Engineer Gray who, arguably, invented the telephone -- and battled Alexander Graham Bell over it in court for years

Crossword Answer — December 14, 2025

Answer

NYT Crossword

Sunday, December 14, 2025

By Zachary Edward-Brown and John Kugelman

Tap a square to reveal a letter.

Or reveal one clue at a time with the Hint and Answer buttons below.

NYT Crossword Clues

Across

  1. 1Marvel superhero who can manipulate weather patterns
  2. 6Something fun to take out for a spin
  3. 9Shaquille O'Neal's alma mater, for short
  4. 12Parts of a hand
  5. 17Irritate
  6. 18Recaps
  7. 20Paul whose house is one of the 16 historic sites of Boston's Freedom Trail
  8. 21False alarm announcement?
  9. 23Jedi-in-training
  10. 24Sensible
  11. 25TV host Brzezinski
  12. 26#1 choice, in slang
  13. 27"No ___, ands or buts!"
  14. 28Pollution-fighting org.
  15. 29"Game of Thrones" actor Gillen
  16. 31River that borders the Black Forest
  17. 33"Render ___ Caesar ..."
  18. 34Major coin producer
  19. 37Viking I or II
  20. 39Astronaut Ochoa, the first Hispanic woman in space
  21. 40Nickname for Mark's unsevered best friend in "Severance"
  22. 41They turn red litmus paper blue
  23. 42First chimpanzee to orbit Earth
  24. 43Football blocker?
  25. 46Hair-raising stuff
  26. 47Remodel and resell some real estate
  27. 49Marching band tempo setters
  28. 54Who said "It's hard to be humble when you're as great as I am"
  29. 55Season to enjoy une glace
  30. 56Ruler before 1917
  31. 58"Black-ish" airer
  32. 59It's a numbers game
  33. 60Clothing for SWAT teams
  34. 62"The Simpsons" character who becomes obsessed with crossword puzzles
  35. 64Puff piece?
  36. 66Like the number of Oscars vis-à-vis the number of Emmys
  37. 67Plant watcher, for short
  38. 68Camera type, in brief
  39. 69Site of some Santa sightings
  40. 71Longtime record label of Elvis Presley
  41. 73911 responder
  42. 74"Hilarious!"
  43. 77"I mean, kind of ..."
  44. 80"Don't give up!"
  45. 81¬ or ~, in logic
  46. 83Beat poet ___ Cassady
  47. 84Like some milk, idiomatically
  48. 87___ on the past
  49. 88Indication of bad service
  50. 90"Much obliged"
  51. 92Crossed the International Date Line from east to west, or west to east (depending on how you look at it)
  52. 97Bundled up
  53. 98Articles are written in this
  54. 99Brand name for naproxen
  55. 100___ Miss
  56. 101Doll that comes in multiple body types, skin tones, eye colors and hair colors
  57. 102Drink known also as "honey wine"
  58. 103Frosty
  59. 105Subject of Newton's first law
  60. 108Enjoying a soak
  61. 1101980 horror film starring William Hurt ... or what the shaded squares contain?
  62. 112Fundamental rules of math
  63. 113Loopy writing
  64. 114Star pitcher?
  65. 115"Fiddler on the Roof" matchmaker
  66. 116Letters for an unscheduled event
  67. 117Prefix with natal
  68. 118Like a bubble bath

