This clue appeared in the NYT Crossword on Thursday, April 23, 2026 (13 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.
Answer length: 4 squares
First letter
M _ _ _
First and last letters
M _ _ S
Show the answer
About the answer
MESS as a word: a thing or group of things in a disagreeable, disorganised, or dirty state; hence a bad situation; (colloquial) a large quantity or number.
MESS has been an answer 7 times in the NYT Crossword and Mini since April 18, 2026.
Other clues with the same answer
More clues from this puzzle
- *Lack of pulchritude (9 Down)
- Pickle portions (10 Down)
- Something that's kept in the family ... or a hint to making sense of three pairs of answers in this puzzle (11 Down)
- Alan of "M*A*S*H" (12 Down)
- Lush (18 Down)
- Young stud (23 Down)
- Bungee jumping necessity (24 Down)
- "Assuming there's no other option for me …" (25 Down)
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