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50 puzzles with Editor comments — 4/21/2024 to 3/30/2025

Showing 50 out of 559 total with editor comments.

Use the older and newer links above to see more.

Sun 3/30/2025 Mark My Words
PASSTRAPOBVSCALMS
ALTOAUGERRAILORIEL
ROOFBLADEANNAPENNY
THATSBESIDETHEPOINT
BATSUITSATOMPETRA
PREHISTORICPERIODS
ECHOESKENAIDSLSU
BRATSAYJARSCLAM
BUYSBYTHEPOUNDNOHELP
REAMRUSKCOHERE
WRITTENINTHESTARS
LOONIECOCATIER
SERVESDINESANDDASHES
TALEDISSBAEPOSH
ENDACNEOREDRENCH
POSTGRADUATEDEGREE
NEHRUSLOPNOSEDIVE
READBETWEENTHELINES
GRINDASIAAEIOUEDIT
OBESEGAMYTERMSSINE
VISASSUESDEESTAYE

Simeon Seigel, of Brooklyn, is a partner at The Turett Collaborative, an architecture and design firm in New York City.

He sees a similarity between his professional work and crossword constructing: "They're both about finding creative ways to work with and around a litany of practical constraints, rules and conventions to create something unexpected and beautiful."

Sun 3/23/2025 Where'd You Go?
PERTHAIDAADDSCALDS
OPERASMELLIERTAKEIT
RESISTTHEMERGEARCADE
TEESHOOTATEARNSVAN
STALERTERRAFEST
MENSOLVEDMYSTERIES
ESAITIERSTALENT
MENDERLINESGOALIE
OATLEASTDODCOWBOY
TIDIESSEAGODTIARA
OTTOFINESTHOMERFRAY
PLANEKENNELCOSIGN
SEXILEABSSPOOLAGE
CANARYVOTERFRAMED
POETICOOZESLEST
NAILEDTHEDISMOMENT
ONLYOAREDOTOOLE
MOWFARROINVERTSAMP
APEROLITSNOTYOUITSME
ALLEGEBIGGREENEASYA
MYLOSSOCTANDSROOST

Andrew Colin Kirk was born and raised on a cattle farm in Scott City, western Kansas. For 15 years he worked as a management consultant for federal agencies in D.C. Unfortunately, he was laid off recently.

On a positive note, he and his husband are in the process of moving to Denver. "We're looking forward to getting the Times's puzzles digitally at 8:00 p.m. instead of 10:00," Andy says. This is his first crossword for the paper.

Sun 3/16/2025 Have It Both Ways
BLUEDAPBSSCOMPANY
RONDELAGEESTUDIOFEE
ARSENIOHALLFREEZEOUT
ICEMILKSGENOAREI
DATAMDANICAPHANGERS
TOUTEDALIA
ORANGEPGMSELIOTNESS
RETAILERSSNIFFDANE
GYMBOREEPLAYSATATON
TOLDREFITGLOWS
BEAUTYSTENETFCOFFEE
AMINOBEETSHALO
DISHDOESNOTACIDTABS
ALLAURALSADENOIDAL
TEENDRAMASUNDTHEDAY
DEANSIENNA
PASSINGNDETECTCAMPF
ACEOSAKACALAMARI
PEACHPITSSPEEDSKATER
ALLBETTERTENSDENISE
WASDEADSODDSSANSS

Paul Coulter is a retired biology professor in Glassboro, N.J. He got into puzzles through cryptic crosswords, which he set for British audiences, eventually turning to American-style crosswords in 2014. This is his seventh puzzle for The Times.

When he's not teaching or making puzzles, Paul is writing novels — 50 so far, none of which have been published. He laments, "I wonder if that's a record for futility."

Sun 3/9/2025 Extra! Extra!
IDASHADLGBTCRISPUP
CELCOSAERIEHOTLINE
OVEREASYTITANICSINKS
NIXONRESIGNSALCAPONE
SLATESHOOSADIOSTOT
RESINANIHOSTA
DEWEYDEFEATSTRUMAN
AVONGETPOKENAMIBIA
BIRDIESORSSTILETTOS
SENORUPICEVOLSUP
WALLSTLAYSANEGG
ABUOASSNEADAROMA
CASSANDRAILLFIREHAT
ESCAPEEVANEIONEMMA
FORDTOCITYDROPDEAD
OLMECWITAETNA
WOERAPIDPORCHRIPAT
LOLLYGAGHEADLESSBODY
INTOPLESSBARAWCOMEON
SEETHESECCERIANMBA
HYDRATECUEDENDSSON

Michael Schlossberg is an internist and self-described "history nerd" in Bend, Ore. "Most of what I read," he says, "is historical fiction or nonfiction."

This is Michael's 14th crossword for The Times, which he was inspired to construct after reading an article that mentioned 39-Across. His favorite answers here are the combined 113- and 115-Across, which are an all-time classic of their genre.

Sun 3/2/2025 Rainbow Connection
BUGTHATSNOSHADESHO
ASABOOERSOPIATESIAN
NOSARTSANDLETTERSESE
APSTIPINJACOBINGAT
NETHEORSHENANPREGO
ANAPESTMADEMENGALLON
TADSIRMOODDIS
IBISGRATEASUSANTS
ROOTREFMANETRYEIPA
OWNAPEGAYFEMNANA
NSFWPOTMETSABAECIG
YEOHPSYALECOTEMO
ROYALEGRIDSTRESTAN
DILIMAIMTWINSEELY
SINOMNIEOSURL
TAPINGTEETHERCANTEEN
ORATEPOMADDFUELSRI
TEXCORONASPLANECON
ATTINSIDETHELINESODE
LOODESSERTLANDISPER
SONSTETSONMYGODEDS

Adam Wagner, of Oakland, Calif., is a creative lead at Patreon, the crowdfunding site for content creators. In 2019 he won a $10,000 grand prize as a contestant on the Game Show Network's Best Ever Trivia Show.

This clever crossword, which is Adam's 22nd for The Times, doesn't focus on trivia, but the clues for 29-, 82-, 83-, 92- and 107-Across will all test your knowledge.

Sun 2/23/2025 In the Rearview
ECLATAPPLESPYSCRUM
SHEBAQUEERBAITORATE
QUICKTURNAROUNDBITTE
MADEWARACEPESTER
HISWHEREDIDIPARK
MAIDENRAIDMATIRA
ATRIAWINGITHASPLOT
LOOKTHEOTHERWAYCASTS
ANNEARTSAHIAIR
REISSUESFEDERALGRANT
IREONOMONEYCANRIO
ASSBACKWARDSITSAFACT
MPHISMLOINIBET
SKEWSIMHAPPYTOOBLIGE
PALSTSPTOUCANRECUR
UTEGELONESMEDAYS
REVERSECOURSECOW
IBEXESATLTOPCHEF
OUNCESCOTCHTAPEROLLS
USTEDHAWAIIANSESSAY
SHYLYHONSPOKEWEANS

Daniel Grinberg, of Philadelphia, researches user experience for an energy company. Rafael Musa, of San Francisco, is a software engineer at Airbnb. They met last year at a crossword tournament and hit it off.

This is Daniel's seventh crossword for The Times and Rafael's 16th. Most of Rafael's puzzles here have been collaborations. He says co-constructing "is a great way to get to know someone."