Down

  1. 1Surveyed, with "out"
  2. 2Early track star Jim
  3. 3Resident of Honolulu, e.g.
  4. 4Touchless payment tech
  5. 5Internet ___
  6. 6Cheat on, in a way
  7. 7Surgery sites, in brief
  8. 8Video game character with an endless appetite
  9. 9Be in a chat room but not chat
  10. 10Soldiers with long arms
  11. 11Alternative to the euro, in brief
  12. 12Relinquish
  13. 13Director DuVernay
  14. 14Turns back the clock, maybe?
  15. 15Opposite of volunteer
  16. 16Parts of many robots in robot-sumo
  17. 19Area inside the free-throw line, in basketball slang
  18. 20"Gaspard de la Nuit" composer
  19. 22Addresses angrily
  20. 23Variety of violet
  21. 26Urban safety hazard
  22. 30Australia's largest carnivorous mammal
  23. 32Word used 10 times in Roger Ebert's review of "North" (1994)
  24. 33Dissimilar
  25. 35Part of a legendary boast
  26. 36Skips all the ceremony?
  27. 38The brother in "Am I my brother's keeper?"
  28. 40What might be made while clasping one's hands
  29. 42Engineer Gray who, arguably, invented the telephone -- and battled Alexander Graham Bell over it in court for years
  30. 44Ballpark figure
  31. 45Kind of tea
  32. 46Sierra automaker
  33. 47Shylock's security
  34. 48Adele song with the lyric "I must have called a thousand times"
  35. 50Non-premium option in a rideshare app
  36. 51Gaming mogul Gabe
  37. 52Ernst Stavro Blofeld, to James Bond
  38. 53Put into piles, perhaps
  39. 54Swear
  40. 57Parking space for an Airstream, say, in brief
  41. 61Did some school reporting?
  42. 63Exceptionally hard timber
  43. 65Amy Winehouse, e.g.
  44. 66Thumbprint alternative on iPhones
  45. 68Reluctant to ask out one's crush, maybe
  46. 70Particularly particular
  47. 72Cafeterias
  48. 75Like many indie films
  49. 76Many characters in the 2007 comedy "Superbad"
  50. 78He had a Billboard Hot 100 hit with "Rubber Duckie"
  51. 79Tortilla de patatas, por ejemplo
  52. 82Where high schoolers work on their numbers?
  53. 84Starship's medical facility
  54. 85Ren faire prop akin to a halberd
  55. 86"Sign me up!"
  56. 87Hair-care item associated with Black culture
  57. 89Like YouTube offerings
  58. 91Commences
  59. 92Rough drafts?
  60. 93Interview guest whom Ali G calls "my man Buzz Lightyear here"
  61. 94Like lowercase i's and j's
  62. 95Sci-fi sequel of 1986
  63. 96Like soft rolls
  64. 102Wordless entertainment
  65. 104Other, to Octavio
  66. 106Brief announcements from a pilot
  67. 107___ alla bolognese (slow-cooked sauce)
  68. 109Like hell!
  69. 110Play a part, or part of a play
  70. 111Part of N.Y.E.

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Across

  1. 1. Marvel superhero who can manipulate weather patterns — Answer: STORM
  2. 6. Something fun to take out for a spin — Answer: TOP
  3. 9. Shaquille O'Neal's alma mater, for short — Answer: LSU
  4. 12. Parts of a hand — Answer: CARDS
  5. 17. Irritate — Answer: CHAFE
  6. 18. Recaps — Answer: WRAPUPS
  7. 20. Paul whose house is one of the 16 historic sites of Boston's Freedom Trail — Answer: REVERE
  8. 21. False alarm announcement? — Answer: OOHIMSOSCARED
  9. 23. Jedi-in-training — Answer: PADAWAN
  10. 24. Sensible — Answer: PRUDENT
