NYT Crossword December 26 2024 Answers (12/26/24)

If you’re tackling the New York Times Crossword for December 26, 2024, our answer guide is here to assist you. The NYT Crossword is a daily puzzle that challenges solvers’ vocabulary and general knowledge. Renowned for its tough clues and clever wordplay, it’s one of the most popular crosswords worldwide. Published in The New York Times print edition and available online, this puzzle is a staple for many crossword enthusiasts.

To help you solve today’s puzzle, we’ve compiled all the clues below, making it easier to find the answers you need. Simply search for the specific clue you’re stuck on, and you’ll be able to get the right answer without spoiling any others. This way, you can keep solving at your own pace!

1A: Targets of crunches, informally NYT Crossword Clue 

Hint 1: (noun)

• Any material from a group of composite plastics used in the production of car bodies, computer cases, and other household appliances.

Answer:

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

BAS

4A: “Smart” guy NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Smart (adjective)

• Brash or overly confident.
• Quick and easy to learn.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Smart (noun)

• A sharp pain, like from a wound, burn, or sore.

8A: Vibes NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Vibes (noun)

• A percussion instrument like a xylophone, but with metal bars and rotating disks in the resonators that create a vibrato effect.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Answer used in the past:

• AURA (4 letters)

13A: Hawaiian dish with cubed fish NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Hawaiian (noun)

• A person from Hawaii.
• The languages spoken in Hawaii, part of the Oceanic language group.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Dish (noun)

• An activity you enjoy or excel at.
• An exceptionally attractive or alluring woman.

15A: Perceptive NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (adjective)

• Characterized by practical, no-nonsense intelligence.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Perceptive (adjective)

• Having the ability to understand or perceive; sharp in judgment.

16A: End-of-year hope NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Year (noun)

• A group of students who graduate at the same time.
• A span of time with 365 (or 366) days.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Hope (verb)

• To plan with some chance of success.
• To anticipate and desire.

17A: Lawyers, collectively NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Collectively (adverb)

• In conjunction with; combined

Answer:

show

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

BATHER

18A: Astronauts’ outpost, for short NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Outpost (noun)

• A station in a distant or lightly populated area.
• A settlement on the edge of civilization.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Short (adjective)

• Lacking enough to satisfy a need.
• Characterized by brusque or curt behavior.

19A: Like the last name of swimming legend Diana Nyad NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (adjective)

• Being notably relevant and fitting.
• (Usually followed by “to”) Naturally inclined towards.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Swimming (noun)

• The act of swimming.

21A: Original N.Y.C. subway line NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Original (noun)

• Something that acts as a template or foundation for making replicas.
• An original creation (e.g., an audio recording) from which duplicates can be made.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Original (adjective)

• Being or producing something new and unique, or as it was first conceived or created.
• Not copied, derived, or translated from something else

22A: Vampire hunter’s weapon NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (verb)

• To mark with a stake.
• To put in danger.

Answer:

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Hint 2: (noun)

• The money was gambled.
• A pole or stake used to mark something, such as the start or end of a race track.

25A: “Well, that’s just perfect” NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (adjective)

• In the later stages of pregnancy.
• Of great significance or importance.

Answer:

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Hint 2: (noun)

• A person who has gained recognition and respect in a particular field.

27A: Telluride maker (that’s 6,000+ miles away from Telluride) NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Telluride (noun)

• Any binary compound of tellurium with more electropositive elements.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Maker (noun)

• A company involved in producing a particular product.
• Terms used to refer to the Judeo-Christian God.

28A: Faith Hill hit with the lyric “It’s perpetual bliss” NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (pronoun)

• As a demonstrative pronoun, it refers to something that is nearby in place or time, something previously mentioned, or something about to be mentioned.

Answer:

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

HIST

29A: Slim-fitting bottom NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Bottom (noun)

• Low-lying land near a river, often formed by alluvial deposits.
• A cargo vessel.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Bottom (verb)

• To come to comprehend.
• To furnish with a bottom or seat.

31A: Humorist Bombeck NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Humorist (noun)

• A person who behaves, speaks, or writes in an entertaining manner.

Answer:

show

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

MARE

32A: Spoiled NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (adverb)

• With great intensity (where “bad” is often used instead of “badly”).
• To a great extent; strongly.

Answer:

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Hint 2: (noun)

• Something that falls below standards or expectations, especially in terms of ethics or decency.

33A: Forgo a ring, maybe NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (noun)

• A strong, forceful strike.
• The act of striking with force.

