NYT Crossword Down December 19, 2025: All 37 Vertical Answers & Strategic Tips
Quick Summary: Today's NYT Crossword has 37 Down clues. We have all the vertical answers plus helpful hints to make solving easier!
Related Puzzles: April 30 2021 NYT Clues Solutions | October 26 2019 NYT Clues Solutions | September 29 2022 NYT Clues Solutions |
About Today's Down Clues
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Date | December 19, 2025 |
| Day of Week | Friday |
| Total Down Clues | 37 clues |
| Direction | Vertical (Top to Bottom) |
| Difficulty | Challenging |
All Down Clues - Complete List
Here are all 37 Down clues for today's puzzle. These go vertically from top to bottom.
| Number | Clue |
|---|---|
| 1 Down | 1. Annual mystery award |
| 2 Down | 2. Had an outsize presence |
| 3 Down | 3. They may recently have been in a jam |
| 4 Down | 4. Prosecco relative |
| 5 Down | 5. Results of some remarriages |
| 6 Down | 6. Yard sale? |
| 7 Down | 7. Afirmativa enfática |
| 8 Down | 8. Swim with the fishes? |
| 9 Down | 9. Larry ___, longtime owner of the Cleveland Guardians |
| 10 Down | 10. Grande opening? |
| 11 Down | 11. Fair ___ (concept in copyright law) |
| 12 Down | 12. Kind of school |
| 13 Down | 14. Wrinkle remover |
| 14 Down | 16. Diktat |
| 15 Down | 18. Repeated role for Chris Hemsworth |
| 16 Down | 22. Word with dating or skating |
| 17 Down | 24. Bad place to be while gambling |
| 18 Down | 25. Fictional companion of Thing One and Thing Two |
| 19 Down | 26. Hit below the belt, in a way |
| 20 Down | 28. Easter basket treat |
| 21 Down | 30. Pitch catcher? |
| 22 Down | 32. Wrap up by |
| 23 Down | 33. Like He and Xe |
| 24 Down | 34. Windy City exchange, in brief |
| 25 Down | 36. Altar-ed statement? |
| 26 Down | 39. Expo take-home |
| 27 Down | 40. Zesty flavor |
| 28 Down | 43. Parts of submarines also known as fairwaters |
| 29 Down | 45. D.I.Y. dessert item |
| 30 Down | 47. Pressure source |
| 31 Down | 49. Source of motivation, informally |
| 32 Down | 51. It's a long story |
| 33 Down | 53. Half time? |
| 34 Down | 54. When you're reading this |
| 35 Down | 55. Grp. with geologists and biologists |
| 36 Down | 56. Piece in the game Battleship |
| 37 Down | 57. Genre for Miles Davis or Dizzy Gillespie |
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 21 2019 NYT Clues Solutions
- November 22 2019 NYT Clues Solutions
- NYT Across Today November 01 2025
- Xwordhint Crossword Answers October 30
Complete Down Solutions:
1 Down: "1. Annual mystery award"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'E' and ends with 'R'
- Word pattern: E___R
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 1
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
EDGAR
2 Down: "2. Had an outsize presence"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 11 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'L' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: L_________E
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 2
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
LOOMEDLARGE
3 Down: "3. They may recently have been in a jam"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 11 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: S_________S
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 3
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
STUBBEDTOES
4 Down: "4. Prosecco relative"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'I'
- Word pattern: A__I
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 4
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ASTI
5 Down: "5. Results of some remarriages"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 15 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'B' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: B_____________S
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 5
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
BLENDEDFAMILIES
6 Down: "6. Yard sale?"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'E'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 6
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ALE
7 Down: "7. Afirmativa enfática"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 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 7
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SISI
8 Down: "8. Swim with the fishes?"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 7 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'L'
- Word pattern: S_____L
- Similar words: breather, schnorkel
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 8
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SNORKEL
9 Down: "9. Larry ___, longtime owner of the Cleveland Guardians"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'D' and ends with 'N'
- Word pattern: D___N
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 9
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
DOLAN
10 Down: "10. Grande opening?"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'R' and ends with 'O'
- Similar words: Rio de Janeiro
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 10
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
RIO
11 Down: "11. Fair ___ (concept in copyright law)"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'U' and ends with 'E'
- Similar words: practice, employ
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: the act of using
- This is Down clue number 11
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
USE
12 Down: "12. Kind of school"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'M' and ends with 'D'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a master's degree in education
- This is Down clue number 12
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
MED
13 Down: "14. Wrinkle remover"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'I' and ends with 'N'
- Word pattern: I__N
- Similar words: iron out, branding iron
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 13
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
IRON
14 Down: "16. Diktat"
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: decree, edict
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 14
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
FIAT
