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 20, 2026 covers every clue in order.
20 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 20, 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 | Special-ordered | CUSTOM |
| 7A | Sections of a circle’s circumference | ARCS |
| 11A | NASCAR stat that varies widely by venue | LAP TIME |
| 18A | Banderas of 2024’s “Babygirl” | ANTONIO |
| 20A | Coaster feature, maybe | LOOP |
| 21A | Assembles in proper order | COLLATES |
| 22A | Mar, as a reputation | TARNISH |
| 23A | See 25-Across | FOUR |
| 24A | Maligns | ASPERSES |
| 25A | With 23-Across, March Madness tournament round | SWEET TWO |
| 27A | Mouths (off) | SPOUTS |
| 29A | Pact that preceded the U.S.M.C.A. | NAFTA |
| 30A | Burnable bog stuff | PEAT |
| 31A | Burnt chimney stuff | SOOT |
| 33A | High-speed Olympic sport | LUGE |
| 34A | See 37-Across | TWO |
| 35A | One who might have perfect pitch? | AD MAN |
| 37A | With 34-Across, full extent of something | WHOLE THREE YARDS |
| 43A | “Holy moly!” | GOD |
| 45A | Defensive player who keeps an eye on the QB, in football lingo | SPY |
| 46A | Red-coated cheese | EDAM |
| 47A | “___ funny!” | TOO |
| 48A | Bigwig | HOTSHOT |
| 52A | Own (up) | FESS |
| 55A | It’s off the wall! | RICOCHET |
| 57A | “Red” or “1989,” to Swifties | ERA |
| 58A | Buck ___, first African American coach in Major League Baseball | O’NEIL |
| 60A | Extremely soft, in music: Abbr. | PPP |
| 62A | See 64-Across | THREE |
| 63A | Chew the fat | YAK |
| 64A | With 62-Across, Beatles classic with the lyric “Will you still need me / Will you still feed me” | WHEN I’M FOUR |
| 67A | Noted exile isle | ELBA |
| 69A | Energy-efficient bulb, for short | LED |
| 71A | ___ orange, tree whose fruit has a brainlike appearance | OSAGE |
| 72A | Native Nebraskans | OTOES |
| 75A | See 78-Across | SIX |
| 76A | Author who purportedly drew inspiration from a filing cabinet labeled “O-Z” | BAUM |
| 78A | With 75-Across, “So very appreciated!” | THANKS A TEN |
| 81A | Hold up | ROB |
| 83A | Narnia or Neverland | REALM |
| 86A | Give it a whirl | TRY |
| 87A | Violinmaker of Cremona | AMATI |
| 88A | Letters from your folks? | DNA |
| 89A | “So cool!” | REAL NEAT |
| 92A | Follower of John in the New Testament | ACTS |
| 94A | Chef with “New New Orleans”-style cooking | LAGASSE |
| 96A | Greatest guy? | ALI |
| 97A | See 101-Across | ZERO |
| 98A | Vent | AIR |
| 100A | Part of SCOTUS | THE |
| 101A | With 97-Across, Vegas casino machine | NINE-ARMED BANDIT |
| 107A | No-cash deal | TRADE |
| 111A | Lay off | CAN |
| 112A | Culprit, in police lingo | PERP |
| 113A | Modern pentathlon equipment | EPEE |
| 115A | Metaphor for a too-hot room | OVEN |
| 116A | Actress Christine whose last name sounds like a pair of musical notes | LAHTI |
| 118A | Ill will | MALICE |
| 120A | Number written above and to the right of another number … as seen five times in this puzzle? | EXPONENT |
| 122A | Weigh down, and then some | OVERLOAD |
| 124A | Number with a 120-Across, mathematically | BASE |
| 126A | Armand of “American Gangster” | ASSANTE |
| 127A | Many mailbox stuffers | LOCAL ADS |
| 128A | Zest | ELAN |
| 129A | Iced tea request | NO SUGAR |
| 130A | Clumsy | AWKWARD |
| 131A | Move fast, as a cloud | SCUD |
| 132A | Road trip stopovers | MOTELS |
