Word that becomes its own synonym when the last letter is changed to “r” - NYT Crossword Clue

Introduction

This New York Times crossword clue is a fantastic example of wordplay that requires a solver to think about the structure of a word as much as its meaning. Instead of a direct definition, it presents a riddle about a word's relationship to one of its synonyms. These types of clues are often very satisfying to solve once the internal logic clicks.

Clue Analysis

The clue asks for a specific word that, when its final letter is swapped for an "r", transforms into a new word that means the same thing. Let's break down the mechanics:

1. Start with a word (let's call it Word A).
2. Identify its last letter.
3. Replace that last letter with an "r" to create Word B.
4. The crucial condition is that Word A and Word B must be synonyms.

The answer to this puzzle is BAN. If we apply the rule, we take BAN, change the last letter ("n") to an "r", and we get BAR. Both "ban" and "bar" are verbs meaning to prohibit, forbid, or exclude. For example, you can ban someone from a club, or you can bar them from entry.

Thinking Approaches

A solver might approach this clue in a few ways:

1. Brainstorm Synonym Pairs: You could start by thinking of pairs of synonyms (e.g., big/large, stop/halt, prohibit/forbid). Then, you'd check if any of these pairs fit the letter-swap rule. This is a broad approach and can be time-consuming.

2. Focus on the Transformation: A more targeted method is to think of a concept, and then list synonyms related to it. Let's take the idea of "prohibiting." Synonyms include forbid, prohibit, enjoin, ban, and bar. Looking at this list, the pair BAN and BAR immediately stands out as fitting the clue's specific transformation rule.

3. Use Crossing Letters: In a real crossword, you'd likely have some letters already filled in from intersecting clues. If you knew the answer was three letters long and started with 'B', you could test words like 'BID', 'BET', 'BUG', and 'BAN' against the clue's logic, quickly landing on the correct answer.

Background Context

This type of clue is a staple in modern crosswords. It falls into a category of word manipulation puzzles that test a solver's vocabulary depth and mental flexibility. Unlike trivia or definition-based clues, these require you to deconstruct and reconstruct words. They are a testament to the richness and sometimes quirky nature of the English language, where two words so structurally similar can also share a meaning.

Conclusion

This clue is a well-crafted puzzle that elegantly combines definition and wordplay. The solution, BAN, perfectly satisfies the condition of becoming its own synonym, BAR, with a simple one-letter change. It's a great reminder to always be on the lookout for clues that are more than just simple definitions.

Hints

1. Hint 1: The clue describes a pair of verbs that mean to prohibit or forbid something.
2. Hint 2: Think of a word for an official or legal prohibition.
3. Hint 3: The two words in question are both three letters long.
4. Hint 4: The first word ends in 'N', and the second, synonymous word ends in 'R'.