Today's NY Times Crossword is a delightful challenge, September 26, 2024, Offering a mix of clever clues and engaging wordplay that will test your puzzle-solving skills. Whether you're a seasoned crossword intersters or regular players or just diving in for fun, this puzzle invites you to uncover hidden meanings and enjoy the thrill of discovery. Let's delve into today's answers and see how your guesses stack up!

NYTimes Crossword Answers for September 26, 2024

Across

Wonder drug: CRUELLA
(Cruella de Vil, a character known for her manipulative and controlling behavior, here playfully described as a "wonder drug.")

Have the final turn: GLOATS
(To take pleasure in someone else’s misfortune, especially after winning.)

Scolding: REPROOF
(An expression of disapproval or criticism.)

Prominent feature of Hello Kitty: HAIRBOW
(Hello Kitty's iconic accessory, a red bow worn on her head.)

Julian who founded WikiLeaks: ASSANGE
(Julian Assange, the controversial figure who founded WikiLeaks.)

Intractable situation: IMPASSE
(A deadlock or stalemate where no progress is possible.)

Some hormonal flare-ups: ZITS
(Slang for acne, often associated with hormonal changes.)

Crowd: SWARM
(A large group of people or insects moving together.)

Like hotel checkouts that may cost extra: LATE
(Refers to a late checkout, which sometimes incurs an additional fee.)

Civil rights leader ___ B. Wells: IDA
(Ida B. Wells, a prominent African American journalist and civil rights activist.)

Maximum: PEAK
(The highest point or level of something.)

Something found near a trap: LAT
(Short for lateral, often found near a plumbing trap.)

Currency of 20 countries: EURO
(The official currency of the Eurozone.)

Got the word out?: SAID
(Communicated or expressed something verbally.)

Bygone Apple products: IPODS
(Portable media players once made by Apple, now discontinued.)

Command to a getaway driver: SETPOINT
(A possible direction or target location for a getaway driver.)

Reality TV staple: DRAMA
(The emotional or conflict-driven content that often characterizes reality television.)

Three-time nominee for Best Director (1994, 2009, 2019): TARNATION
(Refers to Quentin Tarantino, the acclaimed director.)

Nation to which the island of Tortuga belongs: HAITI
(Tortuga is an island off the coast of Haiti.)

Rescues: LASVEGAS
(Las Vegas, sometimes referenced as a place of wild fortunes and "rescued" gamblers.)

What has posts all around a site: FENCE
(A structure used to enclose an area, made up of posts and connected material.)

Band dates: GIGS
(Informal term for musical performances or concerts.)

Impose, as a tax: LEVY
(To impose or collect a tax or fee.)

Foundation, e.g., for short: ORG
(Short for organization, which can refer to a charitable foundation.)

Bareilles of Broadway: SARA
(Sara Bareilles, a singer-songwriter and actress who starred in "Waitress" on Broadway.)

Palindromic family nickname: NAN
(A term for grandmother, spelled the same forwards and backwards.)

Smell: REEK
(A strong and unpleasant odor.)

Period preceding a big event: RUNUP
(The time leading up to a significant event.)

Name suffix that can combine with “Henri”: ETTA
(Etta, as in the famous jazz singer Etta James, could combine with Henri to form the name Henrietta.)

Unit of explosive power: KILOTON
(A measurement of explosive power equivalent to 1,000 tons of TNT.)

Final circuit in a track race: BELLLAP
(The last lap of a race, signaled by a bell.)

One whose mentality begins with M-E?: EGOTIST
(Someone who is excessively self-centered or obsessed with themselves.)

They take marks off at school: ERASERS
(Tools used to remove pencil marks, often used by students.)

With 63-Across, tricky football play … as represented by this puzzle’s shaded squares?: DOUBLE
(Refers to a "double reverse," a trick play in football where the ball changes direction twice.)

See 62-Across: REVERSE
(Part of the tricky football play "double reverse.")

---

Down

Kooks: CRAZIES
(Slang for people who are considered eccentric or mentally unstable.)

Film that lasts a while?: RESIDUE
(A play on words referring to residue left after something lasts or stays a while.)

Sudden riser in status: UPSTART
(A person who quickly rises in position or importance, often unexpectedly.)

Civil War and Reconstruction, e.g.: ERAS
(Historical periods defined by significant events.)

Longtime college basketball coach Kruger: LON
(Lon Kruger, a well-known college basketball coach.)

Makes a note of: LOGS
(To record or document something.)

Not many: AFEW
(A small number of people or things.)

Kind of radiation: GAMMA
(A type of high-energy electromagnetic radiation.)

Body part just below the philtrum: LIP
(The philtrum is the groove between the upper lip and the nose.)

___ exam: ORAL
(A spoken test, often in academic or professional settings.)

Biblical figure whose name is repeated in a Faulkner title: ABSALOM
(Absalom, a figure from the Bible, also featured in William Faulkner's novel "Absalom, Absalom!")

Dish with a crispy tortilla shell: TOSTADA
(A Mexican dish consisting of a fried tortilla topped with various ingredients.)

They’re often sugarcoated: SWEETS
(Desserts or candies that are covered in sugar.)

Like some goons: HIRED
(Refers to hired thugs or enforcers.)

Advanced H.S. course taught by a professoressa, say: APITALIAN
(Advanced Placement Italian, a high school course taught by a female professor.)

Russian ballet company: KIROV
(A famous ballet company based in Russia, now known as the Mariinsky Ballet.)

Related to vision: OPTIC
(Pertaining to the eyes or vision.)

“Wake word” for an Apple device: SIRI
(The voice-activated assistant on Apple devices.)

Raggedy ___: ANN
(A popular rag doll character from children's literature.)

Group of cable news talking heads: PANEL
(A group of commentators or analysts on a news program.)

Author Joyce Carol ___: OATES
(Joyce Carol Oates, an acclaimed American author.)

Burn, so to speak: DISS
(Slang for insulting or disrespecting someone.)

Playground game: TAG
(A game where players chase and tag each other.)

Announcement before taking a leap: HEREIGO
(An exclamation before attempting something daring.)

She recited her poem “On the Pulse of Morning” at Clinton’s first inauguration: ANGELOU
(Maya Angelou, a renowned poet and civil rights activist.)

More forgiving: GENTLER
(Less harsh or severe in treatment.)

Game faces?: AVATARS
(Digital representations of users in video games or online platforms.)

Point of contact between neurons: SYNAPSE
(The junction where nerve impulses are transmitted between neurons.)

Like lightning and some tongues: FORKED
(Describes something that splits into two, such as lightning or a snake's tongue.)

Powerlifter’s sound: GRUNT
(A sound made during heavy physical exertion.)

Materialized: AROSE
(Came into being or appeared.)

Hoda of morning TV: KOTB
(Hoda Kotb, co-anchor of NBC's "Today" show.)

Transportation app banned in Denmark, Hungary, and Thailand: UBER
(Uber, a ride-hailing app, has been banned in various countries.)

Parisian patriarch: PERE
(The French word for "father.")

Conditional word in programming: ELSE
(Part of an if-else statement in programming logic.)

Up to, briefly: TIL
(Short for "until.")

Loo: WC
(British term for a toilet or water closet.)

Thanks for Checking Out Today’s NYT Crossword Answers! 

As we wrap up our exploration of today’s NY Times Crossword answers for September 26, 2024, we hope you found joy in piecing together the clues and uncovering the solutions. Each puzzle is not just a test of knowledge but a celebration of language and creativity. Whether you breezed through or faced a few challenges, remember that every completed crossword is a small victory. Keep honing your skills, and look forward to the next puzzle adventure!