Crossword clue
“Unwieldy situation, metaphorically”
This clue appeared as 6-Down in the NYT Crossword on Friday, January 16, 2026. The answer has 11 letters.
Answer · 11 lettersFirst appearance
HERDINGCATSLetters11
Starts withH
Ends withS
Vowels3
Where this clue has appeared
About this clue
The clue “Unwieldy situation, metaphorically” ran in the NYT Crossword on January 16, 2026 as 6-Down. Its answer is a 11-letter word that starts with H and ends with S, with 3 vowels, which often points to a phrase, a name or a borrowed word.
See every answer from the puzzle on the NYT Crossword page for January 16, 2026, or learn how clues like this work in our guide to crossword clue types.
More clues from this puzzle
1AComing-out party?10 letters11AFinish (up)4 letters15A"Hello-o-o?"10 letters16ADialect featured in the literature of Alice Walker and Toni Morrison, for short4 letters17AScenario calling for self-reliance10 letters18ASummer flier4 letters19AClassic 1926 poem associated with the Harlem Renaissance4 letters20ADo some cleaning4 letters
FAQ
What is the answer to the “Unwieldy situation, metaphorically” clue?+
The answer is HERDINGCATS (11 letters), from the NYT Crossword of January 16, 2026.
Where has this clue appeared?+
We have seen it 1 time in the NYT Crossword.
How do I find other NYT Crossword answers?+
Open the full list of answers for January 16, 2026, or browse every date on the NYT Crossword hub.