This clue appeared in the NYT Crossword on Saturday, December 27, 2025 (42 Across). The answer is hidden below until you want it. Saturday puzzles are the hardest of the week and themeless, so clues are often deliberately misleading.
How to read this clue
The question mark warns of wordplay. Expect a pun or a second meaning rather than a straight definition.
Answer length: 3 squares
First letter
R _ _
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About the answer
RAT as a word: (zoology) A medium-sized rodent belonging to the genus Rattus; (informal) Any of the numerous members of several rodent families (e.g. voles and mice) that resemble true rats in appearance, usually having short limbs, a ....
RAT has been an answer 8 times in the NYT Crossword and Mini since December 2, 2025.
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