NYT Crossword December 25 2024 Answers (12/25/24)

If you’re diving into the NYT Crossword this Christmas Day, December 25th, 2024, our answers guide is here to assist you. The NYT Crossword offers a delightful challenge that tests your vocabulary and cleverness. With its witty clues and engaging wordplay, today’s puzzle is the perfect companion for a festive break. Whether you’re curled up by the fire or enjoying a quiet moment, we’ve gathered all the clues and answers to help you on your way.

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and happy puzzling!

1A: Franken and Sharpton NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (noun)

• Thickening of tissue in the motor tracts of the lateral columns and anterior horns of the spinal cord, leading to progressive muscle atrophy that begins in the limbs.

Answer:

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

LAS

4A: Like many college dorms NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: College (noun)

• A group of buildings that houses an institution of higher education.
• An institution of higher education established to provide education and confer degrees, often as part of a university.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Like (noun)

• A similar kind
• A kind of person

8A: Wood-shaping tool NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (noun)

• Speaking in an annoyed tone.
• A rough file with sharp, pointed projections.

Answer:

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Hint 2: (verb)

• Rasp with a file.
• Speak in a harsh voice.

12A: State school near the Allegheny River, familiarly NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (noun)

• English statesman and son of Pitt the Elder (1759–1806).
• English statesman who concluded the Seven Years’ War (1708–1778).

Answer:

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Hint 2: Allegheny (noun)

• A river that originates in Pennsylvania, flows north into New York, then south through Pennsylvania again, and joins the Monongahela River at Pittsburgh, marking the start of the Ohio River.

14A: Chump NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Chump (noun)

• A person who is gullible.
• Someone who is easy to take advantage of.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Answers used in the past:

• SCHMO (5 letters)
• SAP (3 letters)
• LOSER (5 letters)

15A: Kuwaiti leader NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (noun)

• An autonomous leader or tribal chief, particularly in Africa or Arabia.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Kuwaiti (noun)

• A native or inhabitant of Kuwait

16A: Destination for the Taj Express NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (noun)

• A city in northern India, once the capital of the Mughal empire and home to the Taj Mahal.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Destination (noun)

• Written instructions for locating a destination, typically found on letters or packages to be delivered there.
• The final objective or purpose for which something is undertaken.

17A: Upper atmosphere NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (noun)

• A colorless, volatile, and highly flammable liquid previously used as an inhalation anesthetic.
• A substance once believed to fill all space and support the transmission of electromagnetic waves.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Atmosphere (noun)

• A specific environment or surrounding influence.
• The body of air that surrounds the Earth.

18A: Atmosphere in the room NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (noun)

• A unique emotional atmosphere felt instinctively.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Room (noun)

• Room for movement.
• A space inside a building, enclosed by walls, a floor, and a ceiling.

19A: Bud NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (noun)

• A close companion who joins friends in their activities.
• A large Pacific salmon with small back spots, significant as a food source.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Bud (noun)

• A flower that is partially open.
• A growth on a plant stem made up of overlapping immature leaves or petals.

20A: Ding-dongs NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Ding (noun)

• A mark or indentation on a surface caused by a blow.
• A resonant, ringing sound.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Ding (verb)

• Go `ding dong’, like a bell

22A: “___ anges dans nos campagnes” (French carol) NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: French (noun)

• The citizens of France.
• An American sculptor (1850–1931) known for creating the seated marble statue of Abraham Lincoln in the Lincoln Memorial, Washington, D.C.

Answer:

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Hint 2: French (adjective)

• Of or pertaining to France or the people of France

23A: Start of an encrypted web address NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Address (verb)

• To write an address on an envelope.
• To deliver a speech to an audience.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Adress (noun)

• The ability to interact effectively with others.
• Instructions for locating a place, or the details written on letters or packages for delivery.

25A: More, on a music score NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Music (noun)

• Consequences for one’s deeds.
• Any melodious and pleasing sounds.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Score (noun)

• A musical score, with individual parts for different instruments placed on separate staves across large pages.
• A grudge intense enough to warrant revenge.

