NYT Crossword Answers: Get Hints and Solve All Clues

The answer is ACAI because "acai bowls" are popular healthful dishes made with blended acai berries (a nutrient-rich superfruit), topped with items like granola, fruits, and seeds. The blank ("___ bowl") directly points to this trendy, nutritious choice, fitting the clue perfectly.

ACTIN is a key cellular protein that forms filaments and is crucial for cell structure, movement, and division. It’s a fundamental part of the cytoskeleton in eukaryotic cells, aligning with the clue "Cellular protein." Its specific cellular functions make it a precise fit for the answer.

The clue "Give out" can mean to release, send forth, or discharge something. EMIT perfectly fits this definition, as it signifies the act of sending out or radiating, such as light, sound, or energy. This alignment of meanings makes EMIT the correct answer.

The word "Expels" means to forbid, remove, or force out. Similarly, "BANS" refers to prohibiting or excluding something or someone. The synonymous nature of "expels" and "bans" makes BANS the correct answer for this clue.

The clue "Mars with bars?" features wordplay. It refers to the singer-songwriter Bruno Mars, who delivers music ("bars" as in lyrics or melodies). The pun connects the name "Mars" to the famous artist Bruno Mars, making BRUNO the correct answer.

The answer "GILA" refers to the Gila monster, a cold-blooded and venomous lizard found in the southwestern United States and Mexico. "Cold-blooded" refers to its reptilian nature, and "monster" ties to its name. It’s a play on words, describing both its biology and its name.

The clue "And so …" suggests a logical conclusion or result, often found in formal contexts. "Ergo" is a Latin word meaning "therefore" or "as a result," perfectly completing the phrase. This is why ERGO is the solution here.

The answer "LUNCHBOXES" fits because they are essential items for schoolchildren to carry their meals, often purchased before a new school year begins. The clue references common back-to-school shopping, and lunchboxes are a practical and widely recognizable item for this purpose.

The clue "Bit of ballet wear" refers to an essential item worn by ballet dancers. TOESHOE is the correct answer, as it is a specialized shoe with a reinforced toe box, allowing dancers to stand en pointe. It’s a key piece of footwear in ballet performances.

The answer "HER" refers to the 2013 movie Her, where Scarlett Johansson provides the voice of an artificial intelligence operating system. She plays a central role but is never physically seen, as her character exists only as disembodied voice AI.

The answer is LLCOOLJ because "Going Back to Cali" is a popular song by LL Cool J, released in 1989. The clue cites 1998 likely because his music, including this track, remained iconic and tied to his identity as a rapper during that era.

This clue is part of today's theme and signals wordplay. Abigail Adams and Eleanor Roosevelt were First Ladies. LOTUS plays on "FLOTUS" (First Lady of the United States), hiding the "F" behind the white tree on the green square.

The clue is part of the theme and uses wordplay. It hints at Elmo, a popular red character from the show. But only 'ELM' fits the grid. 'O' is covered by a white tree on the black square.

The answer "ESPOUSES" fits "Advocates for" because to espouse something means to support, adopt, or advocate for a cause, belief, or idea. It aligns directly as a synonym, making it a precise solution to the clue.

The answer "SABLE" fits the clue "Animal with luxurious fur" because a sable is a small mammal, related to martens, known for its exceptionally soft and valuable fur. Sable fur has been highly prized for centuries, often used in high-end fashion and luxury goods.

The answer "FTC" stands for the Federal Trade Commission, a U.S. government agency responsible for protecting consumers by preventing unfair, deceptive, or fraudulent business practices. "Agcy." in the clue abbreviates "agency," matching the abbreviated format of the answer "FTC."

The clue "Muse of memory" refers to MNEME, one of the three original Muses in Greek mythology. Her name originates from the Greek word "mnēmē," meaning "memory." MNEME embodies the concept of remembering and was specifically associated with the preservation of memory in ancient lore.

This clue refers to 64-Across, where the answer FOREST is revealed. The connection is the familiar phrase "can't see the forest for the trees," and here, TREES represents the many elements blocking the full picture.

This is a theme entry where the full answer is RASH, meaning 'hasty.' However, only ASH fits in the grid because the R is hidden beneath a white tree symbol on a black square.

