NYT Crossword hints and answer for June 21, 2026
Hints that get gradually more specific, then the answer if you need it. Nothing is revealed until you tap.
Clues144
Across71
Down73
TitleBig Draw
Today’s NYT Crossword clues, hints & answers
Every clue from this puzzle with a hint and the answer behind separate buttons, so you only see what you need. Click a clue for its own page.
Across
1A
Letters accompanying applications, for short (4)
Starts with R, ends with SRECS→
5A
Includes without others knowing, in a way (4)
Starts with B, ends with SBCCS→
9A
"I haven't a clue" (7)
Starts with B, ends with EBEATSME→
16A
Plant with an edible inner gel (4)
Starts with A, ends with EALOE→
17A
Up to snuff (4)
Starts with A, ends with EABLE→
18A
All over the place (7)
Starts with E, ends with CERRATIC→
19A
Drove in an A.T.V., say, informally (9)
Starts with O, ends with DOFFROADED→
21A
Fighting technique used by [circled letters] (as explained at 76-Across) (7)
Starts with N, ends with GNECKING→
22A
Unreal? (4)
Starts with F, ends with EFAKE→
23A
Verify, as an editor might (9)
Starts with F, ends with KFACTCHECK→
25A
Launch points in disc golf (7)
Starts with T, ends with STEEPADS→
28A
"Everything good?," as a cook might ask (7)
Starts with T, ends with KTASTEOK→
29A
Laptop mode (5)
Starts with S, ends with PSLEEP→
30A
Tap products (4)
Starts with A, ends with SALES→
32A
ID used for far more than its name suggests (3)
Starts with S, ends with NSSN→
33A
Do wrong (3)
Starts with E, ends with RERR→
34A
They're just one problem after another (7)
Starts with I, ends with SIQTESTS→
37A
Spanish direction (4)
Starts with E, ends with EESTE→
41A
Whatchamacallit (4)
Starts with N, ends with NNOUN→
43A
"One ___ Soldier" (1969 antiwar song) (3)
Starts with T, ends with NTIN→
44A
Belgrade resident (4)
Starts with S, ends with BSERB→
47A
Word on either side of "to" (3)
Starts with T, ends with ETOE→
48A
Physician specializing in reproductive health, informally (4)
Starts with G, ends with OGYNO→
49A
Like some flights: Abbr. (4)
Starts with I, ends with LINTL→
51A
Restrict (7)
Starts with T, ends with NTIEDOWN→
53A
Long, hooded cloak that's also an author's name (6)
Starts with C, ends with ECAPOTE→
55A
Areas of influence (7)
Starts with S, ends with SSPHERES→
56A
Part of many a mailing address, in brief (5)
Starts with P, ends with XPOBOX→
59A
White dwarf phenomenon (4)
Starts with N, ends with ANOVA→
61A
___ so often (5)
Starts with E, ends with YEVERY→
62A
Traps during a storm, perhaps (6)
Starts with I, ends with NICESIN→
64A
Vermont summer hrs. (3)
Starts with E, ends with TEDT→
66A
Certain natural hairstyle (4)
Starts with L, ends with SLOCS→
67A
71A
Popular browser for accessing the dark web (3)
Starts with T, ends with RTOR→
72A
"Is it OK for us to leave?" (7)
Starts with C, ends with OCANWEGO→
73A
It's one for the history books (3)
Starts with E, ends with NEON→
76A
81A
Japanese audio brand (4)
Starts with A, ends with AAIWA→
82A
Secondary account, in social media slang (3)
Starts with A, ends with TALT→
83A
Boundaries (6)
Starts with L, ends with SLIMITS→
84A
Be part of, as a film (5)
Starts with A, ends with NACTIN→
85A
"Surprised to see you here!" (4)
Starts with O, ends with IOHHI→
88A
Limber (5)
Starts with L, ends with ELITHE→
89A
Hindu god with an elephant head (7)
Starts with G, ends with AGANESHA→
92A
Satchel with a gendered name (6)
Starts with M, ends with GMANBAG→
94A
Defeats without difficulty (7)
Starts with A, ends with TACESOUT→
95A
"I ___ you!" (4)
Starts with E, ends with YENVY→
96A
Indian royal (4)
Starts with R, ends with ARAJA→
100A
Certain sib (3)
Starts with S, ends with SSIS→
101A
M.L.B. team whose stadium is less than 10 miles from another M.L.B. team's (4)
Starts with M, ends with SMETS→
103A
"Go on, beat it!" (3)
