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Tuesday, September 29, 2026

XWordHint Crossword Answers September 29, 2026 | Expert Breakdown & Tips

Master today's NYT crossword with our expert hint system. We provide synonyms, antonyms, and strategic clues to help you solve without spoiling the fun. Perfect for crossword lovers who want that satisfying "aha!" moment.

Quick Navigation - Table of Contents

Today's Puzzle Difficulty: Tricky

Pro Tip: Start with the fill-in-the-blank clues - they're usually the easiest entry points!

Across Clues - Complete List

No. Clue Letters
1A 1. Big ones can be difficult to manage 4
2A 5. Urge 4
3A 9. British John 5
4A 14. Nincompoop 4
5A 15. Surrounding glow 4
6A 16. Who "wants to be defeated" in "Beat It" 5
7A 17. Where some monster home runs land 9
8A 19. Language of the Vikings 5
9A 20. Rich deposits of ore 5
10A 21. Home of the Buckeyes, for short 3
11A 23. Muslim holiday, informally 3
12A 24. Scoped out with intent to rob 5
13A 25. Pretty long time, in an idiom 9
14A 28. Battery fill 4
15A 29. Capital of Yemen 5
16A 30. Copied 4
17A 31. "You ___!" ("Absolutely!") 3
18A 32. Terse 4
19A 33. "I ___ U" (candy heart message) 3
20A 35. Another plateful from the buffet, say 13
21A 40. Deposit/withdrawal site, in brief 3
22A 41. Board appointee, for short 4
23A 42. Work unit 3
24A 44. Chief god of Valhalla 4
25A 47. European viper 5
26A 49. Greek goddess of the earth 4
27A 50. Position of Rickey Henderson in M.L.B. 9
28A 52. Storage units 5
29A 53. Dad on "Black-ish" 3
30A 54. Pablo Neruda's "___ to My Socks" 3
31A 55. Indie rock singer ___ O 5
32A 56. Couch 5
33A 58. Wedding officiant's directive ... or what both halves of 17-, 25-, 35- and 50-Across do? 9
34A 62. Unconcealed 5
35A 63. Toll unit on some roads 4
36A 64. Tour de France entry 4
37A 65. "Cooties" 5
38A 66. Hitch up on a farm 4
39A 67. Ice cream brand that's a cousin of Dreyer's 4

Across Clues - Strategic Hints

1A: "1. Big ones can be difficult to manage"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an inflated feeling of pride in your superiority to others
  • Similar words include: self-importance, egotism, self
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EGOS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

2A: "5. Urge"

4 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a verbalization that encourages you to attempt something
  • Similar words include: egg on, goading, poke at
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PROD

Remember this word for future puzzles!

3A: "9. British John"

5 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ELTON

Remember this word for future puzzles!

4A: "14. Nincompoop"

4 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that street names for marijuana
  • Similar words include: cola, pot, sens
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DOPE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

5A: "15. Surrounding glow"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a sensation (as of a cold breeze or bright light) that precedes the onset of certain disorders such as a migraine attack or epileptic seizure
  • Similar words include: glory, halo, gloriole
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AURA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

6A: "16. Who "wants to be defeated" in "Beat It""

5 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NOONE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

7A: "17. Where some monster home runs land"

9 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: UPPERDECK

Remember this word for future puzzles!

8A: "19. Language of the Vikings"

5 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an inhabitant of scandinavia
  • Similar words include: Scandinavian language, Norseman, Northman
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NORSE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

9A: "20. Rich deposits of ore"

5 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a deposit of valuable ore occurring within definite boundaries separating it from surrounding rocks
  • Similar words include: lode, load
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LODES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

10A: "21. Home of the Buckeyes, for short"

3 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OSU

Remember this word for future puzzles!

11A: "23. Muslim holiday, informally"

3 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EID

Remember this word for future puzzles!

12A: "24. Scoped out with intent to rob"

5 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that look over, usually with the intention to rob
  • Similar words include: encase, incase, incased
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CASED

Remember this word for future puzzles!

13A: "25. Pretty long time, in an idiom"

9 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HOTMINUTE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

14A: "28. Battery fill"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that any of various water-soluble compounds having a sour taste and capable of turning litmus red and reacting with a base to form a salt
  • Similar words include: Zen, acidulent, bitter
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ACID

Remember this word for future puzzles!

