Wednesday's NYT Down Dec 17 - Full Vertical Grid Solutions
Quick Summary: Today's NYT Crossword has 41 Down clues. We have all the vertical answers plus helpful hints to make solving easier!
Related Puzzles: October 25 2021 NYT Clues Solutions | October 19 2022 NYT Clues Solutions | August 29 2019 NYT Clues Solutions |
About Today's Down Clues
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Date | December 17, 2025 |
| Day of Week | Wednesday |
| Total Down Clues | 41 clues |
| Direction | Vertical (Top to Bottom) |
| Difficulty | Challenging |
All Down Clues - Complete List
Here are all 41 Down clues for today's puzzle. These go vertically from top to bottom.
| Number | Clue |
|---|---|
| 1 Down | 1. Tarot suit associated with the element of water |
| 2 Down | 2. Yamaha product |
| 3 Down | 3. What makes a stud become studious? |
| 4 Down | 4. Fully get |
| 5 Down | 5. Hog's home |
| 6 Down | 6. "That's a real shame" |
| 7 Down | 7. Steakhouse order |
| 8 Down | 8. Marchers in sidewalk cracks |
| 9 Down | 9. Howl at the moon |
| 10 Down | 10. Chevy S.U.V. |
| 11 Down | 11. Authentic |
| 12 Down | 12. Ones from platypuses have leathery shells |
| 13 Down | 13. Fly by night ... or by day |
| 14 Down | 18. Compact holder |
| 15 Down | 22. Neighbor of Ont. |
| 16 Down | 24. Red carpet hairstyle, perhaps |
| 17 Down | 25. Jost's longtime "Weekend Update" co-anchor |
| 18 Down | 26. Food you might eat wearing a bib |
| 19 Down | 27. Overplay for the audience |
| 20 Down | 28. Was the bigger person, say |
| 21 Down | 29. Follow, as advice |
| 22 Down | 30. Have faith in |
| 23 Down | 31. Canines, e.g. |
| 24 Down | 32. Mega- |
| 25 Down | 33. Big name in chicken or boxing |
| 26 Down | 38. 1990s comedy inspired by "Emma" |
| 27 Down | 40. "Get Smart" bad guys |
| 28 Down | 42. Suffix with beat or neat |
| 29 Down | 43. Throw off |
| 30 Down | 46. Stick in the ground? |
| 31 Down | 47. Just about anything on a string |
| 32 Down | 50. With 42-Across, the Mafia |
| 33 Down | 51. Cultivated, in a way |
| 34 Down | 52. Start a turn in Twister |
| 35 Down | 53. Time to do without |
| 36 Down | 54. Gary's ___ Towne Tavern (rival bar on "Cheers") |
| 37 Down | 56. Minuscule amount |
| 38 Down | 57. Short stroke |
| 39 Down | 58. Batting avg., e.g. |
| 40 Down | 60. Rocksteady relative |
| 41 Down | 61. "___ bin ein Berliner" |
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:
- August 30 2021 NYT Clues Solutions
- February 07 2023 NYT Clues Solutions
- November 17 2022 NYT Clues Solutions
- October 19 2022 NYT Clues Solutions
Complete Down Solutions:
1 Down: "1. Tarot suit associated with the element of water"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'C' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: C__S
- Similar words: cup, loving cup
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 1
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
CUPS
2 Down: "2. Yamaha product"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'O' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: O__E
- Similar words: hautbois, hautboy
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 2
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
OBOE
3 Down: "3. What makes a stud become studious?"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'I' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: I__S
- Similar words: IOU
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: an informal debt instrument; representing `I owe you'
- This is Down clue number 3
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
IOUS
4 Down: "4. Fully get"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'F' and ends with 'M'
- Word pattern: F____M
- Similar words: fthm, sound
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 4
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
FATHOM
5 Down: "5. Hog's home"
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: pigpen, eye infection
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: an infection of the sebaceous gland of the eyelid
- This is Down clue number 5
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
STY
6 Down: "6. "That's a real shame""
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: unfortunately, unluckily
- Opposite of: luckily
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a flat wing-shaped process or winglike part of an organism
- This is Down clue number 6
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ALAS
7 Down: "7. Steakhouse order"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'R' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: R__E
- Similar words: uncommon, rarified
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: not widely known; especially valued for its uncommonness
