NYT Down Today September 28, 2025: Complete Vertical Clues Walkthrough
Quick Summary: Today's NYT Crossword has 69 Down clues. We have all the vertical answers plus helpful hints to make solving easier!
Related Puzzles: June 22 2020 NYT Clues Solutions | January 24 2024 NYT Clues Solutions | August 12 2022 NYT Clues Solutions |
About Today's Down Clues
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Date | September 28, 2025 |
| Day of Week | Sunday |
| Total Down Clues | 69 clues |
| Direction | Vertical (Top to Bottom) |
| Difficulty | Tricky |
All Down Clues - Complete List
Here are all 69 Down clues for today's puzzle. These go vertically from top to bottom.
| Number | Clue |
|---|---|
| 1 Down | 1. Title heroine described as "handsome, clever and rich, with a comfortable home and happy disposition" |
| 2 Down | 2. Dough |
| 3 Down | 3. Fly-catching bird with a name derived from Greek |
| 4 Down | 4. Driveway goo |
| 5 Down | 5. As a whole |
| 6 Down | 6. Moves elsewhere |
| 7 Down | 7. Tenured profs, often |
| 8 Down | 8. Small battery … or an org. that might help with a battery |
| 9 Down | 9. It's all in your head |
| 10 Down | 10. Mother of Joseph and Benjamin, in the Bible |
| 11 Down | 11. Book after Song of Solomon |
| 12 Down | 12. French cocktail made with crème de cassis |
| 13 Down | 13. Mirrored |
| 14 Down | 14. Reasoned conclusion |
| 15 Down | 15. Brewski |
| 16 Down | 16. Bulldog fan in Connecticut |
| 17 Down | 17. Santa ___ |
| 18 Down | 18. Stellar |
| 19 Down | 19. Van ___ Avenue, thoroughfare in San Francisco |
| 20 Down | 28. Minds one's P's and Q's |
| 21 Down | 31. Contribute (to), as one's reputation |
| 22 Down | 34. Been asleep, say |
| 23 Down | 35. Texter's "Beats me" |
| 24 Down | 36. Small inlet |
| 25 Down | 38. Li'l |
| 26 Down | 43. One-named singer born in Nigeria |
| 27 Down | 45. Skier's conveyance |
| 28 Down | 46. Online site for DIYers |
| 29 Down | 47. Time out, perhaps |
| 30 Down | 48. Info commonly shown on a board game box |
| 31 Down | 50. Clown around with food? |
| 32 Down | 51. City SE of Phoenix |
| 33 Down | 52. Purpose of some cameras |
| 34 Down | 55. Reaches a shared opinion about |
| 35 Down | 56. Holistic contentment |
| 36 Down | 57. Some beans or sauces |
| 37 Down | 59. "E pluribus ___" |
| 38 Down | 62. Sport |
| 39 Down | 65. Matrix |
| 40 Down | 67. Sun bloc? |
| 41 Down | 68. Pretty ___ picture |
| 42 Down | 70. Moving around |
| 43 Down | 72. Attack |
| 44 Down | 74. You can put a ring on it |
| 45 Down | 76. Back |
| 46 Down | 78. Came back, as hair |
| 47 Down | 79. Music's Fatboy Slim and David Guetta, informally |
| 48 Down | 81. Error message on a Blu-ray device |
| 49 Down | 83. Targeted (to) |
| 50 Down | 85. Key for a quick exit |
| 51 Down | 92. Boils with rage |
| 52 Down | 95. Liberal-leaning |
| 53 Down | 97. Chinese "nut" that's really a fruit |
| 54 Down | 98. Makes small in comparison |
| 55 Down | 99. Government debt obligations, familiarly |
| 56 Down | 100. 40 winks |
| 57 Down | 101. ___ fatale |
| 58 Down | 102. Gets 40 winks |
| 59 Down | 103. Letter-shaped train track piece |
| 60 Down | 104. "To ___ own self be true" |
| 61 Down | 105. Sharpened |
| 62 Down | 106. George of "Star Trek" |
| 63 Down | 107. Bad thing to discover in the pantry |
| 64 Down | 108. AA or JJ, e.g. |
| 65 Down | 111. Jazz singer Sylvia ___ |
| 66 Down | 113. Come to |
| 67 Down | 114. "For sure" |
| 68 Down | 116. Org. that merged with the U.F.C. in 2023 |
| 69 Down | 117. Kind of party |
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:
- Xwordhint Crossword Answers September_24
- July 24 2020 NYT Clues Solutions
- June 19 2021 NYT Clues Solutions
- NYT Down Clues Answers September 25
Complete Down Solutions:
1 Down: "1. Title heroine described as "handsome, clever and rich, with a comfortable home and happy disposition""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'E' and ends with 'A'
- Word pattern: E__A
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 1
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
EMMA
2 Down: "2. Dough"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'M' and ends with 'H'
- Word pattern: M____H
- Similar words: clams, kale
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: informal terms for money
- This is Down clue number 2
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
MOOLAH
3 Down: "3. Fly-catching bird with a name derived from Greek"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'P' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: P____E
- Similar words: Sayornis phoebe, quintet
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
- This is Down clue number 3
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
PHOEBE
4 Down: "4. Driveway goo"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'T' and ends with 'R'
- Similar words: mariner, pitch
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 4
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
TAR
5 Down: "5. As a whole"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 7 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'O' and ends with 'L'
- Word pattern: O_____L
- Similar words: boilers suit, boilersuit
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 5
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
OVERALL
6 Down: "6. Moves elsewhere"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 9 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'R' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: R_______S
- Similar words: resettle
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: settle in a new place
- This is Down clue number 6
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
RESETTLES
7 Down: "7. Tenured profs, often"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'P' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: P__S
- Similar words: PhD, Ph.D.
