Crossword clue

“What someone seeking validation might need”

This clue appeared as 30-Down in the NYT Crossword on Tuesday, December 16, 2025. The answer has 10 letters.

Answer · 10 lettersFirst appearance

EGOMASSAGE

Letters10

Starts withE

Ends withE

Vowels5

Where this clue has appeared

NYT Crossword
Dec 16, 202510 letters→

About this clue

The clue “What someone seeking validation might need” ran in the NYT Crossword on December 16, 2025 as 30-Down. Its answer is a 10-letter word that starts with E and ends with E, with 5 vowels, which often points to a phrase, a name or a borrowed word.

See every answer from the puzzle on the NYT Crossword page for December 16, 2025, or learn how clues like this work in our guide to crossword clue types.

More clues from this puzzle

1ALibrary acquisition4 letters 5AInsta and Snap4 letters 9AStart5 letters 14ARoughly equivalent (to)4 letters 15AHomie4 letters 16AMaine-to-Florida hwy.5 letters 17AWhat shares a key with "(" on a keyboard4 letters 18AReason to buy a magazine, perhaps10 letters

FAQ

What is the answer to the “What someone seeking validation might need” clue?+

The answer is EGOMASSAGE (10 letters), from the NYT Crossword of December 16, 2025.

Where has this clue appeared?+

We have seen it 1 time in the NYT Crossword.

How do I find other NYT Crossword answers?+

Open the full list of answers for December 16, 2025, or browse every date on the NYT Crossword hub.