NYT Crossword Down September 25, 2025: All 37 Vertical Answers & Strategic Tips
Quick Summary: Today's NYT Crossword has 37 Down clues. We have all the vertical answers plus helpful hints to make solving easier!
Related Puzzles: July 31 2020 NYT Clues Solutions | June 28 2022 NYT Clues Solutions | May 13 2024 NYT Clues Solutions |
About Today's Down Clues
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Date | September 25, 2025 |
| Day of Week | Thursday |
| Total Down Clues | 37 clues |
| Direction | Vertical (Top to Bottom) |
| Difficulty | Challenging |
All Down Clues - Complete List
Here are all 37 Down clues for today's puzzle. These go vertically from top to bottom.
| Number | Clue |
|---|---|
| 1 Down | 1. Blast loudly |
| 2 Down | 2. Anaheim ballplayers |
| 3 Down | 3. String of wins or losses |
| 4 Down | 4. Studs |
| 5 Down | 5. Apple shop |
| 6 Down | 6. Spell out |
| 7 Down | 7. Replace the sod of |
| 8 Down | 8. Programs in advance |
| 9 Down | 9. Pastors' concerns |
| 10 Down | 10. Possibility |
| 11 Down | 11. Standard music equipment |
| 12 Down | 12. Scratch and save |
| 13 Down | 13. Carved part of a piece of jewelry |
| 14 Down | 21. Terrible storm |
| 15 Down | 22. Sees red |
| 16 Down | 25. Replace on the mound |
| 17 Down | 26. Traveler's aid, familiarly |
| 18 Down | 27. Storage item on some ocean voyages |
| 19 Down | 29. Stop slouching |
| 20 Down | 30. Shoe polish brand |
| 21 Down | 31. Determined |
| 22 Down | 33. Strain's partner |
| 23 Down | 34. Freeze-___ |
| 24 Down | 35. Enter into a plot? |
| 25 Down | 39. Show that you think something isn't important |
| 26 Down | 40. The Chicago Bulls had a pair of them in the 1990s |
| 27 Down | 43. Hors d'oeuvre servers, maybe |
| 28 Down | 45. Shipping weight units |
| 29 Down | 47. Stop's opposite |
| 30 Down | 49. Alaska native |
| 31 Down | 52. Incubator occupant in a neonatal unit |
| 32 Down | 53. Crucial difficulty to get through |
| 33 Down | 54. Neophyte |
| 34 Down | 55. Shipwreck locales, often |
| 35 Down | 56. Headgear for a bicyclist |
| 36 Down | 57. Step with confidence |
| 37 Down | 58. Beat in competition |
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:
- April 04 2024 NYT Clues Solutions
- May 12 2021 NYT Clues Solutions
- July 29 2022 NYT Clues Solutions
- May 20 2022 NYT Clues Solutions
Complete Down Solutions:
1 Down: "1. Blast loudly"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'B' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: B___E
- Similar words: honk, blaring
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a loud harsh or strident noise
- This is Down clue number 1
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
BLARE
2 Down: "2. Anaheim ballplayers"
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: holy person, Angel Falls
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: spiritual being attendant upon God
- This is Down clue number 2
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ANGELS
3 Down: "3. String of wins or losses"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'K'
- Word pattern: S____K
- Similar words: blotch, run
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: an unbroken series of events
- This is Down clue number 3
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
STREAK
4 Down: "4. Studs"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 9 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: S_______S
- Similar words: stallion, entire
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: uncastrated adult male horse
- This is Down clue number 4
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
STALLIONS
5 Down: "5. Apple shop"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 8 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: A______E
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 5
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
APPSTORE
6 Down: "6. Spell out"
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: set, limit
- Opposite of: generalize
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 6
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SPECIFY
7 Down: "7. Replace the sod of"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'R' and ends with 'F'
- Word pattern: R____F
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 7
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
RETURF
8 Down: "8. Programs in advance"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 7 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'P' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: P_____S
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 8
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
PRESETS
9 Down: "9. Pastors' concerns"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 8 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'P' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: P______S
- Similar words: parish
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a local church community
- This is Down clue number 9
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
PARISHES
10 Down: "10. Possibility"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 9 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'P' and ends with 'L'
- Word pattern: P_______L
- Similar words: potential drop, potentiality
- Opposite of: actual
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: the inherent capacity for coming into being
- This is Down clue number 10
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
POTENTIAL
11 Down: "11. Standard music equipment"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'O'
- Word pattern: S____O
- Similar words: two-channel, stereo system
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 11
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
STEREO
12 Down: "12. Scratch and save"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'P'
- Word pattern: S____P
- Similar words: skimp, stint
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: subsist on a meager allowance
- This is Down clue number 12
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SCRIMP
13 Down: "13. Carved part of a piece of jewelry"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'C' and ends with 'O'
- Word pattern: C___O
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 13
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
CAMEO
14 Down: "21. Terrible storm"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 7 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'T' and ends with 'T'
- Word pattern: T_____T
- Similar words: storm
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a violent commotion or disturbance
- This is Down clue number 14
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
TEMPEST
15 Down: "22. Sees red"
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: seethe, boil
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: be noisy with activity
- This is Down clue number 15
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SEETHES
16 Down: "25. Replace on the mound"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 7 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'R' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: R_____E
- Similar words: lighten, free
- Opposite of: enforce
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: provide physical relief
- This is Down clue number 16
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
RELIEVE
17 Down: "26. Traveler's aid, familiarly"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 7 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'T' and ends with 'A'
- Word pattern: T_____A
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 17
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
TRIPLEA
18 Down: "27. Storage item on some ocean voyages"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 12 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'K'
- Word pattern: S__________K
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 18
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
STEAMERTRUNK