NYT Crossword Down hints and answers for September 20, 2026
| No. | Clue | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1D | Pampering place for a Persian | CAT SPA |
| 2D | Not impressed | UNAWED |
| 3D | Watch via Hulu, say | STREAM |
| 4D | Online forum qualifiers such as /j (“joking”) or /s (“sarcastic”) | TONE TAGS |
| 5D | “I’ll deal with this right now!” | ON IT |
| 6D | Keeps hydrated, as vegetables in the produce aisle | MISTS |
| 7D | Sitcom character from Melmac | ALF |
| 8D | Aussie animals | ROOS |
| 9D | Item | COUPLE |
| 10D | Alfalfa shoot | SPROUT |
| 11D | Stockholder’s setback | LOSS |
| 12D | Weisshorn or Finsteraarhorn | ALP |
| 13D | Not merely enough to go around | PLENTY MORE |
| 14D | Island containing Kiribati’s capital | TARAWA |
| 15D | “Don’t pay any mind to this” | IT’S FOR THE BIRDS |
| 16D | Zoom, e.g. | MEET |
| 17D | Feminine pronoun in Florence | ESSA |
| 19D | “Would you look at that!” | OH WOW |
| 21D | Wedding reception hiree | CATERER |
| 26D | Partner of aahs | OOHS |
| 28D | “So-o-o gross!” | UGH |
| 32D | A-one | TOP-FLIGHT |
| 36D | With nary a chance | NO HOW |
| 38D | Ingredient in some hair relaxers | LYE |
| 39D | Make a long story short, say | EDIT |
| 40D | Individually | EACH |
| 41D | Female rabbit | DOE |
| 42D | Elbow-bender | SOT |
| 44D | Popular singer of the Hawaiian folk song “Pearly Shells” | DON HO |
| 48D | “Sup!” | HEY |
| 49D | Sonicare competitor | ORAL-B |
| 50D | Reschedule, so to speak | TAKE A RAIN CHECK |
| 51D | Things that drivers sometimes leave behind? | TEES |
| 53D | Letters on a lip balm tube | SPF |
| 54D | Scare stiff | SPOOK |
| 56D | Some old Disney collectibles | CELS |
| 59D | Arriving by | IN AT |
| 61D | Tables | PUTS ASIDE |
| 65D | Stiller’s comedic partner | MEARA |
| 66D | Incur a cellphone surcharge, perhaps | ROAM |
| 68D | Electrical impulse transmitters | AXONS |
| 70D | Face off | DUEL |
| 73D | Catchall abbr. | ET AL. |
| 74D | Priced to be, as bail | SET AT |
| 77D | Fortified wine from Spain | MANZANILLA |
| 79D | Home of NoHo and SoHo | NYC |
| 80D | “Catch ya in the morn!” | NIGHT |
| 82D | Main squeeze, in newer slang | BAE |
| 84D | Lascivious look | LEER |
| 85D | Old-timey teacher | MARM |
| 89D | Sped or bled … or led | RAN |
| 90D | ___ Lilly (Mounjaro maker) | ELI |
| 91D | Pointe shoe accessories | TOE PADS |
| 93D | Amy who wrote “Saving Fish From Drowning” | TAN |
| 95D | Balloon pilot, say | AERONAUT |
| 99D | Worth a pick? | RIPE |
| 102D | Stick to simple and unprocessed foods, say | EAT RAW |
| 103D | State with only three counties: Abbr. | DEL. |
| 104D | Illegal offerings | BRIBES |
| 105D | High-level H.S. class with derivatives | AP CALC |
| 106D | Star football player? | TEXAN |
| 108D | Get even for | AVENGE |
| 109D | Kind of insurance for bridges | DENTAL |
| 110D | Types in | ENTERS |
| 114D | Surrey’s Derby town | EPSOM |
| 116D | Singer/dancer/actress Falana | LOLA |
| 117D | Say for sure | AVOW |
| 118D | Org. supporting sobriety checkpoints | MADD |
| 119D | Father of five sons in the Bible | ESAU |
| 121D | ___ buco | OSSO |
| 123D | Adornment on a boathouse wall | OAR |
| 125D | Heel, e.g. | END |
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 20, 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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