NYT Crossword hints and answer for October 12, 2025
Hints that get gradually more specific, then the answer if you need it. Nothing is revealed until you tap.
Clues140
Across57
Down83
TitleMake No Mistake
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
Common sight near the entrance of a mall (3)
Starts with M, ends with PMAP→
4A
Words that might precede "Out, darned Spot!"? (6)
Starts with B, ends with GBADDOG→
10A
Gives some heat, say (4)
Starts with A, ends with SARMS→
14A
Cry of frustration (4)
Starts with A, ends with HARGH→
19A
Blew out (7)
Starts with E, ends with DEXHALED→
21A
Sound from a horn (4)
Starts with B, ends with PBEEP→
22A
Bull in a Chihuahua shop (4)
Starts with T, ends with OTORO→
23A
Boast accompanying an evil laugh [120 sec.] (11)
Starts with M, ends with EMINEALLMINE→
25A
Low-pitched jazz instruments, for short (9)
Starts with B, ends with SBARISAXES→
27A
Angler's lure (4)
Starts with B, ends with TBAIT→
28A
Words on a juice carton (14)
Starts with N, ends with ENOTFROMCNTRATE→
30A
What many monks and yogis are (8)
Starts with A, ends with SASCETICS→
34A
"Project Hail Mary" creatures, in brief (3)
Starts with E, ends with SETS→
35A
Director Rob (6)
Starts with R, ends with RREINER→
36A
Lampshade-shaped candy piece (4)
Starts with R, ends with OROLO→
37A
Rock band? (4)
Starts with S, ends with MSEAM→
40A
Tidbits (7)
Starts with M, ends with SMORSELS→
41A
Licorice-flavored vegetables [32 oz.] (11)
Starts with F, ends with SFENNELBULBS→
47A
"Please. It's my ___" (5)
Starts with T, ends with TTREAT→
48A
Letter opener? (14)
Starts with T, ends with NTOWHOMITMAYCRN→
54A
Young girl in Scotland (9)
Starts with W, ends with EWEELASSIE→
57A
Rumspringas in Amish communities, e.g. (5)
Starts with R, ends with SRITES→
58A
Greeting on Talk Like a Pirate Day (4)
Starts with A, ends with YAHOY→
59A
Word with straw or exit (4)
Starts with P, ends with LPOLL→
60A
Writer Silverstein (4)
Starts with S, ends with LSHEL→
62A
Like a certain cartoon coyote, you might say (4)
Starts with W, ends with YWILY→
63A
Carpenter's adage illustrated four times in this puzzle (19)
Starts with M, ends with EMEASURETWICECUTONCE→
71A
Song in a book of songs (4)
Starts with H, ends with NHYMN→
72A
Chance (4)
Starts with R, ends with KRISK→
73A
Biohazard regulator, in brief (4)
Starts with O, ends with AOSHA→
74A
Platoon or battalion (4)
Starts with U, ends with TUNIT→
75A
"The Facts of Life" girl (5)
Starts with B, ends with RBLAIR→
78A
Aerodynamic quality (9)
Starts with S, ends with SSLEEKNESS→
83A
Scientist who spent his last years under house arrest [8 qt.] (14)
Starts with G, ends with IGALILEOGALILEI→
87A
Plug, as water (5)
Starts with D, ends with PDAMUP→
88A
Tech giant based in Santa Clara, Calif. (5)
Starts with I, ends with LINTEL→
89A
Observe the expected formalities (11)
Starts with S, ends with YSTANDREMONY→
96A
Job requirements for top research positions, in brief (4)
Starts with P, ends with SPHDS→
97A
Facility (4)
Starts with E, ends with EEASE→
98A
Leveled (6)
Starts with E, ends with DEVENED→
99A
Put on (3)
Starts with A, ends with DADD→
101A
Buddhist riddles (8)
Starts with Z, ends with SZENKOANS→
105A
Split something equally [24 in.] (14)
Starts with W, ends with YWENTFIFTYFIFTY→
110A
Creature that can leap more than 150 times its own body length (!) (4)
Starts with F, ends with AFLEA→
111A
Lamborghinis, to some (9)
Starts with D, ends with SDREAMCARS→
112A
Waving the white flag, so to speak (11)
Starts with C, ends with TCDINGDEFEAT→
116A
Citrus drinks (4)
Starts with A, ends with SADES→
117A
Rock's Nirvana, for one (4)
Starts with T, ends with OTRIO→
118A
When mating typically occurs (7)
Starts with E, ends with EENDGAME→
119A
Org. that collaborates with MADD (3)
Starts with P, ends with APTA→
120A
Quirky sort (4)
Starts with D, ends with KDORK→
121A
John, across the pond (4)
Starts with S, ends with NSEAN→
122A
"Uh, your point is ...?" (6)
Starts with Y, ends with OYEAHSO→
123A
Sweets (3)
Starts with H, ends with NHON→
Down
1D
Green or black African menace (5)
Starts with M, ends with AMAMBA→
2D
Spider-Man, for one (5)
Starts with A, ends with SALIAS→
3D
Freak out (5)
Starts with P, ends with CPANIC→
4D
Good name for an apiarist? (3)
Starts with B, ends with ABEA→
5D
Rocker ___ Rose (3)
Starts with A, ends with LAXL→
6D
UPS competitor (3)
Starts with D, ends with LDHL→
7D
Sends to Hades (5)
Starts with D, ends with SDAMNS→
8D
Mishmash (4)
Starts with O, ends with OOLIO→
10D
Religious title whose name comes from the Hebrew for "father" (5)
Starts with A, ends with TABBOT→
11D
