NYT Crossword

Message that might be signaled with smoke

Archive answer — October 2, 2026

41 Down

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Clue explained

“SOS” is the published 3-letter fill for 41 Down. Use the crossing letters in the grid below to verify how it fits.

Clue type:
Crossword fill

NYT Crossword

This clue’s Friday, October 2, 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

35 clues
  1. 1Important figure on staff?
  2. 5Photographer's inits.
  3. 8"For real"
  4. 13Funky-smelling
  5. 14Sugar substitute?
  6. 16Within
  7. 17Core-focused workout in a humid room
  8. 18Unit of sound intensity
  9. 19Like Mitt Romney and Ken Jennings
  10. 20Lead-in to "coin" for a major cryptocurrency
  11. 21"Whew!"
  12. 23Whose fault your mistake might be
  13. 25Hybrid cat
  14. 26Member of a noble family
  15. 28Request after eating a habanero, perhaps
  16. 29What comes from needing little, per Epictetus
  17. 31Small dosage amts.
  18. 34Question posed at the end of a successful job interview
  19. 37Waze ways: Abbr.
  20. 38Spends a long time in front of the mirror, maybe
  21. 39Inkling
  22. 40Word with cane or corn
  23. 41Villainous expression
  24. 42Home to the Basilica of St. Clare
  25. 45Highly controlling?
  26. 48Like a golf course, regularly
  27. 49Snap, crackle and pop
  28. 51___ Cup, tournament established in the 2020s
  29. 52"Never been better!"
  30. 54Site of a 1956 international conflict
  31. 55Animal chased by Toto in "The Wizard of Oz"
  32. 56Key in a chain
  33. 57Figure with three faces, in Dante
  34. 58Brief bit
  35. 59They're stretched out before some workouts

Down

35 clues
  1. 1Hard-shelled delicacies
  2. 2Public eye
  3. 3Written posts?
  4. 4Stoked
  5. 5Like some enemies
  6. 6"I need to get a word in!"
  7. 7Possible result of a default
  8. 8Before
  9. 9Not stop at the end of a chapter, say
  10. 10Suffragist Harriet Taylor ___
  11. 11One doing the lord's work?
  12. 12Words of affirmation
  13. 14"Skedaddle!"
  14. 15Condition that can be caused by excess earwax
  15. 19Debussy's "La ___"
  16. 22Jay ___, singer of the 2009 #1 hit "Down"
  17. 24Sounds from fans
  18. 27Clip follower
  19. 29Some weather service messages
  20. 30"Wheat Capital" of Oklahoma
  21. 31Label on some domestic products
  22. 32Eco-friendly area around a city
  23. 33Stares into space
  24. 35Ones doing balancing acts?
  25. 36Windows feature?
  26. 40Pictures
  27. 41Message that might be signaled with smokeSOS
  28. 42Off
  29. 43European capital with layers of Thracian, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman history
  30. 44Beads for an athlete
  31. 46Director Lee ___ Chung
  32. 47Neighbor of an Estonian, historically
  33. 50They're sometimes picked for their rarity
  34. 53Wiseman who directed "Ballerina" and "Live Free or Die Hard"
  35. 54___City

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. Important figure on staff?

    Answer: CLEF

  2. 5. Photographer's inits.

    Answer: SLR

  3. 8. "For real"

    Answer: TRULY

  4. 13. Funky-smelling

    Answer: RIPE

  5. 14. Sugar substitute?

    Answer: SWEETIEPIE

  6. 16. Within

    Answer: AMID

  7. 17. Core-focused workout in a humid room

    Answer: HOTPILATES

  8. 18. Unit of sound intensity

    Answer: BEL

  9. 19. Like Mitt Romney and Ken Jennings

    Answer: MORMON

  10. 20. Lead-in to "coin" for a major cryptocurrency

    Answer: DOGE

  11. 21. "Whew!"

    Answer: CLOSEONE

  12. 23. Whose fault your mistake might be

    Answer: NOONES

  13. 25. Hybrid cat

    Answer: LIGER

  14. 26. Member of a noble family

    Answer: SCION

  15. 28. Request after eating a habanero, perhaps

    Answer: AGUA

  16. 29. What comes from needing little, per Epictetus

    Answer: WEALTH

  17. 31. Small dosage amts.

    Answer: MGS

  18. 34. Question posed at the end of a successful job interview

    Answer: WHENCANYOUSTART

  19. 37. Waze ways: Abbr.

