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 31, 2025
Across Answers
- 1 Across: Sugar serving – LUMP
- 5 Across: Crockery flaw – CHIP
- 9 Across: Paper or plastic items – BAGS
- 13 Across: Microbiology lab gel – AGAR
- 14 Across: “__ that the truth!” – AINT
- 15 Across: “At your earliest convenience,” less politely – ASAP
- 16 Across: Intentionally delaying, or a punny title for this puzzle? – PLAYINGFORTIME
- 19 Across: Error message? – SIC
- 20 Across: NYC nabe near the Bowery – NOHO
- 21 Across: Added to the team – HIRED
- 22 Across: Kicking sport – SOCCER
- 24 Across: Actress Palmer – KEKE
- 25 Across: The Queen of Pop – MADONNA
- 27 Across: Network featured in “Good Night, and Good Luck” – CBS
- 30 Across: Low voices in a women’s choir – ALTOS
- 33 Across: Lav – LOO
- 34 Across: Sailor’s assent – AYE
- 35 Across: Shabby – WORN
- 36 Across: Rare opening in 54-Across – SLOT
- 37 Across: Screen writing? – BLOG
- 38 Across: Squeak (out) – EKE
- 39 Across: Tom, Dick, and Harry, for example – MEN
- 40 Across: Name after peach or before toast – MELBA
- 41 Across: Mom, to Auntie – SIS
- 42 Across: “Be glad to” – SURECAN
- 44 Across: Image file format – JPEG
- 46 Across: Like the pick of the litter? – CUTEST
- 49 Across: Beefy, casually – SWOLE
- 51 Across: Move like a hummingbird – DART
- 52 Across: D-backs, in box scores – ARI
- 54 Across: Constant reshuffling of one’s schedule, or what’s depicted in this puzzle’s circles – CALENDARTETRIS
- 57 Across: Shawkat of “Search Party” – ALIA
- 58 Across: Team with a red-tailed hawk mascot named Swoop – UTES
- 59 Across: California county with a wine train – NAPA
- 60 Across: Ran in the wash – BLED
- 61 Across: “__ there, tiger” – EASY
- 62 Across: Gender-fluid pronoun – THEY
Down Answers
- 1 Down: Slurps (up) – LAPS
- 2 Down: Uniq fruits – UGLIS
- 3 Down: Body shop franchise – MAACO
- 4 Down: Ask too much, say – PRY
- 5 Down: Paddled about – CANOED
- 6 Down: One regularly experiencing bettor days – HIGHROLLER
- 7 Down: IT part –INFO
- 8 Down: Vacay from work – PTO
- 9 Down: Patterned fabric that originated in Indonesia – BATIK
- 10 Down: “If memory serves” – ASIRECALL
- 11 Down: Up for a challenge – GAME
- 12 Down: Went a mile a minute, maybe – SPED
- 17 Down: Quechua speakers who didn’t have a written alphabet – INCAS
- 18 Down: Seehorn of “Pluribus” – RHEA
- 23 Down: “Please be serious” – CMON
- 24 Down: Twist into a pretzel – KNOT
- 26 Down: “Sounds like a you problem” – NOONECARES
- 28 Down: Notation on an invite – BYOB
- 29 Down: Sonic the Hedgehog developer – SEGA
- 30 Down: Leaves speechless – AWES
- 31 Down: Norse god of mischief – LOKI
- 32 Down: “Ooh la la!” – TRESJOLIE
- 36 Down: Self-satisfied – SMUG
- 37 Down: Good start? – BENE
- 40 Down: Low-gloss – MATTE
- 42 Down: Checked out – SEEN
- 43 Down: Bow alternative – CURTSY
- 45 Down: Be appealing? – PLEAD
- 47 Down: One of the Torah’s four matriarchs – SARAH
- 48 Down: Type of offal – TRIPE
- 49 Down: Sign of healing – SCAB
- 50 Down: Muralist’s canvas – WALL
- 51 Down: Target of some mining – DATA
- 53 Down: “My word” – ISAY
- 55 Down: Expected any minute – DUE
- 56 Down: Explosive used in some mining – TNT
Click to reveal the solved crossword image
Today’s Washington Post crossword felt clean and confident without trying too hard. The grid had a smooth flow, with cluing that rewarded steady solving rather than deep trivia dives, which made it feel accessible but not dull. There was a nice balance between straightforward entries and a few clues that made you pause and rethink, the good kind of friction. Nothing felt unfair or outdated, and the overall vibe was polished and modern. Not the flashiest puzzle of the year, but definitely solid and satisfying, the kind you finish feeling calm instead of cooked.
You can also checkout today’s answers for other Crossword puzzles below:
How to Play Washington Post/LA Times Crossword Puzzle
You can play the daily crossword for free on the Washington Post’s website under their “Games” section.
- Choose a Clue: Click on any clue in the “Across” or “Down” lists.
- Enter Your Answer: The corresponding squares in the grid will be highlighted. Type your answer. The cursor will automatically move to the next square.
- Switch Directions: You can press the spacebar or click a square a second time to toggle between “Across” and “Down.”
- Check Your Work: You can press the “Check” or “Reveal” feature if you get truly stuck.
That’s it, folks, come back again tomorrow for a fresh set of answers.
