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

NYT Crossword Answers for December 18, 2016

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.

Sunday, December 18, 2016 · 144 clues

This page lists the NYT Crossword from Sunday, December 18, 2016: 144 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
One of the blanks in the cereal slogan "___ are for ___"
4 letters Hints for One of the blanks in the cereal slogan "___ are for ___" Clue page for One of the blanks in the cereal slogan "___ are for ___"
5
Tinker, for one, in olden days
9 letters Hints for Tinker, for one, in olden days Clue page for Tinker, for one, in olden days
14
Certain blade
5 letters Hints for Certain blade Clue page for Certain blade
19
Spread dirt, in a way
5 letters Hints for Spread dirt, in a way Clue page for Spread dirt, in a way
21
Legendary Egyptian queen
9 letters Hints for Legendary Egyptian queen Clue page for Legendary Egyptian queen
22
Run off
5 letters Hints for Run off Clue page for Run off
23
Stick together
5 letters Hints for Stick together Clue page for Stick together
24
Liberal arts college in the Keystone State
9 letters Hints for Liberal arts college in the Keystone State Clue page for Liberal arts college in the Keystone State
25
Like many a lot
5 letters Hints for Like many a lot Clue page for Like many a lot
26
Hood lead-in
6 letters Hints for Hood lead-in Clue page for Hood lead-in
28
Caterpillar product
4 letters Hints for Caterpillar product Clue page for Caterpillar product
29
Dud
5 letters Hints for Dud Clue page for Dud
31
Historical period
3 letters Hints for Historical period Clue page for Historical period
32
One of Frank's wives
3 letters Hints for One of Frank's wives Clue page for One of Frank's wives
33
Member of the cat family
6 letters Hints for Member of the cat family Clue page for Member of the cat family
35
Father, familiarly
3 letters Hints for Father, familiarly Clue page for Father, familiarly
36
Japanese auto make
6 letters Hints for Japanese auto make Clue page for Japanese auto make
38
Court concern
3 letters Hints for Court concern Clue page for Court concern
39
Big Australian export
3 letters Hints for Big Australian export Clue page for Big Australian export
40
One of five on a starfish
3 letters Hints for One of five on a starfish Clue page for One of five on a starfish
42
Set of clubs in a bag
5 letters Hints for Set of clubs in a bag Clue page for Set of clubs in a bag
44
These could amount to fortunes
8 letters Hints for These could amount to fortunes Clue page for These could amount to fortunes
48
Dead follower
3 letters Hints for Dead follower Clue page for Dead follower
50
Where to find grooms
6 letters Hints for Where to find grooms Clue page for Where to find grooms
53
Vingt-___ (multiple de trois)
4 letters Hints for Vingt-___ (multiple de trois) Clue page for Vingt-___ (multiple de trois)
54
This does not fly
3 letters Hints for This does not fly Clue page for This does not fly
56
Anagram of the letters O-N-D
3 letters Hints for Anagram of the letters O-N-D Clue page for Anagram of the letters O-N-D
58
State with part of I-81: Abbr.
4 letters Hints for State with part of I-81: Abbr. Clue page for State with part of I-81: Abbr.
60
What you might call a dog
4 letters Hints for What you might call a dog Clue page for What you might call a dog
62
Instrument for an angel
4 letters Hints for Instrument for an angel Clue page for Instrument for an angel
63
Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar, e.g.
4 letters Hints for Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar, e.g. Clue page for Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar, e.g.
65
Something you can do with flies
4 letters Hints for Something you can do with flies Clue page for Something you can do with flies
66
First name of an Oscar-nominated actress of 1957
4 letters Hints for First name of an Oscar-nominated actress of 1957 Clue page for First name of an Oscar-nominated actress of 1957
67
Time in ads
4 letters Hints for Time in ads Clue page for Time in ads
68
Square ___
4 letters Hints for Square ___ Clue page for Square ___
69
Animal in an Aesop fable
