NYT Down Today December 31, 2025: Complete Vertical Clues Walkthrough
Quick Summary: Today's NYT Crossword has 37 Down clues. We have all the vertical answers plus helpful hints to make solving easier!
Related Puzzles: February 19 2022 NYT Clues Solutions | July 20 2019 NYT Clues Solutions | Todays NYT Crossword Across Clues |
About Today's Down Clues
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Date | December 31, 2025 |
| Day of Week | Wednesday |
| Total Down Clues | 37 clues |
| Direction | Vertical (Top to Bottom) |
| Difficulty | Tricky |
All Down Clues - Complete List
Here are all 37 Down clues for today's puzzle. These go vertically from top to bottom.
| Number | Clue |
|---|---|
| 1 Down | 1. Engine stat, in brief |
| 2 Down | 2. Sports star who said "It's not bragging if you can back it up" |
| 3 Down | 3. Engaged in some grooming |
| 4 Down | 4. Fairy tale character with a hard bed |
| 5 Down | 5. Arab leaders |
| 6 Down | 6. Wander aimlessly |
| 7 Down | 7. Needles, maybe |
| 8 Down | 8. Try to catch someone with guile |
| 9 Down | 9. Cry of loyalty in old France |
| 10 Down | 10. "___ crazy?" |
| 11 Down | 11. Williams in the Baseball Hall of Fame |
| 12 Down | 13. Veil worn by Muslim women |
| 13 Down | 15. Colorful parrot |
| 14 Down | 20. Certain address, for short |
| 15 Down | 21. Lead-in to liberalism |
| 16 Down | 22. Ending for many a 20-Down |
| 17 Down | 23. How drinks may be stored at a summer gathering |
| 18 Down | 25. Site of a historic council |
| 19 Down | 26. Channel similar to QVC |
| 20 Down | 31. Lies down on the couch, say |
| 21 Down | 32. Nueve menos uno |
| 22 Down | 33. Began to withdraw mail from a mailbox, say |
| 23 Down | 36. One-named performer known as "Mr. Showmanship" |
| 24 Down | 37. Most August babies |
| 25 Down | 38. Word fittingly evoked by the phrase "Together everyone achieves more" |
| 26 Down | 39. Small talk |
| 27 Down | 44. Mark, as an option on a questionnaire |
| 28 Down | 45. Apple device letters |
| 29 Down | 46. Not very much |
| 30 Down | 47. Prefix meaning "one-thousandth" |
| 31 Down | 48. Ideas that don't work out |
| 32 Down | 50. Supply with more weaponry |
| 33 Down | 51. Condo building's inventory |
| 34 Down | 52. Hardly |
| 35 Down | 55. Straw, e.g. |
| 36 Down | 58. Squeak (out) |
| 37 Down | 60. Book reviewer, for short |
Detailed Hints and Answers for All Down Clues
Need help? Here are comprehensive hints and answers for each Down clue. Also check these helpful guides:
- October 20 2022 NYT Clues Solutions
- August 10 2022 NYT Clues Solutions
- October 13 2020 NYT Clues Solutions
- July 20 2019 NYT Clues Solutions
Complete Down Solutions:
1 Down: "1. Engine stat, in brief"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'R' and ends with 'M'
- Similar words: rev
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: rate of revolution of a motor
- This is Down clue number 1
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
RPM
2 Down: "2. Sports star who said "It's not bragging if you can back it up""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'I'
- Similar words: Cassius Clay, Muhammad Ali
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 2
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ALI
3 Down: "3. Engaged in some grooming"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 9 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'M' and ends with 'D'
- Word pattern: M_______D
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 3
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
MANSCAPED
4 Down: "4. Fairy tale character with a hard bed"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 8 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'P' and ends with 'R'
- Word pattern: P______R
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 4
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
PAPABEAR
5 Down: "5. Arab leaders"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'E' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: E___S
- Similar words: amir, emeer
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 5
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
EMIRS
6 Down: "6. Wander aimlessly"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'R' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: R__E
- Similar words: reeve, swan
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: move about aimlessly or without any destination
- This is Down clue number 6
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ROVE
7 Down: "7. Needles, maybe"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'P' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: P___S
- Similar words: spurring, incite
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a verbalization that encourages you to attempt something
- This is Down clue number 7
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
PRODS
8 Down: "8. Try to catch someone with guile"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 8 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'P'
- Word pattern: S______P
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 8
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SETATRAP
9 Down: "9. Cry of loyalty in old France"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 9 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'V' and ends with 'I'
- Word pattern: V_______I
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 9
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
VIVELEROI
10 Down: "10. "___ crazy?""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'I'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 10
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
AMI
11 Down: "11. Williams in the Baseball Hall of Fame"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'T' and ends with 'D'
- Similar words: Teddy boy
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 11
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
TED
12 Down: "13. Veil worn by Muslim women"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'N' and ends with 'B'
- Word pattern: N___B
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 12
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
NIQAB
13 Down: "15. Colorful parrot"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'M' and ends with 'W'
- Word pattern: M___W
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 13
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
MACAW
14 Down: "20. Certain address, for short"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'U' and ends with 'L'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: the address of a web page on the world wide web
- This is Down clue number 14
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
URL
15 Down: "21. Lead-in to liberalism"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'N' and ends with 'O'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: (used as a combining form) recent or new
- This is Down clue number 15
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
NEO
16 Down: "22. Ending for many a 20-Down"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'N' and ends with 'T'
- Similar words: meshing, final
- Opposite of: gross
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 16
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
NET
17 Down: "23. How drinks may be stored at a summer gathering"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'O' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: O___E
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 17
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ONICE
