NYT Crossword January 2 2025 Answers (1/2/25)

The New York Times Crossword for January 2, 2025, features a challenging set of clues designed to test your vocabulary and knowledge. If you’re finding yourself stuck, our guide to the answers will help you work through the puzzle. Known for its witty wordplay and difficulty, the NYT Crossword is a daily staple for puzzle enthusiasts worldwide. It appears both in the print edition of The New York Times and online.

If you’re struggling with a clue in the January 2, 2025 puzzle, we’ve provided a list of all the clues and their answers below. You can search for the specific clue you’re working on and find the solution without spoiling the others you’re still solving!

1A: First in a series NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: First (noun)

• The fielding position of the player stationed at the first base in the infield, moving counterclockwise from home plate.
• The designated time when something is expected to start.

Answer:

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Hint 2: First (adjective)

• Referring to the initial item in a sequence.
• Acting to initiate or start something.

5A: Pixel rival NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Rival (verb)

• To match or be on par with in quality or ability.
• To compete with, or be in opposition to.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Rival (noun)

• A competitor you aim to overcome or defeat.

10A: Snap NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Snap (verb)

• To move or strike with a sharp sound.
• To break or cause something to break suddenly.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Snap (noun)

• A casual photograph, typically taken with a small, hand-held camera.
• Tender green beans that break easily into sections.

14A: Average Joe’s name (that’s not Joe) NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Average (adjective)

• Lacking unique distinction, rank, or status; commonly found.
• Situated near the middle of a scale or evaluation.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Average (verb)

• To calculate the average of.
• To reach or result in an average, without any increase or decrease.

15A: Bases loaded, e.g. NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Loaded (adjective)

• Possessing a large amount of money or valuable possessions.
• Containing a vast quantity.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Anagram – Rearrange the letters below to solve today’s answer:

NOMEN

16A: Iris’s location NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Location (noun)

• The identification of the place where something is situated.
• The act of placing something in a specific spot.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Iris (noun)

• A diaphragm made of thin overlapping plates that can be adjusted to alter the size of a central opening.
• A type of plant with sword-shaped leaves and upright stalks that bear vibrant flowers, typically with three petals and three drooping sepals.

17A: Temporary cover of a sort NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (noun)

• A person who works (or provides workers) during a strike.
• The crust-like surface that forms on a healing skin lesion.

Answer:

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Hint 2: (verb)

• To replace someone on strike at their place of work.
• To form a scab.

18A: Epic with the line “Come, friend, you too must die” NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Friend (noun)

• A member of the Religious Society of Friends, founded by George Fox (the Friends themselves do not refer to as Quakers).
• A person who supports a politician, team, or cause.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Epic (adjective)

• Relating to or characteristic of a literary epic.
• Exceptionally grand or impressive, especially in size or scale, surpassing the ordinary.

19A: Festival covering NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (noun)

• A portable shelter, typically made of canvas, stretched over supporting poles and secured to the ground with ropes and pegs.
• A web that has a tent-like or carpet-like appearance.

Answer:

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Hint 2: (verb)

• To live in or as if in a tent.

20A: Start of a quip by comic Steven Wright NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Wright (noun)

• A prominent American architect (1869-1959).
• An American writer known for addressing the oppression of African Americans (1908-1960).

Answer:

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Hint 2: Start (verb)

• To take off or begin, especially in terms of movement or flight.
• To bulge or protrude outward.

23A: Summer abroad NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Summer (noun)

• The hottest season of the year, typically lasting from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox in the northern hemisphere.
• A time of peak growth, happiness, or beauty.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Summer (verb)

• To spend time during the summer season.

24A: Sounds of refreshment NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Refreshment (noun)

• An activity that rejuvenates and revitalizes, restoring your health and spirits through enjoyment and relaxation.
• Light snacks and beverages served as a simple meal.

Answer:

show

Hint 2: Anagram – Rearrange the letters below to solve today’s answer:

ASH

25A: King’s ___ NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (verb)

• To buy back or exchange for money, often under threat.

Answer:

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Hint 2: (noun)

• Money requested for the release of a captured person.
• A payment made for someone’s release.

27A: Adjust on the timeline NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Timeline (noun)

• A series of connected events arranged chronologically, typically displayed along a line (often left to right or top to bottom).

Answer:

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Hint 2: Adjust (verb)

• To adapt or adapt oneself to new or changing conditions.
• To arrange or position in a straight or parallel line.

29A: Pressure cooker sound NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (verb)

• To produce a sharp hissing sound, typically to show disapproval.
• To express or utter something with a hiss.

Answer:

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Hint 2: (noun)

• A fricative sound, often used to convey disapproval.
• A noise or cry made to express displeasure or contempt.

