NYT Crossword Answers - Dec 16

By Jason Reich

B
O
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K
A
P
P
S
B
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G
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K
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B
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H
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Across

  1. 1Library acquisitionBOOK
  2. 5Insta and SnapAPPS
  3. 9StartBEGIN
  4. 14Roughly equivalent (to)AKIN
  5. 15HomieBRAH
  6. 16Maine-to-Florida hwy.USONE
  7. 17What shares a key with "(" on a keyboardNINE
  8. 18Reason to buy a magazine, perhapsCOVERSTORY
  9. 20Hockey feintsDEKES
  10. 22Like someone who knows everything about a niche subject, maybeGEEKY
  11. 23Prefix with cache or tagGEO
  12. 24Person in hot pants?LIAR
  13. 26Name on a prestigious awardNOBEL
  14. 28It may be blond or paleALE
  15. 31DisgustingGROSS
  16. 33C-suite typesEXECS
  17. 36Last stop before security, oftenBAGCHECK
  18. 38Words of communal supportWECARE
  19. 39Texter's "Then again ..."OTOH
  20. 40Groundbreaking 1988 Japanese animated action filmAKIRA
  21. 42Orchestra-tuning instrumentOBOE
  22. 43NegligentREMISS
  23. 45Turnabout, they sayFAIRPLAY
  24. 47Tiny amountTRACE
  25. 48Pay taxes via the internetEFILE
  26. 49Air traveler's infoETA
  27. 50Drinks served at fountainsSODAS
  28. 52Govt. IDsSSNS
  29. 54Down Under land: Abbr.AUS
  30. 56Computer acronym since the 1960sASCII
  31. 58Inventor NikolaTESLA
  32. 62The IBM Simon Personal Communicator is considered the world's first oneSMARTPHONE
  33. 65Couple, in gossipITEM
  34. 66"Aw, shucks!"OHGEE
  35. 67Decorative pitcherEWER
  36. 68WackyZANY
  37. 69Lords' landsFIEFS
  38. 70Tells (on)RATS
  39. 71After 1-Across, shelf accessories ... or what can be placed "around" the halves of 18-, 36-, 45- and 62-Across to make new phrases?ENDS

Down

  1. 1Genesis or YesBAND
  2. 2Many a character in "The Grapes of Wrath"OKIE
  3. 3Barnyard soundOINK
  4. 4Prepare to be knightedKNEEL
  5. 5Epitome of simplicityABC
  6. 6Genre for Genesis or Yes, informallyPROGROCK
  7. 7Lead (the way)PAVE
  8. 8Glossy finishesSHEENS
  9. 9Active and enthusiastic sortBUSYBEE
  10. 10Approx.EST
  11. 11Easily found on the internet, sayGOOGLEABLE
  12. 12Memo headingINRE
  13. 13Grammy-winning R&B; artist whose stage name is said to have been inspired by "The Matrix"NEYO
  14. 19Golden Age studio known for many Astaire/Rogers filmsRKO
  15. 21You might heave a big oneSIGH
  16. 25PlacesAREAS
  17. 27Mike in "Breaking Bad," for exampleEXCOP
  18. 28Cancel, as a space launchABORT
  19. 29Procrastinator's mantraLATER
  20. 30What someone seeking validation might needEGOMASSAGE
  21. 32Shallow boat with a square sternSKIFF
  22. 34Neighbor of a SloveneCROAT
  23. 35"Take it easy!"SEEYA
  24. 37Brother to GrouchoCHICO
  25. 38Mournful criesWAILS
  26. 41One in a box at the theater?RAISINET
  27. 44TranquilizesSEDATES
  28. 46Penalty in MonopolyRENT
  29. 48Artist known for his "impossible staircases"ESCHER
  30. 51Symbol of divine authority in hieroglyphicsASP
  31. 53Grab control ofSEIZE
  32. 54Words before a dateASOF
  33. 55Tentative greetingUMHI
  34. 57The Hawkeye StateIOWA
  35. 59Show extreme fandom for, in slangSTAN
  36. 60Give temporarilyLEND
  37. 61Ryan and Adams of HollywoodAMYS
  38. 63Whistle blower or flag throwerREF
  39. 64Hosp. hot spotsERS

