All NYT Down Clues October 28, 2025 - 41 Vertical Answers with Hints
Quick Summary: Today's NYT Crossword has 41 Down clues. We have all the vertical answers plus helpful hints to make solving easier!
Related Puzzles: May 18 2023 NYT Clues Solutions | December 15 2023 NYT Clues Solutions | January 24 2020 NYT Clues Solutions |
About Today's Down Clues
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Date | October 28, 2025 |
| Day of Week | Tuesday |
| Total Down Clues | 41 clues |
| Direction | Vertical (Top to Bottom) |
| Difficulty | Challenging |
All Down Clues - Complete List
Here are all 41 Down clues for today's puzzle. These go vertically from top to bottom.
| Number | Clue |
|---|---|
| 1 Down | 1. Tea brand once owned by Starbucks |
| 2 Down | 2. Kind of sch. for grades one to six |
| 3 Down | 3. Bit of spa attire |
| 4 Down | 4. Magician of Arthurian legend |
| 5 Down | 5. Sort who's too good for everyone else |
| 6 Down | 6. Cuba y Puerto Rico |
| 7 Down | 7. Fashionably old-fashioned |
| 8 Down | 8. "___ a date!" |
| 9 Down | 9. Like some sandwiches |
| 10 Down | 10. Super-silly sort |
| 11 Down | 11. Thin air |
| 12 Down | 12. Brief |
| 13 Down | 14. It may be in the low 90s |
| 14 Down | 17. Make fizzy |
| 15 Down | 20. McKellen who played Gandalf |
| 16 Down | 23. The 2% in 2% milk |
| 17 Down | 24. Performs like Playboi Carti, say |
| 18 Down | 25. The dark side |
| 19 Down | 26. Longer than midi |
| 20 Down | 27. Diplomat's skill |
| 21 Down | 31. Vietnamese soup |
| 22 Down | 32. "That was clumsy of me!" |
| 23 Down | 34. Smoothie "superfruit" |
| 24 Down | 35. NSFW stuff |
| 25 Down | 36. Calc prerequisite |
| 26 Down | 38. "Get me out of here!" |
| 27 Down | 40. Person who's in the red |
| 28 Down | 42. Good name for a chef? |
| 29 Down | 43. Hanging over a baby's crib |
| 30 Down | 46. Very cold and wet |
| 31 Down | 48. John who wrote "The Pilgrim's Progress" |
| 32 Down | 49. Certain steak |
| 33 Down | 50. Deep-sea predators |
| 34 Down | 51. Give extreme effort, in slang |
| 35 Down | 52. "Any ___ is good ___" (public relations saying) |
| 36 Down | 53. Managed |
| 37 Down | 57. Informal shirts |
| 38 Down | 58. With dexterity |
| 39 Down | 59. Ore deposit |
| 40 Down | 60. Opposite of entrance |
| 41 Down | 62. Hot tub nozzle |
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:
- November 08 2021 NYT Clues Solutions
- January 15 2022 NYT Clues Solutions
- October 26 2019 NYT Clues Solutions
- January 06 2022 NYT Clues Solutions
Complete Down Solutions:
1 Down: "1. Tea brand once owned by Starbucks"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'T' and ends with 'O'
- Word pattern: T__O
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 1
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
TAZO
2 Down: "2. Kind of sch. for grades one to six"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'E' and ends with 'M'
- Word pattern: E__M
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 2
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ELEM
3 Down: "3. Bit of spa attire"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'R' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: R__E
- Similar words: clothe, vest
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: any loose flowing garment
- This is Down clue number 3
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ROBE
4 Down: "4. Magician of Arthurian legend"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'M' and ends with 'N'
- Word pattern: M____N
- Similar words: pigeon hawk
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 4
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
MERLIN
5 Down: "5. Sort who's too good for everyone else"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'B'
- Word pattern: S__B
- Similar words: snot, snoot
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a person regarded as arrogant and annoying
- This is Down clue number 5
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SNOB
6 Down: "6. Cuba y Puerto Rico"
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
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 6
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ISLAS
7 Down: "7. Fashionably old-fashioned"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'R' and ends with 'O'
- Word pattern: R___O
- Similar words: retroactive, ex post facto
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a fashion reminiscent of the past
- This is Down clue number 7
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
RETRO
8 Down: "8. "___ a date!""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'I' and ends with 'S'
- Similar words: IT
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 8
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ITS
9 Down: "9. Like some sandwiches"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 8 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'O' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: O______E
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 9
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
OPENFACE
10 Down: "10. Super-silly sort"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'W' and ends with 'O'
- Word pattern: W___O
- Similar words: whacko, nutter
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a person who is regarded as eccentric or mad
- This is Down clue number 10
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
WACKO
11 Down: "11. Thin air"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'E' and ends with 'R'
- Word pattern: E___R
- Similar words: ethoxyethane, vinyl ether
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 11
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ETHER
12 Down: "12. Brief"
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: curtly, short-circuit
- Opposite of: tall
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 12
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SHORT
13 Down: "14. It may be in the low 90s"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'O' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: O____E
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 13
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
OCTANE
14 Down: "17. Make fizzy"
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: oxygenize, oxygenise
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: expose to fresh air
- This is Down clue number 14
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
AERATE
15 Down: "20. McKellen who played Gandalf"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'I' and ends with 'N'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 15
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
IAN
16 Down: "23. The 2% in 2% milk"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'F' and ends with 'T'
- Similar words: plump, juicy
- Opposite of: thin
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 16
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
FAT
17 Down: "24. Performs like Playboi Carti, say"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'R' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: R__S
- Similar words: strike, pat
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a reproach for some lapse or misdeed
- This is Down clue number 17
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
RAPS
