NYT Crossword Answers: Get Hints and Solve All Clues

The Argo, from Greek mythology, was a ship used by Jason and the Argonauts. As a ship, it required oars for manual propulsion. With "50" in the clue, it hints at the 50 Argonauts who would each have used an oar, making "OARS" the correct answer.

The answer is SPANS because a "span" is a traditional unit of measurement based on the distance from the tip of the thumb to the tip of the little finger of an outstretched hand. Historically, this was standardized to approximately nine inches, making it the perfect match for the clue.

The clue "Needing more salt, perhaps?" uses wordplay. "Salt" can metaphorically refer to a substance preventing freezing, like road salt. Something "needing more salt" could become "icier," meaning colder or covered in ice. The comparative form "icier" aligns with the clue's implication of increasing coldness.

The answer is KLEE, referring to Paul Klee, a renowned Swiss-born artist. The clue involves wordplay, as "Klee" sounds like "clay," a common art medium. This pun ties his name to the art world both literally and phonetically, making KLEE the fitting solution.

The answer is AGREE because pronouns must match their antecedents in number and gender to maintain grammatical coherence. For example, "the child lost his toy" shows agreement between "child" (singular, male) and "his." This grammatical alignment explains the solution.

At first, the grid seems to give you only BITTE, which doesn’t quite work. The trick is in the theme: the answer “goes up.” From the final E, take R upward, then continue downward with ENDER, forming BITTERENDER, a term for someone who refuses to give up, even when defeat is certain.

In Hindu cosmogony, Siva (or Shiva) is one of the principal deities, known as "The Destroyer" within the Trimurti (the trinity of Brahma the Creator, Vishnu the Preserver, and Siva the Destroyer). This role refers to transformative destruction, making way for rebirth and renewal.

The grid provides GAMER, but that’s just the start. The full answer “goes up” after the R—add ES above, then bring it back down with ERVES. That spells GAMERESERVES, the correct term for “Wildlife parks.” The stacked letters let the entry stretch beyond the grid’s across line, perfectly fitting the Thursday wordplay theme.

The answer "MASON" fits the clue "Layer of bricks" because a mason is a skilled worker who builds structures using bricks, stones, or similar materials. The word "layer" metaphorically describes their work of laying bricks in layers to construct walls or buildings.

The clue "Show obeisance" refers to an act of respect or submission. "BOW TO" directly describes this behavior, as bowing is a physical gesture commonly used to demonstrate deference or respect to someone. It fits both the definition and the context of the clue.

The answer "DVRS" refers to digital video recorders, a common feature of Smart TVs. DVRS allow users to record, pause, and replay live TV shows or programs, enhancing the viewing experience. The plural form matches "features" in the clue, indicating multiple capabilities Smart TVs provide.

The answer "LID" makes sense because it refers to the part of the body that covers the eye—your eyelid. "Eye covering" is a direct, literal description of a lid’s function in protecting and closing over the eye.

You might first fill TAKEI, which feels incomplete. The trick: at the final I, the answer extends upward with T, then downward with IN. Combined, that gives TAKEITIN, meaning “enjoy the moment.” It’s a neat demonstration of the theme; only part of the entry runs across, the rest must be traced vertically.

The "Name on a check" refers to the person or entity to whom the money is payable. This is the PAYEE, as their name is written on the check to specify who will receive the payment. It directly matches the clue's definition.

The answer is COLE because it refers to Cole Porter, the legendary Broadway composer and songwriter. He created numerous iconic musicals and songs, such as "Anything Goes" and "Kiss Me, Kate." The clue directly references his prominent association with Broadway.

The clue "Sucker's lament" suggests a phrase expressing regret or frustration after being duped. "I've been had" is a common idiomatic expression for realizing you've been tricked. Written phonetically as "IBEENHAD," it fits the clue's conversational tone and reflects the lament of a "sucker" feeling deceived.

The clue "Repeat" refers to the act of saying something again, which aligns with the phrase "say over." The answer, SAYOVER, directly captures this meaning by combining "say" (speak) and "over" (again), forming a concise and playful solution for the clue.

The answer is LADD because Cheryl Ladd is an actress who played Kris Munroe in the iconic TV series Charlie's Angels. She joined the cast in the second season, replacing Farrah Fawcett. The clue directly references her by name, making LADD the fitting solution.

Q.E.D. stands for the Latin phrase "quod erat demonstrandum," meaning "which was to be demonstrated." "Erat" is a key part of this phrase, translating to "was." The clue references this widely recognized abbreviation, and "erat" represents a "bit" of it.

The answer "DOMES" fits because many stadiums (plural of "stadia") feature domed roofs. These structures are designed to enclose the field and seating, often providing shelter from weather or enabling climate control for events. The plural clue "stadia" matches the plural "DOMES."

The clue “Start of a popular saying about gravity … or a hint to completing the answers to the starred clues” points to WHATGOESUP. This signals that the starred entries extend beyond their across letters—letters literally “go up” (and sometimes down). Recognizing this theme is key to completing the multi-directional answers. It’s both literal and playful, a classic Thursday NYT trick.

