Fri 11/1/2024
O | V | A | L | | M | O | M | S | | | A | S | P | S |
L | E | S | B | I | A | N | B | A | R | | D | E | L | I |
D | E | E | S | C | A | L | A | T | E | | S | N | A | P |
E | P | A | | A | S | I | S | | L | E | A | D | T | O |
| | | C | L | A | N | | J | I | L | L | I | O | N |
C | H | A | R | L | I | E | B | U | C | K | E | T | | |
H | I | J | A | B | | P | O | D | S | | | B | T | U |
A | V | O | W | S | | O | R | G | | S | P | A | Y | S |
D | E | B | | | S | K | E | E | | K | I | C | K | S |
| | I | V | O | T | E | D | S | T | I | C | K | E | R |
S | I | S | E | N | O | R | | R | E | D | S | | | |
I | N | A | R | O | W | | B | O | N | O | | I | M | A |
D | O | J | O | | E | G | O | B | O | O | S | T | E | R |
L | I | O | N | | D | R | Y | E | R | S | H | E | E | T |
E | L | B | A | | | R | O | S | S | | E | M | T | S |
Sat 11/2/2024
A | R | C | L | A | M | P | S | | C | A | S | I | T | A |
C | O | L | D | C | A | L | L | | O | P | E | N | E | R |
C | L | A | S | S | R | O | O | M | R | O | S | T | E | R |
E | L | S | | | | S | T | E | E | P | | I | N | A |
S | U | S | S | | M | I | T | T | S | | G | M | A | N |
S | P | I | T | | I | V | E | S | | B | R | A | G | G |
| | C | O | A | X | E | D | | T | O | A | T | E | E |
F | E | A | R | L | E | S | S | L | E | A | D | E | R | S |
A | V | L | A | B | S | | P | O | S | T | E | D | | |
L | E | G | G | S | | E | A | S | T | | R | E | D | S |
T | R | U | E | | J | E | T | E | S | | S | T | O | P |
E | M | I | | S | E | O | U | L | | | | A | R | E |
R | O | T | A | T | E | C | L | O | C | K | W | I | S | E |
E | R | A | S | E | R | | A | S | S | A | I | L | E | D |
D | E | R | A | T | S | | S | E | T | L | I | S | T | S |
Sun 11/3/2024 Can I Have a Raise?
G | L | U | C | O | S | E | | B | E | L | U | G | A | S | | F | E | A | S | T |
R | U | M | B | A | L | L | | O | P | E | N | A | I | R | | R | A | S | T | A |
A | L | A | S | K | A | P | E | N | I | N | S | U | L | A | | E | T | H | O | S |
B | L | M | | S | L | A | N | G | | T | A | G | | | | N | O | O | N | E |
| S | I | B | | O | S | S | O | | T | I | E | O | N | | C | U | R | E | D |
| | | A | M | M | O | | | G | O | D | D | A | U | G | H | T | E | R | |
| A | B | R | A | | | I | A | M | | | | S | T | E | P | | | | |
F | R | E | Q | U | E | N | C | Y | S | H | I | F | T | | T | R | I | S | H | A |
I | R | A | | I | R | U | L | E | | A | M | A | | U | S | E | D | C | A | R |
B | E | T | S | | A | D | O | | | U | D | D | E | R | | S | O | R | T | S |
| S | E | A | L | | G | U | T | E | N | B | E | R | G | | S | L | E | D | |
S | T | A | G | E | | E | D | I | C | T | | | R | I | P | | S | W | A | M |
R | E | S | E | N | T | S | | T | H | E | | C | A | N | O | E | | I | N | A |
O | D | E | S | S | A | | M | O | O | D | C | O | N | G | R | U | E | N | C | E |
| | | | F | L | O | E | | | | B | O | D | | | R | A | G | E | |
| C | I | V | I | C | M | I | N | D | E | D | | | O | D | O | R | | | |
P | A | N | E | L | | G | R | A | I | N | | E | L | L | Y | | S | O | B | |
I | N | S | E | T | | | | G | T | A | | D | I | D | N | T | | P | E | P |
S | T | O | R | E | | S | W | I | T | C | H | E | D | P | A | R | T | I | E | S |
A | B | L | E | R | | K | I | L | O | T | O | N | | A | M | O | U | N | T | S |
N | E | E | D | S | | A | M | A | S | S | E | S | | L | O | N | G | E | S | T |
A peek behind the curtain: the first version of this theme set had SALARY BUMP in shaded squares, which I thought was a stronger meta answer for the puzzle than PAY BUMP. But that version was nearly impossible to grid, as it would have required 10 horizontal theme answers and 10 protruding "bump" letters getting in the way everywhere. So I eventually settled for PAY BUMP, which I felt was serviceable, but probably not as popular of a phrase.
Anyway, it turns out that PAY BUMP has actually been the more frequently used term since about 2017. Who knew! I'm reminded that language never falls behind — only we do, in our knowledge of how it's evolving.
