NYT Crossword Clues & Answers - Oct 20

Monday, October 20, 2025

By Adam Aaronson

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NYT Crossword Clues

Across

  1. 1Apple tablet
  2. 5Facing the pitcher
  3. 10Time to blow out the candles on a cake, informally
  4. 14Informal eatery
  5. 15Thanks, in France
  6. 16Singer Guthrie
  7. 17Says 2 + 2 = 5, e.g.
  8. 18Wedding cake figurine
  9. 19Last language alphabetically on Google Translate
  10. 20Milkshake flavor made with Oreos
  11. 23The "A" of I.P.A.
  12. 24Pitcher Maddux who won the Cy Young Award in four consecutive years
  13. 25Welcome sights for thirsty people in deserts
  14. 28Accelerator or brake
  15. 30Music genre that Joan Jett "loves"
  16. 33Arcing tennis shot
  17. 35Member of a convent
  18. 36Lavatory, in Liverpool
  19. 37Pasta often filled with ricotta
  20. 41Listing on the Billboard Hot 100
  21. 4450 years, for Bilbo Baggins in "The Hobbit"
  22. 45Play a part in a play
  23. 47"My man!"
  24. 48Two-part steakhouse entree
  25. 52Bonus
  26. 56Filmmaker Miyazaki
  27. 57Questions
  28. 59Color that means "stop"
  29. 60Like some scented stickers
  30. 64Sorority's counterpart, in brief
  31. 66Mandarin "hello"
  32. 67Head ___ heels
  33. 68Chauffeured vehicle
  34. 69Message often accompanied by an exclamation point in a triangle
  35. 70Michelin product
  36. 71Alternative to a Lyft
  37. 72Jumps
  38. 73Make simpler

Down

  1. 1What covers the North Pole
  2. 2End of some sentences
  3. 3Having a certain natural hairstyle
  4. 4Furniture piece for a talk show host
  5. 5Shade of yellow
  6. 6More abrupt in language
  7. 7Hire to the team
  8. 8Band with the aptly titled debut album "High Voltage"
  9. 9Stratum
  10. 10Marketplace with stalls
  11. 11Occasion for a percussionist to shine
  12. 12With 13-Down, "___ can eat" (restaurant come-on)
  13. 13See 12-Down
  14. 21Inuit's home
  15. 22Time unit aptly hidden in "paleontology"
  16. 26University in North Carolina
  17. 27Difficult, tiring work
  18. 29Comic actress Wong
  19. 31Unit of flour
  20. 32Door handle
  21. 34Untuneful trumpet sound
  22. 37Lacking much thought
  23. 38Water, in Oaxaca
  24. 39Aforementioned
  25. 40Hospital area with IVs
  26. 42News media
  27. 43Crosstown rivals of the Cubbies
  28. 46Windpipe
  29. 49Decision-making consideration
  30. 50Neither here ___ there
  31. 51Only black key in a G major scale
  32. 53Fodder for "Jeopardy!"
  33. 54Alludes (to)
  34. 55Not interrupted by commercials ... or shortened like the middle words of 20-, 30-, 48- and 60-Across?
  35. 58Ties that are hard to untie
  36. 61Super-uptight
  37. 62Bit of bathroom décor
  38. 63Do, re or mi
  39. 64It goes around every year
  40. 65Short ___ (beef cut)

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Across

  1. 1. Apple tablet — Answer: IPAD
  2. 5. Facing the pitcher — Answer: ATBAT. Hint: You're poised and ready for your turn in the game! ⚾
  3. 10. Time to blow out the candles on a cake, informally — Answer: BDAY
  4. 14. Informal eatery — Answer: CAFE
  5. 15. Thanks, in France — Answer: MERCI
  6. 16. Singer Guthrie — Answer: ARLO
  7. 17. Says 2 + 2 = 5, e.g. — Answer: ERRS
  8. 18. Wedding cake figurine — Answer: BRIDE
  9. 19. Last language alphabetically on Google Translate — Answer: ZULU
  10. 20. Milkshake flavor made with Oreos — Answer: COOKIESNCREAM
  11. 23. The "A" of I.P.A. — Answer: ALE
  12. 24. Pitcher Maddux who won the Cy Young Award in four consecutive years — Answer: GREG
  13. 25. Welcome sights for thirsty people in deserts — Answer: OASES
  14. 28. Accelerator or brake — Answer: PEDAL
  15. 30. Music genre that Joan Jett "loves" — Answer: ROCKNROLL
  16. 33. Arcing tennis shot — Answer: LOB
  17. 35. Member of a convent — Answer: NUN
  18. 36. Lavatory, in Liverpool — Answer: LOO
  19. 37. Pasta often filled with ricotta — Answer: RAVIOLI
  20. 41. Listing on the Billboard Hot 100 — Answer: POPSONG
  21. 44. 50 years, for Bilbo Baggins in "The Hobbit" — Answer: AGE
  22. 45. Play a part in a play — Answer: ACT
  23. 47. "My man!" — Answer: BRO
  24. 48. Two-part steakhouse entree — Answer: SURFNTURF
  25. 52. Bonus — Answer: EXTRA
  26. 56. Filmmaker Miyazaki — Answer: HAYAO
  27. 57. Questions — Answer: ASKS
  28. 59. Color that means "stop" — Answer: RED
  29. 60. Like some scented stickers — Answer: SCRATCHNSNIFF
  30. 64. Sorority's counterpart, in brief — Answer: FRAT
  31. 66. Mandarin "hello" — Answer: NIHAO
  32. 67. Head ___ heels — Answer: OVER
  33. 68. Chauffeured vehicle — Answer: LIMO. Hint: This luxurious ride is perfect for a special night out! 🚘
  34. 69. Message often accompanied by an exclamation point in a triangle — Answer: ALERT
  35. 70. Michelin product — Answer: TIRE
  36. 71. Alternative to a Lyft — Answer: UBER
  37. 72. Jumps — Answer: LEAPS
  38. 73. Make simpler — Answer: EASE

