Tuesday's NYT Down Oct 21 - Full Vertical Grid Solutions
Quick Summary: Today's NYT Crossword has 37 Down clues. We have all the vertical answers plus helpful hints to make solving easier!
Related Puzzles: February 29 2020 NYT Clues Solutions | June 29 2020 NYT Clues Solutions | November 06 2021 NYT Clues Solutions |
About Today's Down Clues
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Date | October 21, 2025 |
| Day of Week | Tuesday |
| Total Down Clues | 37 clues |
| Direction | Vertical (Top to Bottom) |
| Difficulty | Challenging |
All Down Clues - Complete List
Here are all 37 Down clues for today's puzzle. These go vertically from top to bottom.
| Number | Clue |
|---|---|
| 1 Down | 1. The "A" of MoMA |
| 2 Down | 2. Seaweed wrap for maki |
| 3 Down | 3. Secluded valley |
| 4 Down | 4. Some info sheets |
| 5 Down | 5. Radical |
| 6 Down | 6. One doing stellar work? |
| 7 Down | 7. Golfer's warning |
| 8 Down | 8. Regretted |
| 9 Down | 9. Major oil cartel, in brief |
| 10 Down | 10. "Bravo!" |
| 11 Down | 11. Blatant |
| 12 Down | 12. Flat-topped landforms |
| 13 Down | 15. Full range |
| 14 Down | 20. Tinder account datum that can't be edited |
| 15 Down | 21. The Hundred ___ Wood (storybook setting) |
| 16 Down | 24. Post to an online journal |
| 17 Down | 25. Org. for seniors |
| 18 Down | 26. Advances from third while the pitcher is distracted, say |
| 19 Down | 27. What team-building activities are designed to build |
| 20 Down | 28. Noodle that might be stuffed |
| 21 Down | 29. Dined |
| 22 Down | 33. Actor Wilson |
| 23 Down | 34. "Frozen" queen |
| 24 Down | 36. Suffix with lemon or stock |
| 25 Down | 37. Slow-cooked taco filling |
| 26 Down | 39. "___ just me, or …?" |
| 27 Down | 40. Rigorously demanding sort |
| 28 Down | 42. Nautical greetings |
| 29 Down | 43. "Gosh!" |
| 30 Down | 44. Popular hummus brand |
| 31 Down | 45. Run-of-the-mill |
| 32 Down | 48. Rae of "Barbie" |
| 33 Down | 49. Inexperienced gamer, informally |
| 34 Down | 50. Factual |
| 35 Down | 51. What "maki" means in Japanese |
| 36 Down | 52. Kardashian matriarch |
| 37 Down | 56. Contract enforcing secrecy, for short |
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 October 07
- June 27 2020 NYT Clues Solutions
- June 29 2020 NYT Clues Solutions
- February 29 2020 NYT Clues Solutions
Complete Down Solutions:
1 Down: "1. The "A" of MoMA"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'T'
- Similar words: artwork, prowess
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: the products of human creativity; works of art collectively
- This is Down clue number 1
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ART
2 Down: "2. Seaweed wrap for maki"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'N' and ends with 'I'
- Word pattern: N__I
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 2
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
NORI
3 Down: "3. Secluded valley"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'G' and ends with 'N'
- Word pattern: G__N
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a narrow secluded valley (in the mountains)
- This is Down clue number 3
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
GLEN
4 Down: "4. Some info sheets"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 8 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'L' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: L______S
- Similar words: brochure, folder
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a thin triangular flap of a heart valve
- This is Down clue number 4
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
LEAFLETS
5 Down: "5. Radical"
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: extremum, utmost
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: the furthest or highest degree of something
- This is Down clue number 5
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
EXTREME
6 Down: "6. One doing stellar work?"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 10 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'R'
- Word pattern: A________R
- Similar words: stargazer, uranologist
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a physicist who studies astronomy
- This is Down clue number 6
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ASTRONOMER
7 Down: "7. Golfer's warning"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'F' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: F__E
- Similar words: stem, prow
- Opposite of: aft
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: front part of a vessel or aircraft
- This is Down clue number 7
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
FORE
8 Down: "8. Regretted"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'R' and ends with 'D'
- Word pattern: R__D
- Similar words: rue, repent
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: feel remorse for; feel sorry for; be contrite about
- This is Down clue number 8
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
RUED
9 Down: "9. Major oil cartel, in brief"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'O' and ends with 'C'
- Word pattern: O__C
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 9
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
OPEC
10 Down: "10. "Bravo!""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 10 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 10
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
NICELYDONE
11 Down: "11. Blatant"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'O' and ends with 'T'
- Word pattern: O___T
- Similar words: open
- Opposite of: covert
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: open and observable; not secret or hidden
- This is Down clue number 11
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
OVERT
12 Down: "12. Flat-topped landforms"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'M' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: M___S
- Similar words: Mesa, mesa
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: flat tableland with steep edges
- This is Down clue number 12
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
MESAS
13 Down: "15. Full range"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'G' and ends with 'T'
- Word pattern: G___T
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a complete extent or range:
- This is Down clue number 13
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
GAMUT
14 Down: "20. Tinder account datum that can't be edited"
