NYT Crossword December 23 2024 Answers (12/23/24)

Our NYT Crossword December 23, 2024, answers guide is here to help you complete today’s puzzle if you’re stuck on any clues. The NYT Crossword is a daily challenge that tests solvers’ knowledge and vocabulary. It’s one of the most popular crosswords worldwide, known for its tough clues and witty wordplay. The puzzle is published in The New York Times’ print edition and is also available online.

NYT Crossword December 23, 2024 Answers

If you need assistance with the NYT Crossword for 12/23/24, we’ve listed all the clues below so you can easily find the answers you need. You can search for the specific clue and select it to view the answer. We’ve arranged it this way so you can focus on just a few clues at a time without spoiling the ones you’re still working on!

1A: Christmas baubles, often NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Christmas (noun)

• The period lasting from December 24 to January 6.
• A Christian holiday commemorating the birth of Christ, and a quarter day in England, Wales, and Ireland.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Often (adverb)

• Often or in large amounts.
• Repeatedly at short intervals.

5A: Ontario-based network that aired “Schitt’s Creek” NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (noun)

• The process of measuring the quantity of white and red blood cells, as well as platelets, in one cubic millimeter of blood.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Network (noun)

• A mesh or net made of string, rope, or wire woven at regular intervals.
• In electronics, a network of interconnected components or circuits.

8A: Billiards bounces NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Billiards (noun) 

• Any of various games played on a rectangular, cloth-covered table with cushioned edges, where long, tapered cue sticks are used to strike ivory (or synthetic) balls.

Answer:

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

MACROS

14A: Leafy vegetable in some Caesar salads NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (noun)

• A resilient cabbage with rough, curly leaves that do not form a head.
• Informal terms for currency.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Vegetable (noun)

• The edible seeds, roots, stems, leaves, bulbs, tubers, or non-sweet fruits from various herbaceous plants.
• Any herbaceous plant grown for its edible part, such as the fruit of a beet, the leaves of spinach, the seeds of beans, or the flower buds of broccoli or cauliflower.

15A: Former N.B.A. star ___ Ming NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Former (adjective)

• Originating from an earlier time.
• Relating to a time long ago.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Former (noun)

• The initial of two or the first one mentioned of two.

16A: “So done with that” NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Done (adjective)

• Having been completed or brought to a state of readiness
• Cooked to the point of being ready to serve

Answer:

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17A: *Hodgepodge bowlful of munchies NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Hodgepodge (noun)

• A diverse collection of things
• A theory or argument composed of varied or conflicting ideas

Answer:

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Hint 2: Bowlful (noun)

• The amount held in a bowl

19A: Become a new country, in a way NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (verb)

• Resign from an organization or group

Answer:

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Hint 2: Become (verb)

• Experience a transformation or progression
• Improve the appearance of

22A: Joie de vivre NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (noun)

• A unique and fashionable sophistication
• A sense of intense enthusiasm (typically for a person or cause)

Answer:

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

LANE

23A: Trim from the roster NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (noun)

• The exclusion resulting from an editorial revision that shortens a text
• The action of cutting or making an opening with a sharp edge

Answer:

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Hint 2: (verb)

• Eliminate unwanted or unnecessary items
• Reduce; decrease the amount of

25A: *Buses, trains, subways, etc. NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (noun)

• These are public transportation options that help people get around cities.

Answer:

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28A: Worldwide NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (adjective)

• Relating to the whole planet; global in scope
• Having a spherical or ball-like shape

Answer:

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Hint 2: Worldwide (adjective)

• Covering or reaching across the whole world
• Global in nature; not confined to a specific region or perspective

30A: Hoppy holiday? NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (noun)

• An easterly wind
• A Christian festival marking Christ’s Resurrection, observed on the Sunday after the first full moon following the vernal equinox

Answer:

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Hint 2: Holiday (noun)

• Time off from work dedicated to relaxation or enjoyment
• A day when work is officially halted due to law or tradition

31A: The “I” of FYI, for short NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (noun)

• A message received and understood

Answer:

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Hint 2: Short (verb)

• Inadequate in amount to fulfill a need
• Characterized by brusque or curt behavior

32A: Look forward to NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (verb)

• Anticipate the likely happening of

Answer:

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Hint 2: Forward (adverb)

• Advanced in time, sequence, or level
• Located towards the front of a ship or aircraft

34A: CBS late show hosted by Taylor Tomlinson … or where to find the first words of the answers to the starred clues NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Starred (adjective)

• Indicated by an asterisk

Answer:

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40A: Dirty, like a chimney NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (adjective)

• The darkest shade of black, resembling jet or coal
• Coated with soot or giving the appearance of being soiled by soot

Answer:

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Hint 2: Chimney (noun)

• A glass tube encircling the wick of an oil lamp
• A vertical chimney that directs smoke from a fire out through the wall or roof of a building

41A: Q: “Why shouldn’t you tell secrets on a farm?” A: “Because the corn has ___!” NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Because (conjunction)

• Due to the fact that; because of this reason; for the purpose that.

