Here's all New York Times Crossword answers for 23 January 2025, Thursday (01-23-25). Find all answers and solutions here.
We've also tries to explain why the answer is the correct solution for each clue.
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Clues and answers
Clues followed by answers and an explanation underneath.
Adequate : SO-SO
The word "so-so" is often used to describe something that is just okay or adequate, neither good nor bad. It fits the clue "Adequate" because it means satisfactory or acceptable without being exceptional.
Advocacy org. that gained prominence in 1980s New York City : ACT UP
"ACT UP" stands for the AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power, which was a prominent advocacy organization in the 1980s in New York City, known for its activism in fighting against the AIDS crisis.
All over again : DE NOVO
The phrase "all over again" can be synonymous with "anew," meaning starting over or from the beginning.
Arrangement for an heir, perhaps : TRUST
The answer "TRUST" fits because an heir may be set up with a trust to manage their inheritance.
Bank assessment : ATM FEE
The answer "ATM FEE" fits the clue "Bank assessment" because when you use an ATM that is not from your bank, you may be charged a fee for the transaction.
Bee-dazzler? : PETAL
The clue "Bee-dazzler?" is a play on words suggesting something that dazzles bees. Bees are attracted to flowers, and petals are part of a flower, making "PETAL" the right solution.
Beethoven work initially dedicated to Napoleon : EROICA
The answer is "EROICA" because it refers to Beethoven's Symphony No. 3, also known as the "Eroica Symphony," which was initially dedicated to Napoleon Bonaparte.
Beyond cool : RAD
"RAD" is a slang term that means "cool" or "excellent," so it fits the clue "Beyond cool" perfectly.
Bit of biographical data : AGE
The answer "AGE" fits the clue "Bit of biographical data" because age is a common piece of personal information found in a biography.
Bit of haunted house décor : COBWEB
The answer "COBWEB" fits the clue "Bit of haunted house décor" because cobwebs are commonly associated with haunted houses, adding to the spooky and eerie atmosphere.
Canadian province where “Anne of Green Gables” is set : Abbr.
The answer is "PEI" which stands for Prince Edward Island. This is the Canadian province where the book "Anne of Green Gables" is set.
Classic line from the Dick and Jane series : SEE SPOT RUN
"SEE SPOT RUN" is the classic opening line from the Dick and Jane series of children's books, introducing the characters and setting the tone for the simple and repetitive style of storytelling in the series.
Common download : PDF
The answer "PDF" is the right solution because PDF (Portable Document Format) is a common file format used for downloading and sharing documents while preserving their formatting.
Discharge of water, e.g. : OUTFLOW
"Discharge of water, e.g." is a clue that suggests the answer is a term related to the movement of water. "Outflow" fits this description as it specifically refers to the outward movement or discharge of water from a particular source.
E, in a musical mnemonic : EVERY
The letter "E" is represented by the word "EVERY" in the musical mnemonic "Every Good Boy Does Fine," which helps remember the notes on the lines of the treble clef.
Early p.m. times, in brief : AFTS
The answer "AFTS" is short for "afternoons," which is a common way to refer to early p.m. times.
Eastern currency : YUAN
"YUAN" is the currency used in China, which is an Eastern country. Therefore, the answer to "Eastern currency" is "YUAN."
Either of two diverging in a Robert Frost poem : ROAD
In Robert Frost's famous poem "The Road Not Taken," the speaker comes across a point where two paths diverge in a wood. The word "road" is often used to refer to a path or way, making it a fitting answer to the clue.
Fall apart mentally : COME UNDONE
"Come undone" is a common phrase used to describe someone falling apart mentally or emotionally, making it a fitting answer to the clue.
Filter : SCREEN
The word "screen" can be used as a filter to separate out unwanted elements, making it a suitable answer for the clue "Filter."
Football powerhouse in the S.E.C. : LSU
LSU, which stands for Louisiana State University, is a well-known football powerhouse in the Southeastern Conference (S.E.C.), consistently performing well in college football and producing top NFL talent.
Geologic formation from glacial melting : ICE CAVE
The answer "ICE CAVE" fits the clue "Geologic formation from glacial melting" because an ice cave is a cave or cavity formed within ice, typically by melting glaciers or ice sheets.
