A Crossword Clue in High Demand: Tackling ‘Sought-after‘
There are few moments more satisfying for a crossword solver than scanning a fresh grid and spotting a familiar, friendly face. You know the ones—those reliable little bits of cluing that act as a welcome mat, inviting you into the puzzle. They are the handholds on the rock face of a tricky Saturday puzzle, the starting blocks that give you the momentum you need. For me, the crossword clue ‘Sought-after‘ is one of those perfect entry points.
When this particular crossword clue appears, it feels less like a riddle and more like a straightforward handshake from the puzzle constructor. It’s a definition, plain and simple, and its clarity is its strength. Unlike a punny, ‘what-if’ style clue that requires a mental backflip, ‘Sought-after‘ asks a direct question: what’s another way to say something is desirable or in high demand?
The real beauty of this common crossword clue lies in how it forces a solver to immediately consider the most fundamental element of any puzzle: the letter count. Are you looking for a compact four-letter word? Or perhaps a longer, more descriptive two-word phrase sprawling across eight or nine squares? The number of boxes waiting for your fill is the first and most important hint. It instantly narrows the field of synonyms from a dozen possibilities down to just a handful.
This is where the true art of the crossword puzzle comes into play. You might have a potential answer in your head, but does it fit the letters you’ve already penciled in from the crossing clues? That ‘P’ in the third position might invalidate your first instinct, forcing you to dig deeper into your vocabulary. That ‘N’ sitting in the second spot could be the key that unlocks the entire phrase. The ‘Sought-after‘ crossword clue is a fantastic exercise in mental flexibility, asking you to cycle through synonyms until you find the one that harmonizes perfectly with the rest of the grid.
Think of it as a central hub. Solving this one clue often provides three, four, or even more letters to help you tackle the intersecting vertical entries. It can be the key that breaks open an entire corner of the puzzle, turning a sea of white squares into a cascade of completed words. It’s a clue that rewards direct thinking and a solid grasp of the English language.
So, the next time you see ‘Sought-after‘ pop up in your daily crossword puzzle, take a moment to appreciate it. It’s more than just a simple definition; it’s a foundational clue, a dependable ally in your daily quest for a completed grid. It reminds us that not every clue needs to be an elaborate misdirection. Sometimes, the most satisfying solve comes from a clear, concise question that helps you build a solid foundation, one letter at a time.
Available Answers:
DESIRED.
Last seen on the crossword puzzle: 0918-25 NY Times Crossword 18 Sep 25, Thursday