Sun 2/16/2025 Square to Begin
SPREECOGLABELPADMA
AIARTHOIPOLLOIAHEAD
SQUEALOFFORTUNECOEDS
SUNSACWISESKYPE
YECHTUBASHOMESFBI
SHUTTLESPROWARTRAP
GREATSQUALLOFCHINA
TWEESOURCESLEEKS
ARALSEARISESBRAID
HOLYSQUATTERMOONROCK
APRURNSOURSROO
SEUSSIANPLEDGESQUEAK
SEEPSBUILDDIABOLO
MAMMAAIRNESSTOSS
SQUIRRELLEDCAPITAL
RUSSVIAGRAREVERTED
PATPENNEDECONSRIS
TASERPRAYROCONE
TICKSSQUAWKAFINELINE
ACHOOHUMBLEPIELACED
USERSHOPESPBSSOARS

John Kugelman, of Gainesville, Va., is a software engineer and musician. Remarkably, this is his seventh Sunday Times crossword since January last year — by far the most of any contributor.

"All the time and creative energy I used to pour into music," he says, "now goes to crosswords. I used to spend my nights writing music. Now it's all crosswords, all the time. It seems to scratch the same itch."

Sun 2/9/2025 What's It All About?
CLADDABSPYENTOMB
OAHUNOAHORESLEADER
SPECIALREQUESTATTILA
MEATSBLURMOETTOOT
OLDSAWSMANUALRECOUNT
YAKSDOMAINLOSS
ATMSGILATAMOTOE
SHOWREMORSEROADIES
PALEOGEODEBUNKMOO
STEEPLEALOOGOBIHIND
SPEECHRECOGNITION
TSKSSHOULDWEKETTLES
LEISTINGYODEERODE
CANTEENSPOTREMOVER
HERACELNCAADENT
CHAICHASERHIVE
CHAINREACTIONLETSEAT
HURLOATHGAELTILDE
ARMANIHIGHRESOLUTION
IRONEDANTEDAREETRE
RONDOSGODTBSSENT

Rich Katz, of Park City, Utah, does freelance work in corporate restructuring and bankruptcy liquidations. Jeff Chen, of Seattle, is a professional puzzlemaker and editor who's a frequent contributor here.

This puzzle started when one of them noticed the double entendre at 86-Across. They thought 116-Across made a nice exclamation point to the theme set.

Sun 2/2/2025 Two-For-One Special
MARTSAYPRADAHAWK
ARIASPREEDOGESAMIE
RACHEWEISZBUICKMANY
STOOLIEMRMAGOOCARED
MMMDVARCHUTERI
ALFASCOGSHADEESTAS
RELTROLLEDGEMDITCH
ETASOPTIMAESPYTOK
ATTICADISSCOOKS
METRONOMEHOMERUNBAO
ARENONEOFCANINEEMP
PAYGITANOSSTATENAME
JASONELECUSEDON
CIAEASTINABARTONI
LONGOSTACDRACKSLIN
ENSUETORMEANOUFLAG
AVIANTARPGUMMI
PEDROBANDSAWSAMEOLD
TREKPOKERTASTMASTER
OGREELISEERNIATINA
NESSGLOSSDOCASST

Derrick Niederman, of Charleston, S.C., recently retired from the mathematics department at the College of Charleston, is the author of numerous books, including "Math Puzzles for the Clever Mind," "Number Freak: A Mathematical Compendium From 1 to 200" and a mystery novel, "A Killing on Wall Street."

This is his 14th crossword for The Times (all Sundays), going back to 1983.

Sun 1/26/2025 Letter Openers
TGIFINCASTAKEMAAM
MADEATOASTROSIEICEE
CLEARASMUDANYTOWNUSA
EARCLIPJOLTHITON
AILEATAWAYADEPT
ARDENCYRIASCI
LEONEODDSBACKSTAB
EXESDIODELARGESCALE
SUZANNEMIRRENSLAT
STAREDATEELSEWKIR
TASERWORKGROUPELENA
RIOOSHANANOBRADAY
ACLSOILGUNSITREPS
WHITEFLOURNOTSOTHAW
SIDESTEPLEANMOORE
RCACIOTRAPPED
APNEAGIVEOFFHUT
DROOPIDEMORDERED
ROSSELLINIHAVEEYESON
EPEEADOUTSTEALSUPON
PSSTDAMSNERDYPYRE

Rich Proulx (pronounced "proo") of Berkeley, Calif., works for the Food and Nutrition Service of the U.S.D.A. This is his ninth crossword for The Times since 2017, and his first Sunday.

For this puzzle he originally wanted the images to appear in circles in the grid, but those proved too small to make out. So he revamped the puzzle and placed them in the clues instead.

Sun 1/19/2025 Word Problems
MENSSPUDASSAMSKIN
IMOKKAROFROYOUTILE
DIVISIONOFLABORSALON
GRADUALFAAPREMISE
ESCPRODUCTOFTHETIMES
AGEEESECEONONA
UMNOAIMSETTLEANT
FACTSROOTCAUSEJAM
COYOTESDARNSTAGSALE
OILPILEMUSICROW
DIFFERENCEOFOPINION
FINALCUTNGOSAGA
IMARETSCHEERONETERM
REPSQUAREDUPRISKS
SACCOURTSSISCOOS
SHOEIVEMGMHEAT
INTEGRATEDCIRCUITELI
MOLERATESOMETERED
ARISEADDEDCOMPLEXITY
CAFESRAITAVIEDECOL
SHEDINNERENDSCANS

Emily Sharp, of San Jose, Calif., is an ecologist who does habitat restoration and environmental education. Her partner, Kunal Nabar, is a software engineer in Brooklyn.

They met when they lived next-door to each other during their freshman year at Vanderbilt. Together they brainstormed this puzzle's theme answers during a road trip through Oregon last summer.

Sun 1/12/2025 I Think Knot
MEHCAMANGSTADSCPA
ALIBABASORERPITCREW
MODELUNASONEEYEROLL
ANDALSONEWTSDEVISES
ERIECATTISHRIBS
CNNTSAROHMAPSESTU
VOWSMUSTREADSQTIP
SLIPSUPFAINTINRUINS
ORALSJOINTEDABETS
SECRETELGSDENIECE
ESEALEEARNHL
TATTLEDSAYSIDO
STENOOLEMISSLOFTS
AMULETSSPINYAIRCOOL
LONEWOLFOMGPLAYABLE
AGESALLTIEDUPRYES
COOTIESSURECAN
BARORDERSNINELIVES
TAIPEITICTACSLOVETO
URGEONYOGAMATTHANOS
PASSNIXONALAN

Jeffrey Martinovic is a mechanical engineering student at Western University, in London, Ontario. He's been solving crosswords since he was 10, helping his mother with the puzzle in the local paper.

He was fascinated by the seemingly impossible across-and-down interlocks. He's been constructing puzzles since high school. "The idea for this one came to me when I was lying in bed one night unable to fall asleep," Jeffrey says, "I figured I may as well do something useful and let my mind wander."

