The New York Times Crossword for January 9, 2025, features a series of challenging clues designed to test solvers’ knowledge and vocabulary. Renowned for its difficulty and inventive wordplay, it’s one of the most popular crosswords worldwide. Available in both the print edition and online, it remains a favourite puzzle for enthusiasts seeking a daily challenge.
If you’re having trouble with any of the clues in today’s NYT Crossword, we’ve provided a comprehensive guide to help you find the answers you need. Simply search for the specific clue to reveal its solution without spoiling any other parts of the puzzle. This allows you to get past any tricky sections while preserving the integrity of your puzzle experience.
1A Eat dirt, say NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Dirt (noun)
- Vulgar terms for excrement
- The upper layer of the earth’s surface, composed of humus and broken-down rock
Answer:
Hint 2: Dirt (adjective)
- (of roads) uneven or poorly drained; not suitable for year-round travel
7A Info at JFK or LAX NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Lax (adjective)
- Releasing easily or in excess
- Lacking strictness or discipline
Answer:
Hint 2: JFK (noun)
- 35th President of the United States, known for founding the Peace Corps; assassinated in Dallas (1917-1963)
10A One image on a Monopoly board NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Monopoly (noun)
- A board game where players aim to dominate real estate as they move around the board based on dice rolls
- (Economics) A market with many buyers but a single seller
Answer:
Hint 2: Board (verb)
- To enter (trains, buses, ships, aircraft, etc.)
- To live and have meals at a specific place
14A Longtime Ford S.U.V. NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Ford (noun)
- 38th President of the United States, who became president after Nixon’s resignation (1913-2006)
- Son of Henry Ford (1893-1943)
Answer:
Hint 2: Ford (verb)
- To cross a river at a shallow point
15A Bring trouble to NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Trouble (noun)
- A source of difficulty or hardship
- An inconvenient or burdensome effort
Answer:
Hint 2: Trouble (verb)
- To cause physical discomfort or illness
- To disturb someone’s peace of mind, causing worry or alarm
16A Knight of film NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Film (verb)
- To create a film or photograph of something
- To capture something on film
Answer:
Hint 2: Film (noun)
- A form of entertainment that tells a story through sound and a series of images, creating the illusion of continuous motion
- A thin, often transparent sheet of material, usually plastic, used for wrapping or covering items
17A Charlie horse NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Horse (noun)
- A chess piece shaped like a horse’s head, capable of moving two squares horizontally and one vertically (or vice versa)
- Soldiers trained to fight on horseback
Answer:
Hint 2: Horse (verb)
- To supply with a horse or horses
19A “To suffer ___ which Hope thinks infinite”: Shelley NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Infinite (noun)
- The boundless space in which everything exists
Answer:
Hint 2: Infinite (adjective)
- (of verbs) Lacking tense, person, or number (such as a participle, gerund, or infinitive)
- Too many to be counted
20A Fictional thief Lupin NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Lupin (noun)
- Any plant from the genus Lupinus, featuring upright spikes of typically purplish-blue flowers
Answer:
Hint 2: Fictional (adjective)
- Created or imagined by the mind
21A Papa bear NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Bear (verb)
- To tolerate something or someone unpleasant
- To carry or have something on one’s person
Answer:
Hint 2: Bear (noun)
- An investor who expects market prices to decline, selling now to buy at a lower price later
- Large, plantigrade carnivorous or omnivorous mammals with thick fur and powerful claws
22A Body with many pages NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Body (noun)
- The quality of staying intact and maintaining its shape
- A resonating chamber in a musical instrument, such as the body of a violin
Answer:
Hint 2: Body (verb)
- To give physical form to or embody something
24A Awesome, in 1990s slang NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: 1990s (noun)
- The decade spanning from 1990 to 1999
Answer:
Hint 2: Slang (verb)
- To deceive or trick
