gobsmacks nyt crossword – All Crossword Answers
Welcome! If you're tackling the New York Times crossword and got stuck on "gobsmacks", you've come to the right place. Below, you'll find all possible solutions categorized by their letter count, along with clear explanations to help you complete your puzzle.
Solutions for "gobsmacks nyt crossword" by Letter Count
10 Letters
ASTONISHES: To greatly surprise or impress (someone).
9 Letters
SURPRISES: To cause (someone) to feel mild astonishment or shock.
6 Letters
FLOORS: To utterly confound or defeat someone, often surprising them greatly.
SHOCKS: To cause (someone) to feel surprise and usually disapproval.
5 Letters
STUNS: To astonish or shock (someone) so that they are temporarily unable to react.
AMAZE: To surprise or impress (someone) greatly.
3 Letters
AWE: A feeling of reverential respect mixed with fear or wonder.
More About "gobsmacks nyt crossword"
"Gobsmacks" is a wonderfully expressive, informal British English verb that means to utterly astonish, surprise, or overwhelm someone. When it appears in a New York Times crossword, it's often a sign that the puzzle constructor is looking for a word with strong impact and perhaps a slightly less common synonym than 'surprises' or 'astounds'. This kind of clue tests a solver's vocabulary depth and their ability to grasp the nuance of a colloquial term.
The beauty of "gobsmacks" in a crossword is its vivid imagery. It conjures an image of someone literally having their jaw dropped in disbelief or amazement. This can lead to a variety of answers, from the more direct synonyms like ASTONISHES to words that describe the *effect* of being gobsmacked, like being completely FLOORED or STUNNED.
Understanding the exact shade of meaning for "gobsmacks" is key to finding the correct answer, especially when multiple options might fit partially. Consider the surrounding clues and the overall theme of the puzzle to narrow down the best fit among the possible solutions.
Tips For Your Next Puzzle
- Analyze the Tone: Clues like "gobsmacks" often have an informal or idiomatic tone. Look for answers that match this register rather than overly formal words.
- Consider Letter Count First: If you have some letters filled in from intersecting words, immediately filter the potential answers by their length to quickly eliminate incorrect options.
- Think Beyond Direct Synonyms: Sometimes, the answer isn't a direct synonym but describes the *result* or *effect* of the clue. "Gobsmacks" can lead to words meaning to overwhelm, silence, or stun.
- Check for Tenses and Plurals: Always ensure your answer matches the tense (e.g., present tense for 'gobsmacks') and number (singular/plural) of the clue.
For more advice, visit our page on general crossword strategies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 'gobsmacks' mean in a crossword context?
In crosswords, 'gobsmacks' typically refers to actions that deeply surprise, astonish, or utterly confound someone. It often requires a synonym that conveys a strong, overwhelming emotional impact.
Why might a clue like 'gobsmacks' appear in a New York Times crossword?
NYT crosswords are known for their clever and sometimes colloquial clues. 'Gobsmacks' is an informal, expressive word that can challenge solvers to think beyond common synonyms and consider more vivid, impactful verbs.
Are there other common words similar to 'gobsmacks' used in crosswords?
Yes, clues eliciting similar answers might include 'astounds', 'stuns completely', 'leaves speechless', or 'knocks for a loop'. Answers often involve words like ASTONISHES, FLOORS, SHOCKS, or even WOWS.