The answer "SET IN" fits "Become fixed" because it refers to something starting to take hold or become firmly established. For example, when an idea, condition, or behavior begins to solidify or become permanent, it is said to "set in," matching the clue's definition perfectly.

The answer "ANAS" refers to the "Santa Anas," which are strong, hot, and dry winds that blow through Southern California. The clue "Santa ___ (hot winds)" directly points to this regional weather phenomenon, emphasizing the association with heat and the name "Santa Ana."

The clue "What three is" plays on the phrase "Two's company, three's a crowd." It's a pun-like wordplay clue. When you add a third person to a group of two, it becomes a "CROWD." Thus, CROWD is the solution.

The clue is in quotes, signaling a spoken phrase. "Hmm, I don't think so" suggests hesitation and polite disagreement, often expressed conversationally. "UHNO" mimics the sound and tone of informal speech, capturing the hesitant "uh" and dismissive "no," fitting perfectly as the casual response.

This themed clue’s full answer is FIRE, from Plutarch’s quote: “The mind is not a vessel to be filled but a fire to be kindled.” Only FIR appears in the grid because the E is hidden under a white tree symbol on a black square, matching the puzzle's tree-forest theme.

The solution "MARNER" refers to Silas Marner, the protagonist of George Eliot's novel Silas Marner. George Eliot is the pen name of Mary Ann Evans, a prominent 19th-century English author. This clue directly references the main character from this classic literary work.

This is a theme clue where the full answer is SPEAR, referring to a spear of pickle or asparagus. However, only PEAR appears in the grid because the S is hidden under a white tree on a black square. This ties into the puzzle's theme of “not seeing the forest for the trees,” where certain letters are visually obscured by tree symbols, making the answers appear incomplete unless the hidden letter is inferred.

The answer "FEN" fits because a fen is a type of wetland or bog, characterized by waterlogged, marshy ground. It directly relates to the definition of "bog," making it a precise synonym in this context.

The clue highlights the difference in cooking methods: air fryers are known for crisping food, while microwaves heat without crisping. "Placed in an air fryer" implies achieving a crispy texture, fitting the answer "CRISPED." The phrasing "instead of a microwave" emphasizes this contrast.

The clue asks for a state abbreviation with extensive coastline. Florida (abbreviation: FLA) is second only to Alaska in coastline length, boasting 1,350 miles. The clue specifies "Abbr.," confirming the need for the state's abbreviation rather than its full name, aligning perfectly with "FLA."

This theme clue’s full answer is APPLET, a “small, embedded program.” But only APPLE appears in the grid because the T is hidden beneath a white tree on a black square. It’s part of the visual theme trick in the puzzle.

The clue refers to São Paulo, the largest city in the Southern Hemisphere by population. "São" means "Saint" in Portuguese, indicating this is a Brazilian city, as Portuguese is Brazil's official language. São Paulo is a globally recognized metropolis and matches the context of the clue perfectly.

The clue "Toward that place, quaintly" indicates an archaic or old-fashioned term for moving or pointing "to that place." The word "thither" is an antiquated synonym for "there" or "to that place," fitting the "quaintly" descriptor in the clue. Thus, THITHER is the correct answer.

The clue "Ancient Rome and Persia" refers to two historical superpowers known for their vast territorial dominance and governance structures. Both were expansive empires, fitting the plural form in the clue. EMPIRES encapsulates their significance as influential civilizations in history.

The word "Own" and "Possess" are synonyms, both meaning to have or hold something as property or to have ownership. In this straightforward clue, "Own" directly aligns with "Possess," making it the suitable solution.

The clue "Comforts" refers to providing solace or relief during difficult times. "SOLACES" directly aligns with this meaning, as it signifies acts of comforting or easing grief, pain, or distress. The plural form matches the plural clue, ensuring the answer’s grammatical correctness.

The clue “Almost half of Scandinavians” points to SWEDES because Sweden is one of the three major countries in Scandinavia (alongside Norway and Denmark). With Sweden being geographically and demographically significant, its people, the Swedes, make up a substantial portion of Scandinavians. This proportion justifies the "almost half" phrase.

A clever reference to the phrase "can't see the forest for the trees." In this puzzle, the answer is "FOREST," hidden by the "TREES" at 38-Across—both literally in the grid and metaphorically through missing letters.