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Showing posts sorted by date for query schema/. Sort by relevance Show all posts

Thursday, May 14, 2026

Thursday, May 14, 2026 – LA Times Crossword Answers & Hints

LA Times Crossword – May 14, 2026 (Thursday)

Today’s crossword puzzle is fun and a little tricky.

If you are stuck, don’t worry!
Here you can find the answers and help.

Crossword puzzles help us:
  • Learn new words
  • Improve spelling
  • Think smart

Theme Answer: WOODCUT

Clue: Artistic printing method, and a feature of rows 2, 5, 11, and 14 in this puzzle
Answer: WOODCUT

Explanation:
A woodcut is a way of printing pictures. The artist carves a design into wood, puts ink on it, and prints it on paper. Today’s puzzle hides types of wood in four rows.
LA Times Crossword – May 14, 2026 (Thursday)



Across Clues


6A. Thurman of “Pretty Lethal”
Answer: UMA
Explanation: Uma Thurman is a famous actress.

13A. Moral principle
Answer: ETHIC
Explanation: An ethic is a rule about what is right or wrong.

14A. “MAS*H” setting, for short
Answer: KOR
Explanation: MASH takes place in Korea (KOR = short form).

15A. “Butterfly Dance” artist
Answer: YANNI
Explanation: Yanni is a music composer.

19A. College where Robert Frost taught English
Answer: AMHERST
Explanation: Robert Frost was a famous poet who taught at Amherst College.

22A. NYC home of Matisse’s “Landscape at Collioure”
Answer: MOMA
Explanation: MoMA is the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

25A. Taylor-Joy of “The Northman”
Answer: ANYA
Explanation: Anya Taylor-Joy is a movie actress.

34A. “Downton Abbey” cook
Answer: DAISY
Explanation: Daisy is a character in the TV show Downton Abbey.

38A. Here, in Honduras
Answer: ACA
Explanation: In Spanish, “aca” means “here.”

41A. Mod About You polish maker
Answer: OPI
Explanation: OPI is a brand that makes nail polish.

42A. Mexican sandwich
Answer: TORTA
Explanation: A torta is a Mexican sandwich.

50A. Electrically adaptable
Answer: AC/DC
Explanation: AC/DC means it can work with both types of electric current.

55A. Sazerac options
Answer: RYES
Explanation: Rye is a type of grain used in drinks.

58A. Abu Dhabi, e.g.
Answer: EMIRATE
Explanation: Abu Dhabi is one of the Emirates in the UAE.

61A. Expanse crossed by Odysseus
Answer: IONIAN SEA
Explanation: In Greek stories, Odysseus crossed the Ionian Sea.

65A. Like van Gogh and Vermeer
Answer: DUTCH
Explanation: Both artists were from the Netherlands (Dutch).

70A. Blades for some Olympians
Answer: EPEES
Explanation: An épée is a type of fencing sword used in the Olympics.

Down Clues


1D. Super Mario Bros. console
Answer: NES
Explanation: NES is a Nintendo gaming system.

2D. Jazzy James
Answer: ETTA
Explanation: Etta James was a famous singer.

3D. Guitar accessory that may create vibrato
Answer: WHAMMY BAR
Explanation: A whammy bar is used on guitars to change sound.

4D. Knights’ neighbors
Answer: BISHOPS
Explanation: In chess, bishops sit next to knights.

5D. Blueprint
Answer: SCHEMA
Explanation: A schema is a plan or design.

9D. Prehistoric supercontinent
Answer: PANGAEA
Explanation: Pangaea was one giant land before continents split.

11D. Moriarty, to Holmes
Answer: ENEMY
Explanation: Moriarty is the enemy of Sherlock Holmes.

18D. Latvian capital
Answer: RIGA
Explanation: Riga is the capital city of Latvia.

36D. Hormel product
Answer: SPAM
Explanation: Spam is a canned meat product.

43D. Elements of a strategy
Answer: TACTICS
Explanation: Tactics are small actions used in a plan.

51D. Easy part of a sky in a jigsaw puzzle
Answer: CLOUD
Explanation: Puzzle sky areas are often blue with clouds.

54D. Oscar winner Witherspoon
Answer: REESE
Explanation: Reese Witherspoon is an actress.

