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Saturday, December 13, 2025

XWordHint Crossword Answers December 13, 2025 | Expert Breakdown & Tips

Master today's NYT crossword with our expert hint system. We provide synonyms, antonyms, and strategic clues to help you solve without spoiling the fun. Perfect for crossword lovers who want that satisfying "aha!" moment.

Quick Navigation - Table of Contents

Today's Puzzle Difficulty: Tricky

Pro Tip: Start with the fill-in-the-blank clues - they're usually the easiest entry points!

Across Clues - Complete List

No. Clue Letters
1A 1. Possible turnoff on a first date 9
2A 10. Spicy shellfish dish 11
3A 12. Yellow 5 and Red 40, for two 13
4A 14. City SE of Chicago 4
5A 15. "Cool beans!" 5
6A 16. Grub 4
7A 18. "Knowing" without really knowing, for short 3
8A 19. Shade of the gay pride triangle 7
9A 21. Cry in many a horror film 3
10A 22. Actress Birch of "Hocus Pocus" 5
11A 24. Robert Byrd was one for 51 years: Abbr. 3
12A 25. Abstain from 5
13A 27. Philippic 6
14A 29. Connect to the internet via mobile hotspot, as a device 6
15A 30. Subs 7
16A 32. Home heating component 7
17A 33. Dub 7
18A 34. Board of creatives? 7
19A 35. Countenance 4
20A 36. Ready to dive in, say 5
21A 38. Streamlet 4
22A 39. Ticker tape?: Abbr. 3
23A 40. First, second or third 7
24A 42. "___ won't!" 3
25A 43. Shift shape 5
26A 45. They travel through tubes 3
27A 46. "Dang it!" 5
28A 48. Gluttonous request ... or what this puzzle has vis-à-vis the possible answer lengths? 15
29A 51. Obtain 6
30A 52. Morning prayer 6
31A 53. Doorbell sounds 5
32A 54. Weapon that killed Medusa, in myth 5

Across Clues - Strategic Hints

1A: "1. Possible turnoff on a first date"

9 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BADBREATH

Remember this word for future puzzles!

2A: "10. Spicy shellfish dish"

11 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ___________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CURRIEDCRAB

Remember this word for future puzzles!

3A: "12. Yellow 5 and Red 40, for two"

13 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _____________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FOODADDITIVES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

4A: "14. City SE of Chicago"

4 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a city in northwest indiana on lake michigan; steel production
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GARY

Remember this word for future puzzles!

5A: "15. "Cool beans!""

5 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NEATO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

6A: "16. Grub"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that informal terms for a meal
  • Similar words include: wipe out, feed, eat on
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EATS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

7A: "18. "Knowing" without really knowing, for short"

3 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that apparent power to perceive things that are not present to the senses
  • Similar words include: clairvoyance, second sight, E.S.P.
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ESP

Remember this word for future puzzles!

8A: "19. Shade of the gay pride triangle"

7 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HOTPINK

Remember this word for future puzzles!

9A: "21. Cry in many a horror film"

3 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a score in baseball made by a runner touching all four bases safely
  • Similar words include: extend, running play, prevail
  • Opposite of: idle, malfunction
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RUN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

10A: "22. Actress Birch of "Hocus Pocus""

5 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: THORA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

11A: "24. Robert Byrd was one for 51 years: Abbr."

3 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a fractional monetary unit of japan and indonesia and cambodia; equal to one hundredth of a yen or rupiah or riel
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SEN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

12A: "25. Abstain from"

5 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NOTDO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

13A: "27. Philippic"

6 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a speech of violent denunciation
  • Similar words include: philippic, broadside
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TIRADE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

14A: "29. Connect to the internet via mobile hotspot, as a device"

6 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that restraint consisting of a rope (or light chain) used to restrain an animal
  • Similar words include: lead, leash
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TETHER

Remember this word for future puzzles!

15A: "30. Subs"

7 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a large sandwich made of a long crusty roll split lengthwise and filled with meats and cheese (and tomato and onion and lettuce and condiments); different names are used in different sections of the united states
  • Similar words include: torpedo, poor boy, submarine
  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HOAGIES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

16A: "32. Home heating component"

7 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OILTANK

Remember this word for future puzzles!

