This clue appeared in the NYT Crossword on Monday, March 9, 2026 (14 Across). The answer is hidden below until you want it. Monday puzzles are the easiest of the week, so the clue is likely a plain definition.
How to read this clue
This is a fill-in-the-blank clue: the answer completes the phrase, title or quotation.
A clue in quotation marks is something a person might say. Look for another way of saying it, or the reply it suggests.
Answer length: 6 squares
First letter
C _ _ _ _ _
First and last letters
C _ _ _ _ A
Show the answer
About the answer
COULDA as a word: (colloquial) Contraction of could + have. [conditional of can].
COULDA has been an answer 2 times in the NYT Crossword and Mini since November 9, 2025.
Other clues with the same answer
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