This clue appeared in the NYT Crossword on Friday, August 14, 2026 (23 Down). The answer is hidden below until you want it. Friday puzzles are themeless and hard, with clues that are vague on purpose.
Answer length: 3 squares
First letter
A _ _
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About the answer
ALI as a word: A male given name from Arabic; (Islam) The Caliph Ali ibn Abi Talib, considered by Shias to be Muhammad's first successor (imam).
ALI has been an answer 21 times in the NYT Crossword and Mini since November 30, 2025.
Other clues with the same answer
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More clues from this puzzle
- "… plus ___" (13 Down)
- Unfruitful (17 Down)
- Animated 2011 film set in Brazil (19 Down)
- Person that's best left alone (22 Down)
- Shoot the breeze (24 Down)
- Philosophy of "Keep things simple," in a sense (25 Down)
- "How do ___ grow? They grow out of your life": Robert Penn Warren (26 Down)
- Scratch that! (28 Down)
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