9 Down

NYT Daily ? September 27, 2025

Firewood choice, or its destiny

Answer:

ASH

Hint:

This tree’s lightweight wood burns well, and what remains after a fire shares its name.

Explanation:

This clue plays on two meanings of "ash." First, it hints at ash wood, a common type of firewood. Then, it nods to the fact that wood eventually burns down to ash—its "destiny." The wordplay ties the literal and figurative together neatly.

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Kind of contest with multiple chances to participate

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Is on the bottom?

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What an insensitive joke might do

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It might be living on the edge

General solving tip

A question mark usually flags wordplay or a non-literal reading. Expect a pun, a twist, or a definition that's one step removed from the surface meaning.

More tips → General Hints