  11. 25. TV host Brzezinski — Answer: MIKA
  12. 26. #1 choice, in slang — Answer: FAVE
  13. 27. "No ___, ands or buts!" — Answer: IFS
  14. 28. Pollution-fighting org. — Answer: EPA
  15. 29. "Game of Thrones" actor Gillen — Answer: AIDAN
  16. 31. River that borders the Black Forest — Answer: RHINE
  17. 33. "Render ___ Caesar ..." — Answer: UNTO
  18. 34. Major coin producer — Answer: DENVERMINT
  19. 37. Viking I or II — Answer: MARSLANDER
  20. 39. Astronaut Ochoa, the first Hispanic woman in space — Answer: ELLEN
  21. 40. Nickname for Mark's unsevered best friend in "Severance" — Answer: PETEY
  22. 41. They turn red litmus paper blue — Answer: BASES
  23. 42. First chimpanzee to orbit Earth — Answer: ENOS
  24. 43. Football blocker? — Answer: GOALNET
  25. 46. Hair-raising stuff — Answer: GEL
  26. 47. Remodel and resell some real estate — Answer: FLIPAHOUSE
  27. 49. Marching band tempo setters — Answer: DRUMLINES
  28. 54. Who said "It's hard to be humble when you're as great as I am" — Answer: ALI
  29. 55. Season to enjoy une glace — Answer: ETE
  30. 56. Ruler before 1917 — Answer: TSAR
  31. 58. "Black-ish" airer — Answer: ABC
  32. 59. It's a numbers game — Answer: KENO
  33. 60. Clothing for SWAT teams — Answer: VESTS
  34. 62. "The Simpsons" character who becomes obsessed with crossword puzzles — Answer: LISA
  35. 64. Puff piece? — Answer: VAPE
  36. 66. Like the number of Oscars vis-à-vis the number of Emmys — Answer: FEWER
  37. 67. Plant watcher, for short — Answer: OSHA
  38. 68. Camera type, in brief — Answer: SLR
  39. 69. Site of some Santa sightings — Answer: MALL
  40. 71. Longtime record label of Elvis Presley — Answer: RCA
  41. 73. 911 responder — Answer: EMT
  42. 74. "Hilarious!" — Answer: WHATAHOOT
  43. 77. "I mean, kind of ..." — Answer: NOTEXACTLY
  44. 80. "Don't give up!" — Answer: TRY
  45. 81. ¬ or ~, in logic — Answer: NEGATOR
  46. 83. Beat poet ___ Cassady — Answer: NEAL
  47. 84. Like some milk, idiomatically — Answer: SPILT
  48. 87. ___ on the past — Answer: DWELL
  49. 88. Indication of bad service — Answer: NOTIP
  50. 90. "Much obliged" — Answer: IOWEYOUONE
  51. 92. Crossed the International Date Line from east to west, or west to east (depending on how you look at it) — Answer: GAINEDADAY
  52. 97. Bundled up — Answer: CLAD
  53. 98. Articles are written in this — Answer: PROSE
  54. 99. Brand name for naproxen — Answer: ALEVE
  55. 100. ___ Miss — Answer: OLE
  56. 101. Doll that comes in multiple body types, skin tones, eye colors and hair colors — Answer: KEN
  57. 102. Drink known also as "honey wine" — Answer: MEAD
  58. 103. Frosty — Answer: COLD
  59. 105. Subject of Newton's first law — Answer: INERTIA
  60. 108. Enjoying a soak — Answer: BATHING
  61. 110. 1980 horror film starring William Hurt ... or what the shaded squares contain? — Answer: ALTEREDSTATES
  62. 112. Fundamental rules of math — Answer: AXIOMS
  63. 113. Loopy writing — Answer: CURSIVE
  64. 114. Star pitcher? — Answer: AGENT
  65. 115. "Fiddler on the Roof" matchmaker — Answer: YENTE
  66. 116. Letters for an unscheduled event — Answer: TBA
  67. 117. Prefix with natal — Answer: NEO
  68. 118. Like a bubble bath — Answer: SUDSY

