“Yeah, Whatever” — NYT Mini Crossword Clue (October 14, 2025)
Sarcastic acknowledgment clues rely on tone more than definition. Below is the confirmed answer along with contextual hints from Word Tips and methods for fast recognition. Apostrophes appear as ' and quotation marks as " to keep text search and SEO friendly.
8 Across
“Yeah, whatever”
The four-letter response SURE captures the dismissive or sarcastic agreement implied by the clue. The Word Tips hint references complete confidence, pointing to the same answer.
Why SURE Nails the Clue
Context Cues
- “Yeah, whatever” signals reluctant consent or eye-rolling agreement—exactly how SURE functions in colloquial speech.
- Word Tips noted the answer as “completely confident,” a clue for the word's direct meaning.
- Four-letter casual responses include SURE, FINE, OKAY; crossing letters distinguish them quickly.
Cross Letter Proof
- S crosses SWEDES (4-Down) ensuring the starting consonant.
- U intersects GOCART, limiting choices to vowel-led options.
- R shares the square with CARBS, a firm down answer.
- E overlaps ICARUS, completing the entry without ambiguity.
Strategy for Tone-Based Clues
Identify Irony Signals
Quoted speech with tonal cues like “whatever” or “sure” often means the fill is a spoken reaction rather than a strict dictionary definition.
List Candidate Responses
Build a mental list: SURE, FINE, OKAY, UH-HUH. Cross letters will prune options quickly.
Use Word Tips Hints
The provided hints emphasize certainty and synonyms such as certain and convinced, directly pointing to SURE.
Check Anagrams
The source callout to “reus” as an anagram is unique, validating the letter set immediately.
Vocabulary & Connections
Synonyms
- Certain
- Fine
- Okay
- Whatever
Related Crossword Entries
- SNARK
- EYE ROLL
- OKAY
- FINE
Letter Breakdown
The alternating consonant-vowel pattern of SURE maximizes smooth crossings. Its final E is especially helpful for down entries that require flexible endings.