NYT Crossword

Complete shocker

Archive answer — September 28, 2026

18 Across

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Clue explained

“BOMBSHELL” is the published 9-letter fill for 18 Across. Use the crossing letters in the grid below to verify how it fits.

Clue type:
Crossword fill

NYT Crossword

This clue’s Monday, September 28, 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

38 clues
  1. 1Widespread disorder
  2. 6Like the exteriors of armadillos
  3. 11Fall behind in payments
  4. 14Boxing locale
  5. 15Classic radio song
  6. 16Dessert with a crust
  7. 17Solid baseball hit
  8. 18Complete shockerBOMBSHELL
  9. 20Bicycle built for two
  10. 22Round Table title
  11. 23"___ time will tell"
  12. 24Prefix with physics or thermal
  13. 25Make into law
  14. 27Alternative to French fries
  15. 31Skill needed to solve sudoku
  16. 35Suffix with fail or forfeit
  17. 36Apple platform
  18. 37"Time flies like an [50-Down]; fruit flies like a ___"
  19. 38With 41-Across, ball hit out of the park by the very first batter for either side … or a hint to the starts of 18-, 27-, 46- and 60-Across
  20. 41See 38-Across
  21. 42Coconut Girl Scout cookies
  22. 43"La Cage ___ Folles"
  23. 44Frat member
  24. 45Liability's opposite
  25. 46Detonation region
  26. 49"___ I compare thee to a summer's day?": Shak.
  27. 51Before, poetically
  28. 52What's more
  29. 55Spoil
  30. 56Performs a stylish ballroom dance
  31. 60Tropical tree whose product is sometimes used as a meat substitute
  32. 63San Francisco ballplayer
  33. 64Actress de Armas
  34. 65"Take a look!"
  35. 66Helper for computer problems, informally
  36. 67Kylo ___ of "Star Wars"
  37. 68Stockholm native
  38. 69Pursue

Down

40 clues
  1. 1"Stop!"
  2. 2Puccini's "O mio babbino caro," e.g.
  3. 3Kind of diagram with overlapping circles
  4. 4Antsy
  5. 5One's employment pursuit
  6. 6Bawl
  7. 7Places to hang clothes
  8. 8Forum overseers
  9. 9The Scales, zodiacally
  10. 10"Definitely!"
  11. 11Certain golf or tennis tournament
  12. 12Funny Ferrell or Rogers
  13. 13Slippery
  14. 19Scorcher
  15. 21Recurring thematic elements
  16. 26Happy as a ___
  17. 27City NE of Oklahoma City
  18. 28Fields
  19. 29The N.H.L. has 32
  20. 30Cartoon brawl sound effect
  21. 32Actress Greta of "Queen Christina"
  22. 33Store, as ashes
  23. 34Dugout, e.g.
  24. 37Complete series, maybe
  25. 39Gets by
  26. 40Solemn vow
  27. 41___ Guofeng, successor of Mao Zedong
  28. 43Like the score going into extra innings
  29. 46Top to accompany a skirt
  30. 47Like the fate of Ophelia
  31. 48Peak
  32. 50See 37-Across
  33. 52Cracked slightly, as a door
  34. 53Word following bike or memory
  35. 54Look at carefully
  36. 57"Shallow" singer Lady ___
  37. 58Burden
  38. 59Ailment that aptly rhymes with "eye"
  39. 61N.F.L. three-pointers: Abbr.
  40. 62Top to accompany shorts

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. Widespread disorder

    Answer: HAVOC

  2. 6. Like the exteriors of armadillos

    Answer: SCALY

  3. 11. Fall behind in payments

    Answer: OWE

  4. 14. Boxing locale

    Answer: ARENA

  5. 15. Classic radio song

    Answer: OLDIE

  6. 16. Dessert with a crust

    Answer: PIE

  7. 17. Solid baseball hit

    Answer: LINER

  8. 18. Complete shocker

    Answer: BOMBSHELL

  9. 20. Bicycle built for two

    Answer: TANDEM

  10. 22. Round Table title

    Answer: SIR

  11. 23. "___ time will tell"

    Answer: ONLY

  12. 24. Prefix with physics or thermal

    Answer: GEO

  13. 25. Make into law

    Answer: ENACT

  14. 27. Alternative to French fries

    Answer: TATERTOTS

  15. 31. Skill needed to solve sudoku

    Answer: LOGIC

  16. 35. Suffix with fail or forfeit

    Answer: URE

  17. 36. Apple platform

    Answer: IOS

  18. 37. "Time flies like an [50-Down]; fruit flies like a ___"

    Answer: BANANA

  19. 38. With 41-Across, ball hit out of the park by the very first batter for either side … or a hint to the starts of 18-, 27-, 46- and 60-Across

    Answer: LEADOFF

  20. 41. See 38-Across

    Answer: HOMERUN

  21. 42. Coconut Girl Scout cookies

    Answer: SAMOAS

  22. 43. "La Cage ___ Folles"

    Answer: AUX

  23. 44. Frat member

    Answer: BRO

  24. 45. Liability's opposite

    Answer: ASSET

  25. 46. Detonation region

    Answer: BLASTZONE

  26. 49. "___ I compare thee to a summer's day?": Shak.

