Introduction to the New York Times (NYT) Crossword Puzzle

The New York Times (NYT) Crossword Puzzle is special because of its clever wordplay, high-quality editing, and cultural relevance, making it enjoyable for both casual solvers and dedicated fans. One of its standout features is the clear difficulty progression, with Monday puzzles designed to be easy and accessible, gradually becoming more challenging through the week and peaking on Saturday, while the larger Sunday puzzle focuses on a creative theme rather than increased difficulty. Getting started is simple—new solvers can begin with early-week puzzles, use crossing clues to build confidence, and gradually learn common crossword patterns, making the NYT Crossword an engaging and rewarding daily habit.

The Clue: Make an Impression on NYT

The clue “Make an Impression on” is a clever play on words that can have multiple meanings. It could refer to emotionally impacting someone or literally pressing a mark into a surface. Depending on how many letters your puzzle needs, there are several possible answers. DENT (4 letters) means to create a physical indentation in something by pressing into it. AWE (3 letters) means to deeply impress or amaze someone emotionally. ETCH (4 letters) refers to carving or engraving a mark into a surface. MOVE (4 letters) means to touch someone’s feelings or emotions. IMPRESS (7 letters) captures the figurative meaning of making a strong positive impact on someone. The key to solving this clue is understanding whether it’s asking for the literal meaning (physical mark) or figurative meaning (emotional impact). 

Tips for Solving the Clue Make an Impression on NYT 

• Look for Double Meanings

This clue plays with words in a clever way. “Make an impression on” can mean emotionally impacting someone OR literally pressing a mark into a surface. The answer DENT (4 letters) uses the literal meaning—creating a physical indentation.

• Count the Letter Spaces

Check how many blank squares you need to fill. If you have 4 spaces, DENT is likely your answer. Different letter counts might point to other options like AWE (3 letters) or ETCH (4 letters).

• Think Literally First

When a clue seems like it could go either way, try the most literal interpretation first. “Make an impression” in its most basic sense means to press something and leave a mark—that’s exactly what a dent is.

• Check Your Crossing Letters

Look at any letters already filled in from words that cross through this clue. If you see a “D” at the start or a “T” at the end, that strongly suggests DENT is correct.

• Consider the Grid Size

Crossword constructors often prefer shorter, simpler words for tight spaces. DENT fits perfectly in compact grids and uses common letters that work well with other words.

• Test Your Answer

Once you fill in DENT, check if it helps solve the crossing clues. If those answers make sense and fit naturally, you’ve got the right solution.

Final Answer of Make an Impression on NYT 

The final answer to the clue “Make an Impression on NYT” in the NYT crossword is DENT (4 letters). Which means to press into a surface and leave a mark or indentation. This word perfectly captures the literal meaning of making a physical impression on something. The clue is clever because it plays with double meanings—while “make an impression on” often refers to emotionally impacting someone, DENT takes the phrase literally to mean creating an actual dent or mark on a surface. Other possible answers you might encounter include AWE (3 letters) for deeply impressing someone, ETCH (4 letters) for carving a mark into something, or IMPRESS (7 letters) for the more figurative meaning. The specific answer depends on your puzzle’s letter count and crossing words.