‘Suspicious of’ NYT Mini Crossword puzzle clue answer and hints

When you’re suspicious of someone or something, you know something just isn’t right, much like how I felt while trying to figure out this clue. With “Suspicious of” being a clue from today’s NYT crossword, you may also be in the same boat.

This clue is from the Sept. 10 NYT Mini Crossword puzzle, and although it only has four letters, it’s a bit of a doozy to crack. If you’re having trouble, you’ll find the answer below.

‘Suspicious of’ NYT Mini Crossword clue Sept. 10 hints and answer

• Hint 1: It starts with an “O.”
• Hint 2: It ends with an “O.”
• Hint 3: It can be one or two words. But in this case, it’s one.
• Hint 4: It rhymes with “fondu.”

The answer to the “Suspicious of” clue from the Sept. 10 NYT Mini Crossword puzzle is “ONTO.”

The meaning of onto changes depending on whether it’s split into one or two words. When it’s one word, to “be onto” is considered a phrasal verb, where you know that someone has done something wrong. However, by itself, “onto” can also be a preposition. In this case, the Cambridge Dictionary considers it a knowledge preposition where you know someone has done something bad.  

All clues and answers from the Sept. 10 NYT Mini Crossword puzzle

Across

• 1A What a phisher might try to get you to click — LINK
• 5A “___Copperhead,” Barbara Kingslover novel that won a 2023 Pulitzer — DEMON
• 6A Act melodramatically — EMOTE
• 7A One just squeaking by? — MOUSE
• 8A Suspicious of — ONTO

Down

• 1D Fruit used to treat scurvy — LEMON
• 2D “Catch ya later!” — IM OUT
• 3D “Quite the contrary!” — NOT SO
• 4D Bending body part — KNEE
• 5D Music submission to a recording studio — DEMO

Is the clue ‘Suspicious of’ difficult?

When I first read this clue, I wasn’t sure of the answer because I was thinking more along the lines of “suspect” and “wary.” But those weren’t the answer. In truth, I had to solve most of the crossword puzzle to guess the answer, and I certainly wasn’t expecting it to be “onto.”

Because of this, I’d give it a difficulty rating of four out of five.

Test yourself with these other puzzle games

If you enjoy testing your crossword knowledge or trying word-based games, try these if you’ve finished the NYT Mini Crossword puzzle: LA Times crossword puzzle, the Washington Post crossword puzzle, Strands, or Spelling Bee.