The New York Times · 15×15 on weekdays, 21×21 on Sundays

NYT Crossword Answers for October 21, 2012

Q: What if I only want a nudge?

Open a clue’s Hints link. Its page has three hints that stop short of the answer: what the answer means, how many letters it has and how it starts, and other clues that had the same answer.

Sunday, October 21, 2012 · 138 clues

This page lists the NYT Crossword from Sunday, October 21, 2012: 138 clues, each with its answer behind a reveal button. For the newest puzzle, go to today's NYT Crossword answers.

Jump to Across or Down. Tap a square for one letter, or Answer for the whole word.

Across clues

1
Carne ___ (burrito filling)
5 letters Hints for Carne ___ (burrito filling) Clue page for Carne ___ (burrito filling)
6
Times when the French fry?
4 letters Hints for Times when the French fry? Clue page for Times when the French fry?
10
Chess champion Mikhail
3 letters Hints for Chess champion Mikhail Clue page for Chess champion Mikhail
13
Highland fling participants
6 letters Hints for Highland fling participants Clue page for Highland fling participants
19
Gave props on Facebook
5 letters Hints for Gave props on Facebook Clue page for Gave props on Facebook
20
Big drop
8 letters Hints for Big drop Clue page for Big drop
22
Inveigle
6 letters Hints for Inveigle Clue page for Inveigle
23
Husky relative
5 letters Hints for Husky relative Clue page for Husky relative
24
Not entirely real, as a photo
8 letters Hints for Not entirely real, as a photo Clue page for Not entirely real, as a photo
25
"The Sorcerer's Apprentice" poet
6 letters Hints for "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" poet Clue page for "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" poet
26
Footwear preserver
8 letters Hints for Footwear preserver Clue page for Footwear preserver
28
Poetic basis for an N.F.L. team name
8 letters Hints for Poetic basis for an N.F.L. team name Clue page for Poetic basis for an N.F.L. team name
30
It has a light bark
5 letters Hints for It has a light bark Clue page for It has a light bark
31
Go back over
7 letters Hints for Go back over Clue page for Go back over
33
Affix, as a patch
5 letters Hints for Affix, as a patch Clue page for Affix, as a patch
34
Move, in real-estate lingo
4 letters Hints for Move, in real-estate lingo Clue page for Move, in real-estate lingo
35
Soft scent
7 letters Hints for Soft scent Clue page for Soft scent
38
Actress Davis of "The Matrix Reloaded"
5 letters Hints for Actress Davis of "The Matrix Reloaded" Clue page for Actress Davis of "The Matrix Reloaded"
39
Warner who played Charlie Chan
5 letters Hints for Warner who played Charlie Chan Clue page for Warner who played Charlie Chan
40
Oodles
4 letters Hints for Oodles Clue page for Oodles
41
Bands seen at Japanese weddings
4 letters Hints for Bands seen at Japanese weddings Clue page for Bands seen at Japanese weddings
42
Football figs.
3 letters Hints for Football figs. Clue page for Football figs.
43
Carnivorous plant
7 letters Hints for Carnivorous plant Clue page for Carnivorous plant
44
Christopher Robin's last name
5 letters Hints for Christopher Robin's last name Clue page for Christopher Robin's last name
45
Ripken with a 17-year consecutive game streak
3 letters Hints for Ripken with a 17-year consecutive game streak Clue page for Ripken with a 17-year consecutive game streak
46
Org. with a wing and a globe in its logo
3 letters Hints for Org. with a wing and a globe in its logo Clue page for Org. with a wing and a globe in its logo
49
___ B
4 letters Hints for ___ B Clue page for ___ B
51
BlackBerry features
9 letters Hints for BlackBerry features Clue page for BlackBerry features
53
Secretary of labor who became a Supreme Court justice
8 letters Hints for Secretary of labor who became a Supreme Court justice Clue page for Secretary of labor who became a Supreme Court justice
58
He wrote "War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength."