Gets up : RISES
"Gets up" is a phrasal verb that means to stand up or to get out of bed. "Rises" is a synonym of this phrasal verb and fits the clue perfectly.
Grp. with a lot of intelligence : NSA
The NSA, or National Security Agency, is a government agency known for its intelligence gathering and analysis, making it a group with a lot of intelligence.
Hall & Oates hit with the opening lyric “She’ll only come out at night” : MANEATER
The opening lyric "She'll only come out at night" is from the song "Maneater" by Hall & Oates, making "MANEATER" the correct answer.
Hate : DETEST
The word "DETEST" is a synonym for "hate", making it the right solution for the clue.
Heavens : SKIES
Ether is a term used in science to describe the upper regions of space beyond the Earth's atmosphere. This is often referred to as the "heavens", making it a suitable answer for the crossword clue.
Hiring practice at a family business, say : NEPOTISM
The term "NEPOTISM" refers to the practice of favoring relatives or friends, especially by giving them jobs. In a family business, hiring family members over other qualified candidates would be considered nepotism.
Horse-racing measurements : FURLONGS
The answer "FURLONGS" is the right solution because a furlong is a unit of measurement commonly used in horse racing to measure distances. It is equal to one-eighth of a mile, which makes it a relevant term in the context of horse racing measurements.
Hurdle for a future Ph.D. : GRE
The GRE is a standardized test required for admission to many graduate programs, including Ph.D. programs. Therefore, it is a hurdle for a future Ph.D.
Land whose name meant “between two rivers” : MESOPOTAMIA
Mesopotamia is the correct answer because the name itself means "between two rivers" in Greek, referring to the region between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in present-day Iraq.
Laura of “Jurassic Park” : DERN
The answer "DERN" fits the clue because Laura Dern is the actress who played the character Dr. Ellie Sattler in the movie "Jurassic Park." The answer "DERN" is a shortened version of her last name.
Like many shots in soccer : ON GOAL
The answer "ON GOAL" is correct because shots in soccer are considered on goal when they are aimed towards the goal, potentially resulting in a score.
Literary husband of Zeena Frome : ETHAN
The literary husband of Zeena Frome is the title character in the novel "Ethan Frome" by Edith Wharton. Therefore, the correct answer to the clue is "ETHAN."
Lounges, e.g. : SOFAS
The answer "SOFAS" fits the clue "Lounges, e.g." because sofas are a type of furniture that people typically lounge on.
Metal para una medalla olímpica : ORO
"Oro" is the Spanish word for "gold," which is the metal used for Olympic medals.
Motion-sensing gaming device : WIIMOTE
The answer "WIIMOTE" is the right solution because it is a portmanteau of "Wii" (Nintendo's gaming console) and "remote," which accurately describes the motion-sensing controller used with the Wii console.
Obstacles for a driver … or what this puzzle’s circled squares represent : POTHOLES
The circled squares in the puzzle represent holes, similar to potholes on a road. The word "POTHOLES" fits the theme of obstacles for a driver and also matches the visual representation in the puzzle.
One might be worthy or formidable : FOE
The answer "FOE" fits the clue because a foe can be both worthy (a worthy opponent) and formidable (posing a challenge or threat).
Painter Bob who said “We don’t make mistakes. We have happy accidents” : ROSS
Bob Ross is a famous painter known for his TV show "The Joy of Painting" and his positive philosophy about art. The clue mentions his quote "We don’t make mistakes. We have happy accidents," making "ROSS" the correct answer.
Perfume ecclesiastically : CENSE
The word "cense" means to perfume ecclesiastically by burning incense. It is a verb that specifically refers to the act of using incense in religious ceremonies, making it the correct answer to the clue.
Pilots’ chronicles : LOGS
"LOGS" are records or journals where pilots document their flights, including details like time, distance, and any unusual occurrences.
Popeye’s creator : EC SEGAR
EC SEGAR is the right answer because he is the creator of the popular comic strip character Popeye. Popeye first appeared in the Thimble Theatre comic strip in 1929, which was created by EC Segar.
Prefix with color and county : TRI-
The prefix "tri-" means three, so when added to "color" and "county," it forms new words like tricolor and tricounty, where there are three colors or counties involved.
