NYT Down Today December 23, 2025: Complete Vertical Clues Walkthrough
Quick Summary: Today's NYT Crossword has 39 Down clues. We have all the vertical answers plus helpful hints to make solving easier!
Related Puzzles: September 11 2019 NYT Clues Solutions | December 11 2019 NYT Clues Solutions | January 04 2023 NYT Clues Solutions |
About Today's Down Clues
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Date | December 23, 2025 |
| Day of Week | Tuesday |
| Total Down Clues | 39 clues |
| Direction | Vertical (Top to Bottom) |
| Difficulty | Medium |
All Down Clues - Complete List
Here are all 39 Down clues for today's puzzle. These go vertically from top to bottom.
| Number | Clue |
|---|---|
| 1 Down | 1. Sgt. or cpl. |
| 2 Down | 2. Go off a ski jump, say |
| 3 Down | 3. "Oh, really?" |
| 4 Down | 4. Tried to identify, in a way, as a wrapped gift |
| 5 Down | 5. Playground retort |
| 6 Down | 6. 1990s internet option |
| 7 Down | 7. With all judges present |
| 8 Down | 8. ___ de Rossi, "Arrested Development" actress |
| 9 Down | 9. Aspen or pine |
| 10 Down | 10. Reporter's big get |
| 11 Down | 11. Just for grins |
| 12 Down | 12. Short version of an impactful story |
| 13 Down | 13. Org. regulating water safety |
| 14 Down | 21. Insect that emerges en masse every 13 or 17 years |
| 15 Down | 22. Kind of salad whose dressing contains anchovies |
| 16 Down | 23. Former N.B.A. star Shawn with the nickname "Reign Man" |
| 17 Down | 26. Nailed, as a test |
| 18 Down | 29. "Once ___ a time ..." |
| 19 Down | 30. Character played by Bruce Lee on "The Green Hornet" |
| 20 Down | 33. ___ Finn |
| 21 Down | 35. One of three on the pitchfork in "American Gothic" |
| 22 Down | 37. Big Apple org. that's going to blazes? |
| 23 Down | 38. Flat-bottomed boat |
| 24 Down | 40. "That's correct!" |
| 25 Down | 41. Resident of Pisa or Lucca |
| 26 Down | 42. Condition that may require an inhaler |
| 27 Down | 43. Get more than a little mad |
| 28 Down | 46. Like many a dress shirt, with "in" |
| 29 Down | 47. Top execs, colloquially ... or what 20-, 28-, 39- and 59-Across are, phonetically? |
| 30 Down | 48. Make negative remarks about |
| 31 Down | 50. Not on the up and up, slangily |
| 32 Down | 51. In a fitting way |
| 33 Down | 52. Breaks (into), as a computer system |
| 34 Down | 53. Middle name for Lennon starting in 1969 |
| 35 Down | 56. "Escape (The ___ Colada Song)" |
| 36 Down | 58. Sign of peace |
| 37 Down | 60. Sallie or Fannie follower |
| 38 Down | 61. Hand-y communication method, for short? |
| 39 Down | 62. Drink slowly |
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:
- Xwordhint Crossword Answers September_23
- December 05 2019 NYT Clues Solutions
- April 30 2022 NYT Clues Solutions
- April 08 2020 NYT Clues Solutions
Complete Down Solutions:
