NYT Crossword hints and answer for August 31, 2025
Hints that get gradually more specific, then the answer if you need it. Nothing is revealed until you tap.
Clues140
Across61
Down79
TitleA Man of Character
Today’s NYT Crossword clues, hints & answers
Every clue from this puzzle with a hint and the answer behind separate buttons, so you only see what you need. Click a clue for its own page.
Across
1A
Maximum extent, in an idiom (4)
Starts with H, ends with THILT→
5A
"Suitable, I guess" (6)
Starts with I, ends with OITLLDO→
11A
Small storage unit (4)
Starts with B, ends with EBYTE→
15A
"___ News Central" (daily program) (3)
Starts with C, ends with NCNN→
18A
Sea adventure novel by Herman Melville (4)
Starts with O, ends with OOMOO→
20A
Sounds of amazement (4)
Starts with O, ends with SOOHS→
21A
Spoils (4)
Starts with L, ends with TLOOT→
22A
"Don't flick that cigarette over here!" (11)
Starts with M, ends with HMOVEYOURASH→
24A
"Incredible! This mosquito net didn't let in even one bug!" (9)
Starts with W, ends with HWHATAMESH→
26A
Greatest potential accomplishment, metaphorically (7)
Starts with E, ends with TEVEREST→
27A
Non-free-range farm fixture (7)
Starts with F, ends with TFEEDLOT→
29A
Container weight (4)
Starts with T, ends with ETARE→
30A
Pick up at school (5)
Starts with L, ends with NLEARN→
31A
Actor Pascal (5)
Starts with P, ends with OPEDRO→
34A
Celestial sphere (3)
Starts with O, ends with BORB→
35A
Went from 0 to 60, say (4)
Starts with A, ends with DAGED→
37A
Nipsey Russell's role in 1978's "The Wiz" (6)
Starts with T, ends with NTINMAN→
40A
"___ America (And So Can You!)" (Stephen Colbert best seller) (3)
Starts with I, ends with MIAM→
42A
Device for cutting bangs? (8)
Starts with S, ends with RSILENCER→
45A
More in need of a sticky roller (7)
Starts with L, ends with RLINTIER→
47A
Zealous (4)
Starts with A, ends with DAVID→
48A
Guide for writing a perfect letter (7)
Starts with S, ends with LSTENCIL→
50A
Some skin care products (6)
Starts with T, ends with STONERS→
52A
"Dear Lord! His Majesty's beard is out of control!" (15)
Starts with G, ends with GGODSHAVETHEKING→
55A
Comics cry of dismay (3)
Starts with A, ends with KACK→
58A
___ code (4)
Starts with A, ends with AAREA→
59A
Tiny and scurrying, perhaps (7)
Starts with A, ends with EANTLIKE→
63A
"Just dropped off some of your newly buffed knight's protection!" (21)
Starts with S, ends with DSHINEDSHIELDDELIVERED→
71A
Green gemstone (7)
Starts with P, ends with TPERIDOT→
72A
Brand of bubbly, informally (4)
Starts with M, ends with TMOET→
73A
___ de vie (3)
Starts with E, ends with UEAU→
74A
"Might you give me a bigger boat?" (15)
Starts with C, ends with PCOULDIHAVEASHIP→
82A
Composure under pressure (6)
Starts with A, ends with BAPLOMB→
85A
Firmly planted (6)
Starts with R, ends with DROOTED→
86A
Sizable wine orders (7)
Starts with C, ends with SCARAFES→
91A
Hero's partner in myth (7)
Starts with L, ends with RLEANDER→
93A
Real ladies' man (8)
Starts with C, ends with ACASANOVA→
94A
Bit of work (3)
Starts with E, ends with GERG→
95A
It's always getting into hot water (6)
Starts with T, ends with GTEABAG→
96A
Theatrical constructions (4)
Starts with S, ends with SSETS→
97A
Unburden (3)
Starts with R, ends with DRID→
98A
Computer shortcuts (6)
Starts with M, ends with SMACROS→
100A
Muse of love poetry (5)
Starts with E, ends with OERATO→
103A
"You can't win ___" (5)
Starts with E, ends with LEMALL→
105A
Writer ___ Stanley Gardner (4)
Starts with E, ends with EERLE→
106A
"Is that a certainty?" (7)
Starts with Y, ends with EYOUSURE→
109A
Unruly, as a beard (7)
