Daily Puzzle Solution
NYT Crossword
Tuesday, December 16, 2025
The New York Times crossword puzzle for Tuesday, December 16, 2025 features 77 clues. Today's puzzle has an average answer length of 4.9 letters. The longest answer is "COVERSTORY".
Total Clues
77
Longest
COVERSTORY
Avg Length
4.9
Shortest
ALE
Featured Clue
"Reason to buy a magazine, perhaps"
10 Letters
COVERSTORY
ALLComplete Solution List
C-suite types
5EXECS
Hockey feints
5DEKES
Maine-to-Florida hwy.
5USONE
Negligent
6REMISS
Decorative pitcher
4EWER
Inventor Nikola
5TESLA
Tiny amount
5TRACE
Couple, in gossip
4ITEM
Govt. IDs
4SSNS
Aw, shucks!
5OHGEE
It may be blond or pale
3ALE
Turnabout, they say
8FAIRPLAY
Wacky
4ZANY
Computer acronym since the 1960s
5ASCII
Lords' lands
5FIEFS
Homie
4BRAH
What shares a key with "(" on a keyboard
4NINE
Orchestra-tuning instrument
4OBOE
Barnyard sound
4OINK
Name on a prestigious award
5NOBEL
Texter's "Then again ..."
4OTOH
Reason to buy a magazine, perhaps
10COVERSTORY
Epitome of simplicity
3ABC
Insta and Snap
4APPS
Tells on
4RATS
Start
5BEGIN
Prepare to be knighted
5KNEEL
Pay taxes via the internet
5EFILE
The IBM Simon Personal Communicator is considered the world's first one
10SMARTPHONE
Person in hot pants?
4LIAR
Last stop before security, often
8BAGCHECK
Prefix with cache or tag
3GEO
Groundbreaking 1988 Japanese animated action film
5AKIRA
Library acquisition
4BOOK
Roughly equivalent (to)
4AKIN
Glossy finishes
6SHEENS
Disgusting
5GROSS
Down Under land: Abbr.
3AUS
Approx.
3EST
Genesis or Yes
4BAND
Words of communal support
6WECARE
Many a character in "The Grapes of Wrath"
4OKIE
Easily found on the internet, say
10GOOGLEABLE
Genre for Genesis or Yes, informally
8PROGROCK
Lead the way
4PAVE
Like someone who knows everything about a niche subject, maybe
5GEEKY
Air traveler's info
3ETA
Active and enthusiastic sort
7BUSYBEE
Drinks served at fountains
5SODAS
Neighbor of a Slovene
5CROAT
Take it easy
5SEEYA
Procrastinator's mantra
5LATER
Tranquilizes
7SEDATES
Words before a date
4ASOF
Places
5AREAS
Memo heading
4INRE
Penalty in Monopoly
4RENT
Cancel, as a space launch.
5ABORT
Shallow boat with a square stern
5SKIFF
You might heave a big one
4SIGH
Give temporarily
4LEND
What someone seeking validation might need
10EGOMASSAGE
Symbol of divine authority in hieroglyphics
3ASP
The Hawkeye State
4IOWA
Golden Age studio known for many Astaire/Rogers films
3RKO
Brother to Groucho
5CHICO
One in a box at the theater?
8RAISINET
Mournful cries
5WAILS
Mike in "Breaking Bad," for example
5EXCOP
Hosp. hot spots
3ERS
Grammy-winning R&B artist whose stage name is said to have been inspired by "The Matrix"
4NEYO
Tentative greeting
4UMHI
Grab control of
5SEIZE
Whistle blower or flag thrower
3REF
Artist known for his "impossible staircases"
6ESCHER
Ryan and Adams of Hollywood
4AMYS
Show extreme fandom for, in slang
4STAN