NYT Crossword March 9, 2026 Answers

Across

1A Constellation word before Major or Minor 4 5A Something to blow off or let off 5 10A "So-o-o cute!" 3 13A Western defense grp. 4 14A "I ___ been a contender ..." 6 15A Lead-in to natal or nuptial 3 16A *Outdoor sport with sticks (1979, 1984) 11 18A Gentle touch 3 19A Letters for a mind reader 3 20A Grunt from a pigpen 4 21A Athlete's representative 5 23A Take weapons away from 6 25A *Period for Fred, Wilma and Pebbles (2016, 2023) 8 28A More in-your-business 6 30A Encourages to buy a more expensive model, say 7 31A Ernest Hemingway's "To Have and Have ___" 3 32A Monster of folk tales 4 34A Goal for collectors 3 35A *Temporary guest from a canine shelter (1988, 1991) 9 39A Oscars airer 3 42A "Pencils down!" 4 43A Double-decker, e.g. 3 45A Strings along 7 48A Some steaks 6 51A *Popular fruit dessert (2001) 8 53A Rebel as a group 6 55A Zimbalist Jr. of "77 Sunset Strip" 5 56A Plastic Ono Band's "Happy ___ (War Is Over)" 4 58A Network for "The Wire" and "Euphoria" 3 59A Birthplace of the bossa nova, informally 3 60A Academy Award category ... or a hint to the starts of the answers to the starred clues 11 64A Vietnamese holiday with a palindromic name 3 65A Baltimore baseball pro 6 66A Colorful body part ... or a colorful flower 4 67A "___ gratia artis" (classic MGM motto) 3 68A Chicken noodle scoop 5 69A Heredity unit 4

Down

1D Like expired parking meters 5 2D ___ Bran 6 3D Bobby, Peter or Greg, to Carol Brady 7 4D Internet pioneer 3 5D "Coming ___ to a theater near you" 4 6D Partner of nips 5 7D Relative of a reindeer 3 8D Suffix with lemon or orange 3 9D Ancient Central American pyramid builders 6 10D They go to a higher court 7 11D Round up, as cattle 7 12D Receiving the most rain 7 14D Grandfather clock sound 5 17D Piquant triangular chip 6 22D "Gosh!" 3 24D Starting on 4 26D Small castle tower 6 27D Guest opinion column 4 29D Corkscrew-shaped pasta 6 33D Opal or ruby 3 36D "Enough already!" 4 37D Double-reed woodwind player 6 38D Biceps, boastfully 4 39D Canadian province north of Montana 7 40D More brawny 7 41D Bugs Bunny's supply 7 44D "Now, you listen to me ..." 7 46D Beats by ___ (headphone brand) 3 47D Word with sex or status 6 49D Support for a knee or a neck 5 50D Enters a game at the half, say 6 52D Praise enthusiastically 5 54D Group assisting a sheriff 5 57D Like a bull or buck 4 61D Memorable period 3 62D Caesar of old comedy 3 63D 18-wheeler 3