NYT Crossword hints and answer for September 21, 2025
Hints that get gradually more specific, then the answer if you need it. Nothing is revealed until you tap.
Clues140
Across69
Down71
TitleGimme a Break!
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
Vineyard measure (4)
Starts with A, ends with EACRE→
5A
Does acid (5)
Starts with T, ends with STRIPS→
10A
Tree with doubly serrated leaves (3)
Starts with E, ends with MELM→
13A
[Hey!] (4)
Starts with P, ends with TPSST→
17A
Locations in the game Clue (5)
Starts with R, ends with SROOMS→
19A
Grand duke of Luxembourg beginning in 2000 (5)
Starts with H, ends with IHENRI→
20A
Heart of the matter (4)
Starts with M, ends with TMEAT→
22A
Palindromic Italian number (4)
Starts with O, ends with OOTTO→
23A
Traditional form of Japanese drama (17)
Starts with K, ends with RKABUKIT/KATHEATER→
25A
Pro ___ (4)
Starts with B, ends with OBONO→
26A
Key spot? (4)
Starts with D, ends with RDOOR→
27A
Entered on tiptoe (7)
Starts with S, ends with NSTOLEIN→
28A
"Love, ___" (2014 rom-com starring Lily Collins) (5)
Starts with R, ends with EROSIE→
30A
Far from conscious (7)
Starts with I, ends with AINACOMA→
32A
Kicked off, as a business (9)
Starts with S, ends with PSTARTEDUP→
34A
2012 Disney film set inside an arcade (16)
Starts with W, ends with HWRECKIT/KATRALPH→
37A
Turns off (8)
Starts with D, ends with SDISGUSTS→
38A
Lace protector (5)
Starts with A, ends with TAGLET→
41A
"You may ___" (5)
Starts with B, ends with NBEGIN→
43A
The "me" of "Despicable Me" (3)
Starts with G, ends with UGRU→
48A
"About Us" pieces (4)
Starts with B, ends with SBIOS→
49A
Holds dear (6)
Starts with A, ends with SADORES→
51A
Small square (3)
Starts with O, ends with EONE→
52A
Longtime employer of Rachel Maddow (5)
Starts with M, ends with CMSNBC→
53A
Self-love (3)
Starts with E, ends with OEGO→
54A
Phases, to Taylor Swift (4)
Starts with E, ends with SERAS→
55A
Game with Indigenous origins (8)
Starts with L, ends with ELACROSSE→
58A
___ Fighters ("Everlong" band) (3)
Starts with F, ends with OFOO→
59A
Festive outdoor lighting options (15)
Starts with T, ends with STIKIT/KATORCHES→
62A
Classic drinking "sport" (4)
Starts with P, ends with GPONG→
63A
"Sorry, maybe next time" (6)
Starts with W, ends with TWECANT→
65A
"The Last Supper," e.g. (5)
Starts with M, ends with LMURAL→
66A
Third-largest land animal (5)
Starts with H, ends with OHIPPO→
68A
Pokémon enthusiast's collection (5)
Starts with C, ends with SCARDS→
69A
Puck's king (6)
Starts with O, ends with NOBERON→
71A
Muscle firmness (4)
Starts with T, ends with ETONE→
72A
Place to perfect a recipe (15)
Starts with T, ends with NTESTKIT/KATCHEN→
76A
Swanson on "Parks and Recreation" (3)
Starts with R, ends with NRON→
77A
Game typically played in the dark (8)
Starts with L, ends with GLASERTAG→
80A
Muchas horas (4)
Starts with D, ends with SDIAS→
81A
"Was ___ blame?" (3)
Starts with I, ends with OITO→
82A
Bad spirit (5)
Starts with G, ends with LGHOUL→
84A
D.C. pro (3)
Starts with N, ends with TNAT→
85A
Fight the urge (6)
Starts with R, ends with TRESIST→
87A
It gets bucks from Broncos (4)
Starts with F, ends with DFORD→
88A
Does a farm job (4)
Starts with S, ends with SSOWS→
89A
___ Island (Georgia resort destination) (3)
Starts with S, ends with ASEA→
90A
Reform Party founder (5)
Starts with P, ends with TPEROT→
91A
Feasts (5)
Starts with D, ends with SDINES→
92A
Like emailed files (8)
Starts with A, ends with DATTACHED→
95A
"The Silence of the Lambs" villain (6)
Starts with L, ends with RLECTER→
98A
Certain rescue pet (16)
Starts with F, ends with NFOSTERKIT/KATTEN→
101A
Gleeful feeling (9)
Starts with G, ends with SGIDDINESS→
104A
Miniaturized Amazon smart speaker (7)
Starts with E, ends with TECHODOT→
105A
Big jerks (5)
Starts with A, ends with SASSES→
107A
Remove, as a coupon (7)
Starts with C, ends with TCLIPOUT→
109A
Dangerous additive in old paint (4)
Starts with L, ends with DLEAD→
110A
Whopping (4)
Starts with V, ends with TVAST→
112A
114A
Croft of video games (4)
Starts with L, ends with ALARA→
115A
___ homo (4)
Starts with E, ends with EECCE→
116A
Some slushies (5)
Starts with I, ends with SICEES→
117A
Perform horribly (5)
Starts with S, ends with KSTINK→
118A
TV host Cohen (4)
Starts with A, ends with YANDY→
119A
Joke around (3)
Starts with K, ends with DKID→
120A
"No man is an island" writer (5)
Starts with D, ends with EDONNE→
121A
Slumps (4)
Starts with S, ends with SSAGS→
Down
1D
Holiest locales in synagogues, traditionally (4)
Starts with A, ends with SARKS→
2D
Applications of polish (5)
Starts with C, ends with SCOATS→