15A: "29. Capital of Yemen"

5 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the capital and largest city of yemen; on the central plateau
  • Similar words include: Sana, Sana'a
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SANAA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

16A: "30. Copied"

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that imitate uncritically and in every aspect
  • Similar words include: ape, caricature
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: APED

Remember this word for future puzzles!

17A: "31. "You ___!" ("Absolutely!")"

3 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the money risked on a gamble
  • Similar words include: stake, wager, count
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BET

Remember this word for future puzzles!

18A: "32. Terse"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that marked by rude or peremptory shortness
  • Similar words include: terse, crisp, brusque
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CURT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

19A: "33. "I ___ U" (candy heart message)"

3 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LUV

Remember this word for future puzzles!

20A: "35. Another plateful from the buffet, say"

13 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _____________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SECONDHELPING

Remember this word for future puzzles!

21A: "40. Deposit/withdrawal site, in brief"

3 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a unit of pressure: the pressure that will support a column of mercury 760 mm high at sea level and 0 degrees centigrade
  • Similar words include: automatic teller machine, automatic teller, automated teller
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ATM

Remember this word for future puzzles!

22A: "41. Board appointee, for short"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the chief executive department of the united states government
  • Similar words include: White House
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EXEC

Remember this word for future puzzles!

23A: "42. Work unit"

3 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a cgs unit of work or energy; the work done by a force of one dyne acting over a distance of one centimeter
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ERG

Remember this word for future puzzles!

24A: "44. Chief god of Valhalla"

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that (norse mythology) ruler of the aesir; supreme god of war and poetry and knowledge and wisdom (for which he gave an eye) and husband of frigg; identified with the teutonic wotan
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ODIN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

25A: "47. European viper"

5 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a person who adds numbers
  • Similar words include: common viper, Vipera berus
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ADDER

Remember this word for future puzzles!

26A: "49. Greek goddess of the earth"

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that (greek mythology) goddess of the earth and mother of cronus and the titans in ancient mythology
  • Similar words include: Ge, Gaia
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GAEA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

27A: "50. Position of Rickey Henderson in M.L.B."

9 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the piece of ground in the outfield on the catcher's left
  • Similar words include: left, left field
  • Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LEFTFIELD

Remember this word for future puzzles!

28A: "52. Storage units"

5 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a sequence of 8 bits (enough to represent one character of alphanumeric data) processed as a single unit of information
  • Similar words include: byte
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BYTES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

29A: "53. Dad on "Black-ish""

3 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DRE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

30A: "54. Pablo Neruda's "___ to My Socks""

3 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a lyric poem with complex stanza forms
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ODE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

31A: "55. Indie rock singer ___ O"

5 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the tibeto-burman language spoken in the thailand and burmese borderlands
  • Similar words include: Karenic
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: KAREN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

32A: "56. Couch"

5 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a long backless sofa (usually with pillows against a wall)
  • Similar words include: diwan
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DIVAN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

33A: "58. Wedding officiant's directive ... or what both halves of 17-, 25-, 35- and 50-Across do?"

9 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: JOINHANDS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

34A: "62. Unconcealed"

5 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that open and observable; not secret or hidden
  • Similar words include: open
  • Opposite of: covert
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OVERT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

35A: "63. Toll unit on some roads"

4 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a shaft on which a wheel rotates
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AXLE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

36A: "64. Tour de France entry"

4 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a cooperative unit (especially in sports)
  • Similar words include: team up, squad
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TEAM

Remember this word for future puzzles!

37A: "65. "Cooties""

5 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that anything that provides inspiration for later work
  • Similar words include: germ, source, seed
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GERMS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

38A: "66. Hitch up on a farm"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that fabric comprising a fitted part at the top of a garment
  • Similar words include: coupling, couplet, link
  • Opposite of: unyoke
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: YOKE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

39A: "67. Ice cream brand that's a cousin of Dreyer's"

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EDYS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

