NYT Crossword Down December 10, 2025: All 44 Vertical Answers & Strategic Tips
Quick Summary: Today's NYT Crossword has 44 Down clues. We have all the vertical answers plus helpful hints to make solving easier!
Related Puzzles: January 25 2021 NYT Clues Solutions | September 08 2022 NYT Clues Solutions | July 06 2019 NYT Clues Solutions |
About Today's Down Clues
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Date | December 10, 2025 |
| Day of Week | Wednesday |
| Total Down Clues | 44 clues |
| Direction | Vertical (Top to Bottom) |
| Difficulty | Tricky |
All Down Clues - Complete List
Here are all 44 Down clues for today's puzzle. These go vertically from top to bottom.
| Number | Clue |
|---|---|
| 1 Down | 1. Software accessed via an online browser |
| 2 Down | 2. Game-tying goal |
| 3 Down | 3. Healthier version of a breakfast side dish |
| 4 Down | 4. "Or ___ what?" |
| 5 Down | 5. Longtime NASCAR sponsor |
| 6 Down | 6. Alters the shape of |
| 7 Down | 7. Dell competitor |
| 8 Down | 8. Singer Amos |
| 9 Down | 9. "You can say that again!" |
| 10 Down | 10. Sensitivity |
| 11 Down | 11. Secret identity of Don Diego de la Vega |
| 12 Down | 12. Ax, so to speak |
| 13 Down | 13. Beehive State athlete |
| 14 Down | 14. Grassy section |
| 15 Down | 20. Source of 3.5 million quotations, for short |
| 16 Down | 22. Performer of the 1992 dance song "Supermodel (You Better Work)" |
| 17 Down | 26. Greek figures with multiple heads |
| 18 Down | 28. Status of 23-, 44- and 69-Across, as indicated by their clues and placement in the grid |
| 19 Down | 29. Trampoline mats |
| 20 Down | 30. Elf product |
| 21 Down | 32. Org. opposed to "speciesism" |
| 22 Down | 33. Common street sign symbol |
| 23 Down | 34. Several things in a pagoda |
| 24 Down | 35. Party starters, in brief |
| 25 Down | 36. Sowing machine |
| 26 Down | 40. "To your health!," in Germany |
| 27 Down | 41. ___ gaz (carbonated: Fr.) |
| 28 Down | 42. [Don't open this at the office!] |
| 29 Down | 43. One of four rhyming letters |
| 30 Down | 44. Modern prefix with village |
| 31 Down | 49. "The Matrix" character, with "the" |
| 32 Down | 50. Nuts |
| 33 Down | 52. Standing |
| 34 Down | 53. Aachen article |
| 35 Down | 54. "There is more to life than increasing its ___": Gandhi |
| 36 Down | 57. Some needle work, in brief |
| 37 Down | 58. "Community" character played by Donald Glover |
| 38 Down | 59. Apt letters missing from _ _stra_ _ |
| 39 Down | 60. Songwriter Guthrie |
| 40 Down | 62. ___ Minor |
| 41 Down | 63. Fire up |
| 42 Down | 64. Prize that a prospector pries |
| 43 Down | 65. Sloth, e.g. |
| 44 Down | 66. Some N.F.L. linemen |
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:
- November 08 2022 NYT Clues Solutions
- March 19 2022 NYT Clues Solutions
- June 11 2020 NYT Clues Solutions
- July 06 2019 NYT Clues Solutions
Complete Down Solutions:
1 Down: "1. Software accessed via an online browser"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'W' and ends with 'P'
- Word pattern: W____P
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 1
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
WEBAPP
2 Down: "2. Game-tying goal"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'E' and ends with 'R'
- Word pattern: E____R
- Similar words: regular, even
- Opposite of: uneven
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: divisible by two
- This is Down clue number 2
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
EVENER
3 Down: "3. Healthier version of a breakfast side dish"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 11 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'V' and ends with 'N'
- Word pattern: V_________N
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 3
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
VEGGIEBACON
4 Down: "4. "Or ___ what?""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 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 4
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ELSE
5 Down: "5. Longtime NASCAR sponsor"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'P'
- Similar words: s.t.p.
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: standard temperature and pressure
- This is Down clue number 5
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
STP
6 Down: "6. Alters the shape of"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'W' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: W___S
- Similar words: heave, warp
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 6
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
WARPS
7 Down: "7. Dell competitor"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'R'
- Word pattern: A__R
- Similar words: genus Acer
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 7
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ACER
8 Down: "8. Singer Amos"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'T' and ends with 'I'
- Word pattern: T__I
- Similar words: torus, tore
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 8
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
TORI
9 Down: "9. "You can say that again!""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'N'
- Word pattern: A__N
- Similar words: Amon, Amun
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 9
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
AMEN
10 Down: "10. Sensitivity"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'T' and ends with 'T'
- Word pattern: T__T
- Similar words: tactfulness
- Opposite of: tactlessness
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 10
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
TACT
11 Down: "11. Secret identity of Don Diego de la Vega"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'Z' and ends with 'O'
- Word pattern: Z___O
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 11
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ZORRO
12 Down: "12. Ax, so to speak"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'E' and ends with 'D'
- Similar words: last, destruction
- Opposite of: begin
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: either extremity of something that has length
- This is Down clue number 12
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
END
13 Down: "13. Beehive State athlete"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'U' and ends with 'E'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 13
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
UTE
14 Down: "14. Grassy section"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'D'
- Similar words: sward, bugger
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 14
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SOD
15 Down: "20. Source of 3.5 million quotations, for short"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'O' and ends with 'D'
- Similar words: O.E.D.
