The New York Times crossword clue “Great illustrations” from the December 26, 2025 puzzle is answered by EPITOMES.

Clue meaning

Here, “illustrations” is used in the sense of “examples” rather than drawings or artwork.

So the clue is really pointing toward “great examples,” which matches the definition of epitomes as perfect or typical instances of something.

Answer details

  • Puzzle: New York Times crossword, December 26, 2025.
  • Clue: “Great illustrations.”
  • Answer: EPITOMES (8 letters).

Why EPITOMES fits

  • An epitome is a standard or typical example of a broader category.
  • That makes “great illustrations” a concise way of saying “perfect examples,” which aligns cleanly with the word’s dictionary sense.

TL;DR: If you’re filling in “great illustrations” in the NYT crossword, the entry you want is EPITOMES.

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