Sun 1/5/2025 All Things Change
STRIFEALIBABASLASH
HAIREXTCAMAROSCAMEO
IMPALASEGOTRIPHYPER
APETRIADSPANBOOERS
HIMOMBUYGETOFREE
SAFETYNETUPSNERFED
OVALSNELLETAS
REBIDSROBOTARMODES
TRFOUNTAINBARESITALL
CAINSODMOMOA
TAKEAPENNYLEAVEAPENNY
AFOOTOOOALGA
TANNINGBEDNICKELBACK
ERASARTSALONSEATAC
PDASODORSRIGA
SPIRITBIBNOQUARTER
TURNONADIMECURLY
AVIATEESPBBKINGCUP
RAMBOATTABOYRIOTACT
TRAINPERCENTENROLLS
SILTSPROTEGEGETMAD

Kareem Ayas is a high school teacher of English Literature and Film Studies in Harlem. He grew up in Syria and Lebanon, moved to the U.S. in 2014, and started solving the Times crossword with co-workers during lunch break. Soon his puzzle habit led to constructing.

Kareem says he gets his best theme ideas "as I walk my dog at midnight while listening to Duran Duran." Keep your thinking cap on because he adds: "More often than not, I start with the question ‘What crossword rules can I break?'"

Sun 12/29/2024 Multi-Hyphenates
UNTOCLOAKLAGBAWL
HOOPFARGOIGERALPHA
----WORKERPETEHOPES
UNDERDINE----CHARTS
HOODEDNDAROGUETOTO
SETANTELOPEEVES
KETTLESPADLADED
TAMILSURGEDCMON
ALONETREADPHUATM
----DRIVESTRISHHASH
DEPPEMILEVENTIINTO
ALOOMOVES----DANCES
PTANEDAMOURTAINT
LAYSFRAPPETINTS
MOYERBOGSAFARIS
DIREUPARROWSDEC
ODESBESETIONWHARFS
----BACKERSNAGETHAN
RAIMIOOZEDASHEDLINE
AIDEDSUESOTTERANTE
GRANTDSMAYERSOAR

Harry Zheng, of Carmel, Ind., is a second-year student at Purdue University majoring in computer science, math and physics. This is his second crossword for The Times.

During high school, when Harry started submitting puzzles to the paper, his economics teacher said if Harry got one in, he'd frame it and hang it in the classroom. The teacher made good on his promise.

Sun 12/22/2024 Go With the Flow
DEADLIESTCATCHCPUS
EXPRESSCHECKOUTAINT
PERISHTHETHOUGHTPELE
TTOPSENSUEPORESTRIP
HENSFLOESSEAPORT
SRSBOLOSTSPERASE
HEWEDSHOESJRS
JELLLITEBRITESFTW
COALBETATESTERROAR
LOGRIDESHAPINKBERRY
ACTSNORMALDINNERDATE
TORTILLASFIRIRONBAR
TAOSLIFESAVERSCOIN
ESTVANITYCASEHOST
MIRAUNTSASIDE
PARTBPCSCREPEMOM
BELARUSBASESFORA
LAWCLERKSMOVEDGRAIL
OTTOEQUATORIALGUINEA
SHELALTERNATEENDING
TERMLETTERSTOSANTA

Adrian Johnson, from Laramie, Wyo., is currently a substitute teacher in Knox County, Tenn., where he is affectionately known as "Mr. A.J." He sold his first crossword to The Times three years ago when he was 21. This is his ninth puzzle for the paper — and the seventh one that is unthemed (his favorite type of crossword to make).

Puzzles like this are built on the interlock of long, colorful answers throughout the grid. Many, like 1-, 27-, and 91-Across here, are making their Times debut.

Sun 12/15/2024 Art Heist
TACTICSMONETSWAP
RADISHESPOTASHKAHLO
EASTEANDARDTIMEORION
INFSLOERECOGLED
SLATESELLSGNKEES
BUENOSAIRESINAUSN
ATAALOTSLALOMTELE
TUNATONTOLILLEBOD
ERNSTNIELSFAIRWONT
SEAHAGAXLEDHOOKUNGE
ORELTITERSUET
FROMOTENEAGERSMOCTS
LAMESHAMTAPESSNOOP
AVAWADUPSLANGGOYA
MIROIRISEDOVERKMS
KOSREGISTEREDDIET
STEAMNSTATDARIEN
DARESUMACRESTIA
ALIFEMARYHADTTLELAMB
LEAFSBITTENPOISONER
ISLESLEDSMETGALA

David Kwong is a magician and crossword constructor in Los Angeles. He was the head magic consultant on the 2013 heist film Now You See Me and has consulted on magic and puzzles for many other films and TV shows. He wrote his honors thesis at Harvard on the history of Eastern magicians and their impersonators.

David's new children's book of magic tricks, How to Fool Your Parents, is in bookstores everywhere.

Sun 12/8/2024 Just for Fun
PUSHPOPMADAMATOOFAR
ASYOUDOORATORARCANA
COMPLIMENTSFORFISHING
PELEWISHCALLONIT
ZAHNMESPOKYTKO
ALOOPFORTHROWINGSOAP
PONTIACSEAUSTOLAF
STYNTHGRIFTLOCHTE
POSITIONFORJOCKEYS
GSPOTERSETHICSAPT
OORTLANATOGOTREE
UNELEDOFFPENSITAR
DISASTERFORARECIPE
ACTSASERIESLAOPOE
OUTGUNUNALEGOLAND
ORCSONESMONEYFORARUN
NIHJAYSTNTMESA
STANPARDIMEDECON
PUNISHMENTFORAGLUTTON
EAGLEDSEASONPARTAKE
CLOSESTYRONEANDALSO

John Kugelman, of Gainesville, Va., is a software engineer and musician. When he isn't making puzzles, John likes to spend his time off rock climbing and attending weekly trivia competitions with his dad, sister and niece.

Despite what you might think, he laments that "being good at crosswords means jack squat on trivia night." Still, he's holding out hope: "One of these weeks, they'll have a Yoko Ono-Brian Eno round, and we'll show them all!"

Sun 12/1/2024 Drive Around the Block
BUSSDIPSILASMISCHA
OHIOADAMSMITHUNCLOG
SURFACESCRATCHSERENE
CHITCHATSWHOSTREAKS
PEALEWAGBEATEN
ADDEDSLOWROLLINGSPF
LOUDPEEWEEGATHER
DUMASTBSDESSEETO
APPLEPIEICEDOCSECS
ERSTICEMSUSTAT
SIGNPOSTICEOUTLASTS
IDLEBUYICENEUE
LOONEERICEEMPERORS
ANSELSITDYEROBOT
GOSSIPZSAZSAYETI
ETEFROZENASSETLAYER
SPEEDODMSBASAL
ROOSTEDORBSOUTHBEND
INVAINSMOOTHOPERATOR
FEELMERAINMAKERLAVA
FARMEDINDICSSNLSAT

John Lieb is a high school mathematics teacher and football/baseball coach living in Boston, Mass. He is also the co-director of Boswords, a series of in-person and online crossword puzzle tournaments.

This is his first Sunday for the Times. He is particularly proud of his fresh clues for crossword staples, such as at 122-Across, 3-Down and 111-Down.

