The answer to "Steal" in the NYT Crossword is most often ROB — a 3-letter synonym that uses the plain "take unlawfully" meaning of the word. Why ROB? "Steal" is one of the sneakiest one-word clues because the word wears…
The answer to "Aliens, for short" in the NYT Crossword is ETS — three letters, the plural abbreviation of "extraterrestrials." Why ETS? In crossword language, "for short" is a direct instruction: give the abbreviation, not the full word. Aliens are…
The answer to "Bottom of the barrel" in the NYT Crossword is WORST — five letters for the least desirable of the bunch, the dregs of the lot. Why WORST? "Bottom of the barrel" is an everyday idiom for whatever…
The answer to “Fencing swords” in the NYT Crossword is EPEES — the 5-letter plural of épée, the heaviest of the three weapons used in Olympic fencing. Why EPEES? Fencing uses three weapons: the foil (light thrusting sword), the sabre…
The answer to “___-pah” in the NYT Crossword is OOM — the 3-letter word completing “oom-pah,” the signature sound of a brass band. Why OOM? “Oom-pah” (sometimes spelled “oompah”) is the onomatopoeic name for the bouncy two-beat rhythm of German…
The answer to “Alley-___” in the NYT Crossword is OOP — the 3-letter word completing “alley-oop,” which refers to both a classic comic strip caveman and a flashy basketball play. Why OOP? This clue has two valid backstories, and constructors…
The answer to “Bygone spray” in the NYT Crossword is ALAR — a 4-letter plant growth regulator once sprayed on apple orchards, banned in 1989. Why ALAR? Alar (chemical name daminozide) was sprayed on apples to regulate growth and keep…
The answer to “___-bitty” in the NYT Crossword is ITTY — the 4-letter word that completes the playful phrase “itty-bitty,” meaning tiny. Why ITTY? “Itty-bitty” is a rhyming reduplication — a phrase where a word is repeated with a small…
The answer to “PC key” in the NYT Crossword is ESC — the 3-letter Escape key found in the top-left corner of every keyboard. Why ESC? ESC (short for “Escape”) is the universal “get me out of here” key —…
The answer to “Cosmetics alternative to Essie” is OPI — the 3-letter nail polish brand that appeared as 18-Down in the December 4, 2025 NYT Crossword by Stephan Prock & Jeff Chen. Why OPI? Essie is one of the most…