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 7
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
PHDS
8 Down: "8. Small battery … or an org. that might help with a battery"
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 8
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
AAA
9 Down: "9. It's all in your head"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'P' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: P____E
- Similar words: soul, mind
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 9
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
PSYCHE
10 Down: "10. Mother of Joseph and Benjamin, in the Bible"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'R' and ends with 'L'
- Word pattern: R____L
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 10
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
RACHEL
11 Down: "11. Book after Song of Solomon"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'I' and ends with 'H'
- Word pattern: I____H
- Similar words: Book of Isaiah
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 11
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ISAIAH
12 Down: "12. French cocktail made with crème de cassis"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'K' and ends with 'R'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 12
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
KIR
13 Down: "13. Mirrored"
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
- Similar words: caricature, ape
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: imitate uncritically and in every aspect
- This is Down clue number 13
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
APED
14 Down: "14. Reasoned conclusion"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 9 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'I' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: I_______E
- Similar words: illation
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 14
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
INFERENCE
15 Down: "15. Brewski"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 7 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 15
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
COLDONE
16 Down: "16. Bulldog fan in Connecticut"
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 16
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ELI
17 Down: "17. Santa ___"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'M' and ends with 'A'
- Word pattern: M____A
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 17
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
MONICA
18 Down: "18. Stellar"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'L'
- Word pattern: A____L
- Similar words: stellar
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: being or relating to or resembling or emanating from stars
- This is Down clue number 18
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ASTRAL
19 Down: "19. Van ___ Avenue, thoroughfare in San Francisco"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'N' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: N__S
- Similar words: cape
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a strip of land projecting into a body of water
- This is Down clue number 19
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
NESS
20 Down: "28. Minds one's P's and Q's"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 7 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'B' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: B_____S
- Similar words: behave, carry
- Opposite of: misbehave
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 20
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
BEHAVES
21 Down: "31. Contribute (to), as one's reputation"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 7 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'R' and ends with 'D'
- Word pattern: R_____D
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: return or recoil
- This is Down clue number 21
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
REDOUND
22 Down: "34. Been asleep, say"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'L' and ends with 'N'
- Word pattern: L__N
- Similar words: lie in, rest
- Opposite of: stand
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: be located or situated somewhere; occupy a certain position
- This is Down clue number 22
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
LAIN
23 Down: "35. Texter's "Beats me""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'I' and ends with 'K'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 23
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
IDK
24 Down: "36. Small inlet"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'R' and ends with 'A'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 24
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
RIA
25 Down: "38. Li'l"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'I' and ends with 'Y'
- Word pattern: I__Y
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 25
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ITSY
26 Down: "43. One-named singer born in Nigeria"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: S__E
- Similar words: de Sade, Marquis de Sade
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 26
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SADE
27 Down: "45. Skier's conveyance"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'T' and ends with 'R'
- Word pattern: T__R
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 27
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
TBAR
28 Down: "46. Online site for DIYers"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'E' and ends with 'W'
- Word pattern: E__W
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 28
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
EHOW
29 Down: "47. Time out, perhaps"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 8 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'V' and ends with 'N'
- Word pattern: V______N
- Similar words: holiday
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: leisure time away from work devoted to rest or pleasure
- This is Down clue number 29
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
VACATION
30 Down: "48. Info commonly shown on a board game box"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 8 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'L'
- Word pattern: A______L
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 30
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
AGELEVEL
31 Down: "50. Clown around with food?"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 8 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'M' and ends with 'D'
- Word pattern: M______D
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 31
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
MCDONALD
32 Down: "51. City SE of Phoenix"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 8 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 32
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
CHANDLER
33 Down: "52. Purpose of some cameras"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 8 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'Y'
- Word pattern: S______Y
- Similar words: security system, certificate
- Opposite of: insecurity
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: the state of being free from danger or injury
- This is Down clue number 33
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SECURITY
34 Down: "55. Reaches a shared opinion about"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 8 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'N'
- Word pattern: A______N
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 34
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
AGREESON
35 Down: "56. Holistic contentment"
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: health
- Opposite of: illness
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a healthy state of wellbeing free from disease
- This is Down clue number 35
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
WELLNESS
36 Down: "57. Some beans or sauces"
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: soy, soja bean
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 36
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SOYS
37 Down: "59. "E pluribus ___""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'U' and ends with 'M'
- Word pattern: U__M
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 37
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
UNUM
38 Down: "62. Sport"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'W' and ends with 'R'
- Word pattern: W__R
- Similar words: fag, wear out
- Opposite of: refresh
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: impairment resulting from long use
- This is Down clue number 38
