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 September 17, 2026 covers every clue in order.
17 September 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.
NYT Crossword Across hints and answers for September 17, 2026
Start with the hint if you’d like to keep solving on your own. The answer is listed directly underneath.
| No. | Clue | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1A | Buds | MACS |
| 5A | Concealer for the face | MASK |
| 9A | Pre-K building blocks | ABCS |
| 13A | Plant that thrives in a terra-cotta pot | ALOE |
| 14A | Stick it to your rival! | EPEE |
| 15A | Bring in | REAP |
| 16A | Twill-woven worsted wool garment | KILT |
| 17A | Fix, in a way | SPAY |
| 18A | Purple bubble tea flavor | TARO |
| 19A | Annual e-sport fighting competition, in brief | EVO |
| 20A | Short sidekick? | ASST |
| 21A | Chocolatier with the tagline “Life is a ball” | LINDT |
| 22A | Dub over? | RENAME |
| 24A | Cuatro y dos | SEIS |
| 26A | Business magnate Condé | NAST |
| 28A | Promising places? | ALTARS |
| 32A | Ferry or wherry | BOAT |
| 35A | Start of an incantation | ABRA |
| 37A | Pastoral sound | MOO |
| 38A | Web design feature that may cycle back to earlier sections … or a hint to this puzzle’s theme | INFINITE SCROLL |
| 42A | Inspired stuff | AIR |
| 43A | Pro device | IPAD |
| 44A | ___ out a win | EKED |
| 45A | Bond alternatives | STOCKS |
| 47A | “… ___ no one ever” | SAID |
| 50A | Edge jump in figure skating | LOOP |
| 52A | Scenes on Black Friday | CROWDS |
| 56A | Kaitlin of “Hacks” | OLSON |
| 59A | Pawn | HOCK |
| 61A | Addendum to the five W’s | HOW |
| 62A | Female antelopes | DOES |
| 63A | “‘___’ is the thing with feathers” (Emily Dickinson poem) | HOPE |
| 64A | Woodsy scent | PINE |
| 65A | Top of a mosque, often | DOME |
| 66A | Column in decimal notation | ONES |
| 67A | Central Plains people | OTOE |
| 68A | Losing streak | SKID |
| 69A | Column in decimal notation | TENS |
| 70A | Cheeky | PERT |
NYT Crossword Down hints and answers for September 17, 2026
| No. | Clue | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1D | — | MAKER |
| 2D | — | ALIVE |
| 3D | — | COLON |
| 4D | — | SET |
| 5D | — | MESSES |
| 6D | — | APPS |
| 7D | — | SEATS |
| 8D | — | KEY |
| 9D | — | ARTIST |
| 10D | — | BEAN |
| 11D | — | CARD |
| 12D | — | SPOT |
| 20D | Reddit Q&A sesh | AMA |
| 21D | Purple shade | LILAC |
| 23D | Prefix with body or bacterial | ANTI |
| 25D | Side mirrors on a car, anthropomorphically | EARS |
| 27D | “Toodle-oo!” | TATA |
| 29D | One way to run | AMOK |
| 30D | Actors like biting into a juicy one | ROLE |
| 31D | On board, say | SOLD |
| 32D | Pollster’s concern | BIAS |
| 33D | “Handling this as we speak” | ON IT |
| 34D | Hairstyle that you’ve picked out? | AFRO |
| 36D | Kings and queens, e.g. | BEDS |
| 39D | Canon competitor | NIKON |
| 40D | ___ facto | IPSO |
| 41D | Makeover | REDO |
| 46D | Film production environment for an intimate scene, perhaps | CLOSED SET |
| 48D | Digital security credential | ACCESS KEY |
| 49D | Get to | IRK |
| 51D | Telegram and Simple Dialer, for two | PHONE APPS |
| 53D | Cannellini, e.g. | WHITE BEAN |
| 54D | Organ-related item in a wallet | DONOR CARD |
| 55D | Perfect place | SWEET SPOT |
| 56D | Expert employed by a sportsbook | ODDS MAKER |
| 57D | “Show me some real effort!” | LOOK ALIVE |
| 58D | It’s not a full stop | SEMICOLON |
| 60D | Room in the audience up for grabs | OPEN SEATS |
| 63D | Absolute train wrecks | HOT MESSES |
| 64D | Andy Warhol, e.g. | POP ARTIST |
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 September 17, 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.
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