1 Down: "1. Sgt. or cpl."
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'N' and ends with 'O'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 1
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
NCO
2 Down: "2. Go off a ski jump, say"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 8 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'C' and ends with 'R'
- Word pattern: C______R
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 2
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
CATCHAIR
3 Down: "3. "Oh, really?""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 8 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 3
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ISTHATSO
4 Down: "4. Tried to identify, in a way, as a wrapped gift"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'K'
- Word pattern: S___K
- Similar words: agitate, stimulate
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 4
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SHOOK
5 Down: "5. Playground retort"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'O'
- Word pattern: A__O
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 5
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
AMSO
6 Down: "6. 1990s internet option"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'D' and ends with 'P'
- Word pattern: D____P
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 6
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
DIALUP
7 Down: "7. With all judges present"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'E' and ends with 'C'
- Word pattern: E____C
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 7
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ENBANC
8 Down: "8. ___ de Rossi, "Arrested Development" actress"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'P' and ends with 'A'
- Word pattern: P____A
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 8
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
PORTIA
9 Down: "9. Aspen or pine"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'T' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: T__E
- Similar words: corner, shoetree
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 9
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
TREE
10 Down: "10. Reporter's big get"
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: exclusive, goop
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: the quantity a scoop will hold
- This is Down clue number 10
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SCOOP
11 Down: "11. Just for grins"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 8 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 11
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ALLINFUN
12 Down: "12. Short version of an impactful story"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 8 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'V' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: V______E
- Similar words: sketch
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a brief literary description
- This is Down clue number 12
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
VIGNETTE
13 Down: "13. Org. regulating water safety"
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 13
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
EPA
14 Down: "21. Insect that emerges en masse every 13 or 17 years"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'C' and ends with 'A'
- Word pattern: C____A
- Similar words: cicala
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 14
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
CICADA
15 Down: "22. Kind of salad whose dressing contains anchovies"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'C' and ends with 'R'
- Word pattern: C____R
- Similar words: Julius Caesar, Sidney Caesar
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: conqueror of Gaul and master of Italy (100-44 BC)
- This is Down clue number 15
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
CAESAR
16 Down: "23. Former N.B.A. star Shawn with the nickname "Reign Man""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'K' and ends with 'P'
- Word pattern: K__P
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 16
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
KEMP
17 Down: "26. Nailed, as a test"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'D'
- Word pattern: A__D
- Similar words: sail through, ace
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: succeed at easily
- This is Down clue number 17
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ACED
18 Down: "29. "Once ___ a time ...""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'U' and ends with 'N'
- Word pattern: U__N
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 18
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
UPON
19 Down: "30. Character played by Bruce Lee on "The Green Hornet""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'K' and ends with 'O'
- Word pattern: K__O
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 19
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
KATO
20 Down: "33. ___ Finn"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'H' and ends with 'K'
- Word pattern: H__K
- Similar words: huckaback
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 20
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
HUCK
21 Down: "35. One of three on the pitchfork in "American Gothic""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'T' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: T__E
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: prong on a fork or pitchfork or antler
- This is Down clue number 21
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
TINE
22 Down: "37. Big Apple org. that's going to blazes?"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'F' and ends with 'Y'
- Word pattern: F__Y
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 22
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
FDNY
23 Down: "38. Flat-bottomed boat"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'W'
- Word pattern: S__W
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: any of various flat-bottomed boats with sloping ends
- This is Down clue number 23
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SCOW
24 Down: "40. "That's correct!""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'Y' and ends with 'S'
- Opposite of: no
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: an affirmative
- This is Down clue number 24
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
YES
25 Down: "41. Resident of Pisa or Lucca"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'T' and ends with 'N'
- Word pattern: T____N
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a resident of Tuscany
- This is Down clue number 25
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
TUSCAN
26 Down: "42. Condition that may require an inhaler"
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
- Similar words: asthma attack
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 26
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ASTHMA
27 Down: "43. Get more than a little mad"
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 27
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SEERED
28 Down: "46. Like many a dress shirt, with "in""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'T' and ends with 'D'
- Word pattern: T____D
- Similar words: pucker, gather
- Opposite of: untucked
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: fit snugly into
- This is Down clue number 28
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
TUCKED
29 Down: "47. Top execs, colloquially ... or what 20-, 28-, 39- and 59-Across are, phonetically?"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 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 29
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
CSUITE
30 Down: "48. Make negative remarks about"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 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 30
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
HATEON
31 Down: "50. Not on the up and up, slangily"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'S'
- Similar words: genus Sus
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: type genus of the Suidae
- This is Down clue number 31
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SUS
32 Down: "51. In a fitting way"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'Y'
- Word pattern: A___Y
- Similar words: ably, competently
- Opposite of: incompetently
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: with competence; in a competent capable manner
- This is Down clue number 32
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
APTLY
33 Down: "52. Breaks (into), as a computer system"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'H' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: H___S
- Similar words: taxicab, plug
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: one who works hard at boring tasks
- This is Down clue number 33
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
HACKS
34 Down: "53. Middle name for Lennon starting in 1969"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'O' and ends with 'O'
- Similar words: Yoko Ono
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 34
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ONO
35 Down: "56. "Escape (The ___ Colada Song)""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'P' and ends with 'A'
- Word pattern: P__A
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 35
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
PINA
36 Down: "58. Sign of peace"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'D' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: D__E
- Similar words: peacenik, plunk
- Opposite of: hawk
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: any of numerous small pigeons
- This is Down clue number 36
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
DOVE
37 Down: "60. Sallie or Fannie follower"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'M' and ends with 'E'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 37
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
MAE
38 Down: "61. Hand-y communication method, for short?"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'L'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: the sign language used in the United States
- This is Down clue number 38
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ASL
39 Down: "62. Drink slowly"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'P'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a small drink
- This is Down clue number 39
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SIP
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 39 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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