Words of caution

Latest answer — December 05, 2025

14 Across

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NYT Crossword

This clue's Friday, December 05, 2025 appearance

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Across

  1. 1Home to Kotoka International Airport
  2. 6Many a wearer of a long robe called a thawb
  3. 11Can't-miss purchases?
  4. 14Words of caution
  5. 16Threshold
  6. 17Ties up
  7. 18Coastal waterway
  8. 19Up
  9. 21Subject of the Bouguereau painting "The Abduction of Psyche"
  10. 22Colombian city of 2+ million
  11. 23Dutch artist Jan van der ___
  12. 24Curtail
  13. 25Stick in an orchestra
  14. 26Spot likely to smear
  15. 28They aren't party people
  16. 29Cut, as with a box cutter
  17. 30"Fun-size"
  18. 31Film with the tagline "Someone has taken their love for scary movies one step too far"
  19. 34Words of retaliation
  20. 38Word with fire or false
  21. 39Hotel listing
  22. 40One and the other
  23. 41Big name in chip production
  24. 42Bundle
  25. 43Sauce whose name derives from the Italian word for "crush"
  26. 44Refuge
  27. 45Where much of "Brokeback Mountain" was filmed
  28. 47It's perfect
  29. 48"Might as well give it a shot ..."
  30. 51Age at which you just learned something you should have realized before, facetiously
  31. 52Something blocked by censors
  32. 531944 Pacific battle site

Down

  1. 1What clones share
  2. 2It might be on a rack
  3. 3Ski town that shares its name with a tree
  4. 4"High" time
  5. 5Image that's just over a foot, informally
  6. 6"Arrested Development," e.g.
  7. 7Pines
  8. 8Relatives of banjoleles
  9. 9Nebraska senator Fischer
  10. 10Repeat
  11. 11Council, in Russian
  12. 12Got misty
  13. 13Sea shanty singer
  14. 14Skin layer with hair follicles
  15. 15Show stoppers, sometimes
  16. 20Items on many a back-to-school supply list
  17. 22"Is this possible?!?"
  18. 24Take a little off the top
  19. 25Dog treat
  20. 27Silent sort
  21. 28Fancy
  22. 30Kind of instinct
  23. 31Mohamed ___, Egyptian soccer star
  24. 32Shade of red
  25. 33Big name in fast food
  26. 34"Honor Thy Father" writer, 1971
  27. 35Argumentative
  28. 36Get to
  29. 37Minimal coverage provider?
  30. 39Hearty steakhouse serving
  31. 42Tricks
  32. 43Unwitting mark
  33. 45Thickening agent found in many vegan recipes
  34. 46Raced
  35. 49Dot follower in academia
  36. 50Spicy

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Across

  1. 1. Home to Kotoka International Airport — Answer: GHANA
  2. 6. Many a wearer of a long robe called a thawb — Answer: SAUDI
  3. 11. Can't-miss purchases? — Answer: SEASONTICKETS
  4. 14. Words of caution — Answer: DONTPOKETHEBEAR
  5. 16. Threshold — Answer: EVE
  6. 17. Ties up — Answer: ENLACES
  7. 18. Coastal waterway — Answer: RIA
  8. 19. Up — Answer: RISEN
  9. 21. Subject of the Bouguereau painting "The Abduction of Psyche" — Answer: EROS
  10. 22. Colombian city of 2+ million — Answer: CALI
  11. 23. Dutch artist Jan van der ___ — Answer: MEER
  12. 24. Curtail — Answer: STEM
  13. 25. Stick in an orchestra — Answer: BATON
  14. 26. Spot likely to smear — Answer: ATTACKAD
  15. 28. They aren't party people — Answer: LONERS
  16. 29. Cut, as with a box cutter — Answer: SLIT
  17. 30. "Fun-size" — Answer: MINI
  18. 31. Film with the tagline "Someone has taken their love for scary movies one step too far" — Answer: SCREAM
  19. 34. Words of retaliation — Answer: TAKETHAT
  20. 38. Word with fire or false — Answer: ALARM
  21. 39. Hotel listing — Answer: RATE
  22. 40. One and the other — Answer: BOTH
  23. 41. Big name in chip production — Answer: LAYS
  24. 42. Bundle — Answer: PILE
  25. 43. Sauce whose name derives from the Italian word for "crush" — Answer: PESTO
  26. 44. Refuge — Answer: ARK
  27. 45. Where much of "Brokeback Mountain" was filmed — Answer: ALBERTA
  28. 47. It's perfect — Answer: TEN
  29. 48. "Might as well give it a shot ..." — Answer: HEREGOESNOTHING
  30. 51. Age at which you just learned something you should have realized before, facetiously — Answer: TODAYYEARSOLD
  31. 52. Something blocked by censors — Answer: CURSE
  32. 53. 1944 Pacific battle site — Answer: LEYTE

