Transition points

Latest answer — December 28, 2025

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NYT Crossword

This clue's Sunday, December 28, 2025 appearance

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Across

  1. 1Poet with a 1982 posthumous Pulitzer
  2. 6S.L.R. insert since the early 2000s
  3. 12Baths in Bath
  4. 16Comedian Notaro
  5. 19Host Tyler of "Whose Line Is It Anyway?"
  6. 20One sporting an article of apparel
  7. 21Sign in a theater
  8. 22Droll
  9. 23Rock of Ages
  10. 25How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
  11. 27Prop for a proposal
  12. 28College credit hours
  13. 29Far from fore
  14. 31Starting section
  15. 32Fab Four drummer
  16. 34"I can handle that for you"
  17. 36Swallow something hook, line and sinker
  18. 38Subject of some modern maps
  19. 41Boots out
  20. 43Ending with Butler or Bard
  21. 44A Class Act
  22. 47A Strange Loop
  23. 50Played a part
  24. 51Baldwin of "30 Rock"
  25. 53Ran in the rain, perhaps
  26. 54Brig pair
  27. 55New Mexico skiing locale
  28. 56Full legislative assembly
  29. 58Personification of darkness, in Greek myth
  30. 60Shapiro of public radio
  31. 61Buds
  32. 62Chips go-with
  33. 64Straight up
  34. 67A Little Night Music
  35. 69Rent
  36. 70A Chorus Line
  37. 72Creatures formed from the fingers of the sea goddess Sedna, in Inuit myth
  38. 73Personal histories
  39. 74Automatons, informally
  40. 75Cell letters
  41. 76"___ down the hatches!"
  42. 78Nursery rhyme couple
  43. 80Cribbage markers
  44. 81Sine's reciprocal, in trig
  45. 84Bit of power
  46. 86Japanese noodle
  47. 87Wave to, say
  48. 88The Producers
  49. 91Into the Woods
  50. 93___ Lingus
  51. 94Intertwine
  52. 95Halloween haul
  53. 96In tears
  54. 99Eschew the high road, say
  55. 101___ Dame
  56. 104Repeatedly hit hard
  57. 105Dollop
  58. 106Pop group
  59. 109Sitar great Shankar
  60. 111The Wiz
  61. 113Mean Girls
  62. 116Chess pieces
  63. 117Bombeck who wrote "At Wit's End"
  64. 118File often installed with computer programs
  65. 119Do penance
  66. 120Apply
  67. 121Hurdle for a J.D.-to-be
  68. 122Became aware of
  69. 123"Fiddler on the Roof" matchmaker

Down

  1. 1Playground area, often
  2. 2Fearsome felines
  3. 3Plus
  4. 4"One of These Nights" band
  5. 5Makeshift tip collector
  6. 6Epitome of graceful beauty
  7. 7Arnaz of "I Love Lucy"
  8. 8Certain stock holder
  9. 9Came about
  10. 10Kylo ___ of "Star Wars"
  11. 11Gig of a lifetime
  12. 12Advanced
  13. 13Guitar, slangily
  14. 14Front-of-the-line credential
  15. 15Cousin of a mink
  16. 16Cheep trills?
  17. 17Dodger's comeuppance
  18. 18Indoor recess locale
  19. 24Super-excited, in slang
  20. 26One "T" of TNT
  21. 30Least hale
  22. 33Foxx of 1970s TV
  23. 35Judge pro ___
  24. 36Piano pupil's practice piece
  25. 37Short boxers, e.g.
  26. 39How some medicines are taken
  27. 40Apt name for a distance runner?
  28. 42Oldsmobile Cutlass model
  29. 44Like 45-Down's flaw
  30. 45Mythical figure undone by hubris
  31. 46Prima ballerina
  32. 48Uses an alternate account to play against easier opponents, in gamer-speak
  33. 49Police weapon
  34. 52Transition points
  35. 56Blue Ribbon brand
  36. 57Ice cream parlor offerings
  37. 59Borscht base
  38. 61Classic theater name
  39. 63Struggles with sibilant sounds
  40. 65Law, but not order
  41. 66Hints
  42. 68Word with record or union
  43. 69World capital near the Andean foothills
  44. 70Give a twist
  45. 71Downright mean
  46. 73Bit of wisdom
  47. 74Founder of the Mughal Empire
  48. 77String-plucking sound
  49. 79Sources in etymology
  50. 80Prone
  51. 81Some summers, in brief
  52. 82Black-and-white desserts
  53. 83Université with a Pierre and Marie Curie campus
  54. 85Shell filling stations
  55. 87Basic programming command
  56. 89Chicken pieces
  57. 90Part of AT&T;: Abbr.
  58. 92Ballet or bourrée, in Bourgogne
  59. 97Do a diner job
  60. 98Gathering of moles
  61. 100Setting for Cole Porter's "Anything Goes"
  62. 102Continued interminably
  63. 103Discus throw at the Olympics, e.g.
  64. 105Buzzing nuisance
  65. 107Glitzy fabric
  66. 108Like some cheese
  67. 110"Gotcha"
  68. 111Blue-necked bird
  69. 112"___ Believer"
  70. 114Flock formation
  71. 115Blue-winged bird

