NYT Crossword hints and answer for September 28, 2025
Hints that get gradually more specific, then the answer if you need it. Nothing is revealed until you tap.
Clues140
Across71
Down69
TitleCentral Perk
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
Caveat ___ ("Buyer beware") (6)
Starts with E, ends with REMPTOR→
7A
Spice that's characteristic of Hungarian cooking (7)
Starts with P, ends with APAPRIKA→
14A
Marvel Comics mutant who can freeze his own body (6)
Starts with I, ends with NICEMAN→
20A
Arizona county or Indigenous people (6)
Starts with M, ends with EMOHAVE→
21A
Tries some water, say (7)
Starts with H, ends with PHASASIP→
22A
Like a win-win situation (6)
Starts with N, ends with ENOLOSE→
23A
___ law, concept in computing technology (6)
Starts with M, ends with SMOORES→
24A
Alternative to a nanny (7)
Starts with D, ends with EDAYCARE→
25A
Fire starters (6)
Starts with F, ends with SFLINTS→
26A
Contents of a flagon (3)
Starts with A, ends with EALE→
27A
Ole Miss athletes, to fans (4)
Starts with R, ends with SREBS→
30A
___ Scott, who the Supreme Court said was not free to sue for his freedom (4)
Starts with D, ends with DDRED→
32A
Org. not getting many happy returns? (3)
Starts with I, ends with SIRS→
33A
Remove surgically, as tissue (6)
Starts with A, ends with EABLATE→
35A
"They tell me …" (5)
Starts with I, ends with RIHEAR→
37A
Beethoven symphony originally intended to honor Napoleon (6)
Starts with E, ends with AEROICA→
39A
Class that might cause some high schoolers to blush (6)
Starts with H, ends with HHEALTH→
40A
Sprawling Indian metropolis (5)
Starts with D, ends with IDELHI→
41A
Like some bridges (6)
Starts with D, ends with LDENTAL→
42A
"Let me check on that" (6)
Starts with I, ends with KILLASK→
44A
Expiates, with "for" (6)
Starts with A, ends with SATONES→
46A
Man's name that's 49-Across plus a letter (4)
Starts with E, ends with NEVAN→
49A
Woman's name that's the first three letters of 46-Across (3)
Starts with E, ends with AEVA→
50A
Rap battle participants (3)
Starts with M, ends with SMCS→
53A
Tampa Bay athlete, in brief (3)
Starts with B, ends with CBUC→
54A
Twists off course, as a ship (4)
Starts with Y, ends with SYAWS→
59A
Exploited (4)
Starts with U, ends with DUSED→
60A
"Weekend Update" co-host Michael (3)
Starts with C, ends with ECHE→
61A
All over again (4)
Starts with A, ends with WANEW→
63A
___Guessr, hit online game whose players deduce locations from Google Street View images (3)
Starts with G, ends with OGEO→
64A
Where a hurricane forms (5)
Starts with O, ends with NOCEAN→
66A
Wish someone "Happy Birthday," perhaps (9)
Starts with S, ends with DSENDACARD→
69A
At dawn, say (5)
Starts with E, ends with YEARLY→
71A
Mammal with long whiskers (6)
Starts with W, ends with SWALRUS→
74A
They stand for art (6)
Starts with E, ends with SEASELS→
75A
Called (6)
Starts with T, ends with DTERMED→
77A
___ Day, Billie Holiday's portrayer in "The United States vs. Billie Holiday" (5)
Starts with A, ends with AANDRA→
78A
Celebrity chef Ina (6)
Starts with G, ends with NGARTEN→
79A
Demanding entertainer (4)
Starts with D, ends with ADIVA→
82A
He was né Clay (3)
Starts with A, ends with IALI→
83A
Watchdog's warning (3)
Starts with G, ends with RGRR→
84A
Words of understanding (4)
Starts with I, ends with EISEE→
86A
Outback baby (4)
Starts with J, ends with YJOEY→
87A
Familiar initialism coined by a U.S. Air Force captain (3)
Starts with U, ends with OUFO→
88A
Do-over at Wimbledon (3)
Starts with L, ends with TLET→
89A
Kind of sauce at a sushi bar (3)
Starts with E, ends with LEEL→
90A
Sewer in American history (4)
Starts with R, ends with SROSS→
91A
"Weekend Update" show, for short (3)
Starts with S, ends with LSNL→
92A
Zipped (4)
Starts with S, ends with DSPED→
93A
Like some alcohol … or places that prohibit alcohol (3)
Starts with D, ends with YDRY→
94A
Not present and not excused, for short (4)
Starts with A, ends with LAWOL→
96A
Foreign policy grp. (3)
Starts with N, ends with CNSC→
97A
Brezhnev of the Soviet Union (6)
Starts with L, ends with DLEONID→
99A
Cherokee and Cheyenne (6)
Starts with T, ends with STRIBES→
101A
108A
Starbucks competitor (5)
Starts with P, ends with SPEETS→
109A
Spot for an ornament (7)
Starts with C, ends with DCARHOOD→
110A
Giants in California and New York (5)
Starts with T, ends with STEAMS→
112A
"Beat it!" (7)
Starts with A, ends with YAMSCRAY→
115A
Actor Wilson of "The Office" (5)
Starts with R, ends with NRAINN→
116A
Rye, e.g. (7)
Starts with W, ends with YWHISKEY→
118A
"Wouldn't miss it for the world!" (7)
Starts with I, ends with EIMTHERE→
119A
Like slow filers and fast drivers, at times (5)
Starts with F, ends with DFINED→
120A
Furniture retailer owned by Williams-Sonoma (7)