Sun 11/24/2024 Shape Up or Ship Out
REFSFINEMALLOPER
UVEAIRANJOLIEBRAVA
BEEFADOBOORANGAGLET
LEMONSCBASKETBALLS
DAISYHISSNAAN
INNTIERDASCDDRIVE
EGGAMNESICIRAZAPF
HENNOTALOTBARKEEPER
ALUMIDOLOMGYESEEO
ROMANRETELLSRID
DUBLINERCIDBARGESIN
ETASTEADEDNECCO
ALAENSUESSUSSDIET
SUBTRACTSFTMEADESHE
KNEEHEHLIBELERSOL
ADMIRESJAMNEINOLE
PRAMEVEREGRET
SEALOFAPPROCOMESAC
TEXANTUDORCHESTBUMP
UNITYIMAMSAHASOTTO
NYSECASERINORSVP

Alex Eaton-Salners, of Lake Forest, Calif., works as an in-house attorney for a technology company.

In addition to making crosswords, he is a prolific variety puzzle-maker for the Times, including the Puns and Anagrams found in this issue (solve, solution, print, collaborate) He also invents new puzzle types, such as Hop Cross Fun (print, solution), which ran in the Magazine on 9/15.

"I like to stretch my limits with different constructing experiences," he says.

Sun 11/17/2024 Nothing But Blue Skies
WEBBVICEVERSATILL
AWOLMACARONIARTAGUA
REDOUPUPANDAWAYKERI
DRYWINEBSMETER
SLINGARIGATOMUTTS
ANSSMALLTOWNSHH
SNITHOMEALONETEAS
COGNATEANNALWASHTUB
ABUTACEEDSHBOIAGO
LEAHTAROBOILGLAM
LIGERTINYHOUSESHORE
STEWIEEMAILMEMARTYR
INREELVESBOGO
SHINDIGSLESGETSATAN
TENDVOLTJOSTDALE
ARKHOTAIRBALLOONPLS
NEWDOPLAYGODAUDIS
WEELASSBRAMINIVAN
HELLYEAHANTIDARENOT
UGLIONOTEENESACNE
BOSSNETEATSEED

Rebecca Goldstein is a research scientist living in the Bay Area with her partner Ariela Perlman, an educational therapist.

This is Rebecca's 18th puzzle for the Times, and Ariela's first. Ariela set Rebecca down the path of crossword constructing back in May of 2020, when she (strongly) suggested Rebecca find a hobby to fill her newly-found free time. This puzzle's theme was inspired by a surprise 40th birthday gift from Ariela.

Sun 11/10/2024 From Start to Finish
LGBTHOWTOSTOPSFOB
EERIEALARMOHWOWUNO
STANDARDSUBPENSIVEEX
MANAGEDMICROWESTELM
ITAARTEKENMORESLOB
ZIGROOEARSPINE
PHILPENULTIMATEANTE
MEWLOTIONRONEHS
GRADEALUANNWROTE
RACYWEIGHTWIIILOSE
AFRICANPANSOLVINGDIS
STENOESTMTNDEWROMP
GLARECARTAICERUN
AUKMSGSHREDSNRC
APOCALYPTICPOSTOOPS
ASWANHARHRSOTS
STANYESBABEARESPAP
ALTTEXTCOMPLETEAUTO
VISIONPROHEATEDSUPER
IRKSTEINRECAPTRAIT
PSIHELPSSTORMADDY

Sam Ezersky, of Buffalo, N.Y., has worked for The Times Games team since 2017. He is the editor of Spelling Bee, Letter Boxed and the Mini crossword.

Sam keeps a running list of crossword ideas on his iPhone's Notes app; today's puzzle, his eighth Sunday, was inspired by the find at 23-Across, though it took months to cobble together a complete set.

Sun 11/3/2024 Can I Have a Raise?
GLUCOSEBELUGASFEAST
RUMBALLOPENAIRRASTA
ALASKAPENINSULAETHOS
BLMSLANGTAGNOONE
SIBOSSOTIEONCURED
AMMOGODDAUGHTER
ABRAIAMSTEP
FREQUENCYSHIFTTRISHA
IRAIRULEAMAUSEDCAR
BETSADOUDDERSORTS
SEALGUTENBERGSLED
STAGEEDICTRIPSWAM
RESENTSTHECANOEINA
ODESSAMOODCONGRUENCE
FLOEBODRAGE
CIVICMINDEDODOR
PANELGRAINELLYSOB
INSETGTADIDNTPEP
STORESWITCHEDPARTIES
ABLERKILOTONAMOUNTS
NEEDSAMASSESLONGEST

Sid Sivakumar is an M.D./Ph.D. student at Washington University in St. Louis, training in biomedical engineering and neuroscience. This is his 18th puzzle for the Times.

His 19th will be the upcoming Super Mega crossword in the 2024 edition of Puzzle Mania, our annual print-only games section. At 50 squares by 50 squares, it took a month to make and has over 700 answers.

Sun 10/27/2024 Working the Night Shift
SATSALPSETTUWASH
KARATROUNDTRIPLATHE
IRISHAUTOLOANSUNBOX
DOASETOWINGOCTAVE
SNLBRIEFSBINARYTED
GOINGFULLCIRCLE
WARSONGIOUEMAILED
BADASSPATTERNSUBLET
ARODHABATMREFI
WIRESINLANDSEASUNIN
LONDOEREARTHKEMSABE
ONESHASMEMO
MICRODOTBRITCHES
LANAIGUESTHOSTHAYES
ICANTGOYAHOOMSEMEAT
NADIYAYETEDIBLE
ERINHONEYMSUITELATE
DOTESLYMEEMMEELLEN
OOHITSJUSTAPHASELAB
UNETREETATIMINIMO
TSRHINTOPSTORYTSK

Jeffrey Martinovic is a mechanical engineering student at Western University in London, Ontario. Jeff Chen, of Seattle, is a writer and longtime Times crossword contributor.

They brainstormed puzzle ideas and entries over email, and nearly three months, 200 messages and 100 grid versions later, submitted the artful puzzle here. The theme is neatly explained at 111-Across.

Sun 10/20/2024 Triple Features
EGADRAGUFINISUPSET
BALIINONEVOKEKAPPA
BIGGIANTMONSTERELLIS
STATSAWARDOBESMICK
HIEINCNANOBOT
WITNESSALIENARRIVAL
ACHSIREABBAEULOGY
POEJAIRAIMILSTTEE
HANCOCKSIGNSTHEPAPER
ITCHYCLUEAIOLI
DIEUSTOLEMIDSTLOST
RAOULTACOKAFKA
TANGLEDFROZENTRAFFIC
TAZEDSRAREROUTDEI
ALUMNAPESTINSCART
WIREDSLEEPERSMISERY
EMAILEROERERA
CABOSARABOXESNYETS
ALLINMANHATTANHOOKUP
YOUREAGGIEEDIELENA
STEEDSEEDSTYPEADAM

Jerry Miccolis is a retired actuary and financial executive who splits his time between the Garden State (Basking Ridge, N.J.) and the Garden Isle (Kauai, Hawaii). He spends his days as a playwright, math tutor, softball player and volunteer with NASA's Solar System Ambassador program.

This puzzle's theme riffs on the same idea as his New York Times debut, Double Features, published on July 17, 2016.

