Sunday's NYT Down Nov 30 - Full Vertical Grid Solutions
Quick Summary: Today's NYT Crossword has 60 Down clues. We have all the vertical answers plus helpful hints to make solving easier!
Related Puzzles: NYT Across Clues Answers November 07 | NYT Down Today November 11 2025 | May 06 2020 NYT Clues Solutions |
About Today's Down Clues
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Date | November 30, 2025 |
| Day of Week | Sunday |
| Total Down Clues | 60 clues |
| Direction | Vertical (Top to Bottom) |
| Difficulty | Medium |
All Down Clues - Complete List
Here are all 60 Down clues for today's puzzle. These go vertically from top to bottom.
| Number | Clue |
|---|---|
| 1 Down | 1. Self-effacing |
| 2 Down | 2. Oodles |
| 3 Down | 3. Strain |
| 4 Down | 4. Baseballs that are hard-hit but then caught, in lingo |
| 5 Down | 5. Bottlefuls for a summer look, perhaps |
| 6 Down | 6. Skirt responsibility |
| 7 Down | 7. Proverbial cure-all |
| 8 Down | 8. Basketball attempt that uses the backboard |
| 9 Down | 9. Martín Espada's "___ to the Soccer Ball Sailing Over a Barbed Wire Fence" |
| 10 Down | 10. Leaves the straight and narrow |
| 11 Down | 11. Expose |
| 12 Down | 12. First Eurodance hit in the U.S. (1989) |
| 13 Down | 13. Ending with mammal or Mendel |
| 14 Down | 14. Good quality for an artist |
| 15 Down | 16. With 87-Down, idiom about wasting one's efforts ... as seen in four columns in this puzzle? |
| 16 Down | 17. Italian sub ingredient |
| 17 Down | 20. Diamonds can sometimes be found in them |
| 18 Down | 21. "Quit whining, dude!" |
| 19 Down | 23. Malt-drying kiln |
| 20 Down | 24. "O, had I but followed the ___!": "Twelfth Night" |
| 21 Down | 26. John who painted "Backyards, Greenwich Village" |
| 22 Down | 28. 2022 sequel to "Knives Out" |
| 23 Down | 31. Refuge |
| 24 Down | 34. "You can't make me!" |
| 25 Down | 37. Arm of the police department |
| 26 Down | 44. Essayist Francis |
| 27 Down | 45. Comedian Wong |
| 28 Down | 46. Cash on the Ginza |
| 29 Down | 48. Overdone |
| 30 Down | 52. 1999 Ron Howard film about a reality show |
| 31 Down | 53. Actress Petty of "A League of Their Own" |
| 32 Down | 54. Anti-mob law acronym |
| 33 Down | 56. Animated character, informally |
| 34 Down | 57. Act the worrywart |
| 35 Down | 58. ___ fountain |
| 36 Down | 61. Sauce served with Peking duck |
| 37 Down | 63. Michelle Obama or Jill Biden, in brief |
| 38 Down | 66. Indistinct speech |
| 39 Down | 67. It's a gas |
| 40 Down | 68. "Yes, ___!" (phrase popularized by the restaurant drama "The Bear") |
| 41 Down | 69. Young miscreant |
| 42 Down | 74. Like some charm |
| 43 Down | 76. Patron of lost causes |
| 44 Down | 77. Literary runt of the litter |
| 45 Down | 78. "L'___ du Nord" (Minnesota motto) |
| 46 Down | 80. Dictatorial figure |
| 47 Down | 81. Open-weave fabric |
| 48 Down | 82. New York School poet Frank |
| 49 Down | 83. "Th-th-th-that's all, folks!" speaker |
| 50 Down | 84. First-rate |
| 51 Down | 85. Flare up? |
| 52 Down | 87. See 16-Down |
| 53 Down | 88. More prudent |
| 54 Down | 89. About to explode, say |
| 55 Down | 91. Pink character in the "Toy Story" movies |
| 56 Down | 94. Farmer Hoggett's entrant in a sheepherding contest |
| 57 Down | 97. Turf ___ (football injury) |
| 58 Down | 98. Part of a day care schedule |
| 59 Down | 99. @ @ @ |
| 60 Down | 101. Inits. at Grand Central Terminal |
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:
- NYT Down Today November 11 2025
- July 05 2021 NYT Clues Solutions
- NYT Down Today October 29 2025 Complete
- February 04 2020 NYT Clues Solutions
Complete Down Solutions:
1 Down: "1. Self-effacing"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'M' and ends with 'T'
- Word pattern: M____T
- Similar words: pocket-sized, small-scale
- Opposite of: immodest
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: marked by simplicity; having a humble opinion of yourself
- This is Down clue number 1
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
MODEST
2 Down: "2. Oodles"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'T'
- Word pattern: A__T
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 2
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ALOT
3 Down: "3. Strain"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'I' and ends with 'K'
- Similar words: like
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a kind of person
- This is Down clue number 3
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ILK
4 Down: "4. Baseballs that are hard-hit but then caught, in lingo"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 8 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'L' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: L______S
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 4
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
LOUDOUTS
5 Down: "5. Bottlefuls for a summer look, perhaps"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 11 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'I' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: I_________S
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 5
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
INSTANTTANS