Starts with S, ends with YSCRAGGY→
111A
Secret agent first introduced in 1953 (9)
Starts with J, ends with DJAMESBOND→
113A
115A
Langston Hughes poem (4)
Starts with I, ends with OITOO→
116A
Aston Martin, e.g. (4)
Starts with A, ends with OAUTO→
118A
Member of a watery quintet (4)
Starts with E, ends with EERIE→
119A
Adriatique, e.g. (3)
Starts with M, ends with RMER→
120A
School attended by both 111-Across and his creator (4)
Starts with E, ends with NETON→
121A
Debate-ending reply (6)
Starts with S, ends with ESAYSME→
122A
Figs. most people have memorized (4)
Starts with S, ends with SSSNS→
Down
1D
Win for an away team (8)
Starts with H, ends with SHOMELOSS→
2D
"That doesn't bother me anymore" (8)
Starts with I, ends with TIMOVERIT→
3D
Winsome (8)
Starts with L, ends with ELOVEABLE→
4D
It's human, in a saying (5)
Starts with T, ends with RTOERR→
5D
Big events on Wall St. (4)
Starts with I, ends with SIPOS→
6D
Full of tension (4)
Starts with T, ends with TTAUT→
7D
Abbr. on a paper tray (3)
Starts with L, ends with RLTR→
8D
Whiled away the hours (6)
Starts with L, ends with DLOAFED→
9D
Gave medicine (5)
Starts with D, ends with DDOSED→
10D
Different (5)
Starts with O, ends with ROTHER→
11D
Poke ___ (4)
Starts with B, ends with LBOWL→
12D
Start of a pirate chant (4)
Starts with Y, ends with OYOHO→
13D
"There I am in the photo" (7)
Starts with T, ends with ETHATSME→
14D
Winter hours in Conn. (3)
Starts with E, ends with TEST→
15D
Exhibiting some force (8)
Starts with C, ends with ECOERCIVE→
16D
Part of a personal air filtration system (8)
Starts with N, ends with RNOSEHAIR→
17D
Degree in math? (3)
Starts with N, ends with HNTH→
21D
["Ha ha 2 funny!!!!] (4)
Starts with L, ends with OLMAO→
23D
Thirst (3)
Starts with Y, ends with NYEN→
25D
Lots and lots (4)
Starts with A, ends with NATON→
28D
Certain URL ending (6)
Starts with D, ends with TDOTNET→
33D
Favorite drink of 111-Across (7)
Starts with M, ends with IMARTINI→
35D
What wine or citrus adds to a sauce (4)
Starts with A, ends with DACID→
36D
Hairstyle helpers (4)
Starts with G, ends with SGELS→
38D
Allergic reaction (4)
Starts with I, ends with HITCH→
39D
Company originally named Blue Ribbon Sports (4)
Starts with N, ends with ENIKE→
41D
E.R. V.I.P.s (3)
Starts with M, ends with SMDS→
43D
High school subj. (3)
Starts with E, ends with GENG→
44D
Base figure, for short (3)
Starts with N, ends with ONCO→
45D
Bank security feature (5)
Starts with L, ends with ELEVEE→
46D
Perfect match (9)
Starts with I, ends with EIDEALMATE→
47D
It's right on a square (5)
Starts with A, ends with EANGLE→
49D
Port on the Adriatic (4)
Starts with B, ends with IBARI→
51D
Airing (4)
Starts with O, ends with VONTV→
53D
Shout of triumph (3)
Starts with H, ends with HHAH→
54D
___-El (Superman's birth name) (3)
Starts with K, ends with LKAL→
55D
Relative of an adder (3)
Starts with A, ends with PASP→
56D
"Evita" role for Antonio Banderas (3)
Starts with C, ends with ECHE→
57D
___ royale (cocktail) (3)
Starts with K, ends with RKIR→
60D
Indignation (3)
Starts with I, ends with EIRE→
61D
New Zealand parrot that can solve logic puzzles (3)
Starts with K, ends with AKEA→
62D
End of an academic address (3)
Starts with E, ends with UEDU→
64D
Williamson who played Merlin in "Excalibur" (5)
Starts with N, ends with LNICOL→
65D
Biblical kingdom near the Dead Sea (4)
Starts with E, ends with MEDOM→
66D
67D
Stitching on a Cardinal's cap (3)
Starts with S, ends with LSTL→
68D
Mid-Atlantic state capital (5)
Starts with D, ends with RDOVER→
69D
A good one might generate good karma (4)
Starts with D, ends with DDEED→
