By Christopher Youngs

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Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Across

  1. 1. Part of a dance — Answer: STEP. Hint: A dancer might count this basic movement in the choreography. 💃
  2. 5. Sch. with the Daily Bruin newspaper — Answer: UCLA. Hint: This California university publishes a student newspaper with a bear-themed name. 🎓
  3. 9. Slightly intoxicated — Answer: TIPSY. Hint: You might feel this way after just a few drinks. 🍸
  4. 14. Fancy — Answer: LUXE. Hint: Use this chic adjective for something wonderfully upscale. ✨
  5. 15. Worms and such on hooks — Answer: BAIT. Hint: Anglers use these tempting offerings to attract fish. 🎣
  6. 16. Be of the same mind — Answer: AGREE. Hint: When your opinions match, you do this. 🤝
  7. 17. Redding with two posthumous Grammys — Answer: OTIS. Hint: This soul singer earned major honors after his death. 🎤
  8. 18. "Sesame Street" character who was once sung to sleep by Andrea Bocelli — Answer: ELMO. Hint: This furry red resident of Sesame Street received a serenade from a famous tenor. 🎶
  9. 19. Ransacks — Answer: LOOTS. Hint: This means raids a place and takes its valuables. 🏴‍☠️
  10. 20. One who regularly drops things — Answer: BUTTERFINGERS. Hint: This person is comically unable to keep a grip on anything. 🤲
  11. 23. The : English :: ___ : French — Answer: LES. Hint: This French article corresponds to “the” in a familiar grammar comparison. 🇫🇷
  12. 24. Letter after sigma — Answer: TAU. Hint: In the Greek alphabet, this symbol follows the one shaped like a curved S 🔤
  13. 25. One dining on Friskies — Answer: CAT. Hint: This pet might happily eat that brand of food. 🐱
  14. 28. Role for Selena Gomez on "Only Murders in the Building" — Answer: MABEL. Hint: She plays a stylish amateur sleuth in the mystery comedy. 🕵️
  15. 31. Umbrella-shaped sea creature — Answer: JELLYFISH. Hint: This ocean drifter pulses beneath the waves and has no bones. 🌊
  16. 34. Director DuVernay — Answer: AVA. Hint: Think of the filmmaker behind “Selma” and “A Wrinkle in Time” 😊
  17. 35. Pathetic — Answer: SAD. Hint: Something pitiful or miserable can be described this way. 😢
  18. 36. Examine at length — Answer: PERUSE. Hint: Take your time and read something carefully from beginning to end. 📖
  19. 37. Took shots first, then paid for them later — Answer: RANATAB. Hint: You ordered drinks on credit and settled the bill afterward. 🍻
  20. 40. Clothing sizes for shorter women — Answer: PETITES. Hint: These sizes are designed for women with shorter proportions. 👗
  21. 41. Ski in zigzags — Answer: SLALOM. Hint: This downhill technique weaves back and forth across the slope. ⛷️
  22. 42. "Far out!" — Answer: RAD. Hint: A slangy reaction to something exceptionally cool or exciting. 😎
  23. 43. Tetra- minus one — Answer: TRI. Hint: Think of the number that comes just before four. 🔢
  24. 44. Newlyweds' getaway — Answer: HONEYMOON. Hint: It is the romantic trip a couple takes after the wedding. 💍
  25. 46. Owl sounds — Answer: HOOTS. Hint: These are the calls commonly associated with nocturnal birds. 🦉
  26. 48. Actress de Armas — Answer: ANA. Hint: She starred in Knives Out and portrayed Marilyn Monroe in Blonde. 🎬
  27. 49. 401(k) relative — Answer: IRA. Hint: This retirement account is often opened independently of an employer. 💰
  28. 50. "Need an ark? I Noah guy," e.g. — Answer: PUN. Hint: The joke relies on a playful twist involving a famous biblical name. 😄
  29. 51. "Tell everyone!" ... or what to do with the starts of 20-, 31- and 44-Across? — Answer: SPREADTHEWORD. Hint: The phrase means to share news widely, while the grid instruction suggests broadcasting something. 📣
  30. 58. Inuit for "house" — Answer: IGLOO. Hint: Picture a traditional domed shelter made from snow. ❄️
  31. 60. Italian hello — Answer: CIAO. Hint: This casual greeting can mean either hello or goodbye. 👋
  32. 61. Et ___ (and others: Lat.) — Answer: ALIA. Hint: This Latin phrase is commonly abbreviated when listing additional people or things. 📚
  33. 62. Tennis locale — Answer: COURT. Hint: Players rally across a net on this marked playing surface. 🎾
  34. 63. Pre-Easter observance — Answer: LENT. Hint: This Christian season traditionally lasts for forty days before Easter. ✝️
  35. 64. R-rated, maybe — Answer: RACY. Hint: A movie or story with mature content might be described this way. 🔥
  36. 65. A cube has 12 of them — Answer: EDGES. Hint: They are the line segments where a cube’s faces meet. 🧊
  37. 66. Petrol brand — Answer: ESSO. Hint: This fuel company is recognized by a tiger-themed name and logo. ⛽
  38. 67. Easter egg decorating supplies — Answer: DYES. Hint: These colorful liquids transform plain eggs for the holiday. 🥚

