5 Down

NYT Daily • August 24, 2025

Hypotheticals

Answer:

IFS

Hint:

Consider the two letters that often start a question about possibilities.

Explanation:

The clue "Hypotheticals" is hinting at the word we use to introduce conditional or imaginary scenarios. In English, that’s often done with the two-letter word "if," and since the answer is plural, it becomes "IFS." Think of phrases like "what-ifs" or "no ifs, ands, or buts"—the word captures the idea of possibilities or assumptions. It’s a straightforward definition with a slight twist in pluralizing the answer.

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