This clue appeared in the NYT Crossword on Saturday, October 24, 2026 (25 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.
Answer length: 3 squares
First letter
R _ _
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About the answer
ROT as a word: (intransitive) To suffer decomposition due to biological action, especially by fungi or bacteria; (intransitive) To decline in function or utility.
ROT has been an answer 6 times in the NYT Crossword and Mini since January 22, 2026.
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