Today's Down Crossword NYT December 24, 2025 - Every Vertical Solution Explained
Quick Summary: Today's NYT Crossword has 37 Down clues. We have all the vertical answers plus helpful hints to make solving easier!
Related Puzzles: October 28 2019 NYT Clues Solutions | July 07 2020 NYT Clues Solutions | March 15 2021 NYT Clues Solutions |
About Today's Down Clues
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Date | December 24, 2025 |
| Day of Week | Wednesday |
| Total Down Clues | 37 clues |
| Direction | Vertical (Top to Bottom) |
| Difficulty | Tricky |
All Down Clues - Complete List
Here are all 37 Down clues for today's puzzle. These go vertically from top to bottom.
| Number | Clue |
|---|---|
| 1 Down | 1. Recipe directive |
| 2 Down | 2. Speck |
| 3 Down | 3. Travel without an itinerary, say |
| 4 Down | 4. "Count me out" |
| 5 Down | 5. Org. for therapists |
| 6 Down | 6. Silly character on the "Sesame Street" segment "Elmo's World" |
| 7 Down | 7. "S.N.L." alum Bryant |
| 8 Down | 8. Free copy of a film sent to awards show voters |
| 9 Down | 9. Perceive |
| 10 Down | 10. "That's very kind of you" |
| 11 Down | 11. Class where you learn how to get a tan? |
| 12 Down | 12. Pimples |
| 13 Down | 13. Fury |
| 14 Down | 18. Cuba, por ejemplo |
| 15 Down | 19. Looks weighed down |
| 16 Down | 24. Pesky biter, informally |
| 17 Down | 26. Patterns |
| 18 Down | 27. Unwise |
| 19 Down | 28. Procedure with frozen eggs, for short |
| 20 Down | 29. No-clothes college gathering |
| 21 Down | 30. "Really, we're still doing this?!" |
| 22 Down | 31. Convenient spot for a pint |
| 23 Down | 34. Orthodontists' offerings |
| 24 Down | 35. Tricksy schemes |
| 25 Down | 37. Cooked rice, in Korean cuisine |
| 26 Down | 38. Ballpoint brand |
| 27 Down | 41. Clarinetist's need |
| 28 Down | 43. Wiener schnitzel meat |
| 29 Down | 45. Snogged |
| 30 Down | 46. Cut into small cubes |
| 31 Down | 47. Coast Guard rank |
| 32 Down | 52. Cops near Alcatraz, for short |
| 33 Down | 54. "Hey! Over here!" |
| 34 Down | 55. Rainbow's shape |
| 35 Down | 57. ___ Stroker, Tony Award-winning actress in "Oklahoma!" |
| 36 Down | 58. Low mark |
| 37 Down | 60. Zilch |
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 04 2020 NYT Clues Solutions
- March 24 2021 NYT Clues Solutions
- July 17 2019 NYT Clues Solutions
- September 21 2022 NYT Clues Solutions
Complete Down Solutions:
1 Down: "1. Recipe directive"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'R'
- Word pattern: S__R
- Similar words: excite, bring up
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a prominent or sensational but short-lived news event
- This is Down clue number 1
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
STIR
2 Down: "2. Speck"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'I' and ends with 'A'
- Word pattern: I__A
- Similar words: whit, scintilla
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a tiny or scarcely detectable amount
- This is Down clue number 2
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
IOTA
3 Down: "3. Travel without an itinerary, say"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'R' and ends with 'M'
- Word pattern: R__M
- Similar words: stray, cast
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: move about aimlessly or without any destination
- This is Down clue number 3
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ROAM
4 Down: "4. "Count me out""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 7 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 4
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ILLPASS
5 Down: "5. Org. for therapists"
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 5
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
APA
6 Down: "6. Silly character on the "Sesame Street" segment "Elmo's World""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 8 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'M' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: M______E
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 6
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
MRNOODLE
7 Down: "7. "S.N.L." alum Bryant"
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
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 7
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
AIDY
8 Down: "8. Free copy of a film sent to awards show voters"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 8 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'R'
- Word pattern: S______R
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 8
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SCREENER
9 Down: "9. Perceive"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'E'
- Similar words: figure, see to it
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 9
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SEE
10 Down: "10. "That's very kind of you""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 7 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'T'