Down Clues - Complete List

No. Clue Letters
1D 1. Address ending that's not .com, .org or .gov 3
2D 2. Reach great heights in life 8
3D 3. Like black and white 8
4D 4. Numbered in a tournament bracket 6
5D 5. Always at the pharmacy? 4
6D 6. Regret 3
7D 7. Middle-earth foe 3
8D 8. ___ Territory, 1861-89 6
9D 9. Ho-hum feeling 5
10D 10. British john 3
11D 11. Ripped to pieces 6
12D 12. Like not-work-from-home days 6
13D 13. Had to have 6
14D 18. Visibly embarrassed, say 3
15D 22. Like subcompacts vis-à-vis compacts 7
16D 24. What can travel a fare distance? 3
17D 25. Brain-busting 4
18D 26. Just between us 7
19D 27. Blue race in "Avatar" 4
20D 29. Raisin brand whose containers feature a girl in a red bonnet 7
21D 32. Hotel request 3
22D 34. Scanned lines, for short 3
23D 36. "If you ___ stand the heat ..." 4
24D 37. Crossed (out) 4
25D 38. Made nice? 8
26D 39. Band with the 6x platinum album "American Idiot" 8
27D 43. Pit stop refill 3
28D 44. Subject of a saying about new tricks 6
29D 45. Infer (from) 6
30D 46. Perhaps not at all 6
31D 48. Spinner of tunes 6
32D 49. Move like Shakira in her "Hips Don't Lie" video 6
33D 51. Courier and Century Gothic, for two 5
34D 52. "Nuts!" 3
35D 55. Achy joint for a floor installer, perhaps 4
36D 57. Pitcher's asset 3
37D 59. Kitchen brand that could be an unsuccessful tic-tac-toe line 3
38D 60. Sort 3
39D 61. Texting format, for short 3

Down Clues - Strategic Hints

1D: "1. Address ending that's not .com, .org or .gov"

3 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EDU

Remember this word for future puzzles!

2D: "2. Reach great heights in life"

8 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GOPLACES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

3D: "3. Like black and white"

8 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a word that expresses a meaning opposed to the meaning of another word, in which case the two words are antonyms of each other
  • Similar words include: antonym, inverse, paired
  • Opposite of: synonym, alternate
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OPPOSITE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

4D: "4. Numbered in a tournament bracket"

6 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that go to seed; shed seeds
  • Similar words include: seed, sow, sown
  • Opposite of: unseeded
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SEEDED

Remember this word for future puzzles!

5D: "5. Always at the pharmacy?"

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a number of sheets of paper fastened together along one edge
  • Similar words include: domiciliation, digs, embroider
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PADS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

6D: "6. Regret"

3 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that european strong-scented perennial herb with grey-green bitter-tasting leaves; an irritant similar to poison ivy
  • Similar words include: repent, regret, ruefulness
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RUE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

7D: "7. Middle-earth foe"

3 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ORC

Remember this word for future puzzles!

8D: "8. ___ Territory, 1861-89"

6 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a member of the siouan people of the northern mississippi valley; commonly called the sioux
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DAKOTA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

9D: "9. Ho-hum feeling"

5 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the feeling of being bored by something tedious
  • Similar words include: boredom, tedium
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ENNUI

Remember this word for future puzzles!

10D: "10. British john"

3 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a toilet in britain
  • Similar words include: water closet, W.C., closet
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LOO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

11D: "11. Ripped to pieces"

6 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TOREUP

Remember this word for future puzzles!

12D: "12. Like not-work-from-home days"

6 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ONSITE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

13D: "13. Had to have"

6 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that require as useful, just, or proper
  • Similar words include: want, require, necessitate
  • Opposite of: obviate
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NEEDED

Remember this word for future puzzles!

14D: "18. Visibly embarrassed, say"

3 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
  • Similar words include: bolshy, violent, red-faced
  • Opposite of: gain
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RED

Remember this word for future puzzles!

15D: "22. Like subcompacts vis-à-vis compacts"

7 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that small or little relative to something else
  • Similar words include: humble, littler, pocket-sized
  • Opposite of: large, big
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SMALLER

Remember this word for future puzzles!

16D: "24. What can travel a fare distance?"

3 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a compartment at the front of a motor vehicle or locomotive where driver sits
  • Similar words include: cabriolet, taxi, taxicab
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CAB

Remember this word for future puzzles!

17D: "25. Brain-busting"

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
  • Similar words include: laborious, grueling, tough
  • Opposite of: easy, voiced
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HARD

Remember this word for future puzzles!

18D: "26. Just between us"

7 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ONTHEDL

Remember this word for future puzzles!

19D: "27. Blue race in "Avatar""

4 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NAVI

Remember this word for future puzzles!

20D: "29. Raisin brand whose containers feature a girl in a red bonnet"

7 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SUNMAID

Remember this word for future puzzles!

