Down Clues NYT December 01, 2025 - Today's Complete Vertical Solutions
Quick Summary: Today's NYT Crossword has 41 Down clues. We have all the vertical answers plus helpful hints to make solving easier!
Related Puzzles: July 07 2020 NYT Clues Solutions | September 29 2020 NYT Clues Solutions | December 17 2019 NYT Clues Solutions |
About Today's Down Clues
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Date | December 01, 2025 |
| Day of Week | Monday |
| Total Down Clues | 41 clues |
| Direction | Vertical (Top to Bottom) |
| Difficulty | Easy |
All Down Clues - Complete List
Here are all 41 Down clues for today's puzzle. These go vertically from top to bottom.
| Number | Clue |
|---|---|
| 1 Down | 1. ___ 1 (speed of sound) |
| 2 Down | 2. Result of yelling into a cave |
| 3 Down | 3. Supercomputer precursor |
| 4 Down | 4. Container on a ship from the Mideast |
| 5 Down | 5. Napkin's spot |
| 6 Down | 6. Best of the best |
| 7 Down | 7. Narnian talking lion |
| 8 Down | 8. Classic music style beloved by Weird Al Yankovic |
| 9 Down | 9. Performance in which a lady might be sawed in half |
| 10 Down | 10. Actress Noblezada of "Hadestown" |
| 11 Down | 11. Third-smallest country in the world (eight square miles) |
| 12 Down | 12. "Dinner is served!" |
| 13 Down | 13. Caught some Z's |
| 14 Down | 18. Country where sticky rice is a staple |
| 15 Down | 22. Prefix with friendly |
| 16 Down | 25. Zilch |
| 17 Down | 26. British singer Rita |
| 18 Down | 27. Adds unnecessary words to |
| 19 Down | 28. Computer menu heading next to "File" |
| 20 Down | 32. Preceder of skip and jump |
| 21 Down | 33. Ex-QB Manning |
| 22 Down | 34. Absolutely nail |
| 23 Down | 36. Bit of musical flair |
| 24 Down | 37. Effortlessness |
| 25 Down | 38. Establishments offering facials |
| 26 Down | 40. Game in which sound effects are banned |
| 27 Down | 41. Counterpart to sciences |
| 28 Down | 44. Split-___ soup |
| 29 Down | 46. Grew up |
| 30 Down | 48. Young 'un |
| 31 Down | 50. Bit of musical flair |
| 32 Down | 51. "Les Misérables" setting |
| 33 Down | 52. Midway Airport alternative |
| 34 Down | 53. Hospital glove material |
| 35 Down | 54. Wolf groups |
| 36 Down | 55. Disposed (to) |
| 37 Down | 56. Edmonton hockey player |
| 38 Down | 60. Chew, like a dog on a bone |
| 39 Down | 61. Teensy |
| 40 Down | 63. Tolkien tree creature |
| 41 Down | 65. "For sure" |
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:
- July 07 2020 NYT Clues Solutions
- February 28 2022 NYT Clues Solutions
- March 03 2022 NYT Clues Solutions
- All NYT Down Clues October 03 2025 35
Complete Down Solutions:
1 Down: "1. ___ 1 (speed of sound)"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'M' and ends with 'H'
- Word pattern: M__H
- Similar words: Ernst Mach
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 1
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
MACH
2 Down: "2. Result of yelling into a cave"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'E' and ends with 'O'
- Word pattern: E__O
- Similar words: reverberation, reverberate
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 2
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ECHO
3 Down: "3. Supercomputer precursor"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 9 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'M' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: M_______E
- Similar words: processor, CPU
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 3
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
MAINFRAME
4 Down: "4. Container on a ship from the Mideast"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 7 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'O' and ends with 'M'
- Word pattern: O_____M
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 4
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
OILDRUM
5 Down: "5. Napkin's spot"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'L' and ends with 'P'
- Similar words: wash, lap up
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: the upper side of the thighs of a seated person
- This is Down clue number 5
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
LAP
6 Down: "6. Best of the best"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'E' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: E___E
- Similar words: elite group, elect
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 6
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ELITE
7 Down: "7. Narnian talking lion"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 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 7
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ASLAN
8 Down: "8. Classic music style beloved by Weird Al Yankovic"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'P' and ends with 'A'
- Word pattern: P___A
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: music performed for dancing the polka
- This is Down clue number 8
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
POLKA
9 Down: "9. Performance in which a lady might be sawed in half"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 8 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'M' and ends with 'T'
- Word pattern: M______T
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 9
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
MAGICACT
10 Down: "10. Actress Noblezada of "Hadestown""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'E' and ends with 'A'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 10
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
EVA
11 Down: "11. Third-smallest country in the world (eight square miles)"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'N' and ends with 'U'
- Word pattern: N___U
- Similar words: Pleasant Island, Nauru Island
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 11
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
NAURU
12 Down: "12. "Dinner is served!""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'D' and ends with 'N'
- Word pattern: D___N
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 12
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
DIGIN
13 Down: "13. Caught some Z's"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'T'
- Word pattern: S___T
- Similar words: sleep, catch some Z's
- Opposite of: wake
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: be asleep
- This is Down clue number 13
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SLEPT
14 Down: "18. Country where sticky rice is a staple"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'L' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: L__S
- Similar words: Laotian, Lao
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 14
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
LAOS
15 Down: "22. Prefix with friendly"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'E' and ends with 'O'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 15
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ECO
16 Down: "25. Zilch"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'Z' and ends with 'O'
- Word pattern: Z__O
- Similar words: cipher, zip
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a quantity of no importance
- This is Down clue number 16
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ZERO
17 Down: "26. British singer Rita"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'O' and ends with 'A'
