NYT Crossword Clue: ___ Czar, N.Y.C. Government Position Whose Job Listing Called for “a Virulent Vehemence for Vermin” From April 16, 2024

Hi everyone! Good morning, guys What are the plans today? I'm here with a crossword to challenge your skills. Before that, let's see the interesting facts about the crossword. The Times crossword puzzle has faced criticism for not being diverse enough in its creators and clues.

Mostly older white men have historically made and edited major crosswords like those in the Times. Less than 30% of puzzle makers during the Shortz Era were women. In the 2010s, only 27% of the people mentioned in clues were women, and 20% were from minority racial groups.

In January 2019, the Times crossword got backlash for using the racial slur "BEANER" as an answer. The editor, Shortz, apologized, saying he didn't know the word's offensiveness. In 2022, the Times was criticized for a crossword grid that some thought looked like a Nazi swastika, published on the first night of Hanukkah.

The Times said it was unintentional, caused by the grid's design. This wasn't the first time; similar accusations were made in 2017 and 2014, which the Times defended as coincidental. Crossword puzzles started as diamond-shaped grids. At first, Arthur Wynne, who created the first crossword puzzle, tried different shapes, like vertical and horizontal ones.

Eventually, the square grid we see today became popular. So, the very first crossword puzzles weren't the square ones we're used to, but they were shaped like diamonds. It's interesting to see how they evolved in those early days. Now it is time to take a closer look at the crossword clue: ___ czar, N.Y.C. government position whose job listing called for “a virulent vehemence for vermin”

This clue is likely referring to a specific position within the New York City government, known as the "___ Czar." The job listing for this position emphasized the need for someone with a strong and passionate dislike or hostility towards vermin, such as rats or pests. The term "czar" in this context suggests that the person holding this position has significant authority or responsibility in dealing with issues related to vermin control or management in the city.

Clue

___ czar, N.Y.C. government position whose job listing called for “a virulent vehemence for vermin”

Explanation

The clue "___ czar, N.Y.C. government position whose job listing called for 'a virulent vehemence for vermin'" suggests a job title in the government of New York City that deals with controlling pests like rats and insects. The term "czar" often means someone with a lot of power in a certain area.

So, this person would likely have a big role in deciding how to handle these pests in the city. The phrase "a virulent vehemence for vermin" means that whoever is hired for this job needs to dislike pests and be very passionate about getting rid of them.

"Virulent" means extremely harmful, and "vehemence" means strong passion or intensity. So, they're looking for someone really serious about getting rid of pests. Overall, this clue is talking about a high-ranking position in the New York City government responsible for dealing with pests, and they want someone very serious about it.

Hints to Finding the Answer

If you still can’t find the answer, here are some clues to help you.

• The answer is a 3-letter word.

• The answer starts with R and ends with T.

• Think about a small animal that's often seen as a pest in cities.
• This animal is frequently associated with sneaky behavior.
• People try to get rid of them because they carry diseases and can damage things.

Answer

Wow! Amazing guys, you are a talented crossword solver. You solved it.

RAT

Explanation

The word you're looking for in the crossword clue is "RAT." In simple terms, the clue is about a job in the government of New York City. This job involves dealing with pests, like rats, which are small animals that can cause problems in the city. The job listing for this position said they wanted someone who doesn't like rats and is very passionate about getting rid of them.

They used words like "virulent vehemence," which means they want someone with a strong dislike and determination to fight against these pests. So, if you see a clue like this in a crossword puzzle and you're trying to figure out the answer, remember that it's talking about a government job in New York City, and the word they're looking for is "RAT."