Search Clues
Showing posts sorted by relevance for query AMTRAK. Sort by date Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by relevance for query AMTRAK. Sort by date Show all posts

Monday, December 22, 2025

Monday's NYT Across Dec 22 - Full Horizontal Grid Solutions

NYT Across Clues Answers December 22, 2025 - All 39 Horizontal Solutions & Expert Hints

Quick Summary: Today's NYT Crossword has 39 Across clues. We have all the horizontal answers plus helpful hints to make solving easier!

Related Puzzles: January 27 2022 NYT Clues Solutions | July 10 2021 NYT Clues Solutions | January 25 2023 NYT Clues Solutions |

About Today's Across Clues

NYT Across clues solutions for December 22, 2025
NYT Across Clues - Monday, December 22, 2025
Across Clues Statistics
Detail Information
Date December 22, 2025
Day of Week Monday
Total Across Clues 39 clues
Direction Horizontal (Left to Right)
Difficulty Easy

All Across Clues - Complete List

Here are all 39 Across clues for today's puzzle. These go horizontally from left to right.

Complete Across Clues List
Number Clue
1 Across 1. Deep sleeps
2 Across 6. High-speed Amtrak train
3 Across 11. Word with punching or sleeping
4 Across 14. One of a battery's poles
5 Across 15. Older but ___
6 Across 16. Under the weather
7 Across 17. Saxophone, trumpet, piano and bass, perhaps
8 Across 19. Day-___ paint
9 Across 20. "Garfield" dog
10 Across 21. "It's freezing!"
11 Across 22. Typical "Survivor" locales
12 Across 24. Rapper ___ Uzi Vert
13 Across 25. Yoda and Obi-Wan Kenobi, for two
14 Across 28. Fish that may have an electric charge
15 Across 29. Stammering sounds
16 Across 30. Indignation
17 Across 31. What each U.S. senator represents
18 Across 33. Raggedy ___
19 Across 34. Breyers competitor
20 Across 35. Some exams allow them
21 Across 39. Cops, slangily
22 Across 42. Rode the bench
23 Across 43. Yoga pose
24 Across 47. Enjoying great success
25 Across 49. What electric cars don't use
26 Across 51. Like a 49-Across gauge that's near "Empty"
27 Across 52. Overly fussy
28 Across 54. Bit of forensic evidence
29 Across 55. Pink ___ (rock band)
30 Across 56. Singer DiFranco
31 Across 57. Bill
32 Across 58. Mideast export
33 Across 59. Cheat ... or a punny hint to the four sets of circled letters
34 Across 63. French "a"
35 Across 64. Hearing-related
36 Across 65. Playwright Chekhov
37 Across 66. Kind of lamp that's energy-efficient
38 Across 67. Easily irritated
39 Across 68. Romeo and Juliet, agewise

Detailed Hints and Answers for All Across Clues

Need help? Here are comprehensive hints and answers for each Across clue. Also check these helpful guides:

Complete Across Solutions:

1 Across: "1. Deep sleeps"

Helpful hints for this Across clue:

  • This word has 5 letters going left to right
  • It starts with 'C' and ends with 'S'
  • Word pattern: C___S
  • Similar words: coma, comatoseness
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Across clue number 1

Answer:

Click to reveal the Across answer COMAS

2 Across: "6. High-speed Amtrak train"

Helpful hints for this Across clue:

  • This word has 5 letters going left to right
  • It starts with 'A' and ends with 'A'
  • Word pattern: A___A
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Across clue number 2

Answer:

Click to reveal the Across answer ACELA

3 Across: "11. Word with punching or sleeping"

Helpful hints for this Across clue:

  • This word has 3 letters going left to right
  • It starts with 'B' and ends with 'G'
  • Similar words: base, traveling bag
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • Definition: a flexible container with a single opening
  • This is Across clue number 3

Answer:

Click to reveal the Across answer BAG

4 Across: "14. One of a battery's poles"

Helpful hints for this Across clue:

  • This word has 5 letters going left to right
  • It starts with 'A' and ends with 'E'
  • Word pattern: A___E
  • Opposite of: cathode
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Across clue number 4

