The New York Times · 15×15 on weekdays, 21×21 on Sundays

NYT Crossword Answers for December 21, 2002

Q: What if I only want a nudge?

Open a clue’s Hints link. Its page has three hints that stop short of the answer: what the answer means, how many letters it has and how it starts, and other clues that had the same answer.

Saturday, December 21, 2002 · 70 clues

This page lists the NYT Crossword from Saturday, December 21, 2002: 70 clues, each with its answer behind a reveal button. For the newest puzzle, go to today's NYT Crossword answers.

Jump to Across or Down. Tap a square for one letter, or Answer for the whole word.

Across clues

1
Decision-making place
10 letters Hints for Decision-making place Clue page for Decision-making place
11
Teatimes: Abbr.
4 letters Hints for Teatimes: Abbr. Clue page for Teatimes: Abbr.
15
Dived
10 letters Hints for Dived Clue page for Dived
16
Nautical adverb
4 letters Hints for Nautical adverb Clue page for Nautical adverb
17
One who knows what's up?
10 letters Hints for One who knows what's up? Clue page for One who knows what's up?
18
They're not good to be behind
4 letters Hints for They're not good to be behind Clue page for They're not good to be behind
19
Longer
7 letters Hints for Longer Clue page for Longer
20
Island divided almost in half by the Equator
7 letters Hints for Island divided almost in half by the Equator Clue page for Island divided almost in half by the Equator
22
Nonsharer
3 letters Hints for Nonsharer Clue page for Nonsharer
23
About
4 letters Hints for About Clue page for About
24
Unlike Ike: Abbr.
3 letters Hints for Unlike Ike: Abbr. Clue page for Unlike Ike: Abbr.
25
Question from behind a counter
8 letters Hints for Question from behind a counter Clue page for Question from behind a counter
29
Place for an ace?
6 letters Hints for Place for an ace? Clue page for Place for an ace?
31
Yangtze feeder
3 letters Hints for Yangtze feeder Clue page for Yangtze feeder
32
Legal analyst Van Susteren
5 letters Hints for Legal analyst Van Susteren Clue page for Legal analyst Van Susteren
34
Hues
5 letters Hints for Hues Clue page for Hues
35
"A Little Bitty Tear" hit maker, 1962
4 letters Hints for "A Little Bitty Tear" hit maker, 1962 Clue page for "A Little Bitty Tear" hit maker, 1962
37
Warning before a bite, perhaps
5 letters Hints for Warning before a bite, perhaps Clue page for Warning before a bite, perhaps
39
Beget
4 letters Hints for Beget Clue page for Beget
40
Dilly
5 letters Hints for Dilly Clue page for Dilly
42
Be for a time
5 letters Hints for Be for a time Clue page for Be for a time
44
Feasted
3 letters Hints for Feasted Clue page for Feasted
45
Tizzy
6 letters Hints for Tizzy Clue page for Tizzy
47
Enclosed in a shell
8 letters Hints for Enclosed in a shell Clue page for Enclosed in a shell
49
Revelation response
3 letters Hints for Revelation response Clue page for Revelation response
50
Extinct relatives of ostriches
4 letters Hints for Extinct relatives of ostriches Clue page for Extinct relatives of ostriches
52
Joint Chiefs member: Abbr.
3 letters Hints for Joint Chiefs member: Abbr. Clue page for Joint Chiefs member: Abbr.
53
Novel need
7 letters Hints for Novel need Clue page for Novel need
55
One often ending sentences with "man"
7 letters Hints for One often ending sentences with "man" Clue page for One often ending sentences with "man"
59
Very slim margin
4 letters Hints for Very slim margin Clue page for Very slim margin
60
Major attar source
10 letters Hints for Major attar source Clue page for Major attar source
62
"Aunt" with a "Cope Book"
4 letters Hints for "Aunt" with a "Cope Book" Clue page for "Aunt" with a "Cope Book"
63
When restrictions are lifted
10 letters Hints for When restrictions are lifted Clue page for When restrictions are lifted
64
Originate
4 letters Hints for Originate Clue page for Originate
65
Mysterious swimmer
10 letters Hints for Mysterious swimmer Clue page for Mysterious swimmer

