Today's Down Crossword NYT December 29, 2025 - Every Vertical Solution Explained
Quick Summary: Today's NYT Crossword has 43 Down clues. We have all the vertical answers plus helpful hints to make solving easier!
Related Puzzles: December 12 2022 NYT Clues Solutions | March 04 2022 NYT Clues Solutions | August 20 2019 NYT Clues Solutions |
About Today's Down Clues
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Date | December 29, 2025 |
| Day of Week | Monday |
| Total Down Clues | 43 clues |
| Direction | Vertical (Top to Bottom) |
| Difficulty | Tricky |
All Down Clues - Complete List
Here are all 43 Down clues for today's puzzle. These go vertically from top to bottom.
| Number | Clue |
|---|---|
| 1 Down | 1. Cry like a baby |
| 2 Down | 2. Admired figures |
| 3 Down | 3. Battle cry of the U.S. Marine Corps |
| 4 Down | 4. Kind of bagel |
| 5 Down | 5. Many a PC file |
| 6 Down | 6. Really eager |
| 7 Down | 7. Actor Michael of "Arrested Development" |
| 8 Down | 8. Caught sight of |
| 9 Down | 9. Place to be pampered |
| 10 Down | 10. 1996 #1 hit for the Spice Girls |
| 11 Down | 11. Water, in Colombia |
| 12 Down | 12. Team that plays at Citi Field |
| 13 Down | 13. "Over here!" |
| 14 Down | 18. Onetime retail chain giant |
| 15 Down | 19. ___ Grey tea |
| 16 Down | 24. Very light brown |
| 17 Down | 26. Tail-less cat |
| 18 Down | 28. Above, in poetry |
| 19 Down | 29. Synthetic fiber |
| 20 Down | 30. Fencing sword |
| 21 Down | 31. Not on time |
| 22 Down | 32. "Gimme a ___!" |
| 23 Down | 33. Commoner |
| 24 Down | 34. Norway's capital |
| 25 Down | 37. Two lengths of a pool |
| 26 Down | 39. What a punch line may end |
| 27 Down | 40. Part of a drill assembly or comedy routine |
| 28 Down | 41. "Frozen" snowman |
| 29 Down | 44. Seafood with claws |
| 30 Down | 46. Jeter in the Baseball Hall of Fame |
| 31 Down | 48. Rushing yards, e.g., informally |
| 32 Down | 49. "Well, dang it!" |
| 33 Down | 50. Slightly out of tune |
| 34 Down | 53. Put into law |
| 35 Down | 54. Move smoothly to another topic |
| 36 Down | 55. Without a date |
| 37 Down | 56. River past Cincinnati |
| 38 Down | 57. Lima's land |
| 39 Down | 59. Tiny canine pest |
| 40 Down | 60. Drove over the legal limit |
| 41 Down | 62. Ticked (off) |
| 42 Down | 64. Peculiar |
| 43 Down | 65. The Falcons, on a scoreboard |
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 29 2021 NYT Clues Solutions
- November 09 2020 NYT Clues Solutions
- August 20 2019 NYT Clues Solutions
- February 26 2021 NYT Clues Solutions
Complete Down Solutions:
1 Down: "1. Cry like a baby"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'B' and ends with 'L'
- Word pattern: B__L
- Similar words: bellow, yawp
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: shout loudly and without restraint
- This is Down clue number 1
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
BAWL
2 Down: "2. Admired figures"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'I' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: I___S
- Similar words: god, perfection
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a material effigy that is worshipped
- This is Down clue number 2
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
IDOLS
3 Down: "3. Battle cry of the U.S. Marine Corps"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'O' and ends with 'H'
- Word pattern: O___H
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 3
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
OORAH
4 Down: "4. Kind of bagel"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: S____E
- Similar words: benne, benni
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 4
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SESAME
5 Down: "5. Many a PC file"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'P' and ends with 'F'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 5
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
PDF
6 Down: "6. Really eager"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'G'
- Word pattern: A__G
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: highly excited
- This is Down clue number 6
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
AGOG
7 Down: "7. Actor Michael of "Arrested Development""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'C' and ends with 'A'
- Word pattern: C__A
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 7
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
CERA
8 Down: "8. Caught sight of"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'E' and ends with 'D'
- Word pattern: E____D
- Similar words: descry, espy
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: catch sight of
- This is Down clue number 8
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ESPIED
9 Down: "9. Place to be pampered"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'A'
- Similar words: health spa, watering hole
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a health resort near a spring or at the seaside
- This is Down clue number 9
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SPA
10 Down: "10. 1996 #1 hit for the Spice Girls"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 7 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'W' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: W_____E
- Similar words: wannabee, aspirer
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: an ambitious and aspiring young person
- This is Down clue number 10
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
WANNABE
11 Down: "11. Water, in Colombia"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'A'
- Word pattern: A__A
- Similar words: agua toad, Bufo marinus
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 11
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
AGUA
12 Down: "12. Team that plays at Citi Field"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'M' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: M__S
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 12
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
METS
13 Down: "13. "Over here!""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'P' and ends with 'T'
- Word pattern: P__T
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 13
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
PSST
14 Down: "18. Onetime retail chain giant"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'K' and ends with 'T'
- Word pattern: K___T
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 14
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
KMART
15 Down: "19. ___ Grey tea"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'E' and ends with 'L'
- Word pattern: E__L
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 15
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
EARL
16 Down: "24. Very light brown"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'E' and ends with 'U'
- Word pattern: E__U
- Similar words: beige
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a very light brown
- This is Down clue number 16
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ECRU
17 Down: "26. Tail-less cat"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'M' and ends with 'X'
- Word pattern: M__X
- Similar words: Manx cat
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 17
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
MANX
18 Down: "28. Above, in poetry"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'O' and ends with 'R'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 18
