All NYT Down Clues December 09, 2025 - 39 Vertical Answers with Hints
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: Tuesday NYT Mini Crossword Answers | July 22 2019 NYT Clues Solutions | May 11 2023 NYT Clues Solutions |
About Today's Down Clues
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Date | December 09, 2025 |
| Day of Week | Tuesday |
| Total Down Clues | 39 clues |
| Direction | Vertical (Top to Bottom) |
| Difficulty | Tricky |
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. Computing pioneer Lovelace |
| 2 Down | 2. Argue |
| 3 Down | 3. Neutralized, as an explosive situation |
| 4 Down | 4. Launch |
| 5 Down | 5. Org. in charge of school fund-raisers |
| 6 Down | 6. One who might ask "Fair dinkum?" |
| 7 Down | 7. Like some minor celebrities |
| 8 Down | 8. Asahi Super Dry or Kirin Lager |
| 9 Down | 9. Org. that oversees air quality initiatives |
| 10 Down | 10. Bit in a round of "He loves me, he loves me not" |
| 11 Down | 11. Professor ___ (title for some retirees) |
| 12 Down | 12. Light lager |
| 13 Down | 13. The Cards, on scoreboards |
| 14 Down | 18. Cover letter accompaniment |
| 15 Down | 19. Mardi Gras city, informally |
| 16 Down | 23. Poke |
| 17 Down | 24. Music app named for a figure in Greek myth |
| 18 Down | 25. Pigmented rings |
| 19 Down | 26. Part of L.G.B.T.Q.+ |
| 20 Down | 32. "By Jove, that's it!" |
| 21 Down | 33. 33-Across, across the Atlantic |
| 22 Down | 34. Web portal launched with Windows 95 |
| 23 Down | 36. Malfunctions in the Matrix, in "The Matrix" |
| 24 Down | 37. Sound of a sad trombone |
| 25 Down | 38. Many an animated meme loop |
| 26 Down | 39. To date |
| 27 Down | 40. Silverback, for one |
| 28 Down | 43. Built to last |
| 29 Down | 44. Give for safekeeping |
| 30 Down | 45. "How stupid of me!" |
| 31 Down | 47. "Edie & ___: A Very Long Engagement" (2009 documentary) |
| 32 Down | 48. Bring into harmony |
| 33 Down | 51. With a wink, say |
| 34 Down | 52. Smooths (out) |
| 35 Down | 53. On a regular basis |
| 36 Down | 57. Special ___ |
| 37 Down | 58. "J to ___ L-O! The Remixes" (2002 Jennifer Lopez album) |
| 38 Down | 59. One of the four fundamental states of matter |
| 39 Down | 60. Some Ph.D. students |
Detailed Hints and Answers for All Down Clues
Need help? Here are comprehensive hints and answers for each Down clue. Also check these helpful guides:
- September 07 2022 NYT Clues Solutions
- Todays 55 NYT Mini October 06 2025
- Tuesday NYT Mini Crossword Answers
- August 24 2021 NYT Clues Solutions
Complete Down Solutions:
1 Down: "1. Computing pioneer Lovelace"
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 1
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ADA
2 Down: "2. Argue"
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: difference, gainsay
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a disagreement or argument about something important
- This is Down clue number 2
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
DISPUTE
3 Down: "3. Neutralized, as an explosive situation"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 7 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'D' and ends with 'D'
- Word pattern: D_____D
- Similar words: defuse
- Opposite of: fuse
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: remove the triggering device from
- This is Down clue number 3
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
DEFUSED
4 Down: "4. Launch"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'T'
- Word pattern: S___T
- Similar words: embark on, go
- Opposite of: stop
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: the beginning of anything
- This is Down clue number 4
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
START
5 Down: "5. Org. in charge of school fund-raisers"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'P' and ends with 'A'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 5
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
PTA
6 Down: "6. One who might ask "Fair dinkum?""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: A____E
- Similar words: Australian
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a native or inhabitant of Australia
- This is Down clue number 6
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
AUSSIE
7 Down: "7. Like some minor celebrities"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'D' and ends with 'T'
- Word pattern: D___T
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 7
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
DLIST
8 Down: "8. Asahi Super Dry or Kirin Lager"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 8 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'R' and ends with 'R'
- Word pattern: R______R
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 8
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
RICEBEER
9 Down: "9. Org. that oversees air quality initiatives"
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 9
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
EPA
10 Down: "10. Bit in a round of "He loves me, he loves me not""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'P' and ends with 'L'
- Word pattern: P___L
- Similar words: flower petal
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: part of the perianth that is usually brightly colored
- This is Down clue number 10
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
PETAL
11 Down: "11. Professor ___ (title for some retirees)"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 7 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 11
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
EMERITA
12 Down: "12. Light lager"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 7 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'P' and ends with 'R'
- Word pattern: P_____R
- Similar words: Pilsener
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 12
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
PILSNER
13 Down: "13. The Cards, on scoreboards"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'L'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 13
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
STL
14 Down: "18. Cover letter accompaniment"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'R' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: R____E
- Similar words: re-start, restart
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: short descriptive summary (of events)
- This is Down clue number 14
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
RESUME
15 Down: "19. Mardi Gras city, informally"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'N' and ends with 'A'
- Word pattern: N__A
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 15
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
NOLA
16 Down: "23. Poke"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'J' and ends with 'B'
