Our NYT Crossword Hints for October 23, 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 23, 2026
You’ll find hints for all of the crossword clues for the NYT Crossword on 10/23/26. 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. Have serious plans
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9A. One of the fam
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14A. Annual appraisal statement
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15A. Positioned to win
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16A. Track event won by the fastest four legs
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17A. Marvel Comics villain with an explosive superpower
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18A. American court org.
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19A. Ensemble piece
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21A. Some sous-chef scraps
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23A. Three-time Olympic figure skating champion
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24A. A.M. cupfuls
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26A. Band at a Jimmy Buffett concert?
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28A. "America's Largest Classroom"
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29A. Cinch
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30A. With whom one pools pounds for quarters
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33A. Copy
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34A. Count to 10, perhaps
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35A. Opposite of proud
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37A. Get past a paywall, say
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38A. Boundaries between areas with different amounts of coverage
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40A. Healing agent
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41A. Hardly worth mentioning
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42A. Counterpoint segue
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43A. One who's left at the polls, informally?
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44A. Bobby ___, first recipient of the Best New Artist Grammy Award (1960)
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46A. Plague that precedes lice in Exodus
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50A. "Let go of unrealistic expectations," e.g.
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53A. Fabled example of poor competition strategy
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54A. Actress Amanda of "Easy A"
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55A. Penalty for exceeding a payroll threshold, in sports lingo
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57A. Cartoonish bouncing sound
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58A. "Hang on a sec"
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59A. They can help one get a leg up, informally
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60A. What all the buzz is about?
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1D. ___ days (times past)
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2D. Emma ___, protagonist of "A Woman of Substance"
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3D. "Don't believe one word of that!"
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4D. "I'm afraid not, laddie"
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5D. Actress Sedgwick
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6D. Word with comb or towel
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7D. "Your offer is too good to refuse"
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8D. Minestrone morsel
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9D. Dwelling for clergy
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10D. "The most beautiful river on earth," per Thomas Jefferson
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11D. One may sit near a bench marking time
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12D. Strap-and-buckle shoes named for a comic strip character who wore them
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13D. Bother
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14D. Beat but good
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20D. Daughter of one's 9-Across
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22D. Firmly committed to
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25D. Beat a map app's arrival time estimate, say
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27D. Global fiscal policy org.
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29D. Poetic device with inexact sound-alikes
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30D. "Ha! Betcha didn't see that coming!"
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31D. Abnormal talkativeness
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32D. Lingering aura of success
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33D. Most important
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34D. "Thou art fairer than the evening air ___ in the beauty of a thousand stars": Marlowe
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36D. Said with a wink, say
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39D. Reddish fish sometimes served tartare
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41D. "Dang!"
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44D. Pieces in the game Othello
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45D. Scraps
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47D. Writer of the story "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?"
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48D. Funds for research
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49D. Cellphone hot line?
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51D. Care for
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52D. Remedy for deflation
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54D. Kind of joint associated with smoking, informally
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56D. Pulitzer-winning biographer Chernow
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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