Sun 10/13/2024 Manual Dexterity
IDOLSEROSMARCWARPS
DIDOKGUSTALOUAVERT
KNOWINGTHESCOREDECOR
ORLEANAVATYCONONE
ADHOCEARACTUATE
GOONGOINGOVERTHETOP
AMIDSTRNSTINDER
SNLLOAFSCASTEBET
PICKINGUPSTEAMSERENE
HIPTOOEUVRESALIT
SWANSONGRBILIMORIDE
OINKYAYTEAMNOFEE
DIGSUPLEARNINGCURVES
AGENAILSCASKSEVA
LINENSERGSEAMEN
GETTINGYOURGOATSEND
ORBITERMOOTRESS
BOILDATAITOAMOUNT
LILTSTACKLINGDUMMIES
ECLATECHOSUPEMETRO
TASTYSKYSTSAREDENS

Gary Larson is a retired standup comedian from Edmonds, Wash. Doug Peterson is a professional crossword constructor from Pasadena, Calif.

Neither is the creator of The Far Side nor head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars. However, they will consider pretending to be if it means a better table at a restaurant.

Sun 10/6/2024 Teacher's Marks
SLEPTINMADAMEXAOK
UPANDATEMONENAMEBYE
DONTQUOTEMEONTHISLSD
ORDSMIASEALLETS
NTHBONANZASLIPASE
YOURMONEYSNOGOODHERE
NOAHPOORARABY
HALTWHOGOESTHEREMAE
SHEENANBASWEARJARS
NAANSUITESSCIONS
DONTSTARTWITHME
AMELIETREADSWARE
CRUDENESSILLFLAMES
OTSALLYOUNEEDISLOVE
MCCOOUNPCOLAS
PULLYOURSELFTOGETHER
REDSUNCALIPERSNAP
FACEICESAMIALIA
ETAYOUCANTWINTHEMALL
NORAURORAEDEMONICAL
DRSPILLAGESINGLET

John Kugelman, of Gainesville, Va., is a software engineer and musician.

He dedicates this puzzle to his sister Julie Buffington, a.k.a. "Mrs. B," a second-grade teacher at nearby Haymarket Elementary. For authenticity, she provided all of the red pen marks in this puzzle's original submission

Sun 9/29/2024 The Ayes Have It
CATCAFEUNCAGEZESTS
ADASTRASEASONPANERA
CORNIERSTORIESUNSEAL
ARGYLEWEPTRUGBYWVA
ONETWEENERSEELSHED
STPIDATIRADEIDEALS
SAFARIPOLCENTS
WIRYSIMILEPHARAOH
HOHOSNIXSOUSARAG
ANAPESTUPDOLSDAPED
LIPSTEAMIERCLAIMPOO
EASEAERREBADOOMERS
NOGGUISEEREBINGE
DRIPPANTAXIBIASES
HYENAIDSTUMULT
WAITERMETIERDOTAPP
HUNSTOPGREWINTOOOF
ALBKIWISRIANOPTIMA
TALKIEPLIANTGENIUSES
IGUESSEARNITSUNBELT
FEELSNYLONSSPEEDOS

Joe Deeney, who lives in Melrose, Mass., just north of Boston, has spent his career in supply-chain logistics.

This puzzle's theme idea has been on his list for years, but it took sorting through nearly 20,000 word transformations to find enough suitable examples. He likes starting 1-Across with a fun clue/answer pairing — it should "set the right tone for the rest of the puzzle" — and was happy to do so here.

Sun 9/22/2024 Breakout Performance
BATHERUMPSSSNSTODATE
UPHEREKEEPSOPENIRONED
SLEWEDUTTERFOOLMANDMS
TOSSEELEXITSHERTYPE
SMHBMXERSEMOPOPDOL
BADAPPLEPUTASABONUS
WONTESCAPEACTBEEF
FISHFINTORNADOHITARUT
UGHFOOTSPAMENSANSENO
SLAVNWAACRESIMSPSST
SONICARTHOVEMUWANES
OKTOYOUTUBECLIPALEE
AMCTNUTNASASTE
SAFEPASSAGETRENCHCOATS
ERRUNOHAHGOP
POORTASTEDOEASIFICARE
TUNNELOUTINDDUCTTAPED
ENDSSOFARUNACHEBEAU
TDSTNTTSAKIDSTP

Jeremy Newton, of Austin, Tex., works as an engineering manager for a mobile game company. Tracy Gray, of Hunt Valley, Md., is recently retired from the lawn and landscaping business.

They found that coming up with suitable answers to complete the interlocking shaded squares was the most satisfying part of making this puzzle, as well as the most difficult and time-consuming.

Sun 9/15/2024 One for the Books
ADLIBCHIMPNESGAS
CROCETRACESROLLHUT
HIGHFIDELITYOHIOOSE
EVAONSALEFOODWASTE
SENTRAMERRIAMWEBSTER
HERBERRSUSERS
NCAAEELGEARSTRIDE
THEWEALTHOFNATIONS
HIRERTEEDHITSTIPS
CODASMILALASTSTOP
SOSTHEGIVINGTREESKY
PROFORMAALOEDANAE
AYLAIBISDREWROLFE
NINETEENEIGHTYFOUR
RADNEREWESGOOETNA
LEMONSTEMAPSE
AGAMEOFTHRONESTASSEL
CASSEROLEERASESMRI
ETSDAREFRANKENSTEIN
UTEOTTOOBRIENENACT
PADFEHRISESSTRAY

Aimee Lucido, of Irvington, N.Y., is a children's author. Her third book, Pasta Pasta Lotsa Pasta, came out in July.

Puzzles and children's books are "both ways to stretch out language," she says. "They're about using every sentence, every word, every letter to its absolute fullest". Having two related hobbies comes in handy: "I definitely use puzzles to procrastinate writing, and writing to procrastinate puzzles!".

Sun 9/8/2024 Life Milestones
WHAPSADSLOGANPAPAYA
HENRICOPAPLEAENAMEL
ADDONAMATEURSTANDING
TOOTSRODEOIPAD
INRESUCKYSTONEPIT
FIRSTINCLASSEIDDANO
CATEGORYLLAMABRER
VANDRIVINGCRAZY
TWOPUREDASAAAS
PRATTAGAVECPRIUD
GIVEITTHEOLCOLLEGETRY
AMYMEHMONAEOXIDE
AMIRAIMROOFACU
BARADMISSIONINS
YURTCORFUVHSTAPES
OTOHDENFINISHTHEJOB
BOWLGAMEANNOYREPO
ELIABOOTYMACHU
CENTENNIALSTATEATTIC
ORIENTSMILESATYEESH
DRESSYPANORAMAADDME

Meghan Morris is an appellate public defender living in Denver (found in the 110-Across!).

A mother of twin second-graders, this puzzle's theme of milestones is often on her mind. One recent parenting challenge — the "turf war" over who gets to do Wordle on her phone. "I try to take deep breaths and let go of my need to use my regular starting word when I see them typing in something else"

Sun 9/1/2024 Product Integration
IMSAVEDSHOWSAMBAR
SNOWTIREMARIECLAIRE
SHAREACABFINANCIALAID
TASTERTORTILLASET
EKETIASREEFERRSHED
PAC34WAILSASDOILGA
74DAYSHAILSONFOOT
JPEGJKSIMMONSDANTE
ORNURSETBALLSTAIN
CORNSSTANAHOYMATEY
KVASSFOR58WINKSAXES
SEGACLOUD33AGEESPNU
DELEGATEEHEWSATONE
UNITYFLORACRUISED
SLATSLOTUSTREECEDE
CAMEOSTIGERHANG52
ANYRVLOTGNATS42BIT
BEARUGGSKYYSEEPEMO
DOABOTTOMUPMERLOT
STARPITCHERSFAKENAILS
TIMESSQUAREFLINCHED
YESMOMPINATANDEMS

Chandi Deitmer, of Cambridge, Mass., writes puzzles for Elevate Labs, a brain-training app. Matthew Stock, of Gainesville, Fla., is a master's student in school counseling.