Answer:

Click to reveal the Across answer ANODE

5 Across: "15. Older but ___"

Helpful hints for this Across clue:

  • This word has 5 letters going left to right
  • It starts with 'W' and ends with 'R'
  • Word pattern: W___R
  • Similar words: wise, impertinent
  • Opposite of: foolish
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • Definition: having or prompted by wisdom or discernment
  • This is Across clue number 5

Answer:

Click to reveal the Across answer WISER

6 Across: "16. Under the weather"

Helpful hints for this Across clue:

  • This word has 3 letters going left to right
  • It starts with 'I' and ends with 'L'
  • Similar words: inauspicious, badly
  • Opposite of: well
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Across clue number 6

Answer:

Click to reveal the Across answer ILL

7 Across: "17. Saxophone, trumpet, piano and bass, perhaps"

Helpful hints for this Across clue:

  • This word has 11 letters going left to right
  • It starts with 'J' and ends with 'T'
  • Word pattern: J_________T
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Across clue number 7

Answer:

Click to reveal the Across answer JAZZQUARTET

8 Across: "19. Day-___ paint"

Helpful hints for this Across clue:

  • This word has 3 letters going left to right
  • It starts with 'G' and ends with 'O'
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Across clue number 8

Answer:

Click to reveal the Across answer GLO

9 Across: "20. "Garfield" dog"

Helpful hints for this Across clue:

  • This word has 4 letters going left to right
  • It starts with 'O' and ends with 'E'
  • Word pattern: O__E
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Across clue number 9

Answer:

Click to reveal the Across answer ODIE

10 Across: "21. "It's freezing!""

Helpful hints for this Across clue:

  • This word has 3 letters going left to right
  • It starts with 'B' and ends with 'R'
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Across clue number 10

Answer:

Click to reveal the Across answer BRR

11 Across: "22. Typical "Survivor" locales"

Helpful hints for this Across clue:

  • This word has 5 letters going left to right
  • It starts with 'I' and ends with 'S'
  • Word pattern: I___S
  • Similar words: isle, islet
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • Definition: a small island
  • This is Across clue number 11

Answer:

Click to reveal the Across answer ISLES

12 Across: "24. Rapper ___ Uzi Vert"

Helpful hints for this Across clue:

  • This word has 3 letters going left to right
  • It starts with 'L' and ends with 'L'
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Across clue number 12

Answer:

Click to reveal the Across answer LIL

13 Across: "25. Yoda and Obi-Wan Kenobi, for two"

Helpful hints for this Across clue:

  • This word has 11 letters going left to right
  • It starts with 'J' and ends with 'S'
  • Word pattern: J_________S
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Across clue number 13

Answer:

Click to reveal the Across answer JEDIMASTERS

14 Across: "28. Fish that may have an electric charge"

Helpful hints for this Across clue:

  • This word has 3 letters going left to right
  • It starts with 'E' and ends with 'L'
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Across clue number 14

Answer:

Click to reveal the Across answer EEL

15 Across: "29. Stammering sounds"

Helpful hints for this Across clue:

  • This word has 3 letters going left to right
  • It starts with 'E' and ends with 'S'
  • Similar words: Er, erbium
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Across clue number 15

Answer:

Click to reveal the Across answer ERS

16 Across: "30. Indignation"

Helpful hints for this Across clue:

  • This word has 7 letters going left to right
  • It starts with 'O' and ends with 'E'
  • Word pattern: O_____E
  • Similar words: rape, scandal
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • Definition: a feeling of righteous anger
  • This is Across clue number 16

Answer:

Click to reveal the Across answer OUTRAGE

17 Across: "31. What each U.S. senator represents"

Helpful hints for this Across clue:

  • This word has 5 letters going left to right
  • It starts with 'S' and ends with 'E'
  • Word pattern: S___E
  • Similar words: body politic, commonwealth
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Across clue number 17

Answer:

Click to reveal the Across answer STATE

18 Across: "33. Raggedy ___"

Helpful hints for this Across clue:

  • This word has 3 letters going left to right
  • It starts with 'A' and ends with 'N'
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Across clue number 18

Answer:

Click to reveal the Across answer ANN

19 Across: "34. Breyers competitor"

Helpful hints for this Across clue:

  • This word has 4 letters going left to right
  • It starts with 'E' and ends with 'S'
  • Word pattern: E__S
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Across clue number 19

Answer:

Click to reveal the Across answer EDYS

20 Across: "35. Some exams allow them"

Helpful hints for this Across clue:

  • This word has 9 letters going left to right
  • It starts with 'O' and ends with 'S'
  • Word pattern: O_______S
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Across clue number 20

Answer:

Click to reveal the Across answer OPENNOTES

21 Across: "39. Cops, slangily"

Helpful hints for this Across clue:

  • This word has 4 letters going left to right
  • It starts with 'P' and ends with 'O'
  • Word pattern: P__O
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Across clue number 21

Answer:

Click to reveal the Across answer POPO

22 Across: "42. Rode the bench"

Helpful hints for this Across clue:

  • This word has 3 letters going left to right
  • It starts with 'S' and ends with 'T'
  • Similar words: Saturday, sit
  • Opposite of: arise
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Across clue number 22

Answer:

Click to reveal the Across answer SAT

23 Across: "43. Yoga pose"

Helpful hints for this Across clue:

  • This word has 5 letters going left to right
  • It starts with 'A' and ends with 'A'
  • Word pattern: A___A
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Across clue number 23

Answer:

Click to reveal the Across answer ASANA

24 Across: "47. Enjoying great success"

Helpful hints for this Across clue:

  • This word has 7 letters going left to right
  • It starts with 'O' and ends with 'R'
  • Word pattern: O_____R
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Across clue number 24

Answer:

Click to reveal the Across answer ONATEAR

25 Across: "49. What electric cars don't use"

Helpful hints for this Across clue:

  • This word has 3 letters going left to right
  • It starts with 'G' and ends with 'S'
  • Similar words: blow, gas pedal
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Across clue number 25

Answer:

Click to reveal the Across answer GAS

26 Across: "51. Like a 49-Across gauge that's near "Empty""

Helpful hints for this Across clue:

  • This word has 3 letters going left to right
  • It starts with 'L' and ends with 'W'
  • Similar words: low gear, scurvy
  • Opposite of: high
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • Definition: an air mass of lower pressure; often brings precipitation
  • This is Across clue number 26

Answer:

Click to reveal the Across answer LOW

27 Across: "52. Overly fussy"

Helpful hints for this Across clue:

  • This word has 11 letters going left to right
  • It starts with 'P' and ends with 'Y'
  • Word pattern: P_________Y
  • Similar words: snooty, uppish
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Across clue number 27

Answer:

Click to reveal the Across answer PERSNICKETY

28 Across: "54. Bit of forensic evidence"

Helpful hints for this Across clue:

  • This word has 3 letters going left to right
  • It starts with 'D' and ends with 'A'
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Across clue number 28

Answer:

Click to reveal the Across answer DNA

29 Across: "55. Pink ___ (rock band)"

Helpful hints for this Across clue:

  • This word has 5 letters going left to right
  • It starts with 'F' and ends with 'D'
  • Word pattern: F___D
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Across clue number 29

Answer:

Click to reveal the Across answer FLOYD

30 Across: "56. Singer DiFranco"

Helpful hints for this Across clue:

  • This word has 3 letters going left to right
  • It starts with 'A' and ends with 'I'
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • Definition: black tropical American cuckoo
  • This is Across clue number 30

Answer:

Click to reveal the Across answer ANI

31 Across: "57. Bill"

Helpful hints for this Across clue:

  • This word has 4 letters going left to right
  • It starts with 'B' and ends with 'K'
  • Word pattern: B__K
  • Similar words: nib, pick
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • Definition: beaklike mouth of animals other than birds (e.g.
  • This is Across clue number 31

Answer:

Click to reveal the Across answer BEAK

32 Across: "58. Mideast export"

Helpful hints for this Across clue:

  • This word has 3 letters going left to right
  • It starts with 'O' and ends with 'L'
  • Similar words: inunct, rock oil
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Across clue number 32

Answer:

Click to reveal the Across answer OIL

33 Across: "59. Cheat ... or a punny hint to the four sets of circled letters"

Helpful hints for this Across clue:

  • This word has 11 letters going left to right
  • It starts with 'S' and ends with 'E'
  • Word pattern: S_________E
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Across clue number 33

Answer:

Click to reveal the Across answer SHORTCHANGE

34 Across: "63. French "a""

Helpful hints for this Across clue:

  • This word has 3 letters going left to right
  • It starts with 'U' and ends with 'E'
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Across clue number 34

Answer:

Click to reveal the Across answer UNE

35 Across: "64. Hearing-related"

Helpful hints for this Across clue:

  • This word has 5 letters going left to right
  • It starts with 'A' and ends with 'L'
  • Word pattern: A___L
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • Definition: of or pertaining to hearing or the ear
  • This is Across clue number 35

Answer:

Click to reveal the Across answer AURAL

36 Across: "65. Playwright Chekhov"

Helpful hints for this Across clue:

  • This word has 5 letters going left to right
  • It starts with 'A' and ends with 'N'
  • Word pattern: A___N
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Across clue number 36

Answer:

Click to reveal the Across answer ANTON

37 Across: "66. Kind of lamp that's energy-efficient"

Helpful hints for this Across clue:

  • This word has 3 letters going left to right
  • It starts with 'L' and ends with 'D'
  • Similar words: leave, top
  • Opposite of: follow
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Across clue number 37

Answer:

Click to reveal the Across answer LED

38 Across: "67. Easily irritated"

Helpful hints for this Across clue:

  • This word has 5 letters going left to right
  • It starts with 'T' and ends with 'Y'
  • Word pattern: T___Y
  • Similar words: tetchy, techy
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • Definition: easily irritated or annoyed
  • This is Across clue number 38

Answer:

Click to reveal the Across answer TESTY

39 Across: "68. Romeo and Juliet, agewise"

Helpful hints for this Across clue:

  • This word has 5 letters going left to right
  • It starts with 'T' and ends with 'S'
  • Word pattern: T___S
  • Similar words: teen, stripling
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • Definition: the time of life between the ages of 12 and 20
  • This is Across clue number 39

Answer:

Click to reveal the Across answer TEENS

Expert Strategies for Solving Across Clues

Master the horizontal clues with these professional tips:

Why Start with Across Clues?

  • Across clues often provide more letter intersections
  • Reading left to right feels more natural
  • Many common phrases run horizontally
  • Across answers often help solve Down clues

Across Clue Patterns to Recognize

  1. Fill-in-the-blank clues: These are usually the easiest Across entries
  2. Common phrases: Many idioms run horizontally
  3. Abbreviations: Look for clues with "Abbr." or shortened forms
  4. Plural indicators: Words ending in 'S' are common in Across
  5. Pop culture references: Names and titles often appear horizontally

Time-Saving Across Techniques

Technique How It Helps
Scan all Across first Get a mental map of the horizontal flow
Fill short Across words 3-4 letter words are often articles or prepositions
Use crossing letters Down letters help confirm Across answers
Look for themes Related Across answers often share a theme

Frequently Asked Questions About Across Clues

What are Across clues in crossword puzzles?

Across clues are the horizontal entries in a crossword puzzle that read from left to right. They're numbered and correspond to specific rows in the grid.

Should I solve Across or Down clues first?

Many solvers prefer starting with Across clues because reading left-to-right feels more natural. However, the best approach is to solve the clues you find easiest first, regardless of direction.

How many Across clues are in today's puzzle?

Today's NYT crossword has 39 Across clues.

Are Across clues easier than Down clues?

Neither direction is inherently easier. The difficulty depends on the specific clues and your knowledge. However, Across clues often contain more common phrases and expressions.

How do Across clues interact with Down clues?