21D: "32. Hotel request"

3 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a sheath worn to protect a finger
  • Similar words include: camp bed, fingerstall, crib
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: COT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

22D: "34. Scanned lines, for short"

3 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: UPC

Remember this word for future puzzles!

23D: "36. "If you ___ stand the heat ...""

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that stock phrases that have become nonsense through endless repetition
  • Similar words include: bevel, slang, vernacular
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CANT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

24D: "37. Crossed (out)"

4 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EXED

Remember this word for future puzzles!

25D: "38. Made nice?"

8 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that put (things or places) in order
  • Similar words include: straighten, square away, neaten
  • Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NEATENED

Remember this word for future puzzles!

26D: "39. Band with the 6x platinum album "American Idiot""

8 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GREENDAY

Remember this word for future puzzles!

27D: "43. Pit stop refill"

3 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the state of matter distinguished from the solid and liquid states by: relatively low density and viscosity; relatively great expansion and contraction with changes in pressure and temperature; the ability to diffuse readily; and the spontaneous tendency to become distributed uniformly throughout any container
  • Similar words include: gun, bluster, flatulence
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GAS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

28D: "44. Subject of a saying about new tricks"

6 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OLDDOG

Remember this word for future puzzles!

29D: "45. Infer (from)"

6 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that reason by deduction; establish by deduction
  • Similar words include: gain, come, descend
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DERIVE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

30D: "46. Perhaps not at all"

6 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: IFEVER

Remember this word for future puzzles!

31D: "48. Spinner of tunes"

6 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DEEJAY

Remember this word for future puzzles!

32D: "49. Move like Shakira in her "Hips Don't Lie" video"

6 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that to wind or move in a spiral course
  • Similar words include: reel, spiral, coil
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GYRATE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

33D: "51. Courier and Century Gothic, for two"

5 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a specific size and style of type within a type family
  • Similar words include: baptistry, baptismal font, case
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FONTS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

34D: "52. "Nuts!""

3 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BAH

Remember this word for future puzzles!

35D: "55. Achy joint for a floor installer, perhaps"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella
  • Similar words include: human knee, knee joint, articulatio genus
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: KNEE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

36D: "57. Pitcher's asset"

3 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a human limb; technically the part of the superior limb between the shoulder and the elbow but commonly used to refer to the whole superior limb
  • Similar words include: limb, sleeve, fortify
  • Opposite of: disarm
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ARM

Remember this word for future puzzles!

37D: "59. Kitchen brand that could be an unsuccessful tic-tac-toe line"

3 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OXO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

38D: "60. Sort"

3 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a kind of person
  • Similar words include: like
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ILK

Remember this word for future puzzles!

39D: "61. Texting format, for short"

3 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a grey lustrous metallic element of the rare earth group; is used in special alloys; occurs in monazite and bastnasite
  • Similar words include: SM, atomic number 62, Master of Science
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SMS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

Expert Solving Strategies

Start Smart

Begin with fill-in-the-blank clues and short 3-4 letter words. These are your foundation.

Decode the Clues

Question marks indicate wordplay or puns. "Maybe" suggests multiple interpretations.

Use Cross-References

Let intersecting letters guide you. One correct answer unlocks several others.

Build Vocabulary

Common crossword words repeat. Learning them speeds up future solving.

Today's Puzzle Stats

39 Across Clues
39 Down Clues
78 Total Clues

More NYT Crossword Help

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Disclaimer: Crossword clues and grid © The New York Times. This site provides hints and educational content for puzzle enthusiasts. XWordHint is not affiliated with The New York Times.

Last updated: September 29, 2026 at 09:59 AM

Sunday, December 14, 2025

Down Clues NYT December 14, 2025 - Today's Complete Vertical Solutions

NYT Crossword Down December 14, 2025: All 70 Vertical Answers & Strategic Tips

Quick Summary: Today's NYT Crossword has 70 Down clues. We have all the vertical answers plus helpful hints to make solving easier!

Related Puzzles: August 06 2021 NYT Clues Solutions | Tuesday NYT Mini Crossword Answers_25 | Todays Across Crossword NYT December 01 |

About Today's Down Clues

NYT Down clues solutions for December 14, 2025
NYT Down Clues - Sunday, December 14, 2025
Down Clues Statistics
Detail Information
Date December 14, 2025
Day of Week Sunday
Total Down Clues 70 clues
Direction Vertical (Top to Bottom)
Difficulty Medium

All Down Clues - Complete List

Here are all 70 Down clues for today's puzzle. These go vertically from top to bottom.

