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NYT Crossword — October 1, 2026

Thursday’s 15 × 15 puzzle, 78 clues. The full solution is below — answers stay masked until you reveal them, one clue or all at once.

0 of 78 revealed

1P

2U

3M

4A

5A

6B

7B

8A

9P

10R

11O

12F

13S

14C

R

O

C

15T

R

E

X

16A

E

I

O

U

17P

L

E

D

18G

E

O

FALL

E

19G

I

A

N

C

E

20C

O

O

K

21D

R

U

M

K

I

T

22O

23Z

24S

25E

V

E

26A

T

S

27P

A

Y

28SLIP

S

E

R

29V

30I

C

E

31T

32A

33T

34U

P

R

O

A

R

35E

R

E

36M

A

C

E

37S

A

I

N

T

38A

G

E

39C

E

L

I

A

40E

T

A

S

41R

N

A

42S

H

R

E

D

S

43S

A

N

44M

A

G

N

45E

T

I

C

S

TRIP

E

46L

U

V

47N

A

S

48E

S

T

49L

50E

51G

U

M

E

52S

53I

B

E

54T

55S

T

U

M

B

L

I

56N

G

B

L

O

57C

58K

59S

60A

T

S

E

A

61N

A

M

E

62G

A

I

A

63T

U

T

T

I

64S

H

A

D

65A

R

M

Y

Across

37 clues

1Sneaker brand whose logo features the "Formstrip"

5"Thank You for the Music" group

9Some instructors, for short

14Gator's relative

15"King of all kings" in the prehistoric world, familiarly

16Features of gathering clouds?

17Patriotic recitation since 1892

20Concoct, with "up"

21It may include toms and a snare

22Abbr. on a scale

26Tagging symbols

27Expresses support without meaning it

34Quite the stir

35Bygone "before"

36Means of self-defense

37Joan of Arc, for one

38It's just a state of mind, to some

39Cruz known as the "Queen of Salsa"

40Some midflight announcements, in brief

41Molecule in protein synthesis

42Disposes of securely, in a way

43Start of the names of four of the U.S.'s 20 largest cities

44Obsolescent credit card feature

46Term of affection in the U.K.

47Rapper with the 1999 #1 album "I Am ..."

49Chickpeas, e.g.

53"Uh-huh, sure it is"

55Obstacles ... or a hint to three squares in this puzzle

62Goddess of the earth

63All together, in music

64Migratory fish with exceptionally sensitive hearing

65The Black Knights of the N.C.A.A.

Down

41 clues

1Doc seen for an annual checkup

2Address letters

4Band whose logo is stylized with a lightning bolt

5Came by for dinner

6Word with power or pawn

9Great Basin tribe

11Cry heard by Old MacDonald

12Central points

13Woodpecker food

19Words that might come before a meal

22Major works of art

23Mexican revolutionary Emiliano

24Resident of Aleppo

28Moccasins and loafers, e.g.

29Free of animal products

32Hallucinatory experiences

33It comes with cups and saucers

36Chicago exchange, in brief

39Sculptor's tool

41French composer who refused the Legion of Honour in 1920

44Gateway of India locale

45Tough nut to crack

46"Network" director Sidney

49Hurdle for an aspiring atty.

50Words of reproach following a betrayal

52Things confessed

56"I don't wanna"

57It might be on a lot

58"___ Possible" (2000s animated series)

Click a clue for its own page with the answer and a short explanation.

Stats & info

Thursday, Oct 1, 2026

15×15

Grid size

78

Total entries

36/189

Black / letter cells

5.1

Avg entry length

18 ltrs

Longest entry

Tricky

Thursday difficulty

PuzzleThe Crossword

PublishedOct 1, 2026

DayThursday

ThemeUntitled

ConstructorJill Singer

EditorWill Shortz

Clue split37 across · 41 down

Longest entries

17APatriotic recitation since 189218 ltrs 55AObstacles ... or a hint to three squares in this puzzle15 ltrs 27AExpresses support without meaning it14 ltrs 44AObsolescent credit card feature14 ltrs 32DHallucinatory experiences9 ltrs

Thursday is the gimmick day: rebus squares, reversed entries and other tricks are fair game. This grid has 36 black squares and averages 5.1 letters per entry.