Down

  1. 1. What clones share — Answer: GENESET
  2. 2. It might be on a rack — Answer: HAT
  3. 3. Ski town that shares its name with a tree — Answer: ASPEN
  4. 4. "High" time — Answer: NOON
  5. 5. Image that's just over a foot, informally — Answer: ANKLETAT
  6. 6. "Arrested Development," e.g. — Answer: SITCOM
  7. 7. Pines — Answer: ACHES
  8. 8. Relatives of banjoleles — Answer: UKES
  9. 9. Nebraska senator Fischer — Answer: DEB
  10. 10. Repeat — Answer: ITERATE
  11. 11. Council, in Russian — Answer: SOVIET
  12. 12. Got misty — Answer: TEARED
  13. 13. Sea shanty singer — Answer: SAILOR
  14. 14. Skin layer with hair follicles — Answer: DERMA
  15. 15. Show stoppers, sometimes — Answer: RAINS
  16. 20. Items on many a back-to-school supply list — Answer: ERASERS
  17. 22. "Is this possible?!?" — Answer: CANITBE
  18. 24. Take a little off the top — Answer: SKIM
  19. 25. Dog treat — Answer: BONE
  20. 27. Silent sort — Answer: CLAM
  21. 28. Fancy — Answer: LIKE
  22. 30. Kind of instinct — Answer: MATERNAL
  23. 31. Mohamed ___, Egyptian soccer star — Answer: SALAH
  24. 32. Shade of red — Answer: CLARET
  25. 33. Big name in fast food — Answer: RAYKROC
  26. 34. "Honor Thy Father" writer, 1971 — Answer: TALESE
  27. 35. Argumentative — Answer: HOSTILE
  28. 36. Get to — Answer: ATTEND
  29. 37. Minimal coverage provider? — Answer: THONG
  30. 39. Hearty steakhouse serving — Answer: RIBEYE
  31. 42. Tricks — Answer: PLOYS
  32. 43. Unwitting mark — Answer: PATSY
  33. 45. Thickening agent found in many vegan recipes — Answer: AGAR
  34. 46. Raced — Answer: TORE
  35. 49. Dot follower in academia — Answer: EDU
  36. 50. Spicy — Answer: HOT

Recent NYT Crossword Answers

The last 7 days of solutions

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The answer to “Words of caution” in the New York Times crossword is DONTPOKETHEBEAR — a 15-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on December 5, 2025, a Friday puzzle, at 14-Across. 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.

“Words of caution” answer

DONTPOKETHEBEAR (15 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 DONTPOKETHEBEAR.

Why the answer is DONTPOKETHEBEAR

DONTPOKETHEBEAR is the 15-letter solution that fits "Words of caution" in the NYT Crossword crossword on December 5, 2025 (14-Across). Use the letter tiles above if you'd rather reveal it one letter at a time.

When else has “Words of caution” 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 5, 2025 (most recent) → DONTPOKETHEBEAR. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

More clues from the NYT Crossword on December 5, 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 5, 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 Friday 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 “Words of caution”?

The answer is DONTPOKETHEBEAR, a 15-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on December 5, 2025.

How many letters is the answer to “Words of caution”?

15 letters: DONTPOKETHEBEAR.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the New York Times crossword on December 5, 2025 (a Friday puzzle), at 14-Across.

Can “Words of caution” 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 5, 2025 is on the NYT Crossword answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

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