Crossword clue
“Unexpected jerk”
This clue appeared as 131-Across in the NYT Crossword on Sunday, January 25, 2026. The answer has 5 letters.
Answer · 5 lettersFirst appearance
SPASMLetters5
Starts withS
Ends withM
Vowels1
Where this clue has appeared
About this clue
The clue “Unexpected jerk” ran in the NYT Crossword on January 25, 2026 as 131-Across. Its answer is a 5-letter word that starts with S and ends with M, with only 1 vowel, so think abbreviations or consonant clusters.
See every answer from the puzzle on the NYT Crossword page for January 25, 2026, or learn how clues like this work in our guide to crossword clue types.
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FAQ
What is the answer to the “Unexpected jerk” clue?+
The answer is SPASM (5 letters), from the NYT Crossword of January 25, 2026.
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 January 25, 2026, or browse every date on the NYT Crossword hub.