Rd. Crossers — NYT Mini Crossword Clue (October 14, 2025)
The final across clue goes abbreviation-heavy. We walk through the confirmed answer, Word Tips insights, and ways to eliminate alternate fills instantly. Apostrophes render as ' while quotation marks appear as ".
9 Across
Rd. crossers
The abbreviation STS stands for “streets,” a perfect answer for “Road crossers.” Crossword editors frequently use this shortened plural when a clue includes “Rd.”
Why STS Fits
Abbreviation Logic
- “Rd.” is an abbreviated clue indicator, signalling the answer may also be abbreviated.
- Streets intersect roads, so STS is an exact conceptual match.
- Word Tips hints highlight “Saints,” but the alternate clue reads “Elm and Maple are common ones: Abbr.” pointing directly to STS.
Cross Letter Validation
- S lines up with SWEDES, making alternative letters unlikely.
- T is set by GOCART at 3-Down.
- Final S shares the square with CARBS in the down stack.
Abbreviation Solving Tactics
Watch for Periods
Periods in the clue nearly always imply an abbreviated answer. Immediately consider shortened forms such as STS or AVES.
List Common Plurals
For roadway terminology, STS, RDS, and AVES appear frequently. Crossings differentiate them within seconds.
Use Source Hints
Word Tips flagged a clue referencing tree-lined streets, reinforcing STS as the definitive choice.
Confirm with Crossings
Because STS shares letters with multiple down entries, misfills reveal themselves quickly—another reason to place this answer confidently.
Vocabulary Connections
Related Abbreviations
- AVE
- BLVD
- HWY
- PKWY
Crossword Crossovers
- ST
- RTE
- FWY
- RD
Letter Breakdown
The consonant-heavy fill STS packs a double S around a hard T, giving down answers a solid consonant backbone and ensuring zero ambiguity in this slot.