Popular Crossword Clues

Browse the most frequently used crossword clues and answers from major publications

Popular Crossword Clues

Some crossword clues appear much more frequently than others in puzzles from major publications like the New York Times, LA Times, and Wall Street Journal. These popular clues form the backbone of crossword knowledge and are worth memorizing for any puzzle enthusiast.

Browse our collection of the most common crossword clues organized by all-time popularity, recent trends, and category. Each clue includes the definitive answer and detailed explanation.

Recently Trending

The newest and most searched clues

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This Week

Hot clues from this week's puzzles

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This Month

Trending clues from this month's puzzles

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All-Time Popular

The most frequently used clues throughout crossword history

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Recently Trending Clues

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Interesting Facts About Popular Crossword Clues

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The most commonly appearing answer in NYT crossword puzzles is "ERA", appearing over 400 times since 1993.
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Three-letter answers like "ORE", "ARE", "ERA", and "ONE" appear most frequently due to their versatile letter combinations.
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The popularity of certain clues changes over time, reflecting cultural references and current events.
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Monday NYT puzzles use the most common clues and answers, while Saturday puzzles feature more obscure references.

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Popular Crossword Clues