Jump To Section About Today's Down Clues NYT Down Clues - Saturday, September 27, 2025 Down Clues Statistics Detail Information Date September 27, 2025 Day of Week Saturday Total Down Clues 34 clues Direction Vertical (Top to Bottom) Difficulty Medium
All Down Clues - Complete List Here are all 34 Down clues for today's puzzle. These go vertically from top to bottom.
Complete Down Clues List Number Clue 1 Down 1. Contempt, in slang 2 Down 2. Actress with a dual role in 1998's "The Parent Trap" 3 Down 3. Tends to some pressing matters 4 Down 4. Punk 5 Down 5. The first Musketeer, alphabetically 6 Down 6. Kept hidden, as information 7 Down 7. Product for winter sidewalk safety 8 Down 8. "Mean Girls" writer 9 Down 9. Firewood choice, or its destiny 10 Down 10. Rubs the wrong way 11 Down 11. Alternative to a crib 12 Down 12. Classic rock? 13 Down 13. Paratha flour 14 Down 15. Digital file? 15 Down 22. Runs slowly 16 Down 23. Kind of contest with multiple chances to participate 17 Down 26. [This makes me mad!] 18 Down 27. Is on the bottom? 19 Down 28. One who's slow to pick things up 20 Down 29. What an insensitive joke might do 21 Down 30. Locale for many community courts 22 Down 31. "Love Story" author Erich 23 Down 34. Diagnostic tool, in brief 24 Down 36. Natural history museum collection 25 Down 39. Simplest possible phone plan 26 Down 42. Sam Cooke and Marvin Gaye, among others 27 Down 43. Solo sorts 28 Down 46. Particle accelerator byproduct 29 Down 47. Statement that might follow a hug 30 Down 48. ___ Lines (ancient Peruvian geoglyphs) 31 Down 49. Bandage 32 Down 50. Burns, e.g. 33 Down 53. What comes before 1/1 34 Down 54. Drug discussed in Aldous Huxley's "Heaven and Hell"
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. Contempt, in slang" 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: nicety, refinement This is an abbreviation or acronym This is Down clue number 1 Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer SHADE
2 Down: "2. Actress with a dual role in 1998's "The Parent Trap"" Helpful hints for this Down clue:
This word has 5 letters going top to bottom It starts with 'L' and ends with 'N' Word pattern: L___N Similar words: Arhant, Arhat This is an abbreviation or acronym Definition: a Buddhist who has attained nirvana This is Down clue number 2 Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer LOHAN
3 Down: "3. Tends to some pressing matters" 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 Similar words: chains, branding iron This is an abbreviation or acronym Definition: metal shackles; for hands or legs This is Down clue number 3 Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer IRONS
4 Down: "4. Punk" Helpful hints for this Down clue:
This word has 8 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 4 Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer PSYCHOUT
5 Down: "5. The first Musketeer, alphabetically" 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 This is an abbreviation or acronym This is Down clue number 5 Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer ARAMIS
6 Down: "6. Kept hidden, as information" 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 This is Down clue number 6 Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer SATON
7 Down: "7. Product for winter sidewalk safety" Helpful hints for this Down clue:
This word has 7 letters going top to bottom It starts with 'I' and ends with 'T' Word pattern: I_____T This is an abbreviation or acronym This is Down clue number 7 Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer ICEMELT
8 Down: "8. "Mean Girls" writer" Helpful hints for this Down clue:
This word has 3 letters going top to bottom It starts with 'F' and ends with 'Y' Similar words: elfin, touched This is an abbreviation or acronym Definition: slightly insane This is Down clue number 8 Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer FEY
9 Down: "9. Firewood choice, or its destiny" Helpful hints for this Down clue:
This word has 3 letters going top to bottom It starts with 'A' and ends with 'H' Similar words: ash tree This is an abbreviation or acronym Definition: the residue that remains when something is burned This is Down clue number 9 Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer ASH
10 Down: "10. Rubs the wrong way" Helpful hints for this Down clue:
This word has 6 letters going top to bottom It starts with 'C' and ends with 'S' Word pattern: C____S Similar words: fret, bother This is an abbreviation or acronym Definition: soreness and warmth caused by friction This is Down clue number 10 Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer CHAFES
11 Down: "11. Alternative to a crib" Helpful hints for this Down clue:
This word has 9 letters going top to bottom It starts with 'C' and ends with 'R' Word pattern: C_______R This is an abbreviation or acronym This is Down clue number 11 Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer COSLEEPER
12 Down: "12. Classic rock?" Helpful hints for this Down clue:
This word has 9 letters going top to bottom It starts with 'R' and ends with 'E' Word pattern: R_______E This is an abbreviation or acronym This is Down clue number 12 Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer RUNESTONE
13 Down: "13. Paratha flour" Helpful hints for this Down clue:
This word has 4 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 13 Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer ATTA
14 Down: "15. Digital file?" Helpful hints for this Down clue:
This word has 10 letters going top to bottom It starts with 'E' and ends with 'D' Word pattern: E________D This is an abbreviation or acronym This is Down clue number 14 Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer EMERYBOARD
15 Down: "22. Runs slowly" Helpful hints for this Down clue:
This word has 5 letters going top to bottom It starts with 'S' and ends with 'S' Word pattern: S___S Similar words: seep, ooze This is an abbreviation or acronym This is Down clue number 15 Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer SEEPS
16 Down: "23. Kind of contest with multiple chances to participate" Helpful hints for this Down clue:
This word has 10 letters going top to bottom It starts with 'B' and ends with 'Y' Word pattern: B________Y This is an abbreviation or acronym This is Down clue number 16 Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer BONUSENTRY
17 Down: "26. [This makes me mad!]" Helpful hints for this Down clue:
This word has 3 letters going top to bottom It starts with 'G' and ends with 'R' This is an abbreviation or acronym This is Down clue number 17 Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer GRR
18 Down: "27. Is on the bottom?" Helpful hints for this Down clue:
This word has 4 letters going top to bottom It starts with 'S' and ends with 'S' Word pattern: S__S Similar words: ride, sit Opposite of: stand This is an abbreviation or acronym Definition: be seated This is Down clue number 18 Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer SITS
19 Down: "28. One who's slow to pick things up" Helpful hints for this Down clue:
This word has 4 letters going top to bottom It starts with 'S' and ends with 'B' Word pattern: S__B Similar words: slovenly person, pig This is an abbreviation or acronym Definition: a coarse obnoxious person This is Down clue number 19 Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer SLOB
20 Down: "29. What an insensitive joke might do" Helpful hints for this Down clue:
This word has 9 letters going top to bottom It starts with 'H' and ends with 'E' Word pattern: H_______E This is an abbreviation or acronym This is Down clue number 20 Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer HITANERVE
21 Down: "30. Locale for many community courts" Helpful hints for this Down clue:
This word has 9 letters going top to bottom It starts with 'R' and ends with 'R' Word pattern: R_______R This is an abbreviation or acronym This is Down clue number 21 Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer RECCENTER
22 Down: "31. "Love Story" author Erich" Helpful hints for this Down clue:
This word has 5 letters going top to bottom It starts with 'S' and ends with 'L' Word pattern: S___L Similar words: George Segal This is an abbreviation or acronym Definition: United States sculptor (born in 1924) This is Down clue number 22 Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer SEGAL
23 Down: "34. Diagnostic tool, in brief" Helpful hints for this Down clue:
This word has 3 letters going top to bottom It starts with 'M' and ends with 'I' This is an abbreviation or acronym This is Down clue number 23 Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer MRI
24 Down: "36. Natural history museum collection" 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 Similar words: panorama, cyclorama This is an abbreviation or acronym This is Down clue number 24 Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer DIORAMAS
25 Down: "39. Simplest possible phone plan" Helpful hints for this Down clue:
This word has 7 letters going top to bottom It starts with 'O' and ends with 'E' Word pattern: O_____E This is an abbreviation or acronym This is Down clue number 25 Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer ONERATE
26 Down: "42. Sam Cooke and Marvin Gaye, among others" Helpful hints for this Down clue:
This word has 6 letters going top to bottom It starts with 'T' and ends with 'S' Word pattern: T____S Similar words: tenor voice, strain This is an abbreviation or acronym Definition: the adult male singing voice above baritone This is Down clue number 26 Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer TENORS
27 Down: "43. Solo sorts" Helpful hints for this Down clue:
This word has 6 letters going top to bottom It starts with 'L' and ends with 'S' Word pattern: L____S Similar words: lone hand, lone wolf This is an abbreviation or acronym Definition: a person who avoids the company or assistance of others This is Down clue number 27 Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer LONERS
28 Down: "46. Particle accelerator byproduct" Helpful hints for this Down clue:
This word has 5 letters going top to bottom It starts with 'M' and ends with 'N' Word pattern: M___N Similar words: mesotron This is an abbreviation or acronym This is Down clue number 28 Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer MESON
29 Down: "47. Statement that might follow a hug" Helpful hints for this Down clue:
This word has 5 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 29 Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer ICARE
30 Down: "48. ___ Lines (ancient Peruvian geoglyphs)" Helpful hints for this Down clue:
This word has 5 letters going top to bottom It starts with 'N' and ends with 'A' Word pattern: N___A This is an abbreviation or acronym This is Down clue number 30 Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer NAZCA
31 Down: "49. Bandage" Helpful hints for this Down clue:
This word has 5 letters going top to bottom It starts with 'D' and ends with 'S' Word pattern: D___S Similar words: prune, apparel Opposite of: undress This is an abbreviation or acronym Definition: a one-piece garment for a woman; has skirt and bodice This is Down clue number 31 Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer DRESS
32 Down: "50. Burns, e.g." Helpful hints for this Down clue:
This word has 4 letters going top to bottom It starts with 'P' and ends with 'T' Word pattern: P__T This is an abbreviation or acronym This is Down clue number 32 Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer POET
33 Down: "53. What comes before 1/1" Helpful hints for this Down clue:
This word has 3 letters going top to bottom It starts with 'N' and ends with 'E' This is an abbreviation or acronym This is Down clue number 33 Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer NYE
34 Down: "54. Drug discussed in Aldous Huxley's "Heaven and Hell"" Helpful hints for this Down clue:
This word has 3 letters going top to bottom It starts with 'L' and ends with 'D' This is an abbreviation or acronym This is Down clue number 34 Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer LSD
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 34 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: September 27, 2025 at 05:12 AM
Search terms: NYT Down, Down clues, vertical, crossword answers, top to bottom, September 27 2025 down clues