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Across

  1. 1. Library acquisition — Answer: BOOK
  2. 5. Insta and Snap — Answer: APPS
  3. 9. Start — Answer: BEGIN
  4. 14. Roughly equivalent (to) — Answer: AKIN
  5. 15. Homie — Answer: BRAH
  6. 16. Maine-to-Florida hwy. — Answer: USONE
  7. 17. What shares a key with "(" on a keyboard — Answer: NINE
  8. 18. Reason to buy a magazine, perhaps — Answer: COVERSTORY
  9. 20. Hockey feints — Answer: DEKES. Hint: Think of slick moves on the ice that can leave defenders in the dust! 🏒
  10. 22. Like someone who knows everything about a niche subject, maybe — Answer: GEEKY
  11. 23. Prefix with cache or tag — Answer: GEO
  12. 24. Person in hot pants? — Answer: LIAR
  13. 26. Name on a prestigious award — Answer: NOBEL
  14. 28. It may be blond or pale — Answer: ALE
  15. 31. Disgusting — Answer: GROSS
  16. 33. C-suite types — Answer: EXECS
  17. 36. Last stop before security, often — Answer: BAGCHECK
  18. 38. Words of communal support — Answer: WECARE
  19. 39. Texter's "Then again ..." — Answer: OTOH. Hint: This shorthand introduces a contrasting point of view. 💬
  20. 40. Groundbreaking 1988 Japanese animated action film — Answer: AKIRA
  21. 42. Orchestra-tuning instrument — Answer: OBOE
  22. 43. Negligent — Answer: REMISS
  23. 45. Turnabout, they say — Answer: FAIRPLAY
  24. 47. Tiny amount — Answer: TRACE
  25. 48. Pay taxes via the internet — Answer: EFILE
  26. 49. Air traveler's info — Answer: ETA
  27. 50. Drinks served at fountains — Answer: SODAS
  28. 52. Govt. IDs — Answer: SSNS
  29. 54. Down Under land: Abbr. — Answer: AUS
  30. 56. Computer acronym since the 1960s — Answer: ASCII
  31. 58. Inventor Nikola — Answer: TESLA
  32. 62. The IBM Simon Personal Communicator is considered the world's first one — Answer: SMARTPHONE
  33. 65. Couple, in gossip — Answer: ITEM
  34. 66. "Aw, shucks!" — Answer: OHGEE
  35. 67. Decorative pitcher — Answer: EWER
  36. 68. Wacky — Answer: ZANY
  37. 69. Lords' lands — Answer: FIEFS
  38. 70. Tells (on) — Answer: RATS
  39. 71. After 1-Across, shelf accessories ... or what can be placed "around" the halves of 18-, 36-, 45- and 62-Across to make new phrases? — Answer: ENDS

Down

  1. 1. Genesis or Yes — Answer: BAND
  2. 2. Many a character in "The Grapes of Wrath" — Answer: OKIE
  3. 3. Barnyard sound — Answer: OINK
  4. 4. Prepare to be knighted — Answer: KNEEL
  5. 5. Epitome of simplicity — Answer: ABC
  6. 6. Genre for Genesis or Yes, informally — Answer: PROGROCK
  7. 7. Lead (the way) — Answer: PAVE
  8. 8. Glossy finishes — Answer: SHEENS
  9. 9. Active and enthusiastic sort — Answer: BUSYBEE
  10. 10. Approx. — Answer: EST. Hint: Think about how we denote time zones and locations! ⏰
  11. 11. Easily found on the internet, say — Answer: GOOGLEABLE
  12. 12. Memo heading — Answer: INRE
  13. 13. Grammy-winning R&B; artist whose stage name is said to have been inspired by "The Matrix" — Answer: NEYO
  14. 19. Golden Age studio known for many Astaire/Rogers films — Answer: RKO
  15. 21. You might heave a big one — Answer: SIGH
  16. 25. Places — Answer: AREAS
  17. 27. Mike in "Breaking Bad," for example — Answer: EXCOP
  18. 28. Cancel, as a space launch — Answer: ABORT
  19. 29. Procrastinator's mantra — Answer: LATER
  20. 30. What someone seeking validation might need — Answer: EGOMASSAGE
  21. 32. Shallow boat with a square stern — Answer: SKIFF
  22. 34. Neighbor of a Slovene — Answer: CROAT
  23. 35. "Take it easy!" — Answer: SEEYA
  24. 37. Brother to Groucho — Answer: CHICO
  25. 38. Mournful cries — Answer: WAILS
  26. 41. One in a box at the theater? — Answer: RAISINET
  27. 44. Tranquilizes — Answer: SEDATES
  28. 46. Penalty in Monopoly — Answer: RENT
  29. 48. Artist known for his "impossible staircases" — Answer: ESCHER
  30. 51. Symbol of divine authority in hieroglyphics — Answer: ASP
  31. 53. Grab control of — Answer: SEIZE
  32. 54. Words before a date — Answer: ASOF
  33. 55. Tentative greeting — Answer: UMHI
  34. 57. The Hawkeye State — Answer: IOWA
  35. 59. Show extreme fandom for, in slang — Answer: STAN
  36. 60. Give temporarily — Answer: LEND
  37. 61. Ryan and Adams of Hollywood — Answer: AMYS
  38. 63. Whistle blower or flag thrower — Answer: REF
  39. 64. Hosp. hot spots — Answer: ERS