Answer:

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

ARES

43A: Whipped dessert NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (noun)

• A hair styling product in the form of an aerosol foam
• A light, creamy dish made from fish or meat, set with gelatin

Answer:

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Hint 2: (verb)

• Applying a styling gel to

46A: ___ Mae (college loan provider) NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Provider (noun)

• A person whose business is to provide a specific service or product
• An individual who offers the resources for sustenance

Answer:

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Hint 2: College (noun)

• A group of buildings that houses a higher education institution
• An educational institution designed to provide higher education and grant degrees, often part of a university

48A: *Rodeo footwear NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Footwear (noun)

• Covering for a person’s feet.
• Clothing worn on a person’s feet.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Rodeo (noun)

• A pen for cattle that have been rounded up.
• A display of cowboy skills.

51A: Sly animal NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (noun)

• A sly, deceptive individual.
• An English statesman who advocated for American independence and the French Revolution (1749-1806).

Answer:

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Hint 2: (verb)

• Mislead someone.
• Bewilder or confuse someone; cause them to lose clarity of thought.

52A: The “A” in A.D. NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Intermezzo (noun)

• A short performance (music, dance, etc.) inserted between the parts of a longer show.
• A brief movement placed between the main sections of a symphony.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Syntactic (adjective)

• Pertaining to or in accordance with the rules of syntax.

53A: Money owed NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (noun)

• An unpaid and overdue debt.
• The condition of being behind on payments.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Answer used in the past:

• DEBT (4 letters)

55A: Tire patterns NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Tire (verb)

• Become weary or fatigued from overuse or excessive strain.
• Lose interest or grow bored with something or someone.

Answer:

show

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

DATERS

58A: *Portrait artist’s medium NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Portrait (noun)

• A representation of a person, in any form or medium.
• A descriptive portrayal of their appearance and character.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Medium (noun)

• (usually plural) messages or broadcasts that are spread widely to the public.
• (bacteriology) a nutrient medium (solid or liquid) used to grow microorganisms.

61A: Rich cakes NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Rich (adjective)

• Characterised by a rich and full flavour.
• Powerful; intense.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Rich (noun) 

• Individuals who possess wealth and property, viewed as a group.

62A: __ de plume NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Plume (verb)

• Clean using one’s beak.
• Dress or groom with meticulous attention.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Plume (noun)

• The light, horny, waterproof structure that makes up the outer covering of birds.
• A feather or group of feathers worn as an adornment.

63A: P, R, N, D or L NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (noun)

• A system for transferring motion for a particular purpose (such as a vehicle’s steering mechanism).
• A gear system made up of interconnected rotating gears that transmit force or alter motion or torque.

Answer:

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

AGER

64A: Military affirmative NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Military (noun)

• The military forces of a nation

Answer:

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Hint 2: Military (adjective)

• Related to or carried out by members of the armed forces, as opposed to civilians.
• Typical of or linked to soldiers or the military.

65A: Musician/activist Yoko NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (noun)

• A United States musician, born in Japan, who married John Lennon and worked with him on recordings (born in 1933).

Answer:

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Hint 2: Activist (adjective)

• Promoting or participating in activism.

66A: Award such as Best Comeback Athlete or Best Team NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (verb)

• Catch sight of

Answer:

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Hint 2: Comeback (noun)

• A swift response to a question or comment (especially a clever or critical one).
• A comeback by a celebrity to a previously successful endeavour.

1D: Gives the green light NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Light (noun)

• The quality of being radiant; producing or reflecting light.
• Having an abundance of light or brightness.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Light (adjective)

• Fragile and prone to losing consciousness.
• Characterised by moderation in indulgence.

