NYT Crossword

Goes bad

Latest answer — October 13, 2026

51 Across

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Clue explained

“ROTS” is the published 4-letter fill for 51 Across. Use the crossing letters in the grid below to verify how it fits.

Clue type:
Crossword fill

NYT Crossword

This clue’s Tuesday, October 13, 2026 appearance

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Crossword solution grid

Select a square to hide or reveal its letter in the 15 by 15 crossword grid.

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Across

36 clues
  1. 1___ classic ("The Rocky Horror Picture Show" or "Pulp Fiction," e.g.)
  2. 5Spongy wetlands
  3. 9Titleholder
  4. 14Engrave
  5. 15Dirt pie ingredient
  6. 16Greek goddesses of the seasons
  7. 17Optional mission in a video game
  8. 19Gradually eat away
  9. 20Selfless sort
  10. 21Shindig for someone to announce whether they're having a boy or a girl
  11. 22
  12. 23Lie next to
  13. 25Show on which Tina Fey and Seth Meyers have worked as head writers, in brief
  14. 26Tropical cocktail with bananas, strawberries, rum and coconut cream
  15. 31Go downhill fast
  16. 34Feedbag contents
  17. 36Shindig for someone settling into a new home
  18. 37
  19. 40Flips, say
  20. 42Skirt, as an issue
  21. 43Jennifer who wrote "A Visit From the Goon Squad"
  22. 45Auction unit
  23. 46Cowboy's kerchief
  24. 48Show stoppers?
  25. 51Goes badROTS
  26. 52Shindig for someone who's about to tie the knot
  27. 56
  28. 60Like a dish of veal or chicken dipped in egg and breadcrumbs, then fried in butter
  29. 62Surfers ride them
  30. 63Lunchroom
  31. 64Wolf in "The Jungle Book"
  32. 65Initials on a map until 1991
  33. 66Shindig for the cast and crew after filming is done … with a hint to entering this answer and three others in the grid
  34. 67
  35. 68Boxing stats
  36. 69Jazz singer Sylvia

Down

40 clues
  1. 1___ Millan, celebrity dog trainer
  2. 2Handy
  3. 3High-def flat screen, for short
  4. 4"Ay, ___ the rub"
  5. 5Broth that might come from a dissolved cube
  6. 6Magnetite and bauxite
  7. 7Whole that's greater than the sum of its parts, from the German
  8. 8Barfly
  9. 9Spotted African sprinters
  10. 10Car's honker
  11. 11Longtime Yankee slugger, familiarly
  12. 12Earned
  13. 13Member of a jury
  14. 18Ke Huy ___, "Everything Everywhere All at Once" actor
  15. 21Boss, in Britain
  16. 24Major Iraqi port city
  17. 27Adversary
  18. 28Quiet period
  19. 29Scandinavian capital
  20. 30Toward sunset
  21. 31Mop, as the deck
  22. 32Polynesian brew
  23. 33Smooth out, as a wrinkled shirt
  24. 35Talent broker
  25. 38Mediocre, in modern slang
  26. 39"'Tis entirely likely"
  27. 41Those going along with others' unhealthy habits
  28. 44Item worn with a hazmat suit
  29. 47Negative connector
  30. 49"Curses!"
  31. 50Fibrous connecting tissues
  32. 53Second-largest city in Northern Ireland
  33. 54"Take me ___"
  34. 55Bounds
  35. 56Substitute
  36. 57Ceremonial Maori dance
  37. 58Done
  38. 59Mark left by a whip
  39. 61"Should that be true …"
  40. 63Word before "one's losses" or "both ways"

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Every clue links to a dedicated answer page. Use the list below to scan the complete fill without opening the interactive board.

Across

  1. 1. ___ classic ("The Rocky Horror Picture Show" or "Pulp Fiction," e.g.)

    Answer: CULT

  2. 5. Spongy wetlands

    Answer: BOGS

  3. 9. Titleholder

    Answer: CHAMP

  4. 14. Engrave

    Answer: ETCH

  5. 15. Dirt pie ingredient

    Answer: OREO

  6. 16. Greek goddesses of the seasons

    Answer: HORAE

  7. 17. Optional mission in a video game

    Answer: SIDEQUEST

  8. 19. Gradually eat away

    Answer: ERODE

  9. 20. Selfless sort

    Answer: ALTRUIST

  10. 21. Shindig for someone to announce whether they're having a boy or a girl

    Answer: GENDER

  11. 23. Lie next to

    Answer: ABUT

  12. 25. Show on which Tina Fey and Seth Meyers have worked as head writers, in brief

    Answer: SNL

  13. 26. Tropical cocktail with bananas, strawberries, rum and coconut cream

    Answer: LAVAFLOW

  14. 31. Go downhill fast

    Answer: SKI

  15. 34. Feedbag contents

    Answer: OATS

  16. 36. Shindig for someone settling into a new home

    Answer: HOUSE

  17. 40. Flips, say

    Answer: RESELLS

  18. 42. Skirt, as an issue

    Answer: AVOID

  19. 43. Jennifer who wrote "A Visit From the Goon Squad"

    Answer: EGAN

  20. 45. Auction unit

    Answer: LOT

  21. 46. Cowboy's kerchief

    Answer: BANDANNA

  22. 48. Show stoppers?