Complete Down Clues List
Number Clue
1 Down 1. Surveyed, with "out"
2 Down 2. Early track star Jim
3 Down 3. Resident of Honolulu, e.g.
4 Down 4. Touchless payment tech
5 Down 5. Internet ___
6 Down 6. Cheat on, in a way
7 Down 7. Surgery sites, in brief
8 Down 8. Video game character with an endless appetite
9 Down 9. Be in a chat room but not chat
10 Down 10. Soldiers with long arms
11 Down 11. Alternative to the euro, in brief
12 Down 12. Relinquish
13 Down 13. Director DuVernay
14 Down 14. Turns back the clock, maybe?
15 Down 15. Opposite of volunteer
16 Down 16. Parts of many robots in robot-sumo
17 Down 19. Area inside the free-throw line, in basketball slang
18 Down 20. "Gaspard de la Nuit" composer
19 Down 22. Addresses angrily
20 Down 23. Variety of violet
21 Down 26. Urban safety hazard
22 Down 30. Australia's largest carnivorous mammal
23 Down 32. Word used 10 times in Roger Ebert's review of "North" (1994)
24 Down 33. Dissimilar
25 Down 35. Part of a legendary boast
26 Down 36. Skips all the ceremony?
27 Down 38. The brother in "Am I my brother's keeper?"
28 Down 40. What might be made while clasping one's hands
29 Down 42. Engineer Gray who, arguably, invented the telephone — and battled Alexander Graham Bell over it in court for years
30 Down 44. Ballpark figure
31 Down 45. Kind of tea
32 Down 46. Sierra automaker
33 Down 47. Shylock's security
34 Down 48. Adele song with the lyric "I must have called a thousand times"
35 Down 50. Non-premium option in a rideshare app
36 Down 51. Gaming mogul Gabe
37 Down 52. Ernst Stavro Blofeld, to James Bond
38 Down 53. Put into piles, perhaps
39 Down 54. Swear
40 Down 57. Parking space for an Airstream, say, in brief
41 Down 61. Did some school reporting?
42 Down 63. Exceptionally hard timber
43 Down 65. Amy Winehouse, e.g.
44 Down 66. Thumbprint alternative on iPhones
45 Down 68. Reluctant to ask out one's crush, maybe
46 Down 70. Particularly particular
47 Down 72. Cafeterias
48 Down 75. Like many indie films
49 Down 76. Many characters in the 2007 comedy "Superbad"
50 Down 78. He had a Billboard Hot 100 hit with "Rubber Duckie"
51 Down 79. Tortilla de patatas, por ejemplo
52 Down 82. Where high schoolers work on their numbers?
53 Down 84. Starship's medical facility
54 Down 85. Ren faire prop akin to a halberd
55 Down 86. "Sign me up!"
56 Down 87. Hair-care item associated with Black culture
57 Down 89. Like YouTube offerings
58 Down 91. Commences
59 Down 92. Rough drafts?
60 Down 93. Interview guest whom Ali G calls "my man Buzz Lightyear here"
61 Down 94. Like lowercase i's and j's
62 Down 95. Sci-fi sequel of 1986
63 Down 96. Like soft rolls
64 Down 102. Wordless entertainment
65 Down 104. Other, to Octavio
66 Down 106. Brief announcements from a pilot
67 Down 107. ___ alla bolognese (slow-cooked sauce)
68 Down 109. Like hell!
69 Down 110. Play a part, or part of a play
70 Down 111. Part of N.Y.E.

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. Surveyed, with "out""

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 6 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 1

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer SCOPED


2 Down: "2. Early track star Jim"

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
  • Similar words: Jim Thorpe
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • Definition: outstanding United States athlete (1888-1953)
  • This is Down clue number 2

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer THORPE


3 Down: "3. Resident of Honolulu, e.g."

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'O' and ends with 'N'
  • Word pattern: O____N
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Down clue number 3

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer OAHUAN


4 Down: "4. Touchless payment tech"

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
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Down clue number 4

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer RFID


5 Down: "5. Internet ___"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'M' and ends with 'E'
  • Word pattern: M__E
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Down clue number 5

