NYT Down Crossword September 27, 2025 - Master All 34 Top-to-Bottom Clues
Quick Summary: Today's NYT Crossword has 34 Down clues. We have all the vertical answers plus helpful hints to make solving easier!
Related Puzzles: May 16 2023 NYT Clues Solutions | January 22 2021 NYT Clues Solutions | December 05 2022 NYT Clues Solutions |
About Today's Down Clues
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Date | September 27, 2025 |
| Day of Week | Saturday |
| Total Down Clues | 34 clues |
| Direction | Vertical (Top to Bottom) |
| Difficulty | Medium |
All Down Clues - Complete List
Here are all 34 Down clues for today's puzzle. These go vertically from top to bottom.
| Number | Clue |
|---|---|
| 1 Down | 1. Contempt, in slang |
| 2 Down | 2. Actress with a dual role in 1998's "The Parent Trap" |
| 3 Down | 3. Tends to some pressing matters |
| 4 Down | 4. Punk |
| 5 Down | 5. The first Musketeer, alphabetically |
| 6 Down | 6. Kept hidden, as information |
| 7 Down | 7. Product for winter sidewalk safety |
| 8 Down | 8. "Mean Girls" writer |
| 9 Down | 9. Firewood choice, or its destiny |
| 10 Down | 10. Rubs the wrong way |
| 11 Down | 11. Alternative to a crib |
| 12 Down | 12. Classic rock? |
| 13 Down | 13. Paratha flour |
| 14 Down | 15. Digital file? |
| 15 Down | 22. Runs slowly |
| 16 Down | 23. Kind of contest with multiple chances to participate |
| 17 Down | 26. [This makes me mad!] |
| 18 Down | 27. Is on the bottom? |
| 19 Down | 28. One who's slow to pick things up |
| 20 Down | 29. What an insensitive joke might do |
| 21 Down | 30. Locale for many community courts |
| 22 Down | 31. "Love Story" author Erich |
| 23 Down | 34. Diagnostic tool, in brief |
| 24 Down | 36. Natural history museum collection |
| 25 Down | 39. Simplest possible phone plan |
| 26 Down | 42. Sam Cooke and Marvin Gaye, among others |
| 27 Down | 43. Solo sorts |
| 28 Down | 46. Particle accelerator byproduct |
| 29 Down | 47. Statement that might follow a hug |
| 30 Down | 48. ___ Lines (ancient Peruvian geoglyphs) |
| 31 Down | 49. Bandage |
| 32 Down | 50. Burns, e.g. |
| 33 Down | 53. What comes before 1/1 |
| 34 Down | 54. Drug discussed in Aldous Huxley's "Heaven and Hell" |
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:
- January 22 2021 NYT Clues Solutions
- March 26 2020 NYT Clues Solutions
- July 05 2023 NYT Clues Solutions
- October 13 2022 NYT Clues Solutions
Complete Down Solutions:
1 Down: "1. Contempt, in slang"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: S___E
- Similar words: nicety, refinement
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 1
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SHADE
2 Down: "2. Actress with a dual role in 1998's "The Parent Trap""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'L' and ends with 'N'
- Word pattern: L___N
- Similar words: Arhant, Arhat
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a Buddhist who has attained nirvana
- This is Down clue number 2
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
LOHAN
3 Down: "3. Tends to some pressing matters"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'I' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: I___S
- Similar words: chains, branding iron
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: metal shackles; for hands or legs
- This is Down clue number 3
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
IRONS
4 Down: "4. Punk"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 8 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'P' and ends with 'T'
- Word pattern: P______T
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 4
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
PSYCHOUT
5 Down: "5. The first Musketeer, alphabetically"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: A____S
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 5
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ARAMIS
6 Down: "6. Kept hidden, as information"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'N'
- Word pattern: S___N
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 6
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SATON
7 Down: "7. Product for winter sidewalk safety"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 7 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 7
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ICEMELT
8 Down: "8. "Mean Girls" writer"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'F' and ends with 'Y'
- Similar words: elfin, touched
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: slightly insane
- This is Down clue number 8
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
FEY
9 Down: "9. Firewood choice, or its destiny"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'H'
- Similar words: ash tree
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: the residue that remains when something is burned
- This is Down clue number 9
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ASH
10 Down: "10. Rubs the wrong way"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'C' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: C____S
- Similar words: fret, bother
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: soreness and warmth caused by friction
- This is Down clue number 10
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
CHAFES
11 Down: "11. Alternative to a crib"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 9 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'C' and ends with 'R'
- Word pattern: C_______R
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 11
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
COSLEEPER
12 Down: "12. Classic rock?"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 9 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'R' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: R_______E
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 12
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
RUNESTONE
13 Down: "13. Paratha flour"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'A'
- Word pattern: A__A
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 13
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ATTA
14 Down: "15. Digital file?"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 10 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'E' and ends with 'D'