Down

  1. 1. Mess maker — Answer: SLOB. Hint: Someone careless and untidy may leave chaos behind. 🧹
  2. 2. Attire for the Sugar Plum Fairy — Answer: TUTU. Hint: The character’s ballet costume includes a short, stiff skirt. 🩰
  3. 3. Off-ramp — Answer: EXIT. Hint: Use this roadway route to leave a highway. 🚗
  4. 4. Pulverizing tool — Answer: PESTLE. Hint: This companion to a mortar crushes herbs, spices, and other ingredients. 🥣
  5. 5. Alternatives to Lyfts — Answer: UBERS. Hint: Think of other app-based rides you can summon around town. 🚗
  6. 6. Baby whale — Answer: CALF. Hint: A young whale shares its name with a young bovine. 🐋
  7. 7. In finite supply — Answer: LIMITED. Hint: This describes something available only in a restricted amount. 📦
  8. 8. Lacking a musical key — Answer: ATONAL. Hint: Music without a clear home note has this quality. 🎵
  9. 9. A ___ as old as time — Answer: TALE. Hint: The familiar phrase describes a timeless story. 📖
  10. 10. Composer Stravinsky — Answer: IGOR. Hint: Think of a famous Russian composer known for 'The Firebird'! 🎶
  11. 11. Ham on an antipasto platter — Answer: PROSCIUTTO. Hint: Look for the thinly sliced Italian cured meat. 🥓
  12. 12. Solidify — Answer: SET. Hint: Think of what gelatin does as it cools, or what a firm decision does. 🧊
  13. 13. "You called?" — Answer: YES. Hint: Give the brief affirmative reply to someone seeking your attention. 📞
  14. 21. Sinuous swimmer — Answer: EEL. Hint: Picture a long, slippery fish weaving through the water. 🐟
  15. 22. Swallowed hard — Answer: GULPED. Hint: This means downed something quickly and with effort. 😮
  16. 26. Aver — Answer: ASSERT. Hint: To do this is to state something confidently as true. 🗣️
  17. 27. Graduate student's project — Answer: THESIS. Hint: It is the major research paper written for an advanced degree. 🎓
  18. 28. ___ P. Johnson (gay rights activist) — Answer: MARSHA. Hint: Supply the first name of the pioneering Stonewall activist. 🏳️‍🌈
  19. 29. Island of Arthurian legend — Answer: AVALON. Hint: King Arthur is said to have been taken to this mythical isle. ⚔️
  20. 30. Fruit-resembling mollusk — Answer: BANANASLUG. Hint: This bright woodland creature is named for its resemblance to a yellow fruit. 🍌
  21. 31. The "one" of a one-two — Answer: JAB. Hint: In boxing, it is the quick opening punch of the combination. 🥊
  22. 32. So far — Answer: YET. Hint: Up to this point, but the story isn’t over yet 😉
  23. 33. Part of the week that workers look forward to: Abbr. — Answer: FRI. Hint: This weekday arrives just before the weekend. 📅
  24. 35. Lunch item that might be made with cold cuts, in slang — Answer: SAMMIE. Hint: Use the casual nickname for a deli-filled bread meal. 🥪
  25. 38. Ginger ___ — Answer: ALE. Hint: This fizzy drink often pairs well with a good meal or a splash of rum! 🥂
  26. 39. Cup-and-ball or yo-yo — Answer: TOY. Hint: Both are classic objects made for playful amusement. 🪀
  27. 40. Deep-dish vessel — Answer: PAN. Hint: This broad kitchen container can hold a hearty baked dish. 🍳
  28. 42. Support staff for a rock band — Answer: ROADIES. Hint: These crew members handle gear and logistics on tour. 🎸
  29. 45. Soothsayer — Answer: ORACLE. Hint: This prophet claims to see what the future holds. 🔮
  30. 46. Tint — Answer: HUE. Hint: A subtle shade or color variation. 🎨
  31. 47. "To victory!" — Answer: ONWARD. Hint: A rallying cry urging everyone forward. 🏆
  32. 50. Part of an Instagram post — Answer: PHOTO. Hint: It may capture a moment in a square frame. 📸
  33. 52. Skin opening — Answer: PORE. Hint: A tiny spot where a hair may emerge or sweat can escape 🧖
  34. 53. Goes bad — Answer: ROTS. Hint: What fresh food does when left too long. 🥀
  35. 54. Gets bronzed at the beach — Answer: TANS. Hint: Soaks up sunlight and develops a darker glow. ☀️
  36. 55. Brand with "anti-aging" products — Answer: OLAY. Hint: This cosmetics label is known for wrinkle-fighting skincare. 🧴
  37. 56. Bibimbap base — Answer: RICE. Hint: This Korean mixed rice dish starts with a bowlful of cooked grains. 🍚
  38. 57. Pages on a desk calendar — Answer: DAYS. Hint: They mark the individual dates you flip through. 📅
  39. 58. "Rocks" at a bar — Answer: ICE. Hint: Bartender’s chill cubes for your drink. 🧊
  40. 59. Lead-in to forbid or forsaken — Answer: GOD. Hint: A biblical-sounding prefix appears in both expressions. 📖

