Firing up the Washington Post’s daily crossword is a classic ritual, but it can be a real brain-bender. Whether you’re a seasoned solver or just getting started, some days the clues (and that tricky theme!) just don’t click. Since the WaPo daily can be tough sometimes, solving it can be quite a challenge. If you’ve found yourself stuck on a few answers, you’ve come to the right guide. Here are hints and answers for today’s Washington Post (LA Times) Daily crossword puzzle.
Note: The Washington Post and the LA Times share the same Daily Crossword every day, so you can play either.
Today’s Washington Post/LA Times Crossword Answers for December 21, 2025
Across Answers
Across:
1 Across: Béla Fleck’s instrument – BANJO
6 Across: Pricey German imports – BMWS
10 Across: Italian wine – VINO
14 Across: Chaps – LADS
18 Across: Not very approachable – ALOOF
19 Across: Source of a scoop – LEAK
20 Across: Overly caffeinated, perhaps – MANIC
21 Across: Social sci. major – ECON
22 Across: Big shot in the bulb industry? – LIGHTHEAVYWEIGHT
25 Across: K – THOU
26 Across: Henry VI’s school – ETON
27 Across: __ of Man – ISLE
28 Across: Luv – HON
29 Across: Take in – ABSORB
31 Across: Cards – WITS
33 Across: Squandered – BLEW
35 Across: Big shot in the sci-fi awards industry? – HUGOBOSS
37 Across: Put on a pedestal – ADMIRE
40 Across: Fort __, Florida – MYERS
41 Across: Wash and wear? – ERODE
42 Across: Big shot in the paver industry? – BRICKCHEESE
44 Across: Shrewd – CANNY
45 Across: Stocky antelope – GNU
48 Across: Green house? – BANK
49 Across: Trending – HOT
50 Across: Fabled messages – MORALS
52 Across: “If I were in your __ … ” – SHOES
54 Across: Withdraw, with “out” – OPT
55 Across: Salty one – MARINER
57 Across: Salty five – OCEANS
58 Across: Skills assessment – TEST
60 Across: Spots – SITES
61 Across: Big shot in the podiatry industry? – FOOTBALLER
64 Across: “Daaaaang!” – OHSNAP
66 Across: Drawing (in) – LURING
67 Across: Big shot in the treasure-hunting industry? – FINDINGGOD
71 Across: Make fast again – RETIE
72 Across: Concert gear – AMPS
76 Across: Old sub titles? –UBOATS
77 Across: Positively reinforces – REWARDS
79 Across: Shrill bark – YAP
80 Across: Home of the world’s largest irrigation project – LIBYA
81 Across: Source of some travel reservations? – JETLAG
83 Across: Put away – ATE
85 Across: Arequipa’s land – PERU
86 Across: Baton Rouge sch. – LSU
87 Across: Drywall supports – STUDS
89 Across: Big shot in the champagne glass industry? – FLUTEPLAYER
92 Across: Battery terminal – ANODE
93 Across: Blah – STALE
94 Across: Edmonton NHL team – OILERS
95 Across: Big shot in the cab industry? – REDBARON
102 Across: Ruler who commissioned the Taj Mahal, for one – SHAH
104 Across: Slight advantage – EDGE
108 Across: Game that can only be played right-handed – POLO
109 Across: Big shot in the refrigeration industry? – COOLINGSENSATION
114 Across: “Tell Mama” singer James – ETTA
115 Across: Per __ – ANNUM
116 Across: Serpentine – EELY
117 Across: Place for a cross – STAND
118 Across: Show the way – LEAD
119 Across: Actor Postlethwaite – PETE
120 Across: Scandinavian capital – OSLO
121 Across: Plot inconsistencies – HOLES
Down Answers
1 Down: Hay bundle – BALE
2 Down: Came down to earth – ALIT
3 Down: Off-limits – NOGO
4 Down: Antihero played by Keanu Reeves – JOHNWICK
5 Down: Many times o’er – OFT
6 Down: Sprinkle with holy water,e.g. – BLESS
