3/6/25
Top 40 Thursday
Are you stuck with the Crosswords With Friends Puzzle Today? Stuck No More. We offer complete solutions as well as “no spoiler” mode to give you that little extra push. Or simply use this cheat sheet to help you get the best and fastest completion time possible.
1A
Glitch in a computer program
BUG
4A
Face covering that may be “KN95” standard
MASK
8A
Pedi’s partner for some nail salon clients
MANI
12A
One day ___ time: 2 wds.
ATAT
13A
Prefix for “intellectual” or “inflammatory”
ANTI
14A
Give off
EMIT
15A
NFL player based at SoFi Stadium
RAM
16A
Secrecy-protecting contracts: Abbr.
NDAS
17A
Cub Scout groups
DENS
18A
R&B duet that was the best-selling song in the US in 1998: 4 wds.
THE BOY IS MINE
21A
Writing tool that may have a cap
PEN
22A
March Madness group: Abbr.
NCAA
23A
Ready, willing, and ___
ABLE
25A
Put into words
SAY
26A
Drumstick
LEG
29A
“Have You Ever?” singer who was one half of 18-Across’s duet
BRANDY
32A
“The First Night” singer who was the other half of 18-Across’s duet
MONICA
34A
“Like father, like ___”
SON
35A
Incredibly long time
EON
37A
Rent-___ (security guard): Hyph.
A COP
38A
One of the primary colors
BLUE
39A
Take advantage of
USE
40A
“7 Rings” singer who reimagined 18-Across in a 2024 hit with the same title: 2 wds.
ARIANA GRANDE
45A
“Skedaddle!”
SCAT
One Clue Crossword
WordBrain
WordBubbles!
Word Whizzle
Words Crush
46A
Snatch quickly
GRAB
47A
Three plus three
SIX
48A
The first word in many fairy tales
ONCE
49A
Purnell who stars on “Fallout” as Lucy
ELLA
50A
Actress Green or LaRue
EVA
51A
Buzzing insects
BEES
52A
“Black Panther” and “Creed” director Coogler
RYAN
53A
River barrier
DAM
1D
Former Packers quarterback Starr
BART
2D
Brigham Young University’s state
UTAH
3D
Coach’s strategy: 2 wds.
GAME PLAN
4D
Low ___ the totem pole: 2 wds.
MAN ON
5D
“Watch What Happens Live” host Cohen
ANDY
6D
Dry cleaner’s targets
STAINS
7D
Device that captures couples smooching in the stands: 2 wds.
KISS CAM
8D
___ personality (celebrity)
MEDIA
9D
“That’s so right!” from parishioners
AMEN
10D
Number of months in a typical pregnancy
NINE
11D
The “I” in “TGIF”
ITS
19D
Kelly Clarkson’s “Since U ___ Gone”
BEEN
20D
Condiment found in tuna salad, for short
MAYO
23D
Muscles of the lower torso
ABS
24D
___-country (subgenre that includes Blake Shelton)
BRO
26D
Certified to drive a car
LICENSED
27D
___-thriller (book involving an environmental calamity)
ECO
28D
Thin opening
GAP
30D
Fashion’s Oscar ___ Renta: 2 wds.
DE LA
31D
More recently born
YOUNGER
33D
Astronauts’ organization: Abbr.
NASA
36D
Almost
NEARLY
38D
Nibbles
BITES
39D
Not rural
URBAN
40D
Teen’s skin woe
ACNE
41D
The Iditarod, for one
RACE
42D
Lavish party
GALA
43D
Female star with a big ego
DIVA
44D
Important test such as the SAT
EXAM
45D
Weep loudly
SOB