Down

  1. 1. Surveyed, with "out" — Answer: SCOPED
  2. 2. Early track star Jim — Answer: THORPE
  3. 3. Resident of Honolulu, e.g. — Answer: OAHUAN
  4. 4. Touchless payment tech — Answer: RFID
  5. 5. Internet ___ — Answer: MEME
  6. 6. Cheat on, in a way — Answer: TWOTIME
  7. 7. Surgery sites, in brief — Answer: ORS
  8. 8. Video game character with an endless appetite — Answer: PACMAN
  9. 9. Be in a chat room but not chat — Answer: LURK
  10. 10. Soldiers with long arms — Answer: SPEARMEN
  11. 11. Alternative to the euro, in brief — Answer: USD
  12. 12. Relinquish — Answer: CEDE
  13. 13. Director DuVernay — Answer: AVA
  14. 14. Turns back the clock, maybe? — Answer: REWINDS
  15. 15. Opposite of volunteer — Answer: DRAFTEE
  16. 16. Parts of many robots in robot-sumo — Answer: SENSORS
  17. 19. Area inside the free-throw line, in basketball slang — Answer: PAINT
  18. 20. "Gaspard de la Nuit" composer — Answer: RAVEL
  19. 22. Addresses angrily — Answer: SNARLSAT
  20. 23. Variety of violet — Answer: PANSY
  21. 26. Urban safety hazard — Answer: FIRETRAP
  22. 30. Australia's largest carnivorous mammal — Answer: DINGO
  23. 32. Word used 10 times in Roger Ebert's review of "North" (1994) — Answer: HATED
  24. 33. Dissimilar — Answer: UNALIKE
  25. 35. Part of a legendary boast — Answer: VENI
  26. 36. Skips all the ceremony? — Answer: ELOPES
  27. 38. The brother in "Am I my brother's keeper?" — Answer: ABEL
  28. 40. What might be made while clasping one's hands — Answer: PLEA
  29. 42. Engineer Gray who, arguably, invented the telephone -- and battled Alexander Graham Bell over it in court for years — Answer: ELISHA
  30. 44. Ballpark figure — Answer: OUTS
  31. 45. Kind of tea — Answer: ASSAM
  32. 46. Sierra automaker — Answer: GMC
  33. 47. Shylock's security — Answer: FLESH
  34. 48. Adele song with the lyric "I must have called a thousand times" — Answer: HELLO
  35. 50. Non-premium option in a rideshare app — Answer: UBERX
  36. 51. Gaming mogul Gabe — Answer: NEWELL
  37. 52. Ernst Stavro Blofeld, to James Bond — Answer: ENEMY
  38. 53. Put into piles, perhaps — Answer: SORT
  39. 54. Swear — Answer: AVOW
  40. 57. Parking space for an Airstream, say, in brief — Answer: RVLOT
  41. 61. Did some school reporting? — Answer: TATTLED
  42. 63. Exceptionally hard timber — Answer: IRONWOOD
  43. 65. Amy Winehouse, e.g. — Answer: ALTO
  44. 66. Thumbprint alternative on iPhones — Answer: FACEID
  45. 68. Reluctant to ask out one's crush, maybe — Answer: SHY
  46. 70. Particularly particular — Answer: ANAL
  47. 72. Cafeterias — Answer: CANTEENS
  48. 75. Like many indie films — Answer: ARTY
  49. 76. Many characters in the 2007 comedy "Superbad" — Answer: TEENS
  50. 78. He had a Billboard Hot 100 hit with "Rubber Duckie" — Answer: ERNIE
  51. 79. Tortilla de patatas, por ejemplo — Answer: TAPA
  52. 82. Where high schoolers work on their numbers? — Answer: GLEECLUB
  53. 84. Starship's medical facility — Answer: SICKBAY
  54. 85. Ren faire prop akin to a halberd — Answer: POLEAXE
  55. 86. "Sign me up!" — Answer: IWANTIN
  56. 87. Hair-care item associated with Black culture — Answer: DURAG
  57. 89. Like YouTube offerings — Answer: ONVIDEO
  58. 91. Commences — Answer: OPENS
  59. 92. Rough drafts? — Answer: GALES
  60. 93. Interview guest whom Ali G calls "my man Buzz Lightyear here" — Answer: ALDRIN
  61. 94. Like lowercase i's and j's — Answer: DOTTED
  62. 95. Sci-fi sequel of 1986 — Answer: ALIENS
  63. 96. Like soft rolls — Answer: YEASTY
  64. 102. Wordless entertainment — Answer: MIME
  65. 104. Other, to Octavio — Answer: OTRA
  66. 106. Brief announcements from a pilot — Answer: ETAS
  67. 107. ___ alla bolognese (slow-cooked sauce) — Answer: RAGU
  68. 109. Like hell! — Answer: HOT
  69. 110. Play a part, or part of a play — Answer: ACT
  70. 111. Part of N.Y.E. — Answer: EVE

The answer to “Engineer Gray who, arguably, invented the telephone -- and battled Alexander Graham Bell over it in court for years” in the New York Times crossword is ELISHA — a 6-letter word. This clue ran in the New York Times crossword on December 14, 2025, a Sunday puzzle, at 42-Down. If it's the entry standing between you and a clean grid, that's the word you need — and below you'll find why it fits, plus links to the day's other clues if more than one square is giving you trouble.

“Engineer Gray who, arguably, invented the telephone -- and battled Alexander Graham Bell over it in court for years” answer

ELISHA (6 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 ELISHA.

Why the answer is ELISHA

ELISHA is the 6-letter solution that fits "Engineer Gray who, arguably, invented the telephone -- and battled Alexander Graham Bell over it in court for years" in the NYT Crossword crossword on December 14, 2025 (42-Down). Use the letter tiles above if you'd rather reveal it one letter at a time.

When else has “Engineer Gray who, arguably, invented the telephone -- and battled Alexander Graham Bell over it in court for years” 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 before, and what the answer was each time — handy if you landed here from a puzzle on another date.

December 14, 2025 (this puzzle) → ELISHA. We haven't indexed an earlier appearance of this exact clue yet.

More clues from the NYT Crossword crossword on December 14, 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 14, 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 “Engineer Gray who, arguably, invented the telephone -- and battled Alexander Graham Bell over it in court for years”?

The answer is ELISHA, a 6-letter word. It appeared in the New York Times crossword on December 14, 2025.

How many letters is the answer to “Engineer Gray who, arguably, invented the telephone -- and battled Alexander Graham Bell over it in court for years”?

6 letters: ELISHA.

Where did this clue appear?

In the New York Times crossword on December 14, 2025 (a Sunday puzzle), at 42-Down.

Can “Engineer Gray who, arguably, invented the telephone -- and battled Alexander Graham Bell over it in court for years” 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 14, 2025 is on the NYT Crossword answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

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