Some interesting theme answers from the cutting room floor:
ALDOUS HUXLEY = DOU(G)H
SENSIBLE ADVICE = B(R)EAD
CROCODILE ROCK = DI(N)ERO
And my favorite, BERT AND ERNIE = T(E)NDER
– puzzle by Sid Sivakumar
Mon 11/4/2024
| P | S | S | T | | R | E | P | O | | C | H | O | W |
| O | P | A | L | | O | R | A | L | | L | O | L | A |
| W | A | T | C | H | C | A | R | E | F | U | L | L | Y |
G | E | N | E | | O | K | S | | | L | I | E | I | N |
O | R | G | | I | R | E | | I | C | A | N | S | E | E |
B | E | L | T | O | U | T | A | S | O | N | G | | | |
O | D | I | O | U | S | | M | I | N | K | | T | B | D |
O | U | S | T | | | B | I | T | | | B | R | I | E |
M | P | H | | S | C | A | T | | F | I | B | U | L | A |
| | | S | U | I | T | Y | O | U | R | S | E | L | F |
S | A | V | I | N | G | S | | D | R | S | | N | Y | E |
A | L | I | G | N | | | A | D | O | | C | O | I | N |
F | A | S | H | I | O | N | F | O | R | W | A | R | D | |
E | M | I | T | | H | O | R | N | | A | S | T | O | |
R | O | T | S | | O | B | O | E | | D | A | H | L | |
Tue 11/5/2024
| S | A | I | D | | I | S | S | A | | I | N | C | H |
A | N | D | S | O | | N | O | T | V | | T | O | U | R |
S | O | I | L | S | | S | A | L | E | S | R | E | P | S |
A | G | E | E | | Z | I | P | | M | A | U | L | S | |
| S | U | T | R | A | S | | M | A | G | S | | | |
| | | | O | P | T | | A | R | E | T | H | A | |
I | N | S | P | O | | | E | L | I | | Y | A | L | E |
C | A | L | I | F | O | R | N | I | A | R | O | L | L | S |
K | P | O | P | | R | E | D | | | B | U | O | Y | S |
| S | P | I | R | A | L | | O | P | I | | | | |
| | | N | O | L | O | | B | U | S | H | S | R | |
| H | I | G | H | C | | E | G | G | | A | P | E | S |
N | E | D | B | E | A | T | T | Y | | A | S | A | N | A |
A | R | E | A | | R | O | A | N | | W | A | D | E | D |
B | R | A | G | | E | E | L | S | | S | T | E | W | |
Wed 11/6/2024
A | S | S | | S | O | D | | | E | D | U | | H | E | M |
T | O | T | | P | L | A | T | I | N | U | M | | E | L | O |
O | U | I | | E | D | M | O | N | T | O | N | | A | L | P |
M | S | N | B | C | | A | L | D | O | | O | L | L | I | E |
S | A | K | E | | | S | L | I | M | | | E | T | S | Y |
| | B | L | A | C | K | S | A | B | B | A | T | H | | |
A | P | O | L | L | O | | | | | R | I | B | B | I | T |
S | O | M | A | L | I | A | | | L | I | M | E | A | D | E |
T | U | B | | | F | R | I | T | O | S | | | R | E | V |
I | T | S | I | N | | I | D | O | L | | B | O | S | S | A |
| | | M | E | A | D | O | W | L | A | R | K | | | |
B | I | K | I | N | G | | | | | C | I | G | A | R | S |
L | O | N | G | A | N | D | S | H | O | R | T | O | F | I | T |
O | T | O | H | | E | U | R | O | P | E | | O | A | T | Y |
W | A | T | T | | S | H | I | N | E | S | | D | R | A | X |
Thu 11/7/2024
T | A | N | | S | E | C | T | | E | R | S | A | T | Z |
U | F | O | | O | G | R | E | | T | O | U | P | E | E |
L | O | T | | B | R | I | N | G | S | S | P | E | E | D |
S | U | H | W | E | E | T | | A | Y | E | R | | | |
A | L | I | I | | T | I | N | Y | | | E | G | O | S |
| | N | I | T | | C | O | N | D | I | M | E | N | T |
I | T | G | U | R | U | | T | O | A | D | E | T | T | E |
V | O | L | | O | S | B | O | R | N | E | | T | O | W |
B | R | O | S | P | E | A | K | | G | A | S | H | E | S |
A | M | S | T | E | R | D | A | M | | S | E | E | | |
G | E | E | R | | | E | Y | R | E | | A | P | S | E |
| | | E | A | S | Y | | B | E | P | R | O | U | D |
C | O | M | E | T | H | E | W | I | R | E | | I | N | G |
I | D | O | T | O | O | | A | L | I | T | | N | N | E |
S | E | I | S | M | O | | P | L | E | A | | T | I | S |
Fri 11/8/2024
F | A | C | T | | S | P | A | S | M | S | | W | O | K |
E | U | R | O | | E | L | L | I | O | T | P | A | G | E |
E | D | A | M | | W | A | I | T | R | E | A | L | L | Y |
D | I | F | F | R | E | N | T | S | T | R | O | K | E | S |
| | T | O | U | R | S | | | G | I | L | | | |
A | B | B | O | T | S | | Z | E | A | L | O | T | R | Y |
R | E | E | L | S | | R | I | D | G | E | | R | E | I |