6 letters Hints for He wrote "War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength." Clue page for He wrote "War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength."
62
Rom-___ (some film fare)
4 letters Hints for Rom-___ (some film fare) Clue page for Rom-___ (some film fare)
63
Clearheaded
5 letters Hints for Clearheaded Clue page for Clearheaded
64
Franklin output
7 letters Hints for Franklin output Clue page for Franklin output
65
One with a reduced term?
7 letters Hints for One with a reduced term? Clue page for One with a reduced term?
68
Skipping syllables
5 letters Hints for Skipping syllables Clue page for Skipping syllables
69
Scheduled
7 letters Hints for Scheduled Clue page for Scheduled
70
___ Palace
7 letters Hints for ___ Palace Clue page for ___ Palace
71
Caper ... or going around the wrong way, in Britain?
5 letters Hints for Caper ... or going around the wrong way, in Britain? Clue page for Caper ... or going around the wrong way, in Britain?
72
Owlish
4 letters Hints for Owlish Clue page for Owlish
73
Do a line of shots?
6 letters Hints for Do a line of shots? Clue page for Do a line of shots?
74
Gabrielle of volleyball and modeling
5 letters Hints for Gabrielle of volleyball and modeling Clue page for Gabrielle of volleyball and modeling
75
Kind of barometer
7 letters Hints for Kind of barometer Clue page for Kind of barometer
79
Fossil-rich location
6 letters Hints for Fossil-rich location Clue page for Fossil-rich location
81
___ Pepper
3 letters Hints for ___ Pepper Clue page for ___ Pepper
82
Kind of dye
3 letters Hints for Kind of dye Clue page for Kind of dye
83
Warren site
5 letters Hints for Warren site Clue page for Warren site
86
Jazzman Jones
4 letters Hints for Jazzman Jones Clue page for Jazzman Jones
90
Fan noise
3 letters Hints for Fan noise Clue page for Fan noise
93
Rooty Tooty Fresh 'N Fruity establishment
4 letters Hints for Rooty Tooty Fresh 'N Fruity establishment Clue page for Rooty Tooty Fresh 'N Fruity establishment
94
Bodybuilder's count
4 letters Hints for Bodybuilder's count Clue page for Bodybuilder's count
95
Get ___ on
5 letters Hints for Get ___ on Clue page for Get ___ on
96
Skirt
5 letters Hints for Skirt Clue page for Skirt
99
Presumptuous, say
4 letters Hints for Presumptuous, say Clue page for Presumptuous, say
100
Elephantlike walker in "The Empire Strikes Back"
4 letters Hints for Elephantlike walker in "The Empire Strikes Back" Clue page for Elephantlike walker in "The Empire Strikes Back"
101
Former capital of 10+ million
5 letters Hints for Former capital of 10+ million Clue page for Former capital of 10+ million
102
Historical figure in Isabel Allende's novel "Inés of My Soul"
7 letters Hints for Historical figure in Isabel Allende's novel "Inés of My Soul" Clue page for Historical figure in Isabel Allende's novel "Inés of My Soul"
104
Pet food container
3 letters Hints for Pet food container Clue page for Pet food container
105
Digital problem
8 letters Hints for Digital problem Clue page for Digital problem
107
Like a winning X Games trick, maybe
8 letters Hints for Like a winning X Games trick, maybe Clue page for Like a winning X Games trick, maybe
111
"Harrumph!"
6 letters Hints for "Harrumph!" Clue page for "Harrumph!"
113
Inopportune
8 letters Hints for Inopportune Clue page for Inopportune
115
Island entertainer
5 letters Hints for Island entertainer Clue page for Island entertainer
116
Persuasive Dr. Seuss character
6 letters Hints for Persuasive Dr. Seuss character Clue page for Persuasive Dr. Seuss character
117
Pod
8 letters Hints for Pod Clue page for Pod
118
Daughter of King Triton
5 letters Hints for Daughter of King Triton Clue page for Daughter of King Triton
119
Retro light sources
9 letters Hints for Retro light sources Clue page for Retro light sources
120
Boasts
3 letters Hints for Boasts Clue page for Boasts
121
Predatory insect
7 letters Hints for Predatory insect Clue page for Predatory insect
122
Pirate's moniker
8 letters Hints for Pirate's moniker Clue page for Pirate's moniker

