NYT Down Today October 22, 2025: Complete Vertical Clues Walkthrough
Quick Summary: Today's NYT Crossword has 33 Down clues. We have all the vertical answers plus helpful hints to make solving easier!
Related Puzzles: August 14 2019 NYT Clues Solutions | Todays Across Crossword NYT October 09 | Xwordhint Crossword Answers October 07 |
About Today's Down Clues
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Date | October 22, 2025 |
| Day of Week | Wednesday |
| Total Down Clues | 33 clues |
| Direction | Vertical (Top to Bottom) |
| Difficulty | Challenging |
All Down Clues - Complete List
Here are all 33 Down clues for today's puzzle. These go vertically from top to bottom.
| Number | Clue |
|---|---|
| 1 Down | 1. Natural remedy that's used to treat anxiety |
| 2 Down | 2. Make hot and bothered |
| 3 Down | 3. Kind of cuisine |
| 4 Down | 4. Traveler's info, informally |
| 5 Down | 5. Electroreception, for sharks |
| 6 Down | 6. Jaunt on a hay wagon, e.g. |
| 7 Down | 7. "Me!" |
| 8 Down | 8. "You got that right!" |
| 9 Down | 9. Key to search with, maybe |
| 10 Down | 10. Fans of a band |
| 11 Down | 11. Whirling visual effects in video games |
| 12 Down | 12. Watchful guardians |
| 13 Down | 15. Part of a belt |
| 14 Down | 18. Built to last |
| 15 Down | 23. Gel |
| 16 Down | 25. David Bowie's astronaut persona |
| 17 Down | 26. Atomic reaction co-discovered by 44-Across |
| 18 Down | 29. Word with flower or feather |
| 19 Down | 32. Expression such as "Top o' the mornin'" |
| 20 Down | 33. Certain sports wager |
| 21 Down | 34. Sara Bareilles musical set in a diner |
| 22 Down | 35. Clean water org. |
| 23 Down | 36. Shape-shifted |
| 24 Down | 38. Language on the Horn of Africa |
| 25 Down | 39. Young woman, in Australia |
| 26 Down | 41. Outkast or Eric B. & Rakim |
| 27 Down | 42. "Thank God …!" |
| 28 Down | 43. "You're quite right" |
| 29 Down | 45. Premier squad |
| 30 Down | 47. Recovery phase |
| 31 Down | 49. Not as much |
| 32 Down | 53. In a chill state |
| 33 Down | 54. Subculture associated with skinny jeans |
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:
- February 21 2022 NYT Clues Solutions
- March 06 2023 NYT Clues Solutions
- October 20 2020 NYT Clues Solutions
- August 21 2020 NYT Clues Solutions
Complete Down Solutions:
1 Down: "1. Natural remedy that's used to treat anxiety"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'C' and ends with 'L'
- Word pattern: C____L
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 1
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
CBDOIL
2 Down: "2. Make hot and bothered"
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: energize, perk up
- Opposite of: de-energise
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: call forth (emotions
- This is Down clue number 2
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
AROUSE
3 Down: "3. Kind of cuisine"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'F' and ends with 'N'
- Word pattern: F____N
- Similar words: unification, coalition
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: an occurrence that involves the production of a union
- This is Down clue number 3
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
FUSION
4 Down: "4. Traveler's info, informally"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'E' and ends with 'A'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 4
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ETA
5 Down: "5. Electroreception, for sharks"
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: gumption, sensation
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a general conscious awareness
- This is Down clue number 5
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SENSE
6 Down: "6. Jaunt on a hay wagon, e.g."
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: tease, tantalise
- Opposite of: walk
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a journey in a vehicle (usually an automobile)
- This is Down clue number 6
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
RIDE
7 Down: "7. "Me!""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'I' and ends with 'O'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 7
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
IDO
8 Down: "8. "You got that right!""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 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 8
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SINGIT
9 Down: "9. Key to search with, maybe"
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: accede, go into
- Opposite of: drop out
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: to come or go into
- This is Down clue number 9
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ENTER
10 Down: "10. Fans of a band"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 8 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'G' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: G______S
- Similar words: groupie
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 10
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
GROUPIES
11 Down: "11. Whirling visual effects in video games"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 7 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'P' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: P_____S
- Similar words: vena portae, portal vein
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 11
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
PORTALS
12 Down: "12. Watchful guardians"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: A____S
- Similar words: angel, Angel
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: spiritual being attendant upon God
- This is Down clue number 12
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ANGELS
13 Down: "15. Part of a belt"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 8 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'D'
- Word pattern: A______D
- Similar words: star-shaped
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 13
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ASTEROID
14 Down: "18. Built to last"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 7 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'D' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: D_____E
- Similar words: long-lived, perdurable
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: existing for a long time
- This is Down clue number 14
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
DURABLE
15 Down: "23. Gel"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 8 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'C' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: C______E
- Similar words: conflate, combine
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: mix together different elements
- This is Down clue number 15
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
COALESCE
16 Down: "25. David Bowie's astronaut persona"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 8 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'M' and ends with 'M'
- Word pattern: M______M
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 16
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
MAJORTOM
17 Down: "26. Atomic reaction co-discovered by 44-Across"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 7 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'F' and ends with 'N'
- Word pattern: F_____N
- Similar words: nuclear fission
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 17
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
FISSION
18 Down: "29. Word with flower or feather"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'B' and ends with 'D'
- Similar words: go to bed, kip down
- Opposite of: turn out
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
- This is Down clue number 18
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
BED
19 Down: "32. Expression such as "Top o' the mornin'""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 8 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'I' and ends with 'M'
- Word pattern: I______M
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 19
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
IRISHISM
20 Down: "33. Certain sports wager"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 7 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 20
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
PROPBET
21 Down: "34. Sara Bareilles musical set in a diner"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 8 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'W' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: W______S
- Similar words: wait
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a woman waiter
- This is Down clue number 21
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
WAITRESS
22 Down: "35. Clean water org."
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'E' and ends with 'A'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 22
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
EPA
23 Down: "36. Shape-shifted"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 7 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'M' and ends with 'D'
- Word pattern: M_____D
- Similar words: mutate
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: undergo mutation
- This is Down clue number 23
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
MUTATED
24 Down: "38. Language on the Horn of Africa"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'I'
- Word pattern: S____I
- Similar words: Somalian
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 24
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SOMALI
25 Down: "39. Young woman, in Australia"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 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 25
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SHEILA
26 Down: "41. Outkast or Eric B. & Rakim"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'R' and ends with 'O'
- Word pattern: R____O
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 26
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
RAPDUO
27 Down: "42. "Thank God …!""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'T'
- Word pattern: A____T
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 27
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ATLAST
28 Down: "43. "You're quite right""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'W' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: W____S
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 28
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
WHYYES
29 Down: "45. Premier squad"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'M'
- Word pattern: A___M
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 29
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ATEAM
30 Down: "47. Recovery phase"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'R' and ends with 'B'
- Word pattern: R___B
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 30
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
REHAB
31 Down: "49. Not as much"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'L' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: L__S
- Opposite of: more
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 31
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
LESS
32 Down: "53. In a chill state"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'Z' and ends with 'N'
- Similar words: window pane, loony toons
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 32
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ZEN
33 Down: "54. Subculture associated with skinny jeans"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'E' and ends with 'O'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 33
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
EMO
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 33 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.
