NYT Crossword hints and answer for September 20, 2026
Hints that get gradually more specific, then the answer if you need it. Nothing is revealed until you tap.
Clues140
Across68
Down72
TitleRise to the Power
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
Special-ordered (6)
Starts with C, ends with MCUSTOM→
7A
Sections of a circle's circumference (4)
Starts with A, ends with SARCS→
11A
NASCAR stat that varies widely by venue (7)
Starts with L, ends with ELAPTIME→
18A
Banderas of 2024's "Babygirl" (7)
Starts with A, ends with OANTONIO→
20A
Coaster feature, maybe (4)
Starts with L, ends with PLOOP→
21A
Assembles in proper order (8)
Starts with C, ends with SCOLLATES→
22A
Mar, as a reputation (7)
Starts with T, ends with HTARNISH→
23A
See 25-Across (4)
Starts with F, ends with RFOUR→
24A
Maligns (8)
Starts with A, ends with SASPERSES→
25A
With 23-Across, March Madness tournament round (8)
Starts with S, ends with OSWEETTWO→
27A
Mouths (off) (6)
Starts with S, ends with SSPOUTS→
29A
Pact that preceded the U.S.M.C.A. (5)
Starts with N, ends with ANAFTA→
30A
Burnable bog stuff (4)
Starts with P, ends with TPEAT→
31A
Burnt chimney stuff (4)
Starts with S, ends with TSOOT→
33A
High-speed Olympic sport (4)
Starts with L, ends with ELUGE→
34A
See 37-Across (3)
Starts with T, ends with OTWO→
35A
One who might have perfect pitch? (5)
Starts with A, ends with NADMAN→
37A
With 34-Across, full extent of something (15)
Starts with W, ends with SWHOLETHREEYARDS→
43A
"Holy moly!" (3)
Starts with G, ends with DGOD→
45A
Defensive player who keeps an eye on the QB, in football lingo (3)
Starts with S, ends with YSPY→
46A
Red-coated cheese (4)
Starts with E, ends with MEDAM→
47A
"___ funny!" (3)
Starts with T, ends with OTOO→
48A
Bigwig (7)
Starts with H, ends with THOTSHOT→
52A
Own (up) (4)
Starts with F, ends with SFESS→
55A
It's off the wall! (8)
Starts with R, ends with TRICOCHET→
57A
"Red" or "1989," to Swifties (3)
Starts with E, ends with AERA→
58A
Buck ___, first African American coach in Major League Baseball (5)
Starts with O, ends with LONEIL→
60A
Extremely soft, in music: Abbr. (3)
Starts with P, ends with PPPP→
62A
See 64-Across (5)
Starts with T, ends with ETHREE→
63A
Chew the fat (3)
Starts with Y, ends with KYAK→
64A
67A
Noted exile isle (4)
Starts with E, ends with AELBA→
69A
Energy-efficient bulb, for short (3)
Starts with L, ends with DLED→
71A
___ orange, tree whose fruit has a brainlike appearance (5)
Starts with O, ends with EOSAGE→
72A
Native Nebraskans (5)
Starts with O, ends with SOTOES→
75A
See 78-Across (3)
Starts with S, ends with XSIX→
76A
Author who purportedly drew inspiration from a filing cabinet labeled "O-Z" (4)
Starts with B, ends with MBAUM→
78A
With 75-Across, "So very appreciated!" (10)
Starts with T, ends with NTHANKSATEN→
81A
Hold up (3)
Starts with R, ends with BROB→
83A
Narnia or Neverland (5)
Starts with R, ends with MREALM→
86A
Give it a whirl (3)
Starts with T, ends with YTRY→
87A
Violinmaker of Cremona (5)
Starts with A, ends with IAMATI→
88A
Letters from your folks? (3)
Starts with D, ends with ADNA→
89A
"So cool!" (8)
Starts with R, ends with TREALNEAT→
92A
Follower of John in the New Testament (4)
Starts with A, ends with SACTS→