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A new puzzle unlocks at 10 p.m. Eastern on weekdays and 6 p.m. Eastern on weekends (Tue, Sep 1, 2:10 AM UTC).

Recent NYT Crossword Answers

The last 7 days of solutions

Looking for today's NYT Crossword answers? The complete solution to the daily New York Times puzzle — dated August 31, 2026 — is at the top of this page, updated the moment the new grid is released. The Times crossword is the most famous puzzle in the world and, later in the week, one of the hardest, so getting wedged in a corner is part of the experience. Whether you want to confirm a finished grid, unlock a single square, or see the whole solution, every across and down answer is listed below.

Full NYT Crossword answer list for today

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Today's NYT Crossword answers

Today's full solution appears above, organised into Across and Down exactly as the puzzle numbers them. If you only need one answer, each is listed separately so you can reveal the clue that's blocking you and keep solving the rest. The grid is confirmed and refreshed daily as soon as the Times publishes it, and — because the puzzle's difficulty climbs through the week — we keep the layout identical every day so you always know where to look.

About the New York Times Crossword

The NYT Crossword has run since 1942 and has been edited by Will Shortz since 1993, making it the benchmark against which every other American crossword is measured. The weekday puzzle is a 15×15 grid; Sundays expand to a 21×21 grid with a title and theme. It's known for clever, layered clues — misdirection, puns, and themed twists — and for its “crosswordese,” the small stock of vowel-heavy words (ETUI, OREO, ERA, ALOE) that recur because they fit tight grids. Solving it requires a Games subscription, which is why so many solvers search for the answers when a clue defeats them.

The Monday-to-Saturday difficulty curve

The single most important thing to know about the Times crossword is that it gets harder as the week goes on — the grid size stays the same, but the cluing grows trickier:

DayDifficultyWhat to expect
MondayEasiestStraightforward, direct clues
TuesdayEasyA little more wordplay
WednesdayMediumThemes get more inventive
ThursdayTrickyRebus puzzles and gimmicks appear
FridayHardThemeless, wide-open grids
SaturdayHardestThe toughest cluing of the week
SundayMedium–hardLarge 21×21 themed puzzle

So if a Thursday clue seems to make no sense, that's by design — Thursdays often hide a trick, like multiple letters crammed into one square (a rebus). Knowing the day tells you how devious the clues are likely to be.

How to break a stubborn NYT clue

  • Solve the crossings first. In a 15×15 grid, every hard answer is crossed by others; three or four crossing letters usually reveal it.
  • Question the clue's angle. A question mark at the end of a clue signals a pun or play on words — read it less literally.
  • Mind the tense and number. Plurals end in S, past-tense answers often end in ED — free letters once you spot them.
  • Know the day. A baffling clue on a Monday is probably you overthinking; the same on a Saturday is probably genuine misdirection.
  • Use the solver for one answer. Our crossword solver lets you enter the clue and your known letters to reveal a single answer without spoiling the rest of the grid.

Browse past NYT Crossword answers

Every previous New York Times puzzle is archived on this page by date, with its complete across and down solutions. It's the fastest way to check yesterday's grid, revisit a Sunday you didn't finish, or look up a clue that's been nagging you. The archive updates automatically each day — today's answers roll into it as the next puzzle publishes — so it stays complete without spoiling the current day. Use the date picker above to jump to any past puzzle.

Browse more puzzles on the crossword solver, or use it to crack any clue from any publication.

Frequently asked questions

What are today's NYT Crossword answers?

The full Across and Down solution for today's puzzle (August 31, 2026) is listed at the top of this page, updated as soon as the Times releases it.

What time does the NYT Crossword come out?

The daily puzzle is released at 10 p.m. Eastern the night before on weekdays (7 p.m. Pacific) and 6 p.m. Eastern before weekends. We post the answers as soon as it goes live.

Why is the NYT Crossword harder later in the week?

By design: Monday is the easiest and Saturday the hardest, with cluing growing trickier each day. The Sunday puzzle is larger (21×21) and themed, at a medium-hard level.

How do I reveal just one answer?

Each answer is listed separately here, or use the crossword solver to reveal a single clue's answer from your known letters — without seeing the rest of the grid.

Where can I find past NYT Crossword answers?

Every previous puzzle is in the archive on this page, listed by date with full solutions, updated automatically each day.