- Word pattern: E________D
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 14
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
EMERYBOARD
15 Down: "22. Runs slowly"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: S___S
- Similar words: seep, ooze
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 15
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SEEPS
16 Down: "23. Kind of contest with multiple chances to participate"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 10 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'B' and ends with 'Y'
- Word pattern: B________Y
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 16
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
BONUSENTRY
17 Down: "26. [This makes me mad!]"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'G' and ends with 'R'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 17
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
GRR
18 Down: "27. Is on the bottom?"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: S__S
- Similar words: ride, sit
- Opposite of: stand
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: be seated
- This is Down clue number 18
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SITS
19 Down: "28. One who's slow to pick things up"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'B'
- Word pattern: S__B
- Similar words: slovenly person, pig
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a coarse obnoxious person
- This is Down clue number 19
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SLOB
20 Down: "29. What an insensitive joke might do"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 9 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'H' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: H_______E
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 20
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
HITANERVE
21 Down: "30. Locale for many community courts"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 9 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'R' and ends with 'R'
- Word pattern: R_______R
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 21
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
RECCENTER
22 Down: "31. "Love Story" author Erich"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'L'
- Word pattern: S___L
- Similar words: George Segal
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: United States sculptor (born in 1924)
- This is Down clue number 22
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SEGAL
23 Down: "34. Diagnostic tool, in brief"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'M' and ends with 'I'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 23
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
MRI
24 Down: "36. Natural history museum collection"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 8 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'D' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: D______S
- Similar words: panorama, cyclorama
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 24
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
DIORAMAS
25 Down: "39. Simplest possible phone plan"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 7 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 25
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ONERATE
26 Down: "42. Sam Cooke and Marvin Gaye, among others"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'T' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: T____S
- Similar words: tenor voice, strain
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: the adult male singing voice above baritone
- This is Down clue number 26
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
TENORS
27 Down: "43. Solo sorts"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'L' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: L____S
- Similar words: lone hand, lone wolf
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a person who avoids the company or assistance of others
- This is Down clue number 27
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
LONERS
28 Down: "46. Particle accelerator byproduct"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'M' and ends with 'N'
- Word pattern: M___N
- Similar words: mesotron
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 28
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
MESON
29 Down: "47. Statement that might follow a hug"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'I' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: I___E
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 29
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ICARE
30 Down: "48. ___ Lines (ancient Peruvian geoglyphs)"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'N' and ends with 'A'
- Word pattern: N___A
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 30
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
NAZCA
31 Down: "49. Bandage"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'D' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: D___S
- Similar words: prune, apparel
- Opposite of: undress
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a one-piece garment for a woman; has skirt and bodice
- This is Down clue number 31
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
DRESS
32 Down: "50. Burns, e.g."
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'P' and ends with 'T'
- Word pattern: P__T
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 32
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
POET
33 Down: "53. What comes before 1/1"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'N' and ends with 'E'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 33
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
NYE
34 Down: "54. Drug discussed in Aldous Huxley's "Heaven and Hell""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'L' and ends with 'D'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 34
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
LSD
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 34 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.
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