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 29, 2026 covers every clue in order.
29 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 29, 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 | Big ones can be difficult to manage | EGOS |
| 5A | Urge | PROD |
| 9A | British John | ELTON |
| 14A | Nincompoop | DOPE |
| 15A | Surrounding glow | AURA |
| 16A | Who “wants to be defeated” in “Beat It” | NO ONE |
| 17A | Where some monster home runs land | UPPER DECK |
| 19A | Language of the Vikings | NORSE |
| 20A | Rich deposits of ore | LODES |
| 21A | Home of the Buckeyes, for short | OSU |
| 23A | Muslim holiday, informally | EID |
| 24A | Scoped out with intent to rob | CASED |
| 25A | Pretty long time, in an idiom | HOT MINUTE |
| 28A | Battery fill | ACID |
| 29A | Capital of Yemen | SANAA |
| 30A | Copied | APED |
| 31A | “You ___!” (“Absolutely!”) | BET |
| 32A | Terse | CURT |
| 33A | “I ___ U” (candy heart message) | LUV |
| 35A | Another plateful from the buffet, say | SECOND HELPING |
| 40A | Deposit/withdrawal site, in brief | ATM |
| 41A | Board appointee, for short | EXEC |
| 42A | Work unit | ERG |
| 44A | Chief god of Valhalla | ODIN |
| 47A | European viper | ADDER |
| 49A | Greek goddess of the earth | GAEA |
| 50A | Position of Rickey Henderson in M.L.B. | LEFT FIELD |
| 52A | Storage units | BYTES |
| 53A | Dad on “Black-ish” | DRE |
| 54A | Pablo Neruda’s “___ to My Socks” | ODE |
| 55A | Indie rock singer ___ O | KAREN |
| 56A | Couch | DIVAN |
| 58A | Wedding officiant’s directive … or what both halves of 17-, 25-, 35- and 50-Across do? | JOIN HANDS |
| 62A | Unconcealed | OVERT |
| 63A | Toll unit on some roads | AXLE |
| 64A | Tour de France entry | TEAM |
| 65A | “Cooties” | GERMS |
| 66A | Hitch up on a farm | YOKE |
| 67A | Ice cream brand that’s a cousin of Dreyer’s | EDY’S |
NYT Crossword Down hints and answers for September 29, 2026
| No. | Clue | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1D | Address ending that’s not .com, .org or .gov | EDU |
| 2D | Reach great heights in life | GO PLACES |
| 3D | Like black and white | OPPOSITE |
| 4D | Numbered in a tournament bracket | SEEDED |
| 5D | Always at the pharmacy? | PADS |
| 6D | Regret | RUE |
| 7D | Middle-earth foe | ORC |
| 8D | ___ Territory, 1861–89 | DAKOTA |
| 9D | Ho-hum feeling | ENNUI |
| 10D | British john | LOO |
| 11D | Ripped to pieces | TORE UP |
| 12D | Like not-work-from-home days | ON SITE |
| 13D | Had to have | NEEDED |
| 18D | Visibly embarrassed, say | RED |
| 22D | Like subcompacts vis-à-vis compacts | SMALLER |
| 24D | What can travel a fare distance? | CAB |
| 25D | Brain-busting | HARD |
| 26D | Just between us | ON THE DL |
| 27D | Blue race in “Avatar” | NAVI |
| 29D | Raisin brand whose containers feature a girl in a red bonnet | SUN-MAID |
| 32D | Hotel request | COT |
| 34D | Scanned lines, for short | UPC |
| 36D | “If you ___ stand the heat …” | CAN’T |
| 37D | Crossed (out) | EXED |
| 38D | Made nice? | NEATENED |
| 39D | Band with the 6x platinum album “American Idiot” | GREEN DAY |
| 43D | Pit stop refill | GAS |
| 44D | Subject of a saying about new tricks | OLD DOG |
| 45D | Infer (from) | DERIVE |
| 46D | Perhaps not at all | IF EVER |
| 48D | Spinner of tunes | DEEJAY |
| 49D | Move like Shakira in her “Hips Don’t Lie” video | GYRATE |
| 51D | Courier and Century Gothic, for two | FONTS |
| 52D | “Nuts!” | BAH |
| 55D | Achy joint for a floor installer, perhaps | KNEE |
| 57D | Pitcher’s asset | ARM |
| 59D | Kitchen brand that could be an unsuccessful tic-tac-toe line | OXO |
| 60D | Sort | ILK |
| 61D | Texting format, for short | SMS |
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 29, 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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