As fellow math lovers, this puzzle's theme is a tribute to all of the math teachers they've had who inspired their curiosity and love of learning.

Sun 8/25/2024 Is There an Echo in Here?
UNDRESSESMAJORSIN
PARISTEXASTIMELAPSE
DOUBLECLICKSECONDMATE
OHMSRADIOSPEAKCOD
ALEXDEEDKITE
ITSABETEBILLEYEMASKS
RAPDUOONEAFTERANOTHER
ALISTCLONKUMPSOPT
NORPOLASFARASOUTTA
NIGHTBIRDIPOOHH
THISBEARSREPEATING
ENDNYURAGEROOMS
BASEDLEGLIFTAROICE
ACTAIDEOUTDOIFNOT
THEMUMMYRETURNSALLOWS
HEARTIESVALETCLEARLY
DIEDCENTMATS
ELISTARKILLERGASP
BACKUPCOPYPAIROFPANTS
BRAINDUMPMALLSANTAS
SAMADAMSRESURGENT

John Kugelman, of Gainesville, Va., is a software engineer and musician.

His puzzles often have a playful sense of humor to them, a style he attributes to his crossword constructing "North Star," the great Patrick Berry. About Patrick, he writes "He doesn't have a flashy gimmick behind every puzzle; it's just how well he pulls off the simple themes." This puzzle likewise has a simple concept, pulled off quite cleverly.

Sun 8/18/2024 For Your Amusement
CARDBASALCLANGASST
AGARULTRAOSCARRACE
SUMOROOMYBUMPERCARS
HAPPYNEWYEARESTARAT
TASRNAACTIN
MOMAEASTHAMYENTE
DOWAGERSYESESNEON
LOSEHEARTPARSECANNE
ACCRASOUAHATRON
SKADELTOROEATERS
SETROLLERCOASTERNOT
IDOTOORESPAWNNAE
HOWLEELACESWEDE
WANEOILERSCHESTHAIR
PAINPEONYHATERADE
MATCHSTYUBERMICS
TREESPSIOVA
SEARUGSRESETTLEMENT
WATERSLIDEMAORIOREO
AMENHALOSORGANLIMP
PSSTIDLESLLAMAENOS

Rebecca Goldstein is a research scientist living in Albany, Calif. Her co-constructor, Will Nediger, is a professional crossword constructor based in London, Ontario.

They connected over DMs, and after settling on this idea, went through countless iterations to achieve the cleanest fill. Both love Sunday themes like this one — Will likened it to "a charcuterie plate where there's a little bit of everything."

Sun 8/11/2024 Take the El Train
ASPIRESIRAQILOGSON
LOITERERBENTOUTOPIA
EXCHANGEWEDDINGVOWELS
KILAVERTPEANEET
PANTYELIASISEDRY
PACKYOURBAGELSANDGO
ETAGREYROEAGO
AIRHEADPEELERREVIEW
RODINUSURPANILSRO
GDSATEITDURANGO
WHATSPASTELISPAST
COASTALSOLARSIT
ARKRAILMOPEDDROWN
NOELFLYZONESITSALIE
EOEZOOAGEEIPO
DONTGETMADGETELEVEN
SPATSASTEAMNAMED
ARNOLETTEPIDMET
YOURDELAYSARENUMBERED
HUBCAPSPACEINADREAM
IDEALSYOLKSERASERS

Caryn Robbins is a retired editor living on the east end of Long Island with her husband and two Havanese dogs.

An avid lifelong solver, she discovered puzzle constructing during the pandemic through an online course. This theme came to her in the throes of planning her daughter's nuptials, inspiring the example at 23-Across. Her favorite theme clue is 38-Across, which paints a great mental picture.

Sun 8/4/2024 Weather, Man!
OHRATSMAITAISACSPA
MOOSHUENROLLADAPTER
SHOWERSLIKELYFERRARI
OMANATMLEASESORTA
NABSEBOYATCAMP
EYENOSEMOSTLYCLOUDY
TETONSGAWPRINSEPOE
HEAVYSNOWSTEVESNIDE
ISLEAILSAMATIALOT
CHIRRUPSELMONIM
ISOLATEDSPRINKLES
EONMADEDESKDUTY
SITEASCOTDALIABRA
CMERETOTESWINTRYMIX
AHADIANEYAWNVISINE
MORNINGFROSTGLADTIS
LETSEESTEWODES
MEOWSCROWEAGOALOU
USOTOURDAMAGINGWINDS
IASSUMEELIDESIAMTOO
RUETAWATCOSTTYSONS

Scott Hogan is a patent attorney in Michigan. Katie Hale, of London, is the assistant crossword editor for The L.A. Times. This is their third collaboration for the paper, all Sundays.

Scott pitched the idea for this one, and Katie helped flesh out the rest of the examples. Their joint favorite is 125-Across.

Sun 7/28/2024 The Big Five-O
BRAINCURNEGEVLYE
RINGBEARERCOLORWHEEL
OTTOMANSETSDOLLARSIGNS
WAITTAKETHEBAITJOSE
TOSSESRUNNESTEA
PRINTMAGICROBIN
BAAERSSIDEARMPENMAS
INNSETCHESLAALAACHIC
RAGAPAGESGIANTHULA
DREGSTIEBARLTDSONAR
SAWTOEPRELIMSAHAGRE
BAYOUOLIVEALERT
RENTFUELCELLSISAY
SEASONYEROVULAR
GNAWCARDSHOUSECAST
SILENTBAISLEADVANCE
PETCOOLYMPICFLAGONION
OCEANTIMEANDTIDEWATTS
TERNSPASSSYNESLATE

Paolo Pasco, of Brooklyn, is the Games editor for LinkedIn. He is the current national crossword champion after winning the 2024 American Crossword Puzzle Tournament. In that competition, he solved a 21x21 crossword (like the one here) in just under six minutes. [Today's is 19x23.]

This puzzle came together on a cross-country flight during which all his electronic devices were close to dead. He took out a blank sheet of paper and started sketching, resulting in the theme here.

Sun 7/21/2024 In My Defense ...
LOADSUPITISNTGABON
IZZATSODANUBEROTINI
NOTRUESCOTSMANUPTOIT
KNEEREOTEESBRUNO
SECCIRCULARREASONING
PHDONOSUMOECRU
SPREEPOWPOUTMII
CHERRYPICKINGSTIPEND
ROAMARCSEETINGE
ATMSHIEDCARSITE
POSTHOCERGOPROPTERHOC
ROOKEONYHEAREKE
SPLATGASMALGRAD
TOEPADSSLIPPERYSLOPE
OPTTUTSNAETUNIS
MUSHLAPSTSAMAG
APPEALTOAUTHORITYETS
BALSAITRYANDSLAT
MORDORLOGICALFALLACY
ROTUNDERENOWUNEATEN
SKYPERIDGESNAIVETE

John Ewbank is a scientific writer based in Macclesfield, England.

This is the rare example of a puzzle where writing the theme clues took a similar amount of time to making the grid. John would like to put it on record that people who don't like this puzzle smell bad (AD HOMINEM) and want to dumb down the crossword to the point where a 5-year-old could solve it (STRAW MAN).