- To insult or speak abusively using coarse language
26A Sierra Leone NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Sierra (noun)
- A type of Spanish mackerel found in western North America
- A mountain range, typically with jagged peaks and an irregular shape
Answer:
Hint 2: Leone (noun)
- The currency of Sierra Leone, subdivided into 100 cents
27A Tango number NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Number (verb)
- To arrange into a group
- To calculate or determine the quantity or amount
Answer:
Hint 2: Number (noun)
- An issue of a publication released periodically
- The characteristic of a sum or total, or an indefinite quantity of units or individuals
31A Twin actress Mary-Kate or Ashley NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Actress (noun)
- A female actor
Answer:
Hint 2: Anagram – Rearrange the letters below to solve today’s answer:
ENOLS
32A Harbor markers NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Harbor (noun)
- A protected port where ships can load or unload cargo
- A safe and secure place of refuge and comfort
Answer:
Hint 2: Harbor (verb)
- To hold or keep something in one’s possession, especially animals
- To nurture or maintain a theory, thought, or feeling
33A Longtime wire service inits. NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Service (verb)
- To mate with
- To be utilised by, as with a utility
Answer:
Hint 2: Service (noun)
- A method of providing assistance or support
- A complete set of tableware, including silver or dishware, used for dining
34A Haunted house feeling NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Haunted (adjective)
- Having or displaying an obsessive or compulsive concern with something
- Inhabited by, or as if inhabited by, ghosts or spirits
Answer:
Hint 2: Feeling (noun)
- The overall atmosphere of a place or situation and its impact on people
- An instinctive or intuitive understanding of something
35A Italian for “baked” NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Italian (noun)
- A person from Italy or a resident of Italy
- The Romance language spoken in Italy
Answer:
Hint 2: Baked (adjective)
- Dried out due to heat or prolonged exposure to sunlight
- (Cooking) Prepared by dry heat, typically in an oven, such as for bread or pastries
36A Mystery writer, in brief? NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Writer (noun)
- A professional who writes books, stories, articles, or similar works for payment
- A person capable of writing and having created written content
Answer:
Hint 2: Mystery (noun)
- Something that confounds understanding and defies explanation
- A narrative, often involving a crime (usually murder), presented with suspense and intrigue
37A Danger in a Wile E. Coyote cartoon NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Cartoon (noun)
- A film created by photographing a sequence of cartoon drawings to create the illusion of movement when shown quickly in succession
- A humorous or satirical drawing featured in a newspaper or magazine
Answer:
Hint 2: Cartoon (verb)
- To create cartoons by drawing them
38A Point at, in a way NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Point (verb)
- To be directed or aimed
- To sail in a direction close to the wind
Answer:
Hint 2: Point (noun)
- Any of the 32 directions marked on a compass rose
- A distinct, identifiable position in a sequence, continuum, or process
39A Pizzeria purchase NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Pizzeria (noun)
- A shop where pizzas are prepared and sold
Answer:
Hint 2: Purchase (noun)
- The mechanical benefit achieved by using a lever
- A means of influencing or gaining an advantage
40A Golf course NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Course (noun)
- A general direction or path of orientation
- In construction, a layer of masonry
Answer:
Hint 2: Course (adverb)
- As anticipated or expected
42A Whiskey soda NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Whiskey (noun)
- A distilled alcoholic beverage made from fermented grain mash
Answer:
Hint 2: Soda (noun)
- A sodium salt of carbonic acid, commonly used in the production of soap powders, glass, and paper
- A sweet, carbonated beverage flavored with various ingredients
43A Yours, in French NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: French (noun)
- The people of France
- An American sculptor (1850-1931) who created the seated marble statue of Abraham Lincoln in the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C.