31A: Producer of an explosion NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Explosion (noun)

• A sudden and violent release of energy due to a chemical or nuclear reaction.
• The act of something exploding or bursting.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Producer (noun)

• A person who manufactures or creates something.
• A person who secures financing for and oversees the creation and presentation of a show, such as a play, film, program, or similar work.

32A: ___ Robinson, mother of Michelle Obama NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Robinson (noun)

• A U.S. historian (1863-1936) who emphasized the significance of intellectual and social events in shaping history.
• A U.S. prizefighter (1921-1989) who won the world middleweight championship five times and the world welterweight championship once.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Mother (verb)

• To produce offspring through reproduction.
• To care for or nurture someone as a mother would.

34A: Deep notes NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (noun)

• The lowest male adult singing voice.
• Any of several North American freshwater fish, particularly those of the genus Micropterus, known for their lean flesh.

Answer:

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Hint 2: (adjective)

• Referring to a low vocal or instrumental range.

35A: Middle of the quip … and a hint to eight squares in this puzzle NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Puzzle (verb)

• To be mysterious or confusing.
• To be uncertain about; to contemplate without fully understanding or reaching a decision.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Puzzle (noun)

• A challenging problem believed to have a correct solution.
• A game designed to test your creativity or problem-solving skills.

38A: French buds NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: French (noun)

• The people of France.
• A U.S. sculptor (1850-1931) known for creating the seated marble figure of Abraham Lincoln in the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C.

Answer:

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Hint 2: French (adjective)

• Relating to France or its people.

40A: Plotted NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Plotted (adjective)

• With planning and intention

Answer:

show

Hint 2: Answer used in the past:

• MAPPED (6 letters)

41A: Up to, informally NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Informally (adverb)

• With the use of colloquial expressions

Answer:

show

Hint 2: Anagram – Rearrange the letters below to solve today’s answer:

LIT

42A: Low pair NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Pair (noun)

• A set of two similar items considered together as a unit.
• Two things of the same kind.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Pair (verb)

• To arrange or organize in pairs.
• To form or group into pairs.

44A: Beyond cross NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Cross (verb)

• To intersect or meet at a specific point.
• To cover or extend across an area or time period.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Cross (adjective)

• Positioned or extending across; in a crosswise direction; perpendicular to the long axis.
• Feeling annoyed or irritable.

48A: Drink featured in the Elvis film “Blue Hawaii” NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Featured (adjective)

• Having specific facial features, often used in combination.
• Made a highlight or given special prominence.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Drink (verb)

• To propose a toast in celebration.
• To be captivated or engrossed by; to give close attention to.

50A: Govt. prosecutors NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (noun)

• Any of various small hoofed mammals from Africa and Asia, characterized by rodent-like incisors and feet with hoof-like toes.

Answer:

show

Hint 2: Anagram – Rearrange the letters below to solve today’s answer:

ADS

51A: Besides NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (adverb)

• In addition,
• to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits.

Answer:

show

Hint 2: Anagram – Rearrange the letters below to solve today’s answer:

OOT

52A: End of the quip NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Quip (verb)

• To make jokes or witty remarks.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Quip (noun)

• A clever or humorous remark.
• A witty saying.

56A: Actor Jannings NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Actor (noun)

• A person who takes action and accomplishes tasks.
• A performer in a theatrical production.

Answer:

show

Hint 2: Anagram – Rearrange the letters below to solve today’s answer:

LIME

57A: Youngest golfer to score below his age in a P.G.A. Tour event NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Golfer (noun)

• A person who plays the game of golf.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Score (noun)

• A written representation of a musical composition, with parts for different instruments displayed on separate staves.
• A strong feeling of resentment that justifies retaliation.

58A: White Sox or Red Sox player, informally NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Informally (adverb)

• Using casual or colloquial expressions.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Player (noun)

• A person who engages in an activity.
• Someone who participates in or is skilled at a game.

59A: Runner’s assignment NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Runner (noun)

• In football, the player carrying the ball and attempting to advance it during an offensive play.
• A type of fish found in the western Atlantic, from Cape Cod to Brazil.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Assignment (noun)

• A duty or task assigned to you, particularly in the armed forces.
• The act of distributing something to specific locations or individuals.

60A: Cricket segments NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Cricket (noun)

• A sport played with a bat and ball by two teams of 11 players, where teams take turns trying to score runs.
• A leaping insect, with males producing chirping sounds by rubbing their forewings together.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Cricket (verb)

• To engage in the game of cricket.

61A: Miller option NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Miller (noun)

• A machine tool in which metal is secured to a carriage and fed against rotating cutters to shape it.
• A U.S. novelist (1891-1980) whose works were initially banned for being considered pornographic.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Option (noun)

• The act of choosing or selecting.
• One of several possibilities from which only one can be chosen.