18 Down: "25. Site of a historic council"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'T' and ends with 'T'
- Word pattern: T___T
- Similar words: River Trent, Trent River
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 18
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
TRENT
19 Down: "26. Channel similar to QVC"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'H' and ends with 'N'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 19
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
HSN
20 Down: "31. Lies down on the couch, say"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 9 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'G' and ends with 'Y'
- Word pattern: G_______Y
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 20
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
GETSCOMFY
21 Down: "32. Nueve menos uno"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'O' and ends with 'O'
- Word pattern: O__O
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 21
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
OCHO
22 Down: "33. Began to withdraw mail from a mailbox, say"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 9 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'R' and ends with 'N'
- Word pattern: R_______N
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 22
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
REACHEDIN
23 Down: "36. One-named performer known as "Mr. Showmanship""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 8 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'L' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: L______E
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 23
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
LIBERACE
24 Down: "37. Most August babies"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'L' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: L__S
- Similar words: Lion, Leo the Lion
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: (astrology) a person who is born while the sun is in Leo
- This is Down clue number 24
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
LEOS
25 Down: "38. Word fittingly evoked by the phrase "Together everyone achieves more""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'T' and ends with 'M'
- Word pattern: T__M
- Similar words: squad, team up
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a cooperative unit (especially in sports)
- This is Down clue number 25
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
TEAM
26 Down: "39. Small talk"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 8 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'I' and ends with 'T'
- Word pattern: I______T
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 26
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
IDLECHAT
27 Down: "44. Mark, as an option on a questionnaire"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'X' and ends with 'N'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 27
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
XIN
28 Down: "45. Apple device letters"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'I' and ends with 'S'
- Similar words: Io
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 28
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
IOS
29 Down: "46. Not very much"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'B'
- Word pattern: A__B
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 29
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ADAB
30 Down: "47. Prefix meaning "one-thousandth""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'M' and ends with 'I'
- Word pattern: M___I
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 30
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
MILLI
31 Down: "48. Ideas that don't work out"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'N' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: N___S
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 31
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
NOGOS
32 Down: "50. Supply with more weaponry"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'R' and ends with 'M'
- Word pattern: R___M
- Similar words: re-arm
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: arm again
- This is Down clue number 32
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
REARM
33 Down: "51. Condo building's inventory"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'U' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: U___S
- Similar words: unit, social unit
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 33
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
UNITS
34 Down: "52. Hardly"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'N' and ends with 'Y'
- Word pattern: N__Y
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 34
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
NARY
35 Down: "55. Straw, e.g."
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'T' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: T__E
- Similar words: underground, pipe
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 35
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
TUBE
36 Down: "58. Squeak (out)"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'E' and ends with 'E'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 36
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
EKE
37 Down: "60. Book reviewer, for short"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'C' and ends with 'A'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 37
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
CPA
Expert Strategies for Solving Down Clues
Master the vertical clues with these professional tips:
Why Start with Down Clues?
- Down clues often reveal key letters for intersecting words
- Vertical patterns can unlock difficult sections
- Many prefixes and suffixes run vertically
- Down answers often help solve Across clues
Down Clue Patterns to Recognize
- Fill-in-the-blank clues: These are usually the easiest Down entries
- Prefixes and suffixes: Common word parts often run vertically
- Abbreviations: Look for clues with "Abbr." or shortened forms
- Plural indicators: Words ending in 'S' are common in Down
- Pop culture references: Names and titles often appear vertically
Time-Saving Down Techniques
| Technique | How It Helps |
|---|---|
| Scan all Down first | Get a mental map of the vertical flow |
| Fill short Down words | 3-4 letter words are often prefixes or connectors |
| Use crossing letters | Across letters help confirm Down answers |
| Look for themes | Related Down answers often share a theme |
Frequently Asked Questions About Down Clues
What are Down clues in crossword puzzles?
Down clues are the vertical entries in a crossword puzzle that read from top to bottom. They're numbered and correspond to specific columns in the grid.
Should I solve Down or Across clues first?
Many solvers alternate between Down and Across clues to build momentum. Down clues can help unlock difficult sections by providing key intersecting letters. The best approach is to solve the clues you find easiest first, regardless of direction.
How many Down clues are in today's puzzle?
Today's NYT crossword has 37 Down clues.
Are Down clues easier than Across clues?
Neither direction is inherently easier. The difficulty depends on the specific clues and your knowledge. However, Down clues often contain helpful prefixes, suffixes, and word parts that can be easier to guess.
How do Down clues interact with Across clues?
Down and Across clues intersect at various points in the grid. Solving one can provide letters that help solve the other, making the puzzle easier as you progress.