26A: What some fear A.I. might become NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (adjective)

• Bearing in mind; attentive to.
• (Sometimes followed by “of”) having or showing knowledge, understanding, or perception.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Become (verb)

• Experience a change or growth.
• Improve the look of.

28A: Format for an English final, maybe NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: English (noun)

• A West Germanic language of the Indo-European family; the official language of Britain, the United States, and most Commonwealth countries.
• The inhabitants of England.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Format (verb)

• Partition (a disk) into designated sectors for data storage.
• Arrange (printed material) into a specific format.

30A: Instruction from a taxi driver NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Driver (noun)

• A golf club (a wood) with a nearly vertical face, used for hitting long shots from the tee.
• (Computer science) A program that manages how a computer interacts with a peripheral device.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Instruction (noun)

• The occupation of a teacher.
• (Computer science) A line of code included in a computer program.

31A: ___ Blanc NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Blanc (noun)

• A white sauce made from fat, broth, and vegetables, typically used with braised meat.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Answer used in the past:

• VIN (3 letters)

32A: Best in a hot dog competition NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Competition (noun)

• An event where a winner is chosen from two or more contestants.
• The contestant you aim to defeat.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Hot (adjective)

• Causing a burning sensation on the taste buds.
• Marked by intense, forceful activity or movement.

33A: Outfits NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Answers used in the past:

• RIGS (4 letters)
• GARBS (5 letters)

Answer:

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37A: Actress Rooney of 2015’s “Carol” NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (noun)

• A hare-like rodent native to the pampas of Argentina.
• The Hindu god of death, opposite of Kama.

Answer:

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

MAAR

39A: Sailor’s “Stop!” NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Sailor (noun)

• A rigid straw hat with a flat crown.
• Any member of a ship’s crew.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Stop (verb)

• Put an end to a state or an activity
• Prevent completion

40A: Large waterfalls NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Large (adjective)

• In the later stages of pregnancy.
• Prominent in position or significance.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Large (adverb)

• In a boastful manner

45A: Unidentified person, in slang NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Unidentified (adjective)

• Originating from an unknown or unnamed source.
• Not yet recognized or identified.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Slang (verb)

• Fool or hoax
• Abuse with coarse language

46A: Ox’s stablemate in a traditional Nativity scene NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (noun)

• Colloquial term for sexual intercourse.
• The soft part of the human body used for sitting.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Stablemate (noun)

• A horse kept in the same stable as another, or one of several horses owned by the same person.

47A: Skate park jump NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Park (noun)

• A vast area of land maintained in its natural state as public property.
• An open space designated for recreational use in an urban area.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Jump (verb)

• Bypass
• Cause to jump or leap

48A: OLED alternative NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (noun)

• A digital display that employs liquid crystal cells, which alter reflectivity when an electric field is applied; commonly used in portable computer screens, watches, and similar devices.

Answer:

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Hint 2: OLED (noun)

• A self-illuminating diode that emits light when an electric field is applied to the electrodes, and does not require backlighting or diffusers.

49A: Insect with a single ear found on its chest NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (noun)

• A predatory, long-bodied, large-eyed insect found in warm regions, often resting with its forelimbs raised as if in prayer.

Answer:

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

MATINS

52A: Watch over NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (verb)

• Be predisposed or inclined to do or be something.
• Take care of or attend to.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Over (adjective)

• Having been brought to a conclusion.

53A: Hungarian violinist Leopold NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Hungarian (noun)

• A person from Hungary or a resident of Hungary. The official language of Hungary, also spoken in Romania, is part of the Ugric language family.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Hungarian (adjective)

• Relating to or characteristic of Hungary

55A: Base boss, informally NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Base (noun)

• A terrorist network that is strongly antagonistic towards the United States, providing financial, logistical support, and training to numerous radical Islamic terrorist groups; it has operatives in over 50 countries.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Informally (adverb)

• With the use of colloquial expressions

56A: “Every cloud ___ silver lining” NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Lining (noun)

• A piece of fabric used as the inner lining of a garment.
• A protective layer that shields the inner surface.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Silver (noun)

• Silverware refers to eating utensils.
• A silver trophy, or one resembling silver, typically awarded for second place in a competition.