18 Down: "25. The dark side"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'E' and ends with 'L'
- Word pattern: E__L
- Similar words: immorality, vicious
- Opposite of: goodness
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: morally objectionable behavior
- This is Down clue number 18
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
EVIL
19 Down: "26. Longer than midi"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'M' and ends with 'I'
- Word pattern: M__I
- Opposite of: mini
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a long skirt ending below the calf
- This is Down clue number 19
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
MAXI
20 Down: "27. Diplomat's skill"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'T' and ends with 'T'
- Word pattern: T__T
- Similar words: tactfulness
- Opposite of: tactlessness
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 20
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
TACT
21 Down: "31. Vietnamese soup"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'P' and ends with 'O'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 21
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
PHO
22 Down: "32. "That was clumsy of me!""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'O' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: O__S
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 22
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
OOPS
23 Down: "34. Smoothie "superfruit""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'I'
- Word pattern: A__I
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 23
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ACAI
24 Down: "35. NSFW stuff"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'P' and ends with 'N'
- Word pattern: P__N
- Similar words: erotica, porno
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 24
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
PORN
25 Down: "36. Calc prerequisite"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'T' and ends with 'G'
- Word pattern: T__G
- Similar words: trigonometry, clean-cut
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: the mathematics of triangles and trigonometric functions
- This is Down clue number 25
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
TRIG
26 Down: "38. "Get me out of here!""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 8 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'I' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: I______E
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 26
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
IMSODONE
27 Down: "40. Person who's in the red"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'D' and ends with 'R'
- Word pattern: D____R
- Similar words: debitor
- Opposite of: creditor
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 27
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
DEBTOR
28 Down: "42. Good name for a chef?"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'U'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 28
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
STU
29 Down: "43. Hanging over a baby's crib"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'M' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: M____E
- Similar words: nomadic, peregrine
- Opposite of: stabile
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a river in southwestern Alabama; flows into Mobile Bay
- This is Down clue number 29
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
MOBILE
30 Down: "46. Very cold and wet"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'I' and ends with 'Y'
- Similar words: wintry, frigid
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 30
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ICY
31 Down: "48. John who wrote "The Pilgrim's Progress""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'B' and ends with 'N'
- Word pattern: B____N
- Similar words: John Bunyan, Paul Bunyan
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: English preacher and author of an allegorical novel
- This is Down clue number 31
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
BUNYAN
32 Down: "49. Certain steak"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 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 32
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
TBONE
33 Down: "50. Deep-sea predators"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'O' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: O___S
- Similar words: killer whale, sea wolf
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 33
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ORCAS
34 Down: "51. Give extreme effort, in slang"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'G' and ends with 'M'
- Word pattern: G___M
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 34
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
GOHAM
35 Down: "52. "Any ___ is good ___" (public relations saying)"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'P' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: P___S
- Similar words: squeeze, weigh
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: the state of demanding notice or attention
- This is Down clue number 35
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
PRESS
36 Down: "53. Managed"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'O'
- Word pattern: S___O
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 36
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SAWTO
37 Down: "57. Informal shirts"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'T' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: T__S
- Similar words: football tee, golf tee
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: the starting place for each hole on a golf course
- This is Down clue number 37
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
TEES
38 Down: "58. With dexterity"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'Y'
- Word pattern: A__Y
- Similar words: capably, competently
- Opposite of: incompetently
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: with competence; in a competent capable manner
- This is Down clue number 38
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ABLY
39 Down: "59. Ore deposit"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'L' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: L__E
- Similar words: load
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 39
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
LODE
40 Down: "60. Opposite of entrance"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'E' and ends with 'T'
- Word pattern: E__T
- Similar words: departure, decease
- Opposite of: be born
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: an opening that permits escape or release
- This is Down clue number 40
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
EXIT
41 Down: "62. Hot tub nozzle"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'J' and ends with 'T'
- Similar words: sooty, super acid
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: an airplane powered by one or more jet engines
- This is Down clue number 41
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
JET
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 41 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.