Sun 7/14/2024 It Goes Both Ways
ALISTERINFORMFLU
REDTIDESCURACAOIAN
CDCASEDIVIDESACDCNUT
THYNOTICEDROZARO
VICIEELADORABLE
PACERSSELFLESSRECAP
LUAUSORESTUTU
ITEMCBSSOCIETYTEN
TIMTHINGYSTEED
SABREKLAUSACTCASUALK
OREIDAGARBOSMOKER
NARCINAPANICRANASIDE
OUTTASALOONTOM
OOFMETGALAARTDANE
PROMATARIMIDI
SEUSSIGNITINGISSUES
ORGANISTSAPACHE
ACLRUBAGITATEAIG
JOEIRISHSIDEDISHSIRI
ANAELUSIVESEAOTTER
REFLENSESSUNSETS

Jeff Chen is a professional crossword constructor from Seattle, WA. He is also the creator of Squeezy, a daily online word game.

This is his 42nd Sunday crossword for the Times.

Sun 7/7/2024 Double Digits
TALCTASTEITZAPBAT
IKEAECHIDNADECOEND
EATHUMBLEPIELIP
STYRENEINHDALMA
MADAMATOASTYALIAS
BLINDEXPERIMENTS
ABELRETAILSUSIE
PLUSHEASEL
KATEMIDDLETON
MEDINACAROUSETYPOS
LEDAOBSMAIOWSSISI
SPURTANTOINEIRONIC
SPARRINGPARTNER
YENTAGENIE
SODOISTREAKERMA
PINKYANDTHEBRAIN
FALSEERODESVAINLY
IRESSTAGTALENTS
ZEDFATFINGERSYNDROME
EMULILTBELIEFSEMIT
REPOLECLAMATOASIS

David Karp, of Victoria, British Columbia, works for the B.C. Ministry of Finance.

This puzzle was built around 107-Across, which makes its debut as an answer in the Times crossword. David was also happy to include 92-Across — in addition to neatly fitting this theme, it was one of his favorite shows as a kid.

Sun 6/30/2024 Misstated
BRAGTHEOSTATARBRB
FEELMORPHOMANILUAU
FLOORITDUHWANTSARMS
SYNTHCOSMISSISZIPPY
TYPOSMATSWOOD
TENASEADUDBALLERS
REELPLAITEDOREAGAIN
AROLETMEGOGITA
MINISODAOASESITSSAD
ESTATEINDIEANNAERA
OUTACTSTALER
ABSDELLAWARESABADO
COHEIRALIKEWHYOMING
HORNROSETEATKO
EYEDAHOEHEIGHTSACER
ADAMANTLEOHUHWHYE
NILECHADRAMEN
VERGEINYEAHTUTRIOJA
ISEEBEADSWHISKONSON
SPARUSMAPIONIAGLUT
ANDTSARSGUSTYSORE

Ginny Too, of Philadelphia, Pa., is a V.P. of customer retention at Comcast. She first started solving crosswords on the Appalachian Trail, sharing clues from a desk calendar with her hiking buddies. She has since completed the Pacific Crest Trail (Mexico to Canada), and Continental Divide Trail (Canada to Mexico), always with the Times crossword as a companion.

This puzzle was inspired by her father, whose love of silly puns spans English, Mandarin, and Taiwanese.

Sun 6/23/2024 Picture Day
ALGAPIAFPAWLTINSEL
HARPINCATRAILOLEOLE
AMERICANGOTHICPERMIT
AIDSEINECINDERS
INVOICENEARSPACEPOE
GUERNICAMAHERPITA
ATSIGNTHESTARRYNIGHT
CUTEYEMUEON
LEBANONREIDONSTAGE
ABATEINBUDTARTTROD
GIRLWITHAPEARLEARRING
EKETCELLADOBOINANE
REDHAIRPLOPOGLALAS
IKEWEERINSE
THEPERSISTENCETROPPO
WADSLIARSOFMEMORY
EPIAIRGUITARLEANTOS
REFORMSOCULILIT
KNIVESPAINTBYNUMBERS
ENCASEAMBIVERTSURAL
DYELOTLIMANASASYFY

Michael Schlossberg is an internist in Bend, Ore. This is his third Sunday crossword of the year.

Michael's antenna is always up for theme ideas — he struck upon this one after seeing the phrase at 113-Across in a news article. Though Michael is an avid gardener, he never brainstorms themes there. "It's my happy place," he says.

Sun 6/16/2024 Connections
MAPSGEOTAGDOTHBRA
ALOEANDONEIDEABRIM
STOREFRONTSSEARRAVI
SOLVEFORTACODEUCES
HELENSEASONOPENERS
GLASSASTERRAKE
PALMTEAMLEADERSISNT
SOLEACNESISIHOO
RAPATPLATOSOPERA
MOVIEPREMIERESCLAIMS
REIGNEDHEALSCRANKIT
BUSHEDROCKETLAUNCHES
EVITAMOSEYSINDIA
ARTSIAMBRIEKFED
NESSFRESHSTARTSEASE
UNITUSEASEMITS
NEWBEGINNINGSTOTAL
AMADOUATADSHACKSUP
ROKURAMASHOWERHEADS
CREEEVENUMPIREUFOS
OYSDADSPOSTEDPENT

Chandi Deitmer, of Cambridge, Mass., works for Elevate Labs, a brain-training app. Wyna Liu, of New York City, is a puzzles editor and author of the daily New York Times game Connections.

Chandi is part of the testing panel for the game, sending her weekly feedback to Wyna. Chandi conceived of this theme and thought, what better person to collaborate with than the Connections queen herself!

Sun 6/9/2024 Quiet Time
BAGSPSTALASBSIDE
CREAMALEDEKEUPNEXT
CINNAMONBREADDREAMON
SEEDYWOOEDAUDIRATA
TEARDROPSONMYGUITAR
GRIDOASHSBCNEELY
ABCPLYEDYSYOGI
PISTOLSCIENCEPROJECT
HOOAORTASENAMOR
SIDEHUSTLEPITASCARE
TWASTUBRNSKLEE
OILUPPYREFRUITSALAD
ASANASISRAELLIL
THISISJEOPARDYUNSTOP
GAULAWESBCEINA
APBIOSIONSUIAMEN
DAMNWITHFAINTPRAISE
ALISPOUFNOAIRNILLA
MINIVANSILENTAUCTION
NODISCETALATTAINED
REESETOWSTAZSEWS

Zachary Schiff is a writer living in New York City. This is his first crossword for The Times.

The theme was initially planned for a 15x15 weekday puzzle, but it didn't quite pan out — through "trial and error and a little bit of luck," he was able to rework it into a Sunday. His favorite clue is 89-Down, a fact he heard a few years back and stored away in the hopes of one day including in a puzzle.

Sun 6/2/2024 Typecasting
BLACKASICSMASCOT
SOOTHESRATITETVTAPE
QUOTATIONMARKSWEARIN
URNPOTPIERIPATTWO
INITTEECUTOFFJEANS
BEERAMIDCASTROUNSET
IMINHESSTUBSHEL
JUMPINGJACKSSLRMERE
ANISEDESISTSITISSO
MICMURALPATINAS
STARBUCKSLONGJOHNS
BACKSAWPAPASYOU
MRPINKYESIDIDALMVP
YEASEARSPLICEDGENES
BARARMEDIONAURA
ADAPTASCENTEDHARRIS
DASHEDHOPESBAHNATE
TAYELROYDARETOGAI
AHISEETWODOLLARBILLS
HOLIERSERENETOOKAIM
INSOLERENTSTEENA

Luke K. Schreiber is a high school senior from Hoboken, N.J. He graduates this coming week, and will attend Princeton University in the fall.