Across and Down 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 Across 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 22, 2025 at 04:56 AM

Search terms: NYT Across, Across clues, horizontal, crossword answers, left to right, December 22 2025 across clues

on No comments:

XWordHint Crossword Answers December 22, 2025 | Expert Breakdown & Tips

Master today's NYT crossword with our expert hint system. We provide synonyms, antonyms, and strategic clues to help you solve without spoiling the fun. Perfect for crossword lovers who want that satisfying "aha!" moment.

Quick Navigation - Table of Contents

December 22, 2025 NYT Crossword Solutions

Today's Puzzle Difficulty: Challenging

Pro Tip: Start with the fill-in-the-blank clues - they're usually the easiest entry points!

Across Clues - Complete List

No. Clue Letters
1A 1. Deep sleeps 5
2A 6. High-speed Amtrak train 5
3A 11. Word with punching or sleeping 3
4A 14. One of a battery's poles 5
5A 15. Older but ___ 5
6A 16. Under the weather 3
7A 17. Saxophone, trumpet, piano and bass, perhaps 11
8A 19. Day-___ paint 3
9A 20. "Garfield" dog 4
10A 21. "It's freezing!" 3
11A 22. Typical "Survivor" locales 5
12A 24. Rapper ___ Uzi Vert 3
13A 25. Yoda and Obi-Wan Kenobi, for two 11
14A 28. Fish that may have an electric charge 3
15A 29. Stammering sounds 3
16A 30. Indignation 7
17A 31. What each U.S. senator represents 5
18A 33. Raggedy ___ 3
19A 34. Breyers competitor 4
20A 35. Some exams allow them 9
21A 39. Cops, slangily 4
22A 42. Rode the bench 3
23A 43. Yoga pose 5
24A 47. Enjoying great success 7
25A 49. What electric cars don't use 3
26A 51. Like a 49-Across gauge that's near "Empty" 3
27A 52. Overly fussy 11
28A 54. Bit of forensic evidence 3
29A 55. Pink ___ (rock band) 5
30A 56. Singer DiFranco 3
31A 57. Bill 4
32A 58. Mideast export 3
33A 59. Cheat ... or a punny hint to the four sets of circled letters 11
34A 63. French "a" 3
35A 64. Hearing-related 5
36A 65. Playwright Chekhov 5
37A 66. Kind of lamp that's energy-efficient 3
38A 67. Easily irritated 5
39A 68. Romeo and Juliet, agewise 5

Across Clues - Strategic Hints

1A: "1. Deep sleeps"

5 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a state of deep and often prolonged unconsciousness; usually the result of disease or injury
  • Similar words include: coma, comatoseness
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: COMAS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

2A: "6. High-speed Amtrak train"

5 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ACELA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

3A: "11. Word with punching or sleeping"

3 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a flexible container with a single opening
  • Similar words include: suitcase, pocketbook, travelling bag
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BAG

Remember this word for future puzzles!

4A: "14. One of a battery's poles"

5 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a positively charged electrode by which electrons leave an electrical device
  • Opposite of: cathode
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ANODE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

5A: "15. Older but ___"

5 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that having or prompted by wisdom or discernment
  • Similar words include: saucy, fresh, impudent
  • Opposite of: foolish
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: WISER

Remember this word for future puzzles!

6A: "16. Under the weather"

3 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an often persistent bodily disorder or disease; a cause for complaining
  • Similar words include: ailment, poorly, ominous
  • Opposite of: well
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ILL

Remember this word for future puzzles!

7A: "17. Saxophone, trumpet, piano and bass, perhaps"

11 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ___________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: JAZZQUARTET

Remember this word for future puzzles!

8A: "19. Day-___ paint"

3 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GLO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

9A: "20. "Garfield" dog"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ODIE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

10A: "21. "It's freezing!""

3 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BRR

Remember this word for future puzzles!

11A: "22. Typical "Survivor" locales"

5 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a small island
  • Similar words include: isle, islet
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ISLES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

12A: "24. Rapper ___ Uzi Vert"

3 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LIL

Remember this word for future puzzles!