    Answer: STS

  20. 38. Spends a long time in front of the mirror, maybe

    Answer: PRIMPS

  21. 39. Inkling

    Answer: IDEA

  22. 40. Word with cane or corn

    Answer: CANDY

  23. 41. Villainous expression

    Answer: SNEER

  24. 42. Home to the Basilica of St. Clare

    Answer: ASSISI

  25. 45. Highly controlling?

    Answer: PILOTING

  26. 48. Like a golf course, regularly

    Answer: MOWN

  27. 49. Snap, crackle and pop

    Answer: NOISES

  28. 51. ___ Cup, tournament established in the 2020s

    Answer: NBA

  29. 52. "Never been better!"

    Answer: IFEELGREAT

  30. 54. Site of a 1956 international conflict

    Answer: SUEZ

  31. 55. Animal chased by Toto in "The Wizard of Oz"

    Answer: SIAMESECAT

  32. 56. Key in a chain

    Answer: ISLE

  33. 57. Figure with three faces, in Dante

    Answer: SATAN

  34. 58. Brief bit

    Answer: SEC

  35. 59. They're stretched out before some workouts

    Answer: MATS

Down

  1. 1. Hard-shelled delicacies

    Answer: CRABCLAWS

  2. 2. Public eye

    Answer: LIMELIGHT

  3. 3. Written posts?

    Answer: EPILOGUES

  4. 4. Stoked

    Answer: FED

  5. 5. Like some enemies

    Answer: SWORN

  6. 6. "I need to get a word in!"

    Answer: LETMESAYMYPIECE

  7. 7. Possible result of a default

    Answer: REPO

  8. 8. Before

    Answer: TIL

  9. 9. Not stop at the end of a chapter, say

    Answer: READON

  10. 10. Suffragist Harriet Taylor ___

    Answer: UPTON

  11. 11. One doing the lord's work?

    Answer: LIEGE

  12. 12. Words of affirmation

    Answer: YESES

  13. 14. "Skedaddle!"

    Answer: SHOO

  14. 15. Condition that can be caused by excess earwax

    Answer: TINNITUS

  15. 19. Debussy's "La ___"

    Answer: MER

  16. 22. Jay ___, singer of the 2009 #1 hit "Down"

    Answer: SEAN

  17. 24. Sounds from fans

    Answer: OOHS

  18. 27. Clip follower

    Answer: CLOP

  19. 29. Some weather service messages

    Answer: WARNINGS

  20. 30. "Wheat Capital" of Oklahoma

    Answer: ENID

  21. 31. Label on some domestic products

    Answer: MADEINUSA

  22. 32. Eco-friendly area around a city

    Answer: GREENBELT

  23. 33. Stares into space

    Answer: STARGAZES

  24. 35. Ones doing balancing acts?

    Answer: CPAS

  25. 36. Windows feature?

    Answer: TINT

  26. 40. Pictures

    Answer: CINEMA

  27. 41. Message that might be signaled with smoke

    Answer: SOS

  28. 42. Off

    Answer: AMISS

  29. 43. European capital with layers of Thracian, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman history

    Answer: SOFIA

  30. 44. Beads for an athlete

    Answer: SWEAT

  31. 46. Director Lee ___ Chung

    Answer: ISAAC

  32. 47. Neighbor of an Estonian, historically

    Answer: LETT

  33. 50. They're sometimes picked for their rarity

    Answer: ORES

  34. 53. Wiseman who directed "Ballerina" and "Live Free or Die Hard"

    Answer: LEN

  35. 54. ___City

    Answer: SIM

The answer to “Message that might be signaled with smoke” in the NYT Crossword is SOS — a 3-letter word. It appears in our available data for October 2, 2026 at 41-Down. Below you can reveal the fill one letter at a time, check the full puzzle, and open every related clue page.

“Message that might be signaled with smoke” answer

SOS(3 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 SOS fit?

SOS is the published 3-letter answer at 41-Down. The highlighted path in the puzzle shows exactly where the entry sits.

When else has “Message that might be signaled with smoke” 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 “Message that might be signaled with smoke”?

The answer is SOS.

How many letters are in the answer?

3 letters: SOS.

When did this clue appear?

It appears in the NYT Crossword for October 2, 2026 at 41-Down.

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 2, 2026 for the full grid and every clue.

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