Down clues

1
Sighed line?
4 letters Hints for Sighed line? Clue page for Sighed line?
2
Guru's disciple, maybe
4 letters Hints for Guru's disciple, maybe Clue page for Guru's disciple, maybe
3
Toyota exec ___ Toyoda
4 letters Hints for Toyota exec ___ Toyoda Clue page for Toyota exec ___ Toyoda
4
Concludes
10 letters Hints for Concludes Clue page for Concludes
5
"It's ___!" ("You're on!")
5 letters Hints for "It's ___!" ("You're on!") Clue page for "It's ___!" ("You're on!")
6
Orson Scott Card's "____ Game"
6 letters Hints for Orson Scott Card's "____ Game" Clue page for Orson Scott Card's "____ Game"
7
Not a challenge at all
7 letters Hints for Not a challenge at all Clue page for Not a challenge at all
8
F1 neighbor
3 letters Hints for F1 neighbor Clue page for F1 neighbor
9
Sofas
7 letters Hints for Sofas Clue page for Sofas
10
Gets bored with
7 letters Hints for Gets bored with Clue page for Gets bored with
11
Diplomat W. ___ Harriman
7 letters Hints for Diplomat W. ___ Harriman Clue page for Diplomat W. ___ Harriman
12
What a handcuffed person may be
7 letters Hints for What a handcuffed person may be Clue page for What a handcuffed person may be
13
There's one surrounding Atlantis
6 letters Hints for There's one surrounding Atlantis Clue page for There's one surrounding Atlantis
14
Before long
4 letters Hints for Before long Clue page for Before long
15
Jeanne d'Arc, e.g.: Abbr.
3 letters Hints for Jeanne d'Arc, e.g.: Abbr. Clue page for Jeanne d'Arc, e.g.: Abbr.
16
Rest awhile
9 letters Hints for Rest awhile Clue page for Rest awhile
17
Tier
7 letters Hints for Tier Clue page for Tier
18
Reader's direction
7 letters Hints for Reader's direction Clue page for Reader's direction
21
"Stupid me!"
3 letters Hints for "Stupid me!" Clue page for "Stupid me!"
27
Postal abbr.
3 letters Hints for Postal abbr. Clue page for Postal abbr.
29
Musical family name
8 letters Hints for Musical family name Clue page for Musical family name
32
"Cantar de Mio ___" (Spanish epic)
3 letters Hints for "Cantar de Mio ___" (Spanish epic) Clue page for "Cantar de Mio ___" (Spanish epic)
34
Runoff, perhaps
9 letters Hints for Runoff, perhaps Clue page for Runoff, perhaps
35
Crop holder
6 letters Hints for Crop holder Clue page for Crop holder
36
Basic rhyme scheme
4 letters Hints for Basic rhyme scheme Clue page for Basic rhyme scheme
37
Crop holder
4 letters Hints for Crop holder Clue page for Crop holder
44
New World monkey
8 letters Hints for New World monkey Clue page for New World monkey
46
How a rocket launch is usually viewed
8 letters Hints for How a rocket launch is usually viewed Clue page for How a rocket launch is usually viewed
47
Fan
7 letters Hints for Fan Clue page for Fan
48
Stubborn ones
5 letters Hints for Stubborn ones Clue page for Stubborn ones
50
Lying about
7 letters Hints for Lying about Clue page for Lying about
52
Scores 100
9 letters Hints for Scores 100 Clue page for Scores 100
53
Reward for one who 52-Down?
8 letters Hints for Reward for one who 52-Down? Clue page for Reward for one who 52-Down?
54
Lifted
5 letters Hints for Lifted Clue page for Lifted
55
Cash back from an online purchase
5 letters Hints for Cash back from an online purchase Clue page for Cash back from an online purchase
56
Museum holding
5 letters Hints for Museum holding Clue page for Museum holding
57
Beginning of many a meal
5 letters Hints for Beginning of many a meal Clue page for Beginning of many a meal
59
Tolkien's Treebeard, e.g.
3 letters Hints for Tolkien's Treebeard, e.g. Clue page for Tolkien's Treebeard, e.g.
60
Port from which Amelia Earhart left on her last flight
3 letters Hints for Port from which Amelia Earhart left on her last flight Clue page for Port from which Amelia Earhart left on her last flight
61
TV type
3 letters Hints for TV type Clue page for TV type