Starts with G, ends with TGIT→
104A
Pizazz (4)
Starts with E, ends with NELAN→
105A
"Qué ___ contigo?" ("What's wrong with you?") (4)
Starts with P, ends with APASA→
107A
Cancels out (7)
Starts with N, ends with SNEGATES→
110A
Common holder of pens (3)
Starts with M, ends with GMUG→
111A
Mathematical constant equal to two times pi (3)
Starts with T, ends with UTAU→
114A
Honoré de Balzac's "___ Goriot" (4)
Starts with P, ends with EPERE→
115A
Give a buzz (5)
Starts with P, ends with EPHONE→
117A
Farm play area (7)
Starts with C, ends with TCORNPIT→
119A
Clergyman known for his verbal gaffes (7)
Starts with S, ends with RSPOONER→
121A
Takes little effort (9)
Starts with C, ends with YCOMESEASY→
123A
Minimally (4)
Starts with A, ends with DATAD→
124A
Habitat for [circled letters] (7)
Starts with S, ends with ASAVANNA→
125A
Starchy plant part in Asian cooking (9)
Starts with L, ends with TLOTUSROOT→
129A
Something running at a bar (7)
Starts with O, ends with BOPENTAB→
130A
Fateful day (4)
Starts with I, ends with SIDES→
131A
Digital know-it-all (4)
Starts with S, ends with ISIRI→
132A
Debuted to stockholders, in Wall St. lingo (7)
Starts with W, ends with OWENTIPO→
133A
Art museum that awards the annual Turner Prize (4)
Starts with T, ends with ETATE→
134A
Reindeer cousins (4)
Starts with E, ends with SELKS→
Down
1D
Big name in the pasta aisle (3)
Starts with R, ends with ORAO→
2D
One often pictured wearing pointy shoes (3)
Starts with E, ends with FELF→
3D
Task for an office gofer, maybe (9)
Starts with C, ends with NCOFFEERUN→
4D
Colorful wrap (6)
Starts with S, ends with ESERAPE→
5D
Spoke sheepishly? (5)
Starts with B, ends with DBAAED→
6D
Compound found in marijuana, for short (3)
Starts with C, ends with DCBD→
7D
What sets the tone (4)
Starts with C, ends with FCLEF→
9D
Natural predispositions (5)
Starts with B, ends with SBENTS→
10D
Builds (6)
Starts with E, ends with SERECTS→
11D
National park in Utah (6)
Starts with A, ends with SARCHES→
12D
"Here, try a sample" (7)
Starts with T, ends with ETAKEONE→
13D
Driver's alternative to automatic (5)
Starts with S, ends with KSTICK→
14D
Semiaquatic carnivore (4)
Starts with M, ends with KMINK→
15D
Med. diagnostic (3)
Starts with E, ends with GECG→
20D
Closest living relative of the [circled letters] (5)
Starts with O, ends with IOKAPI→
24D
Show groups (5)
Starts with C, ends with SCASTS→
25D
Golfer Yani (5)
Starts with T, ends with GTSENG→
26D
"The Jetsons" son (5)
Starts with E, ends with YELROY→
27D
Attended, as a lecture (7)
Starts with S, ends with NSATINON→
31D
Temporarily gave (6)
Starts with L, ends with OLENTTO→
35D
This goes in one ear (4)
Starts with Q, ends with PQTIP→
36D
{1, 2, 3} and {4, 5, 6} (4)
Starts with S, ends with SSETS→
38D
Offering in lieu of a cash refund, perhaps (11)
Starts with S, ends with TSTORECREDIT→
39D
Term for groups of [circled letters] (6)
Starts with T, ends with STOWERS→
40D
Teeny-tiny (5)
Starts with E, ends with YEENSY→
45D
Sometimes-intentional jeans feature (3)
Starts with R, ends with PRIP→
46D
Looked upon (6)
Starts with B, ends with DBEHELD→
50D
"I want you to be honest …" (11)
Starts with L, ends with ELEVELWITHME→
52D
R&B group Bell Biv ___ (5)
Starts with D, ends with EDEVOE→
54D
Follower of "x" or "y" (4)
Starts with A, ends with SAXIS→
56D
Pennsylvania school, for short (4)
Starts with P, ends with TPITT→
57D
Diez minus dos (4)
Starts with O, ends with OOCHO→
58D
Testify (11)
Starts with B, ends with SBEARWITNESS→
60D
Chicago's ___ Planetarium (5)
Starts with A, ends with RADLER→
63D
Salt's formula (4)
Starts with N, ends with LNACL→
65D
Threads around a forum? (4)
Starts with T, ends with ATOGA→
68D
"Look at this!" (4)
Starts with T, ends with ATADA→
69D
Part of WASP (5)
Starts with A, ends with OANGLO→
70D
"HAHAHAHA!" (4)
