Formal Decree NYT: Finding Possible Answers

Solving crossword puzzles is one of the most interesting solitary games. It helps you to work your brain on one hand and brings you a refreshing break from the work on the other. It gives your brain the exercise it needs. Crossword clues are often witty and can have several meanings. You will have a hard time finding the right answers. This is the reason they are even more interesting. The New York Times has introduced the mini version of this interesting traditional crossword Puzzle. If you like to play crosswords but don’t have much time on your hands, these mini crosswords are perfect for you. Here the clues are also short but pretty tough to solve. For example, the clue ‘Formal Decree NYT” has given the puzzle solvers a rough time identifying the correct answers. If you have not found the right answer for this clue yet, this article is just for you. You will get to know the possible answers and gain insight into solving the crossword clue correctly. So, let’s get into this.

Understanding the Meaning of “Formal Decree NYT” Clue

Before finding the possible answers for the crossword clue “Formal Decree NYT”, let’s understand the clue properly. The question here is what does the phrase “formal decree” mean? A formal Decree is a kind of official order placed by an important authority like the government, court, or some other legal institutions. Through this formal decree, the authoritative body provides some written statements or orders that people must follow. These decrees also have legal bindings and some structural processes of issuance. Once a formal decree is issued, you must follow it or you have to face the legal consequences. For example, the president or a similar authoritative body has to issue a formal decree in order to announce tomorrow as a national holiday. Only after the decree, we can officially call tomorrow a holiday. That’s about what a “Formal Decree” is. In this case, the clue is simple and straightforward without any pun or underlying meaning.

Discussion of the Possible Answers

Now that we have understood the meaning of the clue, finding out the answer is a lot easier. We need to identify the words that have the same meaning as the “Formal Decree NYT”. Here are some words that can be possible answers.

Edict: The most possible answer for the clue is Edict as it directly matches the meaning of “Formal Decree”. An edict is actually a formal decree issued by the government or the representative of the monarchy. It also involves legal aspects and requires an official procedure. So, if you have a 4-letter gap in your puzzle grid with the clue “Formal Decree NYT”, the answer most probably be “Edict”.
Mandate: Mandate means an official commission or order to do something. You need to strictly follow what the mandate includes. In case, you have a 7-letter gap in your puzzle grid, you can try this word out.
Fiat: This is also a formal order or decree. The only difference is that it can be arbitrary or authoritative. The meaning is more or less the same as the meaning of the clue “Formal Decree NYT”. You can try this word in your puzzle grid if you have a 4-letter gap.

These three aforementioned words closely match the meaning of the aforementioned clue. You can apply each of the words in your puzzle grid and see which answer ends up being correct by matching it with the other answers in the puzzle grid. Even though all these words have similar meanings, Edict is the closest match to the phrase “Formal Decree NYT”.

How NYT Crossword Clues Work?

If you are a beginner in the world of crossword clues, you should know how crossword clues work. It will help you to understand the clue. Firstly, keep an eye on the tense of the clue. If the clue is in the past tense, your answer should also be in the past tense. Secondly, the answers to the clues will often come in abbreviations. If you feel the answer is correct but still does not fit in the puzzle grid properly, you should try their abbreviation if there are any. Finally, you need to be aware of the puns and wordplays that the crossword clues most often include. You have to apply out-of-the-box thinking in order to find the correct answers. These clues are the most challenging to solve, but they are the most interesting ones.