NYT Down Clues Answers December 21, 2025 - All 71 Vertical Solutions & Expert Hints
Quick Summary: Today's NYT Crossword has 71 Down clues. We have all the vertical answers plus helpful hints to make solving easier!
Related Puzzles: April 11 2023 NYT Clues Solutions | November 09 2019 NYT Clues Solutions | NYT Down Crossword October 15 2025 |
About Today's Down Clues
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Date | December 21, 2025 |
| Day of Week | Sunday |
| Total Down Clues | 71 clues |
| Direction | Vertical (Top to Bottom) |
| Difficulty | Easy |
All Down Clues - Complete List
Here are all 71 Down clues for today's puzzle. These go vertically from top to bottom.
| Number | Clue |
|---|---|
| 1 Down | 1. Make furious |
| 2 Down | 2. "The Family Circus" cartoonist Bil ___ |
| 3 Down | 3. Tennis line judge's ruling |
| 4 Down | 4. Duke Ellington classic with the lyric "That was my heart serenading you" |
| 5 Down | 5. West side of L.A.? |
| 6 Down | 6. "Is there still time for me to join you?" |
| 7 Down | 7. 51 to the hour |
| 8 Down | 8. Stage direction |
| 9 Down | 9. Phillipa of Broadway |
| 10 Down | 10. Grammy winner Erykah |
| 11 Down | 11. ___ Gorman, "The Hill We Climb" poet |
| 12 Down | 12. Copy |
| 13 Down | 13. Iced-tea-and-lemonade refreshments |
| 14 Down | 14. Spending romp |
| 15 Down | 15. Output of certain mining |
| 16 Down | 16. Counterpart of a sub |
| 17 Down | 17. Fast start? |
| 18 Down | 18. Father, familiarly |
| 19 Down | 19. Mentally overpower, with "out" |
| 20 Down | 28. Like most moccasins |
| 21 Down | 29. Great Dane of cartoons, informally |
| 22 Down | 33. More livid |
| 23 Down | 37. Keister, in Leicester |
| 24 Down | 39. 2015 chart-topping hit for the Weeknd |
| 25 Down | 40. Symbolic for its time |
| 26 Down | 41. Shoe company with an iconic checkerboard design |
| 27 Down | 42. Descendant |
| 28 Down | 43. Apple: Fr. |
| 29 Down | 44. Is without |
| 30 Down | 47. Rabid in appearance |
| 31 Down | 50. Woman's nickname that sounds like two letters |
| 32 Down | 51. Rice-A-___ |
| 33 Down | 52. "Borderlands" director ___ Roth |
| 34 Down | 53. Hiding place |
| 35 Down | 55. Gene pools? |
| 36 Down | 57. Org. with its own alphabet |
| 37 Down | 61. Abbr. not found on most smartphones |
| 38 Down | 63. "Aren't ___ lucky one?!" |
| 39 Down | 66. It has a lot of secretaries |
| 40 Down | 67. Shirt collar stiffener |
| 41 Down | 69. Where to find six "presents" in this puzzle? |
| 42 Down | 71. Knock 'em dead |
| 43 Down | 72. Coolidge who sang the theme for "Octopussy" |
| 44 Down | 73. Just getting started with |
| 45 Down | 74. Green shade |
| 46 Down | 75. What Joe Montana was in the '80s |
| 47 Down | 76. A TD scores six of these |
| 48 Down | 77. "Fancy, that!" |
| 49 Down | 78. Prickly denizen of coral reefs |
| 50 Down | 80. Famed lawyer in the 1925 Scopes Monkey Trial |
| 51 Down | 81. Most minimal |
| 52 Down | 84. Some Korean exports |
| 53 Down | 86. Calmed deceptively |
| 54 Down | 88. Baseball slugger's stat |
| 55 Down | 90. Bird used to deliver messages on "Game of Thrones" |
| 56 Down | 92. Blueprints |
| 57 Down | 97. Author Zora Neale ___ |
| 58 Down | 98. Noodled on, with "over" |
| 59 Down | 100. Girlfriend in "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" |
| 60 Down | 101. Informant |
| 61 Down | 103. "Ta-ta!" |
| 62 Down | 104. Tricky pool shot |
| 63 Down | 106. Someone enjoying a walk in the park |
| 64 Down | 108. Mentally with it |
| 65 Down | 109. ___ four |
| 66 Down | 110. Fits one inside the other |
| 67 Down | 112. Porcine : pigs :: cervine : ___ |
| 68 Down | 113. Essential |
| 69 Down | 117. It might be good for a change |
| 70 Down | 119. One who knows the drill?: Abbr. |
| 71 Down | 120. Teslas, e.g., for short |
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 26 2021 NYT Clues Solutions
- March 21 2023 NYT Clues Solutions
- March 26 2021 NYT Clues Solutions
- April 10 2021 NYT Clues Solutions
Complete Down Solutions:
1 Down: "1. Make furious"
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
- Similar words: steamer, steam clean
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: water at boiling temperature diffused in the atmosphere
- This is Down clue number 1
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
STEAM
2 Down: "2. "The Family Circus" cartoonist Bil ___"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'K' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: K___E
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 2
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
KEANE
3 Down: "3. Tennis line judge's ruling"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 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 3
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ITSIN
4 Down: "4. Duke Ellington classic with the lyric "That was my heart serenading you""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 14 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'P' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: P____________S
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 4
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
PRELUDETOAKISS
5 Down: "5. West side of L.A.?"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'L' and ends with 'S'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 5
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
LOS
6 Down: "6. "Is there still time for me to join you?""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 7 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 6
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
AMILATE
7 Down: "7. 51 to the hour"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 8 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'N' and ends with 'T'
- Word pattern: N______T
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 7
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
NINEPAST
8 Down: "8. Stage direction"
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
- Similar words: embark, participate
- Opposite of: exit
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: to come or go into
- This is Down clue number 8
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ENTER
9 Down: "9. Phillipa of Broadway"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'O'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 9
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SOO
10 Down: "10. Grammy winner Erykah"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'B' and ends with 'U'
- Word pattern: B__U
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 10
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
BADU
11 Down: "11. ___ Gorman, "The Hill We Climb" poet"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'A'
- Word pattern: A____A
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 11
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
AMANDA
12 Down: "12. Copy"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'M' and ends with 'R'
- Word pattern: M____R
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: polished surface that forms images by reflecting light
- This is Down clue number 12
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
MIRROR
13 Down: "13. Iced-tea-and-lemonade refreshments"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 13 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: A___________S
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 13
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ARNOLDPALMERS
14 Down: "14. Spending romp"
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
- Similar words: fling
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a brief indulgence of your impulses
- This is Down clue number 14
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SPREE
15 Down: "15. Output of certain mining"
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: ore