57A: Animated clownfish NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Animated (adjective)

• Full of life, energy, or spirit.
• Created to give the illusion of movement, resembling living creatures.

Answer:

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

MENO

58A: Name derived from the Greek for “peace” NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Derived (adjective)

• Created or derived from something else; not original.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Greek (noun)

• The Greek branch of the Indo-European language family.
• A person from Greece or a resident of Greece.

59A: Whence the gingerbread man NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (noun)

• A kitchen device used for baking or roasting.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Gingerbread (noun)

• Cake that is flavored with ginger.

60A: Funny Arnaz NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Funny (noun)

• A narrative of a humorous event, typically ending with a punchline.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Funny (adjective)

• Different from or diverging from the usual or anticipated.
• Not as anticipated.

61A: Votes for NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Answers used in the past:

• OPTS (4 letters)
• ELECTS (6 letters)

Answer:

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

EASY

62A: Pairs of jolly bells? NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Jolly (noun)

• A small boat used by a ship’s crew for various tasks.
• A lively and joyful gathering.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Jolly (verb)

• Be silly or tease one another.

1D: Navajo neighbors NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (noun)

• Any member of the Athapaskan tribes who migrated to the southwestern desert, spanning from Arizona to Texas and into Mexico; they fought a losing battle with the United States from 1861 to 1886 and were later relocated to Oklahoma.
• A gangster from Paris.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Navajo

• A member of an Athapaskan group that migrated to Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah.
• The Athapaskan language spoken by the Navajo.

2D: What might be strung from the item hidden in this puzzle NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Puzzle (verb)

• To be puzzling or confusing to.
• To be unsure about; to contemplate without fully understanding or being able to make a decision.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Hidden (adjective)

• Not accessible to view.
• Designed to elude detection.

3D: Walks with confidence NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Confidence (noun)

• A relationship built on trust.
• Confidence; the absence of doubt and belief in one’s own abilities.

Answer:

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

STURTS

4D: Prepare, as a watermelon NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Watermelon (noun)

• An African melon.
• A large, oblong or round melon with a tough green rind and sweet, watery red or sometimes yellowish flesh.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Prepare (verb)

• To develop through training and instruction.
• To prepare, make suitable, or equip in advance for a specific purpose, event, or use.

5D: Holiday carol … or a literal hint to what can be drawn by connecting nine letters when this puzzle is finished NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Holiday (noun)

• Free time from work dedicated to rest or enjoyment.
• A day when work is legally or customarily suspended.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Holiday (verb)

• Spend or take a vacation

6D: Just manage, as a win NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Manage (verb)

• Observe and oversee.
• Continue or operate.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Just (adverb)

• (Used for emphasis) completely.
• Indicating accuracy or precision.

7D: Mend, as a stocking NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (noun)

• Something of minor worth.
• Stitching used to mend a worn or torn hole, especially in clothing.

Answer:

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Hint 2: (verb)

• Repair by sewing something.

8D: Cleric’s title: Abbr. NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (noun)

• The speed at which a motor rotates.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Cleric (noun)

• A member of the clergy or someone in religious orders.

9D: “Have you started without me?” NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Without (conjunction)

• Unless or except — introducing a clause.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Without (adverb)

• On or at the outside; not inside; outwardly; externally.

10D: Region near the North Pole NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (noun)

• A vast Russian region in Asia, known for its long, cold winters.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Near (adjective)

• In a close or intimate relationship; not far off in time, space, degree, or circumstances.

11D: What might be set under the item hidden in this puzzle NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (verb)

• Perform (a play), especially on a stage.
• Give, especially as an honor or reward.

Answer:

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Hint 2: (noun)

• The current period of time; any continuous stretch of time, including the moment of speaking.
• A verb tense that indicates actions or states occurring at the time of speaking.

13D: Florida city or bay NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (noun)

• A resort city in western Florida, situated on Tampa Bay along the Gulf of Mexico.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Florida (noun)

• A state in the southeastern United States, located between the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico; one of the Confederate states during the American Civil War.