    Answer: ADS

  23. 51. Goes bad

    Answer: ROTS

  24. 52. Shindig for someone who's about to tie the knot

    Answer: BRIDAL

  25. 60. Like a dish of veal or chicken dipped in egg and breadcrumbs, then fried in butter

    Answer: MILANESE

  26. 62. Surfers ride them

    Answer: WAVES

  27. 63. Lunchroom

    Answer: CAFETERIA

  28. 64. Wolf in "The Jungle Book"

    Answer: AKELA

  29. 65. Initials on a map until 1991

    Answer: USSR

  30. 66. Shindig for the cast and crew after filming is done … with a hint to entering this answer and three others in the grid

    Answer: WRAP

  31. 68. Boxing stats

    Answer: TKOS

  32. 69. Jazz singer Sylvia

    Answer: SYMS

Down

  1. 1. ___ Millan, celebrity dog trainer

    Answer: CESAR

  2. 2. Handy

    Answer: UTILE

  3. 3. High-def flat screen, for short

    Answer: LCDTV

  4. 4. "Ay, ___ the rub"

    Answer: THERES

  5. 5. Broth that might come from a dissolved cube

    Answer: BOUILLON

  6. 6. Magnetite and bauxite

    Answer: ORES

  7. 7. Whole that's greater than the sum of its parts, from the German

    Answer: GESTALT

  8. 8. Barfly

    Answer: SOT

  9. 9. Spotted African sprinters

    Answer: CHEETAHS

  10. 10. Car's honker

    Answer: HORN

  11. 11. Longtime Yankee slugger, familiarly

    Answer: AROD

  12. 12. Earned

    Answer: MADE

  13. 13. Member of a jury

    Answer: PEER

  14. 18. Ke Huy ___, "Everything Everywhere All at Once" actor

    Answer: QUAN

  15. 21. Boss, in Britain

    Answer: GUV

  16. 24. Major Iraqi port city

    Answer: BASRA

  17. 27. Adversary

    Answer: FOE

  18. 28. Quiet period

    Answer: LULL

  19. 29. Scandinavian capital

    Answer: OSLO

  20. 30. Toward sunset

    Answer: WEST

  21. 31. Mop, as the deck

    Answer: SWAB

  22. 32. Polynesian brew

    Answer: KAVA

  23. 33. Smooth out, as a wrinkled shirt

    Answer: IRON

  24. 35. Talent broker

    Answer: AGENT

  25. 38. Mediocre, in modern slang

    Answer: MID

  26. 39. "'Tis entirely likely"

    Answer: IDARESAY

  27. 41. Those going along with others' unhealthy habits

    Answer: ENABLERS

  28. 44. Item worn with a hazmat suit

    Answer: GASMASK

  29. 47. Negative connector

    Answer: NOR

  30. 49. "Curses!"

    Answer: DRAT

  31. 50. Fibrous connecting tissues

    Answer: SINEWS

  32. 53. Second-largest city in Northern Ireland

    Answer: DERRY

  33. 54. "Take me ___"

    Answer: ASIAM

  34. 55. Bounds

    Answer: LEAPS

  35. 56. Substitute

    Answer: SWAP

  36. 57. Ceremonial Maori dance

    Answer: HAKA

  37. 58. Done

    Answer: OVER

  38. 59. Mark left by a whip

    Answer: WELT

  39. 61. "Should that be true …"

    Answer: IFSO

  40. 63. Word before "one's losses" or "both ways"

    Answer: CUT

The answer to “Goes bad” in the NYT Crossword is ROTS — a 4-letter word. It appears in our available data for October 13, 2026 at 51-Across. Below you can reveal the fill one letter at a time, check the full puzzle, and open every related clue page.

“Goes bad” answer

ROTS(4 letters)

Prefer a nudge first? Use the letter tiles above to hide and reveal individual characters, or use the focused grid to confirm the crossing letters.

Why does ROTS fit?

ROTS is the published 4-letter answer at 51-Across. The highlighted path in the puzzle shows exactly where the entry sits.

When else has “Goes bad” appeared?

The same clue can return on another date, sometimes with a different fill. These are the matching appearances in the recent published records available through the Answers API.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Goes bad”?

The answer is ROTS.

How many letters are in the answer?

4 letters: ROTS.

When did this clue appear?

It appears in the NYT Crossword for October 13, 2026 at 51-Across.

Can this clue have a different answer?

Yes. Crossword clues may be reused with a different fill depending on the grid. Recent matching appearances are listed above when available.

Where can I find the rest of this day’s answers?

Open the NYT answers page for October 13, 2026 for the full grid and every clue.

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