- Similar words: prod, thrusting
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a sharp hand gesture (resembling a blow)
- This is Down clue number 16
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
JAB
17 Down: "24. Music app named for a figure in Greek myth"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 7 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 17
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
PANDORA
18 Down: "25. Pigmented rings"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 7 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: A_____S
- Similar words: ring of color, areola
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 18
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
AREOLAS
19 Down: "26. Part of L.G.B.T.Q.+"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'G' and ends with 'Y'
- Similar words: homosexual, mirthful
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 19
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
GAY
20 Down: "32. "By Jove, that's it!""
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 20
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
AHA
21 Down: "33. 33-Across, across the Atlantic"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'Z' and ends with 'D'
- Similar words: z, zee
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: the 26th letter of the Roman alphabet
- This is Down clue number 21
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ZED
22 Down: "34. Web portal launched with Windows 95"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'M' and ends with 'N'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 22
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
MSN
23 Down: "36. Malfunctions in the Matrix, in "The Matrix""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 8 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'G' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: G______S
- Similar words: bug, glitch
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a fault or defect in a computer program
- This is Down clue number 23
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
GLITCHES
24 Down: "37. Sound of a sad trombone"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'W' and ends with 'H'
- Word pattern: W____H
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 24
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
WAHWAH
25 Down: "38. Many an animated meme loop"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'G' and ends with 'F'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 25
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
GIF
26 Down: "39. To date"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 7 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'W'
- Word pattern: A_____W
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 26
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ASOFNOW
27 Down: "40. Silverback, for one"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 7 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'G' and ends with 'A'
- Word pattern: G_____A
- Similar words: Gorilla gorilla
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 27
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
GORILLA
28 Down: "43. Built to last"
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: long-lasting, lasting
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: existing for a long time
- This is Down clue number 28
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
DURABLE
29 Down: "44. Give for safekeeping"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 7 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'E' and ends with 'T'
- Word pattern: E_____T
- Similar words: confide, leave
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: confer a trust upon
- This is Down clue number 29
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ENTRUST
30 Down: "45. "How stupid of me!""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'D' and ends with 'H'
- Similar words: ut, do
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 30
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
DOH
31 Down: "47. "Edie & ___: A Very Long Engagement" (2009 documentary)"
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: Theia
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 31
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
THEA
32 Down: "48. Bring into harmony"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: A____E
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: adjust or accustom to; bring into harmony with
- This is Down clue number 32
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ATTUNE
33 Down: "51. With a wink, say"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'W' and ends with 'Y'
- Word pattern: W___Y
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: in a wry manner
- This is Down clue number 33
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
WRYLY
34 Down: "52. Smooths (out)"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'I' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: I___S
- Similar words: press, branding iron
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: metal shackles; for hands or legs
- This is Down clue number 34
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
IRONS
35 Down: "53. On a regular basis"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'O' and ends with 'N'
- Word pattern: O___N
- Similar words: much, ofttimes
- Opposite of: infrequently
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: many times at short intervals
- This is Down clue number 35
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
OFTEN
36 Down: "57. Special ___"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'O' and ends with 'S'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 36
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
OPS
37 Down: "58. "J to ___ L-O! The Remixes" (2002 Jennifer Lopez album)"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'T' and ends with 'A'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 37
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
THA
38 Down: "59. One of the four fundamental states of matter"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'G' and ends with 'S'
- Similar words: gaseous state, shoot a line
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 38
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
GAS
39 Down: "60. Some Ph.D. students"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'T' and ends with 'S'
- Similar words: tantalum, Ta
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 39
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
TAS
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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