The crossword clue “melt down” can have several common answers, depending on the puzzle and the number of letters. A few frequently used ones are:

  • THAW (4 letters) – literally to melt something that is frozen.
  • RENDER (6 letters) – to melt down fat, metal, etc.
  • REMINT (6 letters) – to melt down coins and make new ones.
  • Less literal / trick answers sometimes used include ETON (from “melt down” indicating a hidden or wordplay answer in a specific themed puzzle).

If you know the letter count from your grid, match it to:

  • 4 letters → likely THAW or ETON
  • 6 letters → usually RENDER or REMINT

These are all attested as fills for the “Melt down” clue in New York Times–style crossword resources.