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New York Times, Tuesday, March 25, 2025

Author:
Bob Benson
Editor:
Will Shortz
Blog:
31-Across : Perch for a plant or a pie
TotalDebut
13/25/2025
SunMonTueWedThuFriSat
0010000
ScrabDebutFresh
1.59340%
Bob Benson

This puzzle:

Rows: 15, Columns: 15 Words: 76, Blocks: 34 Missing: {JQZ} This is the debut puzzle for Mr. Benson. Tuesday freshness: 76%
1
T
2
R
3
O
4
O
5
P
6
S
7
R
8
S
9
V
10
P
11
F
12
T
13
S
14
S
O
M
B
E
R
15
I
T
O
O
16
R
E
P
17
P
L
A
S
T
I
18
C
F
I
L
M
19
I
R
A
20
S
O
R
E
S
21
A
L
M
A
22
O
A
R
S
23
S
P
24
A
C
E
P
R
25
O
G
R
A
M
26
S
27
A
28
D
S
A
C
K
29
Y
E
L
L
S
30
I
R
E
31
S
I
L
32
L
33
D
E
C
34
K
35
S
36
G
A
P
37
S
38
D
E
A
39
L
40
T
41
S
L
O
P
42
N
B
A
T
43
V
44
B
A
R
45
B
46
U
K
E
47
R
I
C
48
O
49
H
50
S
O
A
51
P
B
O
X
52
W
53
A
T
E
R
F
E
54
A
T
U
R
E
55
A
R
M
S
56
N
A
P
E
57
M
A
58
L
59
T
60
A
61
G
E
E
62
W
O
R
L
D
63
S
E
R
I
E
S
64
O
W
N
65
E
T
T
U
66
U
N
C
A
S
T
67
N
E
T
68
T
E
S
S
69
P
U
E
R
T
O
© 2025, The New York Times3/25/25 ( No. 27,531 )
Across
1
Groups of soldiers : TROOPS
7
Initials on an invitation : RSVP
11
Mil. installations : FTS
14
Like Eeyore in "Winnie-the-Pooh" : SOMBER
15
Langston Hughes poem about the hope for equality : ITOO
16
Workout unit, for short : REP
17
"The Lego Movie"? : PLASTICFILM
19
Oldest Gershwin brother : IRA
20
Lesions : SORES
21
___ mater : ALMA
22
Crew propellers : OARS
23
"Star Trek"? : SPACEPROGRAM
26
Schlemiel : SADSACK
29
"Old Man ___ at Cloud" (bit from "The Simpsons" that became an internet meme) : YELLS
30
Fury : IRE
31
Perch for a plant or a pie : SILL
33
Sends reeling with a punch : DECKS
36
Breaks in continuity : GAPS
38
Coped (with) : DEALT
41
Subpar grub : SLOP
42
Channel for the Mavericks and Cavaliers : NBATV
44
Thorn : BARB
46
Luau instrument, informally : UKE
47
Tokyo-based company that produces cameras and office equipment : RICOH
50
Political platform, perhaps : SOAPBOX
52
"Finding Nemo"? : WATERFEATURE
55
Second Amendment subject : ARMS
56
Scruff : NAPE
57
Smallest country in the European Union (122 square miles) : MALTA
61
"That surprises me" : GEE
62
"Planet Earth"? : WORLDSERIES
64
Completely dominate, informally : OWN
65
"___, Brute?" : ETTU
66
Not filled, as a role : UNCAST
67
Trawling equipment : NET
68
Character name on both "This Is Us" and "The Last of Us" : TESS
69
___ Vallarta, Mexico : PUERTO
Down
1
Tbsp. divisions : TSPS
2
Popular candy wrapped in gold foil : ROLO
3
Minnesota representative Ilhan ___ : OMAR
4
Have a bee in one's bonnet : OBSESS
5
Places where puppies are pampered : PETSPAS
6
Hindu honorific : SRI
7
Winchester, for one : RIFLE
8
Ren's cartoon buddy : STIMPY
9
Hit 1958 song officially titled "Nel Blu, Dipinto di Blu" : VOLARE
10
When doubled, a cheerleader's accessory : POM
11
Locale famous for roasts : FRIARSCLUB
12
Alternative name for planet Earth : TERRA
13
Involuntary contraction : SPASM
18
Laugh like a witch : CACKLE
22
Leers at : OGLES
24
Not a base : ACID
25
Obsolete : OLD
26
Communicate with the hands : SIGN
27
Horse that excels in equestrian sports : ARAB
28
Cabinet division : DEPARTMENT
32
Lecture counterpart, sometimes : LAB
34
Gorilla that famously learned to 26-Down : KOKO
35
X-ray ___ (novelty goggles) : SPEX
37
Complete messes : STIES
39
Went the distance : LASTED
40
Pants, informally : TROU
43
Device with tracking tech : VCR
45
Spirit guide? : BARMENU
48
Worth mentioning : OFNOTE
49
Game in which players tend to avoid the queen of spades : HEARTS
51
Actor Guy of "Memento" : PEARCE
52
Oregon Trail vehicle : WAGON
53
"___ there yet?" : AREWE
54
Highest grade : APLUS
58
Whopper server? : LIAR
59
Try, as patience : TEST
60
Regarding : ASTO
62
Like a fresh coat of paint : WET
63
"How's it hangin'?" : SUP

Answer summary:
3 unique to this puzzle, 1 unique to Modern Era but used previously.

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