Across Clues NYT December 20, 2025 - Today's Complete Horizontal Solutions
Quick Summary: Today's NYT Crossword has 32 Across clues. We have all the horizontal answers plus helpful hints to make solving easier!
Related Puzzles: May 12 2020 NYT Clues Solutions | August 03 2019 NYT Clues Solutions | August 11 2020 NYT Clues Solutions |
About Today's Across Clues
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Date | December 20, 2025 |
| Day of Week | Saturday |
| Total Across Clues | 32 clues |
| Direction | Horizontal (Left to Right) |
| Difficulty | Challenging |
All Across Clues - Complete List
Here are all 32 Across clues for today's puzzle. These go horizontally from left to right.
| Number | Clue |
|---|---|
| 1 Across | 1. Sampras rival during the 1990s |
| 2 Across | 7. Get on board |
| 3 Across | 13. Let off steam, perhaps |
| 4 Across | 14. Perry Como or Bing Crosby |
| 5 Across | 15. Frustrated and making poor decisions, informally |
| 6 Across | 16. #1 on Wired magazine's list of the 10 most influential video games of the 2010s |
| 7 Across | 17. "Aren't we all hoity-toity?!" |
| 8 Across | 19. Generate clippings, say |
| 9 Across | 20. First name in hog riding |
| 10 Across | 21. Established fact |
| 11 Across | 22. Let go of |
| 12 Across | 23. Body layer |
| 13 Across | 25. Events at which to release one's inner geek |
| 14 Across | 27. Makers of frightening but (thankfully) rare marine attacks |
| 15 Across | 29. Source of half the world's sugar during the late 1800s |
| 16 Across | 30. Higher power? |
| 17 Across | 31. They're stoked |
| 18 Across | 32. Word with blue or open |
| 19 Across | 33. Speak, as thou might |
| 20 Across | 34. Kind of beard that follows the jawline |
| 21 Across | 36. Dunderheaded |
| 22 Across | 40. "You ___?" |
| 23 Across | 41. Punted |
| 24 Across | 43. Foe of the Iroquois during the Beaver Wars |
| 25 Across | 44. Org. that's gone to the dogs? |
| 26 Across | 45. [womp, womp] |
| 27 Across | 47. Major magazine pieces |
| 28 Across | 49. Delicatessen offering |
| 29 Across | 50. Loser of the 2025 World Series |
| 30 Across | 51. Where to follow local customs, it's said |
| 31 Across | 52. Underhanded |
| 32 Across | 53. Beach shade |
Detailed Hints and Answers for All Across Clues
Need help? Here are comprehensive hints and answers for each Across clue. Also check these helpful guides:
- March 22 2023 NYT Clues Solutions
- Xwordhint Crossword Answers October 02
- NYT Mini Crossword Answers Today_13
- January 19 2023 NYT Clues Solutions
Complete Across Solutions:
1 Across: "1. Sampras rival during the 1990s"
Helpful hints for this Across clue:
- This word has 6 letters going left to right
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'I'
- Word pattern: A____I
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Across clue number 1
Answer: Click to reveal the Across answer
AGASSI
2 Across: "7. Get on board"
Helpful hints for this Across clue:
- This word has 6 letters going left to right
- It starts with 'E' and ends with 'K'
- Word pattern: E____K
- Similar words: ship, enter
- Opposite of: disembark
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: go on board
- This is Across clue number 2
Answer: Click to reveal the Across answer
EMBARK
3 Across: "13. Let off steam, perhaps"
Helpful hints for this Across clue:
- This word has 6 letters going left to right
- It starts with 'V' and ends with 'D'
- Word pattern: V____D
- Similar words: vent, air
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: give expression or utterance to
- This is Across clue number 3
Answer: Click to reveal the Across answer
VENTED
4 Across: "14. Perry Como or Bing Crosby"
Helpful hints for this Across clue:
- This word has 7 letters going left to right
- It starts with 'C' and ends with 'R'
- Word pattern: C_____R
- Similar words: balladeer
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a singer of popular ballads
- This is Across clue number 4
Answer: Click to reveal the Across answer
CROONER
5 Across: "15. Frustrated and making poor decisions, informally"
Helpful hints for this Across clue:
- This word has 6 letters going left to right
- It starts with 'O' and ends with 'T'
- Word pattern: O____T
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Across clue number 5
Answer: Click to reveal the Across answer
ONTILT
6 Across: "16. #1 on Wired magazine's list of the 10 most influential video games of the 2010s"
Helpful hints for this Across clue:
- This word has 8 letters going left to right
- It starts with 'F' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: F______E