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
OER
19 Down: "29. Synthetic fiber"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'R' and ends with 'N'
- Word pattern: R___N
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a synthetic silklike fabric
- This is Down clue number 19
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
RAYON
20 Down: "30. Fencing sword"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'E' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: E__E
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a fencing sword similar to a foil but with a heavier blade
- This is Down clue number 20
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
EPEE
21 Down: "31. Not on time"
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: lately, of late
- Opposite of: early
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 21
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
LATE
22 Down: "32. "Gimme a ___!""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'C'
- Similar words: unsweet, secant
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 22
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SEC
23 Down: "33. Commoner"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'P' and ends with 'B'
- Word pattern: P__B
- Similar words: plebeian
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: one of the common people
- This is Down clue number 23
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
PLEB
24 Down: "34. Norway's capital"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'O' and ends with 'O'
- Word pattern: O__O
- Similar words: Christiania
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 24
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
OSLO
25 Down: "37. Two lengths of a pool"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'L' and ends with 'P'
- Similar words: swoosh, swish
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: the upper side of the thighs of a seated person
- This is Down clue number 25
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
LAP
26 Down: "39. What a punch line may end"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'J' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: J__E
- Similar words: jocularity, prank
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a humorous anecdote or remark intended to provoke laughter
- This is Down clue number 26
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
JOKE
27 Down: "40. Part of a drill assembly or comedy routine"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'B' and ends with 'T'
- Similar words: prick, flake
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a small piece or quantity of something
- This is Down clue number 27
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
BIT
28 Down: "41. "Frozen" snowman"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'O' and ends with 'F'
- Word pattern: O__F
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 28
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
OLAF
29 Down: "44. Seafood with claws"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 7 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'L' and ends with 'R'
- Word pattern: L_____R
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: flesh of a lobster
- This is Down clue number 29
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
LOBSTER
30 Down: "46. Jeter in the Baseball Hall of Fame"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'D' and ends with 'K'
- Word pattern: D___K
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 30
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
DEREK
31 Down: "48. Rushing yards, e.g., informally"
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
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 31
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
STAT
32 Down: "49. "Well, dang it!""
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'O' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: O____S
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 32
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
OHRATS
33 Down: "50. Slightly out of tune"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'P' and ends with 'Y'
- Word pattern: P____Y
- Similar words: resinous, jet
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: of the blackest black; similar to the color of jet or coal
- This is Down clue number 33
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
PITCHY
34 Down: "53. Put into law"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'E' and ends with 'T'
- Word pattern: E___T
- Similar words: act out, reenact
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: order by virtue of superior authority; decree
- This is Down clue number 34
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ENACT
35 Down: "54. Move smoothly to another topic"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 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 35
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SEGUE
36 Down: "55. Without a date"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'G'
- Word pattern: S__G
- Similar words: snitch, shop
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a male deer
- This is Down clue number 36
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
STAG
37 Down: "56. River past Cincinnati"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'O' and ends with 'O'
- Word pattern: O__O
- Similar words: OH, Buckeye State
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 37
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
OHIO
38 Down: "57. Lima's land"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'P' and ends with 'U'
- Word pattern: P__U
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 38
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
PERU
39 Down: "59. Tiny canine pest"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'F' and ends with 'A'
- Word pattern: F__A
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 39
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
FLEA
40 Down: "60. Drove over the legal limit"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'D'
- Word pattern: S__D
- Similar words: hotfoot, step on it
- Opposite of: decelerate
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: move fast
- This is Down clue number 40
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SPED
41 Down: "62. Ticked (off)"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 4 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'T' and ends with 'D'
- Word pattern: T__D
- Similar words: tee up, tee
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: place on a tee
- This is Down clue number 41
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
TEED
42 Down: "64. Peculiar"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'O' and ends with 'D'
- Similar words: left over, singular
- Opposite of: even
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: not divisible by two
- This is Down clue number 42
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ODD
43 Down: "65. The Falcons, on a scoreboard"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 3 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'L'
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 43
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ATL
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 43 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.
