Today's Down Crossword NYT September 18, 2025 - Every Vertical Solution Explained
Quick Summary: Today's NYT Crossword has 35 Down clues. We have all the vertical answers plus helpful hints to make solving easier!
Related Puzzles: November 26 2021 NYT Clues Solutions | July 17 2021 NYT Clues Solutions | August 11 2023 NYT Clues Solutions |
About Today's Down Clues
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Date | September 18, 2025 |
| Day of Week | Thursday |
| Total Down Clues | 35 clues |
| Direction | Vertical (Top to Bottom) |
| Difficulty | Easy |
All Down Clues - Complete List
Here are all 35 Down clues for today's puzzle. These go vertically from top to bottom.
| Number | Clue |
|---|---|
| 1 Down | 1. Takes turns |
| 2 Down | 2. One might say "Big savings all week!" |
| 3 Down | 3. Rosh Hashana horns |
| 4 Down | 4. Like some nouns: Abbr. |
| 5 Down | 5. Gets away from |
| 6 Down | 6. Nickname for the medieval Spanish knight Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar |
| 7 Down | 7. Mideast capital |
| 8 Down | 8. Victorious military underdog in the Bible |
| 9 Down | 9. Sports bet based on total points scored |
| 10 Down | 10. Sister of Helios, in Greek myth |
| 11 Down | 11. Barrier to entry, perhaps |
| 12 Down | 12. Chewed out |
| 13 Down | 13. Slothfulness |
| 14 Down | 14. Fortuitous gift |
| 15 Down | 21. Holdings of winnings |
| 16 Down | 24. Curved lines on sheet music |
| 17 Down | 26. France's third-largest city, after Paris and Marseille |
| 18 Down | 28. Quality to which a unique six-character code is assigned, in graphic design |
| 19 Down | 31. Arcade staple with a joystick |
| 20 Down | 33. Multiple-choice catchall |
| 21 Down | 35. Inside of |
| 22 Down | 36. Large chemical container |
| 23 Down | 37. Credit cards, so to speak |
| 24 Down | 38. Constellation whose name is Latin for "lizard" |
| 25 Down | 39. U.S. History or Calculus BC, e.g. |
| 26 Down | 42. Kind of illusion |
| 27 Down | 43. Do some storytelling |
| 28 Down | 44. Ascertained bit by bit |
| 29 Down | 47. Garden guardians |
| 30 Down | 48. Italy's third-largest city, after Rome and Milan |
| 31 Down | 50. Words before a contingency plan |
| 32 Down | 51. Invader's tactic |
| 33 Down | 54. Play-fight |
| 34 Down | 57. Its youngest host was a 7-year-old Drew Barrymore in '82 |
| 35 Down | 59. "If u ask me …" |
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:
- September 10 2022 NYT Clues Solutions
- May 13 2024 NYT Clues Solutions
- July 17 2021 NYT Clues Solutions
- November 26 2021 NYT Clues Solutions
Complete Down Solutions:
1 Down: "1. Takes turns"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 7 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'R' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: R_____S
- Similar words: turn out, circumvolve
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: turn on or around an axis or a center
- This is Down clue number 1
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ROTATES
2 Down: "2. One might say "Big savings all week!""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 7 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'D'
- Word pattern: S_____D
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 2
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
STOREAD
3 Down: "3. Rosh Hashana horns"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 7 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: S_____S