Answer:

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Hint 2: (verb)

• To criticize or point out flaws, whether real or perceived.
• To deliver a quick, sharp blow or push.

35A: Fills in the gaps of, in a way NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (verb)

• Connects the missing pieces, often in a situation where things are incomplete or unresolved.

Answer:

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37A: Futuristic zappers NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Futuristic (adjective)

• Of or relating to futurism

Answer:

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39A: Samira Wiley’s role on “The Handmaid’s Tale” NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Handmaid (noun)

• A personal female servant or attendant.
• In a lower or subordinate role.

Answer:

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40A: Pops NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (noun)

• A casual term for a father, likely originating from baby talk.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Answers used in the past:

• PANDAS (6 letters)
• DADS (4 letters)
• SODAS (5 letters)
• DADAS (5 letters)
• BURSTS (6 letters)

41A: A thing of the passed? NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (noun)

• An announcement of someone’s death, typically including a brief biography.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Thing (noun)

• A vaguely specified concern.
• An action.

42A: Wetland fuel source NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Fuel (verb)

• Supply with fuel.
• Provide with a substance that can be burned to generate energy.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Fuel (noun)

• A material that can be used to produce energy when consumed.

44A: Breaking the fourth wall, say NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Fourth (adverb)

• In the position following third.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Fourth (adjective)

• Coming after the third and just before the fifth in order, time, or magnitude.

45A: Cartoon frame NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Cartoon (noun)

• A movie created by taking pictures of a series of cartoon drawings, which, when shown quickly, create the illusion of movement.
• A humorous or satirical illustration published in a newspaper or magazine.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Cartoon (verb)

• To draw cartoons of.

47A: Snarkily disparaging NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (adjective)

• Expressive of contempt

Answer:

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Hint 2: Disparaging (adjective)

• Expressive of low opinion

48A: Like a baby in need of burping NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (adjective)

• Experiencing excessive gas in the digestive system.
• Resembling gas.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Burping (noun)

• A reflex that releases gas noisily from the stomach through the mouth.

49A: Dismiss abruptly NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (verb)

• To end.
• To cut or split with an axe.

Answer:

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Hint 2: (noun)

• A tool with a heavy blade mounted across a handle, used for chopping

50A: Dutch banking giant NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Banking (noun)

• Involved in the business of managing money for savings, checking accounts, currency exchange, or providing loans and credit.
• Conducting transactions with a bank, such as depositing or withdrawing funds, or applying for a loan.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Dutch (noun)

• The people of the Netherlands
• The West Germanic language spoken in the Netherlands

51A: Get to 21 first in cornhole, e.g. NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (verb)

• To achieve success or reach a desired objective.
• To earn something through one’s efforts.

Answer:

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Hint 2: (noun)

• Something won, especially money
• A victory, such as in a race or competition

52A: Oscar nominee for “Carrie” NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Nominee (noun)

• A politician campaigning for public office.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Oscar (noun)

• An annual award given by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for excellence in film production and performance.

55A: Peak picker-uppers, as depicted three times in this puzzle’s grid NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Picker (noun)

• A person who selects or picks out.
• Someone who harvests crops or fruits.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Depicted (adjective)

• Represented visually through sketches, designs, or lines.

60A: “Money talks” NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Talks (noun)

• A conversation aimed at reaching an agreement.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Money (noun)

• The most widely used medium of exchange, serving as legal tender.
• The official currency issued by a government or national bank.

61A: Unapproved, pharmaceutically NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (noun)

• Describes a medication used for purposes other than those officially approved by regulatory authorities.

Answer:

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62A: Remained home for supper NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Supper (noun)

• A light evening meal, typically served early if dinner is at midday or late at night before bed.
• A social event where a light evening meal is served.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Home (noun)

• (In baseball) The base where the batter stands, made of rubber, and must be touched by a runner to score
• A place where people are provided care or assistance

63A: CBS drama with five spinoffs NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Drama (noun)

• A play meant to be performed by actors on stage.
• An event that is intense or emotionally charged.

Answer:

show

64A: In need of salt, say NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (adjective)

• Lacking warmth and friendliness; showing unfriendliness or contempt
• Exceptionally cold

Answer:

show

Hint 2: Need (noun)

• Something essential but missing.
• The psychological drive that motivates an organism to pursue a goal; the reason behind an action; what gives purpose and direction to behavior.