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Across

  1. 1. Poet with a 1982 posthumous Pulitzer — Answer: PLATH
  2. 6. S.L.R. insert since the early 2000s — Answer: SDCARD
  3. 12. Baths in Bath — Answer: LAVS
  4. 16. Comedian Notaro — Answer: TIG
  5. 19. Host Tyler of "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" — Answer: AISHA
  6. 20. One sporting an article of apparel — Answer: WEARER
  7. 21. Sign in a theater — Answer: EXIT
  8. 22. Droll — Answer: WRY
  9. 23. Rock of Ages — Answer: ROSETTASTONE
  10. 25. How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying — Answer: NEPOTISM
  11. 27. Prop for a proposal — Answer: KNEE
  12. 28. College credit hours — Answer: UNITS
  13. 29. Far from fore — Answer: AFT
  14. 31. Starting section — Answer: PARTA
  15. 32. Fab Four drummer — Answer: STARR
  16. 34. "I can handle that for you" — Answer: LETME
  17. 36. Swallow something hook, line and sinker — Answer: EATITUP
  18. 38. Subject of some modern maps — Answer: GENOME
  19. 41. Boots out — Answer: EJECTS
  20. 43. Ending with Butler or Bard — Answer: EDU
  21. 44. A Class Act — Answer: FIELDTRIP
  22. 47. A Strange Loop — Answer: MOBIUSSTRIP
  23. 50. Played a part — Answer: ACTED
  24. 51. Baldwin of "30 Rock" — Answer: ALEC. Hint: This actor shares a surname with a famous clan in Hollywood! 🎭
  25. 53. Ran in the rain, perhaps — Answer: BLED
  26. 54. Brig pair — Answer: MASTS
  27. 55. New Mexico skiing locale — Answer: TAOS
  28. 56. Full legislative assembly — Answer: PLENUM
  29. 58. Personification of darkness, in Greek myth — Answer: EREBUS
  30. 60. Shapiro of public radio — Answer: ARI
  31. 61. Buds — Answer: PALS
  32. 62. Chips go-with — Answer: SALSA
  33. 64. Straight up — Answer: ERECT
  34. 67. A Little Night Music — Answer: LULLABY
  35. 69. Rent — Answer: SPLIT
  36. 70. A Chorus Line — Answer: REFRAIN
  37. 72. Creatures formed from the fingers of the sea goddess Sedna, in Inuit myth — Answer: SEALS
  38. 73. Personal histories — Answer: PASTS
  39. 74. Automatons, informally — Answer: BOTS
  40. 75. Cell letters — Answer: RNA
  41. 76. "___ down the hatches!" — Answer: BATTEN
  42. 78. Nursery rhyme couple — Answer: SPRATS
  43. 80. Cribbage markers — Answer: PEGS
  44. 81. Sine's reciprocal, in trig — Answer: COSEC
  45. 84. Bit of power — Answer: WATT
  46. 86. Japanese noodle — Answer: SOBA
  47. 87. Wave to, say — Answer: GREET
  48. 88. The Producers — Answer: PROLETARIAT
  49. 91. Into the Woods — Answer: OUTDOORSY
  50. 93. ___ Lingus — Answer: AER. Hint: Think of the Irish airline whose name belongs before “Lingus.” ✈️
  51. 94. Intertwine — Answer: ENLACE
  52. 95. Halloween haul — Answer: TREATS
  53. 96. In tears — Answer: SOBBING
  54. 99. Eschew the high road, say — Answer: GOLOW
  55. 101. ___ Dame — Answer: NOTRE
  56. 104. Repeatedly hit hard — Answer: POUND
  57. 105. Dollop — Answer: GOB
  58. 106. Pop group — Answer: COLAS
  59. 109. Sitar great Shankar — Answer: RAVI
  60. 111. The Wiz — Answer: EINSTEIN
  61. 113. Mean Girls — Answer: AVERAGEJANES
  62. 116. Chess pieces — Answer: MEN
  63. 117. Bombeck who wrote "At Wit's End" — Answer: ERMA
  64. 118. File often installed with computer programs — Answer: README
  65. 119. Do penance — Answer: ATONE. Hint: Make amends for a wrongdoing through repentance. 🙏
  66. 120. Apply — Answer: USE
  67. 121. Hurdle for a J.D.-to-be — Answer: LSAT
  68. 122. Became aware of — Answer: SENSED
  69. 123. "Fiddler on the Roof" matchmaker — Answer: YENTE

