40 Across

NYT Daily • August 16, 2025

Try to break, as a bad habit

Answer:

UNLEARN

Hint:

Reverse the process of absorbing something you once practiced automatically.

Explanation:

The clue plays on the idea of "breaking" a habit, which isn’t about physically breaking something but undoing or reversing learned behavior. "Unlearn" fits because it means to consciously discard or forget something you’ve previously absorbed—like a bad habit. The word "try to" hints at the effort involved, while "break" acts as a definition, making the answer a straightforward yet clever match. It’s a common phrase in psychology and self-improvement, reinforcing the idea of actively overcoming ingrained patterns.

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