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 15
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ORES
16 Down: "16. Counterpart of a sub"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'D' and ends with 'M'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 16
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
DOM
17 Down: "17. Fast start?"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 12 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 17
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ASHWEDNESDAY
18 Down: "18. Father, familiarly"
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 18
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
OLDMAN
19 Down: "19. Mentally overpower, with "out""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'P' and ends with 'H'
- Word pattern: P___H
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 19
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
PSYCH
20 Down: "28. Like most moccasins"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 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 20
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SLIPON
21 Down: "29. Great Dane of cartoons, informally"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'B'
- Word pattern: S___B
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 21
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SCOOB
22 Down: "33. More livid"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'I' and ends with 'R'
- Word pattern: I____R
- Similar words: irate, ireful
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: feeling or showing extreme anger
- This is Down clue number 22
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
IRATER
23 Down: "37. Keister, in Leicester"
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
- Similar words: rear, tush
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: the fleshy part of the human body that you sit on
- This is Down clue number 23
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ARSE
24 Down: "39. 2015 chart-topping hit for the Weeknd"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 14 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'C' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: C____________E
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 24
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
CANTFEELMYFACE
25 Down: "40. Symbolic for its time"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 7 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 25
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
OFANERA
26 Down: "41. Shoe company with an iconic checkerboard design"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'V' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: V__S
- Similar words: van, new wave
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 26
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
VANS
27 Down: "42. Descendant"
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
- Definition: a descendent or heir
- This is Down clue number 27
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SCION
28 Down: "43. Apple: Fr."
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
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 28
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
POMME
29 Down: "44. Is without"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'H' and ends with 'T'
- Word pattern: H___T
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 29
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
HASNT
30 Down: "47. Rabid in appearance"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 8 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'F' and ends with 'G'
- Word pattern: F______G
- Similar words: form bubbles, fizz
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: become bubbly or frothy or foaming
- This is Down clue number 30
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
FROTHING
31 Down: "50. Woman's nickname that sounds like two letters"
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 31
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
EVIE
32 Down: "51. Rice-A-___"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'R' and ends with 'I'
- Word pattern: R__I
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 32
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
RONI
33 Down: "52. "Borderlands" director ___ Roth"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'E' and ends with 'I'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 33
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ELI
34 Down: "53. Hiding place"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'D' and ends with 'N'
- Similar words: hideaway, hideout
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: the habitation of wild animals
- This is Down clue number 34
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
DEN
35 Down: "55. Gene pools?"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 8 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'D' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: D______S
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 35
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
DNABANKS
36 Down: "57. Org. with its own alphabet"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'N' and ends with 'O'
- Word pattern: N__O
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 36
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
NATO
37 Down: "61. Abbr. not found on most smartphones"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'O' and ends with 'R'
- Word pattern: O__R
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 37
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
OPER
38 Down: "63. "Aren't ___ lucky one?!""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 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 38
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ITHE
39 Down: "66. It has a lot of secretaries"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 7 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'C' and ends with 'T'
- Word pattern: C_____T
- Similar words: locker, console
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 39
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
CABINET
40 Down: "67. Shirt collar stiffener"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'Y'
- Word pattern: S__Y
- Similar words: stick, remain
- Opposite of: depart
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: continuing or remaining in a place or state
- This is Down clue number 40
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
STAY
41 Down: "69. Where to find six "presents" in this puzzle?"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 12 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'U' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: U__________E
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 41
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
UNDERTHETREE
42 Down: "71. Knock 'em dead"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'Y'
- Word pattern: S__Y
- Similar words: dispatch, hit
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: kill intentionally and with premeditation
- This is Down clue number 42
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SLAY
43 Down: "72. Coolidge who sang the theme for "Octopussy""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'R' and ends with 'A'
- Word pattern: R__A
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 43
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
RITA
44 Down: "73. Just getting started with"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'N' and ends with 'T'
- Word pattern: N___T
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 44
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
NEWAT
