Saturday's NYT Down Oct 18 - Full Vertical Grid Solutions
Quick Summary: Today's NYT Crossword has 33 Down clues. We have all the vertical answers plus helpful hints to make solving easier!
Related Puzzles: September 29 2023 NYT Clues Solutions | August 02 2022 NYT Clues Solutions | October 24 2019 NYT Clues Solutions |
About Today's Down Clues
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Date | October 18, 2025 |
| Day of Week | Saturday |
| Total Down Clues | 33 clues |
| Direction | Vertical (Top to Bottom) |
| Difficulty | Tricky |
All Down Clues - Complete List
Here are all 33 Down clues for today's puzzle. These go vertically from top to bottom.
| Number | Clue |
|---|---|
| 1 Down | 1. Understands |
| 2 Down | 2. Site of some piercings |
| 3 Down | 3. "There's never been a better time" tech sloganeer |
| 4 Down | 4. Fangorn resident |
| 5 Down | 5. Sweet doings at a county fair |
| 6 Down | 6. ___ Sea, locale of a 20th-century environmental disaster |
| 7 Down | 7. Cry that might be made with a bow |
| 8 Down | 8. Responders to cruise ship emergencies |
| 9 Down | 9. It works in translation |
| 10 Down | 10. Crunchy snacks |
| 11 Down | 11. Fine-tunes |
| 12 Down | 12. Divider of lots |
| 13 Down | 13. Really into |
| 14 Down | 15. 21st-century first lady |
| 15 Down | 19. Attire for many a flamenco dancer |
| 16 Down | 22. Upright bar |
| 17 Down | 24. Bonheur who painted "Ploughing in the Nivernais" |
| 18 Down | 27. Woman's name that sounds like two letters of the alphabet |
| 19 Down | 28. Colorful swimmers in the Amazon |
| 20 Down | 30. Energy device that reflects sunlight |
| 21 Down | 31. Rings up? |
| 22 Down | 32. Can hold one's own, in modern lingo |
| 23 Down | 33. Bread purchase in the U.K. |
| 24 Down | 34. Like a building's central air conditioning |
| 25 Down | 35. Dogbane? |
| 26 Down | 36. Like drug dens, sometimes |
| 27 Down | 37. FAQ heading |
| 28 Down | 38. East African honorific |
| 29 Down | 40. Reduce to a pulp |
| 30 Down | 43. Minute |
| 31 Down | 44. Pay attention to |
| 32 Down | 47. Zip |
| 33 Down | 49. Home to the U.S.'s first pizzeria, according to the Pizza Hall of Fame, 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 27 2021 NYT Clues Solutions
- September 29 2023 NYT Clues Solutions
- August 14 2021 NYT Clues Solutions
- October 31 2023 NYT Clues Solutions
Complete Down Solutions:
1 Down: "1. Understands"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 7 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'F' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: F_____S
- Similar words: sound, bottom
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 1
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
FATHOMS
2 Down: "2. Site of some piercings"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'A'
- Word pattern: A____A
- Similar words: ring of color
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 2
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
AREOLA
3 Down: "3. "There's never been a better time" tech sloganeer"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'C' and ends with 'O'
- Word pattern: C___O
- Similar words: lake herring
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: cold-water fish caught in Lake Superior and northward
- This is Down clue number 3
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
CISCO
4 Down: "4. Fangorn resident"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'E' and ends with 'T'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 4
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ENT
5 Down: "5. Sweet doings at a county fair"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 10 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'T' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: T________S
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 5
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
TAFFYPULLS
6 Down: "6. ___ Sea, locale of a 20th-century environmental disaster"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'L'
- Word pattern: A__L
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 6
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ARAL
7 Down: "7. Cry that might be made with a bow"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'T' and ends with 'A'
- Word pattern: T__A
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 7
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
TADA
8 Down: "8. Responders to cruise ship emergencies"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 9 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'F' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: F_______S
- Similar words: fireboat
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 8
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
FIREBOATS
9 Down: "9. It works in translation"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'R' and ends with 'A'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 9
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
RNA
10 Down: "10. Crunchy snacks"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 7 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'O' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: O_____S
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 10
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
OATBARS
11 Down: "11. Fine-tunes"
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: pull off, pinch
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a squeeze with the fingers
- This is Down clue number 11
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
TWEAKS
12 Down: "12. Divider of lots"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'H' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: H___E
- Similar words: evade, hedging
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a fence formed by a row of closely planted shrubs or bushes
- This is Down clue number 12
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
HEDGE
13 Down: "13. Really into"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'M' and ends with 'R'
- Word pattern: M____R
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 13
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
MADFOR
14 Down: "15. 21st-century first lady"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'L' and ends with 'A'
- Word pattern: L___A
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 14
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
LAURA
15 Down: "19. Attire for many a flamenco dancer"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 8 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'R' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: R______S
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 15
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
REDDRESS
16 Down: "22. Upright bar"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 8 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'G' and ends with 'T'
- Word pattern: G______T
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 16
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
GOALPOST
17 Down: "24. Bonheur who painted "Ploughing in the Nivernais""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'R' and ends with 'A'
- Word pattern: R__A
- Similar words: genus Rosa
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 17
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ROSA
18 Down: "27. Woman's name that sounds like two letters of the alphabet"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'E' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: E___E
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 18
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ELSIE
19 Down: "28. Colorful swimmers in the Amazon"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 10 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 19
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
NEONTETRAS
20 Down: "30. Energy device that reflects sunlight"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 9 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'H' and ends with 'T'
- Word pattern: H_______T
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 20
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
HELIOSTAT
21 Down: "31. Rings up?"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'W' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: W__S
- Similar words: splice, conjoin
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: the fourth day of the week; the third working day
- This is Down clue number 21
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
WEDS
22 Down: "32. Can hold one's own, in modern lingo"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 7 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 22
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
HASGAME
23 Down: "33. Bread purchase in the U.K."
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 7 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'P' and ends with 'F'
- Word pattern: P_____F
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 23
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
PANLOAF
24 Down: "34. Like a building's central air conditioning"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'D' and ends with 'D'
- Word pattern: D____D
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 24
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
DUCTED
25 Down: "35. Dogbane?"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'F' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: F___S
- Similar words: flea
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 25
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
FLEAS
26 Down: "36. Like drug dens, sometimes"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'R' and ends with 'D'
- Word pattern: R____D
- Similar words: raid, bust
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: search without warning
- This is Down clue number 26
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
RAIDED
27 Down: "37. FAQ heading"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 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 27
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
README
28 Down: "38. East African honorific"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'B' and ends with 'A'
- Word pattern: B___A
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 28
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
BWANA
29 Down: "40. Reduce to a pulp"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'H'
- Word pattern: S___H
- Similar words: ruin, smashingly
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a vigorous blow
- This is Down clue number 29
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SMASH
30 Down: "43. Minute"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'I' and ends with 'Y'
- Word pattern: I__Y
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 30
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ITSY
31 Down: "44. Pay attention to"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'N' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: N__E
- Similar words: take down, eminence
- Opposite of: ignore
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a brief written record
- This is Down clue number 31
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
NOTE
32 Down: "47. Zip"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'P' and ends with 'P'
- Similar words: peppiness, ginger
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: liveliness and energy
- This is Down clue number 32
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
PEP
33 Down: "49. Home to the U.S.'s first pizzeria, according to the Pizza Hall of Fame, for short"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'N' and ends with 'C'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 33
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
NYC
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 33 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