Our NYT Crossword Hints for September 20, 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 September 20, 2026
You’ll find hints for all of the crossword clues for the NYT Crossword on 9/20/26. 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. Special-ordered
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7A. Sections of a circle's circumference
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11A. NASCAR stat that varies widely by venue
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18A. Banderas of 2024's "Babygirl"
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20A. Coaster feature, maybe
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21A. Assembles in proper order
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22A. Mar, as a reputation
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23A. See 25-Across
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24A. Maligns
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25A. With 23-Across, March Madness tournament round
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27A. Mouths (off)
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29A. Pact that preceded the U.S.M.C.A.
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30A. Burnable bog stuff
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31A. Burnt chimney stuff
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33A. High-speed Olympic sport
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34A. See 37-Across
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35A. One who might have perfect pitch?
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37A. With 34-Across, full extent of something
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43A. "Holy moly!"
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45A. Defensive player who keeps an eye on the QB, in football lingo
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46A. Red-coated cheese
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47A. ___ funny
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48A. Bigwig
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52A. Own (up)
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55A. It's off the wall!
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57A. "Red" or "1989," to Swifties
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58A. Buck ___, first African American coach in Major League Baseball
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60A. Extremely soft, in music: Abbr.
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62A. See 64-Across
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63A. Chew the fat
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64A. With 62-Across, Beatles classic with the lyric "Will you still need me / Will you still feed me"
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67A. Noted exile isle
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69A. Energy-efficient bulb, for short
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71A. ___ orange, tree whose fruit has a brainlike appearance
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72A. Native Nebraskans
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75A. See 78-Across
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76A. Author who purportedly drew inspiration from a filing cabinet labeled "O-Z"
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78A. With 75-Across, "So very appreciated!"
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81A. Hold up
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83A. Narnia or Neverland
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86A. Give it a whirl
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87A. Violinmaker of Cremona
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88A. Letters from your folks?
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89A. So cool!
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92A. Follower of John in the New Testament
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94A. Chef with "New New Orleans"-style cooking
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96A. Greatest guy?
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97A. See 101-Across
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98A. Vent
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100A. Part of SCOTUS
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101A. With 97-Across, Vegas casino machine
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107A. No-cash deal
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111A. Lay off
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112A. Culprit, in police lingo
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113A. Modern pentathlon equipment
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115A. Metaphor for a too-hot room
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116A. Actress Christine whose last name sounds like a pair of musical notes
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118A. Ill will
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120A. Number written above and to the right of another number … as seen five times in this puzzle?
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122A. Weigh down, and then some
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124A. Number with a 120-Across, mathematically
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126A. Armand of “American Gangster”
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127A. Many mailbox stuffers
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128A. Zest
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129A. Iced tea request
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130A. Clumsy
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131A. Move fast, as a cloud
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132A. Road trip stopovers
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1D. Pampering place for a Persian
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2D. Not impressed ...
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3D. Watch via Hulu, say
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4D. Online forum qualifiers such as /j ("joking") or /s ("sarcastic")
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5D. "I'll deal with this right now!"
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6D. Keeps hydrated, as vegetables in the produce aisle
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7D. Sitcom character from Melmac
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8D. Aussie animals
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9D. Item
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10D. Alfalfa shoot
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11D. Stockholder's setback
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12D. Weisshorn or Finsteraarhorn
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13D. Not merely enough to go around
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14D. Island containing Kiribati's capital
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15D. "Don't pay any mind to this"
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16D. Zoom, e.g.
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17D. Feminine pronoun in Florence
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19D. Would you look at that!
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21D. Wedding reception hiree
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26D. Partner of aahs
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28D. "So-o-o gross!"
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32D. A-one
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36D. With nary a chance
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38D. Ingredient in some hair relaxers
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39D. Make a long story short, say
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40D. Individually
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41D. Female rabbit
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42D. Elbow-bender
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44D. Popular singer of the Hawaiian folk song "Pearly Shells"
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48D. Sup
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49D. Sonicare competitor
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50D. Reschedule, so to speak
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51D. Things that drivers sometimes leave behind?
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53D. Letters on a lip balm tube
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54D. Scare stiff
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56D. Some old Disney collectibles
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59D. Arriving by
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61D. Tables
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65D. Stiller’s comedic partner
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66D. Incur a cellphone surcharge, perhaps
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68D. Electrical impulse transmitters
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70D. Face-off
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73D. Catchall abbr
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74D. Priced to be, as bail
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77D. Fortified wine from Spain
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79D. Home of NoHo and SoHo
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80D. "Catch ya in the morn!"
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82D. Main squeeze, in newer slang
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84D. Lascivious look
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85D. Old-timey teacher
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89D. Sped or bled ... or led
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90D. ___ Lilly (Mounjaro maker)
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91D. Pointe shoe accessories
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93D. Amy who wrote "Saving Fish From Drowning"
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95D. Balloon pilot, say
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99D. Worth a pick?
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102D. Stick to simple and unprocessed foods, say
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103D. State with only three counties (Abbr.)
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104D. Illegal offerings
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105D. High-level H.S. class with derivatives
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106D. Star football player?
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108D. Get even for
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109D. Kind of insurance for bridges
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110D. Types (in)
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114D. Surrey's Derby town
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116D. Singer/dancer/actress Falana
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117D. Say for sure
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118D. Org. supporting sobriety checkpoints
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119D. Father of five sons in the Bible
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121D. ___ buco
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123D. Adornment on a boathouse wall
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125D. Heel, e.g.
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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