NYT Crossword Down December 14, 2025: All 70 Vertical Answers & Strategic Tips
Quick Summary: Today's NYT Crossword has 70 Down clues. We have all the vertical answers plus helpful hints to make solving easier!
Related Puzzles: August 06 2021 NYT Clues Solutions | Tuesday NYT Mini Crossword Answers_25 | Todays Across Crossword NYT December 01 |
About Today's Down Clues
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Date | December 14, 2025 |
| Day of Week | Sunday |
| Total Down Clues | 70 clues |
| Direction | Vertical (Top to Bottom) |
| Difficulty | Medium |
All Down Clues - Complete List
Here are all 70 Down clues for today's puzzle. These go vertically from top to bottom.
| Number | Clue |
|---|---|
| 1 Down | 1. Surveyed, with "out" |
| 2 Down | 2. Early track star Jim |
| 3 Down | 3. Resident of Honolulu, e.g. |
| 4 Down | 4. Touchless payment tech |
| 5 Down | 5. Internet ___ |
| 6 Down | 6. Cheat on, in a way |
| 7 Down | 7. Surgery sites, in brief |
| 8 Down | 8. Video game character with an endless appetite |
| 9 Down | 9. Be in a chat room but not chat |
| 10 Down | 10. Soldiers with long arms |
| 11 Down | 11. Alternative to the euro, in brief |
| 12 Down | 12. Relinquish |
| 13 Down | 13. Director DuVernay |
| 14 Down | 14. Turns back the clock, maybe? |
| 15 Down | 15. Opposite of volunteer |
| 16 Down | 16. Parts of many robots in robot-sumo |
| 17 Down | 19. Area inside the free-throw line, in basketball slang |
| 18 Down | 20. "Gaspard de la Nuit" composer |
| 19 Down | 22. Addresses angrily |
| 20 Down | 23. Variety of violet |
| 21 Down | 26. Urban safety hazard |
| 22 Down | 30. Australia's largest carnivorous mammal |
| 23 Down | 32. Word used 10 times in Roger Ebert's review of "North" (1994) |
| 24 Down | 33. Dissimilar |
| 25 Down | 35. Part of a legendary boast |
| 26 Down | 36. Skips all the ceremony? |
| 27 Down | 38. The brother in "Am I my brother's keeper?" |
| 28 Down | 40. What might be made while clasping one's hands |
| 29 Down | 42. Engineer Gray who, arguably, invented the telephone — and battled Alexander Graham Bell over it in court for years |
| 30 Down | 44. Ballpark figure |
| 31 Down | 45. Kind of tea |
| 32 Down | 46. Sierra automaker |
| 33 Down | 47. Shylock's security |
| 34 Down | 48. Adele song with the lyric "I must have called a thousand times" |
| 35 Down | 50. Non-premium option in a rideshare app |
| 36 Down | 51. Gaming mogul Gabe |
| 37 Down | 52. Ernst Stavro Blofeld, to James Bond |
| 38 Down | 53. Put into piles, perhaps |
| 39 Down | 54. Swear |
| 40 Down | 57. Parking space for an Airstream, say, in brief |
| 41 Down | 61. Did some school reporting? |
| 42 Down | 63. Exceptionally hard timber |
| 43 Down | 65. Amy Winehouse, e.g. |
| 44 Down | 66. Thumbprint alternative on iPhones |
| 45 Down | 68. Reluctant to ask out one's crush, maybe |
| 46 Down | 70. Particularly particular |
| 47 Down | 72. Cafeterias |
| 48 Down | 75. Like many indie films |
| 49 Down | 76. Many characters in the 2007 comedy "Superbad" |
| 50 Down | 78. He had a Billboard Hot 100 hit with "Rubber Duckie" |
| 51 Down | 79. Tortilla de patatas, por ejemplo |
| 52 Down | 82. Where high schoolers work on their numbers? |
| 53 Down | 84. Starship's medical facility |
| 54 Down | 85. Ren faire prop akin to a halberd |
| 55 Down | 86. "Sign me up!" |
| 56 Down | 87. Hair-care item associated with Black culture |
| 57 Down | 89. Like YouTube offerings |
| 58 Down | 91. Commences |
| 59 Down | 92. Rough drafts? |
| 60 Down | 93. Interview guest whom Ali G calls "my man Buzz Lightyear here" |
| 61 Down | 94. Like lowercase i's and j's |
| 62 Down | 95. Sci-fi sequel of 1986 |
| 63 Down | 96. Like soft rolls |
| 64 Down | 102. Wordless entertainment |
| 65 Down | 104. Other, to Octavio |
| 66 Down | 106. Brief announcements from a pilot |
| 67 Down | 107. ___ alla bolognese (slow-cooked sauce) |
| 68 Down | 109. Like hell! |
| 69 Down | 110. Play a part, or part of a play |
| 70 Down | 111. Part of N.Y.E. |
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:
- May 07 2021 NYT Clues Solutions
- November 06 2021 NYT Clues Solutions
- NYT Crossword Down November 02 2025 All
- November 11 2019 NYT Clues Solutions
Complete Down Solutions:
1 Down: "1. Surveyed, with "out""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 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 1
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SCOPED
2 Down: "2. Early track star Jim"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'T' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: T____E
- Similar words: Jim Thorpe
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: outstanding United States athlete (1888-1953)
- This is Down clue number 2
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
THORPE
3 Down: "3. Resident of Honolulu, e.g."
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'O' and ends with 'N'
- Word pattern: O____N
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 3
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
OAHUAN
4 Down: "4. Touchless payment tech"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'R' and ends with 'D'
- Word pattern: R__D
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 4
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
RFID
5 Down: "5. Internet ___"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'M' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: M__E
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 5
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
MEME
