NYT Crossword hints and answer for October 5, 2025
Hints that get gradually more specific, then the answer if you need it. Nothing is revealed until you tap.
Clues138
Across65
Down73
TitleAll Too Wise
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
Classic target of a troll (9)
Starts with B, ends with TBILLYGOAT→
10A
Prized steed (4)
Starts with A, ends with BARAB→
14A
Little hellions (4)
Starts with I, ends with SIMPS→
18A
Hard to understand (10)
Starts with C, ends with DCLEARASMUD→
20A
Latvian capital (4)
Starts with R, ends with ARIGA→
21A
Kindle competitor (4)
Starts with N, ends with KNOOK→
22A
Sailor who drinks only the finest grog? (11)
Starts with C, ends with YCLASSYMATEY→
24A
Knockoff version of a sweet treat? (9)
Starts with G, ends with YGOODYCOPY→
26A
ID on a credit check (3)
Starts with S, ends with NSSN→
27A
End-of-level showdown (9)
Starts with B, ends with TBOSSFIGHT→
29A
"When in the ___ of human events ..." (6)
Starts with C, ends with ECOURSE→
30A
Bridges (5)
Starts with S, ends with SSPANS→
32A
Vote for (3)
Starts with Y, ends with AYEA→
33A
Paint carelessly (4)
Starts with D, ends with BDAUB→
34A
Alternative to kale (5)
Starts with C, ends with DCHARD→
35A
Projectionist's item (8)
Starts with F, ends with LFILMREEL→
38A
"If you ask me nicely …" (4)
Starts with I, ends with YIMAY→
42A
Game with players known as "shooters" (5)
Starts with C, ends with SCRAPS→
43A
Convenient spot for a cat nap? (10)
Starts with H, ends with YHANDYBELLY→
45A
Singer Rita (3)
Starts with O, ends with AORA→
46A
Official hand gesture of Hawaii (5)
Starts with S, ends with ASHAKA→
47A
"Darn it!" (4)
Starts with D, ends with GDANG→
48A
1950s political nickname (3)
Starts with I, ends with EIKE→
51A
The 4,765-year-old "Methuselah" is one (4)
Starts with P, ends with EPINE→
53A
Prominent feature of dubstep music (4)
Starts with B, ends with SBASS→
55A
Wrap up tight (6)
Starts with S, ends with ESWATHE→
56A
Press coverage (3)
Starts with I, ends with KINK→
57A
Scorching (7)
Starts with O, ends with TOVERHOT→
59A
Agent's good news (7)
Starts with I, ends with TITSAHIT→
60A
Cryptographers' needs (4)
Starts with K, ends with SKEYS→
62A
Suitable for the middle-aged? (11)
Starts with F, ends with YFORTYWORTHY→
65A
"Oh, dear!" (4)
Starts with M, ends with YMYMY→
66A
Flies the coop (7)
Starts with E, ends with SESCAPES→
68A
Pain-relieving drug (7)
Starts with D, ends with LDEMEROL→
69A
The Chiffons' "___ So Fine" (3)
Starts with H, ends with SHES→
70A
Knitted cap (6)
Starts with B, ends with EBEANIE→
71A
Pop icon with a Best Actress award (4)
Starts with C, ends with RCHER→
73A
Huff and puff? (4)
Starts with V, ends with EVAPE→
74A
"Look what I did!" (4)
Starts with T, ends with ATADA→
75A
Bewildered (5)
Starts with A, ends with AATSEA→
76A
Polynesian staple (3)
Starts with P, ends with IPOI→
77A
Twisted do (4)
Starts with L, ends with SLOCS→
78A
Global currency market, for short (5)
Starts with F, ends with XFOREX→
79A
Martial artist Bruce (3)
Starts with L, ends with ELEE→
80A
Suspicious absence from school? (10)
Starts with F, ends with YFISHYHOOKY→
84A
Taps on the snoot (5)
Starts with B, ends with SBOOPS→
85A
Places (4)
Starts with L, ends with SLAYS→
87A
Snuggle (8)
Starts with C, ends with ECANOODLE→
88A
Stooge who said "Soitenly!" (5)
Starts with C, ends with YCURLY→
91A
"What's up, ___?" (3)
Starts with D, ends with CDOC→
92A
Wise guys (5)
Starts with S, ends with SSAGES→
93A
Crudely built shack (6)
Starts with S, ends with YSHANTY→
96A
Purple fruit with a distinctive inner shape (9)
Starts with S, ends with ESTARAPPLE→
99A
Barista or barrister (3)
Starts with J, ends with BJOB→
102A
"How sad. You actually think you can win," e.g.? (9)
Starts with C, ends with YCOCKYPITY→
104A
A locksmith getting stuck in bedroom handcuffs, say? (11)
Starts with S, ends with YSTEAMYIRONY→
107A
Present opener? (4)
Starts with O, ends with IOMNI→
108A
Unlike a cover: Abbr. (4)
Starts with O, ends with GORIG→
109A
Something parents may try to limit for their kids (10)
Starts with S, ends with ESCREENTIME→
110A
See 95-Down (4)
Starts with T, ends with NTEEN→
111A
Creole staple (4)
Starts with O, ends with AOKRA→
112A
In which actors barely go through the motions? (9)
Starts with S, ends with SSEXSCENES→
Down
1D
Surreptitiously loops in, for short (4)
Starts with B, ends with SBCCS→
2D
Troubles (4)
Starts with I, ends with SILLS→
3D
Low-fat (4)
Starts with L, ends with NLEAN→
4D
___ Américas (3)
Starts with L, ends with SLAS→
5D
Many, many mos. (3)
Starts with Y, ends with SYRS→
6D