I | R | E | S | | B | I | N | G | E | | M | E | T | E |
E | R | R | | P | I | G | G | Y | | B | A | S | I | L |
L | A | S | V | E | G | A | S | | C | U | R | L | E | D |
| | | O | R | B | | | O | U | T | I | E | | |
C | U | L | T | U | R | A | L | A | T | T | A | C | H | E |
C | H | E | E | S | E | C | A | K | E | | C | H | A | T |
E | N | T | R | E | A | T | I | E | S | | H | E | I | R |
D | O | S | | S | K | I | N | N | Y | | I | S | L | E |
Sat 11/9/2024
K | I | C | K | S | T | A | R | T | S | | | P | E | A |
I | C | A | N | T | A | K | E | I | T | | T | O | M | S |
T | H | R | E | E | N | A | G | E | R | | A | L | I | A |
C | I | N | E | | | | A | D | U | L | T | I | N | G |
A | R | A | L | | I | A | N | | G | U | T | T | E | R |
R | O | L | A | I | D | S | | A | G | E | L | I | N | E |
| | | T | O | O | T | A | L | L | | E | C | C | E |
P | A | R | | S | W | E | L | T | E | R | | O | E | D |
A | L | E | C | | H | A | L | I | B | U | T | | | |
N | O | N | R | E | A | L | | M | U | T | A | N | T | S |
D | O | T | O | A | T | | G | A | S | | C | O | R | A |
A | G | R | A | R | I | A | N | | | | O | V | A | L |
C | O | O | K | | C | R | A | W | L | S | P | A | C | E |
A | B | L | Y | | A | C | T | I | O | N | I | T | E | M |
M | I | L | | | N | O | S | E | B | L | E | E | D | S |
Sun 11/10/2024 From Start to Finish
L | G | B | T | | | H | O | W | T | O | | S | T | O | P | S | | F | O | B |
E | E | R | I | E | | A | L | A | R | M | | O | H | W | O | W | | U | N | O |
S | T | A | N | D | A | R | D | S | U | B | | P | E | N | S | I | V | E | E | X |
M | A | N | A | G | E | D | M | I | C | R | O | | W | E | S | T | E | L | M | |
I | T | A | | A | R | T | E | | K | E | N | M | O | R | E | | S | L | O | B |
Z | I | G | | R | O | O | | | | | E | A | R | | | S | P | I | N | E |
| P | H | I | L | | P | E | N | U | L | T | I | M | A | T | E | A | N | T | E |
| | | M | E | W | | L | O | T | I | O | N | | R | O | N | | E | H | S |
G | R | A | D | E | A | | L | U | A | N | N | | W | R | O | T | E | | | |
R | A | C | Y | | W | E | I | G | H | T | | W | I | I | | I | L | O | S | E |
A | F | R | I | C | A | N | P | A | N | | S | O | L | V | I | N | G | D | I | S |
S | T | E | N | O | | E | S | T | | M | T | N | D | E | W | | R | O | M | P |
| | | G | L | A | R | E | | C | A | R | T | A | | I | C | E | R | U | N |
A | U | K | | M | S | G | | S | H | R | E | D | S | | N | R | C | | | |
A | P | O | C | A | L | Y | P | T | I | C | P | O | S | T | | O | O | P | S | |
A | S | W | A | N | | | H | A | R | | | | | H | R | S | | O | T | S |
S | T | A | N | | Y | E | S | B | A | B | E | | A | R | E | S | | P | A | P |
| A | L | T | T | E | X | T | | C | O | M | P | L | E | T | E | A | U | T | O |
V | I | S | I | O | N | P | R | O | | H | E | A | T | E | D | S | U | P | E | R |
I | R | K | | S | T | E | I | N | | R | E | C | A | P | | T | R | A | I | T |
P | S | I | | H | E | L | P | S | | S | T | O | R | M | | | A | D | D | Y |
Mon 11/11/2024
I | N | S | T | A | | | B | E | T | | I | K | E | A |
N | E | P | A | L | | M | O | T | H | | G | R | A | B |
C | A | R | I | B | B | E | A | N | C | R | U | I | S | E |
A | R | I | | U | L | T | R | A | | E | A | S | E | L |
| | N | A | M | E | | | | A | N | N | | | |
B | I | G | B | A | D | W | O | L | F | | A | N | T | S |
A | S | T | E | R | | I | B | A | R | | S | U | R | E |
M | A | I | | T | I | D | E | P | O | D | | T | A | C |
B | A | M | A | | F | E | S | S | | E | N | A | C | T |
I | C | E | R | | F | R | E | E | S | T | Y | L | E | S |
| | | C | A | Y | | | | H | A | U | L | | |
A | R | I | A | L | | A | Z | T | E | C | | E | G | G |
T | O | M | D | I | C | K | A | N | D | H | A | R | R | Y |
O | P | I | E | | P | I | N | T | | E | D | G | A | R |
M | E | N | S | | A | N | Y | | | S | A | Y | S | O |
Tue 11/12/2024
O | P | A | L | | K | I | D | D | O | | J | A | Z | Z |
R | I | L | E | | I | N | C | U | R | | A | C | A | I |
S | N | O | G | | C | L | A | M | S | | C | H | I | P |
| K | N | I | C | K | E | R | B | O | C | K | E | R | |