60D. Brontë orphan
Answer: EYRE
Explanation: Jane Eyre is a famous novel character.
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Sunday, December 21, 2025

Sunday's NYT Down Dec 21 - Full Vertical Grid Solutions

NYT Down Clues Answers December 21, 2025 - All 71 Vertical Solutions & Expert Hints

Quick Summary: Today's NYT Crossword has 71 Down clues. We have all the vertical answers plus helpful hints to make solving easier!

Related Puzzles: April 11 2023 NYT Clues Solutions | November 09 2019 NYT Clues Solutions | NYT Down Crossword October 15 2025 |

About Today's Down Clues

NYT Down clues solutions for December 21, 2025
NYT Down Clues - Sunday, December 21, 2025
Down Clues Statistics
Detail Information
Date December 21, 2025
Day of Week Sunday
Total Down Clues 71 clues
Direction Vertical (Top to Bottom)
Difficulty Easy

All Down Clues - Complete List

Here are all 71 Down clues for today's puzzle. These go vertically from top to bottom.

Complete Down Clues List
Number Clue
1 Down 1. Make furious
2 Down 2. "The Family Circus" cartoonist Bil ___
3 Down 3. Tennis line judge's ruling
4 Down 4. Duke Ellington classic with the lyric "That was my heart serenading you"
5 Down 5. West side of L.A.?
6 Down 6. "Is there still time for me to join you?"
7 Down 7. 51 to the hour
8 Down 8. Stage direction
9 Down 9. Phillipa of Broadway
10 Down 10. Grammy winner Erykah
11 Down 11. ___ Gorman, "The Hill We Climb" poet
12 Down 12. Copy
13 Down 13. Iced-tea-and-lemonade refreshments
14 Down 14. Spending romp
15 Down 15. Output of certain mining
16 Down 16. Counterpart of a sub
17 Down 17. Fast start?
18 Down 18. Father, familiarly
19 Down 19. Mentally overpower, with "out"
20 Down 28. Like most moccasins
21 Down 29. Great Dane of cartoons, informally
22 Down 33. More livid
23 Down 37. Keister, in Leicester
24 Down 39. 2015 chart-topping hit for the Weeknd
25 Down 40. Symbolic for its time
26 Down 41. Shoe company with an iconic checkerboard design
27 Down 42. Descendant
28 Down 43. Apple: Fr.
29 Down 44. Is without
30 Down 47. Rabid in appearance
31 Down 50. Woman's nickname that sounds like two letters
32 Down 51. Rice-A-___
33 Down 52. "Borderlands" director ___ Roth
34 Down 53. Hiding place
35 Down 55. Gene pools?
36 Down 57. Org. with its own alphabet
37 Down 61. Abbr. not found on most smartphones
38 Down 63. "Aren't ___ lucky one?!"
39 Down 66. It has a lot of secretaries
40 Down 67. Shirt collar stiffener
41 Down 69. Where to find six "presents" in this puzzle?
42 Down 71. Knock 'em dead
43 Down 72. Coolidge who sang the theme for "Octopussy"
44 Down 73. Just getting started with
45 Down 74. Green shade
46 Down 75. What Joe Montana was in the '80s
47 Down 76. A TD scores six of these
48 Down 77. "Fancy, that!"
49 Down 78. Prickly denizen of coral reefs
50 Down 80. Famed lawyer in the 1925 Scopes Monkey Trial
51 Down 81. Most minimal
52 Down 84. Some Korean exports
53 Down 86. Calmed deceptively
54 Down 88. Baseball slugger's stat
55 Down 90. Bird used to deliver messages on "Game of Thrones"
56 Down 92. Blueprints
57 Down 97. Author Zora Neale ___
58 Down 98. Noodled on, with "over"
59 Down 100. Girlfriend in "Ferris Bueller's Day Off"
60 Down 101. Informant
61 Down 103. "Ta-ta!"
62 Down 104. Tricky pool shot
63 Down 106. Someone enjoying a walk in the park
64 Down 108. Mentally with it
65 Down 109. ___ four
66 Down 110. Fits one inside the other
67 Down 112. Porcine : pigs :: cervine : ___
68 Down 113. Essential
69 Down 117. It might be good for a change
70 Down 119. One who knows the drill?: Abbr.
71 Down 120. Teslas, e.g., for short

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:

Complete Down Solutions:

1 Down: "1. Make furious"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'S' and ends with 'M'
  • Word pattern: S___M
  • Similar words: steamer, steam clean
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • Definition: water at boiling temperature diffused in the atmosphere
  • This is Down clue number 1

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer STEAM

2 Down: "2. "The Family Circus" cartoonist Bil ___"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'K' and ends with 'E'
  • Word pattern: K___E
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Down clue number 2

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer KEANE

3 Down: "3. Tennis line judge's ruling"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'I' and ends with 'N'
  • Word pattern: I___N
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Down clue number 3

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer ITSIN

4 Down: "4. Duke Ellington classic with the lyric "That was my heart serenading you""

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 14 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'P' and ends with 'S'
  • Word pattern: P____________S
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Down clue number 4

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer PRELUDETOAKISS

5 Down: "5. West side of L.A.?"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'L' and ends with 'S'
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Down clue number 5

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer LOS

6 Down: "6. "Is there still time for me to join you?""

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 7 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 6

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer AMILATE

7 Down: "7. 51 to the hour"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 8 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'N' and ends with 'T'
  • Word pattern: N______T
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Down clue number 7

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer NINEPAST

8 Down: "8. Stage direction"

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: embark, participate
  • Opposite of: exit
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • Definition: to come or go into
  • This is Down clue number 8

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer ENTER

9 Down: "9. Phillipa of Broadway"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'S' and ends with 'O'
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Down clue number 9

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer SOO

10 Down: "10. Grammy winner Erykah"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'B' and ends with 'U'
  • Word pattern: B__U
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Down clue number 10

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer BADU

11 Down: "11. ___ Gorman, "The Hill We Climb" poet"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'A' and ends with 'A'
  • Word pattern: A____A
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Down clue number 11

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer AMANDA

12 Down: "12. Copy"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'M' and ends with 'R'
  • Word pattern: M____R
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • Definition: polished surface that forms images by reflecting light
  • This is Down clue number 12

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer MIRROR

13 Down: "13. Iced-tea-and-lemonade refreshments"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 13 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'A' and ends with 'S'
  • Word pattern: A___________S
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Down clue number 13

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer ARNOLDPALMERS

14 Down: "14. Spending romp"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'S' and ends with 'E'
  • Word pattern: S___E
  • Similar words: fling
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • Definition: a brief indulgence of your impulses
  • This is Down clue number 14

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer SPREE

15 Down: "15. Output of certain mining"

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
  • Similar words: ore
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Down clue number 15

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer ORES

16 Down: "16. Counterpart of a sub"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'D' and ends with 'M'
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Down clue number 16

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer DOM

17 Down: "17. Fast start?"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 12 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 17

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer ASHWEDNESDAY

18 Down: "18. Father, familiarly"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'O' and ends with 'N'
  • Word pattern: O____N
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Down clue number 18

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer OLDMAN

19 Down: "19. Mentally overpower, with "out""

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'P' and ends with 'H'
  • Word pattern: P___H
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Down clue number 19

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer PSYCH

20 Down: "28. Like most moccasins"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'S' and ends with 'N'
  • Word pattern: S____N
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Down clue number 20

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer SLIPON

21 Down: "29. Great Dane of cartoons, informally"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'S' and ends with 'B'
  • Word pattern: S___B
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Down clue number 21

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer SCOOB

22 Down: "33. More livid"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'I' and ends with 'R'
  • Word pattern: I____R
  • Similar words: irate, ireful
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • Definition: feeling or showing extreme anger
  • This is Down clue number 22

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer IRATER

23 Down: "37. Keister, in Leicester"

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
  • Similar words: rear, tush
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • Definition: the fleshy part of the human body that you sit on
  • This is Down clue number 23

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer ARSE

24 Down: "39. 2015 chart-topping hit for the Weeknd"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 14 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 24

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer CANTFEELMYFACE

25 Down: "40. Symbolic for its time"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 7 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'O' and ends with 'A'
  • Word pattern: O_____A
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Down clue number 25

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer OFANERA

26 Down: "41. Shoe company with an iconic checkerboard design"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'V' and ends with 'S'
  • Word pattern: V__S
  • Similar words: van, new wave
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Down clue number 26

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer VANS

27 Down: "42. Descendant"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'S' and ends with 'N'
  • Word pattern: S___N
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • Definition: a descendent or heir
  • This is Down clue number 27

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer SCION

28 Down: "43. Apple: Fr."

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'P' and ends with 'E'
  • Word pattern: P___E
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Down clue number 28