3 letters Hints for Animal in an Aesop fable Clue page for Animal in an Aesop fable
70
White House sight
10 letters Hints for White House sight Clue page for White House sight
72
White House sight
10 letters Hints for White House sight Clue page for White House sight
75
Animal in an Aesop fable
3 letters Hints for Animal in an Aesop fable Clue page for Animal in an Aesop fable
76
Square ___
4 letters Hints for Square ___ Clue page for Square ___
77
Time in ads
4 letters Hints for Time in ads Clue page for Time in ads
78
First name of an Oscar-nominated actress of 1957
4 letters Hints for First name of an Oscar-nominated actress of 1957 Clue page for First name of an Oscar-nominated actress of 1957
79
Something you can do with flies
4 letters Hints for Something you can do with flies Clue page for Something you can do with flies
81
Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar, e.g.
4 letters Hints for Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar, e.g. Clue page for Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar, e.g.
82
Instrument for an angel
4 letters Hints for Instrument for an angel Clue page for Instrument for an angel
83
What you might call a dog
4 letters Hints for What you might call a dog Clue page for What you might call a dog
84
State with part of I-81: Abbr.
4 letters Hints for State with part of I-81: Abbr. Clue page for State with part of I-81: Abbr.
85
Anagram of the letters O-N-D
3 letters Hints for Anagram of the letters O-N-D Clue page for Anagram of the letters O-N-D
86
This does not fly
3 letters Hints for This does not fly Clue page for This does not fly
87
Vingt-___ (multiple de trois)
4 letters Hints for Vingt-___ (multiple de trois) Clue page for Vingt-___ (multiple de trois)
89
Where to find grooms
6 letters Hints for Where to find grooms Clue page for Where to find grooms
92
Dead follower
3 letters Hints for Dead follower Clue page for Dead follower
94
These could amount to fortunes
8 letters Hints for These could amount to fortunes Clue page for These could amount to fortunes
98
Set of clubs in a bag
5 letters Hints for Set of clubs in a bag Clue page for Set of clubs in a bag
100
One of five on a starfish
3 letters Hints for One of five on a starfish Clue page for One of five on a starfish
102
Big Australian export
3 letters Hints for Big Australian export Clue page for Big Australian export
103
Court concern
3 letters Hints for Court concern Clue page for Court concern
105
Japanese auto make
6 letters Hints for Japanese auto make Clue page for Japanese auto make
108
Father, familiarly
3 letters Hints for Father, familiarly Clue page for Father, familiarly
110
Member of the cat family
6 letters Hints for Member of the cat family Clue page for Member of the cat family
113
One of Frank's wives
3 letters Hints for One of Frank's wives Clue page for One of Frank's wives
114
Historical period
3 letters Hints for Historical period Clue page for Historical period
115
Dud
5 letters Hints for Dud Clue page for Dud
117
Caterpillar product
4 letters Hints for Caterpillar product Clue page for Caterpillar product
118
Hood lead-in
6 letters Hints for Hood lead-in Clue page for Hood lead-in
120
Like many a lot
5 letters Hints for Like many a lot Clue page for Like many a lot
122
Liberal arts college in the Keystone State
9 letters Hints for Liberal arts college in the Keystone State Clue page for Liberal arts college in the Keystone State
125
Stick together
5 letters Hints for Stick together Clue page for Stick together
126
Run off
5 letters Hints for Run off Clue page for Run off
127
Legendary Egyptian queen
9 letters Hints for Legendary Egyptian queen Clue page for Legendary Egyptian queen
128
Spread dirt, in a way
5 letters Hints for Spread dirt, in a way Clue page for Spread dirt, in a way
129
Certain blade
5 letters Hints for Certain blade Clue page for Certain blade
130
Tinker, for one, in olden days
9 letters Hints for Tinker, for one, in olden days Clue page for Tinker, for one, in olden days
131
One of the blanks in the cereal slogan "___ are for ___"
4 letters Hints for One of the blanks in the cereal slogan "___ are for ___" Clue page for One of the blanks in the cereal slogan "___ are for ___"