    Answer: SHALL

  27. 51. Before, poetically

    Answer: ERE

  28. 52. What's more

    Answer: ALSO

  29. 55. Spoil

    Answer: ROT

  30. 56. Performs a stylish ballroom dance

    Answer: TANGOS

  31. 60. Tropical tree whose product is sometimes used as a meat substitute

    Answer: JACKFRUIT

  32. 63. San Francisco ballplayer

    Answer: GIANT

  33. 64. Actress de Armas

    Answer: ANA

  34. 65. "Take a look!"

    Answer: GOSEE

  35. 66. Helper for computer problems, informally

    Answer: ITGUY

  36. 67. Kylo ___ of "Star Wars"

    Answer: REN

  37. 68. Stockholm native

    Answer: SWEDE

  38. 69. Pursue

    Answer: CHASE

Down

  1. 1. "Stop!"

    Answer: HALT

  2. 2. Puccini's "O mio babbino caro," e.g.

    Answer: ARIA

  3. 3. Kind of diagram with overlapping circles

    Answer: VENN

  4. 4. Antsy

    Answer: ONEDGE

  5. 5. One's employment pursuit

    Answer: CAREER

  6. 6. Bawl

    Answer: SOB

  7. 7. Places to hang clothes

    Answer: CLOSETS

  8. 8. Forum overseers

    Answer: ADMINS

  9. 9. The Scales, zodiacally

    Answer: LIBRA

  10. 10. "Definitely!"

    Answer: YES

  11. 11. Certain golf or tennis tournament

    Answer: OPEN

  12. 12. Funny Ferrell or Rogers

    Answer: WILL

  13. 13. Slippery

    Answer: EELY

  14. 19. Scorcher

    Answer: HOTONE

  15. 21. Recurring thematic elements

    Answer: MOTIFS

  16. 26. Happy as a ___

    Answer: CLAM

  17. 27. City NE of Oklahoma City

    Answer: TULSA

  18. 28. Fields

    Answer: AREAS

  19. 29. The N.H.L. has 32

    Answer: TEAMS

  20. 30. Cartoon brawl sound effect

    Answer: OOF

  21. 32. Actress Greta of "Queen Christina"

    Answer: GARBO

  22. 33. Store, as ashes

    Answer: INURN

  23. 34. Dugout, e.g.

    Answer: CANOE

  24. 37. Complete series, maybe

    Answer: BOXSET

  25. 39. Gets by

    Answer: DOESOK

  26. 40. Solemn vow

    Answer: OATH

  27. 41. ___ Guofeng, successor of Mao Zedong

    Answer: HUA

  28. 43. Like the score going into extra innings

    Answer: ALLTIED

  29. 46. Top to accompany a skirt

    Answer: BLOUSE

  30. 47. Like the fate of Ophelia

    Answer: TRAGIC

  31. 48. Peak

    Answer: ZENITH

  32. 50. See 37-Across

    Answer: ARROW

  33. 52. Cracked slightly, as a door

    Answer: AJAR

  34. 53. Word following bike or memory

    Answer: LANE

  35. 54. Look at carefully

    Answer: SCAN

  36. 57. "Shallow" singer Lady ___

    Answer: GAGA

  37. 58. Burden

    Answer: ONUS

  38. 59. Ailment that aptly rhymes with "eye"

    Answer: STYE

  39. 61. N.F.L. three-pointers: Abbr.

    Answer: FGS

  40. 62. Top to accompany shorts

    Answer: TEE

The answer to “Complete shocker” in the NYT Crossword is BOMBSHELL — a 9-letter word. It appears in our available data for September 28, 2026 at 18-Across. Below you can reveal the fill one letter at a time, check the full puzzle, and open every related clue page.

“Complete shocker” answer

BOMBSHELL(9 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 BOMBSHELL fit?

BOMBSHELL is the published 9-letter answer at 18-Across. The highlighted path in the puzzle shows exactly where the entry sits.

When else has “Complete shocker” 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 “Complete shocker”?

The answer is BOMBSHELL.

How many letters are in the answer?

9 letters: BOMBSHELL.

When did this clue appear?

It appears in the NYT Crossword for September 28, 2026 at 18-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 September 28, 2026 for the full grid and every clue.

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