You’re sitting there, coffee getting cold, staring at a grid that's about 80% finished, and then you hit it. A short, three or four-letter word. The clue says something like "Generally" or "All things considered." You type in on the whole and realize it doesn't fit the boxes. Crosswords are a weird psychological game. We call them puzzles, but they’re actually a battle between you and a person called a "constructor" who is actively trying to trick your brain.
If you’ve been searching for on the whole crossword answers lately, you’ve probably noticed that the English language has about a dozen ways to say "mostly." This isn't just about finding a synonym. It’s about understanding the specific architecture of the New York Times, LA Times, or USA Today grids. Each publication has its own "vibe," a shorthand that solvers eventually internalize. Honestly, it’s a bit like learning a second language where the grammar is replaced by puns and lateral thinking.
The Common Suspects for On the Whole Crossword Clues
Let's get practical. When a constructor puts "On the whole" in a clue, they aren't usually looking for a deep philosophical treatise. They want a filler. In the industry, we call this "glue." It’s the short stuff that connects the long, flashy "theme" entries.
The most frequent answer you’ll run into is AS A RULE. It’s seven letters. It’s elegant. It pops up in the NYT more than almost any other variation. But maybe your grid only has four boxes? Then you're likely looking at BY AND LARGE's shorter cousin, which doesn't really exist, so you pivot to IN ALL. Or perhaps AT LARGE.
Wait. Let’s look at the actual variations.
If the clue is "On the whole," your brain should immediately cycle through these:
- AS A RULE (7 letters)
- BY AND LARGE (9 letters)
- IN THE MAIN (8 letters)
- IN GENERAL (9 letters)
- ALL IN ALL (8 letters)
- EN BLOC (6 letters - this one is sneaky and usually reserved for more "intellectual" grids)
Why do these matter? Because the "on the whole crossword" phenomenon is a lesson in letter frequency. Crossword constructors love the letters R, S, T, L, N, and E. If you look at "AS A RULE," it's packed with them. That’s why it’s a favorite. It makes the "downs" (the words crossing it) much easier to write.
Why Some Clues Feel Like They’re Lying to You
Have you ever noticed how a clue can mean two totally different things? This is "misdirection." It’s the bread and butter of people like Will Shortz or Joel Fagliano. When you see "On the whole," your brain goes to "mostly." But a devious constructor might be using "whole" in a different sense. They might be talking about a "whole" as in a "unit" or an "entirety."
Suddenly, the answer isn't a synonym for "generally." It's TOTAL. Or ONE.
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This is why you can't just rely on a dictionary. You have to think about the question mark. In the crossword world, a question mark at the end of a clue is a giant red flag. It means: "I am lying to you." If the clue is "On the whole?" (with that little hook at the end), the answer might be something like UPON A DONUT. Get it? Because a donut has a hole.
It's terrible. It’s a "dad joke" in grid form. But that’s the game.
The Architecture of the Grid
Short words are the hardest to get right because they have so many possibilities. A 15x15 grid has about 70 to 78 words. The long ones are usually the easy part once you get the theme. But those little corners? That's where the on the whole crossword struggle lives.
Back in the day, constructors used a lot of "crosswordese"—words you never hear in real life but are everywhere in puzzles. Think of "ETUI" (a needle case) or "OREO" (everyone's favorite cookie filler). "On the whole" clues often lead to these types of structural words. IN SUM is a classic. Nobody says "in sum" at a bar, but in a Friday crossword, it's gold.
The shift in recent years, especially with younger constructors like those featured in the Inkpant or Universal puzzles, is toward more "natural" language. They want the grid to sound like people actually talk. So, instead of a dry Latinate word, you might find MOSTLY.
Dealing with the "Across vs. Down" Conflict
Here is a tip from someone who has spent way too many hours staring at a screen: if you're stuck on a synonym for "on the whole," stop looking at the clue.
Look at the crosses.
If you have the second and fourth letters, the puzzle is basically solved. For example, if you have _ S _ _ _ _ _, and the clue is "On the whole," you are almost certainly looking at AS A RULE. If you have _ L _ _ _ _ _, it’s likely ALL IN ALL.