3D
Tik-Tok in the Oz books, for one (5)
Starts with R, ends with TROBOT→
4D
Models after (8)
Starts with E, ends with SEMULATES→
5D
1995 Sandra Bullock cyberthriller (6)
Starts with T, ends with TTHENET→
6D
"V for Vendetta" actor Stephen (3)
Starts with R, ends with AREA→
7D
Uninvited guest (8)
Starts with I, ends with RINTRUDER→
8D
Doings before surgery, informally (5)
Starts with P, ends with PPREOP→
9D
Dubbed ones (4)
Starts with S, ends with SSIRS→
10D
They might be glowing (6)
Starts with E, ends with SEMBERS→
11D
Astrological lion (3)
Starts with L, ends with OLEO→
12D
Filing services? (9)
Starts with M, ends with SMANICURES→
13D
Programs hosted by SoundCloud (8)
Starts with P, ends with SPODCASTS→
14D
Happy hour perch (5)
Starts with S, ends with LSTOOL→
15D
Make a big step, perhaps (5)
Starts with S, ends with PSTOMP→
16D
Rabbi's reading (5)
Starts with T, ends with HTORAH→
18D
Regular at a park with half-pipes, informally (12)
Starts with S, ends with TSKIT/KATERAT→
21D
Breaded, fried Japanese pork cutlet (12)
Starts with T, ends with UTONKIT/KATSU→
24D
Big successes (4)
Starts with H, ends with SHITS→
29D
Victor's cry (4)
Starts with I, ends with NIWIN→
31D
Creative pursuit (3)
Starts with A, ends with TART→
33D
Oscar-winning Ariana of "West Side Story" (6)
Starts with D, ends with EDEBOSE→
35D
December drink (6)
Starts with E, ends with GEGGNOG→
37D
Gone missing (11)
Starts with D, ends with DDISAPPEARED→
38D
Assist illegally (4)
Starts with A, ends with TABET→
39D
1958 romantic comedy that won Best Picture (4)
Starts with G, ends with IGIGI→
40D
"I made it big time!" (15)
Starts with L, ends with WLOOKIT/KATMENOW→
42D
Many a skin-care product (3)
Starts with G, ends with LGEL→
45D
Hip (9)
Starts with I, ends with NINFASHION→
46D
Black, in verse (4)
Starts with E, ends with NEBON→
47D
St. Andrews resident (4)
Starts with S, ends with TSCOT→
49D
Esoteric knowledge (6)
Starts with A, ends with AARCANA→
50D
Roald who wrote "Matilda" (4)
Starts with D, ends with LDAHL→
51D
"… actually, let's go to plan B" (5)
Starts with O, ends with TORNOT→
52D
Members of the mongoose family (12)
Starts with M, ends with SMEERKIT/KATS→
54D
Jazz composer Garner (6)
Starts with E, ends with LERROLL→
57D
Go after, as mosquitoes (6)
Starts with S, ends with TSWATAT→
60D
Graham Greene's "___ Man in Havana" (3)
Starts with O, ends with ROUR→
61D
One way to sell stock (5)
Starts with S, ends with TSHORT→
64D
Public health agcy. (3)
Starts with C, ends with CCDC→
67D
Bank acct. entry (3)
Starts with I, ends with TINT→
68D
Several CBS dramas (4)
Starts with C, ends with SCSIS→
69D
United Way and UNICEF, in brief (4)
Starts with O, ends with SORGS→
70D
___-chic (dressing style) (4)
Starts with B, ends with OBOHO→
71D
It incited a famous 18th-century "party" (6)
Starts with T, ends with TTEAACT→
73D
Cleaned up, in a way (6)
Starts with E, ends with DEDITED→
74D
To be, in Nice (4)
Starts with E, ends with EETRE→
75D
Dozes (off) (4)
Starts with N, ends with SNODS→
78D
Ambush (15)
Starts with S, ends with KSNEAKIT/KATTACK→
79D
Neighbor of Lux. (3)
Starts with G, ends with RGER→
83D
Gannett-owned newspaper (8)
Starts with U, ends with YUSATODAY→
86D
"Here's the thing ..." (8)
Starts with S, ends with NSOLISTEN→
87D
Campground gathering spots (8)
Starts with F, ends with SFIREPITS→
89D
Worked hard (for) (6)
Starts with S, ends with ESTROVE→
90D
Farm enclosures (4)
Starts with P, ends with SPENS→
93D
___ Talks (3)
Starts with T, ends with DTED→
94D
Intense, as an argument (6)
Starts with H, ends with DHEATED→
96D
Music protector, of a sort (6)
Starts with C, ends with ECDCASE→
99D
What the "dalai" of "Dalai Lama" translates to (5)
Starts with O, ends with NOCEAN→
100D
Broken piece of pottery (5)
Starts with S, ends with DSHARD→
101D
Insurer with a green mascot (5)
Starts with G, ends with OGEICO→
102D
Justice Sotomayor (5)
Starts with S, ends with ASONIA→
103D
Seeking justice, in a way (5)
Starts with S, ends with GSUING→
106D
Leave tire marks, say (4)
Starts with S, ends with DSKID→
108D
Expressions of disapproval (4)
Starts with T, ends with STSKS→
111D
B.S. part: Abbr. (3)
Starts with S, ends with ISCI→
113D
Barbie's beau (3)
Starts with K, ends with NKEN→
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 September 21, 2025?+
140 clues: 69 Across and 71 Down. The puzzle was constructed by Adrianne Baik and edited by Will Shortz.
What are some answers in today’s NYT Crossword?+
For example: Vineyard measure (ACRE); Does acid (TRIPS); Tree with doubly serrated leaves (ELM).
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.
