This clue appeared in the NYT Crossword on Thursday, January 1, 2026 (36 Down). The answer is hidden below until you want it. Thursday puzzles often have a trick, such as a rebus (several letters in one square) or answers that bend the rules.
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 (one square holds more than one letter)
First letter
M followed by 2 more squares
Show the answer
About the answer
MALTA as a word: An archipelago and country in Southern Europe, in the Mediterranean Sea. Official name: Republic of Malta. Capital: Valletta; The largest island in the Maltese Archipelago.
MALTA has been an answer 2 times in the NYT Crossword and Mini since January 1, 2026.
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