“Areas of influence” crossword clue

Reveal the answer to see why it works and where this clue has appeared before.SPHERES is the answer to the New York Times crossword clue “Areas of influence”. It was last seen in the puzzle of December 21, 2025, where it runs at 42 Across and fills 7 squares. It crosses 7 other entries in that grid — those are listed below and are the quickest way to confirm the letters you already have. This exact clue has run 2 times in NYT puzzles, first on December 21, 2025.