NYT Down Clues Answers October 23, 2025 - All 38 Vertical Solutions & Expert Hints
Quick Summary: Today's NYT Crossword has 38 Down clues. We have all the vertical answers plus helpful hints to make solving easier!
Related Puzzles: Monday NYT Across Solutions September | All NYT Across Clues September 26 2025 | August 06 2019 NYT Clues Solutions |
About Today's Down Clues
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Date | October 23, 2025 |
| Day of Week | Thursday |
| Total Down Clues | 38 clues |
| Direction | Vertical (Top to Bottom) |
| Difficulty | Easy |
All Down Clues - Complete List
Here are all 38 Down clues for today's puzzle. These go vertically from top to bottom.
| Number | Clue |
|---|---|
| 1 Down | 1. "Should we?," informally |
| 2 Down | 2. A.L. East athlete |
| 3 Down | 3. Money maker |
| 4 Down | 4. Peninsula south of California, colloquially |
| 5 Down | 5. It's an affront |
| 6 Down | 6. One-up |
| 7 Down | 7. Worst-possible Amazon rating |
| 8 Down | 8. Prez on a U.S. coin |
| 9 Down | 9. Slugger Sammy |
| 10 Down | 10. Holder of the N.B.A.'s career points record before LeBron passed him in 2023 |
| 11 Down | 11. "You've overstayed your welcome" |
| 12 Down | 12. Figures on DraftKings or FanDuel |
| 13 Down | 13. Put forward |
| 14 Down | 18. ___ Nicolas, remotest of California's Channel Islands |
| 15 Down | 22. Set of notches in a dictionary |
| 16 Down | 25. Classic Camaros |
| 17 Down | 28. "Didn't mean to offend you" |
| 18 Down | 30. Best ever, informally |
| 19 Down | 31. Neither's partner |
| 20 Down | 32. Common fixtures over fireplaces |
| 21 Down | 34. Part of U.S.M.A.: Abbr. |
| 22 Down | 35. Accounts |
| 23 Down | 37. Prez two decades after 8-Down |
| 24 Down | 38. "I'll answer all your questions" session, online |
| 25 Down | 39. Site of a huge annual crowd |
| 26 Down | 41. High place to view a high art |
| 27 Down | 44. Paintings on plaster |
| 28 Down | 46. Bit of food for a hamster |
| 29 Down | 48. Some |
| 30 Down | 49. ___ Simpson, musical sister of Jessica |
| 31 Down | 52. Certain salad veggies |
| 32 Down | 53. Where Rudolph could first be seen in 2000, for short |
| 33 Down | 55. Command posts |
| 34 Down | 56. Checkers move |
| 35 Down | 57. Product with a Cakesters variety |
| 36 Down | 58. Said angrily |
| 37 Down | 60. Lou ___, "Mambo No. 5" singer |
| 38 Down | 63. Speck in la Seine |
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:
- October 06 2021 NYT Clues Solutions
- November 11 2019 NYT Clues Solutions
- August 06 2019 NYT Clues Solutions
- Xwordhint Crossword Answers October 20
Complete Down Solutions:
1 Down: "1. "Should we?," informally"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'W' and ends with 'A'
- Word pattern: W___A
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 1
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
WANNA
2 Down: "2. A.L. East athlete"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'O' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: O____E
- Similar words: American oriole
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 2
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ORIOLE
3 Down: "3. Money maker"
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
- Similar words: coiner, moneyer
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a skilled worker who coins or stamps money
- This is Down clue number 3
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
MINTER
4 Down: "4. Peninsula south of California, colloquially"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 10 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'B' and ends with 'O'
- Word pattern: B________O
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 4
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
BAJAMEXICO
5 Down: "5. It's an affront"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'P'
- Word pattern: S__P
- Similar words: smack, smacking
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a blow from a flat object (as an open hand)
- This is Down clue number 5
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SLAP
6 Down: "6. One-up"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'O' and ends with 'O'
- Word pattern: O___O
- Similar words: scoop, outmatch
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: be or do something to a greater degree
- This is Down clue number 6
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
OUTDO
7 Down: "7. Worst-possible Amazon rating"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 7 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 7
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ONESTAR
8 Down: "8. Prez on a U.S. coin"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'F' and ends with 'R'
- Similar words: Roosevelt, F. D. Roosevelt
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 8
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
FDR
9 Down: "9. Slugger Sammy"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 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 9
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SOSA
10 Down: "10. Holder of the N.B.A.'s career points record before LeBron passed him in 2023"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'K' and ends with 'M'
- Word pattern: K____M
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 10
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
KAREEM
11 Down: "11. "You've overstayed your welcome""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 8 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'P' and ends with 'O'
- Word pattern: P______O
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 11
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
PLEASEGO
12 Down: "12. Figures on DraftKings or FanDuel"
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: betting odds
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 12
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ODDS
13 Down: "13. Put forward"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'P' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: P__E
- Similar words: impersonate, stick
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: affected manners intended to impress others
- This is Down clue number 13
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
POSE
14 Down: "18. ___ Nicolas, remotest of California's Channel Islands"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'N'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 14
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SAN
15 Down: "22. Set of notches in a dictionary"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 10 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'T' and ends with 'X'
- Word pattern: T________X