Starts with R, ends with LROFL→
75D
Where Ferrari is "RACE," in brief (4)
Starts with N, ends with ENYSE→
77D
Tot's injuries (5)
Starts with O, ends with SOWIES→
78D
Price for a return, perhaps (6)
Starts with R, ends with MRANSOM→
79D
Sneaker brand (4)
Starts with F, ends with AFILA→
80D
Political exile (6)
Starts with E, ends with EEMIGRE→
81D
Tree whose leaves are eaten by [circled letters] (6)
Starts with A, ends with AACACIA→
84D
Audibly shocked (5)
Starts with A, ends with PAGASP→
86D
Big garage, essentially (6)
Starts with H, ends with RHANGAR→
87D
They're sent after save-the-date cards (7)
Starts with I, ends with SINVITES→
91D
Memo abbr. (4)
Starts with A, ends with NATTN→
93D
Eight bits (4)
Starts with B, ends with EBYTE→
97D
Nutty extract (9)
Starts with A, ends with LALMONDOIL→
98D
French for "yellow" (5)
Starts with J, ends with EJAUNE→
99D
Tick off (5)
Starts with A, ends with RANGER→
102D
Filter option (5)
Starts with S, ends with ASEPIA→
106D
Small superhero whose catchphrase starts "Up and at ’em" (7)
Starts with A, ends with TATOMANT→
108D
Becomes wild, as a party (7)
Starts with G, ends with TGETSLIT→
109D
Fur pattern on a [circled letters] (5)
Starts with S, ends with SSPOTS→
112D
Self-reflective question (6)
Starts with A, ends with IARENTI→
113D
Start to take off, as a onesie (6)
Starts with U, ends with PUNSNAP→
116D
Practically speechless? (6)
Starts with H, ends with EHOARSE→
117D
Spelling bee? (5)
Starts with C, ends with NCOVEN→
118D
Late singer Bryson (5)
Starts with P, ends with OPEABO→
120D
YouTube button with two lines (5)
Starts with P, ends with EPAUSE→
121D
Bit of superhero wear (4)
Starts with C, ends with ECAPE→
122D
"Star Wars" character whose species is never named (4)
Starts with Y, ends with AYODA→
124D
"You reap what you ___" (3)
Starts with S, ends with WSOW→
126D
Holiday whose name means "festival" (3)
Starts with T, ends with TTET→
127D
Mork's home planet (3)
Starts with O, ends with KORK→
128D
"Indeed" (3)
Starts with T, ends with STIS→
How to solve the NYT Crossword
Fill the grid so that every Across and Down answer matches its clue. Numbered squares mark where answers begin. Theme answers, usually the longest entries, share a twist that the puzzle's title or a revealer clue explains. Thursday puzzles are known for rebus squares and other tricks that bend the normal rules.
Want the full method? Read our NYT Crossword strategy and tips, or check how to play the NYT Crossword on the hub.
NYT Crossword tips for tomorrow
- Start with Monday-level clues. Even on a Saturday, a handful of clues are straightforward. Find them and build outward from the crossings.
- Hunt for the revealer. A clue that references other entries or ends in "?" often explains the theme. Solving it first unlocks the long answers.
- Respect the day of the week. Thursday means tricks like rebus squares; Friday and Saturday mean long, clever fill with misleading clues.
Done for today? Try The Mini, The Midi, LA Times Crossword, all with hints first and answers behind a reveal.
Previous NYT Crossword puzzles
NYT Crossword FAQ
How many clues are in the NYT Crossword for June 21, 2026?+
144 clues: 71 Across and 73 Down. The puzzle was constructed by Hannah Slovut-Einertson and edited by Will Shortz.
What are some answers in today’s NYT Crossword?+
For example: Letters accompanying applications, for short (RECS); Includes without others knowing, in a way (BCCS); "I haven't a clue" (BEATSME).
What time does the NYT Crossword come out?+
The next day's puzzle is released at 10:00 pm Eastern Time Monday to Friday and at 6:00 pm on Saturdays and Sundays.
Where can I find past NYT Crossword answers?+
Every puzzle in our archive has its own page with all Across and Down answers, plus a page for each clue. Click any date above.