62A: Flower whose name means “flame” in ancient Greek NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Whose (pronoun)

• The possessive form of “who” or “which.”

Answer:

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Hint 2: Flower (verb)

• To produce or bloom flowers.

63A: Lead-in to maniac NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Maniac (noun)

• A person who is insane.
• Someone with an obsession or excessive enthusiasm for something.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Maniac (adjective)

• Wildly disordered or frenzied.

64A: Troublesome threes, e.g. NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Troublesome (adjective)

• Causing difficulty or annoyance

Answer:

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1D: “Jeopardy!” offering NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Offering (noun)

• The act of donating to a church or charity
• Something presented, such as a proposal or bid

Answer:

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Hint 2: Jeopardy (noun)

• A state of risk; the chance of experiencing harm or misfortune

2D: 12-time Olympic swimming medalist Ryan ___ NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Swimming (noun)

• The activity of swimming

Answer:

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Hint 2: Swimming (adjective)

• Overcome with tears
• Describing a fish shown horizontally

3D: Worn at the edges NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Worn (adjective)

• Showing the signs of overwork, worry, or suffering
• Worn out; damaged from prolonged use

Answer:

show

4D: Prefix with sexual NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Prefix (noun)

• An affix added at the beginning of a word

Answer:

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Hint 2: Prefix (verb)

• To add a prefix to

5D: Possible response to “Where are you?” NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Response (noun)

• The act of continuing a conversation
• A bodily reaction caused by a previous stimulus or agent

Answer:

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Hint 2: Possible (adjective)

• Able to exist or occur
• Capable of happening or being real

6D: Craft kit fabrics NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Craft (noun)

• Cleverness shown through skill in deception
• Individuals who engage in a specific type of skilled work

Answer:

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Hint 2: Craft (verb)

• To create by hand with great skill

7D: “Right away, boss!” NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Away (adverb)

• Out of sight or mind
• No longer in one’s possession

Answer:

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Hint 2: Away (adjective)

• (Of a baseball pitch) positioned on the far side of home plate from the batter
• Not present; having departed

8D: Comedian Trevor NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (noun)

• The Hebrew patriarch who protected himself, his family, and the animals by constructing an ark, in which they survived 40 days and nights of rain; the story of Noah and the flood is narrated in the Book of Genesis.

Answer:

show

Hint 2: Comedian (noun)

• A professional entertainer who tells jokes and performs humorous acts
• An actor in a comedic performance

9D: “___ Game” (1986 Hugo Award winner) NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Winner (noun)

• A person with a history of successes
• The contestant who claims victory in a contest

Answer:

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Hint 2: Award (verb)

• To give, especially as an honor or reward
• To grant based on merit or judgment

10D: Cot alternative NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Alternative (adjective)

• Serving as a substitute for another
• Requiring a choice between mutually exclusive options

Answer:

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Hint 2: Alternative (noun)

• One option among several, from which only one can be selected

11D: Wear out one’s welcome, say NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Welcome (verb)

• To greet someone upon arrival
• To accept with pleasure

Answer:

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Hint 2: Welcome (noun)

• A greeting or reception
• The feeling of being accepted or appreciated

12D: Achilles, for two NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Achilles (noun)

• A legendary Greek hero from the Iliad, known as the leading warrior during the siege of Troy. As a baby, his mother attempted to make him immortal by bathing him in a magical river, but the heel by which she held him remained vulnerable—giving rise to the term “Achilles’ heel.”

Answer:

show

Hint 2: Two (adjective)

• The number that is one more than one

13D: Muesli bit NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Muesli (noun)

• A blend of untoasted dry cereals and fruits

Answer:

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Hint 2: Bit (noun)

• An unspecified short period of time
• A small piece or fragment

21D: Underworld figure NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Figure (noun)

• An element that contributes to a system of numeration
• A diagram or image that complements textual content

Answer:

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Hint 2: Figure (verb)

• To consider something likely
• To be or play a role in something

22D: Is in the past NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Past (noun)

• A verb tense used to describe actions or states that occurred in the past
• The period of time that has already passed

Answer:

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Hint 2: Past (adverb)

• In a manner that moves beyond a specific point

26D: Chain parts: Abbr. NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Parts (noun)

• The surrounding environment

Answer:

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Hint 2: Chain (noun)

• A British biochemist (born in Germany) who isolated and purified penicillin, first discovered in 1928 by Sir Alexander Fleming (1906-1979)
• A necklace created by threading objects together

28D: Singer Tori NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (noun)

• An Old Testament book that contains the prophecies of Amos
• A Hebrew shepherd and a lesser-known prophet

