NYT Crossword

Letters before ".gov"

Archive answer — July 23, 2026

23 Down

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Clue explained

“IRS” is the published 3-letter fill for 23 Down. Use the crossing letters in the grid below to verify how it fits.

Clue type:
Crossword fill

NYT Crossword

This clue’s Thursday, July 23, 2026 appearance

Tap a square to reveal or hide a letter.

Crossword solution grid

Select a square to hide or reveal its letter in the 15 by 15 crossword grid.

Or reveal one clue at a time with the Hint and Answer buttons below.

Across

33 clues
  1. 1More than just a disapproving look
  2. 10Scruff of the neck
  3. 13Fondita offerings
  4. 15Three-time A.L. M.V.P. of the 2000s, familiarly
  5. 16"The Devil's radio"
  6. 17Pollution portmanteau
  7. 18Really peeved
  8. 19What a pointless game has?
  9. 21Outfitted
  10. 25Password preceder
  11. 26Former Toyota sports cars named for a Latin prefix
  12. 27Passover month
  13. 29___-turvy
  14. 30Sprint, e.g.
  15. 31Home run hitter's gait
  16. 35Downed
  17. 36Part in a play
  18. 37"That's the spot!"
  19. 38"Tyrone" singer Erykah
  20. 40Not much
  21. 41"Will you let me?"
  22. 43Desert for which an African country is named
  23. 45Like obsidian rock, once
  24. 46Symbol of rebirth in ancient Egypt
  25. 49Last hurrah
  26. 51Trials by fire
  27. 53Wholly, but not holey or holy, e.g.: Abbr.
  28. 54Helen of Troy's mother
  29. 55Ignominious outcome
  30. 61Tech product discontinued in 2022
  31. 62Proposed cosmological phenomenon that could make up 70% of the universe - and six squares in this puzzle's grid?
  32. 63Not admit
  33. 64Pottery so named for its hardness

Down

41 clues
  1. 1Agnus ___
  2. 2Word after tight or defensive
  3. 3Knee stabilizer, in brief
  4. 4Not just any
  5. 5Attractive feature of a job
  6. 6Single-masted vessels
  7. 7Sweet or sour
  8. 8Podcast interruptions
  9. 9Frequent forecast in Seattle
  10. 10Strong suit?
  11. 11Unleavened South Asian flatbread
  12. 12Follower of double or gilt
  13. 14Champion, as a cause
  14. 15Budding
  15. 20Org. with a list of popular baby names
  16. 21Minimum, in a way
  17. 22Increased
  18. 23Letters before ".gov"IRS
  19. 24Forensic facilities
  20. 26Sign abbr. meaning "founded in"
  21. 28Coffee or tea specification
  22. 30Unleavened South Asian flatbread
  23. 32Sought comfort from, say
  24. 33Like granola
  25. 34Unnamed article
  26. 39Ill-prepared
  27. 40Didn't stay on topic
  28. 41Come together
  29. 42Lou Gehrig's disease, for short
  30. 44One level below the majors
  31. 45Infuriate
  32. 46Sphere, e.g.
  33. 47Crinkly fabric
  34. 48Extension
  35. 50Totally bizarre
  36. 52Places to get masks
  37. 56Original N.Y.C. subway line
  38. 57Handful
  39. 58Long stretch
  40. 59Cabinet dept. since 1889
  41. 60Gospel musician Tribbett

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Every clue links to a dedicated answer page. Use the list below to scan the complete fill without opening the interactive board.

Across

  1. 1. More than just a disapproving look

    Answer: DEATHSTAR

  2. 10. Scruff of the neck

    Answer: APE

  3. 13. Fondita offerings

    Answer: ENCHILADAS

  4. 15. Three-time A.L. M.V.P. of the 2000s, familiarly

    Answer: AROD

  5. 16. "The Devil's radio"

    Answer: IDLEGOSSIP

  6. 17. Pollution portmanteau

    Answer: SMOG

  7. 18. Really peeved

    Answer: HOT

  8. 19. What a pointless game has?

    Answer: NOSCORE

  9. 21. Outfitted

    Answer: QUIPPED

  10. 25. Password preceder

    Answer: USERID

  11. 26. Former Toyota sports cars named for a Latin prefix

    Answer: SUPRAS

  12. 27. Passover month

    Answer: NISAN

  13. 29. ___-turvy

    Answer: TOPSY

  14. 30. Sprint, e.g.

    Answer: RACE

  15. 31. Home run hitter's gait

    Answer: TROT

  16. 35. Downed

    Answer: ATE

  17. 36. Part in a play

    Answer: OLE

  18. 37. "That's the spot!"

    Answer: AAH

  19. 38. "Tyrone" singer Erykah

    Answer: BADU

  20. 40. Not much

    Answer: ATAD

  21. 41. "Will you let me?"