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
WEAR
39 Down: "65. Matrix"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'Y'
- Word pattern: A___Y
- Similar words: regalia, range
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: an orderly arrangement
- This is Down clue number 39
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ARRAY
40 Down: "67. Sun bloc?"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'N' and ends with 'A'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 40
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
NBA
41 Down: "68. Pretty ___ picture"
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 41
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ASA
42 Down: "70. Moving around"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'R'
- Word pattern: A___R
- Similar words: about, up
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: out of bed
- This is Down clue number 42
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ASTIR
43 Down: "72. Attack"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 7 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 43
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SETUPON
44 Down: "74. You can put a ring on it"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 7 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'E' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: E_____E
- Similar words: ear lobe
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: the fleshy pendulous part of the external human ear
- This is Down clue number 44
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
EARLOBE
45 Down: "76. Back"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'D' and ends with 'D'
- Word pattern: D____D
- Similar words: fight down, oppose
- Opposite of: attack
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: argue or speak in defense of
- This is Down clue number 45
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
DEFEND
46 Down: "78. Came back, as hair"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'G' and ends with 'N'
- Word pattern: G____N
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 46
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
GREWIN
47 Down: "79. Music's Fatboy Slim and David Guetta, informally"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'D' and ends with 'S'
- Similar words: disk jockey, disk-jockey
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a person who announces and plays popular recorded music
- This is Down clue number 47
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
DJS
48 Down: "81. Error message on a Blu-ray device"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'N' and ends with 'C'
- Word pattern: N____C
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 48
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
NODISC
49 Down: "83. Targeted (to)"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'G' and ends with 'D'
- Word pattern: G____D
- Similar words: pitch, gear
- Opposite of: ungeared
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: set the level or character of
- This is Down clue number 49
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
GEARED
50 Down: "85. Key for a quick exit"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'E' and ends with 'C'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 50
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ESC
51 Down: "92. Boils with rage"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 7 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'D'
- Word pattern: S_____D
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 51
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SEESRED
52 Down: "95. Liberal-leaning"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 7 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'L' and ends with 'T'
- Word pattern: L_____T
- Similar words: left-of-center, left-wing
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a person who belongs to the political left
- This is Down clue number 52
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
LEFTIST
53 Down: "97. Chinese "nut" that's really a fruit"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'L' and ends with 'I'
- Word pattern: L____I
- Similar words: litchi nut, litchi tree
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 53
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
LITCHI
54 Down: "98. Makes small in comparison"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'D' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: D____S
- Similar words: overshadow, nanus
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a person who is markedly small
- This is Down clue number 54
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
DWARFS
55 Down: "99. Government debt obligations, familiarly"
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
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 55
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
TBONDS
56 Down: "100. 40 winks"
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
- Definition: a nap in the early afternoon (especially in hot countries)
- This is Down clue number 56
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SIESTA
57 Down: "101. ___ fatale"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'F' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: F___E
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 57
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
FEMME
58 Down: "102. Gets 40 winks"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'R' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: R___S
- Similar words: ease, rest
- Opposite of: be active
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: something left after other parts have been taken away
- This is Down clue number 58
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
RESTS
59 Down: "103. Letter-shaped train track piece"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'I' and ends with 'L'
- Word pattern: I___L
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 59
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
IRAIL
60 Down: "104. "To ___ own self be true""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 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 60
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
THINE
61 Down: "105. Sharpened"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'H' and ends with 'D'
- Word pattern: H___D
- Similar words: hone, perfect
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: sharpen with a hone
- This is Down clue number 61
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
HONED
62 Down: "106. George of "Star Trek""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'T' and ends with 'I'
- Word pattern: T___I
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 62
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
TAKEI
63 Down: "107. Bad thing to discover in the pantry"
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: odour, scent
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 63
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SMELL
64 Down: "108. AA or JJ, e.g."
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'P' and ends with 'R'
- Word pattern: P__R
- Similar words: yoke, partner off
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a set of two similar things considered as a unit
- This is Down clue number 64
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
PAIR
65 Down: "111. Jazz singer Sylvia ___"
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
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 65
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SYMS
66 Down: "113. Come to"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'E'
- Similar words: follow, live
- Opposite of: differ
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a unit of surface area equal to 100 square meters
- This is Down clue number 66
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ARE
67 Down: "114. "For sure""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'Y' and ends with 'S'
- Opposite of: no
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: an affirmative
- This is Down clue number 67
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
YES
68 Down: "116. Org. that merged with the U.F.C. in 2023"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'W' and ends with 'E'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 68
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
WWE
69 Down: "117. Kind of party"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'H' and ends with 'N'
- Similar words: biddy
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: adult female chicken
- This is Down clue number 69
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
HEN
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 69 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.