Speck

Latest answer — December 24, 2025

2 Down

A microscopic bit can be described this way. 🔬

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NYT Crossword

This clue's Wednesday, December 24, 2025 appearance

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Across

  1. 1Whom you might say "hey" to every day
  2. 5Collect
  3. 10Indicator of an important email
  4. 14One of many in a Swiss Army knife
  5. 15"Name your ___"
  6. 16Predator in a pod
  7. 17Salad topping that's actually from America and is rarely consumed in its namesake land
  8. 20Wheelchair access paths
  9. 21Spanish "Listen up!"
  10. 22"Shucks, you're too kind"
  11. 23As a P.S.
  12. 25Sharp quality
  13. 27"Out of Africa" author actually named Karen Christentze von Blixen-Finecke
  14. 30Knee parts, for short
  15. 32Wee winter workers
  16. 33It keeps the rain away
  17. 36Shout at a Real Madrid game
  18. 37Kosher barbecue option
  19. 39Kenan's partner in comedy
  20. 40Where Noah's Ark landed
  21. 42Grant
  22. 44Observance celebrating a decision actually made on July 2 -- the date when John Adams predicted it would be celebrated
  23. 48"Scream" queen Campbell
  24. 49Jockey's handful
  25. 50Humans : Homo :: bees : ___
  26. 51Frees (of)
  27. 53Includes online, in a way
  28. 54Blueprint
  29. 55Some high-level H.S. classes
  30. 56Aids for minors buying liquor ... or a hint to 17-, 27- and 44-Across
  31. 59___ Faire
  32. 61Shrub that sounds regretful
  33. 62Telethon contributions
  34. 63Ironman race, familiarly
  35. 64Kind of oil in some edibles
  36. 65"How ___ It End?" (Taylor Swift song)
  37. 66Lunch lady's hair holder
  38. 67Fancy handbag inits.

Down

  1. 1Recipe directive
  2. 2Speck
  3. 3Travel without an itinerary, say
  4. 4"Count me out"
  5. 5Org. for therapists
  6. 6Silly character on the "Sesame Street" segment "Elmo's World"
  7. 7"S.N.L." alum Bryant
  8. 8Free copy of a film sent to awards show voters
  9. 9Perceive
  10. 10"That's very kind of you"
  11. 11Class where you learn how to get a tan?
  12. 12Pimples
  13. 13Fury
  14. 18Cuba, por ejemplo
  15. 19Looks weighed down
  16. 24Pesky biter, informally
  17. 26Patterns
  18. 27Unwise
  19. 28Procedure with frozen eggs, for short
  20. 29No-clothes college gathering
  21. 30"Really, we're still doing this?!"
  22. 31Convenient spot for a pint
  23. 34Orthodontists' offerings
  24. 35Tricksy schemes
  25. 37Cooked rice, in Korean cuisine
  26. 38Ballpoint brand
  27. 41Clarinetist's need
  28. 43Wiener schnitzel meat
  29. 45Snogged
  30. 46Cut into small cubes
  31. 47Coast Guard rank
  32. 52Cops near Alcatraz, for short
  33. 54"Hey! Over here!"
  34. 55Rainbow's shape
  35. 57___ Stroker, Tony Award-winning actress in "Oklahoma!"
  36. 58Low mark
  37. 60Zilch

The answer to “Speck” in the New York Times crossword is IOTA — a 4-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on December 24, 2025, a Wednesday puzzle, at 2-Down. Other answers we've seen for this clue include MOTE. Below you'll find why that fill fits, every other answer we've recorded for this clue, and links into the puzzle it came from.

“Speck” answer

IOTA (4 letters) — most recent; also seen as MOTE

Reveal the solution one letter at a time with the tiles above if you'd rather nudge yourself toward it than see the whole word at once. Just want it outright? The answer is IOTA.

Why the answer is IOTA

A microscopic bit can be described this way. 🔬

What does IOTA mean?

Reading the plain dictionary sense of IOTA is often the fastest way to see why it answers this clue.

(noun)

  • the ninth letter of the Greek alphabet (Ι, ι), transliterated as ‘i’
  • an extremely small amount

Other answers for “Speck”

New York Times has used this clue with more than one solution. Besides IOTA, it has also been MOTE. Every appearance we've indexed is listed below with the date it ran.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Speck”?

The answer is IOTA, a 4-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on December 24, 2025. Other answers for this clue include MOTE.

How many letters is the answer to “Speck”?

4 letters: IOTA. Earlier fills for this clue have also been MOTE (4).

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the New York Times crossword on December 24, 2025 (a Wednesday puzzle), at 2-Down. Earlier appearances: October 12, 2025 → MOTE.

Can “Speck” have a different answer?

Yes. Besides IOTA, New York Times has also used MOTE for this clue. Every date and answer is listed above.

Where can I find the rest of this day's NYT Crossword answers?

The full grid for December 24, 2025 is on the NYT Crossword answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

New York Times Crossword is published by The New York Times; WordHint is an independent site and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the publisher.

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