6 Down: "6. Cheat on, in a way"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 7 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'T' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: T_____E
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 6
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
TWOTIME
7 Down: "7. Surgery sites, in brief"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'O' and ends with 'S'
- Similar words: OR, Oregon
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a state in northwestern United States on the Pacific
- This is Down clue number 7
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ORS
8 Down: "8. Video game character with an endless appetite"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'P' and ends with 'N'
- Word pattern: P____N
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 8
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
PACMAN
9 Down: "9. Be in a chat room but not chat"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'L' and ends with 'K'
- Word pattern: L__K
- Similar words: tarry, footle
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: lie in wait
- This is Down clue number 9
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
LURK
10 Down: "10. Soldiers with long arms"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 8 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 10
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SPEARMEN
11 Down: "11. Alternative to the euro, in brief"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'U' and ends with 'D'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 11
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
USD
12 Down: "12. Relinquish"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'C' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: C__E
- Similar words: concede, deliver
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 12
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
CEDE
13 Down: "13. Director DuVernay"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'A'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 13
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
AVA
14 Down: "14. Turns back the clock, maybe?"
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
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 14
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
REWINDS
15 Down: "15. Opposite of volunteer"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 7 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'D' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: D_____E
- Similar words: conscript, inductee
- Opposite of: volunteer
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: someone who is drafted into military service
- This is Down clue number 15
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
DRAFTEE
16 Down: "16. Parts of many robots in robot-sumo"
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: detector, sensing element
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 16
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SENSORS
17 Down: "19. Area inside the free-throw line, in basketball slang"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'P' and ends with 'T'
- Word pattern: P___T
- Similar words: rouge, key
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 17
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
PAINT
18 Down: "20. "Gaspard de la Nuit" composer"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'R' and ends with 'L'
- Word pattern: R___L
- Similar words: ladder, Maurice Ravel
- Opposite of: unknot
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: French composer and exponent of Impressionism (1875-1937)
- This is Down clue number 18
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
RAVEL
19 Down: "22. Addresses angrily"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 8 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'T'
- Word pattern: S______T
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 19
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SNARLSAT
20 Down: "23. Variety of violet"
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
- Similar words: sissy, pantywaist
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 20
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
PANSY
21 Down: "26. Urban safety hazard"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 8 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'F' and ends with 'P'
- Word pattern: F______P
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 21
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
FIRETRAP
22 Down: "30. Australia's largest carnivorous mammal"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'D' and ends with 'O'
- Word pattern: D___O
- Similar words: warragal, warrigal
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: wolflike yellowish-brown wild dog of Australia
- This is Down clue number 22
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
DINGO
23 Down: "32. Word used 10 times in Roger Ebert's review of "North" (1994)"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'H' and ends with 'D'
- Word pattern: H___D
- Similar words: hate, detested
- Opposite of: love
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: dislike intensely; feel antipathy or aversion towards
- This is Down clue number 23
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
HATED
24 Down: "33. Dissimilar"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 7 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'U' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: U_____E
