NYT Crossword Clues & Answers - Dec 23

Tuesday, December 23, 2025

By Nathan Hale

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NYT Crossword Clues

Across

  1. 1Longtime CBS procedural with multiple spinoffs
  2. 5Highly capable
  3. 10Ctrl+S command
  4. 14Alternative to check or credit card
  5. 15Secondary subject for a college student
  6. 16Short video
  7. 17Appropriately named bus driver on "The Simpsons"
  8. 18Alternative to épée or foil, in British English
  9. 19Tokarczuk who won the 2018 Nobel Prize in Literature
  10. 20Classic Hanukkah treat
  11. 23Brownish-yellow fabric
  12. 24Institution of higher education, to a Brit
  13. 25Sleeper's breathing problem
  14. 27Lead-in to "drink and be merry"
  15. 28Classic classroom party treat
  16. 31Antitrust enforcement org.
  17. 32Unfortunate accident
  18. 34Clever
  19. 36Highly pleased about
  20. 38Colored, as church glass
  21. 39Classic Halloween treat
  22. 41It's part of the job
  23. 44Prefix with classic
  24. 45Carve
  25. 49Take advantage of
  26. 50"Where'd you hear that?"
  27. 54Dream Team country, for short
  28. 55Take responsibility
  29. 57Cry from a movie director
  30. 59Classic Yuletide treat
  31. 63Prayer ender
  32. 64This should clear things up!
  33. 65Reject, as a bill
  34. 66Nothing, in Nogales
  35. 67Cries out
  36. 68Biblical garden

Down

  1. 1Sgt. or cpl.
  2. 2Go off a ski jump, say
  3. 3"Oh, really?"
  4. 4Tried to identify, in a way, as a wrapped gift
  5. 5Playground retort
  6. 61990s internet option
  7. 7With all judges present
  8. 8___ de Rossi, "Arrested Development" actress
  9. 9Aspen or pine
  10. 10Reporter's big get
  11. 11Just for grins
  12. 12Short version of an impactful story
  13. 13Org. regulating water safety
  14. 21Insect that emerges en masse every 13 or 17 years
  15. 22Kind of salad whose dressing contains anchovies
  16. 23Former N.B.A. star Shawn with the nickname "Reign Man"
  17. 26Nailed, as a test
  18. 29"Once ___ a time ..."
  19. 30Character played by Bruce Lee on "The Green Hornet"
  20. 33___ Finn
  21. 35One of three on the pitchfork in "American Gothic"
  22. 37Big Apple org. that's going to blazes?
  23. 38Flat-bottomed boat
  24. 40"That's correct!"
  25. 41Resident of Pisa or Lucca
  26. 42Condition that may require an inhaler
  27. 43Get more than a little mad
  28. 46Like many a dress shirt, with "in"
  29. 47Top execs, colloquially ... or what 20-, 28-, 39- and 59-Across are, phonetically?
  30. 48Make negative remarks about
  31. 50Not on the up and up, slangily
  32. 51In a fitting way
  33. 52Breaks (into), as a computer system
  34. 53Middle name for Lennon starting in 1969
  35. 56"Escape (The ___ Colada Song)"
  36. 58Sign of peace
  37. 60Sallie or Fannie follower
  38. 61Hand-y communication method, for short?
  39. 62Drink slowly

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
  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
  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

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
  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

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.

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.

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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.

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

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