NYT Crossword Answers: Get Hints and Solve All Clues

The clue "Unforgettable place?" with a question mark hints at wordplay. The Alamo is a historic site in Texas, remembered for the Battle of the Alamo in 1836. Its phrase "Remember the Alamo!" makes it a symbolic "unforgettable" place, tying the pun to the historical significance.

The solution "TINCT" comes from the word "tincture," which means a slight trace or bit of color. In this context, "Bit of color" directly points to TINCT as a synonym for a small hint or tinge of color.

The phrase "Seals the deal, informally" refers to securing or completing something decisively. "ICES IT" is slang, suggesting a confident finish or triumph, much like sealing a deal. "Ice" here informally conveys coolness or a final, conclusive step, fitting the casual tone of the clue.

"TEL" is short for "telephone," a common piece of contact information listed on a business card. As the clue specifies "Business card abbr.," it directly hints at abbreviated terms commonly found on business cards, making TEL the fitting answer.

The clue "Chic" modifier points to the French phrase "très chic," which translates to "very chic" in English. "Très" (French for "very") modifies "chic" to emphasize elegance or style, making TRES the perfect fit as the solution.

HEMP is a natural fiber obtained from the stalk of the hemp plant, historically used for making rope due to its strength and durability. The clue "Rope fiber" directly points to a material commonly associated with rope-making, making HEMP the precise solution.

The answer "ADO" fits the clue "Fuss" because "ado" directly means commotion, trouble, or fuss in English. It refers to unnecessary or excessive concern or excitement over something, aligning perfectly with the clue's meaning. This is a straightforward synonym-based clue.

The answer "TANDEM" refers to two things working together in coordination, often seen in phrases like "working in tandem." Since partners typically collaborate closely or act in unison, TANDEM perfectly fits the idea of how partners "work in this."

The clue "Oh yeah? Watch me!" is in quotes, signaling a spoken phrase. It suggests a defiant or confident retort, often used to express "I can do it too!" The playful tone matches the answer, ICANTOO, which directly conveys this spirited response.

The full name of T.S. Eliot, the famous poet, is Thomas Stearns Eliot. The clue refers to the middle name, "Stearns," which is abbreviated as the "S" in his initials, T.S. Hence, the answer is STEARNS.

The clue "Tried something new, perhaps" with the playful "perhaps" hints at an idiomatic phrase. "GAVE IT A GO" directly means attempting or trying something, particularly for the first time, aligning perfectly with the idea of "trying something new." It’s a casual, familiar expression.

The term "PLASTERED" is a slang word that means extremely drunk or intoxicated, which aligns perfectly with the clue "Drunk out of one's mind." The clue doesn't involve wordplay or additional nuance, so it's a straightforward definition-based solution.

The clue "Is not, informally" suggests a casual or nonstandard contraction. "Ain't" is an informal, colloquial way of saying "is not" or "are not," fitting perfectly as the answer. The word "informally" in the clue signals this relaxed, slang expression.

The clue "Cracked, as a door" suggests something slightly open but not fully. "Ajar" perfectly describes a door that is not completely closed — it is slightly open, or "cracked." This matches the definition and common usage of the word, making AJAR the correct answer.

The answer "LAICS" refers to laypeople, the non-clergy members of a church. A pastor's "flock" metaphorically represents their congregation, which includes laics (non-ordained members). This aligns with the clue, as the pastor guides the spiritual growth of both laics and clergy.

The answer "TOSCA" refers to the famous opera by Giacomo Puccini, first performed in 1900. Known for its dramatic story, intense emotions, and beautiful music, "Tosca" is one of Puccini's most renowned works, making it a fitting solution for the clue "Puccini opera."

The answer "NIA" refers to Nia Vardalos, an actress best known for her role in the film My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Her first name is a three-letter match for the clue, making it a perfect, concise solution.

The Koyukon Athabascans, Indigenous people of Alaska, originally named Denali, meaning "The High One," for the peak now known as the tallest mountain in North America. This culturally significant name predates its former name, Mount McKinley, reinstated officially as Denali in 2015.

The clue "Rio maker" refers to the Kia Rio, a compact car model manufactured by the automaker Kia. In this context, "Rio maker" cleverly points to the company responsible for producing this car, making "KIA" the correct answer.

The answer "LATENS" works because it refers to something becoming latent or hidden, metaphorically "darker." The question mark in the clue signals wordplay—this is not about literal darkness but describes something receding or becoming obscure, aligning with the definition of "latens."