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: years, eld
- Opposite of: rejuvenate
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: how long something has existed
- This is Down clue number 14
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
AGE
15 Down: "21. The Hundred ___ Wood (storybook setting)"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: A__E
- Similar words: Accho, Akko
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 15
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ACRE
16 Down: "24. Post to an online journal"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'B' and ends with 'G'
- Word pattern: B__G
- Similar words: web log
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 16
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
BLOG
17 Down: "25. Org. for seniors"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'P'
- Word pattern: A__P
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 17
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
AARP
18 Down: "26. Advances from third while the pitcher is distracted, say"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 10 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: S________E
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 18
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
STEALSHOME
19 Down: "27. What team-building activities are designed to build"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'T' and ends with 'T'
- Word pattern: T___T
- Similar words: hope, corporate trust
- Opposite of: mistrust
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 19
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
TRUST
20 Down: "28. Noodle that might be stuffed"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 10 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'P' and ends with 'L'
- Word pattern: P________L
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 20
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
PASTASHELL
21 Down: "29. Dined"
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: use up, corrode
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: goddess of criminal rashness and its punishment
- This is Down clue number 21
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ATE
22 Down: "33. Actor Wilson"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'O' and ends with 'N'
- Word pattern: O__N
- Similar words: Robert Owen
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 22
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
OWEN
23 Down: "34. "Frozen" queen"
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 23
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ELSA
24 Down: "36. Suffix with lemon or stock"
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: fruit drink
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a sweetened beverage of diluted fruit juice
- This is Down clue number 24
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ADE
25 Down: "37. Slow-cooked taco filling"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 8 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 25
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
BARBACOA
26 Down: "39. "___ just me, or …?""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 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 26
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ISIT
27 Down: "40. Rigorously demanding sort"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 7 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'H' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: H_____S
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 27
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
HARDASS
28 Down: "42. Nautical greetings"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 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 28
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
AHOYS
29 Down: "43. "Gosh!""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'G' and ends with 'E'
- Similar words: g, g-force
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 29
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
GEE
30 Down: "44. Popular hummus brand"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 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 native-born Israeli
- This is Down clue number 30
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SABRA
31 Down: "45. Run-of-the-mill"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'U' and ends with 'L'
- Word pattern: U___L
- Similar words: common
- Opposite of: unusual
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 31
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
USUAL
32 Down: "48. Rae of "Barbie""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'I' and ends with 'A'
- Word pattern: I__A
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 32
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ISSA
33 Down: "49. Inexperienced gamer, informally"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'N' and ends with 'B'
- Word pattern: N__B
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 33
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
NOOB
34 Down: "50. Factual"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'T' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: T__E
- Similar words: dead on target, rightful
- Opposite of: false
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 34
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
TRUE
35 Down: "51. What "maki" means in Japanese"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'R' and ends with 'L'
- Word pattern: R__L
- Similar words: axial motion, gyre
- Opposite of: unwind
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: rotary motion of an object around its own axis
- This is Down clue number 35
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ROLL
36 Down: "52. Kardashian matriarch"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'K' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: K__S
- Similar words: crease, creese
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a Malayan dagger with a wavy blade
- This is Down clue number 36
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
KRIS
37 Down: "56. Contract enforcing secrecy, for short"
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 37
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
NDA
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 37 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.
