competitor who has manners nyt

The likely New York Times crossword answer for “competitor who has manners” is civilian or gentleman depending on the clue length, but the best fit is often civilian when the clue is wordplay-based rather than literal. The phrase points to someone “civil,” i.e. well-mannered, while also being a “competitor” in a contest or rival setting.

Why this fits

• “Manners” suggests civil or polite behavior.
• “Competitor” suggests a person in a contest, match, or rivalry.
• NYT clues often use a playful split like that, especially in themed puzzles.

Most likely answer

• CIVILIAN — if the clue is aiming for a pun on “civil.”
• RIVAL or OPPONENT would be possible only if the clue is more straightforward, but they do not connect as neatly to “manners”.

Note

Without the exact number of letters, civilian is the strongest guess from the clue wording alone.