Not Making A Sound Crossword Clue
By: Five Letter Words | Last edited: May 03, 2025
Looking to solve the challenging Not making a sound crossword clue featured in the May 03, 2025 New York Times Mini puzzle? We've done the hard work and pinpointed the precise 6-letter answer you're looking for. However, if you're up for a more interactive puzzle-solving experience, we've got engaging features to help you out. Try revealing the solution gradually with our progressive letter reveal tool, or explore our carefully crafted hints—like a helpful anagram, an alternative clue that shares the same answer, or a detailed definition to guide your thinking. Plus, we've made navigating other clues from the same puzzle easy, allowing you to solve multiple clues seamlessly. Ready to become a crossword master? Let's dive deeper into today's puzzle!
Crossword Answer:
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About This Clue
The May 3, 2025 New York Times Mini Crossword featured the clue "Not making a sound" with the answer SILENT. This is a straightforward descriptive clue that directly defines the word SILENT. The clue is a concise definition of the answer, making it relatively accessible for solvers who are familiar with basic vocabulary. In crossword puzzles, definition-based clues like this one offer a direct path to the answer without requiring wordplay or specific knowledge domains.
Context for "Silent"
The word "silent" comes from the Latin word "silens," meaning "being still, quiet, or at rest." It refers to a complete absence of sound or noise, or to someone who is not speaking. In various contexts, it can have different connotations: In film, "silent movies" were early motion pictures that had no synchronized recorded sound. Instead, they relied on physical comedy, exaggerated expressions, and title cards to convey dialogue. The phrase "silent treatment" refers to a form of social punishment where someone refuses to speak to another person. "Silent auction" describes a fundraising event where written bids are placed rather than spoken ones. There's also the concept of "silent letters" in language, which are letters that appear in a word's spelling but are not pronounced, like the "k" in "knee" or the "b" in "subtle." The word "silent" can also be found in common phrases like "silent partner" (someone who invests in a business but doesn't actively participate in its management) or "silent majority" (a large group of people who hold certain opinions but don't express them publicly). In the context of this crossword puzzle, the clue "Not making a sound" directly points to the meaning of the word "silent."
NYT Mini Crossword Tips
When solving a clue like "Not making a sound" in the NYT Mini Crossword, consider these helpful approaches: First, look at the number of letters needed for the answer. In this case, we need a 6-letter word that means "not making a sound." This immediately narrows down the possibilities. For definition-based clues like this one, think of synonyms for the phrase in the clue. Words like "quiet," "mute," or "silent" might come to mind. Since we need 6 letters, "SILENT" becomes the most likely candidate. Check the crossing answers. If you already have some letters filled in from intersecting words, use those as constraints to help narrow down the possible answers. Remember that the Mini Crossword tends to use more common vocabulary than the full-sized NYT Crossword. The answers are generally accessible to a broad audience. Consider that the clue might be interpreted literally. In this case, "Not making a sound" is a straightforward definition of "silent." Lastly, the Mini puzzle often reuses words and cluing patterns. If you're a regular solver, you might recognize "silent" as an answer that has appeared before.
Related Crossword Answers
SILENT
Clue: "Quiet as a mouse"
SILENT
Clue: "Type of movie before 'The Jazz Singer'"
MUTE
Clue: "Unable to speak"
EMIT
Clue: "Appropriate anagram of 5-Across"
More Clues & Answers For The New York Times Mini (May 3, 2025)
ACROSS
- 1. Greiner of "Shark Tank"
- 5. Not making a sound
- 7. Super-stoked
- 9. Convenience hidden in "get that money"
- 10. Indivisible
- 11. Eighth planet from the sun
- 13. Sipped on slowly, say
- 14. Mystic with a vision