Down

  1. 1. Playground area, often — Answer: PARK
  2. 2. Fearsome felines — Answer: LIONS
  3. 3. Plus — Answer: ASSET. Hint: A valuable advantage that adds to your overall worth. 💎
  4. 4. "One of These Nights" band — Answer: THEEAGLES
  5. 5. Makeshift tip collector — Answer: HAT
  6. 6. Epitome of graceful beauty — Answer: SWAN
  7. 7. Arnaz of "I Love Lucy" — Answer: DESI
  8. 8. Certain stock holder — Answer: CATTLEPEN
  9. 9. Came about — Answer: AROSE
  10. 10. Kylo ___ of "Star Wars" — Answer: REN
  11. 11. Gig of a lifetime — Answer: DREAMJOB
  12. 12. Advanced — Answer: LENT
  13. 13. Guitar, slangily — Answer: AXE
  14. 14. Front-of-the-line credential — Answer: VIPPASS
  15. 15. Cousin of a mink — Answer: STOAT
  16. 16. Cheep trills? — Answer: TWITTERS
  17. 17. Dodger's comeuppance — Answer: IRSAUDIT
  18. 18. Indoor recess locale — Answer: GYM
  19. 24. Super-excited, in slang — Answer: TURNT
  20. 26. One "T" of TNT — Answer: TRI
  21. 30. Least hale — Answer: FEEBLEST
  22. 33. Foxx of 1970s TV — Answer: REDD
  23. 35. Judge pro ___ — Answer: TEM
  24. 36. Piano pupil's practice piece — Answer: ETUDE
  25. 37. Short boxers, e.g. — Answer: PUPS
  26. 39. How some medicines are taken — Answer: ORALLY
  27. 40. Apt name for a distance runner? — Answer: MILES
  28. 42. Oldsmobile Cutlass model — Answer: CIERA
  29. 44. Like 45-Down's flaw — Answer: FATAL
  30. 45. Mythical figure undone by hubris — Answer: ICARUS
  31. 46. Prima ballerina — Answer: ETOILE
  32. 48. Uses an alternate account to play against easier opponents, in gamer-speak — Answer: SMURFS
  33. 49. Police weapon — Answer: TASER
  34. 52. Transition points — Answer: CUSPS
  35. 56. Blue Ribbon brand — Answer: PABST
  36. 57. Ice cream parlor offerings — Answer: MALTS
  37. 59. Borscht base — Answer: BEETS. Hint: This ruby-red root vegetable gives classic borscht its earthy color and sweetness 🍲
  38. 61. Classic theater name — Answer: PALACE
  39. 63. Struggles with sibilant sounds — Answer: LISPS
  40. 65. Law, but not order — Answer: CAREER
  41. 66. Hints — Answer: TINGES
  42. 68. Word with record or union — Answer: LABEL
  43. 69. World capital near the Andean foothills — Answer: SANTIAGO
  44. 70. Give a twist — Answer: ROTATE
  45. 71. Downright mean — Answer: NASTY
  46. 73. Bit of wisdom — Answer: PEARL
  47. 74. Founder of the Mughal Empire — Answer: BABUR
  48. 77. String-plucking sound — Answer: TWANG
  49. 79. Sources in etymology — Answer: ROOTWORDS
  50. 80. Prone — Answer: PROSTRATE
  51. 81. Some summers, in brief — Answer: CPAS
  52. 82. Black-and-white desserts — Answer: OREOPIES
  53. 83. Université with a Pierre and Marie Curie campus — Answer: SORBONNE
  54. 85. Shell filling stations — Answer: TACOBARS
  55. 87. Basic programming command — Answer: GOTO
  56. 89. Chicken pieces — Answer: TENDERS
  57. 90. Part of AT&T;: Abbr. — Answer: TEL
  58. 92. Ballet or bourrée, in Bourgogne — Answer: DANSE
  59. 97. Do a diner job — Answer: BUS
  60. 98. Gathering of moles — Answer: INTEL
  61. 100. Setting for Cole Porter's "Anything Goes" — Answer: OCEAN
  62. 102. Continued interminably — Answer: RANON
  63. 103. Discus throw at the Olympics, e.g. — Answer: EVENT
  64. 105. Buzzing nuisance — Answer: GNAT
  65. 107. Glitzy fabric — Answer: LAME
  66. 108. Like some cheese — Answer: AGED
  67. 110. "Gotcha" — Answer: ISEE. Hint: This brief reply shows that you understand. 👀
  68. 111. Blue-necked bird — Answer: EMU
  69. 112. "___ Believer" — Answer: IMA
  70. 114. Flock formation — Answer: VEE
  71. 115. Blue-winged bird — Answer: JAY