Recent NYT Crossword Answers

The last 7 days of solutions

NYT Crossword 15 December 2025NYT Crossword 14 December 2025NYT Crossword 13 December 2025NYT Crossword 12 December 2025NYT Crossword 11 December 2025NYT Crossword 10 December 2025NYT Crossword 9 December 2025

Here are the NYT Crossword answers for Tuesday, December 16, 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 December 16?” 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 December 16, 2025

The full solution for the December 16 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 Tuesday, December 16.

Full NYT Crossword answer list for December 16, 2025

Every clue from the December 16 grid next to its solution — the same answers as the board above, in one plain list you can scan without tapping.

Across

#ClueAnswer
1Library acquisitionBOOK
5Insta and SnapAPPS
9StartBEGIN
14Roughly equivalent (to)AKIN
15HomieBRAH
16Maine-to-Florida hwy.USONE
17What shares a key with "(" on a keyboardNINE
18Reason to buy a magazine, perhapsCOVERSTORY
20Hockey feintsDEKES
22Like someone who knows everything about a niche subject, maybeGEEKY
23Prefix with cache or tagGEO
24Person in hot pants?LIAR
26Name on a prestigious awardNOBEL
28It may be blond or paleALE
31DisgustingGROSS
33C-suite typesEXECS
36Last stop before security, oftenBAGCHECK
38Words of communal supportWECARE
39Texter's "Then again ..."OTOH
40Groundbreaking 1988 Japanese animated action filmAKIRA
42Orchestra-tuning instrumentOBOE
43NegligentREMISS
45Turnabout, they sayFAIRPLAY
47Tiny amountTRACE
48Pay taxes via the internetEFILE
49Air traveler's infoETA
50Drinks served at fountainsSODAS
52Govt. IDsSSNS
54Down Under land: Abbr.AUS
56Computer acronym since the 1960sASCII
58Inventor NikolaTESLA
62The IBM Simon Personal Communicator is considered the world's first oneSMARTPHONE
65Couple, in gossipITEM
66"Aw, shucks!"OHGEE
67Decorative pitcherEWER
68WackyZANY
69Lords' landsFIEFS
70Tells (on)RATS
71After 1-Across, shelf accessories ... or what can be placed "around" the halves of 18-, 36-, 45- and 62-Across to make new phrases?ENDS

Down

#ClueAnswer
1Genesis or YesBAND
2Many a character in "The Grapes of Wrath"OKIE
3Barnyard soundOINK
4Prepare to be knightedKNEEL
5Epitome of simplicityABC
6Genre for Genesis or Yes, informallyPROGROCK
7Lead (the way)PAVE
8Glossy finishesSHEENS
9Active and enthusiastic sortBUSYBEE
10Approx.EST
11Easily found on the internet, sayGOOGLEABLE
12Memo headingINRE
13Grammy-winning R&B; artist whose stage name is said to have been inspired by "The Matrix"NEYO
19Golden Age studio known for many Astaire/Rogers filmsRKO
21You might heave a big oneSIGH
25PlacesAREAS
27Mike in "Breaking Bad," for exampleEXCOP
28Cancel, as a space launchABORT
29Procrastinator's mantraLATER
30What someone seeking validation might needEGOMASSAGE
32Shallow boat with a square sternSKIFF
34Neighbor of a SloveneCROAT
35"Take it easy!"SEEYA
37Brother to GrouchoCHICO
38Mournful criesWAILS
41One in a box at the theater?RAISINET
44TranquilizesSEDATES
46Penalty in MonopolyRENT
48Artist known for his "impossible staircases"ESCHER
51Symbol of divine authority in hieroglyphicsASP
53Grab control ofSEIZE
54Words before a dateASOF
55Tentative greetingUMHI
57The Hawkeye StateIOWA
59Show extreme fandom for, in slangSTAN
60Give temporarilyLEND
61Ryan and Adams of HollywoodAMYS
63Whistle blower or flag throwerREF
64Hosp. hot spotsERS

Hints for the December 16 puzzle

Not ready for the full answer? Here are lighter, spoiler-free nudges for that day's grid, above the solutions. The December 16 puzzle fell on a Tuesday, 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 Tuesday 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 December 16, 2025?

Every answer for the Tuesday, December 16, 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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