NYT Crossword Answers - Dec 23

By Nathan Hale

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Across

  1. 1Longtime CBS procedural with multiple spinoffsNCIS
  2. 5Highly capableADEPT
  3. 10Ctrl+S commandSAVE
  4. 14Alternative to check or credit cardCASH
  5. 15Secondary subject for a college studentMINOR
  6. 16Short videoCLIP
  7. 17Appropriately named bus driver on "The Simpsons"OTTO
  8. 18Alternative to épée or foil, in British EnglishSABRE
  9. 19Tokarczuk who won the 2018 Nobel Prize in LiteratureOLGA
  10. 20Classic Hanukkah treatCHOCOLATECOIN
  11. 23Brownish-yellow fabricKHAKI
  12. 24Institution of higher education, to a BritUNI
  13. 25Sleeper's breathing problemAPNEA
  14. 27Lead-in to "drink and be merry"EAT
  15. 28Classic classroom party treatCUPCAKE
  16. 31Antitrust enforcement org.FTC
  17. 32Unfortunate accidentMISHAP
  18. 34CleverASTUTE
  19. 36Highly pleased aboutPROUDOF
  20. 38Colored, as church glassSTAINED
  21. 39Classic Halloween treatCANDYCORN
  22. 41It's part of the jobTASK
  23. 44Prefix with classicNEO
  24. 45CarveETCH
  25. 49Take advantage ofUSE
  26. 50"Where'd you hear that?"SAYSWHO
  27. 54Dream Team country, for shortUSA
  28. 55Take responsibilitySTEPUP
  29. 57Cry from a movie directorANDCUT
  30. 59Classic Yuletide treatCHRISTMASCOOKIE
  31. 63Prayer enderAMEN
  32. 64This should clear things up!LASIK
  33. 65Reject, as a billVETO
  34. 66Nothing, in NogalesNADA
  35. 67Cries outYELPS
  36. 68Biblical gardenEDEN

Down

  1. 1Sgt. or cpl.NCO
  2. 2Go off a ski jump, sayCATCHAIR
  3. 3"Oh, really?"ISTHATSO
  4. 4Tried to identify, in a way, as a wrapped giftSHOOK
  5. 5Playground retortAMSO
  6. 61990s internet optionDIALUP
  7. 7With all judges presentENBANC
  8. 8___ de Rossi, "Arrested Development" actressPORTIA
  9. 9Aspen or pineTREE
  10. 10Reporter's big getSCOOP
  11. 11Just for grinsALLINFUN
  12. 12Short version of an impactful storyVIGNETTE
  13. 13Org. regulating water safetyEPA
  14. 21Insect that emerges en masse every 13 or 17 yearsCICADA
  15. 22Kind of salad whose dressing contains anchoviesCAESAR
  16. 23Former N.B.A. star Shawn with the nickname "Reign Man"KEMP
  17. 26Nailed, as a testACED
  18. 29"Once ___ a time ..."UPON
  19. 30Character played by Bruce Lee on "The Green Hornet"KATO
  20. 33___ FinnHUCK
  21. 35One of three on the pitchfork in "American Gothic"TINE
  22. 37Big Apple org. that's going to blazes?FDNY
  23. 38Flat-bottomed boatSCOW
  24. 40"That's correct!"YES
  25. 41Resident of Pisa or LuccaTUSCAN
  26. 42Condition that may require an inhalerASTHMA
  27. 43Get more than a little madSEERED
  28. 46Like many a dress shirt, with "in"TUCKED
  29. 47Top execs, colloquially ... or what 20-, 28-, 39- and 59-Across are, phonetically?CSUITE
  30. 48Make negative remarks aboutHATEON
  31. 50Not on the up and up, slangilySUS
  32. 51In a fitting wayAPTLY
  33. 52Breaks (into), as a computer systemHACKS
  34. 53Middle name for Lennon starting in 1969ONO
  35. 56"Escape (The ___ Colada Song)"PINA
  36. 58Sign of peaceDOVE
  37. 60Sallie or Fannie followerMAE
  38. 61Hand-y communication method, for short?ASL
  39. 62Drink slowlySIP