Down

  1. 1. What covers the North Pole — Answer: ICECAP
  2. 2. End of some sentences — Answer: PAROLE
  3. 3. Having a certain natural hairstyle — Answer: AFROED
  4. 4. Furniture piece for a talk show host — Answer: DESK
  5. 5. Shade of yellow — Answer: AMBER
  6. 6. More abrupt in language — Answer: TERSER
  7. 7. Hire to the team — Answer: BRINGON
  8. 8. Band with the aptly titled debut album "High Voltage" — Answer: ACDC
  9. 9. Stratum — Answer: TIER
  10. 10. Marketplace with stalls — Answer: BAZAAR
  11. 11. Occasion for a percussionist to shine — Answer: DRUMSOLO
  12. 12. With 13-Down, "___ can eat" (restaurant come-on) — Answer: ALL
  13. 13. See 12-Down — Answer: YOU
  14. 21. Inuit's home — Answer: IGLOO
  15. 22. Time unit aptly hidden in "paleontology" — Answer: EON
  16. 26. University in North Carolina — Answer: ELON
  17. 27. Difficult, tiring work — Answer: SLOG
  18. 29. Comic actress Wong — Answer: ALI
  19. 31. Unit of flour — Answer: CUP
  20. 32. Door handle — Answer: KNOB
  21. 34. Untuneful trumpet sound — Answer: BLAT
  22. 37. Lacking much thought — Answer: RASH
  23. 38. Water, in Oaxaca — Answer: AGUA
  24. 39. Aforementioned — Answer: VERYSAME
  25. 40. Hospital area with IVs — Answer: ICU
  26. 42. News media — Answer: PRESS
  27. 43. Crosstown rivals of the Cubbies — Answer: SOX
  28. 46. Windpipe — Answer: TRACHEA
  29. 49. Decision-making consideration — Answer: FACTOR
  30. 50. Neither here ___ there — Answer: NOR
  31. 51. Only black key in a G major scale — Answer: FSHARP
  32. 53. Fodder for "Jeopardy!" — Answer: TRIVIA
  33. 54. Alludes (to) — Answer: REFERS
  34. 55. Not interrupted by commercials ... or shortened like the middle words of 20-, 30-, 48- and 60-Across? — Answer: ADFREE
  35. 58. Ties that are hard to untie — Answer: KNOTS
  36. 61. Super-uptight — Answer: ANAL
  37. 62. Bit of bathroom décor — Answer: TILE
  38. 63. Do, re or mi — Answer: NOTE
  39. 64. It goes around every year — Answer: FLU
  40. 65. Short ___ (beef cut) — Answer: RIB

Here are the NYT Crossword answers for Monday, October 20, 2025 — every solution for that day's 15×15 (21×21 on Sunday) puzzle, listed at the top of this page. Whether you're catching up on a puzzle you missed, settling a “what was the answer on October 20?” question, or checking a grid you finished that day, the complete clue-by-clue solution is right here. Looking for today's puzzle instead? Head to our live NYT Crossword answers page.

NYT Crossword answers for October 20, 2025

The full solution for the October 20 NYT Crossword is shown above, laid out clue by clue — every Across answer followed by every Down answer, exactly as that day's grid read. Each answer is listed separately, so you can check just the clue you were stuck on and leave the rest. This is the confirmed grid as published on Monday, October 20.

Hints for the October 20 puzzle

Not ready for the full answer? Here are lighter, spoiler-free nudges for that day's grid, above the solutions. The October 20 puzzle fell on a Monday, and with the New York Times crossword that matters: the grid gets harder as the week goes on, from an easy Monday to a fiendish Saturday, with a large themed puzzle on Sunday. So a Monday grid tells you how much misdirection to expect — and if a clue that day seemed to make no sense, the weekday is usually the reason. Use the hints for the trickiest clues, then reveal the answers above only if you need them.

Looking for a different day?

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Frequently asked questions

What were the NYT Crossword answers on October 20, 2025?

Every answer for the Monday, October 20, 2025 NYT Crossword is listed at the top of this page — the confirmed grid as published that day.

Where can I find today's NYT Crossword answers?

Today's live puzzle is on our NYT Crossword answers today page, updated the moment each new grid goes live.

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