KIROV refers to the Kirov Ballet, the former name of the famous Mariinsky Ballet based in Saint Petersburg, Russia. It's a renowned institution in Russian ballet history, making it a "big name." The company was called Kirov during the Soviet era, honoring politician Sergei Kirov.

The clue uses "Capital" metaphorically, hinting at monetary capital rather than a city. The EURO is the primary currency for many Mediterranean-bordering countries, including Italy, Greece, and Spain, making it the figurative "capital" associated with the region. This wordplay cleverly shifts focus from geography to finance.

The phrase "Blew away" can mean to astonish or deeply impress someone. "Awed" means being filled with wonder or amazement, which aligns perfectly with this figurative sense of "blew away." It reflects the emotional state of someone overwhelmed or amazed.

The clue "Legislative bodies" directly refers to groups responsible for creating laws. "Senates" fits because it identifies a common legislative body in governments worldwide, such as the U.S. Senate. The plural "bodies" aligns perfectly with the plural "Senates," ensuring the answer matches grammatically.

CINERAMA is the solution because it refers to a vintage widescreen film projection system introduced in the 1950s. It was known for immersive, panoramic visuals achieved by using multiple cameras and projectors. Since the clue specifies "old wide-screen format," CINERAMA fits perfectly as a historical example.

The clue "Crime show extra, informally" points to the term PERP, short for "perpetrator." In crime shows, perpetrators, or "perps," are frequently seen as minor but significant characters, often extras in scenes. The informal tone of "extra, informally" hints at the casual abbreviation, PERP.

The answer "HESHE" fits as a lead-in to "they" because it reflects a transition from binary pronouns ("he" or "she") to the gender-neutral "they." This highlights the linguistic shift in recognizing and addressing nonbinary identities, making "HESHE" a logical progression to "they."

The across letters LIVER don’t satisfy the clue. To finish, apply the “goes up” trick: add AD upward, then AR downward. Together, that builds LIVERADAR, which matches the clue’s “Storm-tracking aid.” It’s a playful example where the base word (“radar”) literally hovers over and drops down from the across portion.

IPA stands for India Pale Ale, a beer originally brewed with higher hops and alcohol content to preserve it during long sea voyages to British troops in colonial India. "In brief" signals the abbreviation, and "subcontinent" refers to India, aligning perfectly with the historical context.

The answer is ZORK because it was one of the first text-based computer games, created in the late 1970s. "Zork" was originally a nonsensical placeholder name during development, but it became the game's permanent title, fitting the clue's reference to a "nonsense working title stuck."

The clue "Partner of older" refers to the phrase "older and wiser," which is commonly used to describe gaining wisdom with age. "Wiser" naturally partners with "older" in this context, making it the correct answer. This plays on their frequent pairing in language.

The answer "GENII" relates to "Guardian spirits" through its Latin origin. "Genii" is the plural form of "genius," which in Roman mythology refers to protective or guiding spirits assigned to individuals or places. This fits the clue's reference to guardian-like entities.

With just TONYA across, it looks like a name. But the theme mechanism extends it: from the A, go upward for W, then down for ARD. That transforms it into TONYAWARD, the honor given for Broadway excellence, fitting for the clue “Musical appreciation?” A clean aha moment when the letters align.

The answer is ODIN because, in Norse mythology, Odin is the chief deity and god of wisdom, poetry, and knowledge. He is accompanied by two ravens, Huginn (thought) and Muninn (memory), who gather information for him. This directly links the clue's mention of ravens to Odin's mythology.

The clue “Forming a union” wants ORGANIZING, but only ORGAN fits across. The trick is to go vertical: from N, climb to IZ, then drop to ING. That makes ORGANIZING, perfectly matching the clue. It’s a tidy closer to the set, showing how the theme consistently turns short across entries into full, meaningful words.

The clue refers to Arbor Day, an April celebration dedicated to planting and caring for trees. "Arbor" means tree or shelter made of trees, aligning with the environmental focus of the holiday. This makes ARBOR the perfect fit for the blank.

The answer is NOTE because A or B, in a musical context, refers to specific tones or pitches, which are musical notes. The "e.g." in the clue signals an example, indicating that A or B exemplifies a type of note.

The answer is TSENG because Yani Tseng is a famous Taiwanese professional golfer who made history as the youngest golfer to win five major championships at the age of 22. This clue points directly to her remarkable achievement in the sport, making "TSENG" the correct and fitting answer.

The clue "Score keeper?" ends with a question mark, indicating wordplay. In this case, "score" refers to musical scores, and "keeper" suggests something that holds or displays them. A "STAND," such as a music stand, holds and keeps a score (sheet music) for musicians.

The clue "Peeved state" describes a condition of being annoyed or irritated, which matches the informal term "SNIT." A "snit" is commonly used to describe a minor fit of irritation or a sulky mood, perfectly aligning with the idea of a peeved emotional state.