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Across

  1. 1. Longtime CBS procedural with multiple spinoffs — Answer: NCIS
  2. 5. Highly capable — Answer: ADEPT
  3. 10. Ctrl+S command — Answer: SAVE
  4. 14. Alternative to check or credit card — Answer: CASH
  5. 15. Secondary subject for a college student — Answer: MINOR
  6. 16. Short video — Answer: CLIP
  7. 17. Appropriately named bus driver on "The Simpsons" — Answer: OTTO
  8. 18. Alternative to épée or foil, in British English — Answer: SABRE
  9. 19. Tokarczuk who won the 2018 Nobel Prize in Literature — Answer: OLGA. Hint: This talented Polish author shares her name with a popular first name! 📚
  10. 20. Classic Hanukkah treat — Answer: CHOCOLATECOIN
  11. 23. Brownish-yellow fabric — Answer: KHAKI
  12. 24. Institution of higher education, to a Brit — Answer: UNI
  13. 25. Sleeper's breathing problem — Answer: APNEA
  14. 27. Lead-in to "drink and be merry" — Answer: EAT. Hint: It’s the mealtime verb that comes before the familiar festive invitation to drink and celebrate 🍽️
  15. 28. Classic classroom party treat — Answer: CUPCAKE
  16. 31. Antitrust enforcement org. — Answer: FTC
  17. 32. Unfortunate accident — Answer: MISHAP
  18. 34. Clever — Answer: ASTUTE
  19. 36. Highly pleased about — Answer: PROUDOF
  20. 38. Colored, as church glass — Answer: STAINED
  21. 39. Classic Halloween treat — Answer: CANDYCORN
  22. 41. It's part of the job — Answer: TASK
  23. 44. Prefix with classic — Answer: NEO
  24. 45. Carve — Answer: ETCH
  25. 49. Take advantage of — Answer: USE
  26. 50. "Where'd you hear that?" — Answer: SAYSWHO
  27. 54. Dream Team country, for short — Answer: USA
  28. 55. Take responsibility — Answer: STEPUP
  29. 57. Cry from a movie director — Answer: ANDCUT
  30. 59. Classic Yuletide treat — Answer: CHRISTMASCOOKIE
  31. 63. Prayer ender — Answer: AMEN. Hint: It's the word that often seals a heartfelt plea or wish! 🙏
  32. 64. This should clear things up! — Answer: LASIK
  33. 65. Reject, as a bill — Answer: VETO
  34. 66. Nothing, in Nogales — Answer: NADA
  35. 67. Cries out — Answer: YELPS
  36. 68. Biblical garden — Answer: EDEN. Hint: Think of a paradise mentioned in ancient texts! 🌳

Down

  1. 1. Sgt. or cpl. — Answer: NCO
  2. 2. Go off a ski jump, say — Answer: CATCHAIR
  3. 3. "Oh, really?" — Answer: ISTHATSO
  4. 4. Tried to identify, in a way, as a wrapped gift — Answer: SHOOK
  5. 5. Playground retort — Answer: AMSO
  6. 6. 1990s internet option — Answer: DIALUP
  7. 7. With all judges present — Answer: ENBANC
  8. 8. ___ de Rossi, "Arrested Development" actress — Answer: PORTIA
  9. 9. Aspen or pine — Answer: TREE
  10. 10. Reporter's big get — Answer: SCOOP
  11. 11. Just for grins — Answer: ALLINFUN
  12. 12. Short version of an impactful story — Answer: VIGNETTE
  13. 13. Org. regulating water safety — Answer: EPA
  14. 21. Insect that emerges en masse every 13 or 17 years — Answer: CICADA
  15. 22. Kind of salad whose dressing contains anchovies — Answer: CAESAR
  16. 23. Former N.B.A. star Shawn with the nickname "Reign Man" — Answer: KEMP
  17. 26. Nailed, as a test — Answer: ACED
  18. 29. "Once ___ a time ..." — Answer: UPON
  19. 30. Character played by Bruce Lee on "The Green Hornet" — Answer: KATO
  20. 33. ___ Finn — Answer: HUCK
  21. 35. One of three on the pitchfork in "American Gothic" — Answer: TINE
  22. 37. Big Apple org. that's going to blazes? — Answer: FDNY
  23. 38. Flat-bottomed boat — Answer: SCOW. Hint: A sturdy cargo vessel made for navigating shallow water with a broad, level hull. 🚤
  24. 40. "That's correct!" — Answer: YES
  25. 41. Resident of Pisa or Lucca — Answer: TUSCAN
  26. 42. Condition that may require an inhaler — Answer: ASTHMA
  27. 43. Get more than a little mad — Answer: SEERED
  28. 46. Like many a dress shirt, with "in" — Answer: TUCKED
  29. 47. Top execs, colloquially ... or what 20-, 28-, 39- and 59-Across are, phonetically? — Answer: CSUITE
  30. 48. Make negative remarks about — Answer: HATEON
  31. 50. Not on the up and up, slangily — Answer: SUS
  32. 51. In a fitting way — Answer: APTLY
  33. 52. Breaks (into), as a computer system — Answer: HACKS
  34. 53. Middle name for Lennon starting in 1969 — Answer: ONO
  35. 56. "Escape (The ___ Colada Song)" — Answer: PINA
  36. 58. Sign of peace — Answer: DOVE
  37. 60. Sallie or Fannie follower — Answer: MAE
  38. 61. Hand-y communication method, for short? — Answer: ASL
  39. 62. Drink slowly — Answer: SIP

