This clue appeared in the NYT Crossword on Wednesday, January 21, 2026 (54 Down). The answer is hidden below until you want it. Wednesday sits mid-week in difficulty, with more wordplay than Monday or Tuesday.
Answer length: 5 squares
First letter
E _ _ _ _
First and last letters
E _ _ _ N
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About the answer
ESSEN as a word: A major industrial city in North Rhine-Westphalia, in western Germany; A surname from German.
ESSEN has been an answer 2 times in the NYT Crossword and Mini since January 14, 2026.
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