This clue appeared in the NYT Crossword on Saturday, June 20, 2026 (3 Down). 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
E _ _ _ _
First and last letters
E _ _ _ E
Show the answer
About the answer
ERODE as a word: To wear away by abrasion, corrosion, or chemical reaction; (figurative) To destroy gradually by an ongoing process.
ERODE has been an answer 9 times in the NYT Crossword and Mini since November 13, 2025.
Other clues with the same answer
More clues from this puzzle
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- Bulb that becomes translucent when heated (7 Down)
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