Recent NYT Crossword Answers

The last 7 days of solutions

NYT Crossword 22 December 2025NYT Crossword 21 December 2025NYT Crossword 20 December 2025NYT Crossword 19 December 2025NYT Crossword 18 December 2025NYT Crossword 17 December 2025NYT Crossword 16 December 2025

Here are the NYT Crossword answers for Tuesday, December 23, 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 23?” 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 23, 2025

The full solution for the December 23 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 23.

Full NYT Crossword answer list for December 23, 2025

Every clue from the December 23 grid next to its solution — the same answers as the board above, in one plain list you can scan without tapping.

Across

#ClueAnswer
1Longtime CBS procedural with multiple spinoffsNCIS
5Highly capableADEPT
10Ctrl+S commandSAVE
14Alternative to check or credit cardCASH
15Secondary subject for a college studentMINOR
16Short videoCLIP
17Appropriately named bus driver on "The Simpsons"OTTO
18Alternative to épée or foil, in British EnglishSABRE
19Tokarczuk who won the 2018 Nobel Prize in LiteratureOLGA
20Classic Hanukkah treatCHOCOLATECOIN
23Brownish-yellow fabricKHAKI
24Institution of higher education, to a BritUNI
25Sleeper's breathing problemAPNEA
27Lead-in to "drink and be merry"EAT
28Classic classroom party treatCUPCAKE
31Antitrust enforcement org.FTC
32Unfortunate accidentMISHAP
34CleverASTUTE
36Highly pleased aboutPROUDOF
38Colored, as church glassSTAINED
39Classic Halloween treatCANDYCORN
41It's part of the jobTASK
44Prefix with classicNEO
45CarveETCH
49Take advantage ofUSE
50"Where'd you hear that?"SAYSWHO
54Dream Team country, for shortUSA
55Take responsibilitySTEPUP
57Cry from a movie directorANDCUT
59Classic Yuletide treatCHRISTMASCOOKIE
63Prayer enderAMEN
64This should clear things up!LASIK
65Reject, as a billVETO
66Nothing, in NogalesNADA
67Cries outYELPS
68Biblical gardenEDEN

Down

#ClueAnswer
1Sgt. or cpl.NCO
2Go off a ski jump, sayCATCHAIR
3"Oh, really?"ISTHATSO
4Tried to identify, in a way, as a wrapped giftSHOOK
5Playground retortAMSO
61990s internet optionDIALUP
7With all judges presentENBANC
8___ de Rossi, "Arrested Development" actressPORTIA
9Aspen or pineTREE
10Reporter's big getSCOOP
11Just for grinsALLINFUN
12Short version of an impactful storyVIGNETTE
13Org. regulating water safetyEPA
21Insect that emerges en masse every 13 or 17 yearsCICADA
22Kind of salad whose dressing contains anchoviesCAESAR
23Former N.B.A. star Shawn with the nickname "Reign Man"KEMP
26Nailed, as a testACED
29"Once ___ a time ..."UPON
30Character played by Bruce Lee on "The Green Hornet"KATO
33___ FinnHUCK
35One of three on the pitchfork in "American Gothic"TINE
37Big Apple org. that's going to blazes?FDNY
38Flat-bottomed boatSCOW
40"That's correct!"YES
41Resident of Pisa or LuccaTUSCAN
42Condition that may require an inhalerASTHMA
43Get more than a little madSEERED
46Like many a dress shirt, with "in"TUCKED
47Top execs, colloquially ... or what 20-, 28-, 39- and 59-Across are, phonetically?CSUITE
48Make negative remarks aboutHATEON
50Not on the up and up, slangilySUS
51In a fitting wayAPTLY
52Breaks (into), as a computer systemHACKS
53Middle name for Lennon starting in 1969ONO
56"Escape (The ___ Colada Song)"PINA
58Sign of peaceDOVE
60Sallie or Fannie followerMAE
61Hand-y communication method, for short?ASL
62Drink slowlySIP

Hints for the December 23 puzzle

Not ready for the full answer? Here are lighter, spoiler-free nudges for that day's grid, above the solutions. The December 23 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 23, 2025?

Every answer for the Tuesday, December 23, 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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