17A: "33. Dub"

7 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that give the right to
  • Similar words include: ennoble, title, gentle
  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ENTITLE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

18A: "34. Board of creatives?"

7 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the range of colour characteristic of a particular artist or painting or school of art
  • Similar words include: pallet, pallette
  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PALETTE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

19A: "35. Countenance"

4 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that dignified manner or conduct
  • Similar words include: comportment, bearing, presence
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MIEN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

20A: "36. Ready to dive in, say"

5 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a high wave (often dangerous) caused by tidal flow (as by colliding tidal currents or in a narrow estuary)
  • Similar words include: aegir, bore, eagre
  • Opposite of: uneager
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EAGER

Remember this word for future puzzles!

21A: "38. Streamlet"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a small stream
  • Similar words include: rivulet, run, runnel
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RILL

Remember this word for future puzzles!

22A: "39. Ticker tape?: Abbr."

3 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a graphical recording of the cardiac cycle produced by an electrocardiograph
  • Similar words include: electrocardiogram, cardiogram, EKG
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ECG

Remember this word for future puzzles!

23A: "40. First, second or third"

7 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the number designating place in an ordered sequence
  • Similar words include: ordinal number, no.
  • Opposite of: cardinal
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ORDINAL

Remember this word for future puzzles!

24A: "42. "___ won't!""

3 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NOI

Remember this word for future puzzles!

25A: "43. Shift shape"

5 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that cause to change shape in a computer animation
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MORPH

Remember this word for future puzzles!

26A: "45. They travel through tubes"

3 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the female reproductive cell; the female gamete
  • Similar words include: ovum, egg cell
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OVA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

27A: "46. "Dang it!""

5 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AWMAN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

28A: "48. Gluttonous request ... or what this puzzle has vis-à-vis the possible answer lengths?"

15 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _______________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ONEOFEVERYTHING

Remember this word for future puzzles!

29A: "51. Obtain"

6 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that get by special effort
  • Similar words include: guarantee, unattackable, safe
  • Opposite of: insecure, unfasten
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SECURE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

30A: "52. Morning prayer"

6 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the first canonical hour; at daybreak
  • Similar words include: morning prayer
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MATINS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

31A: "53. Doorbell sounds"

5 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the basic unit of money in vietnam
  • Similar words include: dong, dingdong, ding
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DONGS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

32A: "54. Weapon that killed Medusa, in myth"

5 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a cutting or thrusting weapon that has a long metal blade and a hilt with a hand guard
  • Similar words include: steel, blade, brand
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SWORD

Remember this word for future puzzles!

Down Clues - Complete List

No. Clue Letters
1D 1. Harbor bobber 4
2D 2. Wiz end? 3
3D 3. Alternative to a snake 5
4D 4. Fancy hotel amenities 6
5D 5. Orangutan, by another name 6
6D 6. Include later, as video footage 6
7D 7. Heed 5
8D 8. Part of TNT 3
9D 9. Order at a restaurant 4
10D 10. Creator of some bubbles 14
11D 11. "Remember ..." 14
12D 12. Audrey Hepburn and Princess Diana, for two 12
13D 13. Some of them may be forgiven 12
14D 14. Be looped in 10
15D 17. School viewing? 10
16D 19. Lost all patience 5
17D 20. Mourning peal 5
18D 23. ___ Cajun (Creole sauce with a rhyming name) 5
19D 26. Cousin of a wolverine 5
20D 28. Pot user? 5
21D 29. Article of regalia worn by both Elizabeth II and Pope Paul VI 5
22D 31. Birds also known as "little auks" 8
23D 32. Sign of good reception? 8
24D 37. Present 4
25D 40. "Well, whoop-de-doo!" 5
26D 41. Rapper with the 2022 hit "Big Energy" 5
27D 44. Not mucho 4
28D 47. Sound from fans 4
29D 49. A little work 3
30D 50. Pitch, roll and ___ (rotations along the three-dimensional axes) 3

Down Clues - Strategic Hints

1D: "1. Harbor bobber"

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that bright-colored; a float attached by rope to the seabed to mark channels in a harbor or underwater hazards
  • Similar words include: buoy up
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BUOY

Remember this word for future puzzles!