Down clues

1
Harry or Bess in the White House
6 letters Hints for Harry or Bess in the White House Clue page for Harry or Bess in the White House
2
What many Oscar speeches do
7 letters Hints for What many Oscar speeches do Clue page for What many Oscar speeches do
3
Ape
7 letters Hints for Ape Clue page for Ape
4
Home star of Cthulhu, in fantasy tales
4 letters Hints for Home star of Cthulhu, in fantasy tales Clue page for Home star of Cthulhu, in fantasy tales
5
1975 TV debut, briefly
3 letters Hints for 1975 TV debut, briefly Clue page for 1975 TV debut, briefly
6
Like a more-than-full spoonful
7 letters Hints for Like a more-than-full spoonful Clue page for Like a more-than-full spoonful
7
Barrels ___
5 letters Hints for Barrels ___ Clue page for Barrels ___
8
Grim sort?
6 letters Hints for Grim sort? Clue page for Grim sort?
9
"___ Little Tenderness"
4 letters Hints for "___ Little Tenderness" Clue page for "___ Little Tenderness"
10
Bus. card abbr.
3 letters Hints for Bus. card abbr. Clue page for Bus. card abbr.
11
Boxer's reward
5 letters Hints for Boxer's reward Clue page for Boxer's reward
12
Old German ruler nicknamed "the Short"
6 letters Hints for Old German ruler nicknamed "the Short" Clue page for Old German ruler nicknamed "the Short"
13
Facefuls in slapstick
4 letters Hints for Facefuls in slapstick Clue page for Facefuls in slapstick
14
Publish anew
7 letters Hints for Publish anew Clue page for Publish anew
15
Suffix with schnozz
3 letters Hints for Suffix with schnozz Clue page for Suffix with schnozz
16
Slithy ones
5 letters Hints for Slithy ones Clue page for Slithy ones
17
The Marx Brothers spent a night at one
5 letters Hints for The Marx Brothers spent a night at one Clue page for The Marx Brothers spent a night at one
18
V-shaped fortification
5 letters Hints for V-shaped fortification Clue page for V-shaped fortification
20
Skin diving locale
4 letters Hints for Skin diving locale Clue page for Skin diving locale
27
Fix, as a pool cue
5 letters Hints for Fix, as a pool cue Clue page for Fix, as a pool cue
30
Carbon compound
4 letters Hints for Carbon compound Clue page for Carbon compound
34
Something to brush off a jacket
4 letters Hints for Something to brush off a jacket Clue page for Something to brush off a jacket
35
Ingredient in an old-fashioned
3 letters Hints for Ingredient in an old-fashioned Clue page for Ingredient in an old-fashioned
37
Exams required for some prep schools
5 letters Hints for Exams required for some prep schools Clue page for Exams required for some prep schools
41
"Stat!"
4 letters Hints for "Stat!" Clue page for "Stat!"
43
Part of a plant embryo that develops into a root
7 letters Hints for Part of a plant embryo that develops into a root Clue page for Part of a plant embryo that develops into a root
45
Together
5 letters Hints for Together Clue page for Together
46
Remove a label from
5 letters Hints for Remove a label from Clue page for Remove a label from
47
One runs through the middle of Kansas City
9 letters Hints for One runs through the middle of Kansas City Clue page for One runs through the middle of Kansas City
49
Like Norton software
9 letters Hints for Like Norton software Clue page for Like Norton software
51
Raise again, as a flag
7 letters Hints for Raise again, as a flag Clue page for Raise again, as a flag
52
Vehicle used for grooming ski trails
7 letters Hints for Vehicle used for grooming ski trails Clue page for Vehicle used for grooming ski trails
55
Small songbird
4 letters Hints for Small songbird Clue page for Small songbird
57
Very busy
6 letters Hints for Very busy Clue page for Very busy
59
Florida State athlete, for short
4 letters Hints for Florida State athlete, for short Clue page for Florida State athlete, for short
