Friday's NYT Down Dec 05 - Full Vertical Grid Solutions
Quick Summary: Today's NYT Crossword has 36 Down clues. We have all the vertical answers plus helpful hints to make solving easier!
Related Puzzles: August 19 2021 NYT Clues Solutions | NYT Mini Crossword October 13 2025 | June 18 2020 NYT Clues Solutions |
About Today's Down Clues
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Date | December 05, 2025 |
| Day of Week | Friday |
| Total Down Clues | 36 clues |
| Direction | Vertical (Top to Bottom) |
| Difficulty | Tricky |
All Down Clues - Complete List
Here are all 36 Down clues for today's puzzle. These go vertically from top to bottom.
| Number | Clue |
|---|---|
| 1 Down | 1. What clones share |
| 2 Down | 2. It might be on a rack |
| 3 Down | 3. Ski town that shares its name with a tree |
| 4 Down | 4. "High" time |
| 5 Down | 5. Image that's just over a foot, informally |
| 6 Down | 6. "Arrested Development," e.g. |
| 7 Down | 7. Pines |
| 8 Down | 8. Relatives of banjoleles |
| 9 Down | 9. Nebraska senator Fischer |
| 10 Down | 10. Repeat |
| 11 Down | 11. Council, in Russian |
| 12 Down | 12. Got misty |
| 13 Down | 13. Sea shanty singer |
| 14 Down | 14. Skin layer with hair follicles |
| 15 Down | 15. Show stoppers, sometimes |
| 16 Down | 20. Items on many a back-to-school supply list |
| 17 Down | 22. "Is this possible?!?" |
| 18 Down | 24. Take a little off the top |
| 19 Down | 25. Dog treat |
| 20 Down | 27. Silent sort |
| 21 Down | 28. Fancy |
| 22 Down | 30. Kind of instinct |
| 23 Down | 31. Mohamed ___, Egyptian soccer star |
| 24 Down | 32. Shade of red |
| 25 Down | 33. Big name in fast food |
| 26 Down | 34. "Honor Thy Father" writer, 1971 |
| 27 Down | 35. Argumentative |
| 28 Down | 36. Get to |
| 29 Down | 37. Minimal coverage provider? |
| 30 Down | 39. Hearty steakhouse serving |
| 31 Down | 42. Tricks |
| 32 Down | 43. Unwitting mark |
| 33 Down | 45. Thickening agent found in many vegan recipes |
| 34 Down | 46. Raced |
| 35 Down | 49. Dot follower in academia |
| 36 Down | 50. Spicy |
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:
- June 25 2019 NYT Clues Solutions
- June 18 2020 NYT Clues Solutions
- April 07 2022 NYT Clues Solutions
- February 07 2022 NYT Clues Solutions
Complete Down Solutions:
1 Down: "1. What clones share"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 7 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'G' and ends with 'T'
- Word pattern: G_____T
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 1
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
GENESET
2 Down: "2. It might be on a rack"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'H' and ends with 'T'
- Similar words: lid, chapeau
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 2
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
HAT
3 Down: "3. Ski town that shares its name with a tree"
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 3
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ASPEN
4 Down: "4. "High" time"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'N' and ends with 'N'
- Word pattern: N__N
- Similar words: midday, twelve noon
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: the middle of the day
- This is Down clue number 4
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
NOON
5 Down: "5. Image that's just over a foot, informally"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 8 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'T'