Recent NYT Crossword Answers

The last 7 days of solutions

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The answer to “Transition points” in the New York Times crossword is CUSPS — a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on December 28, 2025, a Sunday puzzle, at 52-Down. 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.

“Transition points” answer

CUSPS (5 letters)

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 CUSPS.

Why the answer is CUSPS

CUSPS is the 5-letter solution that fits "Transition points" in the NYT Crossword crossword on December 28, 2025 (52-Down). Use the letter tiles above if you'd rather reveal it one letter at a time.

When else has “Transition points” appeared?

New York Times reuses clues across dates, sometimes with a different answer depending on the grid. Here's where this exact clue has shown up, and what the answer was each time — handy when you're checking whether today's fill is the only one.

December 28, 2025 (most recent) → CUSPS. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

More clues from the NYT Crossword on December 28, 2025

Stuck elsewhere in the grid? Here are some of the crossing and nearby clues from the same puzzle — tap any for its answer and explanation.

Want every clue in one place? The full New York Times answer list for December 28, 2025 is on that day's grid page, and today's live NYT Crossword answers are always one tap from the today page.

About the NYT Crossword

The New York Times crossword, edited by Will Shortz, is the most famous daily puzzle in the United States. It runs a 15×15 grid Monday through Saturday and a larger 21×21 grid on Sunday, and its difficulty deliberately ramps through the week: Monday is the most approachable, Saturday the toughest, with Thursday often reserved for a trick or twist like rebus squares. This page covers a Sunday puzzle. A straight-definition entry is the kind of solid mid-grid answer that anchors the trickier crossings around it. Because the NYT reuses short, crossing-friendly words regularly, seeing them once makes them easier to spot next time.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Transition points”?

The answer is CUSPS, a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on December 28, 2025.

How many letters is the answer to “Transition points”?

5 letters: CUSPS.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the New York Times crossword on December 28, 2025 (a Sunday puzzle), at 52-Down.

Can “Transition points” have a different answer?

Yes — New York Times sometimes reuses a clue with a different solution to fit the grid. The answers we've recorded for each date it appeared are listed above when available.

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

The full grid for December 28, 2025 is on the NYT Crossword answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

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