| Y | E | O | H | | T | E | L | | E | A | S | E | |
| | | N | A | Y | S | A | Y | E | R | S | | | |
E | T | R | A | D | E | | | | A | T | S | I | G | N |
T | H | A | R | | S | T | R | U | T | | E | T | N | A |
A | R | B | Y | S | | O | A | T | | E | S | S | A | Y |
L | O | B | | A | R | M | P | A | D | S | | N | S | A |
| W | I | N | N | I | E | T | H | E | P | O | O | H | |
| | T | E | E | M | | | | T | N | U | T | | |
| | H | O | R | S | E | S | M | O | U | T | H | | |
I | H | O | P | | H | E | L | I | X | | A | I | L | S |
V | O | L | E | | O | L | I | N | E | | G | N | A | T |
F | E | E | T | | T | Y | P | E | D | | E | G | G | Y |
Wed 11/13/2024
A | R | I | Z | O | N | A | | | | F | L | A | G | S |
M | E | D | I | C | A | L | | C | R | U | E | L | L | A |
P | R | O | P | H | E | T | | D | U | S | T | R | A | G |
| O | L | I | O | | A | L | L | I | S | | E | D | U |
N | U | I | T | | D | I | O | | N | E | V | A | D | A |
U | T | Z | | P | O | R | N | O | | S | I | D | E | R |
N | E | E | S | O | N | | G | P | A | | N | Y | R | O |
| | | T | E | N | N | E | S | S | E | E | | | |
A | S | T | A | | A | I | D | | N | A | D | I | R | S |
C | I | R | R | O | | A | F | T | E | R | | R | A | H |
A | L | A | S | K | A | | O | A | R | | P | O | M | E |
C | E | L | | S | L | U | R | P | | I | A | N | S | |
I | N | A | S | U | I | T | | I | M | P | L | I | E | S |
A | T | L | A | R | G | E | | N | O | S | E | N | S | E |
S | T | A | T | E | | | | G | E | O | R | G | I | A |
Thu 11/14/2024
| L | A | S | | W | A | R | D | | | S | L | A | P |
H | E | M | E | | I | S | E | E | | | T | O | F | U |
O | M | I | T | | P | I | N | E | | K | E | B | A | B |
O | U | T | | S | E | A | T | D | R | I | V | E | R | S |
K | R | Y | P | T | O | N | | | I | C | E | | | |
| | V | E | A | U | | T | A | N | K | | J | A | Y |
| D | I | D | N | T | H | O | L | D | | B | O | N | E |
S | A | L | A | D | | E | R | E | | T | E | B | O | W |
F | U | L | L | | L | E | S | S | D | R | E | S | S | |
O | B | E | | F | I | D | O | | R | A | C | E | | |
| | | S | L | O | | | M | A | C | H | E | T | E |
B | A | C | K | I | N | B | L | A | C | K | | K | O | S |
A | T | E | U | P | | M | E | N | U | | N | E | X | T |
B | E | L | L | | | W | A | I | L | | E | R | I | E |
Y | E | L | L | | | S | P | C | A | | E | S | C | |
Fri 11/15/2024
B | L | I | N | I | | | Y | E | S | | W | I | L | D |
R | A | R | I | N | G | T | O | G | O | | A | V | I | A |
I | C | A | N | S | E | E | Y | O | U | | S | E | N | T |
M | E | N | | I | N | T | O | | P | R | A | G | U | E |
| | | O | G | R | E | | I | C | E | B | O | X | |
E | V | E | R | H | E | A | R | D | O | F | I | T | | |
R | E | A | C | T | | T | E | E | N | S | | T | I | P |
M | A | R | A | | G | E | R | M | S | | C | A | M | I |
A | L | L | | L | E | T | U | P | | S | A | G | A | N |
| | Y | O | U | R | E | N | O | T | W | R | O | N | G |
| E | V | I | C | T | S | | T | A | I | L | | | |
C | L | O | S | E | R | | H | E | R | S | | B | L | T |
L | U | T | E | | U | P | I | N | T | H | E | A | I | R |
I | D | E | A | | D | O | N | T | T | E | L | L | M | E |
P | E | R | U | | E | X | T | | | R | I | D | E | S |
Sat 11/16/2024
D | O | R | K | | B | A | N | S | | H | A | S | T | Y |
A | P | I | A | S | A | M | O | A | | U | S | H | E | S |
T | A | L | L | C | H | I | E | F | | S | H | O | A | L |
A | L | L | A | H | | S | L | A | C | K | E | R | S | |
| | | M | U | C | H | | R | O | I | S | T | E | R |
| | H | A | L | O | | S | I | T | E | | O | R | O |
| J | A | Z | Z | O | R | C | H | E | S | T | R | A | S |
C | O | M | O | | K | O | R | A | N | | A | D | D | S |
F | A | M | O | U | S | P | O | T | A | T | O | E | S | |
O | N | E | | S | E | E | D | | N | A | I | R | | |
S | O | R | B | E | T | S | | B | T | U | S | | | |
| F | E | E | L | S | I | L | L | | P | E | T | E | S |
L | A | D | L | E | | N | E | A | R | E | A | R | T | H |
O | R | A | L | S | | T | A | K | E | S | C | A | R | E |
A | C | T | A | S | | O | P | E | D | | H | E | E | D |
Sun 11/17/2024 Nothing But Blue Skies