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Crosswords are essentially a massive exercise in pattern recognition. Your brain is a computer that's trying to match a specific string length to a database of synonyms while simultaneously solving a jigsaw puzzle. It’s exhausting. It’s also why it prevents cognitive decline, according to some studies (though the science is still a bit mixed on whether it stops dementia or just makes you really good at crosswords).
Misconceptions About "Expert" Solvers
Most people think experts just "know" all the words. That’s not it. Experts know the tricks.
They know that "On the whole" is a common way to clue AT LARGE.
They know that "whole" can be a synonym for "intact."
They know that "mostly" can be clued as FOR THE MOST PART if there's enough room.
If you want to get better, you have to stop thinking about the definition and start thinking about the space. A crossword is a physical object. The word has to fit.
The Evolution of the Clue
If you look at puzzles from the 1950s, the clues were very different. They were much more literal. "On the whole" would have simply been clued as "Generally." Today, there’s a cultural layer. A clue for AS A RULE might reference a specific game or a social convention.
This makes the on the whole crossword search even more complex because the "answer" changes based on the era of the puzzle you're solving. If you're doing an archive puzzle from 1994, the logic is different than one published this morning.
Actionable Strategies for Your Next Puzzle
Stop banging your head against the wall. If you see a clue like "On the whole," and you don't get it within ten seconds, move on. Fill in the "gimmes"—the clues you know for a fact, like movie stars or sports teams.
Once the grid starts to fill up, the answer for "on the whole" will literally reveal itself through the intersecting letters. It's much easier to guess a word when you have three letters than when you have zero.
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Also, pay attention to the day of the week.
- Monday/Tuesday: The answer will be simple. Think MOSTLY or IN ALL.
- Wednesday/Thursday: Expect some wordplay. Maybe BY AND LARGE.
- Friday/Saturday: This is where things get weird. The clue might be "On the whole" but the answer is something totally unexpected like A CAPPELLA (if the "whole" refers to a choir without instruments).
- Sunday: It’s just big. You’ll need a lot of patience.
The next time you’re stuck on a crossword, remember that the constructor isn't your enemy, but they aren't exactly your friend either. They’re a trickster. They want you to feel that "Aha!" moment, but they’re going to make you work for it.
Start by checking the letter count. If it's eight, try ALL IN ALL. If it's nine, try BY AND LARGE. If none of those work, look for the question mark.
Keep a list of these common "filler" synonyms in your head. The more you solve, the more these words will feel like old friends rather than obstacles. You'll start to see the grid not as a series of disconnected clues, but as a single, cohesive unit where every "on the whole" eventually finds its place.
Go back to your grid. Look at the letters you already have. Does an 'S' or an 'L' fit anywhere? Usually, the simplest answer is the right one, unless it's Saturday. Then, all bets are off. Don't let a three-letter word ruin your morning. It’s just a game, after all. A frustrating, beautiful, brain-melting game.
Check the "Down" clues again. Sometimes the answer to the "Across" is hidden in the very word you're afraid to commit to. Just write it in pencil. You can always erase it later. That’s the beauty of the whole thing. You're allowed to be wrong before you're right.
Focus on the clusters. If you can solve the three-word cluster around the clue, the "on the whole" answer will basically write itself. This is the "crossing" part of the crossword. Use it. It’s your only real tool against the constructor’s whims.
Now, get back to that coffee. It’s probably stone cold by now, but you’ve got a grid to finish. Use these synonyms, watch for the wordplay, and don't let the short words bully you. You’ve got this. Every solved puzzle starts with a single, uncertain letter. Your job is just to put the next one in. Good luck with the rest of the grid. It doesn't get easier, but you definitely get smarter. Honestly, that's why we keep coming back to it every single morning. It's the challenge of the "whole" that makes the pieces worth finding.
One last thing: if you're really stuck, look at the vowels. If the clue is "On the whole" and you see a lot of blanks, remember that English words almost always need a vowel in the second or third position. In "AS A RULE," you have that 'A' and 'U'. In "IN THE MAIN," you have the 'I', 'E', and 'A'. If your crossing words don't provide a vowel for those spots, your crossing word is probably wrong. Rethink the entire section. Sometimes the mistake isn't the word you're looking for, but the one you've already "confirmed." Stay flexible. The grid is fluid until the very last box is inked in.
Now, go find that seven-letter synonym and finish your Saturday.