2D: Operated NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Answer used in the past:

• USED (4 letters)

Answer:

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3D: Words after “3, 2, 1 …” NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (noun)

• The launch of a missile or spacecraft towards a designated destination.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Words (noun)

• A heated argument
• The dialogue or script of a play

4D: Religious offshoot NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (noun)

• A branch of a larger religious group
• A rebellious faction

Answer:

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Hint 2: Religious (adjective)

• Relating to sacred matters, religion, or the church
• Overly meticulous and conscientious

5D: Drum kit component NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (noun)

• A percussion instrument made of a concave brass disk, producing a loud crashing sound when struck with a drumstick or when two are hit together.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Drum (noun)

• A bulging cylindrical shape, hollow with flat ends.
• A hollow cast iron cylinder attached to the wheel, forming part of the brake system.

6D: Backs out at the last second NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Second (noun)

• An infinitely brief moment
• One-sixtieth of a minute of arc

Answer:

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Hint 2: Second (verb)

• Show support or give approval to
• Reassign an employee to a different, temporary role

7D: Rowing crew captains, informally NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Informally (adverb)

• By using informal language or everyday expressions

Answer:

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Hint 2: Rowing (noun)

• The act of rowing as a sport

8D: Counterpart of sin, in trigonometry NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (noun)

• The ratio of the adjacent side to the hypotenuse in a right-angled triangle is known as the cosine of the angle.
• A lettuce with long, dark green leaves arranged in a loosely packed, elongated head.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Counterpart (noun)

• A replica or duplicate copy.
• A person or thing that serves the same purpose or shares the same characteristics as another.

9D: “___ Maria” (hymn) NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Hymn (noun)

• A hymn of praise (to God, a saint, or a nation).

Answer:

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Hint 2: Maria (noun)

• A large dark area on the moon’s surface.
• A valuable timber tree native to Panama.

10D: Like yesterday! NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (noun)

• Roughly the past 10,000 years.

Answer:

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Hint 2: (adjective)

• Of the recent past or immediately preceding the present time.
• Recently.

11D: Ending words of an ultimatum NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Ultimatum (noun)

• A final peremptory demand

Answer:

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Hint 2: Ending (noun)

• An event that marks the conclusion of something.
• The final part of a word (such as a suffix, inflectional ending, or final morpheme).

12D: Where juggling balls are often seen NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (noun)

• At a certain height in the air; above the ground.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Juggling (noun)

• The act of reorganising items to create a deceptive appearance.
• Juggling multiple objects at the same time.

13D: Arterial insert NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (noun)

• A slim tube inserted into a tubular body part, such as a blood vessel, to provide support during and after a surgical anastomosis.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Insert (noun)

• (Film) A static image introduced to interrupt the flow of a film’s action.
• (Broadcasting) A local announcement added into a network programme.

18D: __ Sutra NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (noun)

• The Hindu god of love and sensual desire; the counterpart of Mara.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Sutra (noun)

• A rule or aphorism in Sanskrit literature, or a collection of doctrinal summaries in aphoristic form designed for memorization.

21D: Unwavering NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (adjective)

• Not prone to fluctuation or especially to falling.
• Relating to a person who does something regularly.

Answer:

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Hint 2: (noun)

• A person loved by another person

23D: Hollywood special effects, for short NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Effects (noun)

• A characteristic of a person that is portable but not used for business purposes.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Special (noun)

• A dish or meal highlighted in, for example, a restaurant.
• A special offer (usually temporary and at a discounted price) promoted in advertising.

24D: Forearm bone. NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (noun)

• The inner and longer of the two bones in the human forearm.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Forearm (verb)

• Prepare the arm ahead of a confrontation.

26D: Rarity in a drought NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (noun)

• Anything occurring swiftly or in quick succession.
• Drops of fresh water falling as precipitation from clouds.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Drought (noun)

• A prolonged deficiency.
• A lack of rainfall.

27D: Sparkling Italian wine, or the region it comes from NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Sparkling (adjective)

• Used for wines and waters; naturally or artificially carbonated.
• Glistening with brilliant points of light, resembling stars.

Answer:

show

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

AITS

29D: Spam spreader NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (noun)

• Botfly larva; usually develops within the body of a horse, sheep, or human.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Spreader (noun)

• A mechanical device for dispersing something (such as seed, fertilizer, or sand) in all directions.
• A handheld tool for spreading something.

32D: Single-celled organism NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (noun)

• Naked freshwater, marine, or parasitic protozoa that form temporary pseudopods for feeding and movement.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Single-Celled (adjective)

• Consisting of a single cell (and not divided into multiple cells).

33D: Cleverness NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (noun)

• A clever and humorous person who tells jokes.
• Intellectual capacity.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Cleverness (noun)

• The quality of being ingenious.
• Intelligence demonstrated through quick thinking and wit.

