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:
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
98 Across: Folk-rock supergroup, familiarly – CSNY
99 Across: Soapy residue in a sink – SCUM
100 Across: Come out – EMERGE
101 Across: Sanskrit honorific – SRI
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
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
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:
- NYT Mini Crossword Hints and Answers
- LA Times Mini Crossword
- USA Today Crossword Hints and Answers
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.