6 Down: "6. Skirt responsibility"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 11 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'P' and ends with 'K'
- Word pattern: P_________K
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 6
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
PASSTHEBUCK
7 Down: "7. Proverbial cure-all"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 11 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'Y'
- Word pattern: A_________Y
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 7
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ANAPPLEADAY
8 Down: "8. Basketball attempt that uses the backboard"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 8 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'B' and ends with 'T'
- Word pattern: B______T
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 8
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
BANKSHOT
9 Down: "9. Martín Espada's "___ to the Soccer Ball Sailing Over a Barbed Wire Fence""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'O' and ends with 'E'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a lyric poem with complex stanza forms
- This is Down clue number 9
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ODE
10 Down: "10. Leaves the straight and narrow"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'E' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: E__S
- Similar words: drift, mistake
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: to make a mistake or be incorrect
- This is Down clue number 10
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ERRS
11 Down: "11. Expose"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'R' and ends with 'L'
- Word pattern: R____L
- Similar words: disclose, bring out
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: make visible
- This is Down clue number 11
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
REVEAL
12 Down: "12. First Eurodance hit in the U.S. (1989)"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 12 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'P' and ends with 'M'
- Word pattern: P__________M
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 12
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
PUMPUPTHEJAM
13 Down: "13. Ending with mammal or Mendel"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'I' and ends with 'N'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 13
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
IAN
14 Down: "14. Good quality for an artist"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'E' and ends with 'E'
- Similar words: center, oculus
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: the organ of sight
- This is Down clue number 14
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
EYE
15 Down: "16. With 87-Down, idiom about wasting one's efforts ... as seen in four columns in this puzzle?"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 12 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'P' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: P__________E
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 15
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
PEARLSBEFORE
16 Down: "17. Italian sub ingredient"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'I'
- Word pattern: S____I
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 16
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SALAMI
17 Down: "20. Diamonds can sometimes be found in them"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'A'
- Word pattern: S____A
- Similar words: sports stadium, stadium
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a large structure for open-air sports or entertainments
- This is Down clue number 17
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
STADIA
18 Down: "21. "Quit whining, dude!""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'M' and ends with 'P'
- Word pattern: M___P
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 18
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
MANUP
19 Down: "23. Malt-drying kiln"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'O' and ends with 'T'
- Word pattern: O__T
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a kiln for drying hops
- This is Down clue number 19
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
OAST
20 Down: "24. "O, had I but followed the ___!": "Twelfth Night""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: A__S
- Similar words: fine art, humanities
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 20
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ARTS
21 Down: "26. John who painted "Backyards, Greenwich Village""
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 21
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SLOAN
22 Down: "28. 2022 sequel to "Knives Out""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 10 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 22
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
GLASSONION
23 Down: "31. Refuge"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 10 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'R'