Chews (out) (5)
Starts with R, ends with SREAMS→
12D
Classic car that shared its name with a planet, informally (4)
Starts with M, ends with CMERC→
13D
Postdebate areas (9)
Starts with S, ends with SSPINROOMS→
14D
Some old game consoles (6)
Starts with A, ends with SATARIS→
15D
___ Gay, author of "Bad Feminist" (6)
Starts with R, ends with EROXANE→
16D
Fairy tale sibling (6)
Starts with G, ends with LGRETEL→
17D
Doofuses, north of the border (6)
Starts with H, ends with SHOSERS→
20D
Absolutely, in slang (3)
Starts with D, ends with FDEF→
24D
Never-ending (7)
Starts with E, ends with LETERNAL→
26D
CPR pressure points (6)
Starts with S, ends with ASTERNA→
29D
Cycle at night? (3)
Starts with R, ends with MREM→
31D
Core-strengthening Pilates exercises (7)
Starts with T, ends with STOETAPS→
33D
It's covered in kernels (3)
Starts with C, ends with BCOB→
37D
___ gin fizz (4)
Starts with S, ends with ESLOE→
38D
"Charlotte's Web" author's inits. (3)
Starts with E, ends with WEBW→
39D
Wood found in restaurant furniture (3)
Starts with A, ends with HASH→
41D
Online shorthand meaning "Victory!" (3)
Starts with F, ends with WFTW→
43D
Previously known as (3)
Starts with N, ends with ENEE→
44D
Of help (5)
Starts with U, ends with EUTILE→
45D
"Turn that frown upside down!" (5)
Starts with S, ends with ESMILE→
46D
Clever sort (3)
Starts with W, ends with TWIT→
49D
Big name in vacuum cleaners (5)
Starts with O, ends with KORECK→
50D
[It's time for bed!] (4)
Starts with Y, ends with NYAWN→
51D
Sharply dressed (4)
Starts with C, ends with CCHIC→
53D
The Bronx Bombers, on scoreboards (3)
Starts with N, ends with YNYY→
55D
Pittance (3)
Starts with S, ends with USOU→
56D
Camera type, for short (3)
Starts with S, ends with RSLR→
60D
Barista's flourish (5)
Starts with S, ends with LSWIRL→
61D
___ Eminence (3)
Starts with H, ends with SHIS→
63D
Mouthy bird? (4)
Starts with M, ends with AMYNA→
64D
Name found in "whole milk" (4)
Starts with E, ends with LEMIL→
65D
Prefix with matter (4)
Starts with A, ends with IANTI→
66D
One of many in the book of Job (5)
Starts with T, ends with LTRIAL→
67D
Actor Firth (5)
Starts with C, ends with NCOLIN→
68D
Employ (3)
Starts with U, ends with EUSE→
69D
Hot French beverage (3)
Starts with T, ends with ETHE→
70D
"Resolute" item in the Oval Office (7)
Starts with O, ends with KOAKDESK→
71D
Hold dear, perhaps (3)
Starts with H, ends with GHUG→
75D
Men who marry later in life (9)
Starts with B, ends with SBENEDICTS→
78D
Settings of many Patrick O'Brian novels (4)
Starts with S, ends with SSEAS→
79D
Recite (7)
Starts with N, ends with FNAMEOFF→
80D
Moody music genre (3)
Starts with E, ends with OEMO→
81D
Light up? (3)
Starts with S, ends with NSUN→
82D
Worker with a handler (3)
Starts with S, ends with YSPY→
84D
Easy-listening radio category (6)
Starts with L, ends with MLITEFM→
85D
"More or less" (3)
Starts with I, ends with HISH→
86D
Business name abbr. (3)
Starts with L, ends with DLTD→
90D
Poor grade (3)
Starts with D, ends with EDEE→
91D
Took off (3)
Starts with R, ends with NRAN→
92D
Man who might be installing a baby gate (6)
Starts with N, ends with DNEWDAD→
93D
Gild the lily, with "it" (6)
Starts with O, ends with OOVERDO→
94D
Facade (6)
Starts with V, ends with RVENEER→
95D
Not distracted at work (6)
Starts with O, ends with KONTASK→
96D
Email attachment type (3)
Starts with P, ends with FPDF→
99D
Body parts examined for arrhythmia (5)
Starts with A, ends with AATRIA→
100D
Big name in vacuum cleaners (5)
Starts with D, ends with NDYSON→
101D
Company that owns Words With Friends (5)
Starts with Z, ends with AZYNGA→
102D
A, in Ashkelon (5)
Starts with A, ends with HALEPH→
103D
"Totally cool!" (5)
Starts with N, ends with ONEATO→
104D
Old Scratch (5)
Starts with S, ends with NSATAN→
107D
Pretty cool stuff (3)
Starts with I, ends with EICE→
108D
Big Apple's bravest, in brief (4)
Starts with F, ends with YFDNY→
109D
Something a beach lifeguard monitors (4)
Starts with T, ends with ETIDE→
113D
Cry of frustration (3)
Starts with G, ends with HGAH→
114D
Insta chats (3)
Starts with D, ends with SDMS→
115D
Fair-hiring inits. (3)
Starts with E, ends with OEEO→
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 October 12, 2025?+
140 clues: 57 Across and 83 Down. The puzzle was constructed by Michael Schlossberg and edited by Will Shortz.
What are some answers in today’s NYT Crossword?+
For example: Common sight near the entrance of a mall (MAP); Words that might precede "Out, darned Spot!"? (BADDOG); Gives some heat, say (ARMS).
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.