Remove some bugs from : DELOUSE
DELOUSE means to remove lice or other parasites from. In this case, "bugs" could refer to lice, so the answer "DELOUSE" fits the clue.
Sichuan bean curd dish : MAPO TOFU
The answer "MAPO TOFU" fits the clue because it is a popular Sichuan dish made with tofu and minced meat in a spicy sauce.
Special reading ability, for short : ESP
The answer "ESP" stands for Extra Sensory Perception, which is a special reading ability that goes beyond the five senses.
Steamed dumpling in Tibetan cuisine : MOMO
MOMO is the right answer because it is a type of steamed dumpling that is commonly found in Tibetan cuisine.
Structure with smoke flaps : TEEPEE
The answer "TEEPEE" fits the clue "Structure with smoke flaps" because a teepee is a conical tent traditionally used by Native Americans, which typically has flaps at the top to let out smoke from a fire inside.
Sunset in the West? : BOULEVARD
The answer "BOULEVARD" is the right solution because the sun sets in the west, and a boulevard is a type of wide street often associated with beautiful sunsets.
Suppose : ASSUME
The answer "SAY..." fits the clue "Suppose..." because it is a common phrase used to introduce a hypothetical situation or to suggest a possibility.
Tavern regular : BARFLY
A "barfly" is a term used to describe someone who frequents bars or taverns regularly. This makes "BARFLY" the right solution for the clue "Tavern regular."
Too : ALSO
The word "overly" can be used to mean "too much" or "excessively," making it a synonym for "too."
Unrefined metal sources : ORES
"Ores" are unrefined metal sources that are mined from the earth and contain valuable minerals that can be extracted and processed to obtain the metal.
Vulpine : SLY
The word "vulpine" means cunning or crafty, which is synonymous with the word "sly."
Way : AVENUE
"Way" is a synonym for "process."
Where people amass for Mass : NAVE
The NAVE is the central part of a church where the congregation gathers for Mass or other religious services.
Word repeated in a children’s game : DUCK
The word "DUCK" is repeated in the children's game "Duck, Duck, Goose." Players sit in a circle, and one player goes around tapping others on the head saying "duck" until they choose someone and say "goose." So, "DUCK" is the word repeated in this children's game.
Word with clothes or cleaner : STREET …
The answer is "STREET" because it can be combined with "clothes" to form "street clothes" and with "cleaner" to form "street cleaner," which are both common phrases.
Years of decline : DOTAGE
DOTAGE refers to the period of old age when someone is in a state of decline physically or mentally. Therefore, "Years of decline" is a fitting clue for the answer DOTAGE.
___ chips, snack from Hawaii : TARO
Taro chips are a popular snack from Hawaii made from taro root. Therefore, the answer to the clue "___ chips, snack from Hawaii" is "TARO."
___ school : MED
The answer to "___ school" is "GRAD" because "grad" is a common abbreviation for "graduate" which refers to someone who has completed their education at a higher level, such as college or university.
“And make it snappy!” : ASAP!
The phrase "… and make it snappy!" is a common expression used to urge someone to do something quickly or without delay. The answer "… ASAP!" is a fitting solution because "ASAP" is an abbreviation for "as soon as possible," which conveys the same sense of urgency.
“Kapow!” : BAM!
The answer "BAM!" is the right solution because it is an onomatopoeic word often used in comic books to represent a sudden impact or loud noise, similar to the sound of an explosion or punch.
“Snow Falling on ___,” 1994 mystery novel set in Washington State : CEDARS
unknown
“When in the course of human ___ …” (start of the Declaration of Independence) : EVENTS
The answer is "EVENTS" because the phrase starts with "When in the course of human" followed by the word that completes the phrase, which is "EVENTS" in this case.
“You rang?” : YES?
The phrase "You rang?" is often used as a response when someone calls or summons you. The word "YES?" is a suitable answer because it is a common way to acknowledge that you have been called.
“You’re kidding yourself!” : DREAM ON!
The phrase "DREAM ON!" is often used sarcastically to suggest that someone's hopes or beliefs are unrealistic or unlikely to come true, making it an appropriate response to the statement "You're kidding yourself!"
“___ plaisir!” : AVEC
The clue "“___ plaisir!”" is in French, and "avec plaisir" means "with pleasure" in English. Therefore, the answer is "AVEC."