Answer:

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Hint 2: Singer (noun)

• An American inventor who improved the chain-stitch sewing machine (1811-1875)
• An American writer (born in Poland) known for Yiddish stories and novels (1904-1991)

29D: Head liners? NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Head (noun)

• In computer science, a small electromagnetic coil and metal pole used to write and read magnetic patterns on a disk
• A person who is in charge

Answer:

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Hint 2: Head (verb)

• To be in charge of
• To lead a group and excel

30D: Choquequirao inhabitant NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (noun)

• The small group of Quechua people from the Cuzco Valley in Peru who gained dominance over their neighbors to form an empire that lasted from around 1100 until the Spanish conquest in the early 1530s
• A member of the Quechua people living in the Cuzco Valley in Peru

Answer:

show

Hint 2: Anagram – Rearrange the letters below to solve today’s answer:

CAIN

33D: “Let ___!” NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Manchuria (noun)

• A region in northeastern China

Answer:

show

Hint 2: Lighter-than-air (adjective)

• Pertaining to a balloon or other aircraft that flies due to its weight being less than the air it displaces

34D: Urban addr. specification NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Specification (noun)

• A detailed description of design requirements for a project
• A condition that must be met as part of an agreement

Answer:

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Hint 2: Urban (adjective)

• Relating to or characteristic of a city or city life

35D: Like cuisine with lumpia and longganisa NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Cuisine (noun)

• The method or style of preparing food, or the food prepared in this way

Answer:

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36D: “Looks that way, unfortunately” NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Unfortunately (adverb)

• By bad luck

Answer:

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37D: Minimal NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (adverb)

• Used to create the superlative form

Answer:

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Hint 2: (noun)

• Something that holds no significance

38D: Bread box? NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Bread (noun)

• Informal terms for money
• A food made from dough of flour or meal, typically leavened with yeast or baking powder and then baked

Answer:

show

Hint 2: Bread (verb)

• To coat with bread crumbs

39D: Noxious NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Noxious (adjective)

• Injurious to physical or mental health

Answer:

show

42D: “Qué ___?” (“How’s it going?,” in Spanish) NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Spanish (noun)

• The inhabitants of Spain
• The Romance language spoken predominantly in Spain and the countries colonised by Spain

Answer:

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Hint 2: Going (noun)

• The act of leaving
• Euphemistic terms for death

43D: Only U.S. president buried in Washington, D.C. NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: President (noun)

• The individual who leads meetings of an organisation
• The person who holds the position of head of state in the United States

Answer:

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Hint 2: Buried (adjective)

• Placed in a grave or tomb

45D: Home of Firenze NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Firenze (noun)

• A city in central Italy located on the Arno River, the provincial capital of Tuscany, and a centre of the Italian Renaissance from the 14th to the 16th centuries

Answer:

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Hint 2: Home (noun)

• (Baseball) The rubber slab where the batter stands, which must be touched by a base runner to score
• An institution providing care for people

46D: They have nine players NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: They (pronoun)

• The plural form of he, she, or it is they. They is never used as an adjective but always as a proper pronoun, and it can sometimes refer to people without a specified antecedent.

Answer:

show

Hint 2: Anagram – Rearrange the letters below to solve today’s answer:

SONNET

47D: Get released NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (verb)

• To be set free or escape a confinement.

Answer:

show

49D: Early text messager NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (noun)

• A character printer linked to a telegraph that functions like a typewriter

Answer:

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Hint 2: (verb)

• To communicate via telex

50D: One of a Disney septet NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Disney (noun)

• An American filmmaker who pioneered animated cartoons and created characters like Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck; founder of Disneyland (1901-1966)

Answer:

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Hint 2: Septet (noun)

• A group of seven performers or singers who perform together
• The number equal to six plus one

53D: Root of resentment, at timesNYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (noun)

• Spite and resentment at witnessing the success of another (personified as one of the deadly sins)
• A feeling of reluctant admiration and a desire to possess something that belongs to another

Answer:

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Hint 2: (verb)

• To feel envy towards; to long for
• To admire with envy

54D: Reckon NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (verb)

• Keep in mind or convey as a conviction or view

Answer:

show

Hint 2: Anagram – Rearrange the letters below to solve today’s answer:

DEME

55D: Word before and after an ampersand, in the grocery NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Ampersand (noun)

• A punctuation symbol (&) used to denote the conjunction “and.”

Answer:

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Hint 2: Grocery (noun)

• A market where food and other household items are sold, or the goods sold by a grocer.

56D: Maker of toys for girls and boys NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Maker (noun)

• A company involved in the production of a particular product.
• Terms that refer to the God of the Judeo-Christian tradition.

Answer:

show