13A: "25. Yoda and Obi-Wan Kenobi, for two"

11 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ___________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: JEDIMASTERS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

14A: "28. Fish that may have an electric charge"

3 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the fatty flesh of eel; an elongate fish found in fresh water in europe and america; large eels are usually smoked or pickled
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EEL

Remember this word for future puzzles!

15A: "29. Stammering sounds"

3 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a trivalent metallic element of the rare earth group; occurs with yttrium
  • Similar words include: emergency room, ER, erbium
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ERS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

16A: "30. Indignation"

7 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a feeling of righteous anger
  • Similar words include: scandalise, appal, desecrate
  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OUTRAGE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

17A: "31. What each U.S. senator represents"

5 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
  • Similar words include: land, say, nation
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: STATE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

18A: "33. Raggedy ___"

3 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ANN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

19A: "34. Breyers competitor"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EDYS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

20A: "35. Some exams allow them"

9 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OPENNOTES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

21A: "39. Cops, slangily"

4 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: POPO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

22A: "42. Rode the bench"

3 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the sabbath by jews and some christians
  • Similar words include: sit around, seat, pose
  • Opposite of: stand, arise
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SAT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

23A: "43. Yoga pose"

5 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that (hinduism) a posture or manner of sitting (as in the practice of yoga)
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ASANA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

24A: "47. Enjoying great success"

7 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ONATEAR

Remember this word for future puzzles!

25A: "49. What electric cars don't use"

3 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the state of matter distinguished from the solid and liquid states by: relatively low density and viscosity; relatively great expansion and contraction with changes in pressure and temperature; the ability to diffuse readily; and the spontaneous tendency to become distributed uniformly throughout any container
  • Similar words include: bluster, petrol, gun
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GAS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

26A: "51. Like a 49-Across gauge that's near "Empty""

3 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an air mass of lower pressure; often brings precipitation
  • Similar words include: miserable, lowly, downhearted
  • Opposite of: high
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LOW

Remember this word for future puzzles!

27A: "52. Overly fussy"

11 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that (used colloquially) overly conceited or arrogant; -laurent le sage
  • Similar words include: snot-nosed, bigheaded, pernickety
  • Pattern: ___________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PERSNICKETY

Remember this word for future puzzles!

28A: "54. Bit of forensic evidence"

3 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that (biochemistry) a long linear polymer found in the nucleus of a cell and formed from nucleotides and shaped like a double helix; associated with the transmission of genetic information
  • Similar words include: deoxyribonucleic acid, desoxyribonucleic acid
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DNA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

29A: "55. Pink ___ (rock band)"

5 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FLOYD

Remember this word for future puzzles!

30A: "56. Singer DiFranco"

3 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that black tropical american cuckoo
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ANI

Remember this word for future puzzles!

31A: "57. Bill"

4 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that beaklike mouth of animals other than birds (e.g., turtles)
  • Similar words include: pecker, snoot, nib
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BEAK

Remember this word for future puzzles!

32A: "58. Mideast export"

3 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a slippery or viscous liquid or liquefiable substance not miscible with water
  • Similar words include: anele, crude, fossil oil
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OIL

Remember this word for future puzzles!

33A: "59. Cheat ... or a punny hint to the four sets of circled letters"

11 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ___________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SHORTCHANGE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

34A: "63. French "a""

3 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: UNE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

35A: "64. Hearing-related"

5 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that of or pertaining to hearing or the ear
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AURAL

Remember this word for future puzzles!

36A: "65. Playwright Chekhov"

5 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ANTON

Remember this word for future puzzles!

37A: "66. Kind of lamp that's energy-efficient"

3 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that diode such that light emitted at a p-n junction is proportional to the bias current; color depends on the material used
  • Similar words include: light-emitting diode, leave, top
  • Opposite of: follow
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LED

Remember this word for future puzzles!

38A: "67. Easily irritated"

5 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that easily irritated or annoyed
  • Similar words include: cranky, tetchy, irritable
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TESTY

Remember this word for future puzzles!