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer MEME


6 Down: "6. Cheat on, in a way"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 7 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 6

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer TWOTIME


7 Down: "7. Surgery sites, in brief"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'O' and ends with 'S'
  • Similar words: OR, Oregon
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • Definition: a state in northwestern United States on the Pacific
  • This is Down clue number 7

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer ORS


8 Down: "8. Video game character with an endless appetite"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'P' and ends with 'N'
  • Word pattern: P____N
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Down clue number 8

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer PACMAN


9 Down: "9. Be in a chat room but not chat"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'L' and ends with 'K'
  • Word pattern: L__K
  • Similar words: tarry, footle
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • Definition: lie in wait
  • This is Down clue number 9

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer LURK


10 Down: "10. Soldiers with long arms"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 8 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 10

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer SPEARMEN


11 Down: "11. Alternative to the euro, in brief"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'U' and ends with 'D'
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Down clue number 11

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer USD


12 Down: "12. Relinquish"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'C' and ends with 'E'
  • Word pattern: C__E
  • Similar words: concede, deliver
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Down clue number 12

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer CEDE


13 Down: "13. Director DuVernay"

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 13

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer AVA


14 Down: "14. Turns back the clock, maybe?"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 7 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'R' and ends with 'S'
  • Word pattern: R_____S
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Down clue number 14

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer REWINDS


15 Down: "15. Opposite of volunteer"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 7 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'D' and ends with 'E'
  • Word pattern: D_____E
  • Similar words: conscript, inductee
  • Opposite of: volunteer
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • Definition: someone who is drafted into military service
  • This is Down clue number 15

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer DRAFTEE


16 Down: "16. Parts of many robots in robot-sumo"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 7 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'S' and ends with 'S'
  • Word pattern: S_____S
  • Similar words: detector, sensing element
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Down clue number 16

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer SENSORS


17 Down: "19. Area inside the free-throw line, in basketball slang"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'P' and ends with 'T'
  • Word pattern: P___T
  • Similar words: rouge, key
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Down clue number 17

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer PAINT


18 Down: "20. "Gaspard de la Nuit" composer"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'R' and ends with 'L'
  • Word pattern: R___L
  • Similar words: ladder, Maurice Ravel
  • Opposite of: unknot
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • Definition: French composer and exponent of Impressionism (1875-1937)
  • This is Down clue number 18

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer RAVEL


19 Down: "22. Addresses angrily"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 8 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 19

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer SNARLSAT


20 Down: "23. Variety of violet"

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: sissy, pantywaist
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Down clue number 20

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer PANSY


21 Down: "26. Urban safety hazard"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 8 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'F' and ends with 'P'
  • Word pattern: F______P
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Down clue number 21

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer FIRETRAP


22 Down: "30. Australia's largest carnivorous mammal"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'D' and ends with 'O'
  • Word pattern: D___O
  • Similar words: warragal, warrigal
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • Definition: wolflike yellowish-brown wild dog of Australia
  • This is Down clue number 22

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer DINGO


23 Down: "32. Word used 10 times in Roger Ebert's review of "North" (1994)"

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: hate, detested
  • Opposite of: love
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • Definition: dislike intensely; feel antipathy or aversion towards
  • This is Down clue number 23

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer HATED


24 Down: "33. Dissimilar"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 7 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'U' and ends with 'E'
  • Word pattern: U_____E
  • Similar words: dissimilar
  • Opposite of: alike
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • Definition: not alike or similar
  • This is Down clue number 24

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer UNALIKE


25 Down: "35. Part of a legendary boast"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'V' and ends with 'I'
  • Word pattern: V__I
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Down clue number 25

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer VENI


26 Down: "36. Skips all the ceremony?"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'E' and ends with 'S'
  • Word pattern: E____S
  • Similar words: elope, run off
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • Definition: run away secretly with one's beloved
  • This is Down clue number 26

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer ELOPES


27 Down: "38. The brother in "Am I my brother's keeper?""

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'A' and ends with 'L'
  • Word pattern: A__L
  • Similar words: Niels Abel
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • Definition: Norwegian mathematician (1802-1829)
  • This is Down clue number 27

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer ABEL


28 Down: "40. What might be made while clasping one's hands"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'P' and ends with 'A'
  • Word pattern: P__A
  • Similar words: supplication
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • Definition: a humble request for help from someone in authority
  • This is Down clue number 28

