Dispose (Of) Crossword Clue

By: Five Letter Words | Last edited: Apr 18, 2025

Searching for the answer to the "Dispose (of)" clue from the April 18, 2025 New York Times Mini crossword? We've identified the exact 3-letter solution you need. For those wanting a more interactive puzzle-solving experience, we've developed engaging tools to enhance your journey. Our letter-by-letter reveal feature allows you to uncover the answer at your own pace, while our thoughtfully crafted hints offer alternative routes to the solution through anagrams, related clues with identical answers, or comprehensive explanations to guide your thinking process. We've also made it simple to navigate between connected clues from the same puzzle for a seamless solving experience. Ready to discover this common verb for elimination? Let's explore the answer together!

Crossword Answer:

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About This Clue

The April 18, 2025 New York Times Mini Crossword featured the clue "Dispose (of)" with the answer RID. This clue references the act of removing something unwanted or no longer needed. The verb "rid" means to make someone or something free of an unwanted person, thing, or quality. It's often used in phrases like "to get rid of" or "to rid oneself of" something. The clue includes "(of)" in parentheses to indicate that the answer is commonly followed by this preposition in everyday usage, though the answer itself is just the three-letter verb.

Word Etymology and Usage

The word "rid" has ancient Germanic roots, derived from Old English "hryddan" meaning "to clear, to deliver." It's related to similar words in Old Norse and other Germanic languages. Over time, it has maintained its core meaning of removal or elimination. In modern English, "rid" is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, often with the preposition "of" following it. Common phrases include "rid the house of pests," "rid oneself of bad habits," or "rid the community of crime." The word carries a sense of complete removal or elimination, which makes it slightly stronger than alternatives like "remove" or "dispose." While "dispose of" can sometimes simply mean to arrange or place something appropriately, "rid" almost always implies elimination or removal.

NYT Mini Crossword Tips

When solving verb clues in the NYT Mini Crossword, consider both common synonyms and context clues. For clues like "Dispose (of)," the parenthetical preposition gives you a strong hint about the specific verb being sought. The Mini Crossword often uses common, everyday language, so familiar verbs like "rid" are frequent answers. Short verb forms are particularly valuable for puzzle constructors to fill in limited grid spaces, making three-letter verbs like "rid," "use," "try," and "see" common answers. When you encounter clues with parenthetical elements, pay special attention to these additions as they often indicate a specific phrase or idiomatic usage that narrows down the possible answers.

Related Crossword Answers

More Clues & Answers For The New York Times Mini (April 18, 2025)

ACROSS

• 1. Lack of practice, metaphorically
• 5. The width of your thumb, if you need a rough approximation
• 6. It has many private entries
• 8. Disc golfer's obstacle
• 9. Emoji that can mean "I'm intrigued"

DOWN

• 1. Dispose (of)
• 2. Bring together
• 3. Like graveyards at night
• 4. Shortest allowable number of letters for a New York Times crossword answer
• 7. "Totally with you!"