NYT Down Clues Answers December 15, 2025 - All 40 Vertical Solutions & Expert Hints
Quick Summary: Today's NYT Crossword has 40 Down clues. We have all the vertical answers plus helpful hints to make solving easier!
Related Puzzles: February 23 2022 NYT Clues Solutions | December 21 2019 NYT Clues Solutions | September 03 2021 NYT Clues Solutions |
About Today's Down Clues
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Date | December 15, 2025 |
| Day of Week | Monday |
| Total Down Clues | 40 clues |
| Direction | Vertical (Top to Bottom) |
| Difficulty | Medium |
All Down Clues - Complete List
Here are all 40 Down clues for today's puzzle. These go vertically from top to bottom.
| Number | Clue |
|---|---|
| 1 Down | 1. Wife of Abraham, in the Bible |
| 2 Down | 2. "You ___ right!" |
| 3 Down | 3. "Ridiculous!" |
| 4 Down | 4. "I'm kidding!!," in "Wayne's World" |
| 5 Down | 5. Artist Henri de ___-Lautrec |
| 6 Down | 6. One who's rotten from the start |
| 7 Down | 7. Singer Grande, to fans |
| 8 Down | 8. Loch ___ monster |
| 9 Down | 9. Opera great Enrico |
| 10 Down | 10. Sluglike "Star Wars" crime boss |
| 11 Down | 11. On ___ (looking great, in slang) |
| 12 Down | 12. Colonial-era pirate captain |
| 13 Down | 17. Mr. ___ (Dr Pepper competitor) |
| 14 Down | 19. Orchestral woodwind |
| 15 Down | 22. Be on the wane |
| 16 Down | 25. Crash-investigating org. |
| 17 Down | 26. Turning point in W.W. II |
| 18 Down | 29. When doubled, an African fly |
| 19 Down | 30. But, briefly |
| 20 Down | 31. Like a ripe strawberry |
| 21 Down | 33. Re-election restriction |
| 22 Down | 34. Many a Wordsworth poem |
| 23 Down | 35. Pea holder |
| 24 Down | 37. Part of a barbecue rack |
| 25 Down | 38. Ernest in the Country Music Hall of Fame |
| 26 Down | 40. Suddenly stops working, as an engine |
| 27 Down | 41. Gov. Tim ___, 2024 running mate |
| 28 Down | 44. Beyond the continental shelf, say |
| 29 Down | 46. Comic actor Van Dyke |
| 30 Down | 47. Lacking the capacity |
| 31 Down | 48. Prez before 10-Across |
| 32 Down | 49. "Deck the Halls" syllables |
| 33 Down | 50. Two-door auto |
| 34 Down | 51. Outings for foxhounds |
| 35 Down | 53. Show feelings onstage |
| 36 Down | 54. Capital of Delaware |
| 37 Down | 55. Lift on the slopes |
| 38 Down | 56. Like bright signs on the Las Vegas Strip |
| 39 Down | 60. Funny in a subtle way |
| 40 Down | 62. Suffix with Benedict or elephant |
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:
- December 21 2019 NYT Clues Solutions
- July 01 2022 NYT Clues Solutions
- Xwordhint Crossword Answers December 14
- May 16 2023 NYT Clues Solutions
Complete Down Solutions:
1 Down: "1. Wife of Abraham, in the Bible"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'H'
- Word pattern: S___H
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: (Old Testament) the wife of Abraham and mother of Isaac
- This is Down clue number 1
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SARAH
2 Down: "2. "You ___ right!""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 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 2
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ARESO
3 Down: "3. "Ridiculous!""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 9 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'I' and ends with 'D'
- Word pattern: I_______D
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 3
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ITSABSURD
4 Down: "4. "I'm kidding!!," in "Wayne's World""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'N' and ends with 'T'
- Similar words: non
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: negation of a word or group of words
- This is Down clue number 4
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
NOT
5 Down: "5. Artist Henri de ___-Lautrec"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 8 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'T' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: T______E
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 5
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
TOULOUSE
6 Down: "6. One who's rotten from the start"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 7 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'B' and ends with 'D'
- Word pattern: B_____D
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 6
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
BADSEED
7 Down: "7. Singer Grande, to fans"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'I'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 7
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ARI
8 Down: "8. Loch ___ monster"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'N' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: N__S
- Similar words: cape
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a strip of land projecting into a body of water
- This is Down clue number 8
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
NESS
9 Down: "9. Opera great Enrico"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'C' and ends with 'O'
- Word pattern: C____O
- Similar words: Enrico Caruso
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: outstanding Italian operatic tenor (1873-1921)
- This is Down clue number 9
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
CARUSO
10 Down: "10. Sluglike "Star Wars" crime boss"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'J' and ends with 'A'
- Word pattern: J___A
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 10
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
JABBA
11 Down: "11. On ___ (looking great, in slang)"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'F' and ends with 'K'
- Word pattern: F___K
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 11
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
FLEEK
12 Down: "12. Colonial-era pirate captain"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'K' and ends with 'D'
- Word pattern: K__D
- Similar words: Captain Kidd, William Kidd
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 12
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
KIDD
13 Down: "17. Mr. ___ (Dr Pepper competitor)"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'P' and ends with 'B'
- Word pattern: P__B
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 13
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
PIBB
14 Down: "19. Orchestral woodwind"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'O' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: O__E
- Similar words: hautboy, hautbois
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 14
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
OBOE
15 Down: "22. Be on the wane"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'E' and ends with 'B'
- Similar words: ebb down, wane
- Opposite of: tide
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a gradual decline (in size or strength or power or number)