39A: "68. Romeo and Juliet, agewise"

5 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the time of life between the ages of 12 and 20
  • Similar words include: adolescent, teenager, stripling
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TEENS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

Down Clues - Complete List

No. Clue Letters
1D 1. Persuades with flattery 7
2D 2. Doing keto, perhaps 7
3D 3. Creator of Firefox and Thunderbird 7
4D 4. Woodworking tool 4
5D 5. Orderly arrangement: Abbr. 3
6D 6. Oscars and Grammys, e.g. 6
7D 7. Wispy clouds 5
8D 8. Approx. 3
9D 9. Harper ___, author of "To Kill a Mockingbird" 3
10D 10. Monet or Manet 6
11D 11. Don't blow it! 7
12D 12. Reaction to pollen, e.g. 7
13D 13. Shiny coatings 7
14D 18. Lyft competitor 4
15D 23. Heart attack risk factor 6
16D 25. Cherokee maker 4
17D 26. "The kissing disease" 4
18D 27. Em, to Dorothy 4
19D 32. Foot, in baby talk 6
20D 33. Word after fire or carpenter 3
21D 36. Actor Morales 4
22D 37. Drug agent, informally 4
23D 38. "No sweat!" 4
24D 39. Ball batted up and behind the catcher, say 7
25D 40. Length of a pithy joke 7
26D 41. Released from jail early 7
27D 44. Pasta preference 7
28D 45. Nine-sided figure 7
29D 46. Stirs from sleep 7
30D 48. Is over by 6
31D 49. With a light touch 6
32D 50. Suffix with problem 4
33D 53. Gold standard 5
34D 57. Scourge 4
35D 60. Shade of color 3
36D 61. Surgery sites, in brief 3
37D 62. Beanie or bowler 3

Down Clues - Strategic Hints

1D: "1. Persuades with flattery"

7 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that influence or urge by gentle urging, caressing, or flattering
  • Similar words include: inveigle, palaver, blarney
  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CAJOLES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

2D: "2. Doing keto, perhaps"

7 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ONADIET

Remember this word for future puzzles!

3D: "3. Creator of Firefox and Thunderbird"

7 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MOZILLA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

4D: "4. Woodworking tool"

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an edge tool used to cut and shape wood
  • Similar words include: adz
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ADZE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

5D: "5. Orderly arrangement: Abbr."

3 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SEQ

Remember this word for future puzzles!

6D: "6. Oscars and Grammys, e.g."

6 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a grant made by a law court
  • Similar words include: prize, honour, award
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AWARDS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

7D: "7. Wispy clouds"

5 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that usually coiled
  • Similar words include: cirrus, cirrus cloud, cirrhus
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CIRRI

Remember this word for future puzzles!

8D: "8. Approx."

3 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that standard time in the 5th time zone west of greenwich, reckoned at the 75th meridian; used in the eastern united states
  • Similar words include: Eastern Time, Eastern Standard Time
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EST

Remember this word for future puzzles!

9D: "9. Harper ___, author of "To Kill a Mockingbird""

3 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that united states filmmaker whose works explore the richness of black culture in america (born in 1957)
  • Similar words include: Gypsy Rose Lee, Richard Henry Lee, Henry Lee
  • Opposite of: windward
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LEE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

10D: "10. Monet or Manet"

6 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a person whose creative work shows sensitivity and imagination
  • Similar words include: creative person
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ARTIST

Remember this word for future puzzles!

11D: "11. Don't blow it!"

7 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BIGLEAD

Remember this word for future puzzles!

12D: "12. Reaction to pollen, e.g."

7 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that hypersensitivity reaction to a particular allergen; symptoms can vary greatly in intensity
  • Similar words include: allergic reaction
  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ALLERGY

Remember this word for future puzzles!

13D: "13. Shiny coatings"

7 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an explanation or definition of an obscure word in a text
  • Similar words include: color, colour, polish
  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GLOSSES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

14D: "18. Lyft competitor"

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: UBER

Remember this word for future puzzles!

15D: "23. Heart attack risk factor"

6 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the relative prominence of a syllable or musical note (especially with regard to stress or pitch)
  • Similar words include: tension, accentuate, strain
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: STRESS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

16D: "25. Cherokee maker"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a car suitable for traveling over rough terrain
  • Similar words include: landrover
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: JEEP

Remember this word for future puzzles!

