Crossword clue

“Essence of the matter”

This clue appeared as 4-Down in the NYT Crossword on Friday, January 23, 2026. The answer has 3 letters.

Answer · 3 lettersFirst appearance
NUB
Letters3
Starts withN
Ends withB
Vowels1

Where this clue has appeared

NYT Crossword
Jan 23, 20263 letters→

About this clue

The clue “Essence of the matter” ran in the NYT Crossword on January 23, 2026 as 4-Down. Its answer is a 3-letter word that starts with N and ends with B.

See every answer from the puzzle on the NYT Crossword page for January 23, 2026, or learn how clues like this work in our guide to crossword clue types.

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FAQ

What is the answer to the “Essence of the matter” clue?+

The answer is NUB (3 letters), from the NYT Crossword of January 23, 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 23, 2026, or browse every date on the NYT Crossword hub.