Answer:
Hint 2: French (adjective)
- Relating to France or its people
44A Dave or Ray of the Kinks NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Ray (noun)
- A collection of almost parallel electromagnetic radiation lines
- A beam of light, such as that from a beacon
Answer:
Hint 2: Ray (verb)
- To extend or radiate outward from a central point or focus, or inward towards a center
- To expose to radiation
45A Quebec city NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Quebec (noun)
- The French-speaking capital of the province of Quebec, located on the Saint Lawrence River
- The largest province in Canada, once a French colony from 1663 to 1759 before being ceded to the British
Answer:
Hint 2: City (noun)
- A large, densely populated municipality
- A substantial urban area with a high population density, often comprising multiple independent administrative districts
48A Cut some slack? NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Slack (noun)
- A soft, wet, low-lying area of land that gives way underfoot
- A body of water with little or no current
Answer:
Hint 2: Slack (verb)
- To reduce activity or speed
- To cause to soften and disintegrate by exposure to water
50A Strong push NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Push (verb)
- To urge, drive, or motivate someone to take action or complete a task
- To exert force during childbirth to help expel the baby
Answer:
Hint 2: Push (noun)
- The act of applying force to move something away
- An electrical switch that is activated by pressing
51A Alpha male (double) NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Double (adjective)
- Referring to homologous chromosomes paired together during synapsis
- Comprising or involving two parts or components, typically in pairs
Answer:
Hint 2: Double (noun)
- A stunt performer who substitutes for movie stars to perform dangerous scenes
- A type of base hit where the batter reaches second base safely
55A Stands at first, say NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: First (noun)
- The position of the player on a baseball team stationed at the first base in the infield (counting counterclockwise from home plate)
- The designated time when something is scheduled to begin
Answer:
Hint 2: First (adjective)
- Denoting the initial unit in a sequence
- Serving to initiate or start something
56A Vivacious, theatrical and passionate type, it’s said NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Vivacious (adjective)
- Full of energy and lively in manner
Answer:
Hint 2: Theatrical (noun)
- A stage performance or production of a play
57A Info in a job posting NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Posting (noun)
- The act of sending or transmitting a letter
- A notice displayed in a public place, often as an advertisement
Answer:
Hint 2: Job (noun)
- A specific task or duty to be completed, often for a set fee
- A criminal act, particularly a robbery
58A Casting director’s offering NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Casting (noun)
- The act of casting a fishing line over the water using a rod and reel
- The process of creating something by pouring material into a mold
Answer:
Hint 2: Offering (noun)
- The act of donating to the funds of a church or charity
- Something presented or proposed, such as a bid or suggestion
59A Candy in plastic dispensers NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Plastic (adjective)
- Able to be shaped or molded, particularly when referring to materials like earth, clay, or other soft substances
- Easily influenced or shaped
Answer:
Hint 2: Plastic (noun)
- A card, typically made of plastic, that guarantees the seller the buyer has a good credit rating, with the issuer ensuring payment for delivered goods
60A “Maybe. Give me time to think” NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Think (verb)
- To form an opinion or consider; to regard or evaluate
- To recall information from memory; to remember
Answer:
Hint 2: Think (noun)
- A moment or act of intentional thought or contemplation
1D “Fleabag” airer NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Fleabag (noun)
- A shabby or dilapidated hotel.
Answer:
2D Off-line, to those online NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Off-line (adjective)
- Not linked to a computer network.
- Not part of the regular route in a transportation system.
Answer:
Hint 2: Online (adjective)
- Part of the regular route in a railway, bus, or airline system.
- Connected to a computer network or accessible via computer.
3D Plaything NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Verb
- Manipulate physically or in thought or imagination.
- Act recklessly or without concern.
Answer:
Hint 2: Noun
- A breed of very small dogs kept solely as pets.
- A miniature replica of a person or object.
4D Put at risk NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Risk (noun)
- The likelihood of becoming infected after exposure to an infectious agent.
- A venture undertaken without concern for potential loss or harm.
Answer:
Hint 2: Risk (verb)
- Take a chance in the hope of a positive result.
- Expose to the possibility of loss or damage.
5D Cold-weather driving hazard NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Hazard (verb)
- Take a chance with the hope of a positive outcome.
- Expose to risk.
Answer:
Hint 2: Hazard (noun)
- A source of danger or a potential for loss or misfortune.
- An unpredictable event or phenomenon that influences the outcome of a situation.
6D Lob in the direction of NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Direction (noun)
- The act of setting and maintaining a course.
- The focus of attention or energy on something.
Answer:
Hint 2: Lob (noun)
- A simple return of a tennis ball in a high arc.
- The act of throwing or propelling something (such as a ball or shell) in a high arc.
7D Film writer/director Goldberg NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Goldberg (noun)
- An American cartoonist (1883-1970) known for drawing detailed diagrams of complex and impractical machines that achieved little or nothing.
Answer:
Hint 2: Director (noun)
- The person who leads a musical ensemble.
- Someone responsible for managing resources and overseeing expenditures.
8D Kind of lens for long-distance shots NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Long-distance (adjective)
- Extending over a great distance.
Answer:
Hint 2: Distance (verb)
- Move far ahead of.
- Maintain a distance from.
9D Bit of medieval weaponry NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Medieval (adjective)
- Relating to the Middle Ages.