Luke made his New York Times debut last December, a Monday puzzle with the theme IT'S ME AGAIN. His high school, Saint Peter's Prep, announced the feat at an assembly. "It was fun seeing people compete for the fastest time," he says.

Sun 5/26/2024 Roughly Speaking
AMBIGONGDANGCVS
COINSAWORDIGORSLIT
KNOCKONWOODSOMETORO
NAILSARIALSENEGAL
FISTKNITTINGNEEDLE
CECEGRASSRKOSLAV
UMAMOONPIETINSNIC
BURNAFTERREADINGACDC
ARMANISEARLSOOTIER
RASCPUSFATLENO
ARCHAEOLOGICALDIG
DIALDOTNAVEOFT
PORTENDSIRESCOURGE
DOPEBLASTFROMTHEPAST
FROSCENERYOATSDUA
BRAHNEOADOBEWIIS
PUTDOWNONPAPERFOOT
ESCAPEEISLAMAWING
ATOMIVANFRENCHROAST
REDSRENTTABLESUGAR
TREDRNONASTTAXI

John Kugelman is a software engineer and musician from Gainesville, Va.

Despite only starting to make puzzles in 2023, he is The New York Times' most-published Sunday crossword constructor this year (with three). As a lifelong puzzle solver, he doesn't know why it took him so long to discover crossword construction — "I wish I'd thought of it 20 years ago!".

Sun 5/19/2024 Hold Your Doze
BAITDEIAMISPRIDE
ULTRAOPPONENTLOSER
GOSOLOTEAMGAMEUSHER
SHOULDTHEDEEDARISE
YAKOERSNLTENONES
OWLISHOREOSIOTA
WHATELSEISDUEILLTRY
HERODGERILAPSEPAS
ARCHDOASISAYDOTASIDO
POTANNSHOOPVICES
ITSAWRAPINSOLENT
DICESAUDRAFINUPS
ITSAHARDDOCKLIFEBRUT
MAEANDESREAMFIERY
PLATTEUSEYOURDOODLE
LILAMORPHSPOONS
EASTICUEVABODALT
THATSADOUGHBRAIDER
WAZOOOHIDUNNOSNOOPY
WHOOPPEDESTALTUBES
WHOSEIDEDSTYSORT

Christina Iverson, of Ames, Iowa, is an associate puzzle editor at The New York Times. Katie Hale, of London, England, is an assistant crossword editor for The L.A. Times.

This is their fourth Sunday collaboration for the paper. As mothers of young kids, they often draw themes from real life — this puzzle was inspired by a congested toddler.

Sun 5/12/2024 Pixar Box Set
SKEWSWATCHORANGES
LALALAHUEVOSKIAREA
ALLIASKERNSTCONDALY
BEATTHEHEATTATTIDES
FERRULEMULANREDO
CABOSANLSTUBETOPS
IBARMETJIMRUTHGRE
GUNITLABELMATEICEAX
STATICLENTILSDSHARP
COBOLSECEUHORIA
MEREVEGASSOCALISNT
IDAGREEBTSHATER
SINGINCOOKPOTXEDOUT
SFOODCORNERLOTPEDRO
AYNEGANEEOWETTOAD
CRYPTOWTBNEWWORLD
HILLMIREDTHEMOON
OREADTARWHERESWALDO
TEMPURATIARADEITIES
CNUTOILERRORTNOTES
AEROSOLRESETGRETA

Avery Gee Katz, of Santa Clara, Calif., is a user experience designer at a software company.

She comes from a puzzle-loving family — the first crossword she ever made was a Father's Day present for her dad. A diligent constructor, she worked and reworked this puzzle for months, ultimately ending up with 19 versions of the grid. You're solving version #16!

Sun 5/5/2024 From the Astronaut's Logbook
ISHTRYCABOJSOPT
STAYCOOLAGOOKAYSURE
LOVEMEDOKEWVIBRATOS
AMISASPENTREELOOT
MANBAGTOPTIERFLUFFY
GOYAITAKEITLOTT
TWASNTNUNSCHONEHIT
WEBSHISSHERASEGA
OILPERPMUTEBUM
BRAARIAMOOONITLAP
IDSDISCAPROWNSUNO
TOTSNEELEENAGDEAN
EGGSRANGEYOLO
SPEEDOCTALNEWTS
MILIEUCHANTANNEAL
PLANKSSKIBOOTIDTAGS
GONGTILENEAROKED
ESTCATSAJARSEE
PESTOEMMYROTIMATCH
OCEANICABASHSTARTLE
SHARONANIXONTORTLAW
HOTSWAPLENANTHEMS

Daniel Bodily, of Woodbury, Minn., is a robotics research engineer.

His crosswords often include a visual element, as seen in the middle of the grid here. A self-described "left-brained person," he notes that crosswords are "the closest I'll come to being an artist myself."

Sun 4/28/2024 The Sounds of Music
SHERAMESABROBOBCUT
TUXEDONESCOOPAGLARE
INTWOPAVAROTTDRAMAS
RARERSCENECINDERELL
NADIRTRASHCURELSA
NIKESCIOBEE
SHINGLEDTENTHABITOF
CONIFERLINKTOMARACA
AMANAITOLDYOUSYOKEL
LEMANSHALODOTNEAL
EMOSIRENSSKIBIBANT
DOMOPOPSEANCOPSTO
OVENSWIZKHALIFTAPIN
WINKLEPINOLEASTRIDE
NETPAYSPEWSBICORNES
PEGSECCAROM
ACTIBUBLATINWHOAM
THATSAMORSEEYAELLIS
HAMILLREFERRALADELE
ONENILGLISSANDVIXEN
STRAPSEONESSOYEAST

Mike Ellison, of Henderson, Nevada, works in business analytics. Prior to that, he majored in music education and served as a band director, hence the theme you see here.

This puzzle has a rare double revealer, found at 42- and 52-Down, which cleverly sums up the wordplay.

Sun 4/21/2024 Get Cracking
CCLEFGASCANSGSUIT
LAIDUPOBLIGEESPENCE
ADVERBTEENAGEPAIDAD
MIENSTREESAPYKENT
BLASETARPSTABAORTA
ELMJGAYIRSSTEL
RAMSECONOTTOPOLK
SCOOPERTIMONELFOWLS
MIRONANADOS
CHUMSWPLATTLMITZI
STREAKMOIARKNOTION
ITSCPEPPACLOX
SPAMMERQUEENPOSSESS
YESYOUASTRAWS
CCLAMPLIPSIRTANTRA
OREEADZLTABNWIN
LOANDAMBASIOUTOPS
BOPOSOLARPUNKOFEW
ENDIVENUGGETSURBANE
REAPERETIENNESAUCER
TRYONEYETTETALTERS

Michael Schlossberg, of Bend, Ore., is a doctor specializing in internal medicine. This is his 11th crossword for the paper and his fifth Sunday.

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