1D: Home screen selection NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Selection (noun)

• The person or thing that is selected or chosen
• A natural process that leads to the evolution of organisms best suited to their environment

Answer:

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Hint 2: Screen (verb)

• To protect, hide, or shield from danger or harm
• To test or check for the presence of disease or infection

2D: Stole onstage NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (noun)

• A long, slender, soft scarf made of feathers or fur.
• Any of several mainly tropical constrictor snakes with reduced hind limbs.

Answer:

show

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

ABO

3D: Difficult area of a jigsaw puzzle, maybe NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (verb)

• To toss or throw gently

Answer:

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Hint 2: (noun)

• The sky and outer space as seen from Earth

4D: Humble NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (verb)

• To make someone feel ashamed; to damage their pride.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Humble (adjective)

• Of humble origins or social standing (with “base” being an old-fashioned term for this)
• Low or inferior in rank or quality

5D: Lane in DC? NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Lane (noun)

• A narrow way or road
• A well-defined track or path; for e.g. swimmers or lines of traffic

Answer:

show

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

OILS

6D: Grossed-out cries NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Anagram – Rearrange the letters below to solve today’s answer:

SEW

Answer:

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7D: Given the go-ahead NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (adjective)

• Cleared of any guilt or suspicion
• Free of obstacles or items like trees and brush

Answer:

show

Hint 2: Go-ahead (noun)

• Readiness to embark on bold new ventures
• A signal to proceed

8D: Pizza oven residue NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (noun)

• Any of several deciduous trees with pinnate leaves from the genus Fraxinus, valued for their ornamental or timber qualities.
• Strong, flexible wood from ash trees, used in furniture, tool handles, and sporting goods like baseball bats.

Answer:

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Hint 2: (verb)

• To turn into ashes.

9D: Beehive State native NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (noun)

• A member of the Shoshonean tribe native to Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico.
• The Shoshonean language spoken by the Ute people.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Beehive (noun)

• A human-made container used to house a colony of bees.
• A natural structure, such as a hollow tree, that provides a home for bees.

10D: Toys once marketed as having “Over three billion combinations, but only one solution” NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Solution (noun)

• A statement that provides a solution or explains how to solve a problem.
• The set of values that, when substituted into an equation, result in a true statement.

Answer:

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11D: Chess : check :: go : ____ NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Chess (noun)

• A weedy annual plant native to Europe, but commonly found as a weed, especially in wheat fields.
• A two-player board game in which each player moves 16 pieces according to specific rules, aiming to checkmate the opponent’s king.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Check (noun)

• An evaluation of the current situation.
• A mark left when a small piece is chipped or broken off something.

12D: Tempur-Pedic competitor NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Competitor (noun)

• The contestant you hope to defeat

Answer:

show

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

ASTER

14D: Early 20th-century composer who introduced the typewriter as a percussion instrument NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Typewriter (noun)

• A manual device for printing written messages one character at a time.

Answer:

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15D: Negative campaign tactic NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Tactic (noun)

• A strategy for achieving a specific goal.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Negative (adjective)

• Intended or likely to discredit, especially without offering constructive suggestions.
• Not showing the presence of microorganisms, disease, or a particular condition.

20D: Signature item NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (noun)

• A facility for individuals convicted of serious crimes.
• A portable structure where babies can play safely.

Answer:

show

Hint 2: (verb)

22D: Prefix with any family member NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (verb)

• To treat someone poorly.
• To measure distances by walking.

Answer:

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Hint 2: (noun)

• Any action taken as part of progress toward a goal
• A brief distance.

23D: Steady engine sound NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (verb)

• To produce a rhythmic sound
• To make a sound with a steady hum

Answer:

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Hint 2: (noun)

• A humming or thrumming sound

24D: Focus on making others happy NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Making (noun)

• The action that brings something into existence.
• A requirement that must be fulfilled to qualify someone for something.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Focus (verb)

• To become clear or sharp in focus
• To direct one’s attention toward something

25D: They might accompany SAT scores NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Accompany (verb)

• To be present or involved in an event or situation
• To accompany someone

Answer:

show

Hint 2: Scores (noun)

• A large quantity or number

26D: Minute NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (adjective)

• Very small.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Minute (noun)

• An extremely brief moment.
• A specific moment in time.

30D: Slangy term for an obsession with branded fashion items NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Obsession (noun)

• An irrational urge to engage in trivial or repetitive actions, even if unwilling.
• An unhealthy and compulsive obsession with something or someone.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Branded (adjective)

• Marked or labeled with a distinctive word or symbol to indicate exclusive rights

32D: Coffeehouse poets NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (noun)

• A youth subculture in the United States during the 1950s that rejected materialism, conventional jobs, and traditional clothing; embraced communal living, psychedelic drugs, and anarchism; and favored modern jazz styles like bebop.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Coffeehouse (noun)

• A small eatery where drinks and light snacks are served.

