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NYT Daily • August 20, 2025

Shape-shifting organism

Answer:

AMOEBA

Hint:

This single-celled blob extends and retracts its body to move and consume food.

Explanation:

The clue "Shape-shifting organism" points to an amoeba, a single-celled creature known for constantly changing its form by extending and retracting its cytoplasm. The term "shape-shifting" directly describes how amoebas move and adapt, making it a straightforward definition without hidden wordplay. If you’ve seen one under a microscope, you’d recognize its blob-like, ever-changing appearance. It’s a classic biology term that fits the clue perfectly.

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