W | E | B | B | | | V | I | C | E | V | E | R | S | A | | | T | I | L | L |
A | W | O | L | | M | A | C | A | R | O | N | I | A | R | T | | A | G | U | A |
R | E | D | O | | U | P | U | P | A | N | D | A | W | A | Y | | K | E | R | I |
D | R | Y | W | I | N | E | | | | | | | | B | S | M | E | T | E | R |
| S | L | I | N | G | | A | R | I | G | A | T | O | | M | U | T | T | S | |
| | A | N | S | | S | M | A | L | L | T | O | W | N | | S | H | H | | |
| S | N | I | T | | H | O | M | E | A | L | O | N | E | | T | E | A | S | |
C | O | G | N | A | T | E | | A | N | N | A | L | | W | A | S | H | T | U | B |
A | B | U | T | | A | C | E | | E | D | S | | H | B | O | | I | A | G | O |
L | E | A | H | | T | A | R | O | | | | B | O | I | L | | G | L | A | M |
L | I | G | E | R | | T | I | N | Y | H | O | U | S | E | | S | H | O | R | E |
S | T | E | W | I | E | | E | M | A | I | L | M | E | | M | A | R | T | Y | R |
| | | I | N | R | E | | E | L | V | E | S | | B | O | G | O | | | |
S | H | I | N | D | I | G | S | | L | E | S | | G | E | T | S | A | T | A | N |
T | E | N | D | | V | O | L | T | | | | J | O | S | T | | D | A | L | E |
A | R | K | | H | O | T | A | I | R | B | A | L | L | O | O | N | | P | L | S |
N | E | W | D | O | | | P | L | A | Y | G | O | D | | | A | U | D | I | S |
| W | E | E | L | A | S | S | | B | R | A | | M | I | N | I | V | A | N | |
H | E | L | L | Y | E | A | H | | A | N | T | | I | D | A | R | E | N | O | T |
U | G | L | I | | O | N | O | | T | E | E | | N | E | S | | A | C | N | E |
B | O | S | S | | N | E | T | | | | | | E | A | T | | S | E | E | D |
Mon 11/18/2024
R | E | L | A | X | | C | O | R | G | I | | E | W | W |
A | X | I | O | M | | A | R | E | A | S | | L | E | O |
B | E | C | K | A | N | D | C | A | L | L | | C | A | R |
B | R | I | A | N | A | | | P | L | A | C | A | R | D |
I | T | T | Y | | D | E | S | | A | N | A | P | | |
| | | | J | A | C | K | A | N | D | J | I | L | L |
S | H | A | R | D | | H | A | L | T | | O | T | O | E |
N | O | N | O | S | | O | T | T | | S | L | A | P | S |
A | L | E | C | | S | E | E | P | | N | E | N | E | S |
P | I | C | K | A | N | D | R | O | L | L | | | | |
| | D | E | M | O | | S | P | A | | T | O | R | I |
E | R | O | T | I | C | A | | | W | E | A | V | E | D |
B | A | T | | C | O | C | K | A | N | D | B | U | L | L |
A | V | E | | U | N | D | I | D | | A | L | L | I | E |
Y | E | S | | S | E | C | T | S | | M | E | E | T | S |
Tue 11/19/2024
G | A | V | E | L | | D | R | I | P | | C | H | I | P |
A | L | I | V | E | | Y | O | D | A | | G | A | G | A |
S | A | V | E | T | H | E | D | A | Y | | I | S | N | T |
C | R | I | N | G | E | | S | H | I | M | | H | O | T |
A | M | C | | O | D | D | | O | N | A | D | A | R | E |
P | S | A | S | | G | A | H | | G | R | I | N | E | R |
| | | T | I | E | R | E | D | | T | R | A | I | N |
| S | P | E | N | D | T | H | E | N | I | G | H | T | |
S | H | A | L | L | | S | I | M | O | N | E | | | |
C | A | R | L | O | S | | M | O | P | | S | H | A | H |
O | C | T | A | V | I | A | | S | R | S | | O | L | E |
F | A | N | | E | X | E | C | | O | N | E | A | L | L |
F | R | E | E | | T | I | M | E | B | U | D | G | E | T |
E | R | R | S | | H | O | O | P | | B | E | I | G | E |
D | I | S | C | | S | U | N | S | | S | N | E | E | R |
Wed 11/20/2024
A | M | P | S | | O | S | L | O | | G | L | A | R | E |
S | O | O | N | | S | P | E | W | | R | U | L | E | R |
C | R | O | L | A | C | R | O | N | | E | N | L | A | I |
O | E | R | | B | A | T | S | | S | E | C | E | D | E |
T | E | M | P | U | R | A | | C | A | T | H | Y | | |
S | L | E | D | | | N | S | F | W | | T | W | A | S |
| | | Q | U | A | | P | O | R | T | R | A | L | S |
U | S | B | | A | T | L | A | S | E | S | | Y | E | N |
S | T | A | G | E | M | O | M | | D | A | B | | | |
C | R | C | R | | F | U | S | S | | | R | B | A | N |
| | T | A | M | E | D | | P | U | L | S | A | T | E |
C | H | E | R | I | E | | C | A | N | E | | R | O | W |
O | A | R | E | D | | S | H | R | I | N | K | R | A | Y |