- Similar words: dissimilar
- Opposite of: alike
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: not alike or similar
- This is Down clue number 24
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
UNALIKE
25 Down: "35. Part of a legendary boast"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'V' and ends with 'I'
- Word pattern: V__I
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 25
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
VENI
26 Down: "36. Skips all the ceremony?"
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: elope, run off
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: run away secretly with one's beloved
- This is Down clue number 26
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ELOPES
27 Down: "38. The brother in "Am I my brother's keeper?""
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
- Similar words: Niels Abel
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: Norwegian mathematician (1802-1829)
- This is Down clue number 27
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ABEL
28 Down: "40. What might be made while clasping one's hands"
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
- Similar words: supplication
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a humble request for help from someone in authority
- This is Down clue number 28
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
PLEA
29 Down: "42. Engineer Gray who, arguably, invented the telephone — and battled Alexander Graham Bell over it in court for years"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'E' and ends with 'A'
- Word pattern: E____A
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 29
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ELISHA
30 Down: "44. Ballpark figure"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'O' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: O__S
- Similar words: out, come out
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 30
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
OUTS
31 Down: "45. Kind of tea"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'M'
- Word pattern: A___M
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: state in northeastern India
- This is Down clue number 31
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ASSAM
32 Down: "46. Sierra automaker"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'G' and ends with 'C'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 32
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
GMC
33 Down: "47. Shylock's security"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'F' and ends with 'H'
- Word pattern: F___H
- Similar words: pulp, anatomy
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 33
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
FLESH
34 Down: "48. Adele song with the lyric "I must have called a thousand times""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'H' and ends with 'O'
- Word pattern: H___O
- Similar words: hi, how-do-you-do
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: an expression of greeting
- This is Down clue number 34
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
HELLO
35 Down: "50. Non-premium option in a rideshare app"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'U' and ends with 'X'
- Word pattern: U___X
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 35
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
UBERX
36 Down: "51. Gaming mogul Gabe"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'N' and ends with 'L'
- Word pattern: N____L
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 36
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
NEWELL
37 Down: "52. Ernst Stavro Blofeld, to James Bond"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'E' and ends with 'Y'
- Word pattern: E___Y
- Similar words: foe, opposition
- Opposite of: friend
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: an opposing military force
- This is Down clue number 37
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ENEMY
38 Down: "53. Put into piles, perhaps"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'T'
- Word pattern: S__T
- Similar words: variety, classify
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 38
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SORT
39 Down: "54. Swear"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'W'
- Word pattern: A__W
- Similar words: affirm, avouch
- Opposite of: disavow
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: to declare or affirm solemnly and formally as true
- This is Down clue number 39
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
AVOW
40 Down: "57. Parking space for an Airstream, say, in brief"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'R' and ends with 'T'
- Word pattern: R___T
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 40
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
RVLOT
41 Down: "61. Did some school reporting?"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 7 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'T' and ends with 'D'
- Word pattern: T_____D
- Similar words: talk, tittle-tattle
- Opposite of: keep quiet
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: speak (about unimportant matters) rapidly and incessantly
- This is Down clue number 41
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
TATTLED
42 Down: "63. Exceptionally hard timber"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 8 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'I' and ends with 'D'