17D: "26. "The kissing disease""

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an acute disease characterized by fever and swollen lymph nodes and an abnormal increase of mononuclear leucocytes or monocytes in the bloodstream; not highly contagious; some believe it can be transmitted by kissing
  • Similar words include: glandular fever, monophonic, infectious mononucleosis
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MONO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

18D: "27. Em, to Dorothy"

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle
  • Similar words include: auntie, aunty
  • Opposite of: uncle
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AUNT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

19D: "32. Foot, in baby talk"

6 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TOOTSY

Remember this word for future puzzles!

20D: "33. Word after fire or carpenter"

3 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that social insect living in organized colonies; characteristically the males and fertile queen have wings during breeding season; wingless sterile females are the workers
  • Similar words include: emmet, pismire
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ANT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

21D: "36. Actor Morales"

4 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ESAI

Remember this word for future puzzles!

22D: "37. Drug agent, informally"

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a lawman concerned with narcotics violations
  • Similar words include: narcotics agent, nark
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NARC

Remember this word for future puzzles!

23D: "38. "No sweat!""

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
  • Similar words include: well-situated, promiscuous, slowly
  • Opposite of: difficult, quickly
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EASY

Remember this word for future puzzles!

24D: "39. Ball batted up and behind the catcher, say"

7 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: POPFOUL

Remember this word for future puzzles!

25D: "40. Length of a pithy joke"

7 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ONELINE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

26D: "41. Released from jail early"

7 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that release a criminal from detention and place him on parole
  • Similar words include: parole
  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PAROLED

Remember this word for future puzzles!

27D: "44. Pasta preference"

7 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ALDENTE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

28D: "45. Nine-sided figure"

7 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a nine-sided polygon
  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NONAGON

Remember this word for future puzzles!

29D: "46. Stirs from sleep"

7 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that cause to become awake or conscious
  • Similar words include: awake, rouse, wake up
  • Opposite of: cause to sleep, fall asleep
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AWAKENS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

30D: "48. Is over by"

6 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ENDSAT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

31D: "49. With a light touch"

6 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that in a gradual manner
  • Similar words include: mildly, lightly, softly
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GENTLY

Remember this word for future puzzles!

32D: "50. Suffix with problem"

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ATIC

Remember this word for future puzzles!

33D: "53. Gold standard"

5 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the unit of measurement for the proportion of gold in an alloy; 18-karat gold is 75% gold; 24-karat gold is pure gold
  • Similar words include: kt, carat
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: KARAT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

34D: "57. Scourge"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that something causing misery or death
  • Similar words include: nemesis, scourge, curse
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BANE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

35D: "60. Shade of color"

3 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the quality of a color as determined by its dominant wavelength
  • Similar words include: chromaticity, imbue
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HUE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

36D: "61. Surgery sites, in brief"

3 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a state in northwestern united states on the pacific
  • Similar words include: Oregon, operating theatre, operating theater
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ORS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

37D: "62. Beanie or bowler"

3 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that headdress that protects the head from bad weather; has shaped crown and usually a brim
  • Similar words include: chapeau, lid
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HAT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

Expert Solving Strategies

Start Smart

Begin with fill-in-the-blank clues and short 3-4 letter words. These are your foundation.

Decode the Clues

Question marks indicate wordplay or puns. "Maybe" suggests multiple interpretations.

Use Cross-References

Let intersecting letters guide you. One correct answer unlocks several others.

Build Vocabulary

Common crossword words repeat. Learning them speeds up future solving.

Today's Puzzle Stats

39 Across Clues
37 Down Clues
76 Total Clues

More NYT Crossword Help

Looking for more puzzle solutions? Check out our comprehensive archive of NYT crossword hints and answers. We update daily with expert analysis and solving strategies.

Disclaimer: Crossword clues and grid © The New York Times. This site provides hints and educational content for puzzle enthusiasts. XWordHint is not affiliated with The New York Times.

Last updated: December 22, 2025 at 04:27 AM

on No comments:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)