    Answer: CANTI

  22. 43. Desert for which an African country is named

    Answer: NAMIB

  23. 45. Like obsidian rock, once

    Answer: MOLTEN

  24. 46. Symbol of rebirth in ancient Egypt

    Answer: SCARAB

  25. 49. Last hurrah

    Answer: SWANSON

  26. 51. Trials by fire

    Answer: ORDEALS

  27. 53. Wholly, but not holey or holy, e.g.: Abbr.

    Answer: ADV

  28. 54. Helen of Troy's mother

    Answer: LEDA

  29. 55. Ignominious outcome

    Answer: EPICDEFEAT

  30. 61. Tech product discontinued in 2022

    Answer: IPOD

  31. 62. Proposed cosmological phenomenon that could make up 70% of the universe - and six squares in this puzzle's grid?

    Answer: DARKENERGY

  32. 63. Not admit

    Answer: DEN

  33. 64. Pottery so named for its hardness

    Answer: STONEWARE

Down

  1. 1. Agnus ___

    Answer: DEI

  2. 2. Word after tight or defensive

    Answer: END

  3. 3. Knee stabilizer, in brief

    Answer: ACL

  4. 4. Not just any

    Answer: THE

  5. 5. Attractive feature of a job

    Answer: HIGHPAY

  6. 6. Single-masted vessels

    Answer: SLOOPS

  7. 7. Sweet or sour

    Answer: TASTE

  8. 8. Podcast interruptions

    Answer: ADS

  9. 9. Frequent forecast in Seattle

    Answer: RAIN

  10. 10. Strong suit?

    Answer: ARMOR

  11. 11. Unleavened South Asian flatbread

    Answer: POORI

  12. 12. Follower of double or gilt

    Answer: EDGED

  13. 14. Champion, as a cause

    Answer: SPOUSE

  14. 15. Budding

    Answer: ASCENT

  15. 20. Org. with a list of popular baby names

    Answer: SSA

  16. 21. Minimum, in a way

    Answer: QUOTA

  17. 22. Increased

    Answer: UPPED

  18. 23. Letters before ".gov"

    Answer: IRS

  19. 24. Forensic facilities

    Answer: DNALABS

  20. 26. Sign abbr. meaning "founded in"

    Answer: STAB

  21. 28. Coffee or tea specification

    Answer: ICED

  22. 32. Sought comfort from, say

    Answer: RANTO

  23. 33. Like granola

    Answer: OATEN

  24. 34. Unnamed article

    Answer: THIN

  25. 39. Ill-prepared

    Answer: UNREAD

  26. 40. Didn't stay on topic

    Answer: AMBLED

  27. 41. Come together

    Answer: CONVENE

  28. 42. Lou Gehrig's disease, for short

    Answer: ALS

  29. 44. One level below the majors

    Answer: AAA

  30. 45. Infuriate

    Answer: MADDEN

  31. 46. Sphere, e.g.

    Answer: SOLID

  32. 47. Crinkly fabric

    Answer: CREPE

  33. 48. Extension

    Answer: ADDON

  34. 50. Totally bizarre

    Answer: WACKO

  35. 52. Places to get masks

    Answer: SPAS

  36. 56. Original N.Y.C. subway line

    Answer: IRT

  37. 57. Handful

    Answer: FEW

  38. 58. Long stretch

    Answer: ERA

  39. 59. Cabinet dept. since 1889

    Answer: AGR

  40. 60. Gospel musician Tribbett

    Answer: TYE

The answer to “Letters before ".gov"” in the NYT Crossword is IRS — a 3-letter word. It appears in our available data for July 23, 2026 at 23-Down. Below you can reveal the fill one letter at a time, check the full puzzle, and open every related clue page.

“Letters before ".gov"” answer

IRS(3 letters)

Prefer a nudge first? Use the letter tiles above to hide and reveal individual characters, or use the focused grid to confirm the crossing letters.

Why does IRS fit?

IRS is the published 3-letter answer at 23-Down. The highlighted path in the puzzle shows exactly where the entry sits.

When else has “Letters before ".gov"” appeared?

The same clue can return on another date, sometimes with a different fill. These are the matching appearances in the recent published records available through the Answers API.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Letters before ".gov"”?

The answer is IRS.

How many letters are in the answer?

3 letters: IRS.

When did this clue appear?

It appears in the NYT Crossword for July 23, 2026 at 23-Down.

Can this clue have a different answer?

Yes. Crossword clues may be reused with a different fill depending on the grid. Recent matching appearances are listed above when available.

Where can I find the rest of this day’s answers?

Open the NYT answers page for July 23, 2026 for the full grid and every clue.

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