70D
J.F.K. prediction (3)
Starts with E, ends with AETA→
75D
Far from bright (4)
Starts with D, ends with BDRAB→
76D
University in New Rochelle, N.Y. (4)
Starts with I, ends with AIONA→
77D
Obergefell v. ___, milestone case for marriage equality (6)
Starts with H, ends with SHODGES→
78D
Improvise à la Ella Fitzgerald (4)
Starts with S, ends with TSCAT→
79D
Avocado variety (4)
Starts with H, ends with SHASS→
80D
Portfolio holding, for short (3)
Starts with I, ends with AIRA→
81D
Give a bad review (3)
Starts with P, ends with NPAN→
82D
Imitate (3)
Starts with A, ends with EAPE→
83D
Spread throughout (8)
Starts with P, ends with EPERMEATE→
84D
Greaves and cuisses, but not gauntlets and helmets (8)
Starts with L, ends with RLEGARMOR→
87D
Those who hunt and gather (8)
Starts with F, ends with SFORAGERS→
88D
Feature of many a gloating movie villain (8)
Starts with E, ends with NEVILGRIN→
89D
"Alas, it is true" (8)
Starts with S, ends with SSADLYYES→
92D
Grounder to second, often (7)
Starts with E, ends with TEASYOUT→
93D
Corp. bigwig (3)
Starts with C, ends with OCEO→
95D
___ leches cake (4)
Starts with T, ends with STRES→
99D
Late jazz singer ___ Laine (4)
Starts with C, ends with OCLEO→
101D
Sly schemes (5)
Starts with R, ends with SRUSES→
102D
Paris's Dôme de Paris, e.g. (5)
Starts with A, ends with AARENA→
103D
Sea eagle (3)
Starts with E, ends with NERN→
104D
Zebra features that mirror their body stripes (5)
Starts with M, ends with SMANES→
107D
"You're ___ something" (4)
Starts with O, ends with OONTO→
108D
Japanese noodle (4)
Starts with U, ends with NUDON→
109D
Many a get-rich-quick offer (4)
Starts with S, ends with MSCAM→
111D
Beam on a bottle (3)
Starts with J, ends with MJIM→
112D
Modern pet name (3)
Starts with B, ends with EBAE→
114D
Platform for Super Mario Bros., for short (3)
Starts with N, ends with SNES→
How to solve the NYT Crossword
Fill the grid so that every Across and Down answer matches its clue. Numbered squares mark where answers begin. Theme answers, usually the longest entries, share a twist that the puzzle's title or a revealer clue explains. Thursday puzzles are known for rebus squares and other tricks that bend the normal rules.
Want the full method? Read our NYT Crossword strategy and tips, or check how to play the NYT Crossword on the hub.
NYT Crossword tips for tomorrow
- Start with Monday-level clues. Even on a Saturday, a handful of clues are straightforward. Find them and build outward from the crossings.
- Hunt for the revealer. A clue that references other entries or ends in "?" often explains the theme. Solving it first unlocks the long answers.
- Respect the day of the week. Thursday means tricks like rebus squares; Friday and Saturday mean long, clever fill with misleading clues.
Done for today? Try The Mini, The Midi, LA Times Crossword, all with hints first and answers behind a reveal.
Previous NYT Crossword puzzles
NYT Crossword FAQ
How many clues are in the NYT Crossword for August 31, 2025?+
140 clues: 61 Across and 79 Down. The puzzle was constructed by Danny J. Rooney and edited by Will Shortz.
What are some answers in today’s NYT Crossword?+
For example: Maximum extent, in an idiom (HILT); "Suitable, I guess" (ITLLDO); Small storage unit (BYTE).
What time does the NYT Crossword come out?+
The next day's puzzle is released at 10:00 pm Eastern Time Monday to Friday and at 6:00 pm on Saturdays and Sundays.
Where can I find past NYT Crossword answers?+
Every puzzle in our archive has its own page with all Across and Down answers, plus a page for each clue. Click any date above.
