NYT Crossword March 29, 2025 Answers

Across

1A Underground venues for some heavy-metal bands? 9 10A Mortify 5 15A Head honcho 9 16A Short Japanese sword 5 17A Strong indication 9 18A Political grp. dedicated to helping people who are H.I.V. positive 5 19A Roost-er 3 20A Gun 3 21A David ___, first Black mayor of New York City 7 23A It might be flat but not sharp 4 24A Give the OK 5 25A What's got about an ounce of scents? 6 28A It requires a flipper 8 31A Suffered, in a way 5 32A One always seen in a fancy fur coat 9 33A Part of an agenda 4 34A Encircled 5 35A Birdseed alternative, at times 4 36A "That's absolutely fine" 9 38A Pageant prize 5 39A Birthplace of the writer V.S. Naipaul 8 40A Barreled (out) 6 41A Lint trap? 5 42A "___ Got a Way" (Billy Joel hit) 4 43A Casting experts? 7 45A Character in a hit 2023 film who sings "Is it my destiny to live and die a life of blonde fragility?" 3 46A Lightly roast 3 49A For real 5 50A "Either way's fine with me" 9 53A Divert 5 54A Label on one Coca-Cola offering 9 55A Itinerant one 5 56A Cry from a cutthroat competitor 9

Down

1D Reason to scratch one's head 4 2D Part of a film 4 3D Neon sign word 4 4D Magic org. 3 5D Single alternative 7 6D "___ here" 6 7D Like a mark 5 8D Primary lang. of Gambia 3 9D Where to get into the nitty-gritty? 9 10D Over 7 11D They help build characters 11 12D Standoffish, say 10 13D Floor 4 14D Brewer's need 4 22D "Don't believe me" 5 23D Only beauty to go through history and retain her reputation, per Will Rogers 11 25D Good Samaritan, say 5 26D One in need of some direction 5 27D Wrigley field? 10 28D Like some steak 5 29D ___-Coeur, historic Catholic church in Paris 5 30D Position 5 32D Like many free samples 9 34D Taxonomic classification 5 37D On the edge of one's seat 7 38D Itsy-bitsy 7 40D The W.N.B.A.'s Caitlin Clark, for one 6 42D Fashion portmanteau 5 43D ___ Moore, author of "V for Vendetta" 4 44D Jules Verne visionary 4 46D Soffritto-based sauce 4 47D Parts of many $$$ portfolios 4 48D ___ Convy, host of TV's "Super Password" and "Win, Lose or Draw" 4 51D Raiders' org. 3 52D It's a mouthful 3