- This is Down clue number 7
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
RARE
8 Down: "8. Marchers in sidewalk cracks"
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: pismire, emmet
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 8
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ANTS
9 Down: "9. Howl at the moon"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'B' and ends with 'Y'
- Similar words: alcove, bay tree
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 9
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
BAY
10 Down: "10. Chevy S.U.V."
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
- Definition: relating to or characteristic of or situated in suburbs
- This is Down clue number 10
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SUBURBAN
11 Down: "11. Authentic"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 10 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 11
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
TRUETOLIFE
12 Down: "12. Ones from platypuses have leathery shells"
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: testis, egg
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 12
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
EGGS
13 Down: "13. Fly by night ... or by day"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'P' and ends with 'T'
- Word pattern: P__T
- Similar words: pestis, pesterer
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 13
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
PEST
14 Down: "18. Compact holder"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'P' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: P___E
- Similar words: handbag, bag
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 14
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
PURSE
15 Down: "22. Neighbor of Ont."
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'Q' and ends with 'E'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 15
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
QUE
16 Down: "24. Red carpet hairstyle, perhaps"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'U' and ends with 'O'
- Word pattern: U__O
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 16
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
UPDO
17 Down: "25. Jost's longtime "Weekend Update" co-anchor"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'C' and ends with 'E'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 17
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
CHE
18 Down: "26. Food you might eat wearing a bib"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'C' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: C___S
- Similar words: pubic louse, crab
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: infestation of the pubic hair by crab lice
- This is Down clue number 18
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
CRABS
19 Down: "27. Overplay for the audience"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'H' and ends with 'P'
- Word pattern: H___P
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 19
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
HAMUP
20 Down: "28. Was the bigger person, say"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 10 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'D'
- Word pattern: A________D
- Similar words: rationalize, justify
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: acknowledge faults or shortcomings or failing
- This is Down clue number 20
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
APOLOGIZED
21 Down: "29. Follow, as advice"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 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 21
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ACTON
22 Down: "30. Have faith in"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'T' and ends with 'T'
- Word pattern: T___T
- Similar words: believe, rely
- Opposite of: distrust
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 22
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
TRUST
23 Down: "31. Canines, e.g."
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'T' and ends with 'H'
- Word pattern: T___H
- Similar words: tooth, dentition
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 23
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
TEETH
24 Down: "32. Mega-"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'U' and ends with 'A'
- Word pattern: U___A
- Similar words: radical, extremist
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: (used of opinions and actions) far beyond the norm
- This is Down clue number 24
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ULTRA
25 Down: "33. Big name in chicken or boxing"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'T' and ends with 'N'
- Word pattern: T___N
- Similar words: Mike Tyson
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 25
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
TYSON
26 Down: "38. 1990s comedy inspired by "Emma""
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
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 26
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
CLUELESS
27 Down: "40. "Get Smart" bad guys"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'K' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: K__S
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 27
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
KAOS
28 Down: "42. Suffix with beat or neat"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'N' and ends with 'K'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 28
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
NIK
29 Down: "43. Throw off"
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: gross out, fight off
- Opposite of: attract
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: cause to move back by force or influence
- This is Down clue number 29
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
REPEL
30 Down: "46. Stick in the ground?"
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: teeing ground, golf tee
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: the starting place for each hole on a golf course
- This is Down clue number 30
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
TEE
31 Down: "47. Just about anything on a string"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'C' and ends with 'Y'
- Word pattern: C____Y
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 31
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
CATTOY
32 Down: "50. With 42-Across, the Mafia"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'C' and ends with 'A'
- Word pattern: C__A
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 32
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
COSA
33 Down: "51. Cultivated, in a way"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'H' and ends with 'D'
- Word pattern: H__D
- Similar words: hoe
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: dig with a hoe
- This is Down clue number 33
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
HOED
34 Down: "52. Start a turn in Twister"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'N'
- Word pattern: S__N
- Similar words: twirl, spin around
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a swift whirling motion (usually of a missile)
- This is Down clue number 34
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SPIN
35 Down: "53. Time to do without"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'L' and ends with 'T'
- Word pattern: L__T
- Similar words: Lententide, impart
- Opposite of: borrow
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a period of 40 weekdays from Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday
- This is Down clue number 35
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
LENT
36 Down: "54. Gary's ___ Towne Tavern (rival bar on "Cheers")"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'O' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: O__E
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 36
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
OLDE
37 Down: "56. Minuscule amount"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'I' and ends with 'A'
- Word pattern: I__A
- Similar words: scintilla, tittle
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a tiny or scarcely detectable amount
- This is Down clue number 37
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
IOTA
38 Down: "57. Short stroke"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'P' and ends with 'T'
- Word pattern: P__T
- Similar words: putting
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: hitting a golf ball that is on the green using a putter
- This is Down clue number 38
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
PUTT
39 Down: "58. Batting avg., e.g."
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
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 39
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
STAT
40 Down: "60. Rocksteady relative"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'A'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 40
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SKA
41 Down: "61. "___ bin ein Berliner""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'I' and ends with 'H'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 41
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ICH
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 41 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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