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer POMME

29 Down: "44. Is without"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'H' and ends with 'T'
  • Word pattern: H___T
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Down clue number 29

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer HASNT

30 Down: "47. Rabid in appearance"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 8 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'F' and ends with 'G'
  • Word pattern: F______G
  • Similar words: form bubbles, fizz
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • Definition: become bubbly or frothy or foaming
  • This is Down clue number 30

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer FROTHING

31 Down: "50. Woman's nickname that sounds like two letters"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'E' and ends with 'E'
  • Word pattern: E__E
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Down clue number 31

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer EVIE

32 Down: "51. Rice-A-___"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'R' and ends with 'I'
  • Word pattern: R__I
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Down clue number 32

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer RONI

33 Down: "52. "Borderlands" director ___ Roth"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'E' and ends with 'I'
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Down clue number 33

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer ELI

34 Down: "53. Hiding place"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'D' and ends with 'N'
  • Similar words: hideaway, hideout
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • Definition: the habitation of wild animals
  • This is Down clue number 34

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer DEN

35 Down: "55. Gene pools?"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 8 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'D' and ends with 'S'
  • Word pattern: D______S
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Down clue number 35

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer DNABANKS

36 Down: "57. Org. with its own alphabet"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'N' and ends with 'O'
  • Word pattern: N__O
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Down clue number 36

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer NATO

37 Down: "61. Abbr. not found on most smartphones"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'O' and ends with 'R'
  • Word pattern: O__R
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Down clue number 37

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer OPER

38 Down: "63. "Aren't ___ lucky one?!""

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 4 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 38

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer ITHE

39 Down: "66. It has a lot of secretaries"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 7 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'C' and ends with 'T'
  • Word pattern: C_____T
  • Similar words: locker, console
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Down clue number 39

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer CABINET

40 Down: "67. Shirt collar stiffener"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'S' and ends with 'Y'
  • Word pattern: S__Y
  • Similar words: stick, remain
  • Opposite of: depart
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • Definition: continuing or remaining in a place or state
  • This is Down clue number 40

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer STAY

41 Down: "69. Where to find six "presents" in this puzzle?"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 12 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'U' and ends with 'E'
  • Word pattern: U__________E
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Down clue number 41

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer UNDERTHETREE

42 Down: "71. Knock 'em dead"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'S' and ends with 'Y'
  • Word pattern: S__Y
  • Similar words: dispatch, hit
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • Definition: kill intentionally and with premeditation
  • This is Down clue number 42

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer SLAY

43 Down: "72. Coolidge who sang the theme for "Octopussy""

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'R' and ends with 'A'
  • Word pattern: R__A
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Down clue number 43

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer RITA

44 Down: "73. Just getting started with"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'N' and ends with 'T'
  • Word pattern: N___T
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Down clue number 44

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer NEWAT

45 Down: "74. Green shade"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'O' and ends with 'E'
  • Word pattern: O___E
  • Similar words: Olea europaea
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Down clue number 45

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer OLIVE

46 Down: "75. What Joe Montana was in the '80s"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'N' and ends with 'R'
  • Word pattern: N___R
  • Similar words: ennead, IX
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • Definition: the cardinal number that is the sum of eight and one
  • This is Down clue number 46

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer NINER

47 Down: "76. A TD scores six of these"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'P' and ends with 'S'
  • Similar words: platinum, Pt
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Down clue number 47

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer PTS

48 Down: "77. "Fancy, that!""

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'O' and ends with 'H'
  • Similar words: aah
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • Definition: express admiration and pleasure by uttering `ooh' or `aah'
  • This is Down clue number 48

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer OOH

49 Down: "78. Prickly denizen of coral reefs"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 13 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'P' and ends with 'H'
  • Word pattern: P___________H
  • Similar words: porcupine fish, Diodon hystrix
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Down clue number 49

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer PORCUPINEFISH

50 Down: "80. Famed lawyer in the 1925 Scopes Monkey Trial"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 14 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'C' and ends with 'W'
  • Word pattern: C____________W
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Down clue number 50

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer CLARENCEDARROW

51 Down: "81. Most minimal"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'B' and ends with 'T'
  • Word pattern: B____T
  • Similar words: simple, scanty
  • Opposite of: sheathed
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • Definition: completely unclothed
  • This is Down clue number 51

