You're staring at the grid. Five letters. Or maybe seven. The clue says "taken advantage of," and your brain immediately goes to a dark place. You think of someone being swindled. You think of a raw deal. But the cursor just blinks at you because, in the world of cryptic or even standard New York Times style puzzles, "taken advantage of" is one of those slippery linguistic chameleons that can mean three different things depending on the day of the week.
It happens to the best of us. Honestly, it's kinda the point of a good crossword. The constructor isn't trying to give you a synonym; they’re trying to give you a headache.
The Most Common Answers for Taken Advantage Of
When you see this clue, the first thing you need to check is the letter count. That is the golden rule. If it's four letters, you are almost certainly looking at USED. It's the most common answer by a mile. It’s simple, it’s direct, and it fits the "exploited" vibe perfectly.
But what if it's five? Then things get interesting. EATEN is a sneaky one that pops up more often than you’d think, especially in British-style or themed puzzles where "taken advantage of" refers specifically to a meal or an opportunity that was consumed. Then there is BLED. That one is a bit more aggressive. It implies a slow drain—financial or emotional. If you're looking at a Sunday sized grid, you might be dealing with EXPLOITED (nine letters) or PLAYED (six letters).
Think about the context of the surrounding words. If you have an "O" in the second spot, you might be looking at COZENED, though that’s pretty high-brow for your average Tuesday puzzle. Most solvers get stuck because they stick to the negative connotation. They think about being "scammed." Sometimes, "taken advantage of" simply means HEEDED or USED in a neutral sense, like using a resource or a tool.
Why Crossword Constructors Love This Specific Clue
Crossword construction isn't just about fitting words into a box; it’s about the art of the "misdirect." Will Shortz, the legendary New York Times crossword editor, has often spoken about how the best clues are those that have a "pivot point."
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"Taken advantage of" is a perfect pivot.
It can be a verb or an adjective. It can be a past participle. Because the phrase functions in so many grammatical slots, the constructor can hide the "part of speech" until you have a few crossing letters. If the answer is USED, it might be a verb. If the answer is MISTREATED, it’s a descriptor. This ambiguity is what keeps people staring at their screens (or papers) for twenty minutes.
The Linguistic Trap
In English, "taking advantage" isn't always a bad thing. If you take advantage of a sale, you're being smart. If you take advantage of a person, you're being a jerk. Crosswords live in that gray area.
I’ve seen puzzles where the answer was AVAILED. It feels formal. It feels like something a Victorian novelist would write. But it’s a perfectly valid synonym. Then you have the slang. HAD. Just three letters. "I’ve been had!" It’s short, it’s punchy, and it fits perfectly into those tight corners of the grid where the constructor is desperate for vowels.
How to Solve It Without Losing Your Mind
If you're stuck, stop looking at the clue. Look at the crosses. This sounds basic, but "taken advantage of" is a "placeholder clue." It’s meant to be solved by the words that intersect it, not by the clue itself.
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- Check the Tense. The clue ends in "ed" (usually). This means your answer almost certainly ends in "ed," "en," or is an irregular past tense like "had" or "bled."
- Count the Vowels. If you have an "E" at the end, USED is your first bet. If you have an "A" in the middle, HAD or PLAYED are strong contenders.
- Think Outside the "Victim" Box. Is there a way this could mean "utilized"? If the answer is MADE USE OF (three words, often signaled by "3 wds" in the clue), you're looking at a different beast entirely.
Real Examples from Famous Puzzles
Let’s look at some data. In the NYT Crossword archive, "taken advantage of" has appeared dozens of times.
- September 2023: The answer was USED.
- April 2021: The answer was PLAYED.
- Late 2019: We saw EXPLOITED in a Saturday puzzle (the hardest day).
- Random Indie Puzzles: I’ve seen MILKED. This is a great one. It implies getting every last drop out of something. It’s colorful. It’s evocative. It’s also a nightmare if you’re looking for something more literal.
There’s also the "Victim" angle. Sometimes the clue isn't the action, but the state of being. DUPED. GULLED. These are old-school crosswordese. You won't hear a teenager say "I was gulled yesterday," but you will see it in a Wednesday LA Times puzzle.
The Difficulty Curve
The day of the week changes everything. On a Monday, "taken advantage of" is USED. It’s the direct synonym. By Friday or Saturday, it could be IMPOSED UPON. That’s a long one. It requires you to understand the social nuance of "taking advantage" of someone’s hospitality.
What to Do When None of the Synonyms Fit
Sometimes you’re not looking for a synonym. You’re looking for a pun.
Crossword themes often revolve around "rebus" squares or "hidden words." If the theme of the puzzle is "Money," and the clue is "taken advantage of," the answer might be something like CASHED IN. It’s not a direct synonym in a dictionary sense, but it fits the theme.
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Always look at the title of the puzzle if it has one. If the title is something like "Double Cross," expect "taken advantage of" to be a hint toward a betrayal-based answer like SOLD OUT.
Tools for the Modern Solver
You don't have to do this alone. If you're really hitting a wall, there are databases like Wordplay (the NYT crossword column) or Rex Parker’s blog. These sites break down the "logic" of the day's puzzle. They don't just give you the answer; they explain why that answer was chosen. It helps you build a mental library of "constructor logic."
Actionable Tips for Your Next Grid
Next time you see "taken advantage of," don't just write in USED and hope for the best.
- Wait for the crosses. Get at least two letters before committing.
- Test the "E." A huge percentage of the answers for this clue end in E or D.
- Consider the source. Is it a New Yorker puzzle? Expect something more literary like AVAILED. Is it a USA Today puzzle? Expect something straightforward like USED.
- Look for the "!" If the clue is "Taken advantage of!", the exclamation point usually means there's a pun or a non-literal meaning involved. Think MILKED or BLED.
Crosswords are a game of cat and mouse. The clue "taken advantage of" is the mouse hole. You know something is in there, but you have to wait for it to peek its head out before you can grab it.
Start by filling in the definite answers around it. If you have "U_E_," you're golden. If you have "_L_YED," you're playing the game. Just don't let the constructor take advantage of you. Keep your eraser handy, stay flexible with your definitions, and remember that in the world of crosswords, words mean whatever the grid needs them to mean.