11 Down

NYT Daily • August 4, 2025

Emphatic rejection

Answer:

GODNO

Hint:

["When you strongly refuse, you might start with a divine exclamation."]

Explanation:

The clue "Emphatic rejection" leads to the answer "GODNO" through a combination of wordplay and common phrasing. 1. "Emphatic" suggests a strong or forceful response. 2. "Rejection" implies saying "no" or refusing something. 3. "GODNO" is a play on the phrase "Oh God, no!" which is a strong (or emphatic) way of rejecting something. The clue is essentially breaking down this phrase and using only the most forceful parts to create the answer. So, the clue is asking for a strong way to say "no," which is reflected in the answer "GODNO."

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