“Best of the best” crossword clue

Reveal the answer to see why it works and where this clue has appeared before.ELITE is the answer to the New York Times crossword clue “Best of the best”. It was last seen in the puzzle of December 1, 2025, where it runs at 6 Down and fills 5 squares. It crosses 5 other entries in that grid — those are listed below and are the quickest way to confirm the letters you already have.