- Similar words: OS, os
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a mouth or mouthlike opening
- This is Down clue number 17
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ORA
18 Down: "27. Adds unnecessary words to"
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: dramatise, blow up
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 18
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
PADS
19 Down: "28. Computer menu heading next to "File""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'E' and ends with 'T'
- Word pattern: E__T
- Similar words: redact, blue-pencil
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: prepare for publication or presentation by correcting
- This is Down clue number 19
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
EDIT
20 Down: "32. Preceder of skip and jump"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'H' and ends with 'P'
- Similar words: hop-skip, skip
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 20
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
HOP
21 Down: "33. Ex-QB Manning"
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 21
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ELI
22 Down: "34. Absolutely nail"
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: unity, whiz
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 22
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ACE
23 Down: "36. Bit of musical flair"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 9 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'G' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: G_______E
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 23
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
GRACENOTE
24 Down: "37. Effortlessness"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'E' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: E__E
- Similar words: repose, simpleness
- Opposite of: difficulty
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: freedom from difficulty or hardship or effort
- This is Down clue number 24
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
EASE
25 Down: "38. Establishments offering facials"
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: resort hotel, watering hole
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a health resort near a spring or at the seaside
- This is Down clue number 25
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SPAS
26 Down: "40. Game in which sound effects are banned"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 8 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'C' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: C______S
- Similar words: sendup, charade
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: player acts out a phrase for others to guess
- This is Down clue number 26
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
CHARADES
27 Down: "41. Counterpart to sciences"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: A__S
- Similar words: graphics, prowess
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 27
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ARTS
28 Down: "44. Split-___ soup"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'P' and ends with 'A'
- Similar words: pea plant
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: seed of a pea plant used for food
- This is Down clue number 28
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
PEA
29 Down: "46. Grew up"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 7 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'M' and ends with 'D'
- Word pattern: M_____D
- Similar words: grow, suppurate
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: develop and reach maturity; undergo maturation
- This is Down clue number 29
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
MATURED
30 Down: "48. Young 'un"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'T' and ends with 'T'
- Similar words: add, sum up
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a small amount (especially of a drink)
- This is Down clue number 30
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
TOT
31 Down: "50. Bit of musical flair"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'R' and ends with 'F'
- Word pattern: R__F
- Similar words: thumb, flick
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a Berber living in northern Morocco
- This is Down clue number 31
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
RIFF
32 Down: "51. "Les Misérables" setting"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'P' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: P___S
- Similar words: City of Light, genus Paris
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 32
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
PARIS
33 Down: "52. Midway Airport alternative"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 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 33
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
OHARE
34 Down: "53. Hospital glove material"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'L' and ends with 'X'
- Word pattern: L___X
- Similar words: latex paint
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 34
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
LATEX
35 Down: "54. Wolf groups"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'P' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: P___S
- Similar words: face pack, load down
- Opposite of: unpack
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a large indefinite number
- This is Down clue number 35
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
PACKS
36 Down: "55. Disposed (to)"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'P' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: P___E
- Similar words: prostrate
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: having a tendency (to); often used in combination
- This is Down clue number 36
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
PRONE
37 Down: "56. Edmonton hockey player"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'O' and ends with 'R'
- Word pattern: O___R
- Similar words: oil well, oil tanker
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a worker who oils engines or machinery
- This is Down clue number 37
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
OILER
38 Down: "60. Chew, like a dog on a bone"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'G' and ends with 'W'
- Word pattern: G__W
- Similar words: wear away, eat at
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: bite or chew on with the teeth
- This is Down clue number 38
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
GNAW
39 Down: "61. Teensy"
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 39
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ITSY
40 Down: "63. Tolkien tree creature"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'E' and ends with 'T'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 40
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ENT
41 Down: "65. "For sure""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'D' and ends with 'F'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 41
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
DEF
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 41 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.