A | L | I | A | S | | A | U | T | O | | M | I | S | O |
L | E | A | S | T | | X | M | A | N | | S | O | T | U |
Thu 11/21/2024
A | B | F | A | B | | I | S | P | S | | A | Q | A | B | A |
B | R | A | V | A | | M | O | O | T | | D | U | B | A | I |
D | A | V | I | D | C | O | P | P | E | R | F | I | E | L | D |
U | K | E | | K | A | P | O | W | | V | E | T | T | E | S |
L | E | S | M | I | S | E | R | A | B | L | E | S | | | |
| | | I | T | E | N | | R | O | O | S | T | E | R | S |
J | O | I | S | T | S | | I | N | O | T | | A | R | E | A |
P | A | T | S | Y | | M | M | E | S | | A | R | I | E | L |
E | K | E | S | | J | E | E | R | | I | C | I | C | L | E |
G | Y | M | C | L | A | S | S | | C | M | O | N | | | |
| | | A | T | L | A | S | S | H | R | U | G | G | E | D |
S | C | A | R | C | E | | E | L | I | A | S | | E | T | A |
T | O | O | L | O | N | G | D | I | D | N | T | R | E | A | D |
U | R | K | E | L | | P | U | C | E | | I | O | N | I | A |
B | E | S | T | S | | A | P | E | S | | C | O | A | L | S |
Fri 11/22/2024
S | A | N | T | A | | | | | G | A | L | P | A | L |
T | R | O | O | P | | | O | L | D | N | O | R | S | E |
A | E | I | O | U | | S | L | E | P | T | L | A | T | E |
I | S | I | T | | S | P | I | T | | S | I | D | E | D |
D | O | N | T | B | E | E | V | I | L | | N | A | R | S |
| | S | O | E | X | C | I | T | I | N | G | | | |
I | D | I | O | C | Y | | A | B | L | E | | K | A | Y |
P | E | S | T | O | | P | R | E | | A | B | I | D | E |
A | C | T | | O | H | I | O | | C | R | E | D | O | S |
| | | B | L | I | N | D | D | A | T | E | S | | |
S | T | Y | E | | M | E | R | E | M | O | R | T | A | L |
H | E | A | T | S | | L | I | F | E | | H | A | L | O |
A | S | T | R | O | L | O | G | Y | | T | A | B | O | O |
P | L | E | A | S | E | G | O | | | A | L | L | O | T |
E | A | S | Y | A | S | | | | | C | L | E | F | S |
Sat 11/23/2024
S | C | R | U | F | F | Y | | | G | L | O | S | S | Y |
I | L | O | V | E | Y | O | U | | R | E | C | I | P | E |
T | I | B | E | R | I | U | S | | A | N | D | R | E | S |
S | Q | U | A | B | | N | U | T | S | O | | N | A | M |
B | U | S | S | | A | G | A | R | S | | W | O | K | E |
Y | E | T | | S | T | A | L | E | | J | A | S | O | N |
| | | T | H | A | T | S | A | B | I | G | I | F | |
| | P | O | O | L | H | U | S | T | L | E | R | | |
| B | A | T | T | L | E | S | U | I | T | S | | | |
S | A | G | A | S | | A | P | R | E | S | | R | E | F |
A | R | A | L | | G | R | E | E | R | | R | E | A | R |
I | N | N | | D | U | T | C | H | | M | A | C | R | O |
D | O | G | S | A | T | | T | U | N | A | C | A | N | S |
S | W | O | O | N | S | | S | N | A | K | E | P | I | T |
O | L | D | B | A | Y | | | T | H | I | R | S | T | Y |
Sun 11/24/2024 Shape Up or Ship Out
R | E | F | S | | F | I | N | E | | | M | A | L | L | | | O | P | E | R |
U | V | E | A | | I | R | A | N | | J | O | L | I | E | | B | R | A | V | A |
B | E | E | F | A | D | O | B | O | | O | R | A | N | G | | A | G | L | E | T |
| | L | E | M | O | N | S | C | | B | A | S | K | E | T | B | A | L | L | S |
D | A | I | S | Y | | | | H | I | S | S | | | N | A | A | N | | | |
I | N | N | | T | I | E | R | | D | A | S | | C | D | D | R | I | V | E | |
E | G | G | | A | M | N | E | S | I | C | | I | R | A | | | Z | A | P | F |
H | E | N | | N | O | T | A | L | O | T | | B | A | R | K | E | E | P | E | R |
A | L | U | M | | | I | D | O | L | | O | M | G | Y | E | S | | E | E | O |
R | O | M | A | N | | R | E | T | E | L | L | S | | | R | I | D | | | |
D | U | B | L | I | N | E | R | | C | I | D | | B | A | R | G | E | S | I | N |
| | | E | T | A | | | S | T | E | A | D | E | D | | N | E | C | C | O |
A | L | A | | E | N | S | U | E | S | | S | U | S | S | | | D | I | E | T |
S | U | B | T | R | A | C | T | S | | F | T | M | E | A | D | E | | S | H | E |
K | N | E | E | | | H | E | H | | L | I | B | E | L | E | R | | S | O | L |
| A | D | M | I | R | E | S | | J | A | M | | N | E | I | N | | O | L | E |
| | | P | R | A | M | | | E | V | E | R | | | | E | G | R | E | T |