Venues like New York City's Stonewall Inn (7)
Starts with G, ends with SGAYBARS→
7D
Donny or Marie (6)
Starts with O, ends with DOSMOND→
8D
Stockpile (5)
Starts with A, ends with SAMASS→
9D
Light rebukes (4)
Starts with T, ends with STUTS→
10D
"For crying out loud!" (4)
Starts with A, ends with HARGH→
12D
Before (3)
Starts with A, ends with OAGO→
13D
Referee's mistake (7)
Starts with B, ends with LBADCALL→
14D
Nighttime demons (6)
Starts with I, ends with IINCUBI→
15D
"Wuthering Heights" setting (4)
Starts with M, ends with RMOOR→
16D
Is visually striking (4)
Starts with P, ends with SPOPS→
17D
Portree is the capital of this isle (4)
Starts with S, ends with ESKYE→
19D
Death-___ (7)
Starts with D, ends with GDEFYING→
23D
Triangular sign (5)
Starts with Y, ends with DYIELD→
25D
Whom Uncle Sam wants for the U.S. Army (3)
Starts with Y, ends with UYOU→
28D
Like wild meat, sometimes (4)
Starts with G, ends with YGAMY→
30D
Manage to lose, as a tail (5)
Starts with S, ends with ESHAKE→
31D
He was a "rollin' stone," in a Motown classic (4)
Starts with P, ends with APAPA→
33D
Proofreader's mark (4)
Starts with D, ends with EDELE→
34D
Actor Affleck when he needs a nap? (11)
Starts with C, ends with YCRANKYCASEY→
35D
Some nonlicensed tributes (6)
Starts with F, ends with TFANART→
36D
Sluggers' stats (4)
Starts with R, ends with SRBIS→
37D
Startled cries (4)
Starts with E, ends with SEEKS→
39D
Half-woman, half-bird, all attitude? (11)
Starts with M, ends with YMOUTHYHARPY→
40D
"Eureka!" shouter (10)
Starts with A, ends with SARCHIMEDES→
41D
Benny Hill theme song (9)
Starts with Y, ends with XYAKETYSAX→
42D
Oolong or lapsang souchong (10)
Starts with C, ends with ACHINESETEA→
43D
Actor Bill of "Barry" (5)
Starts with H, ends with RHADER→
44D
Twists side-to-side (4)
Starts with Y, ends with SYAWS→
46D
Hybrid sport played with a trampoline-like net (9)
Starts with S, ends with LSPIKEBALL→
47D
Swiss locale of the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (5)
Starts with D, ends with SDAVOS→
50D
Old-fashioned term of address (4)
Starts with M, ends with MMAAM→
52D
Gratis (5)
Starts with N, ends with ENOFEE→
53D
Garden shelter (5)
Starts with B, ends with RBOWER→
54D
Discovery of chemist John Dalton (4)
Starts with A, ends with MATOM→
55D
"You're cramping my ___" (5)
Starts with S, ends with ESTYLE→
58D
Evil alter ego of literature (4)
Starts with H, ends with EHYDE→
59D
Waffle House alternatives (5)
Starts with I, ends with SIHOPS→
63D
Not follow suit, in bridge (6)
Starts with R, ends with EREVOKE→
64D
Frequent on-screen partner of Hepburn (5)
Starts with T, ends with YTRACY→
67D
"La Vie en rose" singer (4)
Starts with P, ends with FPIAF→
71D
Sports journalist Linda (4)
Starts with C, ends with NCOHN→
72D
"___, Silver!" (4)
Starts with H, ends with OHIYO→
74D
Gimlets and screwdrivers (5)
Starts with T, ends with STOOLS→
76D
Ad Council spots, for short (4)
Starts with P, ends with SPSAS→
77D
Some memes of the 2000s (7)
Starts with L, ends with SLOLCATS→
78D
Driver's warning (4)
Starts with F, ends with EFORE→
81D
Disgusting, in totspeak (7)
Starts with I, ends with OICKYPOO→
82D
TV journalist Kotb (4)
Starts with H, ends with AHODA→
83D
What wavy lines in comic strips represent (5)
Starts with O, ends with SODORS→
84D
"I can't believe what I'm seeing!" facial reaction (7)
Starts with B, ends with SBUGEYES→
86D
Became real, as bad news (6)
Starts with S, ends with NSANKIN→
88D
Southwestern culinary fusion (6)
Starts with C, ends with XCALMEX→
90D
Pigpen (3)
Starts with S, ends with YSTY→
93D
Macbeth or Macduff (4)
Starts with S, ends with TSCOT→
94D
Bygone iPhone button (4)
Starts with H, ends with EHOME→
95D
Common 110-Across stressor (4)
Starts with A, ends with EACNE→
96D
Move around and around (4)
Starts with S, ends with RSTIR→
97D
Rapper with a feline-sounding name (4)
Starts with T, ends with ATYGA→
98D
Chest muscles, for short (4)
Starts with P, ends with SPECS→
100D
"This round's ___" (4)
Starts with O, ends with EONME→
101D
Effortless ways to advance (4)
Starts with B, ends with SBYES→
105D
Close of business? (3)
Starts with I, ends with CINC→
106D
66, for example: Abbr. (3)
Starts with R, ends with ERTE→
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 5, 2025?+
138 clues: 65 Across and 73 Down. The puzzle was constructed by John Kugelman and edited by Will Shortz.
What are some answers in today’s NYT Crossword?+
For example: Classic target of a troll (BILLYGOAT); Prized steed (ARAB); Little hellions (IMPS).
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.