2D: "2. Wiz end?"

3 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ARD

Remember this word for future puzzles!

3D: "3. Alternative to a snake"

5 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DRANO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

4D: "4. Fancy hotel amenities"

6 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a basin for washing genitals and anal area
  • Similar words include: bidet
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BIDETS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

5D: "5. Orangutan, by another name"

6 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: REDAPE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

6D: "6. Include later, as video footage"

6 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EDITIN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

7D: "7. Heed"

5 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ACTON

Remember this word for future puzzles!

8D: "8. Part of TNT"

3 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TRI

Remember this word for future puzzles!

9D: "9. Order at a restaurant"

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a person who possesses great material wealth
  • Similar words include: own, cause, take
  • Opposite of: refuse, lack
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HAVE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

10D: "10. Creator of some bubbles"

14 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ______________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CORPORATEGREED

Remember this word for future puzzles!

11D: "11. "Remember ...""

14 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ______________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BEARTHATINMIND

Remember this word for future puzzles!

12D: "12. Audrey Hepburn and Princess Diana, for two"

12 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ____________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FASHIONICONS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

13D: "13. Some of them may be forgiven"

12 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ____________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: STUDENTLOANS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

14D: "14. Be looped in"

10 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GETTHEMEMO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

15D: "17. School viewing?"

10 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that skin diving with a snorkel
  • Similar words include: snorkel diving, snorkel
  • Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SNORKELING

Remember this word for future puzzles!

16D: "19. Lost all patience"

5 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HADIT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

17D: "20. Mourning peal"

5 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the sound of a bell rung slowly to announce a death or a funeral or the end of something
  • Similar words include: ring
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: KNELL

Remember this word for future puzzles!

18D: "23. ___ Cajun (Creole sauce with a rhyming name)"

5 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RAGIN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

19D: "26. Cousin of a wolverine"

5 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the fur of an otter
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OTTER

Remember this word for future puzzles!

20D: "28. Pot user?"

5 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EELER

Remember this word for future puzzles!

21D: "29. Article of regalia worn by both Elizabeth II and Pope Paul VI"

5 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a jeweled headdress worn by women on formal occasions
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TIARA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

22D: "31. Birds also known as "little auks""

8 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SEADOVES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

23D: "32. Sign of good reception?"

8 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OPENARMS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

24D: "37. Present"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the elasticity of something that can be stretched and returns to its original length
  • Similar words include: springiness, spring, collapse
  • Opposite of: starve, take
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GIVE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

25D: "40. "Well, whoop-de-doo!""

5 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OHFUN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

26D: "41. Rapper with the 2022 hit "Big Energy""

5 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LATTO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

27D: "44. Not mucho"

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: POCO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

28D: "47. Sound from fans"

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that sound of something in rapid motion
  • Similar words include: birr, whiz, purr
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: WHIR

Remember this word for future puzzles!

29D: "49. A little work"

3 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a cgs unit of work or energy; the work done by a force of one dyne acting over a distance of one centimeter
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ERG

Remember this word for future puzzles!

30D: "50. Pitch, roll and ___ (rotations along the three-dimensional axes)"

3 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an erratic deflection from an intended course
  • Similar words include: gape, swerve, yawn
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: YAW

Remember this word for future puzzles!

Expert Solving Strategies

Start Smart

Begin with fill-in-the-blank clues and short 3-4 letter words. These are your foundation.

Decode the Clues

Question marks indicate wordplay or puns. "Maybe" suggests multiple interpretations.

Use Cross-References

Let intersecting letters guide you. One correct answer unlocks several others.

Build Vocabulary

Common crossword words repeat. Learning them speeds up future solving.

Today's Puzzle Stats

32 Across Clues
30 Down Clues
62 Total Clues

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Last updated: December 13, 2025 at 03:59 AM

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