___ wolf (extinct canine once prevalent across North America)
Published by Naitik Mehta · March 31, 2026
Stuck on the clue ___ wolf (extinct canine once prevalent across North America) from the New York Times Daily for March 31, 2026? We have the correct 4-letter answer, including the definition, alternative hints, as well as other answers from the same crossword. Ready to learn more about this clue?
Clue
___ wolf (extinct canine once prevalent across North America) (4)
Answer
The answer to ___ wolf (extinct canine once prevalent across North America) is Dire (4 letters).
Why does Dire fit this clue?
This is a fill-in-the-blank clue where '___ wolf' points to DIRE, completing the phrase 'dire wolf.' A dire wolf was a large, prehistoric species of wolf that lived in North and South America during the Pleistocene epoch. These extinct canines were significantly larger and more robust than modern gray wolves, with powerful jaws adapted for crushing bone. Dire wolves went extinct around 10,000 years ago at the end of the last ice age, likely due to climate change and the disappearance of their large prey animals like mammoths and giant ground sloths.
What does ___ wolf (extinct canine once prevalent across North America) mean?
We break down each word in the clue and show its dictionary definitions below.
wolf
noun
•a large wild canine that hunts in packs
extinct
adjective
•no longer in existence; having died out completely
canine
noun
•a member of the dog family including wolves, dogs, and foxes
prevalent
adjective
•widespread or commonly occurring in a particular area
Where did this clue appear?
This clue appeared as 42-across in the New York Times Daily on March 31, 2026, by Ryan Patrick Smith, edited by Will Shortz. See all answers for this puzzle.
Read the NYT Wordplay column for this puzzle.
NYT Daily — Mar 31, 2026
Get help on the whole puzzle
What does Dire mean?
adjective
•Warning of bad consequences: ill-boding; portentous.
•Requiring action to prevent bad consequences: urgent, pressing.
Origin of the word Dire
•origin: Latin 'dirus' meaning dreadful or fearful
•period: 16th century
The word originally described divine wrath or omens from the gods in ancient Roman contexts before evolving to mean any terrible or urgent situation.
How to use Dire in a sentence
Here are 3 examples of how to use the word Dire.
•“The dire wolf was a formidable predator that roamed North America during the Pleistocene epoch before going extinct around 10,000 years ago.”
•“The company faced dire financial consequences after the data breach exposed millions of customer records.”
•“Residents were warned of dire weather conditions approaching, with hurricane-force winds and flooding expected overnight.”
What are other crossword clues for Dire?
Learn about related clues
All clues from the New York Times Daily, Mar 31, 2026 crossword
The New York Times Daily for March 31, 2026 was published by Ryan Patrick Smith and has 78 clues. Curious about all the answers from this crossword puzzle? View all answers here.
Across
Down
Recently added clues
Frequently asked questions about ___ wolf (extinct canine once prevalent across North America)
- What is the answer to ___ wolf (extinct canine once prevalent across North America)?
- The answer is Dire (4 letters).
- Where did this clue appear?
- This clue was last seen in the New York Times Daily on March 31, 2026.
- How many letters does the answer to ___ wolf (extinct canine once prevalent across North America) have?
- The answer has 4 letters: Dire.
Author
Naitik Mehta
Co-founder
Naitik is a gaming enthusiast who loves solving daily word games and enjoys the friendly competition from time to time. He is the co-founder of Crossword Chef and enjoys thinking about how to make crossword solving more fun for everyone around the world.
Puzzle
NYT Daily — Mar 31, 2026
Get help on the whole puzzle
provider
editor
Will Shortz
date
position
42 Across
answer length
4 letters