Starts with W, ends with MWESTELM→
121A
Lives (in) (7)
Starts with R, ends with SRESIDES→
122A
Iditarod transports (5)
Starts with S, ends with SSLEDS→
123A
Involves (7)
Starts with E, ends with SENTAILS→
Down
1D
3D
Fly-catching bird with a name derived from Greek (6)
Starts with P, ends with EPHOEBE→
4D
Driveway goo (3)
Starts with T, ends with RTAR→
5D
As a whole (7)
Starts with O, ends with LOVERALL→
6D
Moves elsewhere (9)
Starts with R, ends with SRESETTLES→
7D
Tenured profs, often (4)
Starts with P, ends with SPHDS→
8D
Small battery … or an org. that might help with a battery (3)
Starts with A, ends with AAAA→
9D
It's all in your head (6)
Starts with P, ends with EPSYCHE→
10D
Mother of Joseph and Benjamin, in the Bible (6)
Starts with R, ends with LRACHEL→
11D
Book after Song of Solomon (6)
Starts with I, ends with HISAIAH→
12D
French cocktail made with crème de cassis (3)
Starts with K, ends with RKIR→
13D
Mirrored (4)
Starts with A, ends with DAPED→
14D
Reasoned conclusion (9)
Starts with I, ends with EINFERENCE→
15D
Brewski (7)
Starts with C, ends with ECOLDONE→
16D
Bulldog fan in Connecticut (3)
Starts with E, ends with IELI→
17D
Santa ___ (6)
Starts with M, ends with AMONICA→
18D
Stellar (6)
Starts with A, ends with LASTRAL→
19D
Van ___ Avenue, thoroughfare in San Francisco (4)
Starts with N, ends with SNESS→
28D
Minds one's P's and Q's (7)
Starts with B, ends with SBEHAVES→
31D
Contribute (to), as one's reputation (7)
Starts with R, ends with DREDOUND→
34D
Been asleep, say (4)
Starts with L, ends with NLAIN→
35D
Texter's "Beats me" (3)
Starts with I, ends with KIDK→
36D
Small inlet (3)
Starts with R, ends with ARIA→
43D
One-named singer born in Nigeria (4)
Starts with S, ends with ESADE→
45D
Skier's conveyance (4)
Starts with T, ends with RTBAR→
46D
Online site for D.I.Y.ers (4)
Starts with E, ends with WEHOW→
47D
Time out, perhaps (8)
Starts with V, ends with NVACATION→
48D
Info commonly shown on a board game box (8)
Starts with A, ends with LAGELEVEL→
50D
Clown around with food? (8)
Starts with M, ends with DMCDONALD→
51D
City SE of Phoenix (8)
Starts with C, ends with RCHANDLER→
52D
Purpose of some cameras (8)
Starts with S, ends with YSECURITY→
55D
Reaches a shared opinion about (8)
Starts with A, ends with NAGREESON→
56D
Holistic contentment (8)
Starts with W, ends with SWELLNESS→
57D
Some beans or sauces (4)
Starts with S, ends with SSOYS→
59D
"E pluribus ___" (4)
Starts with U, ends with MUNUM→
65D
Matrix (5)
Starts with A, ends with YARRAY→
67D
Sun bloc? (3)
Starts with N, ends with ANBA→
68D
Pretty ___ picture (3)
Starts with A, ends with AASA→
70D
Moving around (5)
Starts with A, ends with RASTIR→
72D
Attack (7)
Starts with S, ends with NSETUPON→
74D
You can put a ring on it (7)
Starts with E, ends with EEARLOBE→
78D
Came back, as hair (6)
Starts with G, ends with NGREWIN→
79D
Music's Fatboy Slim and David Guetta, informally (3)
Starts with D, ends with SDJS→
81D
Error message on a Blu-ray device (6)
Starts with N, ends with CNODISC→
83D
Targeted (to) (6)
Starts with G, ends with DGEARED→
85D
Key for a quick exit (3)
Starts with E, ends with CESC→
92D
Boils with rage (7)
Starts with S, ends with DSEESRED→
95D
Liberal-leaning (7)
Starts with L, ends with TLEFTIST→
97D
Chinese "nut" that's really a fruit (6)
Starts with L, ends with ILITCHI→
98D
Makes small in comparison (6)
Starts with D, ends with SDWARFS→
99D
Government debt obligations, familiarly (6)
Starts with T, ends with STBONDS→
100D
40 winks (6)
Starts with S, ends with ASIESTA→
101D
___ fatale (5)
Starts with F, ends with EFEMME→
102D
Gets 40 winks (5)
Starts with R, ends with SRESTS→
103D
Letter-shaped train track piece (5)
Starts with I, ends with LIRAIL→
104D
"To ___ own self be true" (5)
Starts with T, ends with ETHINE→
105D
Sharpened (5)
Starts with H, ends with DHONED→
106D
George of "Star Trek" (5)
Starts with T, ends with ITAKEI→
107D
Bad thing to discover in the pantry (5)
Starts with S, ends with LSMELL→
108D
AA or JJ, e.g. (4)
Starts with P, ends with RPAIR→
111D
Jazz singer Sylvia ___ (4)
Starts with S, ends with SSYMS→
113D
Come to (3)
Starts with A, ends with EARE→
114D
"For sure" (3)
Starts with Y, ends with SYES→
116D
Org. that merged with the U.F.C. in 2023 (3)
Starts with W, ends with EWWE→
117D
Kind of party (3)
Starts with H, ends with NHEN→
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 28, 2025?+
140 clues: 71 Across and 69 Down. The puzzle was constructed by Rich Katz and edited by Will Shortz.
What are some answers in today’s NYT Crossword?+
For example: Caveat ___ ("Buyer beware") (EMPTOR); Spice that's characteristic of Hungarian cooking (PAPRIKA); Marvel Comics mutant who can freeze his own body (ICEMAN).
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.
