This clue appeared in the NYT Crossword on Saturday, April 11, 2026 (45 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: 5 squares
First letter
A _ _ _ _
First and last letters
A _ _ _ L
Show the answer
About the answer
AFOUL as a word: (with of) In a state of entanglement or conflict (with); (archaic, principally nautical) In a state of collision or entanglement.
AFOUL has been an answer 2 times in the NYT Crossword and Mini since November 25, 2025.
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