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Across clue number 6
Answer: Click to reveal the Across answer
FORTNITE
7 Across: "17. "Aren't we all hoity-toity?!""
Helpful hints for this Across clue:
- This word has 11 letters going left to right
- It starts with 'W' and ends with 'H'
- Word pattern: W_________H
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Across clue number 7
Answer: Click to reveal the Across answer
WELLLADIDAH
8 Across: "19. Generate clippings, say"
Helpful hints for this Across clue:
- This word has 3 letters going left to right
- It starts with 'M' and ends with 'W'
- Similar words: haymow, mop
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a loft in a barn where hay is stored
- This is Across clue number 8
Answer: Click to reveal the Across answer
MOW
9 Across: "20. First name in hog riding"
Helpful hints for this Across clue:
- This word has 4 letters going left to right
- It starts with 'E' and ends with 'L'
- Word pattern: E__L
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Across clue number 9
Answer: Click to reveal the Across answer
EVEL
10 Across: "21. Established fact"
Helpful hints for this Across clue:
- This word has 5 letters going left to right
- It starts with 'G' and ends with 'N'
- Word pattern: G___N
- Similar words: dedicate, minded
- Opposite of: starve
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: an assumption that is taken for granted
- This is Across clue number 10
Answer: Click to reveal the Across answer
GIVEN
11 Across: "22. Let go of"
Helpful hints for this Across clue:
- This word has 4 letters going left to right
- It starts with 'F' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: F__E
- Similar words: fervour, flack
- Opposite of: hire
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: the event of something burning (often destructive)
- This is Across clue number 11
Answer: Click to reveal the Across answer
FIRE
12 Across: "23. Body layer"
Helpful hints for this Across clue:
- This word has 5 letters going left to right
- It starts with 'D' and ends with 'A'
- Word pattern: D___A
- Similar words: dermis, corium
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: the deep vascular inner layer of the skin
- This is Across clue number 12
Answer: Click to reveal the Across answer
DERMA
13 Across: "25. Events at which to release one's inner geek"
Helpful hints for this Across clue:
- This word has 9 letters going left to right
- It starts with 'N' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: N_______S
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Across clue number 13
Answer: Click to reveal the Across answer
NERDFESTS
14 Across: "27. Makers of frightening but (thankfully) rare marine attacks"
Helpful hints for this Across clue:
- This word has 5 letters going left to right
- It starts with 'O' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: O___S
- Similar words: Orcinus orca, killer
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Across clue number 14
Answer: Click to reveal the Across answer
ORCAS
15 Across: "29. Source of half the world's sugar during the late 1800s"
Helpful hints for this Across clue:
- This word has 5 letters going left to right
- It starts with 'B' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: B___S
- Similar words: beetroot, Beta vulgaris
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Across clue number 15
Answer: Click to reveal the Across answer
BEETS
16 Across: "30. Higher power?"
Helpful hints for this Across clue:
- This word has 5 letters going left to right
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'R'
- Word pattern: S___R
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Across clue number 16
Answer: Click to reveal the Across answer
SOLAR
17 Across: "31. They're stoked"
Helpful hints for this Across clue:
- This word has 5 letters going left to right
- It starts with 'C' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: C___S
- Similar words: ember, char
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Across clue number 17
Answer: Click to reveal the Across answer
COALS
18 Across: "32. Word with blue or open"
Helpful hints for this Across clue:
- This word has 5 letters going left to right
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: S___S
- Similar words: sky, toss
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
- This is Across clue number 18
Answer: Click to reveal the Across answer
SKIES
19 Across: "33. Speak, as thou might"
Helpful hints for this Across clue:
- This word has 5 letters going left to right
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'T'
- Word pattern: S___T
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Across clue number 19
Answer: Click to reveal the Across answer
SAYST
20 Across: "34. Kind of beard that follows the jawline"
Helpful hints for this Across clue:
- This word has 9 letters going left to right
- It starts with 'C' and ends with 'P'
- Word pattern: C_______P
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Across clue number 20
Answer: Click to reveal the Across answer
CHINSTRAP
21 Across: "36. Dunderheaded"
Helpful hints for this Across clue:
- This word has 5 letters going left to right
- It starts with 'T' and ends with 'K'
- Word pattern: T___K
- Similar words: boneheaded, chummy
- Opposite of: thinly
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: the location of something surrounded by other things
