NYT Crossword · The New York Times
The Crossword Clues, Hints & Answers for October 31, 2018
Wednesday, October 31, 2018
By WordFinderZ Puzzle TeamLast updated How we make hints
This archive page covers the The Crossword from Wednesday, October 31, 2018. The daily crossword is the classic: a 15×15 grid on weekdays and a larger Sunday puzzle, with difficulty rising from a gentle Monday to a fiendish Saturday. Hints come first and the solution stays hidden until you ask for it.
Across clues & answers
- 10
- 34
- 64
- 68
Down clues & answers
- 21
- 54
Know someone stuck on this one? The link opens on the hints, not the answer.
Previous The Crossword answer
Tuesday, October 30, 2018
across
- 1. Riding on: ATOP
- 5. Place to get pampered: SPA
- 8. Summoned on an intercom, say: PAGED
- 13. Witty comebacks: RIPOSTES
- 15. University town named for an Indian chief: ORONO
- 16. Picture often used as an altarpiece: TRIPTYCH
- 17. Combs (through): SIFTS
- 18. Oozing: SEEPY
- 19. Word before status or studies: SOCIAL
- 21. Golfer Ernie: ELS
- 23. Corruption from deep inside: ROT
- 24. Puppy's cry: YIP
- 27. "Talented" title character portrayed by Matt Damon: MRRIPLEY
- 30. Lady of Spain: DAMA
- 31. Assent at sea: AYE
- 32. Veer the other way: ZAG
- 33. Swell: AOKAY
- 34. Late night for a working stiff ... or a hint to the shaded squares: GRAVEYARDSHIFT
- 38. Came to the rescue: AIDED
- 39. Help in finding buried treasure: MAP
- 40. "The ___ of Pooh," 1982 best seller: TAO
- 41. It's prologue, they say: PAST
- 42. Put on a windowsill to mature, say: SUNRIPEN
- 45. Author LeShan: EDA
- 46. Samovar, e.g.: URN
- 47. Schubert's "The ___ King": ERL
- 48. Delaware Valley tribe: LENAPE
- 51. Too, in Toulouse: AUSSI
- 55. Like a river at its mouth, not at its head: BROAD
- 57. Narcissists' excursions?: EGOTRIPS
- 59. Coming in handy: OFUSE
- 60. Care about something, in slang: GIVEARIP
- 61. More curious: ODDER
- 62. Government org. for retirees: SSA
- 63. Microscope part: LENS
down
- 1. Theater, dance, etc.: ARTS
- 2. Firestone product: TIRE
- 3. Member of the Sons of Anarchy on FX's "Sons of Anarchy": OPIE
- 4. Device used with corn kernels: POPPER
- 5. Hog heaven?: STY
- 6. Bench presser's pride, informally: PECS
- 7. Off the main: ASHORE
- 8. Put forth: POSIT
- 9. Met solo: ARIA
- 10. "Get lost!": GOFLYAKITE
- 11. "The Lord of the Rings" creature: ENT
- 12. First of two lists in fashion advice: DOS
- 14. Like the artists' names P!nk and Ke$ha: STYLIZED
- 20. Playing hard to get, say: COY
- 22. Neuter: SPAY
- 25. "Your work is awesome!": IMAFAN
- 26. Words before a name on a check: PAYTO
- 27. Big number: MYRIAD
- 28. Says the words on the page: READSALOUD
- 29. JFK alternative: LGA
- 30. "Stupid me!": DOH
- 31. Slack-jawed: AGAPE
- 33. Say the "h" in "historical," say: ASPIRATE
- 35. Dog doc: VET
- 36. J.F.K. alternative in 1960: RMN
- 37. Venture: DARE
- 42. Lady of Spain: Abbr.: SRA
- 43. Removes, as from a fixed rate: UNPEGS
- 44. Like ghosts and goblins?: PLURAL
- 46. Six feet ___: UNDER
- 49. Relaxation: EASE
- 50. Protection: Var.: EGIS
- 52. Beget: SIRE
- 53. What a pool shark puts on a ball: SPIN
- 54. Comcast Xfinity and others, in brief: ISPS
- 55. Halloween cry: BOO
- 56. Old postal letters: RFD
- 58. In vitro fertility needs: OVA
More daily puzzle hints
- WordleGuess the five-letter word in six triesGuide & tips
- ConnectionsSort 16 words into four hidden groupsGuide & tips
- StrandsFind the themed words hidden in a letter gridGuide & tips
- Spelling BeeMake words from seven letters around a center letterGuide & tips
- Mini CrosswordA bite-size crossword you can finish over coffeeGuide & tips
- Connections: Sports EditionConnections with a sports-only word poolGuide & tips
- Letter BoxedChain words around a square using all 12 lettersGuide & tips
- Midi CrosswordThe mid-size crossword between the Mini and the dailyGuide & tips
How the week is built
- Monday and Tuesday: straightforward definitions and familiar answers. These are the best days to learn.
- Wednesday: a step up, often with a playful theme.
- Thursday: the trick day, with rebus squares (several letters in one square) and answers that turn corners or skip squares.
- Friday and Saturday: themeless and tough, with sly clues and long open sections.
- Sunday: a bigger 21×21 grid with a theme, about as hard as a Wednesday or Thursday.
Crossword-solving habits worth building
- Learn the common fill. Short vowel-heavy words such as ERA, OREO, ALOE and ETNA appear constantly because they help constructors connect sections.
- Read clue signals. "?" means wordplay, "Abbr." means an abbreviation, "e.g." means an example of a category, and a foreign word in the clue hints at a foreign answer.
- Find the theme. The longest answers usually share a gimmick; the title (on Sundays) or a "revealer" clue explains it.
- Erase without fear. When crossings don't work, the wrong letter is usually in the answer you were most confident about.
- Use targeted help. Reveal one letter here, or try our crossword solver with a pattern like ?R?S?.
The Crossword FAQ
When is the next crossword released?
Weekday puzzles go live at 10 p.m. Eastern Time the night before; weekend puzzles are released earlier in the evening.
What is a rebus square?
A square that holds more than one letter. Sometimes it holds a whole word or a symbol. They are most common on Thursdays.
Which day is the hardest?
Saturday is generally the hardest, followed by Friday. Sunday is larger but closer to midweek difficulty.
Can I see past crossword answers?
Yes. Each date we have covered is in the crossword archive.