35D: Canadian gas brand NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Canadian (noun)

• A river originating in northeastern New Mexico, flowing eastward through the Texas Panhandle, and eventually becoming a tributary of the Arkansas River in Oklahoma.
• A person who is native to or resides in Canada.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Brand (noun)

• A term assigned to a product or service.
• A mark of shame or dishonour.

36D: Optimistic, like an outlook NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (adjective)

• Displaying a rosy glow of health.
• Exuding a sense of optimism.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Outlook (noun)

• A habitual or characteristic mental attitude that determines how you will interpret and respond to situations.
• Belief about (or mental picture of) the future.

37D: Hair stiffener NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (noun)

• A delicate, semi-transparent sheet used over stage lights to create colour effects.
• A colloid with a more solid consistency than a sol.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Stiffener (noun)

• A substance used to reinforce or stiffen an object.

38D: Two equal parts, to kids NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Parts (noun)

• The local environment

Answer:

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Hint 2: Equal (noun)

• An individual who holds the same rank or status as another in a group.

39D: Duo + one NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (noun)

• A group of three similar things regarded as a single entity.
• Three individuals regarded as one unit.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Duo (noun)

• A duo of performers or singers who collaborate.
• Two identical items.

42D: Madonna coffee table book released a day after her 1992 album “Erotica” NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (noun)

• The characteristics that differentiate organisms based on their reproductive functions.
• Actions related to sexual activity.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Erotica (noun)

• Creative work (such as writing, images, or films) that holds no literary or artistic merit apart from arousing sexual desire.

43D: Marilyn of Hollywood NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (noun)

• An American film actress renowned for her sex appeal (1926–1962).
• The 5th President of the United States and the author of the Monroe Doctrine (1758–1831).

Answer:

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Hint 2: Hollywood (noun)

• A neighbourhood in Los Angeles historically linked to the American film industry.
• A glitzy, ostentatious vibe often associated with the American film industry.

44D: Deed holders NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Deed (noun)

• An action carried out or caused to occur.
• A formal legal document, signed, sealed, and delivered, to facilitate the transfer of property and establish the legal right of ownership.

Answer:

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

RESOWN

45D: W.W. II naval menaces NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (noun) German submarines that prowled the Atlantic during World War II.

Answer:

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46D: Heavenly protector of sailors NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Protector (noun)

• Someone responsible for looking after people or property.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Heavenly (adjective)

• Pertaining to a heavenly realm or the celestial sky.

47D: “I need it yesterday!” NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Yesterday (noun)

• The day before today.
• A moment in the recent past.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Need (verb)

• To be in need of.
• To consider necessary, appropriate, or beneficial.

48D: Snarky, as a remark NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (noun)

• A unit of weight used in Southeast Asia, particularly in China, equal to 500 grams.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Snarky (adjective)

• Humorous in a disdainful or ironic way; mocking and scornful.

49D: University of Maine town NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (noun)

• A university town in east-central Maine, located on the Penobscot River, north of Bangor.

Answer:

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Hint 2: University (noun)

• A significant and varied institution of higher education designed to prepare individuals for life and careers, offering degrees.
• A facility that accommodates higher learning, including administrative offices, living spaces, and areas for research and teaching.

50D: Constellation with a “belt” NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (noun)

• A constellation located on the equator, east of Taurus, featuring Betelgeuse and Rigel.
• In Greek mythology, a giant hunter from Boeotia who chased the Pleiades and was ultimately killed by Artemis, later placed in the sky as a constellation.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Constellation (noun)

• A structure of components or elements.
• A pattern of stars observed from Earth.

54D: Apt anagram of ANGER minus N NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (noun)

• Something strongly desired.
• An interest pursued with excessive enthusiasm.

Answer:

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Hint 2: (verb)

• Act with great violence, as if in a fit of rage.
• Be destructive or intense, like fires and storms.

56D: Opus ___ NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Opus (noun)

• A musical composition that has been created.

Answer:

show

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

DIE

57D: Latvia or Estonia, pre-1991: Abbr. NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Estonia (noun)

• A republic located in northeastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Latvia (noun)

• A republic in northeastern Europe, situated on the eastern coast of the Baltic Sea.

59D: Short snooze NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (noun)

• The fibers (such as in rugs, velvet, or corduroy) that rise from the weave.
• A duration of time spent resting or sleeping.

Answer:

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Hint 2: (verb)

• Take a siesta

60D: Give some effort NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (verb)

• Melt fat or lard to remove impurities.
• Push to the extreme or maximum limits.

Answer:

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Hint 2: (noun)

• Diligent and sincere effort aimed at achieving a goal.