: ONE. Hint: Think about a state of being together as a single entity! 🤝
  36. 50. No es ___ (Spanish put-down) — Answer: BUENO
  37. 51. Cellular messenger — Answer: RNA
  38. 53. Audience stat — Answer: DEMO
  39. 54. ___-a-brac — Answer: BRIC
  40. 56. David who directed the final four Harry Potter films — Answer: YATES
  41. 57. Tape players — Answer: VCRS
  42. 58. 2020 Christopher Nolan sci-fi movie — Answer: TENET
  43. 59. Uses more than one's fair share of — Answer: HOGS
  44. 63. Tofu alternative — Answer: SEITAN
  45. 64. As a joke — Answer: INJEST
  46. 65. Obsessive supporters, in modern lingo — Answer: STANS
  47. 66. Bull rings? — Answer: PRANKCALLS
  48. 67. Some summer purchases, informally — Answer: ACS
  49. 68. Laid off — Answer: IDLED
  50. 69. Madhouse — Answer: ZOO
  51. 70. Texter's qualifier — Answer: IMO
  52. 71. Dude in Jamaica — Answer: MON
  53. 72. Root beer order — Answer: MUG
  54. 73. Clutch — Answer: GRAB
  55. 74. Disaster relief org. — Answer: FEMA
  56. 75. Noted example of oligopoly, in brief — Answer: OPEC
  57. 79. "Have a safe trip" — Answer: GODSPEED
  58. 80. Fivers — Answer: ABES
  59. 81. "2001" villain — Answer: HAL
  60. 82. Far from basic — Answer: ACIDIC
  61. 84. Baking recipe instruction — Answer: KNEADIN
  62. 85. Biden and Bush, once, in brief — Answer: VPS
  63. 88. Professional responsibilities, colloquially — Answer: HATS
  64. 89. Show up — Answer: ARRIVE
  65. 90. Cubans, e.g. — Answer: CIGARS
  66. 91. Spotted wildcat — Answer: OCELOT
  67. 92. Put your nose where it doesn't belong, say — Answer: MEDDLE
  68. 93. Flowing tresses — Answer: MANES
  69. 94. One looking after pupils, for short — Answer: EYEDOC
  70. 98. Device outmoded by the smartphone — Answer: IPOD
  71. 99. "Holesome" figures — Answer: TORI
  72. 100. Carving material for beginners — Answer: SOAP
  73. 101. ___ Arena, concert venue in London's Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park — Answer: ABBA
  74. 102. Waves a hand in front of, maybe — Answer: FANS
  75. 103. ___ Romeo — Answer: ALFA
  76. 104. Director Johnson of "Knives Out" — Answer: RIAN
  77. 105. Word repeated into a mic — Answer: TEST
  78. 108. Symbol on an Oregon license plate — Answer: FIR

The answer to “Reef setting” in the New York Times crossword is CAY — a 3-letter word. This clue ran in the New York Times crossword on July 12, 2026, a Sunday puzzle, at 41-Across. 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.

“Reef setting” answer

CAY (3 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 CAY.

Why the answer is CAY

CAY is the 3-letter solution that fits "Reef setting" in the NYT crossword on July 12, 2026 (41-Across). Use the letter tiles above if you'd rather reveal it one letter at a time.

When else has “Reef setting” appeared?

The 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 12, 2026 (this puzzle) → CAY. We haven't indexed an earlier appearance of this exact clue yet.

More clues from the NYT crossword on July 12, 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 July 12, 2026 is on that day's grid page, and today's live NYT 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 “Reef setting”?

The answer is CAY, a 3-letter word. It appeared in the New York Times crossword on July 12, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Reef setting”?

3 letters: CAY.

Where did this clue appear?

In the New York Times crossword on July 12, 2026 (a Sunday puzzle), at 41-Across.

Can “Reef setting” have a different answer?

Yes — the 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 answers?

The full grid for July 12, 2026 is on the NYT answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

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