- This is Down clue number 15
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
EBB
16 Down: "25. Crash-investigating org."
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'N' and ends with 'B'
- Word pattern: N__B
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 16
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
NTSB
17 Down: "26. Turning point in W.W. II"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'D' and ends with 'Y'
- Word pattern: D__Y
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 17
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
DDAY
18 Down: "29. When doubled, an African fly"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'T' and ends with 'E'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 18
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
TSE
19 Down: "30. But, briefly"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'T' and ends with 'O'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a branch of the Tai languages
- This is Down clue number 19
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
THO
20 Down: "31. Like a ripe strawberry"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'R' and ends with 'D'
- Similar words: scarlet, cherry-red
- Opposite of: gain
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 20
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
RED
21 Down: "33. Re-election restriction"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 9 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'T' and ends with 'T'
- Word pattern: T_______T
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 21
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
TERMLIMIT
22 Down: "34. Many a Wordsworth poem"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'O' and ends with 'E'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a lyric poem with complex stanza forms
- This is Down clue number 22
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ODE
23 Down: "35. Pea holder"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'P' and ends with 'D'
- Similar words: fuel pod, cod
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 23
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
POD
24 Down: "37. Part of a barbecue rack"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'R' and ends with 'B'
- Similar words: blackguard, roast
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: support resembling the rib of an animal
- This is Down clue number 24
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
RIB
25 Down: "38. Ernest in the Country Music Hall of Fame"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'T' and ends with 'B'
- Word pattern: T__B
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 25
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
TUBB
26 Down: "40. Suddenly stops working, as an engine"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 8 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'P'
- Word pattern: S______P
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 26
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SEIZESUP
27 Down: "41. Gov. Tim ___, 2024 running mate"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'W' and ends with 'Z'
- Word pattern: W__Z
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 27
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
WALZ
28 Down: "44. Beyond the continental shelf, say"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 7 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'D' and ends with 'A'
- Word pattern: D_____A
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 28
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
DEEPSEA
29 Down: "46. Comic actor Van Dyke"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'D' and ends with 'K'
- Word pattern: D__K
- Similar words: prick, cock
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: someone who is a detective
- This is Down clue number 29
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
DICK
30 Down: "47. Lacking the capacity"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'U' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: U____E
- Similar words: ineffective, ineffectual
- Opposite of: able
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 30
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
UNABLE
31 Down: "48. Prez before 10-Across"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'D' and ends with 'E'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 31
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
DDE
32 Down: "49. "Deck the Halls" syllables"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'F' and ends with 'A'
- Word pattern: F__A
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 32
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
FALA
33 Down: "50. Two-door auto"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 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 33
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
COUPE
34 Down: "51. Outings for foxhounds"
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: hunting, hound
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: Englishman and Pre-Raphaelite painter (1827-1910)
- This is Down clue number 34
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
HUNTS
35 Down: "53. Show feelings onstage"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'E' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: E___E
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: give expression or emotion to
- This is Down clue number 35
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
EMOTE
36 Down: "54. Capital of Delaware"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'D' and ends with 'R'
- Word pattern: D___R
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: the capital of the state of Delaware
- This is Down clue number 36
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
DOVER
37 Down: "55. Lift on the slopes"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'T' and ends with 'R'
- Word pattern: T__R
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 37
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
TBAR
38 Down: "56. Like bright signs on the Las Vegas Strip"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'N' and ends with 'N'
- Word pattern: N__N
- Similar words: Ne
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 38
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
NEON
39 Down: "60. Funny in a subtle way"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'D' and ends with 'Y'
- Similar words: ironical, ironic
- Opposite of: phlegmy
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a reformer who opposes the use of intoxicating beverages
- This is Down clue number 39
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
DRY
40 Down: "62. Suffix with Benedict or elephant"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'I' and ends with 'E'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 40
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
INE
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 40 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.
