NYT Crossword Answers Today: July 31, 2026

Searching for the NYT Crossword answers today? If today’s New York Times Crossword has a few clues standing in the way, this guide has everything needed to finish the puzzle.

Below, you’ll find a spoiler-light overview, followed by hints for every Across and Down clue before revealing the complete answers. Whether only one square is missing or the entire grid needs solving, today’s guide for July 31, 2026 covers every clue in order.

31 July 2026 – NYT Crossword overview

Today’s crossword offers a balanced challenge with a clever central theme that gradually becomes apparent as more of the grid is completed. Several clues rely on wordplay and misdirection, while a handful of modern abbreviations and pop culture references may slow down even experienced solvers.

The puzzle is approachable for regular crossword players but still contains enough tricky clues to make the final solve satisfying. Looking for hints first? Start with the sections below before scrolling to the complete answers.

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NYT Crossword Across hints and answers for July 31, 2026

Start with the hint if you’d like to keep solving on your own. The answer is listed directly underneath.

No.	Clue	Hint	Answer
1	Withholding something?	Holding back a reset	RESET
4	It’ll pass!	Computer networking term	SHARED
7	Silent type	Quiet communication	HOP
11	Sex work?	Biological classification	EXTRA
14	Screen name	Country in Europe	KOSOVO
15	Tennis feat involving four consecutive major tournament wins in two calendar years	Historic tennis achievement	APT
16	Grime	Dirt	CHARLIE SHEEN
17	Honey, for example	Sweet substance	RHO
18	Energy source for distance runners	Stored fuel	TANK
20	World Economic Forum, e.g., for short	Nongovernmental organization	NGO
21	Tripping	Falling	ON LSD
22	Style secured with a scrunchie	Hair look	PONYTAIL
24	Tobiko or masago	Fish roe	ROE
25	Twists of fate, say	Unexpected developments	UPS AND DOWNS
28	Pharyngitis docs	Ear, nose and throat specialists	ENTS
30	Exuding joy	Happy expression	ALL SMILES
31	Went hell for leather	Charged ahead	TORE
33	Cry when shaking hands	Greeting	DEAL
34	“This is too much”	“I can’t even!”	I CAN’T EVEN
37	Blind component	Window covering	SLAT
41	Wiseacre	Know-it-all	SMARTYPANTS
43	What a closed fist with an extended index finger represents, in A.S.L.	Handshape	ONE
44	Where to be above all the drama?	Golf practice area	GOLF RANGE
45	Pierre : French :: ___ : Russian	Russian name equivalent	LONDON
47	Maryland governor Moore	Wes	WES
48	Perspective, for short	Point of view	POV
49	Casual Friday option	Sneakers	SNEAKER
51	Result of a shopping spree	Haul	HAUL
53	Highly flexible discipline?	Contortion sport	AERIAL YOGA
55	Brazilian state whose name is a unit of measurement	Acre	ACRE
56	Relative of a tumbler	Drinking glass	TRAVEL MUG
57	Cuisine with tom kha kai	Southeast Asian cuisine	THAI
58	Business with lockers	Gym	SPA
59	All good	Everything’s fine	SET

NYT Crossword Down hints and answers for July 31, 2026

No.	Clue	Hint	Answer
1	Palm-sized pastry	Fried turnover	EMPANADA
2	Assenting chorus	Group agreement	YESSES
3	Shangri-La	Paradise	EDEN
4	Make one	Create	SHAPE
5	Seat of Fulton County: Abbr.	Georgia city	ATL
6	British counterpart to “Shark Tank”	TV business show	DRAGONS’ DEN
7	Just OK, in modern lingo	Average	MID
8	“Mind. Blown.”	Internet reaction	OMG
9	Part of Fermat’s copy of Arithmetica where he wrote his Last Theorem	Margin	MARGIN
10	Glorifies	Exalts	EXALTS
11	Into	Fond of	ENTO
12	Tech mogul Altman	OpenAI CEO	SAM
13	Change for a bill	Cash exchange	TEN
15	Reproductive part of a fern	Spore	SPORE
19	Youngest Bennet sister in Pride and Prejudice	Jane Austen character	LYDIA
22	Patrick, to SpongeBob	Best friend	PAL
23	Rings	Calls	DIALS
26	Venue for events that guests are always on board to attend?	Cruise ship	CRUISE LINER
27	Some all-nighters	Study sessions	CRAMS
29	“Yellow Submarine” lead vocalist	Beatle	RINGO
32	Ready to go	Set	SET
34	Censure, in a way	Reprimand	SCOLD
35	Formal pause in a line of poetry	Caesura	CAESURA
36	Certain shot, colloquially	Easy basket	LAYUP
38	“Heads up!”	Warning	LOOK OUT
39	Insect product in the salad yum khai mod daeng	Ant eggs	ANT EGGS
40	___ incognita	Latin phrase	TERRA
41	“And …?”	Continue?	MEAN?
42	Brief periods	Short times	DAYS
46	Self-congratulation	Pat on the back	PATSY
49	Hindu deity depicted with four arms	Shiva or Vishnu	SIVA
50	Denial in Aberdeen	Scottish “no”	OCH
52	Chain that can symbolize friendship	Daisy chain	DAISY
54	Genre for Logic	Rap	RAP

Tips for solving the NYT Crossword

Even if today’s crossword proved difficult, a few strategies can make future puzzles much easier.

• Fill in the shortest clues first to build crossing letters.
• Skip clues that seem impossible and return later with more letters in place.
• Watch for question marks, as they often signal puns or wordplay.
• Look for common crossword abbreviations, initials, and shortened forms.
• Don’t ignore theme clues, as they often unlock multiple answers throughout the puzzle.
• Use crossing answers to verify uncertain guesses instead of forcing words that don’t fit.

Consistently solving a few puzzles each week also helps build familiarity with recurring clue styles commonly used in the NYT Crossword.

Final thoughts

The NYT Crossword for July 31, 2026 delivers another enjoyable daily challenge with a satisfying mix of straightforward clues, clever wordplay, and a memorable theme. Whether only a couple of answers were needed or the complete solution was required, hopefully this guide helped finish today’s puzzle.

Be sure to check back tomorrow for another complete set of NYT Crossword hints and answers, including spoiler-free clues followed by the full solution.