- Word pattern: S_____T
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 10
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SOSWEET
11 Down: "11. Class where you learn how to get a tan?"
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: clean-cut, trim
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: the mathematics of triangles and trigonometric functions
- This is Down clue number 11
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
TRIG
12 Down: "12. Pimples"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: A__E
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 12
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ACNE
13 Down: "13. Fury"
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: passion, fad
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a feeling of intense anger
- This is Down clue number 13
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
RAGE
14 Down: "18. Cuba, por ejemplo"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'I' and ends with 'A'
- Word pattern: I__A
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 14
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ISLA
15 Down: "19. Looks weighed down"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: S__S
- Similar words: sag, sag down
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a shape that sags
- This is Down clue number 15
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SAGS
16 Down: "24. Pesky biter, informally"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 7 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'R'
- Word pattern: S_____R
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 16
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SKEETER
17 Down: "26. Patterns"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 7 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'D' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: D_____S
- Similar words: conception, figure
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 17
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
DESIGNS
18 Down: "27. Unwise"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 10 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 18
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ILLADVISED
19 Down: "28. Procedure with frozen eggs, for short"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'I' and ends with 'F'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 19
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
IVF
20 Down: "29. No-clothes college gathering"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 10 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'N' and ends with 'Y'
- Word pattern: N________Y
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 20
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
NAKEDPARTY
21 Down: "30. "Really, we're still doing this?!""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'N'
- Word pattern: A___N
- Similar words: once again, over again
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: anew
- This is Down clue number 21
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
AGAIN
22 Down: "31. Convenient spot for a pint"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 9 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'C' and ends with 'B'
- Word pattern: C_______B
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 22
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
CORNERPUB
23 Down: "34. Orthodontists' offerings"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 9 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'R' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: R_______S
- Similar words: consideration, servant
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a fee charged in advance to retain the services of someone
- This is Down clue number 23
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
RETAINERS
24 Down: "35. Tricksy schemes"
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: ploy, stratagem
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 24
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
PLOYS
25 Down: "37. Cooked rice, in Korean cuisine"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'B' and ends with 'P'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a small loaf or roll of soft bread
- This is Down clue number 25
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
BAP
26 Down: "38. Ballpoint brand"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'B' and ends with 'C'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 26
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
BIC
27 Down: "41. Clarinetist's need"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'R' and ends with 'D'
- Word pattern: R__D
- Similar words: John Reed, Walter Reed
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 27
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
REED
28 Down: "43. Wiener schnitzel meat"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'V' and ends with 'L'
- Word pattern: V__L
- Similar words: veau
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: meat from a calf
- This is Down clue number 28
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
VEAL
29 Down: "45. Snogged"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'N' and ends with 'D'
- Word pattern: N____D
- Similar words: neck, make out
- Opposite of: neckless
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: kiss
- This is Down clue number 29
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
NECKED
30 Down: "46. Cut into small cubes"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'D' and ends with 'D'
- Word pattern: D___D
- Similar words: cube, dice
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: cut into cubes
- This is Down clue number 30
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
DICED
31 Down: "47. Coast Guard rank"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'E' and ends with 'N'
- Word pattern: E____N
- Similar words: national flag
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 31
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ENSIGN
32 Down: "52. Cops near Alcatraz, for short"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'D'
- Word pattern: S__D
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 32
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SFPD
33 Down: "54. "Hey! Over here!""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'P' and ends with 'T'
- Word pattern: P__T
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 33
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
PSST
34 Down: "55. Rainbow's shape"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'C'
- Similar words: arch, electric arc
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 34
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ARC
35 Down: "57. ___ Stroker, Tony Award-winning actress in "Oklahoma!""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'I'
- Similar words: Cassius Clay, Muhammad Ali
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 35
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ALI
36 Down: "58. Low mark"
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 36
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
DEE
37 Down: "60. Zilch"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'N' and ends with 'L'
- Similar words: cipher, zero
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a quantity of no importance
- This is Down clue number 37
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
NIL
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 37 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.