14D: School yr. part NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Part (noun)

• The effort made by a person to achieve a result.
• The actions and activities expected, assigned, or required of an individual or group.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Part (adverb)

• To some extent; in some degree; not wholly

21D: Arizona’s ___ National Park NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (noun)

• An exceptionally large, treelike cactus found in the desert regions of the southwestern United States, featuring a thick, columnar, sparsely branched trunk, white flowers, and edible red pulpy fruit.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Arizona (noun)

• A state in the southwestern United States, home to the Grand Canyon.
• A shiny or glossy snake.

24D: Red nose during wintertime, maybe? NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (noun)

• Anything that accompanies X and is seen as a sign of X’s existence.
• In medicine, any sensation or change in bodily function experienced by a patient, linked to a specific disease.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Wintertime (noun)

• The coldest season of the year, lasting from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox in the northern hemisphere.

27D: Like fresh paint NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (adjective)

• Extremely intoxicated.
• Producing or secreting milk.

Answer:

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

TEW

29D: Go-___ NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Answers used in the past:

• KARTS (5 letters)
• VIRAL (5 letters)
• TEAM (4 letters)
• APE (3 letters)

Answer:

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

SOT

32D: Singer Rita NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Singer (noun)

• The United States inventor of an enhanced chain-stitch sewing machine (1811-1875).
• A United States writer, born in Poland, known for Yiddish stories and novels (1904-1991).

Answer:

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

OAR

33D: What might be draped from the item hidden in this puzzle NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (noun)

• A collection of short literary works, including poems, ballads, and more.
• A floral arrangement in the form of a circular band of foliage or flowers for decorative purposes.

Answer:

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Hint 2: (verb)

• Adorn with bands of flowers or leaves.

34D: One seeking refuge from a dangerous situation NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (noun)

• A person who has been relocated from a hazardous area.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Situation (noun)

• A state or situation in which you find yourself.
• A position within an organization.

35D: Some two-seaters NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (noun)

• A type of bicycle or vehicle built for two riders, one behind the other.

Answer:

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36D: Euro competitor, for short NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Short (adjective)

• Insufficient in quantity to satisfy a need.
• Characterized by rude or abrupt shortness.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Competitor (noun)

• The contestant you hope to defeat.

38D: Handle things? NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Handle (verb)

• Touch, lift, or grasp with the hands.
• Manage or control effectively.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Handle (noun)

• The part of an object designed to be held for using or moving it.

40D: Tweety Bird, e.g. NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (noun)

• Any of various small finches from the Old World.
• A person acting as an informant or decoy for the police.

Answer:

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Hint 2: (adjective)

• Having the color of a canary; a light to medium yellow.

41D: Even if, casually NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Even (adverb)

• To a larger degree or extent, used in comparisons.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Casually (adverb)

• In an unconcerned manner

42D: Rend NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (verb)

• Sever or divide using a tool, such as a sharp instrument.
• Come into close contact or adhere, resisting separation.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Rend (verb)

• Tear or be torn violently.

43D: What might be hung from the item hidden in this puzzle NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (verb)

• Decorate with tinsel
• Add a superficial gleam to

Answer:

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Hint 2: (noun)

• A flashy ornament with little real worth
• A strand adorned with shimmering metal foil

44D: Civics, for example NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Civics (noun)

• The study of urban governance and public administration

Answer:

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Hint 2: Example (noun)

• A model or archetype
• Something to be emulated

50D: Where most of the world’s rice and tea is grown NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (noun)

• The biggest continent, home to 60% of the world’s population; it connects with Europe to the west, forming Eurasia; it is where some of the earliest civilizations originated.
• The countries that make up the Asian continent.

Answer:

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Hint 2: World (noun)

• The general public, particularly a specific group united by a common interest
• Humanity as a whole

51D: Word repeated in the lyric “Do you ___ what I ___?” NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (verb)

• Assume control of or handle
• Interpret; attribute a meaning to

Answer:

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Hint 2: (noun)

• The location within a bishop’s diocese where his cathedral is situated

54D: King of France NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (noun)

• (Corporate finance) The percentage of return on a company’s total capital, calculated by dividing earnings before interest, taxes, or dividends by the total capital.

Answer:

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Hint 2: France (noun)

• A French author known for his refined novels and short stories (1844-1924)
• A republic in Western Europe, the largest country entirely within Europe