S | E | A | L | O | F | A | P | P | R | O | | C | O | M | E | S | A | C | | |
T | E | X | A | N | | T | U | D | O | R | | C | H | E | S | T | B | U | M | P |
U | N | I | T | Y | | I | M | A | M | S | | A | H | A | S | | O | T | T | O |
N | Y | S | E | | | C | A | S | E | | | R | I | N | O | | R | S | V | P |
Mon 11/25/2024
L | O | O | F | A | | S | H | E | R | A | | P | A | R |
A | C | R | I | D | | H | A | N | O | I | | A | N | O |
S | H | A | R | E | H | O | L | D | E | R | | T | K | O |
H | O | L | E | | A | W | E | S | | B | A | I | L | S |
| | | M | A | Z | E | | | G | A | R | N | E | T |
L | I | K | E | H | E | R | D | I | N | G | C | A | T | S |
A | R | E | N | A | | | U | M | A | S | S | | | |
B | E | G | | | S | W | E | P | T | | | A | L | A |
| | | A | T | E | A | T | | | A | I | M | E | D |
F | O | L | L | O | W | Y | O | U | R | B | L | I | S | S |
O | R | E | G | O | N | | | P | E | S | O | | | |
R | I | V | A | L | | A | L | D | A | | V | E | T | S |
M | O | I | | S | O | C | I | A | L | M | E | D | I | A |
A | L | E | | E | V | E | N | T | | R | I | D | E | S |
L | E | D | | T | A | S | T | E | | S | T | A | S | H |
I love challenging myself to learn new skills and only recently added constructrix to my CV. Although I've been solving NYT crosswords for decades, I never would have dreamed of constructing without my husband's encouragement - and now I'm hooked. This is a rare case where seeing how the sausage is made actually enhances my enjoyment (of xwords)!
The fact that my debut is a Monday is a testament to my inimitable mentor and friend, Andrea Carla Michaels, who convinced me that this puzzle was NYT-worthy. Since it's a Monday, I expect all of my friends and family to at least attempt to solve. They will (mostly) be excused from my upcoming Friday puzzle.
– puzzle by Dena R. Witkes
Tue 11/26/2024
T | U | R | F | S | | | A | P | P | | S | T | A | R |
W | H | O | O | P | | K | N | E | E | | L | U | N | A |
O | U | T | O | F | O | R | D | E | R | | I | M | I | N |
S | H | E | D | | W | O | O | L | | W | E | B | M | D |
| | | C | O | N | C | R | E | T | E | S | L | A | B |
| P | R | O | M | S | | | | E | T | T | E | | |
A | S | A | M | I | | B | O | A | R | | | W | E | E |
M | A | R | A | T | H | O | N | D | A | N | C | E | R | S |
P | S | I | | | E | X | E | S | | A | H | E | A | P |
| | N | A | I | L | | | | R | A | I | D | S | |
E | G | G | M | C | M | U | F | F | I | N | S | | | |
G | U | T | S | Y | | S | E | L | F | | E | A | S | E |
R | I | O | T | | A | U | T | O | F | I | L | L | E | D |
E | D | G | E | | G | R | E | W | | M | E | D | A | Y |
T | O | O | L | | E | P | S | | | O | D | O | R | S |
Hi! I'm a software engineer from Rockford, Mich. Besides solving and constructing crosswords, I enjoy running, skiing and cheering on my favorite sports teams.
I started solving the New York Times Crossword in 2022 during my junior year at the University of Michigan (Go Blue). I was caught up in the Wordle craze, so I figured, why not try my hand at the Crossword? I opened my first puzzle on a Saturday and stared at a mostly empty grid for over an hour before throwing in the towel. (Note to past self: Saturday puzzles are the hardest.) I embraced the challenge and set out to solve a full week of puzzles without outside assistance; a new hobby was born. While accomplishing this goal and continuing to solve daily, I became intrigued by the thought of constructing my own crossword, with the ultimate ambition of being published in The Times. I created my first-ever crossword — a rebus puzzle, naturally — and submitted it. I was rejected, but the process had introduced a creative outlet that I loved just as much as solving. My first published crossword came in 2023, with The Michigan Daily's Games team. However, I graduated shortly after my puzzle ran, and it remained my only published puzzle — until today. Over two years and many more rejections since my construction journey began, I am beyond thrilled to be making my Times debut!
