Crossword clue

“Seems less impressive, so to speak”

This clue appeared as 42-Across in the NYT Crossword on Friday, January 2, 2026. The answer has 5 letters.

Answer · 5 lettersFirst appearance
PALES
Letters5
Starts withP
Ends withS
Vowels2

Where this clue has appeared

About this clue

The clue “Seems less impressive, so to speak” ran in the NYT Crossword on January 2, 2026 as 42-Across. Its answer is a 5-letter word that starts with P and ends with S.

See every answer from the puzzle on the NYT Crossword page for January 2, 2026, or learn how clues like this work in our guide to crossword clue types.

More clues from this puzzle

FAQ

What is the answer to the “Seems less impressive, so to speak” clue?+

The answer is PALES (5 letters), from the NYT Crossword of January 2, 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 2, 2026, or browse every date on the NYT Crossword hub.