- Word pattern: S________R
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 23
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SAFEHARBOR
24 Down: "34. "You can't make me!""
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 24
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
IWONT
25 Down: "37. Arm of the police department"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'T' and ends with 'R'
- Word pattern: T___R
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 25
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
TASER
26 Down: "44. Essayist Francis"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'B' and ends with 'N'
- Word pattern: B___N
- Similar words: Baron Verulam, Roger Bacon
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 26
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
BACON
27 Down: "45. Comedian Wong"
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 27
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ALI
28 Down: "46. Cash on the Ginza"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'Y' and ends with 'N'
- Similar words: hankering, ache
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a yearning for something or to do something
- This is Down clue number 28
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
YEN
29 Down: "48. Overdone"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'T' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: T___E
- Similar words: banal, commonplace
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: repeated too often; overfamiliar through overuse
- This is Down clue number 29
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
TRITE
30 Down: "52. 1999 Ron Howard film about a reality show"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'E' and ends with 'V'
- Word pattern: E__V
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 30
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
EDTV
31 Down: "53. Actress Petty of "A League of Their Own""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'L' and ends with 'I'
- Word pattern: L__I
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 31
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
LORI
32 Down: "54. Anti-mob law acronym"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'R' and ends with 'O'
- Word pattern: R__O
- Similar words: RICO Act
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 32
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
RICO
33 Down: "56. Animated character, informally"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'T' and ends with 'N'
- Word pattern: T__N
- Similar words: cartoon
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 33
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
TOON
34 Down: "57. Act the worrywart"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'F' and ends with 'T'
- Word pattern: F__T
- Similar words: gall, worn spot
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: agitation resulting from active worry
- This is Down clue number 34
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
FRET
35 Down: "58. ___ fountain"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'A'
- Word pattern: S__A
- Similar words: tonic, washing soda
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 35
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SODA
36 Down: "61. Sauce served with Peking duck"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'H' and ends with 'N'
- Word pattern: H____N
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 36
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
HOISIN
37 Down: "63. Michelle Obama or Jill Biden, in brief"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'F' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: F____S
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 37
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
FLOTUS
38 Down: "66. Indistinct speech"
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: smirch, aspersion
- Opposite of: focus
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 38
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SLUR
39 Down: "67. It's a gas"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'N' and ends with 'N'
- Word pattern: N__N
- Similar words: Ne
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 39
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
NEON
40 Down: "68. "Yes, ___!" (phrase popularized by the restaurant drama "The Bear")"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'C' and ends with 'F'
- Word pattern: C__F
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a professional cook
- This is Down clue number 40
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
CHEF
41 Down: "69. Young miscreant"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'B' and ends with 'T'
- Word pattern: B__T
- Similar words: bratwurst, holy terror
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a very troublesome child
- This is Down clue number 41
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
BRAT
42 Down: "74. Like some charm"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'B' and ends with 'H'
- Word pattern: B____H
- Similar words: schoolboyish, boylike
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: befitting or characteristic of a young boy
- This is Down clue number 42
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
BOYISH
43 Down: "76. Patron of lost causes"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: S____E
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 43
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
STJUDE
44 Down: "77. Literary runt of the litter"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'W' and ends with 'R'
- Word pattern: W____R
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 44
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
WILBUR
45 Down: "78. "L'___ du Nord" (Minnesota motto)"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 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 45
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ETOILE
46 Down: "80. Dictatorial figure"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'D' and ends with 'T'
- Word pattern: D____T
- Similar words: tyrant, autocrat
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a cruel and oppressive dictator
- This is Down clue number 46
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
DESPOT
47 Down: "81. Open-weave fabric"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'M'
- Word pattern: S___M
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a firm open-weave fabric used for a curtain in the theater
- This is Down clue number 47
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SCRIM
48 Down: "82. New York School poet Frank"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'O' and ends with 'A'
- Word pattern: O___A
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 48
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
OHARA
49 Down: "83. "Th-th-th-that's all, folks!" speaker"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'P' and ends with 'Y'
- Word pattern: P___Y
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 49
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
PORKY
50 Down: "84. First-rate"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: A__E
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 50
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
AONE
51 Down: "85. Flare up?"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 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 51
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
NOVA
52 Down: "87. See 16-Down"
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: stout-bodied short-legged omnivorous animals
- This is Down clue number 52
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SWINE
53 Down: "88. More prudent"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'R'
- Word pattern: S___R
- Similar words: reasonable, sane
- Opposite of: insane
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: mentally healthy; free from mental disorder
- This is Down clue number 53
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SANER
54 Down: "89. About to explode, say"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'Y'
- Word pattern: A___Y
- Similar words: tempestuous, wild
- Opposite of: unangry
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: feeling or showing anger
- This is Down clue number 54
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ANGRY
55 Down: "91. Pink character in the "Toy Story" movies"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'H' and ends with 'M'
- Word pattern: H__M
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 55
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
HAMM
56 Down: "94. Farmer Hoggett's entrant in a sheepherding contest"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'B' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: B__E
- Similar words: baby, infant
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 56
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
BABE
57 Down: "97. Turf ___ (football injury)"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'T' and ends with 'E'
- Similar words: toenail
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: one of the digits of the foot
- This is Down clue number 57
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
TOE
58 Down: "98. Part of a day care schedule"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'N' and ends with 'P'
- Similar words: Napoleon, snooze
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a period of time spent sleeping
- This is Down clue number 58
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
NAP
59 Down: "99. @ @ @"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'S'
- Similar words: At, astatine
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 59
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ATS
60 Down: "101. Inits. at Grand Central Terminal"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'M' and ends with 'A'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 60
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
MTA
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 60 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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