Auto-fill is one of life's greatest conveniences. Never again shall we be encumbered by having to remember complex passwords, or by reaching for our wallets when online shopping! This crossword came about when I realized that AUTOFILLED was also a perfect revealer for a car theme. After scouring lists of car brands and searching for entries with those "autos" hidden across multiple words, I decided on this theme set. While Ford had multiple options, the entries for Tesla, Honda and GMC were much more limited and are all debuts.
To anyone thinking about getting into crossword construction: Please do it! I promise it's worth it.
– puzzle by Killian Olson
Wed 11/27/2024
A | C | H | E | | A | N | N | E | | C | L | A | P | S |
C | O | M | I | C | B | O | O | K | | H | A | S | I | T |
C | H | A | R | L | O | T | T | E | | E | M | I | L | Y |
R | E | R | E | A | D | | E | S | C | | P | A | L | E |
A | N | T | | R | E | G | | | A | T | S | | | |
| | | P | A | S | A | D | E | N | A | | I | C | U |
H | O | P | E | | | T | O | R | T | O | I | S | E | S |
T | H | E | T | H | R | E | E | S | I | S | T | E | R | S |
T | H | E | S | A | H | A | R | A | | | S | E | A | R |
P | I | N | | K | O | U | R | T | N | E | Y | | | |
| | | S | A | N | | | Z | E | N | | K | I | M |
S | O | F | T | | E | O | N | | S | E | L | E | N | A |
K | H | L | O | E | | R | O | O | T | W | O | R | D | S |
I | M | I | N | G | | B | E | L | E | S | P | R | I | T |
T | Y | P | E | O | | S | L | E | D | | E | Y | E | S |
Thu 11/28/2024
C | H | A | S | E | | | O | T | O | H | | A | V | A |
H | U | M | U | S | | S | Z | E | R | O | | S | I | C |
E | L | E | C | T | | S | S | T | A | N | T | I | V | E |
T | U | R | K | E | Y | S | | | T | O | O | F | A | R |
| | I | L | S | E | | A | D | O | R | N | | | |
P | A | C | E | | T | A | T | E | R | | E | P | I | C |
A | B | A | | S | I | R | O | N | | H | R | I | D | E |
R | U | N | S | S | | O | M | A | | H | S | E | E | D |
S | T | O | P | S | | M | A | D | E | H | | D | A | E |
E | S | S | O | | B | A | N | A | L | | C | A | L | S |
| | | O | D | I | S | T | | M | E | A | T | | |
U | S | F | L | A | G | | | S | S | C | R | E | E | N |
G | O | E | S | U | P | I | N | S | | L | A | R | G | O |
L | O | U | | B | U | M | A | S | | A | F | R | O | S |
Y | T | D | | S | N | O | G | | | T | E | E | T | H |
Fri 11/29/2024
S | C | R | A | T | C | H | T | H | A | T | | R | N | S |
A | R | E | Y | O | U | A | W | A | K | E | | E | A | U |
N | O | T | I | M | E | T | O | D | I | E | | A | M | P |
T | S | A | | B | U | T | | | N | U | C | L | E | I |
A | S | I | S | | P | I | L | S | | P | A | T | O | N |
F | E | L | T | S | | P | U | N | K | | N | O | N | E |
E | S | S | E | N | E | | M | A | C | A | B | R | E | |
| | | W | A | X | F | I | G | U | R | E | | | |
| C | O | M | P | I | L | E | | P | A | R | K | A | S |
S | A | T | E | | T | A | R | S | | B | R | I | T | A |
A | L | T | A | R | | P | E | E | R | | A | N | T | I |
L | O | O | T | E | D | | | R | A | S | | P | U | N |
A | R | M | | C | A | S | E | I | N | P | O | I | N | T |
R | I | A | | O | V | E | R | A | B | A | R | R | E | L |
Y | E | N | | N | E | A | R | L | Y | R | E | A | D | Y |
Sat 11/30/2024
| | H | A | F | T | | S | O | W | H | A | T | | |
| H | E | R | E | S | A | T | H | O | U | G | H | T | |
D | O | Y | O | U | K | N | O | W | W | H | O | I | A | M |
I | M | B | A | D | | T | R | A | M | S | | S | K | A |
W | E | A | R | S | | A | M | I | E | | D | I | E | Z |
A | M | T | | | F | R | E | T | | M | E | S | S | Y |
L | A | T | H | E | R | E | D | | J | O | I | N | T | |
I | D | E | A | T | E | S | | L | E | N | G | T | H | S |
| E | R | R | E | D | | W | E | T | O | N | W | E | T |
A | B | B | R | S | | S | E | E | S | | | O | R | O |
D | R | A | Y | | W | H | I | T | | B | O | R | E | R |
H | E | T | | S | H | O | G | I | | O | A | K | I | E |
D | A | T | E | W | I | T | H | D | E | S | T | I | N | Y |
| D | E | L | I | C | A | T | E | S | S | E | N | S | |
| | R | I | G | H | T | Y | | P | A | N | G | | |