Our NYT Crossword Hints for December 17, 2025 puzzle will help you move through the grid if you’ve found yourself stuck on a clue. The NYT Crossword is a daily crossword that tests solvers’ knowledge and vocabulary. It’s one of the most popular crosswords in the world, known for its challenging clues and clever wordplay. The puzzle is published in the print edition of the paper and is also available online.
NYT Crossword Hints, December 17, 2025
You’ll find hints for all of the crossword clues for the NYT Crossword on 12/17/25. The clues are listed below, and you can click/tap on a clue to go to its page for more detail, including definitions, but if you don’t want to be immediately spoiled, you can reveal letter by letter to still offer yourself more of a challenge before revealing the full solution.
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1A. Lock combinations?
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6A. ___ League
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10A. Single instruction
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14A. Enemy W.W. II vessel
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15A. Turner of old movies
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16A. Powerful impulse
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17A. Group of grumps sitting around kvetching?
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19A. Elmer's nemesis
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20A. Meeting, casually
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21A. A smartphone has lots of these
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22A. Centerpiece of "The Hobbit"
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23A. Community property pronoun
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25A. Like barked orders
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26A. Ali vs. Frazier, e.g.?
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34A. Genre for GloRilla
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35A. Official mandate
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36A. Fellow fighter
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37A. Brand once known as "Standard Oil Company of Indiana"
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39A. Mardi Gras day, in brief
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40A. Works on a muffler, say
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41A. Welcome figure on Wall Street, unwelcome figure in a china shop
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42A. See 50-Down
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44A. To and ___
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45A. Welcome sight on a whale-watching cruise?
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48A. Poindexter
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49A. TV freebie of a sort
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50A. Easter Island's country
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52A. Dark-skinned fruit
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55A. Pieces of advice
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59A. Primordial substance
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60A. Painstakingly explain something ... or a hint to 17-, 26- and 45-Across
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62A. Takes a tour of
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63A. Compassionate
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64A. Terra __
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65A. Does the math, in a way
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66A. Pot grower?
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67A. H, on the N.Y.S.E.
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1D. Tarot suit associated with the element of water
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2D. Yamaha product
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3D. What makes a stud become studious?
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4D. Fully get
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5D. Hog's home
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6D. "That's a real shame"
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7D. Steakhouse order
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8D. Marchers in sidewalk cracks
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9D. Howl at the moon
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10D. Chevy S.U.V.
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11D. Authentic
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12D. Ones from platypuses have leathery shells
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13D. Fly by night ... or by day
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18D. Compact holder
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22D. Neighbor of Ont.
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24D. Red carpet hairstyle, perhaps
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25D. Jost's longtime "Weekend Update" co-anchor
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26D. Food you might eat wearing a bib
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27D. Overplay for the audience
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28D. Was the bigger person, say
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29D. Follow, as advice
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30D. Have faith in
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31D. Canines, e.g.
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32D. Mega
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33D. Big name in chicken or boxing
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38D. 1990s comedy inspired by "Emma"
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40D. "Get Smart" bad guys
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42D. Suffix with beat or neat
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43D. Throw off
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46D. Stick in the ground?
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47D. Just about anything on a string
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50D. With 42-Across, the Mafia
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51D. Cultivated, in a way
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52D. Start a turn in Twister
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53D. Time to do without
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54D. Gary's ___ Towne Tavern (rival bar on "Cheers")
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56D. Minuscule amount
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57D. Short stroke
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58D. Batting avg., e.g.
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60D. Rocksteady relative
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61D. "___ bin ein Berliner"
We also recommend trying your hand at the NYT Mini Crossword, which is definitely easier (on all days!) as it is a 5×5, compared to the full-sized crossword (which is 15×15, and the Sunday edition is 21×21!). New crosswords are released at 10PM ET on weekdays and 6PM ET on weekends.
The New York Times crossword was first published in The New York Times in 1942 and has been a daily feature ever since. It is known for its high level of difficulty and for its clever, often playful, clues and themes. The puzzles range in size from 15x15 grids on weekdays to larger 21x21 grids on Sundays, with varying levels of difficulty.
The New York Times crossword is created by a team of skilled puzzle constructors and editors, who work to ensure that each puzzle is both entertaining and challenging for solvers. The puzzles are often themed, with clues and answers related to a particular subject or concept, and they frequently feature wordplay and puns.
Solving the New York Times crossword has become a beloved pastime for many, and there are even competitions and clubs devoted to crossword puzzle solving. The New York Times crossword is available in print in the newspaper and online, and it has a dedicated following of loyal solvers who eagerly await each day's puzzle.
If you’re still struggling to solve your NYT crosswords, consider practicing with the Eugene Sheffer and Thomas Joseph dailies first. If you’re looking for similarly challenging crosswords, we recommend the WSJ Crossword and LA Times Crossword.
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