60
Walks in rain boots, say
7 letters Hints for Walks in rain boots, say Clue page for Walks in rain boots, say
61
En ___ (chess maneuver)
7 letters Hints for En ___ (chess maneuver) Clue page for En ___ (chess maneuver)
62
Tried
6 letters Hints for Tried Clue page for Tried
64
"What's this?!"
3 letters Hints for "What's this?!" Clue page for "What's this?!"
67
Feared
7 letters Hints for Feared Clue page for Feared
70
Blacksmith's tool
4 letters Hints for Blacksmith's tool Clue page for Blacksmith's tool
71
Nav. rank
3 letters Hints for Nav. rank Clue page for Nav. rank
72
Ending with syn- or ant-
4 letters Hints for Ending with syn- or ant- Clue page for Ending with syn- or ant-
73
Longest bone in the human body
5 letters Hints for Longest bone in the human body Clue page for Longest bone in the human body
74
Thrown with force
5 letters Hints for Thrown with force Clue page for Thrown with force
80
Eats (at)
5 letters Hints for Eats (at) Clue page for Eats (at)
82
Lewd look
4 letters Hints for Lewd look Clue page for Lewd look
87
Month after Av
4 letters Hints for Month after Av Clue page for Month after Av
88
Chemo target
5 letters Hints for Chemo target Clue page for Chemo target
90
City that, despite its name, is smaller than Little Rock
7 letters Hints for City that, despite its name, is smaller than Little Rock Clue page for City that, despite its name, is smaller than Little Rock
91
Sole
4 letters Hints for Sole Clue page for Sole
93
Prattle
3 letters Hints for Prattle Clue page for Prattle
95
Like hand-me-downs
7 letters Hints for Like hand-me-downs Clue page for Like hand-me-downs
96
19,101-foot volcano next to Peru's second-largest city
7 letters Hints for 19,101-foot volcano next to Peru's second-largest city Clue page for 19,101-foot volcano next to Peru's second-largest city
97
Like Joan of Arc
7 letters Hints for Like Joan of Arc Clue page for Like Joan of Arc
99
Gone bad, in Britain
6 letters Hints for Gone bad, in Britain Clue page for Gone bad, in Britain
101
"Liliom" playwright Ferenc ___
6 letters Hints for "Liliom" playwright Ferenc ___ Clue page for "Liliom" playwright Ferenc ___
104
Bets
6 letters Hints for Bets Clue page for Bets
105
Something that stuns
5 letters Hints for Something that stuns Clue page for Something that stuns
106
Marketplace of old
5 letters Hints for Marketplace of old Clue page for Marketplace of old
107
Common strip steak weight: Abbr.
5 letters Hints for Common strip steak weight: Abbr. Clue page for Common strip steak weight: Abbr.
109
"___ saw a little bird ..." (Mother Goose rhyme)
5 letters Hints for "___ saw a little bird ..." (Mother Goose rhyme) Clue page for "___ saw a little bird ..." (Mother Goose rhyme)
111
___ Rica
5 letters Hints for ___ Rica Clue page for ___ Rica
112
Plains dwelling: Var.
4 letters Hints for Plains dwelling: Var. Clue page for Plains dwelling: Var.
116
The year 1601
4 letters Hints for The year 1601 Clue page for The year 1601
117
Sherlock Holmes accessory
4 letters Hints for Sherlock Holmes accessory Clue page for Sherlock Holmes accessory
119
Like dungeons
4 letters Hints for Like dungeons Clue page for Like dungeons
121
Tokyo, once
3 letters Hints for Tokyo, once Clue page for Tokyo, once
123
___-Tiki
3 letters Hints for ___-Tiki Clue page for ___-Tiki
124
D.C. player
3 letters Hints for D.C. player Clue page for D.C. player

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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 Saturday, November 14, 2026.

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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.

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We currently have 11923 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.