Buff NYT Crossword Clue

By Emre Parlak Last Update: SEP 4, 2026 Follow on Google

Crossword Answer

Click ? to reveal letters one by one before showing the full answer.

Clue History: Buff

Complete History & Past Answers

Answer Letters Puzzle

SWOLE

Letters 5

NYT Crossword - September 4 2026

TONED

Letters 5

NYT Crossword - August 22 2025

TAN

Letters 3

WSJ Crossword - July 16 2025

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Hint 1

hint

Hint 2

meaning

Hint 3

explanation

Q1.

What is the most likely answer for the crossword clue "Buff"?

The most common and recent 5-letter answer for "Buff" is SWOLE.

Q2.

Why is "SWOLE" the answer to the clue "Buff"?

The term 'buff' is slang for someone who is muscular or well-toned, which is also what 'swole' refers to in modern slang. 'Swole' is derived from 'swollen,' implying muscles that are enlarged from exercise.

Q3.

What does the word "SWOLE" mean in this context?

Swole means having large, well-defined muscles, often due to exercise.

Q4.

What are some other crossword clues that share the same answer?

Buff, to gym bros, Beefy, as gym bros, Really ripped

Q5.

When has "Buff" crossword clue been used historically?

NYT Crossword - September 4 2026 - NYT Crossword - August 22 2025

5-letter answer to Buff in NYT Crossword September 4 2026 is SWOLE

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The clue tells you the shape of the answer

An abbreviated answer gets signalled in the clue, either by an abbreviation, an “Abbr.” tag, or a phrase like “for short” or “briefly.”
A question mark at the end means wordplay, not a definition.
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Square brackets usually mean the answer is a sound or a gesture rather than words.
Tense, number and degree always agree.

The day of the week is a difficulty setting

Monday is nearly literal. Puns arrive Wednesday. Thursday is the trick day, where rebus squares hold several letters in one box. Friday and Saturday are almost always themeless and wide open, with Saturday the hardest of the week.

Sunday confuses people. At 21×21 it’s nearly twice the area of a weekday grid, but it’s edited to roughly Wednesday or Thursday difficulty. Long isn’t the same as hard.