- Characteristic of the era of chivalry and knighthood during the Middle Ages.
Answer:
Hint 2: Weaponry (noun)
- Weapons taken as a whole or collectively.
10D Three-time N.F.L. Defensive Player of the Year (2012, 2014 and 2015) NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Defensive (noun)
- An attitude of defensiveness, especially in the phrase “on the defensive.”
Answer:
Hint 2: Defensive (adjective)
- Attempting to justify or protect oneself in speech or writing.
- Designed or suitable for protecting against or deterring attack or aggression.
11D Long, long time NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Time (noun)
- A reading of a specific point in time, as indicated by a clock.
- Rhythm created by dividing into equal-duration segments.
Answer:
Hint 2: Time (verb)
- Measure the duration of an event or action, or the time taken by a person to complete an action.
- Adjust so that a force is applied and an action happens at the intended moment.
12D Pointed the finger at NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Finger (noun)
- A finger’s length or width used as a unit of measurement.
- Any of the end parts of the hand, sometimes excluding the thumb.
Answer:
Hint 2: Finger (verb)
- Examine by touch.
- Feel or handle using the fingers.
13D TV journalist Ling NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Ling (noun)
- An elongated freshwater cod found in northern Europe, Asia, and North America, distinguished by barbels around its mouth.
- A common Old World heath, with many varieties, that is a low evergreen widely grown in the northern hemisphere.
Answer:
Hint 2: Journalist (noun)
- A person who keeps a diary or journal.
- A writer for newspapers and magazines.
18D Poor mark NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Poor (adjective)
- Lacking enough to fulfil a requirement
- Evoking sympathy or compassion
Answer:
Hint 2: Poor (noun)
- Individuals or groups who lack wealth or resources
21D Links figures NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Links (noun)
- A golf course situated on sandy terrain close to a shore.
Answer:
22D Singer Gomez NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Singer (noun)
- An American inventor (1811–1875) known for creating an enhanced chain-stitch sewing machine.
- An American writer of Yiddish stories and novels, born in Poland (1904–1991).
Answer:
23D Fake NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Fake (verb)
- To alter or manipulate with the intention of deceiving.
- To create a replica with the aim to mislead.
Answer:
Hint 2: Fake (noun)
- An imitation or counterfeit that is not what it appears to be.
- A person who pretends deceitfully.
25D Casual greeting NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Greeting (noun)
- (usually plural) An acknowledgment or expression of goodwill, especially when meeting someone.
Answer:
Hint 2: Casual (adjective)
- Done quickly and without careful attention to detail; not thorough.
- Marked by a sense of irresponsibility.
26D Leader of Germany? NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Germany (noun)
- A republic in central Europe, which was divided into East Germany and West Germany after World War II and reunited in 1990.
Answer:
Hint 2: Leader (noun)
- An item of merchandise sold at a loss to attract customers.
- A person who governs, guides, or inspires others.
27D Entire, in Italian NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Italian (noun)
- A native or resident of Italy.
- The Romance language spoken in Italy.
Answer:
Hint 2: Entire (adjective)
- Comprising the whole amount or extent; complete.
- Whole and undamaged, with nothing essential missing.
28D ___ Kennedy Shriver, founder of the Special Olympics NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Kennedy (noun)
- A major airport located on Long Island, east of New York City.
- The 35th President of the United States, who founded the Peace Corps and was assassinated in Dallas (1917–1963).
Answer:
Hint 2: Olympics (noun)
- The contemporary revival of the ancient games, held every four years in a chosen country.
29D Time periods NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Time (noun)
- A reading of a specific moment as indicated by a clock.
- Rhythm defined by dividing into equal-duration segments.
Answer:
Hint 2: Time (verb)
- To measure the duration or timing of an event, action, or the person performing it within a set period.
- To adjust so that a force is applied, and an action takes place at the intended moment.
30D To the ___ (with style) NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Style (verb)
- To assign an identifying term.
- To make something conform to a particular fashion or style.
Answer:
Hint 2: Style (noun)
- The prevailing taste or trend at a particular time.
- A unique and elegant form of sophistication.
32D Notable site of enlightenment NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Enlightenment (noun)
- A European movement from around 1650 to 1800 that promoted reason and individualism over tradition and established doctrine.