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 15
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
THUMBINDEX
16 Down: "25. Classic Camaros"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'I' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: I___S
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 16
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
IROCS
17 Down: "28. "Didn't mean to offend you""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 7 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'N' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: N_____E
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 17
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
NOSHADE
18 Down: "30. Best ever, informally"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'G' and ends with 'T'
- Word pattern: G__T
- Similar words: stooge, caprine animal
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 18
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
GOAT
19 Down: "31. Neither's partner"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'N' and ends with 'R'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 19
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
NOR
20 Down: "32. Common fixtures over fireplaces"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'T' and ends with 'S'
- Similar words: boob tube, idiot box
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 20
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
TVS
21 Down: "34. Part of U.S.M.A.: Abbr."
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'D'
- Word pattern: A__D
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 21
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ACAD
22 Down: "35. Accounts"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'T' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: T___S
- Similar words: narrative, narration
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 22
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
TALES
23 Down: "37. Prez two decades after 8-Down"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'L' and ends with 'J'
- Similar words: Lyndon Johnson, Johnson
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 23
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
LBJ
24 Down: "38. "I'll answer all your questions" session, online"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'A'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 24
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
AMA
25 Down: "39. Site of a huge annual crowd"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 11 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'T' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: T_________E
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 25
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
TIMESSQUARE
26 Down: "41. High place to view a high art"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 8 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'O' and ends with 'X'
- Word pattern: O______X
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 26
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
OPERABOX
27 Down: "44. Paintings on plaster"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 7 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'F' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: F_____S
- Similar words: fresco
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a mural done with watercolors on wet plaster
- This is Down clue number 27
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
FRESCOS
28 Down: "46. Bit of food for a hamster"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'P' and ends with 'T'
- Word pattern: P____T
- Similar words: shot
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a small sphere
- This is Down clue number 28
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
PELLET
29 Down: "48. Some"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'N' and ends with 'L'
- Word pattern: N____L
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 29
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
NOTALL
30 Down: "49. ___ Simpson, musical sister of Jessica"
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
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 30
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ASHLEE
31 Down: "52. Certain salad veggies"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'C' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: C___S
- Similar words: cuke, cucumber
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 31
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
CUKES
32 Down: "53. Where Rudolph could first be seen in 2000, for short"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'L'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 32
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SNL
33 Down: "55. Command posts"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'H' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: H___S
- Similar words: helm
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 33
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
HELMS
34 Down: "56. Checkers move"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'J' and ends with 'P'
- Word pattern: J__P
- Similar words: leap out, rise
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a sudden and decisive increase
- This is Down clue number 34
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
JUMP
35 Down: "57. Product with a Cakesters variety"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'O' and ends with 'O'
- Word pattern: O__O
- Similar words: oreo cookie
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: chocolate cookie with white cream filling
- This is Down clue number 35
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
OREO
36 Down: "58. Said angrily"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'T'
- Word pattern: S__T
- Similar words: spue, spit
- Opposite of: boo
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a quarrel about petty points
- This is Down clue number 36
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SPAT
37 Down: "60. Lou ___, "Mambo No. 5" singer"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'B' and ends with 'A'
- Word pattern: B__A
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 37
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
BEGA
38 Down: "63. Speck in la Seine"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'I' and ends with 'E'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 38
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ILE
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 38 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.