Down clues

1
Hanger-on at the polls?
4 letters Hints for Hanger-on at the polls? Clue page for Hanger-on at the polls?
2
Irked reaction
4 letters Hints for Irked reaction Clue page for Irked reaction
3
Legendary Giant's family
4 letters Hints for Legendary Giant's family Clue page for Legendary Giant's family
4
Comics collection
6 letters Hints for Comics collection Clue page for Comics collection
5
Support system
7 letters Hints for Support system Clue page for Support system
6
Inconstant people
8 letters Hints for Inconstant people Clue page for Inconstant people
7
One may be disagreeable
4 letters Hints for One may be disagreeable Clue page for One may be disagreeable
8
It's taken before firing
3 letters Hints for It's taken before firing Clue page for It's taken before firing
9
Prepare to cook
5 letters Hints for Prepare to cook Clue page for Prepare to cook
10
Car bars
6 letters Hints for Car bars Clue page for Car bars
11
"Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening" rhyme scheme
4 letters Hints for "Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening" rhyme scheme Clue page for "Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening" rhyme scheme
12
"Absolutely not," e.g.
10 letters Hints for "Absolutely not," e.g. Clue page for "Absolutely not," e.g.
13
Grayish-green palette pigment
10 letters Hints for Grayish-green palette pigment Clue page for Grayish-green palette pigment
14
Kind of bun
10 letters Hints for Kind of bun Clue page for Kind of bun
21
What some birds do
4 letters Hints for What some birds do Clue page for What some birds do
23
Storms
7 letters Hints for Storms Clue page for Storms
25
Affects adversely, as by a sudden change
10 letters Hints for Affects adversely, as by a sudden change Clue page for Affects adversely, as by a sudden change
26
Don't be cruel
10 letters Hints for Don't be cruel Clue page for Don't be cruel
27
Shout to an impatient crowd
10 letters Hints for Shout to an impatient crowd Clue page for Shout to an impatient crowd
28
Spinoff of TV's "Hercules"
4 letters Hints for Spinoff of TV's "Hercules" Clue page for Spinoff of TV's "Hercules"
30
Daughter of Hyperion
3 letters Hints for Daughter of Hyperion Clue page for Daughter of Hyperion
33
Works in la galería
4 letters Hints for Works in la galería Clue page for Works in la galería
36
Examination location: Abbr.
3 letters Hints for Examination location: Abbr. Clue page for Examination location: Abbr.
38
Generous gifts
8 letters Hints for Generous gifts Clue page for Generous gifts
41
Powerful auto engine
4 letters Hints for Powerful auto engine Clue page for Powerful auto engine
43
It's fit to be tied
7 letters Hints for It's fit to be tied Clue page for It's fit to be tied
46
Sonata sections
6 letters Hints for Sonata sections Clue page for Sonata sections
48
Gin
6 letters Hints for Gin Clue page for Gin
51
Apparently amazed
5 letters Hints for Apparently amazed Clue page for Apparently amazed
54
Roller in a pit
4 letters Hints for Roller in a pit Clue page for Roller in a pit
55
Declares off-limits
4 letters Hints for Declares off-limits Clue page for Declares off-limits
56
Very slim margin
4 letters Hints for Very slim margin Clue page for Very slim margin
57
"The pressure ___"
4 letters Hints for "The pressure ___" Clue page for "The pressure ___"
58
Smallville surname
4 letters Hints for Smallville surname Clue page for Smallville surname
61
Latin possessive
3 letters Hints for Latin possessive Clue page for Latin possessive

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Frequently asked questions

When does the NYT Crossword come out?

A new puzzle is published every day; it usually appears the evening before its date (Eastern Time). We add the clues and answers here as soon as our editors have checked them. The next one is due on Sunday, November 15, 2026.

Can I see one answer without spoiling the rest?

Yes. Every clue has its own reveal: tap a numbered square to show one letter, or Answer to show the whole word. Nothing else on the page is uncovered until you ask for it.

What if I only want a nudge?

Open a clue’s Hints link. Its page has three hints that stop short of the answer: what the answer means, how many letters it has and how it starts, and other clues that had the same answer.

How far back does the NYT Crossword archive go?

We currently have 11924 NYT Crossword puzzles, starting from the day we began covering it. Use the date strip above or the archive list below to open an earlier day.