NY Times Crossword

October 5, 2021

Hoang-Kim Vu and Jessica Zetzman

 

The first four clues have something in common that is hinted at by the fifth clue.

 

1. THE ART OF WAR

2. IN THE AIR TONIGHT

3. SWITCHES PARTIES

4. HEAD FOR THE HILLS

5. DESPONDENT

HINT:

DESPONDENT - as progressively suggested by the first four clues

Answer:

 

Each clue has the letters of the word HEART in order - complete in the first clue, and broken progressively by one, two, and three letters in Clues 2, 3, and 4 - leading to the answer to Clue 5: HEARTBROKEN