- This is Across clue number 21
Answer: Click to reveal the Across answer
THICK
22 Across: "40. "You ___?""
Helpful hints for this Across clue:
- This word has 4 letters going left to right
- It starts with 'R' and ends with 'G'
- Word pattern: R__G
- Similar words: ring, phone
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: sound loudly and sonorously
- This is Across clue number 22
Answer: Click to reveal the Across answer
RANG
23 Across: "41. Punted"
Helpful hints for this Across clue:
- This word has 5 letters going left to right
- It starts with 'P' and ends with 'D'
- Word pattern: P___D
- Similar words: punt, pole
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: propel with a pole
- This is Across clue number 23
Answer: Click to reveal the Across answer
POLED
24 Across: "43. Foe of the Iroquois during the Beaver Wars"
Helpful hints for this Across clue:
- This word has 4 letters going left to right
- It starts with 'E' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: E__E
- Similar words: Lake Erie
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Across clue number 24
Answer: Click to reveal the Across answer
ERIE
25 Across: "44. Org. that's gone to the dogs?"
Helpful hints for this Across clue:
- This word has 3 letters going left to right
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'C'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Across clue number 25
Answer: Click to reveal the Across answer
AKC
26 Across: "45. [womp, womp]"
Helpful hints for this Across clue:
- This word has 11 letters going left to right
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: S_________E
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Across clue number 26
Answer: Click to reveal the Across answer
SADTROMBONE
27 Across: "47. Major magazine pieces"
Helpful hints for this Across clue:
- This word has 8 letters going left to right
- It starts with 'F' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: F______S
- Similar words: characteristic, feature article
- Opposite of: lack
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a prominent attribute or aspect of something
- This is Across clue number 27
Answer: Click to reveal the Across answer
FEATURES
28 Across: "49. Delicatessen offering"
Helpful hints for this Across clue:
- This word has 6 letters going left to right
- It starts with 'R' and ends with 'N'
- Word pattern: R____N
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Across clue number 28
Answer: Click to reveal the Across answer
REUBEN
29 Across: "50. Loser of the 2025 World Series"
Helpful hints for this Across clue:
- This word has 7 letters going left to right
- It starts with 'T' and ends with 'O'
- Word pattern: T_____O
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Across clue number 29
Answer: Click to reveal the Across answer
TORONTO
30 Across: "51. Where to follow local customs, it's said"
Helpful hints for this Across clue:
- This word has 6 letters going left to right
- It starts with 'I' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: I____E
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Across clue number 30
Answer: Click to reveal the Across answer
INROME
31 Across: "52. Underhanded"
Helpful hints for this Across clue:
- This word has 6 letters going left to right
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'Y'
- Word pattern: S____Y
- Similar words: underhand, underhanded
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: marked by deception
- This is Across clue number 31
Answer: Click to reveal the Across answer
SNEAKY
32 Across: "53. Beach shade"
Helpful hints for this Across clue:
- This word has 6 letters going left to right
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'N'
- Word pattern: S____N
- Similar words: burn, sunburn
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Across clue number 32
Answer: Click to reveal the Across answer
SUNTAN
Expert Strategies for Solving Across Clues
Master the horizontal clues with these professional tips:
Why Start with Across Clues?
- Across clues often provide more letter intersections
- Reading left to right feels more natural
- Many common phrases run horizontally
- Across answers often help solve Down clues
Across Clue Patterns to Recognize
- Fill-in-the-blank clues: These are usually the easiest Across entries
- Common phrases: Many idioms run horizontally
- Abbreviations: Look for clues with "Abbr." or shortened forms
- Plural indicators: Words ending in 'S' are common in Across
- Pop culture references: Names and titles often appear horizontally
Time-Saving Across Techniques
| Technique | How It Helps |
|---|---|
| Scan all Across first | Get a mental map of the horizontal flow |
| Fill short Across words | 3-4 letter words are often articles or prepositions |
| Use crossing letters | Down letters help confirm Across answers |
| Look for themes | Related Across answers often share a theme |
Frequently Asked Questions About Across Clues
What are Across clues in crossword puzzles?
Across clues are the horizontal entries in a crossword puzzle that read from left to right. They're numbered and correspond to specific rows in the grid.
Should I solve Across or Down clues first?
Many solvers prefer starting with Across clues because reading left-to-right feels more natural. However, the best approach is to solve the clues you find easiest first, regardless of direction.
How many Across clues are in today's puzzle?
Today's NYT crossword has 32 Across clues.
Are Across clues easier than Down clues?
Neither direction is inherently easier. The difficulty depends on the specific clues and your knowledge. However, Across clues often contain more common phrases and expressions.
How do Across clues interact with Down clues?
Across and Down 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.
