Crossword clue
“Spoil”
This clue appeared as 26-Across in the NYT Crossword on Thursday, July 16, 2026. The answer has 6 letters.
Answer · 6 lettersSeen 3 times
DEFILELetters6
Starts withD
Ends withE
Vowels3
Other possible answers
| Answer | Letters | Seen |
|---|---|---|
| ROT | 3 | 1 of 3 |
| DEFILE | 6 | 1 of 3 |
| TAINT | 5 | 1 of 3 |
Where this clue has appeared
About this clue
The clue “Spoil” ran in the NYT Crossword on July 16, 2026 as 26-Across. Its answer is a 6-letter word that starts with D and ends with E, 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 July 16, 2026, or learn how clues like this work in our guide to crossword clue types.
More clues from this puzzle
1ASmart4 letters5ASensation5 letters10AAcquisition on the big day5 letters15A"That's a good one!"4 letters16AGalápagos island that was home to Lonesome George, the last tortoise of his subspecies5 letters17AWho knows what preceded the Big Bang5 letters18A*Yes — three arduous ones16 letters21AFebruary 14, informally4 letters
FAQ
What is the answer to the “Spoil” clue?+
The answer is DEFILE (6 letters), from the NYT Crossword of July 16, 2026.
Where has this clue appeared?+
We have seen it 3 times in the NYT Crossword, most recently on July 16, 2026.
How do I find other NYT Crossword answers?+
Open the full list of answers for July 16, 2026, or browse every date on the NYT Crossword hub.