94A
Chef with "New New Orleans"-style cooking (7)
Starts with L, ends with ELAGASSE→
96A
Greatest guy? (3)
Starts with A, ends with IALI→
97A
See 101-Across (4)
Starts with Z, ends with OZERO→
100A
Part of SCOTUS (3)
Starts with T, ends with ETHE→
101A
With 97-Across, Vegas casino machine (15)
Starts with N, ends with TNINEARMEDBANDIT→
107A
No-cash deal (5)
Starts with T, ends with ETRADE→
111A
Lay off (3)
Starts with C, ends with NCAN→
112A
Culprit, in police lingo (4)
Starts with P, ends with PPERP→
113A
Modern pentathlon equipment (4)
Starts with E, ends with EEPEE→
115A
Metaphor for a too-hot room (4)
Starts with O, ends with NOVEN→
116A
Actress Christine whose last name sounds like a pair of musical notes (5)
Starts with L, ends with ILAHTI→
118A
Ill will (6)
Starts with M, ends with EMALICE→
120A
122A
Weigh down, and then some (8)
Starts with O, ends with DOVERLOAD→
124A
Number with a 120-Across, mathematically (4)
Starts with B, ends with EBASE→
126A
Armand of "American Gangster" (7)
Starts with A, ends with EASSANTE→
127A
Many mailbox stuffers (8)
Starts with L, ends with SLOCALADS→
129A
Iced tea request (7)
Starts with N, ends with RNOSUGAR→
130A
Clumsy (7)
Starts with A, ends with DAWKWARD→
131A
Move fast, as a cloud (4)
Starts with S, ends with DSCUD→
132A
Road trip stopovers (6)
Starts with M, ends with SMOTELS→
Down
1D
Pampering place for a Persian (6)
Starts with C, ends with ACATSPA→
2D
Not impressed (6)
Starts with U, ends with DUNAWED→
3D
Watch via Hulu, say (6)
Starts with S, ends with MSTREAM→
4D
Online forum qualifiers such as /j ("joking") or /s ("sarcastic") (8)
Starts with T, ends with STONETAGS→
5D
"I'll deal with this right now!" (4)
Starts with O, ends with TONIT→
6D
Keeps hydrated, as vegetables in the produce aisle (5)
Starts with M, ends with SMISTS→
7D
Sitcom character from Melmac (3)
Starts with A, ends with FALF→
8D
Aussie animals (4)
Starts with R, ends with SROOS→
10D
Alfalfa shoot (6)
Starts with S, ends with TSPROUT→
11D
Stockholder's setback (4)
Starts with L, ends with SLOSS→
12D
Weisshorn or Finsteraarhorn (3)
Starts with A, ends with PALP→
13D
Not merely enough to go around (10)
Starts with P, ends with EPLENTYMORE→
14D
Island containing Kiribati's capital (6)
Starts with T, ends with ATARAWA→
15D
"Don't pay any mind to this" (14)
Starts with I, ends with SITSFORTHEBIRDS→
16D
Zoom, e.g. (4)
Starts with M, ends with TMEET→
17D
Feminine pronoun in Florence (4)
Starts with E, ends with AESSA→
19D
"Would you look at that!" (5)
Starts with O, ends with WOHWOW→
21D
Wedding reception hiree (7)
Starts with C, ends with RCATERER→
26D
Partner of aahs (4)
Starts with O, ends with SOOHS→
28D
"So-o-o gross!" (3)
Starts with U, ends with HUGH→
32D
A-one (9)
Starts with T, ends with TTOPFLIGHT→
36D
With nary a chance (5)
Starts with N, ends with WNOHOW→
38D
Ingredient in some hair relaxers (3)
Starts with L, ends with ELYE→
39D
Make a long story short, say (4)
Starts with E, ends with TEDIT→
40D
Individually (4)
Starts with E, ends with HEACH→
41D
Female rabbit (3)
Starts with D, ends with EDOE→
42D
Elbow-bender (3)
Starts with S, ends with TSOT→
44D
Popular singer of the Hawaiian folk song "Pearly Shells" (5)