- Word pattern: I______D
- Similar words: ironwood tree, iron tree
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 42
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
IRONWOOD
43 Down: "65. Amy Winehouse, e.g."
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
- Similar words: contralto, countertenor
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a singer whose voice lies in the alto clef
- This is Down clue number 43
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ALTO
44 Down: "66. Thumbprint alternative on iPhones"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'F' and ends with 'D'
- Word pattern: F____D
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 44
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
FACEID
45 Down: "68. Reluctant to ask out one's crush, maybe"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'Y'
- Similar words: unsure, timid
- Opposite of: confident
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a quick throw
- This is Down clue number 45
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SHY
46 Down: "70. Particularly particular"
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
- Similar words: anal retentive
- Opposite of: oral
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: of or related to the anus
- This is Down clue number 46
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ANAL
47 Down: "72. Cafeterias"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 8 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'C' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: C______S
- Similar words: mobile canteen, canteen
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a flask for carrying water; used by soldiers or travelers
- This is Down clue number 47
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
CANTEENS
48 Down: "75. Like many indie films"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'Y'
- Word pattern: A__Y
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: showily imitative of art or artists
- This is Down clue number 48
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ARTY
49 Down: "76. Many characters in the 2007 comedy "Superbad""
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: adolescent, teenager
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: the time of life between the ages of 12 and 20
- This is Down clue number 49
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
TEENS
50 Down: "78. He had a Billboard Hot 100 hit with "Rubber Duckie""
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 50
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ERNIE
51 Down: "79. Tortilla de patatas, por ejemplo"
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
- Similar words: tapa bark, tappa
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 51
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
TAPA
52 Down: "82. Where high schoolers work on their numbers?"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 8 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'G' and ends with 'B'
- Word pattern: G______B
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 52
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
GLEECLUB
53 Down: "84. Starship's medical facility"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 7 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'Y'
- Word pattern: S_____Y
- Similar words: sick berth
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 53
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SICKBAY
54 Down: "85. Ren faire prop akin to a halberd"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 7 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'P' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: P_____E
- Similar words: poleax
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 54
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
POLEAXE
55 Down: "86. "Sign me up!""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 7 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'I' and ends with 'N'
- Word pattern: I_____N
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 55
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
IWANTIN
56 Down: "87. Hair-care item associated with Black culture"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'D' and ends with 'G'
- Word pattern: D___G
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 56
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
DURAG
57 Down: "89. Like YouTube offerings"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 7 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'O' and ends with 'O'
- Word pattern: O_____O
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 57
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ONVIDEO
58 Down: "91. Commences"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'O' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: O___S
- Similar words: unfold, spread
- Opposite of: close
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a clear or unobstructed space or expanse of land or water
- This is Down clue number 58
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
OPENS
59 Down: "92. Rough drafts?"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'G' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: G___S
- Similar words: gale
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 59
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
GALES
60 Down: "93. Interview guest whom Ali G calls "my man Buzz Lightyear here""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'N'
- Word pattern: A____N
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 60
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ALDRIN
61 Down: "94. Like lowercase i's and j's"
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
- Similar words: dust, dashed
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: scatter or intersperse like dots or studs
- This is Down clue number 61
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
DOTTED
62 Down: "95. Sci-fi sequel of 1986"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: A____S
- Similar words: stranger, outlander
- Opposite of: acquaintance
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 62
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ALIENS
63 Down: "96. Like soft rolls"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'Y' and ends with 'Y'
- Word pattern: Y____Y
- Similar words: yeastlike, zesty
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: of or resembling or containing yeast
- This is Down clue number 63
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
YEASTY
64 Down: "102. Wordless entertainment"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'M' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: M__E
- Similar words: dumb show, mimer
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 64
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
MIME
65 Down: "104. Other, to Octavio"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 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 65
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
OTRA
66 Down: "106. Brief announcements from a pilot"
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: ETA, eta
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 66
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ETAS
67 Down: "107. ___ alla bolognese (slow-cooked sauce)"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'R' and ends with 'U'
- Word pattern: R__U
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 67
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
RAGU
68 Down: "109. Like hell!"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'H' and ends with 'T'
- Similar words: spicy, live
- Opposite of: cold
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 68
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
HOT
69 Down: "110. Play a part, or part of a play"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'T'
- Similar words: do, roleplay
- Opposite of: refrain
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 69
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ACT
70 Down: "111. Part of N.Y.E."
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: eventide, evening
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 70
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
EVE
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 70 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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