Quick Answer
Clue: “Opposite of WSW”
Answer: ENE
Answer length: 3 letters
Clue number and direction: 9-Across
The New York Times crossword clue “Opposite of WSW” is answered with ENE, which fills the three-letter 9-Across slot.
Why ENE Is the Right NYT Answer
- On a compass, WSW stands for west-southwest, located halfway between west and southwest at a bearing of about 247.5 degrees. The direction directly opposite that, 180 degrees away, is ENE, east-northeast, at roughly 67.5 degrees.
- Crossword-solvers and navigation references both treat ENE as the standard opposite of WSW, and dedicated NYT Mini answer pages for January 27, 2026 confirm ENE as the 9-Across fill.
- No other three-letter compass abbreviation fits both the “opposite” requirement and the letter count.
What ENE Means in Plain English
- ENE is an abbreviation for east-northeast, the compass point between east and northeast. In everyday terms, if you face east and then turn slightly toward the north, you are pointing roughly ENE.
- Crossword clues often use this and similar directional abbreviations (NNE, SSW, WNW, etc.) as short, grid-friendly entries.
Crossword-Specific Help for ENE
- In a three-letter slot, ENE follows a very familiar pattern for compass answers: vowel–consonant–vowel, often intersecting with other common entries.
- In this NYT Mini, 9-Across sits beneath across entries like SCARF, HUMOR, IMPLY, and NILE, and crosses down answers SHINE, CUMIN, AMPLE, ROLE, and FRY, which help confirm E-N-E once a couple of letters are in place.
- ENE is classic “crosswordese” in the sense that it shows up frequently, especially in quick puzzles, because compass abbreviations are compact and easy to fit into tight grids.
Solving Tips for Similar NYT Clues
- When you see clues like “WSW’s opposite,” “Direction opposite of WSW,” or “Boise-to-Bozeman dir.,” ENE should be your first thought in a 3-letter slot.
- Remember the pattern: WSW ↔ ENE, WNW ↔ ESE, SSW ↔ NNE, SSE ↔ NNW these opposite pairs come up often in crosswords.
Use crossings: even if you only have N or E_E, a compass-themed clue plus those letters almost always leads to ENE.
