Our NYT Crossword Hints for October 18, 2026 puzzle will help you move through the grid if you’ve found yourself stuck on a clue. The NYT Crossword is a daily crossword that tests solvers’ knowledge and vocabulary. It’s one of the most popular crosswords in the world, known for its challenging clues and clever wordplay. The puzzle is published in the print edition of the paper and is also available online.
NYT Crossword Hints October 18, 2026
You’ll find hints for all of the crossword clues for the NYT Crossword on 10/18/26. The clues are listed below, and you can click/tap on a clue to go to its page for more detail, including definitions, but if you don’t want to be immediately spoiled, you can reveal letter by letter to still offer yourself more of a challenge before revealing the full solution.
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1A. Beneficiary of early capital
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8A. Bless, in a way
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14A. Close female friend … in relative terms
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20A. Less than satisfactory, slangily
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21A. Like some cyborg parts
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22A. Extended play?
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23A. Heyhowareyou
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25A. Journalist Michele with two Peabody Awards
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26A. Walkers, informally
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27A. Send
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28A. Softens with sudden sympathy or affection
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30A. "Behold," in Latin
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31A. Bob ___, alter ego of Mr. Incredible
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32A. "What"
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35A. Mythical figure whose name means "murmuring rock"
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38A. Justice ___ Coney Barrett
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39A. Summer setting in S.F.
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40A. Party takeaway
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41A. N.F.L. accolade
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44A. View spoiler
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49A. All--can-eat buffet
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51A. Fiber-rich substance
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53A. Exam for future docs
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54A. Fenway squad
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55A. "Since brass, ___ stone, ___ earth, ___ boundless sea …": Shak.
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56A. ___-mo
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57A. Steamy
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59A. Zip
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61A. It follows a coin toss
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64A. Zip
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65A. This
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70A. Large volume
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71A. They can make a pronounced difference
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72A. Bond
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73A. Historic figure targeted in Stephen King's time-travel novel "11/22/63"
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75A. Small + or -
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76A. Apt name for a thief
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78A. Tree that can be a source of water for thirsty elephants
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83A. Nibble
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84A. Brand represented by Happy the Oil Drop
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86A. See 88-Across
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88A. Here
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90A. Admits
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92A. Follow-up to "Sit!"
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93A. Off work, for short
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94A. Figure, informally
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95A. Making a strong effort
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97A. Non, ni, 'a'ole
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103A. Nickname for Ellen or Helen
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104A. [Beep!]
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105A. One of the Three Musketeers
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106A. "S.N.L." alum Gardner
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108A. Artist who kept a pet ocelot
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112A. In
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114A. Taib? Tbia?
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117A. It's cold in Italy
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118A. Shifts gears, say
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119A. Nation bordering the Black Sea
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120A. Analogue of a delete key
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121A. In
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122A. "That ship has sailed"
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1D. Short cut
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2D. Beep, e.g.
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3D. Undercover?
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4D. Has regrets about
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5D. ___ Allen, host of "Chopped"
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6D. Make public, as secret documents
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7D. Novel form of summer escapism?
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8D. Connive with, maybe
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9D. Second-generation Japanese American
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10D. Alley ___
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11D. How a boss might communicate new policy
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12D. With courtesy
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13D. Immune system agent
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14D. Toothpaste brand since 1961
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15D. Italian diminutive suffix
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16D. It turns when driven
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17D. Logo of the W.N.B.A.'s New York Liberty
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18D. Name found in "Americana"
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19D. Go back to square one
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24D. Sex symbol of the 1950s-'60s, familiarly
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29D. Hypercompetitive and driven, say
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31D. Staff
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33D. Street application
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34D. Indigenous people of the Salt Lake Valley
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35D. Weak, as an excuse
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36D. "Ibis" poet
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37D. Bob who painted "Cabin at Sunset," which sold for over $1 million to benefit public media
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40D. Fragrant holiday purchase
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42D. Gawker
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43D. Goody-goody sort
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45D. Young salmon
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46D. Eight-related
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47D. Like Amazon forests, typically
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48D. Series finale?
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50D. Maze's goal
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51D. Comes into one's own
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52D. [So-o-o funny!]
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56D. Reason to head for the hills
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58D. Drill
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60D. "Geaux Tigers!" sch.
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62D. John M. ___, director of 2024's "Wicked"
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63D. Showing signs of working out, say
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65D. "Let's do this!"
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66D. Use a divining rod
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67D. Midwest birthplace of Marlon Brando
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68D. Buddies, in Bayonne
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69D. Wisecrack
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73D. Musical Yoko
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74D. Big bang source
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77D. Like London's Kew Gardens
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79D. Surprised greeting
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80D. Word with black or coffee
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81D. Covenant keepers
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82D. Something in which you might stand for a spell
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85D. "Lay it on me"
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87D. Ousted, democratically
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89D. Sushi topper
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90D. Boutonniere counterpart
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91D. Eccentric
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94D. Many a modern-day septuagenarian
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96D. Pricing game on "The Price Is Right"
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97D. Avatar, e.g.
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98D. Smash hit
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99D. Teresa of ___
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100D. Sacred Sanskrit texts
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101D. Card game played in Dickens's "The Pickwick Papers"
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102D. Drew back
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107D. Website with a "Star Seller" program
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108D. Binary
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109D. Setting for most of the TV series "Pachinko"
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110D. Time for a social media break, maybe
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111D. ___ fixe
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113D. Office address abbr.
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115D. Cupcake, in Ireland
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116D. Not to
We also recommend trying your hand at the NYT Mini Crossword, which is definitely easier (on all days!) as it is a 5×5, compared to the full-sized crossword (which is 15×15, and the Sunday edition is 21×21!). New crosswords are released at 10PM ET on weekdays and 6PM ET on weekends.
The New York Times crossword was first published in The New York Times in 1942 and has been a daily feature ever since. It is known for its high level of difficulty and for its clever, often playful, clues and themes. The puzzles range in size from 15x15 grids on weekdays to larger 21x21 grids on Sundays, with varying levels of difficulty.
The New York Times crossword is created by a team of skilled puzzle constructors and editors, who work to ensure that each puzzle is both entertaining and challenging for solvers. The puzzles are often themed, with clues and answers related to a particular subject or concept, and they frequently feature wordplay and puns.
Solving the New York Times crossword has become a beloved pastime for many, and there are even competitions and clubs devoted to crossword puzzle solving. The New York Times crossword is available in print in the newspaper and online, and it has a dedicated following of loyal solvers who eagerly await each day's puzzle.
If you’re still struggling to solve your NYT crosswords, consider practicing with the Eugene Sheffer and Thomas Joseph dailies first. If you’re looking for similarly challenging crosswords, we recommend the WSJ Crossword and LA Times Crossword.
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