The clue "Carousel, e.g." refers to an example of what a carousel is. A carousel is a type of amusement park attraction, which is commonly taken as a "RIDE." Hence, "RIDE" is the solution, as it categorizes a carousel's primary function.

The clue "Drink with a straw" straightforwardly refers to a common beverage that is often consumed using a straw. SODA fits perfectly, as it is widely served in cups or cans alongside a straw for sipping, making it an apt answer for this clue.

The answer "OPENHEART" refers to a well-known type of surgery performed on the heart, often involving opening the chest cavity to operate directly on the heart. The clue is straightforward, describing a literal type of surgery without any wordplay or trickery.

The phrase "BACKATYOU" is often a quick, conversational reply that can follow an insult or a compliment. It essentially mirrors the sentiment, flipping it back to the speaker. This playful or reciprocal remark aligns perfectly with the clue’s description of a follow-up to either tone.

The clue "They might be decked in December" contains wordplay referencing the Christmas carol lyric "Deck the Halls with boughs of holly." The answer is HALLS, as it refers to the festive act of decorating spaces (halls) during the holiday season.

In Morse code, the simplest units are "dots" and "dashes." A "dit" is the spoken representation of a dot, the shorter signal in Morse code. The clue "Morse bit" refers to this small part of the code, making DIT the correct answer.

The clue "Maligned" means to speak harmfully or falsely about someone, damaging their reputation. "DEFAMED" fits perfectly as it refers to the act of tarnishing someone's good name or character, aligning with the definition of "maligned." Both words convey the idea of reputation being harmed.

The answer "EMANATE" fits the clue "Send off" as it means to issue or flow out from a source, similar to sending off light, heat, or energy. It's a verb that captures the idea of something being released or radiating outward.

In the Bible, Sodom is one of the two infamous cities, alongside Gomorrah, known for their destruction due to wickedness (Genesis 19). The term "twin city" refers to this Biblical pairing. Thus, Sodom is a fitting answer as it is one of the two cities.

The term "ERA" refers to a significant or noteworthy time period in history, sports, or culture. In this context, "Notable time period" directly points to "ERA," as it's commonly used to describe distinct phases or ages, such as the Victorian Era or the Digital Era.

The clue refers to a resident of Japan's third-largest city, which is Osaka. Adding the suffix "-an" forms "Osakan," a demonym for someone from Osaka. This matches the clue’s straightforward request for the term describing a resident of that city.

The 2000 Summer Olympics were hosted in Sydney, Australia. As the clue asks for the "host" of the event, SYDNEY is the correct answer, referring to the city that organized and housed the games. This is a straightforward geography-based trivia clue.

The answer is JOANN because it is a two-syllable woman’s name (“Jo-Ann”). When you remove the last letter “N,” it becomes JOAN, which is a one-syllable woman’s name (“Joan”). The clue relies on the phonetic shift created by dropping the final letter.

The clue "Film portmanteau, informally" refers to a combination of "op-ed" (opinion editorial) and "documentary," resulting in "OPDOC." These are short, opinionated, documentary-style films often featured in publications like The New York Times, aligning with the informal term.

The Greek physician Paracelsus referred to beer as “divine medicine” due to its perceived healing properties in his time. Beer was believed to aid digestion, provide nutrients, and offer medicinal benefits. This clue uses playful wordplay, referencing historical beliefs rather than modern medical science.

The clue "Snatch" is a synonym-based clue. To "snatch" something means to seize it quickly or suddenly, which aligns perfectly with the word "GRAB." Both words describe an act of taking or capturing something in a forceful or swift manner.

The answer is ALIA because Alia Shawkat is a well-known actress who starred as Maeby Fünke in the TV series Arrested Development. The clue references her by name, making her first name, "Alia," the correct and direct answer.

The answer is NEIL because Neil deGrasse Tyson is a renowned astrophysicist, author, and science communicator. The clue directly refers to his well-known full name, with a blank indicating his first name. This straightforward factual clue leads to NEIL as the solution.

The answer "ELI" refers to a nickname for students or alumni of Yale University, an Ivy League school. It originates from Elihu Yale, a key benefactor of the university, making "ELI" a common shorthand for Yale-affiliated individuals.

The answer "OTS" stands for "overtimes." In sports, overtime periods (abbreviated as OTs) are often the most tense moments of a match as they decide the winner when teams are tied. The "for short" in the clue hints at the abbreviation.