Cheat … or a punny hint to the four sets of circled letters NYT Crossword Clue

By Emre Parlak / December 22, 2025

Crossword Answer

1 ? S

2 ? H

3 ? O

4 ? R

5 ? T

6 ? C

7 ? H

8 ? A

9 ? N

10 ? G

11 ? E

Hint

Interactive Solver for Cheat … or a punny hint to the four sets of circled letters Crossword Clue

Drag letters from the pool into “Your Answer”, then reorder them to match the solution.

Your Answer 11 Letter

Current guess: —

Letter Pool

Need a helpful nudge?

Unlock the puzzle's secrets with Daze's progressive hints!

Hint 1

hint

Reveal Hint

Think of a cashier who might not give you all your coins back.

Hint 2

meaning

Reveal Hint

To give less than what is due, often by mistake or deceit.

Hint 3

explanation

Reveal Hint

The clue uses 'cheat' as a synonym for '???????????,' which means to give less than what is due. The phrase 'a punny hint to the four sets of circled letters' suggests that each set of circled letters forms a shorter version of a word or phrase, thus 'changing' it to something shorter, playing on the concept of being '???????????d.'

Hint 4

another clue

Reveal Hint

give less than one should

NYT Crossword December 22 2025 Answers

Tap a cell to show its letter

1 ? C
2 ? O
3 ? M
4 ? A
5 ? S
6 ? A
7 ? C
8 ? E
9 ? L
10 ? A
11 ? B
12 ? A
13 ? G
14 ? A
? N
? O
? D
? E
15 ? W
? I
? S
? E
? R
16 ? I
? L
? L
17 ? J
? A
? Z
? Z
? Q
18 ? U
? A
? R
? T
? E
? T
19 ? G
? L
? O
20 ? O
? D
? I
? E
21 ? B
? R
? R
22 ? I
23 ? S
? L
? E
? S
24 ? L
? I
? L
25 ? J
? E
? D
? I
26 ? M
27 ? A
? S
? T
? E
? R
? S
28 ? E
? E
? L
29 ? E
? R
? S
30 ? O
? U
? T
? R
? A
? G
? E
31 ? S
? T
? A
32 ? T
? E
33 ? A
? N
? N
34 ? E
? D
? Y
? S
35 ? O
? P
36 ? E
37 ? N
? N
? O
? T
38 ? E
? S
39 ? P
40 ? O
41 ? P
? O
42 ? S
? A
? T
43 ? A
? S
44 ? A
45 ? N
46 ? A
47 ? O
? N
? A
? T
48 ? E
? A
? R
49 ? G
50 ? A
? S
51 ? L
? O
? W
52 ? P
? E
? R
? S
? N
? I
? C
53 ? K
? E
? T
? Y
54 ? D
? N
? A
55 ? F
? L
? O
? Y
? D
56 ? A
? N
? I
57 ? B
? E
? A
? K
58 ? O
? I
? L
59 ? S
60 ? H
61 ? O
? R
? T
? C
62 ? H
? A
? N
? G
? E
63 ? U
? N
? E
64 ? A
? U
? R
? A
? L
65 ? A
? N
? T
? O
? N
66 ? L
? E
? D
67 ? T
? E
? S
? T
? Y
68 ? T
? E
? E
? N
? S

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Clue Analysis

The answer to “Cheat … or a punny hint to the four sets of circled letters” in the New York Times puzzle December 22 2025 is SHORTCHANGE. Quite straight and simple! Complete your daily NYT Mini challenge with this solution.

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Your Questions, Answered by Experts.

At Daze Puzzle, we understand that every clue is a puzzle within a larger puzzle. Our team of dedicated human experts and puzzle lovers solves these challenges daily to help you succeed. Below, we answer common questions about this specific clue.

A: The most common and recent 11-letter answer for "Cheat … or a punny hint to the four sets of circled letters" is SHORTCHANGE.

A: The clue uses 'cheat' as a synonym for 'shortchange,' which means to give less than what is due. The phrase 'a punny hint to the four sets of circled letters' suggests that each set of circled letters forms a shorter version of a word or phrase, thus 'changing' it to something shorter, playing on the concept of being 'shortchanged.'

A: This clue was last seen in the NYT Crossword on December 22, 2025.

A: To give less than what is due, often by mistake or deceit.

A: give less than one should

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Cheat … or a punny hint to the four sets of circled letters NYT Crossword Clue

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