Take responsibility

Crossword Answer — December 23, 2025

Answer

NYT Crossword

Tuesday, December 23, 2025

By Nathan Hale

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

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. 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
  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
  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

The answer to “Take responsibility” in the New York Times crossword is STEPUP — a 6-letter word. This clue ran in the New York Times crossword on December 23, 2025, a Tuesday puzzle, at 55-Across. 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.

“Take responsibility” answer

STEPUP (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 STEPUP.

Why the answer is STEPUP

STEPUP is the 6-letter solution that fits "Take responsibility" in the NYT Crossword crossword on December 23, 2025 (55-Across). Use the letter tiles above if you'd rather reveal it one letter at a time.

When else has “Take responsibility” 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 23, 2025 (this puzzle) → STEPUP. We haven't indexed an earlier appearance of this exact clue yet.

More clues from the NYT Crossword crossword on December 23, 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 23, 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 Tuesday 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 “Take responsibility”?

The answer is STEPUP, a 6-letter word. It appeared in the New York Times crossword on December 23, 2025.

How many letters is the answer to “Take responsibility”?

6 letters: STEPUP.

Where did this clue appear?

In the New York Times crossword on December 23, 2025 (a Tuesday puzzle), at 55-Across.

Can “Take responsibility” 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 23, 2025 is on the NYT Crossword answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

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