You're staring at the grid. It’s a Wednesday, maybe a Thursday. The clue says kind of spider NYT crossword, and you’ve got five letters. Or maybe three. Or six. Your brain immediately goes to "tarantula," but that doesn't fit the boxes, and honestly, Will Shortz and the current editing team at the Times usually want something a bit more clever than just a literal genus. Crossword puzzles aren't just tests of vocabulary; they are games of lateral thinking and pattern recognition.
When you see a spider clue, the setter is usually playing one of three games. They're looking for a literal arachnid, a specific brand/character, or—and this is the one that gets people—a word that describes the "web" itself.
The literal arachnids that dominate the grid
The New York Times crossword has a few favorite eight-legged friends. If you have three letters, it’s almost always ORB. Technically, that’s an "orb-weaver," but in the world of crossword shorthand, "Orb" is the king. It’s a favorite because of those two vowels. If you’re looking at four letters, you might be dealing with a WOLF spider, though that's less common than you'd think.
Then there’s the TRAPDOOR spider. This one shows up in longer Friday or Saturday slots. It’s a gift for constructors because of the "P" and the "D," which are great for anchoring difficult vertical crossings.
Why the "RELO" spider isn't real (but people guess it)
Sometimes solvers get desperate. They see "relo" in their head because they have a few letters from "relocation" nearby and think maybe there's some obscure Latin name. There isn't. If you’re stuck on a "kind of spider NYT crossword" clue and nothing is making sense, look at the surrounding clues again. You might have a "crosswordese" error.
When the "spider" isn't an animal at all
This is the classic NYT pivot.
Often, the clue "kind of spider" refers to the PULLEY system used in theater or sailing. Or, more frequently in modern puzzles, it refers to a CRAB. Why a crab? Because of the Spider Crab, a staple of marine biology clues. If the answer is four letters and starts with C, stop thinking about webs and start thinking about butter sauce.
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Another common trick? FIAT. The Fiat 124 Spider is a classic convertible. If the clue has a hint of "Italian" or "speedy" or "roadster," you aren't looking for a bug; you’re looking for a car. This is where the NYT gets its reputation for being "preppy" or "elitist," but once you know the Fiat/Spider connection, it becomes a freebie every time it appears.
The "Web" connection
Sometimes the clue is "Spider's creation" or "Spider's home."
- COB (as in cobweb)
- LAIR (a bit more dramatic)
- SNARE (the functional description)
If you see ARACHNE, you’ve hit the mythology department. In Greek myth, Arachne was the weaver who challenged Athena and got turned into a spider for her hubris. She shows up in the NYT crossword at least a few times a year, usually when the constructor needs a high-value "A" and "CH" combination.
The most common answers by letter count
Let's break this down by the grid. If you're stuck right now, count your boxes.
Three Letters:
ORB is the heavy hitter here. You might also see RED if it’s referring to a Redback, though that’s rare. Honestly, if it's three letters, just pencil in ORB and see if the crosses work.
Four Letters:
WOLF or CRAB. Don't forget FIAT if the clue mentions "Roadster."
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Five Letters:
LUCAS (the cute animated spider, though rare in the NYT), or MIDAS (if there’s a weird pun involved). Actually, for five letters, you’re more likely to see WATER spider or JUMP (short for jumping spider, though the NYT usually prefers full words).
Six Letters:
GARDEN. The Garden Spider is a very common fill. It’s "bland" enough that constructors use it to bridge difficult sections of the map.
Expert tips for cracking the "Spider" clue
The first thing you should do is check for a question mark. In the NYT world, a question mark at the end of a clue means there is a pun afoot. If the clue is "Kind of spider?", the answer might be SOLITAIRE. Why? Because Spider Solitaire is a card game.
If there is no question mark, look for "capitalization." If "Spider" is capitalized, it’s almost certainly MAN (as in Spider-Man) or perhaps ALEX (Cross, the James Patterson character, though that's a stretch).
The "A-prefix" trap
Crossword constructors love the word ARACHNID. If the clue is "Spider, for one," and you have eight letters, don't overthink it. They are looking for the classification, not a specific type.
Another one to watch for is RECLUSE. Usually preceded by "Brown," but in a Friday puzzle, "Recluse" might stand alone as the answer for "Spider." It's a great word for constructors because it uses common letters but in a slightly unusual sequence.
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The logic of the grid
You have to understand how these puzzles are built. A constructor like Robyn Weintraub or Joel Fagliano isn't just picking words out of a hat. they are looking for "letter frequency."
Spiders provide great letters. "S-P-I-D-E-R" itself is a very "cheap" word in crossword terms—it uses high-frequency letters. If you see a clue like "Like a spider's web," the answer is almost always GOSSAMER or DEWY. If it's "Spider-like," you're looking at ARACHNOID.
Real-world example: The "PETER" pivot
I remember a puzzle from a few years back where the clue was simply "Spider's first name?"
The answer was PETER.
No mention of Marvel, no mention of comics. Just "Peter." This is why you can't just think about biology. You have to think about pop culture, cars, and even kitchen tools (like a "spider" skimmer used in frying).
Actionable steps for your next puzzle
To stop getting stuck on the kind of spider NYT crossword clue, change your mental approach:
- Count the letters immediately. If it's three, it's ORB. If it's four, check for FIAT or CRAB.
- Look for the Question Mark. If it's there, stop thinking about biology. Think about "Spider" as a brand name, a movie title, or a card game.
- Check the "C" and "O" intersections. Many spider-related words (COB, CRAB, ARACHNE) rely on these vowels. If you have an "O" in the second position, it’s likely COB or ORB.
- Consider the "Skimmer". If the clue mentions cooking or a "fryer," the answer is SPIDER. It's a hand-held wire mesh basket used to lift food out of hot oil. It's a favorite "gotcha" clue for the NYT.
- Keep a "Crosswordese" mental file. Words like ETUI, ALEE, and ORB are the scaffolding of the New York Times crossword. They appear because they help the constructor escape a corner. "Orb" is the spider world's version of "Epee" (the fencing sword). It's there to save the grid, not to challenge your scientific knowledge.
When you hit a wall, walk away for five minutes. The human brain is weirdly good at solving crossword clues in the background. You’ll be washing dishes or walking the dog, and suddenly "GOSSAMER" will just pop into your head. That’s the magic of the NYT puzzle—it’s not just a test of what you know, but how your brain connects seemingly unrelated dots.