19 Down: "29. Stop slouching"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 12 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'P'
- Word pattern: S__________P
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 19
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
STRAIGHTENUP
20 Down: "30. Shoe polish brand"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 7 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'A'
- Word pattern: S_____A
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 20
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SHINOLA
21 Down: "31. Determined"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 7 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'D' and ends with 'T'
- Word pattern: D_____T
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 21
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
DEADSET
22 Down: "33. Strain's partner"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: S____S
- Similar words: emphasis, accentuate
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 22
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
STRESS
23 Down: "34. Freeze-___"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'F' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: F___E
- Similar words: physique, entrap
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: the framework for a pair of eyeglasses
- This is Down clue number 23
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
FRAME
24 Down: "35. Enter into a plot?"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'E' and ends with 'B'
- Word pattern: E____B
- Similar words: inter, inhume
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: place in a grave or tomb
- This is Down clue number 24
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ENTOMB
25 Down: "39. Show that you think something isn't important"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 10 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'F'
- Word pattern: S________F
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 25
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SHRUGITOFF
26 Down: "40. The Chicago Bulls had a pair of them in the 1990s"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 10 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'T' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: T________S
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 26
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
THREEPEATS
27 Down: "43. Hors d'oeuvre servers, maybe"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 9 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'H' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: H_______S
- Similar words: air hostess, hostess
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a woman host
- This is Down clue number 27
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
HOSTESSES
28 Down: "45. Shipping weight units"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 9 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: S_______S
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 28
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SHORTTONS
29 Down: "47. Stop's opposite"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'T'
- Word pattern: S___T
- Similar words: set about, commencement
- Opposite of: end
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: the beginning of anything
- This is Down clue number 29
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
START
30 Down: "49. Alaska native"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 5 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'A' and ends with 'T'
- Word pattern: A___T
- Similar words: Aleutian
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 30
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
ALEUT
31 Down: "52. Incubator occupant in a neonatal unit"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'I' and ends with 'T'
- Word pattern: I____T
- Similar words: babe, baby
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 31
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
INFANT
32 Down: "53. Crucial difficulty to get through"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'C' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: C____S
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: an unstable situation of extreme danger or difficulty
- This is Down clue number 32
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
CRISIS
33 Down: "54. Neophyte"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'N' and ends with 'E'
- Word pattern: N____E
- Similar words: neophyte, newcomer
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: any new participant in some activity
- This is Down clue number 33
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
NEWBIE
34 Down: "55. Shipwreck locales, often"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'S' and ends with 'S'
- Word pattern: S____S
- Similar words: shoal, shallow
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- This is Down clue number 34
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
SHOALS
35 Down: "56. Headgear for a bicyclist"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'H' and ends with 'T'
- Word pattern: H____T
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: armor plate that protects the head
- This is Down clue number 35
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
HELMET
36 Down: "57. Step with confidence"
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: footstep, pace
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: a step in walking or running
- This is Down clue number 36
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
STRIDE
37 Down: "58. Beat in competition"
Helpful hints for this Down clue:
- This word has 6 letters going top to bottom
- It starts with 'B' and ends with 'D'
- Word pattern: B____D
- Similar words: trump, best
- This is an abbreviation or acronym
- Definition: get the better of
- This is Down clue number 37
Answer: Click to reveal the Down answer
BESTED
Expert Strategies for Solving Down Clues
Master the vertical clues with these professional tips:
Why Start with Down Clues?
- Down clues often reveal key letters for intersecting words
- Vertical patterns can unlock difficult sections
- Many prefixes and suffixes run vertically
- Down answers often help solve Across clues
Down Clue Patterns to Recognize
- Fill-in-the-blank clues: These are usually the easiest Down entries
- Prefixes and suffixes: Common word parts often run vertically
- Abbreviations: Look for clues with "Abbr." or shortened forms
- Plural indicators: Words ending in 'S' are common in Down
- Pop culture references: Names and titles often appear vertically
Time-Saving Down Techniques
| Technique | How It Helps |
|---|---|
| Scan all Down first | Get a mental map of the vertical flow |
| Fill short Down words | 3-4 letter words are often prefixes or connectors |
| Use crossing letters | Across letters help confirm Down answers |
| Look for themes | Related Down answers often share a theme |
Frequently Asked Questions About Down Clues
What are Down clues in crossword puzzles?
Down clues are the vertical entries in a crossword puzzle that read from top to bottom. They're numbered and correspond to specific columns in the grid.
Should I solve Down or Across clues first?
Many solvers alternate between Down and Across clues to build momentum. Down clues can help unlock difficult sections by providing key intersecting letters. The best approach is to solve the clues you find easiest first, regardless of direction.
How many Down clues are in today's puzzle?
Today's NYT crossword has 37 Down clues.
Are Down clues easier than Across clues?
Neither direction is inherently easier. The difficulty depends on the specific clues and your knowledge. However, Down clues often contain helpful prefixes, suffixes, and word parts that can be easier to guess.
How do Down clues interact with Across clues?
Down and Across clues intersect at various points in the grid. Solving one can provide letters that help solve the other, making the puzzle easier as you progress.
