54 Across
NYT Daily • August 12, 2025
Bad news for vegetation
Answer:
BLIGHT
Hint:
A plant disease that causes rapid decay and often starts with a "B."
Explanation:
The clue "Bad news for vegetation" hints at a word meaning a plant disease or decay, which is "blight." It plays on the literal definition of blight as something harmful to plants, making it a straightforward clue without hidden wordplay. The answer fits because blight is commonly associated with damage to crops or gardens.