- In Hinduism and Buddhism, the state of beatitude that transcends reincarnation, marked by the extinction of desire, suffering, and individual consciousness.
Answer:
Hint 2: Notable (adjective)
- Widely recognised and respected.
- Deserving attention due to being interesting, significant, or unusual.
35D Pixar film set in the fictional town of Santa Cecilia NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: (Noun)
- A tall palm tree that produces coconuts as fruit, commonly found and cultivated throughout tropical regions.
Answer:
36D At the end of the day NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: End (noun)
- A leftover piece of fabric after the rest has been used or sold.
- The final goal or outcome that, once achieved, concludes the actions aimed at reaching it.
Answer:
Hint 2: End (verb)
- To bring something to a stop or conclusion.
- To serve as the final or concluding part of something.
38D Grp. whose alphabet is used eight times in this puzzle NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Alphabet (noun)
- The basic foundational stages of any subject (typically used in plural).
- A set of characters, including letters, used for writing a language.
Answer:
Hint 2: Whose (pronoun)
- The possessive form of “who” or “which.”
39D More than a few NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Few (adjective)
- A quantifier used with countable nouns, often preceded by “a,” indicating a small but indefinite number.
Answer:
Hint 2: Few (noun)
- A select, small, and elite group.
41D One of 3,000+ annually for IBM NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Annually (adverb)
- Once a year or every year, often in reference to a sum of money paid or received.
- Consistently, without skipping a year.
Answer:
Hint 2: One (adjective)
- (Informal) Extremely; used as an intensifier.
- Having the unified and indivisible quality of a single unit.
42D 1960s dance craze NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: 1960s (noun)
- The period spanning the years 1960 to 1969.
Answer:
Hint 2: Craze (noun)
- A state of intense mental agitation.
- A trend or interest pursued with excessive enthusiasm.
44D “Obviously!” NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Obviously (adverb)
- Clearly and unmistakably (with “plainly” often used informally).
Answer:
45D Groucho Marx specialty NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Specialty (noun)
- A unique asset of significant value or usefulness.
- A defining characteristic or distinguishing feature.
Answer:
Hint 2: Marx (noun)
- The founder of modern communism, who co-wrote The Communist Manifesto with Engels in 1848 and authored Das Kapital in 1867 (1818–1883).
- An American comedian, one of four brothers known for making films together (1890–1977).
46D ___ Major NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Major (noun)
- A British statesman who served as prime minister from 1990 to 1997 (born in 1943).
- A commissioned officer in the U.S. Army, Air Force, or Marines, ranking below lieutenant colonel and above captain.
Answer:
Hint 2: Major (adjective)
- Larger in quantity, size, or amount.
- In music, relating to a scale or mode with half steps between the third and fourth, and the seventh and eighth degrees.
47D Composer Stravinsky NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Stravinsky (noun)
- A composer born in Russia who later resided in the United States after 1939 (1882–1971).
- The music created by Stravinsky.
Answer:
Hint 2: Composer (noun)
- A professional who creates musical compositions.
49D The whole shebang NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Shebang (noun)
- An entire system or setup, often used in the phrase “the whole shebang.”
Answer:
Hint 2: Whole (adjective)
- Unharmed or uninjured.
- Functioning as a unified and undivided entity.
51D Challenge for a skier NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Skier (noun)
- A person who engages in skiing.
Answer:
Hint 2: Challenge (verb)
- To object or dispute.
- To formally question or raise an objection in a court of law.
52D One of the founding airlines of Star Alliance NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Alliance (noun)
- The condition of being united or confederated.
- A bond formed through kinship, marriage, or shared interests.
Answer:
Hint 2: Founding (noun)
- The act of establishing or creating something for the first time; the introduction of something new.
53D Realm of Charlemagne, for short NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Charlemagne (noun)
- The king of the Franks and Holy Roman Emperor, known for conquering the Lombards and Saxons (742–814).
Answer:
Hint 2: Realm (noun)
- A field of knowledge that one is interested in or discussing.
- The domain or territory ruled by a king or queen.
54D Fashion designer’s asset NYT Crossword Clue
Hint 1: Designer (noun)
- A person who specialises in graphic design.
- Someone who creates plots or schemes.
Answer:
Hint 2: Fashion (verb)
- To create or shape something from components, often in an improvisational manner.
