Our NYT Crossword October 17, 2025 answers guide should help you finish today’s crossword if you’ve found yourself stuck on a crossword clue. The NYT Crossword is a daily puzzle 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 New York Times and is also available online.
NYT Crossword October 17, 2025 Answers
If you need help solving the NYT Crossword on 10/17/25, we’ve listed all of the crossword clues below so you can find the answer(s) you need. You can search for the clue and then select the appropriate clue to get the answer. We have done it this way so that if you’re just looking for a handful of clues, you won’t spoil other ones you’re working on!
Looking for answers to another NYT Crossword puzzle? Check out our archive of NYT Crossword Answers.
| # | Clue |
|---|---|
| 1A | What a comment might be made in |
| 5A | Plant often confused with algae |
| 9A | “The Craft” |
| 14A | Pulitzer-winning historian and journalist Applebaum |
| 15A | Understanding response |
| 16A | Amazon smart speakers |
| 17A | British singer with the top 10 albums “Crash” and “Brat” |
| 19A | Some suitors |
| 20A | Sets in motion |
| 21A | Sake, for one |
| 23A | Not fixed, as a stone |
| 24A | Drinking game with projectiles |
| 25A | Sign of healing |
| 26A | New service member |
| 27A | Mental image, for short? |
| 28A | Fun-size, so to speak |
| 29A | Stalk |
| 31A | First releases |
| 33A | Taking out the trash and others |
| 35A | Lab liquids |
| 36A | Max ___, boxer nicknamed “Madcap Maxie” |
| 37A | Corn ___ (snack misnomer) |
| 39A | Longtime Nestlé candy brand |
| 41A | Arizona tribe with matrilineal clans |
| 42A | 1992 Whoopi Goldberg comedy |
| 45A | Survived, so to speak |
| 46A | Portmanteau for evidence based solely on personal accounts |
| 47A | Popular name of the 1958 Italian hit “Nel Blu, Dipinto di Blu” |
| 48A | ___ month |
| 49A | Act of writing down whatever comes to mind in order to clear mental clutter |
| 51A | Wipe |
| 52A | Biblical locale in a Steinbeck title |
| 53A | Golfer Aoki |
| 54A | Rationed (out) |
| 55A | Bleak |
| 56A | Gravitate |
| 1D | Historic Émile Zola letter of 1898 |
| 2D | Improved |
| 3D | Meaty dog treats “in a blanket” |
| 4D | Less prolix |
| 5D | Customizable Nintendo avatars |
| 6D | Mac platform renamed in 2016 |
| 7D | Condition of discretion |
| 8D | More seductive |
| 9D | One managing online content |
| 10D | Drink that comes with free refills |
| 11D | Word with easy or high |
| 12D | Matter |
| 13D | Insufferable sorts |
| 18D | Court call |
| 22D | Handles beautifully, in slang |
| 24D | Bills worth 100 buckaroos |
| 26D | British singer with the hits “R.I.P.” and “Radioactive” |
| 28D | Showed embarrassment, say |
| 30D | Event typically occurring in one’s late 40s or early 50s |
| 32D | Hoped-for scenario |
| 33D | America, for one: Abbr. |
| 34D | DC figure since 1938 |
| 36D | Brand of rum mentioned in Hemingway novels |
| 38D | Certain unit of detergent |
| 40D | Pet gear often eschewed in favor of someone’s lap |
| 41D | “Stop the presses!” |
| 42D | Capital that’s home to the oldest university in the Western U.S. (1842) |
| 43D | Habituate |
| 44D | Upper house of the French parliament |
| 45D | With, in Spanish |
| 47D | Plant on a pergola |
| 50D | ___ Lingus |
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 15×15 grids on weekdays to larger 21×21 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.