15 Down: "18. Repeated role for Chris Hemsworth"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 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 15
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
THOR
16 Down: "22. Word with dating or skating"
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: bucket along, amphetamine
- Opposite of: linger
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: distance travelled per unit time
- This is Down clue number 16
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SPEED
17 Down: "24. Bad place to be while gambling"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 11 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 17
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
INADEEPHOLE
18 Down: "25. Fictional companion of Thing One and Thing Two"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 11 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'C' and ends with 'T'
- Word pattern: C_________T
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 18
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
CATINTHEHAT
19 Down: "26. Hit below the belt, in a way"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'K' and ends with 'D'
- Word pattern: K___D
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 19
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
KNEED
20 Down: "28. Easter basket treat"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'P' and ends with 'P'
- Word pattern: P__P
- Similar words: chirp, cheep
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: the short weak cry of a young bird
- This is Down clue number 20
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
PEEP
21 Down: "30. Pitch catcher?"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'E' and ends with 'R'
- Similar words: capitulum, pinna
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
- This is Down clue number 21
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
EAR
22 Down: "32. Wrap up by"
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
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 22
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ENDAT
23 Down: "33. Like He and Xe"
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
- Similar words: neutral, indifferent
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: unable to move or resist motion
- This is Down clue number 23
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
INERT
24 Down: "34. Windy City exchange, in brief"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'M' and ends with 'C'
- Word pattern: M__C
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 24
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
MERC
25 Down: "36. Altar-ed statement?"
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 25
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
IDO
26 Down: "39. Expo take-home"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 7 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'G'
- Word pattern: S_____G
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 26
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SWAGBAG
27 Down: "40. Zesty flavor"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'T' and ends with 'G'
- Word pattern: T__G
- Similar words: bladder fucus, Tang dynasty
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a tart spicy quality
- This is Down clue number 27
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
TANG
28 Down: "43. Parts of submarines also known as fairwaters"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'F' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: F__S
- Similar words: quint, five
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
- This is Down clue number 28
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
FINS
29 Down: "45. D.I.Y. dessert item"
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
- This is Down clue number 29
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SMORE
30 Down: "47. Pressure source"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'P' and ends with 'R'
- Word pattern: P__R
- Similar words: match, equal
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a person who is of equal standing with another in a group
- This is Down clue number 30
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
PEER
31 Down: "49. Source of motivation, informally"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'I' and ends with 'O'
- Word pattern: I___O
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 31
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
INSPO
32 Down: "51. It's a long story"
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
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 32
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SAGA
33 Down: "53. Half time?"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'T' and ends with 'K'
- Word pattern: T__K
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 33
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
TOCK
34 Down: "54. When you're reading this"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'N' and ends with 'W'
- Similar words: today, like a shot
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: the momentary present
- This is Down clue number 34
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
NOW
35 Down: "55. Grp. with geologists and biologists"
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 35
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
EPA
36 Down: "56. Piece in the game Battleship"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'P' and ends with 'G'
- Similar words: nail down, wooden leg
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a wooden pin pushed or driven into a surface
- This is Down clue number 36
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
PEG
37 Down: "57. Genre for Miles Davis or Dizzy Gillespie"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'B' and ends with 'P'
- Similar words: sock, bonk
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 37
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
BOP
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 37 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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