Softens with sudden sympathy or affection Crossword Clue

We have the 5-letter answer for Softens with sudden sympathy or affection crossword clue, last seen in the NYT Crossword October 18, 2026 puzzle. Let us help you solve the crossword clue that has you stumped so you can finish the puzzle.

Softens with sudden sympathy or affection Crossword Answer

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Helpful Hints

Hint 1: Clue Definitions

AFFECTION (noun)
1. a positive feeling of liking
SYMPATHY (noun)
1. sharing the feelings of others (especially feelings of sorrow or anguish)
2. an inclination to support or be loyal to or to agree with an opinion

Hint 2: Anagram

Unscramble the letters below to solve for today's answer.
SMELT

More NYT Crossword (10/18/2026) Answers

Across

1. Beneficiary of early capital

8. Bless, in a way

14. Close female friend … in relative terms

20. Less than satisfactory, slangily

21. Like some cyborg parts

22. Extended play?

23. Heyhowareyou

25. Journalist Michele with two Peabody Awards

26. Walkers, informally

27. Send

30. "Behold," in Latin

31. Bob ___, alter ego of Mr. Incredible

32. "What"

35. Mythical figure whose name means "murmuring rock"

38. Justice ___ Coney Barrett

39. Summer setting in S.F.

40. Party takeaway

41. N.F.L. accolade

44. View spoiler

49. All--can-eat buffet

51. Fiber-rich substance

53. Exam for future docs

54. Fenway squad

55. "Since brass, ___ stone, ___ earth, ___ boundless sea …": Shak.

56. ___-mo

57. Steamy

59. Zip

61. It follows a coin toss

64. Zip

65. This

70. Large volume

71. They can make a pronounced difference

72. Bond

73. Historic figure targeted in Stephen King's time-travel novel "11/22/63"

75. Small + or -

76. Apt name for a thief

78. Tree that can be a source of water for thirsty elephants

83. Nibble

84. Brand represented by Happy the Oil Drop

86. See 88-Across

88. Here

90. Admits

92. Follow-up to "Sit!"

93. Off work, for short

94. Figure, informally

95. Making a strong effort

97. Non, ni, 'a'ole

103. Nickname for Ellen or Helen

104. [Beep!]

105. One of the Three Musketeers

106. "S.N.L." alum Gardner

108. Artist who kept a pet ocelot

112. In

114. Taib? Tbia?

117. It's cold in Italy

118. Shifts gears, say

119. Nation bordering the Black Sea

120. Analogue of a delete key

121. In

122. "That ship has sailed"

All Answers

Down

1. Short cut

2. Beep, e.g.

3. Undercover?

4. Has regrets about

5. ___ Allen, host of "Chopped"

6. Make public, as secret documents

7. Novel form of summer escapism?

8. Connive with, maybe

9. Second-generation Japanese American

10. Alley ___

11. How a boss might communicate new policy

12. With courtesy

13. Immune system agent

14. Toothpaste brand since 1961

15. Italian diminutive suffix

16. It turns when driven

17. Logo of the W.N.B.A.'s New York Liberty

18. Name found in "Americana"

19. Go back to square one

24. Sex symbol of the 1950s-'60s, familiarly

29. Hypercompetitive and driven, say

31. Staff

33. Street application

34. Indigenous people of the Salt Lake Valley

35. Weak, as an excuse

36. "Ibis" poet

37. Bob who painted "Cabin at Sunset," which sold for over $1 million to benefit public media

40. Fragrant holiday purchase

42. Gawker

43. Goody-goody sort

45. Young salmon

46. Eight-related

47. Like Amazon forests, typically

48. Series finale?

50. Maze's goal

51. Comes into one's own

52. [So-o-o funny!]

56. Reason to head for the hills

58. Drill

60. "Geaux Tigers!" sch.

62. John M. ___, director of 2024's "Wicked"

63. Showing signs of working out, say

65. "Let's do this!"

66. Use a divining rod

67. Midwest birthplace of Marlon Brando

68. Buddies, in Bayonne

69. Wisecrack

73. Musical Yoko

74. Big bang source

77. Like London's Kew Gardens

79. Surprised greeting

80. Word with black or coffee

81. Covenant keepers

82. Something in which you might stand for a spell

85. "Lay it on me"

87. Ousted, democratically

89. Sushi topper

90. Boutonniere counterpart

91. Eccentric

94. Many a modern-day septuagenarian

96. Pricing game on "The Price Is Right"

97. Avatar, e.g.

98. Smash hit

99. Teresa of ___

100. Sacred Sanskrit texts

101. Card game played in Dickens's "The Pickwick Papers"

102. Drew back

107. Website with a "Star Seller" program

108. Binary

109. Setting for most of the TV series "Pachinko"

110. Time for a social media break, maybe

111. ___ fixe

113. Office address abbr.

115. Cupcake, in Ireland

116. Not to

All Answers