34D: Sweaters and such NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Such (adjective)

• Of an extreme degree or extent

Answer:

show

Hint 2: Such (adverb)

• To an extreme degree

36D: 401(k) alternatives NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Anagram – Rearrange the letters below to solve today’s answer:

AIRS

Answer:

show

37D: Short-lived fashion NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (noun)

• Something that is intensely desired
• An interest pursued with excessive enthusiasm

Answer:

show

Hint 2: (verb)

• To act violently, as if consumed by great anger
• To be violent, as seen in fires or storms

38D: Court-ordered delay NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (verb)

• To persist through a challenging or enduring situation
• To remain unchanged; stay in a particular state

Answer:

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Hint 2: (noun)

• A period of inactivity after an interruption
• A legal order that prevents an action until a specific event happens or the order is lifted

40D: Lewis Carroll’s real last name, hence Lewis’s last name in “Jurassic Park” NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (noun)

• Charles Dodgson, an English author and Oxford mathematics professor, is best known for the children’s stories he wrote under the pen name Lewis Carroll (1832-1898).

Answer:

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Hint 2: Carroll (noun)

• Charles Dodgson, an English author and mathematics professor at Oxford, is best known for writing children’s stories under the pen name Lewis Carroll (1832-1898).

43D: Hamper, e.g. NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (noun)

• An identification number with a two-part code assigned to banks and savings institutions; the first part indicates the location, and the second identifies the bank
• The amount stored in a bin

Answer:

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Hint 2: (verb)

• To store in bins

45D: Caesar’s first stabber NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Stabber (noun)

• A person who stabs someone else

Answer:

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Hint 2: Caesar (noun)

• The conqueror of Gaul and ruler of Italy (100-44 BC)
• A United States comedian who pioneered television comedy shows (born 1922)

46D: One living abroad NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (noun)

• A person who is away from home or their country by choice.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Living (noun)

• The experience of existence; the progression of human events and activities
• The financial resources that sustain one’s life

48D: Bass organs NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Organs (noun)

• The edible internal organs of a slaughtered animal

Answer:

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Hint 2: Bass (noun)

• The lowest vocal range for an adult male
• Any of several North American freshwater fish, especially from the genus Micropterus, known for their lean flesh

51D: Something that’s often free in airports but expensive on airplanes NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (noun)

• A local area network that transmits and receives data using high-frequency radio signals over distances of a few hundred feet, and operates using the Ethernet protocol.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Expensive (adjective)

• High in price or charging premium prices.

53D: Life force NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (noun)

• The vital life force believed in Chinese philosophy to be present in all things; in traditional Chinese medicine, maintaining a balance of its negative and positive forms is considered crucial for good health.
• The 22nd letter of the Greek alphabet.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Force (verb)

• To compel someone to act through pressure or necessity, whether by physical, moral, or intellectual means.
• To push or drive someone into or out of a particular action or state, either literally or figuratively.

54D: Köln one NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Köln (noun)

• A commercial hub and river port in western Germany, located on the Rhine River; it thrived in the 15th century as part of the Hanseatic League.

Answer:

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Hint 2: One (adjective)

• (Informal) Extremely; used casually to add emphasis.
• Having the unified and indivisible nature of a single unit 

56D: Fast-food chain with 30,000+ locations NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: Chain (noun)

• A British biochemist, originally from Germany, known for isolating and purifying penicillin, first discovered by Sir Alexander Fleming (1906–1979).
• A necklace composed of linked objects.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Chain (verb)

• To link or connect items together to form a chain.
• To secure or fasten something using chains.

57D: “Fidelity, Bravery, Integrity” org. NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (noun)

• A federal law enforcement agency serving as the primary investigative branch of the Department of Justice.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Fidelity (noun)

• The trait of being loyal and trustworthy.
• The precision with which an electronic system replicates the sound or image of its input signal.

58D: Gumshoe NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (noun)

• A law enforcement officer responsible for investigating crimes.

Answer:

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Hint 2: Gumshoe (noun)

• A waterproof covering worn over shoes to shield them from water or snow.
• A person who works as a detective.

59D: Roguish NYT Crossword Clue

Hint 1: (adjective)

• Marked by skill in deception

Answer:

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Hint 2: Answers used in the past:

• RASCALLY (8 letters)
• ARCH (4 letters)
• TRICKY (6 letters)