- Similar words: shofar, shophar
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 3
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SHOFARS
4 Down: "4. Like some nouns: Abbr."
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'F' and ends with 'M'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 4
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
FEM
5 Down: "5. Gets away from"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'E' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: E____S
- Similar words: parry, evade
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: escape
- This is Down clue number 5
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ELUDES
6 Down: "6. Nickname for the medieval Spanish knight Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 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 6
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ELCID
7 Down: "7. Mideast capital"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'D' and ends with 'A'
- Word pattern: D__A
- Similar words: Bida, El Beda
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: the capital and chief port of Qatar
- This is Down clue number 7
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
DOHA
8 Down: "8. Victorious military underdog in the Bible"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'G' and ends with 'N'
- Word pattern: G____N
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 8
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
GIDEON
9 Down: "9. Sports bet based on total points scored"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 9 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'O' and ends with 'R'
- Word pattern: O_______R
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 9
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
OVERUNDER
10 Down: "10. Sister of Helios, in Greek myth"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'E' and ends with 'S'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 10
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
EOS
11 Down: "11. Barrier to entry, perhaps"
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
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: an upright that is a member in a door or window frame
- This is Down clue number 11
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
STILE
12 Down: "12. Chewed out"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 7 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'B' and ends with 'D'
- Word pattern: B_____D
- Similar words: jaw, rag
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: censure severely or angrily
- This is Down clue number 12
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
BERATED
13 Down: "13. Slothfulness"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 7 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'I' and ends with 'A'
- Word pattern: I_____A
- Similar words: inactiveness, inactivity
- Opposite of: activeness
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a disposition to remain inactive or inert
- This is Down clue number 13
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
INERTIA
14 Down: "14. Fortuitous gift"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 7 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'G' and ends with 'D'
- Word pattern: G_____D
- Similar words: bonanza, gold rush
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 14
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
GODSEND
15 Down: "21. Holdings of winnings"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 9 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'P' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: P_______S
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 15
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
PRIZEPOTS
16 Down: "24. Curved lines on sheet music"
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: aspersion, smirch
- Opposite of: focus
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 16
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SLURS
17 Down: "26. France's third-largest city, after Paris and Marseille"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'L' and ends with 'N'
- Word pattern: L__N
- Similar words: Lyons
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 17
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
LYON
18 Down: "28. Quality to which a unique six-character code is assigned, in graphic design"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'H' and ends with 'E'
- Similar words: chromaticity, imbue
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 18
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
HUE
19 Down: "31. Arcade staple with a joystick"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 9 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'C' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: C_______E
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 19
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
CRANEGAME
20 Down: "33. Multiple-choice catchall"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'O' and ends with 'R'
- Word pattern: O___R
- Similar words: former, early
- Opposite of: same
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 20
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
OTHER
21 Down: "35. Inside of"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'D'
- Word pattern: A__D
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 21
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
AMID
22 Down: "36. Large chemical container"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'V' and ends with 'T'
- Similar words: tub, value-added tax
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 22
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
VAT
23 Down: "37. Credit cards, so to speak"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 7 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'P' and ends with 'C'
- Word pattern: P_____C
- Similar words: charge card, formative
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 23
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
PLASTIC
24 Down: "38. Constellation whose name is Latin for "lizard""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 7 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'L' and ends with 'A'
- Word pattern: L_____A
- Similar words: genus Lacerta
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: type genus of the Lacertidae
- This is Down clue number 24
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
LACERTA
25 Down: "39. U.S. History or Calculus BC, e.g."
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 7 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 25
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
APCLASS
26 Down: "42. Kind of illusion"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 7 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'O' and ends with 'L'
- Word pattern: O_____L
- Similar words: visual, opthalmic
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: of or relating to or involving light or optics
- This is Down clue number 26
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
OPTICAL
27 Down: "43. Do some storytelling"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 7 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'N' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: N_____E
- Similar words: tell, recount
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: provide commentary for a film
- This is Down clue number 27
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
NARRATE
28 Down: "44. Ascertained bit by bit"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 7 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'G' and ends with 'D'
- Word pattern: G_____D
- Similar words: reap, glean
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: gather
- This is Down clue number 28
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
GLEANED
29 Down: "47. Garden guardians"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'G' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: G____S
- Similar words: gnome, dwarf
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 29
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
GNOMES
30 Down: "48. Italy's third-largest city, after Rome and Milan"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'N' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: N____S
- Similar words: Napoli
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 30
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
NAPLES
31 Down: "50. Words before a contingency plan"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 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 31
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
IFNOT
32 Down: "51. Invader's tactic"
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: besieging, beleaguering
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 32
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SIEGE
33 Down: "54. Play-fight"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'R'
- Word pattern: S__R
- Similar words: sparring
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 33
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SPAR
34 Down: "57. Its youngest host was a 7-year-old Drew Barrymore in '82"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'L'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 34
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SNL
35 Down: "59. "If u ask me …""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'I' and ends with 'O'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 35
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
IMO
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 35 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.
No comments:
Post a Comment