7 Down: Combo, say – MEAL
8 Down: Make a parting gesture – WAVEBYE
9 Down: Chicago WNBA team – SKY
10 Down: Like the subject of a Carly Simon classic – VAIN
11 Down: Gerund maker – ING
12 Down: Medical research org. – NIH
13 Down: Umbrella shape, typically – OCTAGON
14 Down: Does not disturb – LETSBE
15 Down: Sneeze sound – ACHOO
16 Down: Closers – DOORS
17 Down: Gives the cold shoulder to – SNUBS
20 Down: Asks for more catnip,perhaps – MEOWS
23 Down: Advanced, as gadgets – HITECH
24 Down: “Infected be the air __ they ride”: Macbeth – WHEREON
30 Down: Part of some security checkpoints – BODYSCAN
32 Down: Vex – IRK
34 Down: Jean Valjean’s story,familiarly – LESMIS
35 Down: Get well – HEAL
36 Down: Large garden planters – URNS
37 Down: Head monk – ABOT
38 Down: Fall in folds – DRAPE
39 Down: Money makers – MINTS
40 Down: Descriptive piece of HTML code – METATAG
43 Down: Zeroing (in on) – HOMING
44 Down: Holiday singer – CAROLER
45 Down: Tender prelude? – GOAL
46 Down: State bird of Hawaii – NENE
47 Down: Space race initials – USSR
51 Down: Third in a ring – REF
53 Down: Wife of Hägar the Horrible – HELGA
56 Down: Shows up for duty – REPORTS
57 Down: Four Tops singer Benson – OBIE
59 Down: Until midnight – TODAY
60 Down: IRS tracking info – SSNS
62 Down: Render obsolete – OUTDATE
63 Down: Blue, in Burgundy – TRISTE
65 Down: Had to pivot to plan B, say – HITASNAG
67 Down: Out of room – FULL
68 Down: Wading bird in Egyptian art – IBIS
69 Down: Japanese-Peruvian fusion chain – NOBU
70 Down: Third key in a reboot sequence – DEL
71 Down: Sleeve style – RAGLAN
73 Down: “Poppycock!” – MYEYE
74 Down: Prep chef’s knife – PARER
75 Down: San Antonio team – SPURS
78 Down: Enters the room airily – WAFTSIN
81 Down: Grand Slam Tokyo discipline – JUDO
82 Down: Paradise – EDEN
84 Down: Multiple ages – EPOCHS
85 Down: Tree on South Carolina’s flag – PALMETTO
88 Down: “In summary … ” – TORECAP
90 Down: Government Grant? – ULYSSES
91 Down: Simu of “Barbie” – LIU
92 Down: Overseas – ABROAD
93 Down: Hanging in the theater – SCRIM
95 Down: Put off – REPEL
96 Down: Really get into a role – EMOTE
97 Down: Airline that grew from a crop-dusting operation founded in 1925 – DELTA
99 Down: Panasonic subsidiary – SANYO
101 Down: Swivel around – SLUE
103 Down: “Inferno” setting – HELL
105 Down: Tuning knob – DIAL
106 Down: Out of the park – GONE
107 Down: Pulls the plug on – ENDS
110 Down: Individual – ONE
111 Down: Province between Man.and Que. – ONT
112 Down: Prefix with cache – GEO
113 Down: Bat wood – ASH
Click to reveal the solved crossword image
This Washington Post crossword leaned confident and playful, with cluing that felt modern and slightly cheeky without tipping into gimmicky. The grid rewarded steady momentum, where getting a few footholds early made the rest click smoothly. There was a nice mix of pop culture, wordplay, and straightforward definitions that kept things moving. It felt like a puzzle that trusts solvers to stay engaged rather than spoon feeding them, which made the finish feel clean and satisfying. I would rate this 3 out of 5.
You can also checkout today’s answers for other Crossword puzzles below:
A part-time gamer and a full-time Tech Writer. Abeer is a tech enthusiast who keeps track of all the trending gadgets and smartphones. When he isn't busy smashing words with his keyboard, you can find him playing the latest PC Games or binge-watching TV Shows.