Starts with D, ends with ODONHO→
48D
"Sup!" (3)
Starts with H, ends with YHEY→
49D
Sonicare competitor (5)
Starts with O, ends with BORALB→
50D
Reschedule, so to speak (14)
Starts with T, ends with KTAKEARAINCHECK→
51D
Things that drivers sometimes leave behind? (4)
Starts with T, ends with STEES→
53D
Letters on a lip balm tube (3)
Starts with S, ends with FSPF→
54D
Scare stiff (5)
Starts with S, ends with KSPOOK→
56D
Some old Disney collectibles (4)
Starts with C, ends with SCELS→
59D
Arriving by (4)
Starts with I, ends with TINAT→
61D
Tables (9)
Starts with P, ends with EPUTSASIDE→
65D
Stiller's comedic partner (5)
Starts with M, ends with AMEARA→
66D
Incur a cellphone surcharge, perhaps (4)
Starts with R, ends with MROAM→
68D
Electrical impulse transmitters (5)
Starts with A, ends with SAXONS→
70D
Face off (4)
Starts with D, ends with LDUEL→
73D
Catchall abbr. (4)
Starts with E, ends with LETAL→
74D
Priced to be, as bail (5)
Starts with S, ends with TSETAT→
77D
Fortified wine from Spain (10)
Starts with M, ends with AMANZANILLA→
79D
Home of NoHo and SoHo (3)
Starts with N, ends with CNYC→
80D
"Catch ya in the morn!" (5)
Starts with N, ends with TNIGHT→
82D
Main squeeze, in newer slang (3)
Starts with B, ends with EBAE→
84D
Lascivious look (4)
Starts with L, ends with RLEER→
85D
Old-timey teacher (4)
Starts with M, ends with MMARM→
89D
Sped or bled ... or led (3)
Starts with R, ends with NRAN→
90D
___ Lilly (Mounjaro maker) (3)
Starts with E, ends with IELI→
91D
Pointe shoe accessories (7)
Starts with T, ends with STOEPADS→
93D
Amy who wrote "Saving Fish From Drowning" (3)
Starts with T, ends with NTAN→
95D
Balloon pilot, say (8)
Starts with A, ends with TAERONAUT→
99D
Worth a pick? (4)
Starts with R, ends with ERIPE→
102D
Stick to simple and unprocessed foods, say (6)
Starts with E, ends with WEATRAW→
103D
State with only three counties: Abbr. (3)
Starts with D, ends with LDEL→
104D
Illegal offerings (6)
Starts with B, ends with SBRIBES→
105D
High-level H.S. class with derivatives (6)
Starts with A, ends with CAPCALC→
106D
Star football player? (5)
Starts with T, ends with NTEXAN→
108D
Get even for (6)
Starts with A, ends with EAVENGE→
109D
Kind of insurance for bridges (6)
Starts with D, ends with LDENTAL→
110D
Types in (6)
Starts with E, ends with SENTERS→
114D
Surrey's Derby town (5)
Starts with E, ends with MEPSOM→
116D
Singer/dancer/actress Falana (4)
Starts with L, ends with ALOLA→
117D
Say for sure (4)
Starts with A, ends with WAVOW→
118D
Org. supporting sobriety checkpoints (4)
Starts with M, ends with DMADD→
119D
Father of five sons in the Bible (4)
Starts with E, ends with UESAU→
121D
___ buco (4)
Starts with O, ends with OOSSO→
123D
Adornment on a boathouse wall (3)
Starts with O, ends with ROAR→
125D
Heel, e.g. (3)
Starts with E, ends with DEND→
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 September 20, 2026?+
140 clues: 68 Across and 72 Down. The puzzle was constructed by Tracy Gray and edited by Will Shortz.
What are some answers in today’s NYT Crossword?+
For example: Special-ordered (CUSTOM); Sections of a circle's circumference (ARCS); NASCAR stat that varies widely by venue (LAPTIME).
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.
