Crossword clue

“Showing tough love, say”

This clue appeared as 31-Across in the NYT Crossword on Saturday, September 27, 2025. The answer has 5 letters.

Answer · 5 lettersFirst appearance
STERN
Letters5
Starts withS
Ends withN
Vowels1

Where this clue has appeared

About this clue

The clue “Showing tough love, say” ran in the NYT Crossword on September 27, 2025 as 31-Across. Its answer is a 5-letter word that starts with S and ends with N, with only 1 vowel, so think abbreviations or consonant clusters.

See every answer from the puzzle on the NYT Crossword page for September 27, 2025, 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 “Showing tough love, say” clue?+

The answer is STERN (5 letters), from the NYT Crossword of September 27, 2025.

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 September 27, 2025, or browse every date on the NYT Crossword hub.