- Word pattern: A______T
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 5
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ANKLETAT
6 Down: "6. "Arrested Development," e.g."
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'M'
- Word pattern: S____M
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 6
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SITCOM
7 Down: "7. Pines"
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
- Similar words: languish, ache
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a dull persistent (usually moderately intense) pain
- This is Down clue number 7
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ACHES
8 Down: "8. Relatives of banjoleles"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'U' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: U__S
- Similar words: uke, ukulele
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a small guitar having four strings
- This is Down clue number 8
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
UKES
9 Down: "9. Nebraska senator Fischer"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'D' and ends with 'B'
- Similar words: debutante
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a young woman making her debut into society
- This is Down clue number 9
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
DEB
10 Down: "10. Repeat"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 7 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'I' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: I_____E
- Similar words: reiterate, repeat
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: to say
- This is Down clue number 10
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ITERATE
11 Down: "11. Council, in Russian"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'T'
- Word pattern: S____T
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 11
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SOVIET
12 Down: "12. Got misty"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'T' and ends with 'D'
- Word pattern: T____D
- Similar words: bust, shoot
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: separate or cause to separate abruptly
- This is Down clue number 12
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
TEARED
13 Down: "13. Sea shanty singer"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'R'
- Word pattern: S____R
- Similar words: boater, Panama hat
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: any member of a ship's crew
- This is Down clue number 13
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SAILOR
14 Down: "14. Skin layer with hair follicles"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'D' and ends with 'A'
- Word pattern: D___A
- Similar words: corium, dermis
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: the deep vascular inner layer of the skin
- This is Down clue number 14
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
DERMA
15 Down: "15. Show stoppers, sometimes"
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: rain down, rainfall
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 15
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
RAINS
16 Down: "20. Items on many a back-to-school supply list"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 7 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'E' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: E_____S
- Similar words: eraser
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: an implement used to erase something
- This is Down clue number 16
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ERASERS
17 Down: "22. "Is this possible?!?""
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 17
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
CANITBE
18 Down: "24. Take a little off the top"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'M'
- Word pattern: S__M
- Similar words: skim over, skimming
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a thin layer covering the surface of a liquid
- This is Down clue number 18
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SKIM
19 Down: "25. Dog treat"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'B' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: B__E
- Similar words: bone up, mug up
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 19
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
BONE
20 Down: "27. Silent sort"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'C' and ends with 'M'
- Word pattern: C__M
- Similar words: dollar bill, dollar
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 20
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
CLAM
21 Down: "28. Fancy"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'L' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: L__E
- Similar words: same, corresponding
- Opposite of: unalike
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a similar kind;
- This is Down clue number 21
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
LIKE
22 Down: "30. Kind of instinct"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 8 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'M' and ends with 'L'
- Word pattern: M______L
- Similar words: enate, enatic
- Opposite of: filial
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: characteristic of a mother; - Dorothy Sayers
- This is Down clue number 22
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
MATERNAL
23 Down: "31. Mohamed ___, Egyptian soccer star"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'H'
- Word pattern: S___H
- Similar words: salaat, salaah
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 23
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SALAH
24 Down: "32. Shade of red"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'C' and ends with 'T'
- Word pattern: C____T
- Similar words: red Bordeaux
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a dark purplish-red color
- This is Down clue number 24
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
CLARET
25 Down: "33. Big name in fast food"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 7 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'R' and ends with 'C'
- Word pattern: R_____C
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 25
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
RAYKROC
26 Down: "34. "Honor Thy Father" writer, 1971"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 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 26
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
TALESE
27 Down: "35. Argumentative"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 7 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'H' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: H_____E
- Similar words: uncongenial, unfriendly
- Opposite of: amicable
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: troops belonging to the enemy's military forces
- This is Down clue number 27
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
HOSTILE
28 Down: "36. Get to"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'D'
- Word pattern: A____D
- Similar words: give ear, assist
- Opposite of: miss
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: be present at (meetings
- This is Down clue number 28
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ATTEND
29 Down: "37. Minimal coverage provider?"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'T' and ends with 'G'
- Word pattern: T___G
- Similar words: flip-flop, lash
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: leather strip that forms the flexible part of a whip
- This is Down clue number 29
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
THONG
30 Down: "39. Hearty steakhouse serving"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 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 30
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
RIBEYE
31 Down: "42. Tricks"
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: ploy, gambit
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 31
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
PLOYS
32 Down: "43. Unwitting mark"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'P' and ends with 'Y'
- Word pattern: P___Y
- Similar words: gull, sucker
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a person who is gullible and easy to take advantage of
- This is Down clue number 32
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
PATSY
33 Down: "45. Thickening agent found in many vegan recipes"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'R'
- Word pattern: A__R
- Similar words: nutrient agar, agar-agar
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: any culture medium that uses agar as the gelling agent
- This is Down clue number 33
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
AGAR
34 Down: "46. Raced"
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: bust, shoot
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: commonly the lowest molding at the base of a column
- This is Down clue number 34
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
TORE
35 Down: "49. Dot follower in academia"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'E' and ends with 'U'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 35
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
EDU
36 Down: "50. Spicy"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'H' and ends with 'T'
- Similar words: raging, spicy
- Opposite of: cold
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 36
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
HOT
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 36 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.
