The New York Times crossword clue “very, very tall” from August 22, 2025 has one answer: TOWERING.
This eight-letter solution appeared in the Thursday puzzle, positioned as a down entry. Thousands of solvers searched for this answer online, making it one of the most-queried clues from that week’s puzzles.
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Why TOWERING Is the Correct Answer
The clue uses deliberate repetition. “Very, very” signals that a basic synonym won’t work. The constructor wants emphasis.
TOWERING fits because:
- Contains exactly 8 letters
- Describes extreme height
- The doubling of “very” matches the intensity of “towering”
- Common enough for Thursday difficulty
- Works in multiple contexts (buildings, people, performances)
The word comes from “tower,” meaning to rise high above surroundings. When something towers, it dominates vertically. The Eiffel Tower. A center in basketball. A redwood forest. All examples of things that tower.
The August 22, 2025 Puzzle Details
This clue appeared on a Thursday, which matters for NYT crossword solvers. The Times runs puzzles that get progressively harder Monday through Saturday.
Thursday specifics:
- 15×15 grid (standard weekday size)
- Published at 10 PM ET on August 21 (digital release)
- Edited by Will Shortz
- Known for including puzzle tricks or themes with twists
The puzzle’s difficulty level sits in the middle of the week’s range, though Thursday puzzles often include unconventional elements that can trip up solvers expecting straightforward clues.
How to Solve Height-Related Crossword Clues
When a clue emphasizes height with modifiers, count your available letters first. The grid provides the constraint.
Common height answers by letter count:
- 4 letters: TALL, HIGH
- 5 letters: LOFTY, LANKY
- 6 letters: STATUESQUE (too long here)
- 7 letters: SOARING
- 8 letters: TOWERING, ELEVATED
For “very, very tall,” you need 8 letters based on the grid position. ELEVATED could technically fit, but lacks the emphasis the clue demands.
Solving approach:
- Count the boxes (8 in this case)
- Check crossing answers for letter hints
- Consider which word carries the most weight
- Thursday clues sometimes want less obvious answers
If you had crossing letters like T__E__NG, the answer becomes clearer. The word pattern helps narrow options.
What Makes Thursday Puzzles Different
The Times follows a specific difficulty curve. Will Shortz, who has edited the puzzle since 1993, maintains this structure deliberately.
Weekly progression:
- Monday: Easiest, straightforward
- Tuesday: Slightly harder
- Wednesday: Moderate challenge
- Thursday: Trick elements common
- Friday: Themeless, advanced
- Saturday: Hardest of the week
- Sunday: Large grid, Wednesday/Thursday difficulty
Thursday stands out because constructors introduce elements beyond basic clues. This might include rebus squares (where one box contains multiple letters), unusual themes, or wordplay that requires rethinking your approach.
The “very, very tall” clue itself wasn’t a trick, but its placement on Thursday meant solvers might have overthought it, looking for complexity that wasn’t there.
Other Answers That Don’t Work
Solvers might consider these alternatives:
GIGANTIC – 8 letters, but describes size broadly, not specifically height
ELEVATED – 8 letters, technically about height, but the clue’s repetition suggests something stronger
ENORMOUS – 8 letters, refers to overall size
IMPOSING – 8 letters, could work but less specific to vertical measurement
TOWERING wins because it specifically and emphatically describes vertical height. The clue’s construction points directly to this answer.
Finding NYT Crossword Answers
The Times crossword appears daily across several platforms:
- Print edition of The New York Times
- NYT Games website (nytimes.com/crosswords)
- New York Times Games app (iOS and Android)
Digital subscribers get early access. Weekday puzzles post at 10 PM Eastern the night before print publication. Sunday puzzles post at 6 PM Saturday.
Solvers can use the built-in “Check” function to verify individual letters or complete words. The “Reveal” function fills in answers but ends any active solving streak.
Next Steps for Crossword Solvers
If you found this clue challenging, you’re building the right skills. Crossword solving improves with exposure to different clue types and constructor styles.
Practice strategies:
- Start with Monday puzzles if you’re new to NYT crosswords
- Work through the week to build tolerance for harder clues
- Pay attention to letter counts before considering answers
- Use crossing answers to confirm or eliminate possibilities
- Thursday puzzles reward flexible thinking
The “very, very tall” clue from August 22, 2025 serves as a good example of how emphasis in language translates to crossword construction. TOWERING captures that emphasis in eight letters.