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 15
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
OED
16 Down: "22. Performer of the 1992 dance song "Supermodel (You Better Work)""
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
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 16
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
RUPAUL
17 Down: "26. Greek figures with multiple heads"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'H' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: H____S
- Similar words: Hydra, Snake
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 17
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
HYDRAS
18 Down: "28. Status of 23-, 44- and 69-Across, as indicated by their clues and placement in the grid"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 11 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'U' and ends with 'R'
- Word pattern: U_________R
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 18
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
UNDERREPAIR
19 Down: "29. Trampoline mats"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'B' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: B__S
- Similar words: bottom, kip down
- Opposite of: get up
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
- This is Down clue number 19
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
BEDS
20 Down: "30. Elf product"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'T' and ends with 'Y'
- Similar words: miniature, plaything
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: an artifact designed to be played with
- This is Down clue number 20
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
TOY
21 Down: "32. Org. opposed to "speciesism""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'P' and ends with 'A'
- Word pattern: P__A
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 21
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
PETA
22 Down: "33. Common street sign symbol"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'W'
- Word pattern: A___W
- Similar words: pointer
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a mark to indicate a direction or relation
- This is Down clue number 22
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ARROW
23 Down: "34. Several things in a pagoda"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'T' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: T___S
- Similar words: level, tier
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a relative position or degree of value in a graded group
- This is Down clue number 23
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
TIERS
24 Down: "35. Party starters, in brief"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'M' and ends with 'S'
- Similar words: MHz, megahertz
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: one million periods per second
- This is Down clue number 24
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
MCS
25 Down: "36. Sowing machine"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'R'
- Word pattern: S____R
- Similar words: cloud seeder
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a person who seeds clouds
- This is Down clue number 25
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SEEDER
26 Down: "40. "To your health!," in Germany"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 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 26
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
PROSIT
27 Down: "41. ___ gaz (carbonated: Fr.)"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'C'
- Word pattern: A__C
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 27
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
AVEC
28 Down: "42. [Don't open this at the office!]"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'N' and ends with 'W'
- Word pattern: N__W
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 28
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
NSFW
29 Down: "43. One of four rhyming letters"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'E' and ends with 'A'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 29
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ETA
30 Down: "44. Modern prefix with village"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'E' and ends with 'O'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 30
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ECO
31 Down: "49. "The Matrix" character, with "the""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'O' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: O____E
- Similar words: seer, prophet
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: an authoritative person who divines the future
- This is Down clue number 31
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ORACLE
32 Down: "50. Nuts"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'W' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: W____S
- Similar words: whacko, wacko
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a person who is regarded as eccentric or mad
- This is Down clue number 32
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
WACKOS
33 Down: "52. Standing"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'E' and ends with 'T'
- Word pattern: E___T
- Similar words: tumid, upright
- Opposite of: unerect
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: construct
- This is Down clue number 33
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ERECT
34 Down: "53. Aachen article"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'D' and ends with 'S'
- Similar words: cony, DA
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 34
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
DAS
35 Down: "54. "There is more to life than increasing its ___": Gandhi"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'D'
- Word pattern: S___D
- Similar words: step on it, quicken
- Opposite of: decelerate
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: distance travelled per unit time
- This is Down clue number 35
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SPEED
36 Down: "57. Some needle work, in brief"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'T' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: T__S
- Similar words: sleaze, intertwine
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: tastelessness by virtue of being cheap and vulgar
- This is Down clue number 36
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
TATS
37 Down: "58. "Community" character played by Donald Glover"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'T' and ends with 'Y'
- Word pattern: T__Y
- Similar words: troy weight, Ilion
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 37
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
TROY
38 Down: "59. Apt letters missing from _ _stra_ _"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'R' and ends with 'N'
- Word pattern: R__N
- Similar words: harness, draw rein
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 38
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
REIN
39 Down: "60. Songwriter Guthrie"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'O'
- Word pattern: A__O
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 39
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ARLO
40 Down: "62. ___ Minor"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'U' and ends with 'A'
- Word pattern: U__A
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 40
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
URSA
41 Down: "63. Fire up"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'R' and ends with 'V'
- Similar words: rpm, rev up
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: rate of revolution of a motor
- This is Down clue number 41
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
REV
42 Down: "64. Prize that a prospector pries"
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
- This is Down clue number 42
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ORE
43 Down: "65. Sloth, e.g."
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'N'
- Similar words: trespass, boob
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: estrangement from god
- This is Down clue number 43
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SIN
44 Down: "66. Some N.F.L. linemen"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'D' and ends with 'S'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: acute delirium caused by alcohol poisoning
- This is Down clue number 44
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
DTS
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 44 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.