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer PLEA


29 Down: "42. Engineer Gray who, arguably, invented the telephone — and battled Alexander Graham Bell over it in court for years"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 6 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 29

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer ELISHA


30 Down: "44. Ballpark figure"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'O' and ends with 'S'
  • Word pattern: O__S
  • Similar words: out, come out
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Down clue number 30

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer OUTS


31 Down: "45. Kind of tea"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'A' and ends with 'M'
  • Word pattern: A___M
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • Definition: state in northeastern India
  • This is Down clue number 31

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer ASSAM


32 Down: "46. Sierra automaker"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'G' and ends with 'C'
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Down clue number 32

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer GMC


33 Down: "47. Shylock's security"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'F' and ends with 'H'
  • Word pattern: F___H
  • Similar words: pulp, anatomy
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Down clue number 33

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer FLESH


34 Down: "48. Adele song with the lyric "I must have called a thousand times""

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'H' and ends with 'O'
  • Word pattern: H___O
  • Similar words: hi, how-do-you-do
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • Definition: an expression of greeting
  • This is Down clue number 34

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer HELLO


35 Down: "50. Non-premium option in a rideshare app"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'U' and ends with 'X'
  • Word pattern: U___X
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Down clue number 35

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer UBERX


36 Down: "51. Gaming mogul Gabe"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'N' and ends with 'L'
  • Word pattern: N____L
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Down clue number 36

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer NEWELL


37 Down: "52. Ernst Stavro Blofeld, to James Bond"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'E' and ends with 'Y'
  • Word pattern: E___Y
  • Similar words: foe, opposition
  • Opposite of: friend
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • Definition: an opposing military force
  • This is Down clue number 37

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer ENEMY


38 Down: "53. Put into piles, perhaps"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'S' and ends with 'T'
  • Word pattern: S__T
  • Similar words: variety, classify
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Down clue number 38

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer SORT


39 Down: "54. Swear"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'A' and ends with 'W'
  • Word pattern: A__W
  • Similar words: affirm, avouch
  • Opposite of: disavow
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • Definition: to declare or affirm solemnly and formally as true
  • This is Down clue number 39

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer AVOW


40 Down: "57. Parking space for an Airstream, say, in brief"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'R' and ends with 'T'
  • Word pattern: R___T
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Down clue number 40

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer RVLOT


41 Down: "61. Did some school reporting?"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 7 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'T' and ends with 'D'
  • Word pattern: T_____D
  • Similar words: talk, tittle-tattle
  • Opposite of: keep quiet
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • Definition: speak (about unimportant matters) rapidly and incessantly
  • This is Down clue number 41

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer TATTLED


42 Down: "63. Exceptionally hard timber"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 8 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'I' and ends with 'D'
  • Word pattern: I______D
  • Similar words: ironwood tree, iron tree
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Down clue number 42

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer IRONWOOD


43 Down: "65. Amy Winehouse, e.g."

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'A' and ends with 'O'
  • Word pattern: A__O
  • Similar words: contralto, countertenor
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • Definition: a singer whose voice lies in the alto clef
  • This is Down clue number 43

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer ALTO


44 Down: "66. Thumbprint alternative on iPhones"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'F' and ends with 'D'
  • Word pattern: F____D
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Down clue number 44

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer FACEID


45 Down: "68. Reluctant to ask out one's crush, maybe"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'S' and ends with 'Y'
  • Similar words: unsure, timid
  • Opposite of: confident
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • Definition: a quick throw
  • This is Down clue number 45

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer SHY


46 Down: "70. Particularly particular"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'A' and ends with 'L'
  • Word pattern: A__L
  • Similar words: anal retentive
  • Opposite of: oral
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • Definition: of or related to the anus
  • This is Down clue number 46

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer ANAL


47 Down: "72. Cafeterias"

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: mobile canteen, canteen
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • Definition: a flask for carrying water; used by soldiers or travelers
  • This is Down clue number 47

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer CANTEENS


48 Down: "75. Like many indie films"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'A' and ends with 'Y'
  • Word pattern: A__Y
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • Definition: showily imitative of art or artists
  • This is Down clue number 48

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer ARTY


49 Down: "76. Many characters in the 2007 comedy "Superbad""

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'T' and ends with 'S'
  • Word pattern: T___S
  • Similar words: adolescent, teenager
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • Definition: the time of life between the ages of 12 and 20
  • This is Down clue number 49

