This clue appeared in the NYT Crossword on Wednesday, January 7, 2026 (45 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: 6 squares
First letter
P _ _ _ _ _
First and last letters
P _ _ _ _ E
Show the answer
About the answer
PESTLE as a word: A club-shaped, round-headed stick used in a mortar to pound, crush, rub or grind things; (transitive) To pound, crush, rub or grind, as in a mortar with a pestle.
PESTLE has been an answer 2 times in the NYT Crossword and Mini since January 7, 2026.
Other clues with the same answer
More clues from this puzzle
- Secrecy (38 Down)
- Virus of sorts (39 Down)
- Chain email abbr. (43 Down)
- Biblical collection of 150 poems (44 Down)
- Kutcher of "That '70s Show" (46 Down)
- "Later" (47 Down)
- Clear, as a whiteboard (49 Down)
- Equivalent of a 1.3 G.P.A., say (50 Down)
Play today's NYT Crossword at The New York Times
All crossword clues · Today's NYT Crossword answers · Today's Mini answers