Home/Archive/Dec 16, 2025

NYT Crossword — December 16, 2025

Tuesday’s 15 × 15 puzzle, 78 clues. The full solution is below — answers stay masked until you reveal them, one clue or all at once.

0 of 78 revealed

1B

2O

3O

4K

5A

6P

7P

8S

9B

10E

11G

12I

13N

14A

K

I

N

15B

R

A

H

16U

S

O

N

E

17N

I

N

E

18C

O

V

E

19R

S

T

O

R

Y

20D

E

K

E

21S

22G

E

E

K

Y

23G

E

O

24L

I

25A

R

26N

O

B

27E

L

28A

29L

30E

31G

R

O

32S

S

33E

X

E

34C

35S

36B

A

G

37C

H

E

C

K

38W

E

C

A

R

E

39O

T

O

H

40A

K

I

41R

A

42O

B

O

E

43R

E

M

I

44S

S

45F

A

I

46R

P

L

A

Y

47T

R

A

C

E

48E

F

I

L

E

49E

T

A

50S

O

D

51A

S

52S

S

N

53S

54A

55U

S

56A

S

C

57I

I

58T

E

59S

60L

61A

62S

M

A

63R

T

P

H

O

N

64E

65I

T

E

M

66O

H

G

E

E

67E

W

E

R

68Z

A

N

Y

69F

I

E

F

S

70R

A

T

S

71E

N

D

S

Across

39 clues

1Library acquisition

5Insta and Snap

14Roughly equivalent (to)

16Maine-to-Florida hwy.

17What shares a key with "(" on a keyboard

18Reason to buy a magazine, perhaps

20Hockey feints

22Like someone who knows everything about a niche subject, maybe

23Prefix with cache or tag

24Person in hot pants?

26Name on a prestigious award

28It may be blond or pale

33C-suite types

36Last stop before security, often

38Words of communal support

39Texter's "Then again …"

40Groundbreaking 1988 Japanese animated action film

42Orchestra-tuning instrument

45Turnabout, they say

48Pay taxes via the internet

49Air traveler's info

50Drinks served at fountains

54Down Under land: Abbr.

56Computer acronym since the 1960s

58Inventor Nikola

62The IBM Simon Personal Communicator is considered the world's first one

65Couple, in gossip

66"Aw, shucks!"

67Decorative pitcher

71After 1-Across, shelf accessories … or what can be placed "around" the halves of 18-, 36-, 45- and 62-Across to make new phrases?

Down

39 clues

1Genesis or Yes

2Many a character in "The Grapes of Wrath"

3Barnyard sound

4Prepare to be knighted

5Epitome of simplicity

6Genre for Genesis or Yes, informally

7Lead (the way)

8Glossy finishes

9Active and enthusiastic sort

11Easily found on the internet, say

13Grammy-winning R&B artist whose stage name is said to have been inspired by "The Matrix"

19Golden Age studio known for many Astaire/Rogers films

21You might heave a big one

27Mike in "Breaking Bad," for example

28Cancel, as a space launch

29Procrastinator's mantra

30What someone seeking validation might need

32Shallow boat with a square stern

34Neighbor of a Slovene

35"Take it easy!"

37Brother to Groucho

38Mournful cries

41One in a box at the theater?

46Penalty in Monopoly

48Artist known for his "impossible staircases"

51Symbol of divine authority in hieroglyphics

53Grab control of

54Words before a date

55Tentative greeting

57The Hawkeye State

59Show extreme fandom for, in slang

60Give temporarily

61Ryan and Adams of Hollywood

63Whistle blower or flag thrower

64Hosp. hot spots

Click a clue for its own page with the answer and a short explanation.

Stats & info

Tuesday, Dec 16, 2025

15×15

Grid size

78

Total entries

34/191

Black / letter cells

4.9

Avg entry length

10 ltrs

Longest entry

Easy

Tuesday difficulty

PuzzleThe Crossword

PublishedDec 16, 2025

DayTuesday

ThemeUntitled

ConstructorJason Reich

EditorWill Shortz

Clue split39 across · 39 down

Longest entries

18AReason to buy a magazine, perhaps10 ltrs 62AThe IBM Simon Personal Communicator is considered the world's first one10 ltrs 11DEasily found on the internet, say10 ltrs 30DWhat someone seeking validation might need10 ltrs 36ALast stop before security, often8 ltrs

Tuesday sits one notch above Monday, usually with a light theme and a few playful clues. This grid has 34 black squares and averages 4.9 letters per entry.