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer TEENS


50 Down: "78. He had a Billboard Hot 100 hit with "Rubber Duckie""

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
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Down clue number 50

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer ERNIE


51 Down: "79. Tortilla de patatas, por ejemplo"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'T' and ends with 'A'
  • Word pattern: T__A
  • Similar words: tapa bark, tappa
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Down clue number 51

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer TAPA


52 Down: "82. Where high schoolers work on their numbers?"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 8 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'G' and ends with 'B'
  • Word pattern: G______B
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Down clue number 52

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer GLEECLUB


53 Down: "84. Starship's medical facility"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 7 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'S' and ends with 'Y'
  • Word pattern: S_____Y
  • Similar words: sick berth
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Down clue number 53

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer SICKBAY


54 Down: "85. Ren faire prop akin to a halberd"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 7 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'P' and ends with 'E'
  • Word pattern: P_____E
  • Similar words: poleax
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Down clue number 54

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer POLEAXE


55 Down: "86. "Sign me up!""

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 7 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'I' and ends with 'N'
  • Word pattern: I_____N
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Down clue number 55

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer IWANTIN


56 Down: "87. Hair-care item associated with Black culture"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'D' and ends with 'G'
  • Word pattern: D___G
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Down clue number 56

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer DURAG


57 Down: "89. Like YouTube offerings"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 7 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'O' and ends with 'O'
  • Word pattern: O_____O
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Down clue number 57

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer ONVIDEO


58 Down: "91. Commences"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'O' and ends with 'S'
  • Word pattern: O___S
  • Similar words: unfold, spread
  • Opposite of: close
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • Definition: a clear or unobstructed space or expanse of land or water
  • This is Down clue number 58

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer OPENS


59 Down: "92. Rough drafts?"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'G' and ends with 'S'
  • Word pattern: G___S
  • Similar words: gale
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Down clue number 59

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer GALES


60 Down: "93. Interview guest whom Ali G calls "my man Buzz Lightyear here""

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 6 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 60

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer ALDRIN


61 Down: "94. Like lowercase i's and j's"

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: dust, dashed
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • Definition: scatter or intersperse like dots or studs
  • This is Down clue number 61

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer DOTTED


62 Down: "95. Sci-fi sequel of 1986"

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
  • Similar words: stranger, outlander
  • Opposite of: acquaintance
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Down clue number 62

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer ALIENS


63 Down: "96. Like soft rolls"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'Y' and ends with 'Y'
  • Word pattern: Y____Y
  • Similar words: yeastlike, zesty
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • Definition: of or resembling or containing yeast
  • This is Down clue number 63

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer YEASTY


64 Down: "102. Wordless entertainment"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'M' and ends with 'E'
  • Word pattern: M__E
  • Similar words: dumb show, mimer
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Down clue number 64

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer MIME


65 Down: "104. Other, to Octavio"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'O' and ends with 'A'
  • Word pattern: O__A
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Down clue number 65

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer OTRA


66 Down: "106. Brief announcements from a pilot"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'E' and ends with 'S'
  • Word pattern: E__S
  • Similar words: ETA, eta
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Down clue number 66

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer ETAS


67 Down: "107. ___ alla bolognese (slow-cooked sauce)"

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'R' and ends with 'U'
  • Word pattern: R__U
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Down clue number 67

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer RAGU


68 Down: "109. Like hell!"

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: spicy, live
  • Opposite of: cold
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Down clue number 68

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer HOT


69 Down: "110. Play a part, or part of a play"

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: do, roleplay
  • Opposite of: refrain
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Down clue number 69

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer ACT


70 Down: "111. Part of N.Y.E."

Helpful hints for this Down clue:

  • This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
  • It starts with 'E' and ends with 'E'
  • Similar words: eventide, evening
  • This is an abbreviation or acronym
  • This is Down clue number 70

Answer:

Click to reveal the Down answer EVE

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

  1. Fill-in-the-blank clues: These are usually the easiest Down entries
  2. Prefixes and suffixes: Common word parts often run vertically
  3. Abbreviations: Look for clues with "Abbr." or shortened forms
  4. Plural indicators: Words ending in 'S' are common in Down
  5. 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 70 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: December 14, 2025 at 05:14 AM

Search terms: NYT Down, Down clues, vertical, crossword answers, top to bottom, December 14 2025 down clues