45 Down: "74. Green shade"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'O' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: O___E
- Similar words: Olea europaea
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 45
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
OLIVE
46 Down: "75. What Joe Montana was in the '80s"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'N' and ends with 'R'
- Word pattern: N___R
- Similar words: ennead, IX
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: the cardinal number that is the sum of eight and one
- This is Down clue number 46
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
NINER
47 Down: "76. A TD scores six of these"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'P' and ends with 'S'
- Similar words: platinum, Pt
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 47
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
PTS
48 Down: "77. "Fancy, that!""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'O' and ends with 'H'
- Similar words: aah
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: express admiration and pleasure by uttering `ooh' or `aah'
- This is Down clue number 48
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
OOH
49 Down: "78. Prickly denizen of coral reefs"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 13 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'P' and ends with 'H'
- Word pattern: P___________H
- Similar words: porcupine fish, Diodon hystrix
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 49
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
PORCUPINEFISH
50 Down: "80. Famed lawyer in the 1925 Scopes Monkey Trial"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 14 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'C' and ends with 'W'
- Word pattern: C____________W
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 50
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
CLARENCEDARROW
51 Down: "81. Most minimal"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'B' and ends with 'T'
- Word pattern: B____T
- Similar words: simple, scanty
- Opposite of: sheathed
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: completely unclothed
- This is Down clue number 51
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
BAREST
52 Down: "84. Some Korean exports"
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 52
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
KIAS
53 Down: "86. Calmed deceptively"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'L' and ends with 'D'
- Word pattern: L____D
- Similar words: calm, tranquilize
- Opposite of: agitate
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: calm by deception
- This is Down clue number 53
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
LULLED
54 Down: "88. Baseball slugger's stat"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'R' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: R__S
- Similar words: rbi, run batted in
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a run that is the result of the batter's performance
- This is Down clue number 54
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
RBIS
55 Down: "90. Bird used to deliver messages on "Game of Thrones""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'R' and ends with 'N'
- Word pattern: R___N
- Similar words: Corvus corax, predate
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 55
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
RAVEN
56 Down: "92. Blueprints"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 8 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'A'
- Word pattern: S______A
- Similar words: scheme, schema
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 56
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SCHEMATA
57 Down: "97. Author Zora Neale ___"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 7 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 57
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
HURSTON
58 Down: "98. Noodled on, with "over""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'M' and ends with 'D'
- Word pattern: M____D
- Similar words: reflect, think over
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: reflect deeply on a subject
- This is Down clue number 58
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
MULLED
59 Down: "100. Girlfriend in "Ferris Bueller's Day Off""
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 59
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SLOANE
60 Down: "101. Informant"
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
- Similar words: author, rootage
- Opposite of: sink
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: the place where something begins
- This is Down clue number 60
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SOURCE
61 Down: "103. "Ta-ta!""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 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 61
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SEEYA
62 Down: "104. Tricky pool shot"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'M' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: M___E
- Similar words: masse shot
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 62
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
MASSE
63 Down: "106. Someone enjoying a walk in the park"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'H' and ends with 'R'
- Word pattern: H___R
- Similar words: tramper, tramp
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 63
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
HIKER
64 Down: "108. Mentally with it"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'P'
- Word pattern: S___P
- Similar words: shrill, precipitous
- Opposite of: dull
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 64
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SHARP
65 Down: "109. ___ four"
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
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 65
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
PETIT
66 Down: "110. Fits one inside the other"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'N' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: N___S
- Similar words: nestle, cuddle
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 66
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
NESTS
67 Down: "112. Porcine : pigs :: cervine : ___"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'D' and ends with 'R'
- Word pattern: D__R
- Similar words: cervid
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 67
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
DEER
68 Down: "113. Essential"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'N' and ends with 'D'
- Word pattern: N__D
- Similar words: necessitate, call for
- Opposite of: obviate
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a condition requiring relief
- This is Down clue number 68
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
NEED
69 Down: "117. It might be good for a change"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'D' and ends with 'E'
- Similar words: dyestuff
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 69
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
DYE
70 Down: "119. One who knows the drill?: Abbr."
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'T'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 70
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SGT
71 Down: "120. Teslas, e.g., for short"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'E' and ends with 'S'
- Similar words: electron volt, eV
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 71
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
EVS
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 71 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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