64
___ expected (predictably)
5 letters Hints for ___ expected (predictably) Clue page for ___ expected (predictably)
65
Windows users
3 letters Hints for Windows users Clue page for Windows users
66
Tattler
3 letters Hints for Tattler Clue page for Tattler
67
Always, if the meter requires it
3 letters Hints for Always, if the meter requires it Clue page for Always, if the meter requires it
76
Waikiki locale
4 letters Hints for Waikiki locale Clue page for Waikiki locale
77
Brand associated with a crocodile logo
4 letters Hints for Brand associated with a crocodile logo Clue page for Brand associated with a crocodile logo
78
Dummy
4 letters Hints for Dummy Clue page for Dummy
80
Fictional Miss Jane
7 letters Hints for Fictional Miss Jane Clue page for Fictional Miss Jane
83
Central European capital
10 letters Hints for Central European capital Clue page for Central European capital
84
___ detachment
7 letters Hints for ___ detachment Clue page for ___ detachment
85
Rio de Janeiro neighborhood
7 letters Hints for Rio de Janeiro neighborhood Clue page for Rio de Janeiro neighborhood
87
Gluttonous
7 letters Hints for Gluttonous Clue page for Gluttonous
88
Setting of "Anne of Green Gables"
7 letters Hints for Setting of "Anne of Green Gables" Clue page for Setting of "Anne of Green Gables"
89
University in Center Valley, Pa.
7 letters Hints for University in Center Valley, Pa. Clue page for University in Center Valley, Pa.
90
The statue of David in Florence, e.g.
7 letters Hints for The statue of David in Florence, e.g. Clue page for The statue of David in Florence, e.g.
91
Bird: Prefix
3 letters Hints for Bird: Prefix Clue page for Bird: Prefix
92
Least defined
7 letters Hints for Least defined Clue page for Least defined
93
Steel mill input
7 letters Hints for Steel mill input Clue page for Steel mill input
95
Some cellphone settings
6 letters Hints for Some cellphone settings Clue page for Some cellphone settings
97
Certain salad green
9 letters Hints for Certain salad green Clue page for Certain salad green
98
Triage locales, for short
3 letters Hints for Triage locales, for short Clue page for Triage locales, for short
103
Trooper's tool
5 letters Hints for Trooper's tool Clue page for Trooper's tool
105
Great deal
4 letters Hints for Great deal Clue page for Great deal
106
"___ be a pleasure"
3 letters Hints for "___ be a pleasure" Clue page for "___ be a pleasure"
108
"Idylls of the King" wife
4 letters Hints for "Idylls of the King" wife Clue page for "Idylls of the King" wife
109
Mama grizzly
7 letters Hints for Mama grizzly Clue page for Mama grizzly
110
Ordered
4 letters Hints for Ordered Clue page for Ordered
112
Pep
3 letters Hints for Pep Clue page for Pep
114
"Bambi" villain
3 letters Hints for "Bambi" villain Clue page for "Bambi" villain

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Frequently asked questions

When does the NYT Crossword come out?

A new puzzle is published every day; it usually appears the evening before its date (Eastern Time). We add the clues and answers here as soon as our editors have checked them. The next one is due on Saturday, November 14, 2026.

Can I see one answer without spoiling the rest?

Yes. Every clue has its own reveal: tap a numbered square to show one letter, or Answer to show the whole word. Nothing else on the page is uncovered until you ask for it.

What if I only want a nudge?

Open a clue’s Hints link. Its page has three hints that stop short of the answer: what the answer means, how many letters it has and how it starts, and other clues that had the same answer.

How far back does the NYT Crossword archive go?

We currently have 11923 NYT Crossword puzzles, starting from the day we began covering it. Use the date strip above or the archive list below to open an earlier day.