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.

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