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NYT Daily • September 3, 2025

Fairy tale baddie

Answer:

OGRE

Hint:

This green-skinned brute often guards bridges or castles and has a taste for knights—or at least their stories. Think Shrek’s less friendly cousin.

Explanation:

Fairy tale baddie" points to a classic villain from stories like Shrek or Puss in Boots—a big, scary creature known for being ugly and mean. The answer is "OGRE," a well-known monster in folklore that often eats people or guards bridges. The clue plays on the idea of a standard "bad guy" in fairy tales, and "ogre" fits perfectly as a short, punchy answer. No tricks here, just a direct reference to a famous storybook menace.

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