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer BAREST

52 Down: "84. Some Korean exports"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'K' and ends with 'S'
  • Word pattern: K__S
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Down clue number 52

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer KIAS

53 Down: "86. Calmed deceptively"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'L' and ends with 'D'
  • Word pattern: L____D
  • Similar words: calm, tranquilize
  • Opposite of: agitate
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • Definition: calm by deception
  • This is Down clue number 53

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer LULLED

54 Down: "88. Baseball slugger's stat"

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: rbi, run batted in
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • Definition: a run that is the result of the batter's performance
  • This is Down clue number 54

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer RBIS

55 Down: "90. Bird used to deliver messages on "Game of Thrones""

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'R' and ends with 'N'
  • Word pattern: R___N
  • Similar words: Corvus corax, predate
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Down clue number 55

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer RAVEN

56 Down: "92. Blueprints"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 8 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'S' and ends with 'A'
  • Word pattern: S______A
  • Similar words: scheme, schema
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Down clue number 56

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer SCHEMATA

57 Down: "97. Author Zora Neale ___"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 7 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'H' and ends with 'N'
  • Word pattern: H_____N
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Down clue number 57

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer HURSTON

58 Down: "98. Noodled on, with "over""

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'M' and ends with 'D'
  • Word pattern: M____D
  • Similar words: reflect, think over
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • Definition: reflect deeply on a subject
  • This is Down clue number 58

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer MULLED

59 Down: "100. Girlfriend in "Ferris Bueller's Day Off""

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'S' and ends with 'E'
  • Word pattern: S____E
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Down clue number 59

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer SLOANE

60 Down: "101. Informant"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'S' and ends with 'E'
  • Word pattern: S____E
  • Similar words: author, rootage
  • Opposite of: sink
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • Definition: the place where something begins
  • This is Down clue number 60

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer SOURCE

61 Down: "103. "Ta-ta!""

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'S' and ends with 'A'
  • Word pattern: S___A
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Down clue number 61

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer SEEYA

62 Down: "104. Tricky pool shot"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'M' and ends with 'E'
  • Word pattern: M___E
  • Similar words: masse shot
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Down clue number 62

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer MASSE

63 Down: "106. Someone enjoying a walk in the park"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'H' and ends with 'R'
  • Word pattern: H___R
  • Similar words: tramper, tramp
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Down clue number 63

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer HIKER

64 Down: "108. Mentally with it"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'S' and ends with 'P'
  • Word pattern: S___P
  • Similar words: shrill, precipitous
  • Opposite of: dull
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Down clue number 64

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer SHARP

65 Down: "109. ___ four"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 5 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 65

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer PETIT

66 Down: "110. Fits one inside the other"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'N' and ends with 'S'
  • Word pattern: N___S
  • Similar words: nestle, cuddle
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Down clue number 66

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer NESTS

67 Down: "112. Porcine : pigs :: cervine : ___"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'D' and ends with 'R'
  • Word pattern: D__R
  • Similar words: cervid
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Down clue number 67

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer DEER

68 Down: "113. Essential"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'N' and ends with 'D'
  • Word pattern: N__D
  • Similar words: necessitate, call for
  • Opposite of: obviate
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • Definition: a condition requiring relief
  • This is Down clue number 68

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer NEED

69 Down: "117. It might be good for a change"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'D' and ends with 'E'
  • Similar words: dyestuff
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Down clue number 69

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer DYE

70 Down: "119. One who knows the drill?: Abbr."

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'S' and ends with 'T'
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Down clue number 70

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer SGT

71 Down: "120. Teslas, e.g., for short"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'E' and ends with 'S'
  • Similar words: electron volt, eV
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Down clue number 71

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer EVS

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

  1. Fill-in-the-blank clues: These are usually the easiest Down entries
  2. Prefixes and suffixes: Common word parts often run vertically
  3. Abbreviations: Look for clues with "Abbr." or shortened forms
  4. Plural indicators: Words ending in 'S' are common in Down
  5. 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 71 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.

About This Page: We provide comprehensive Down clues solutions and hints for the NYT Crossword to help you improve your solving skills. This site is not affiliated with The New York Times.

Last Updated: December 21, 2025 at 05:15 AM

Search terms: NYT Down, Down clues, vertical, crossword answers, top to bottom, December 21 2025 down clues

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