This page is just for fun. It's a random collection of rare crossword answers; so rare that each appears only in a single Modern Era puzzle. Bogus entries (thematic words that make sense only in that crossword) are excluded.
There are 50,544 unique Modern Era answer words in the database.
Click any word to see it in the context of its puzzle. Words in this color did appear in pre-Shortz crosswords.
| Word | Date | Clue | Author |
|---|---|---|---|
| ARRIVER | Sun Jan 27, 2008 | One pulling in | Mike Nothnagel |
| BEEFSTEAKS | Sat Jan 27, 2007 | Tournedos, e.g. | Karen M. Tracey |
| BEHAVIOR | Fri Dec 4, 1998 | Factor in a parole board's decision | John Wolting |
| BISCOTTI | Sat Mar 28, 2009 | Crunchy cafe treats | Joe Krozel |
| CHASTITY | Sat Mar 9, 2002 | What a belt might ensure | Dana Motley |
| CIADIRECTOR | Fri Jan 23, 2009 | George H. W. Bush, once | Barry C. Silk |
| COBBLING | Wed Nov 17, 2021 | Roughly putting (together) | Anne Grae Martin |
| CONCRETESLAB | Tue Nov 26, 2024 | Section of a sidewalk | Killian Olson |
| DEVISERS | Sun May 26, 2002 | Strategists | Elizabeth C. Gorski |
| ELEVATORCARS | Thu Oct 27, 2005 | Button holders | Bonnie L. Gentry |
| FACESOFF | Fri May 2, 2014 | Goes head to head | Brendan Emmett Quigley |
| FRIENDOFDOROTHY | Sat Jan 10, 2026 | Gay man, per historical slang inspired by Judy Garland | Kameron Austin Collins |
| GENETUNNEY | Sat Jun 24, 1995 | He dethroned 17-Across on 9/23/26 | Bob & Sharon Klahn |
| GLUTININS | Sat Jan 6, 1996 | Some antibodies | A.J. Santora |
| INCANDESCENTLIGHT | Sun Sep 19, 1999 | NICEST NIGHT CANDLE | Manny Nosowsky |
| INTERNALCLOCK | Thu Dec 2, 2021 | Circadian rhythm regulator | Rebecca Goldstein |
| JACKMAN | Sun Jul 29, 2007 | Actor Hugh of "X-Men" | Brendan Emmett Quigley |
| LANGELLA | Thu Aug 20, 2009 | Tony-winning "Frost/Nixon" actor | Elizabeth C. Gorski |
| LIGHTBULBJOKE | Wed Oct 26, 2005 | It usually starts "How many ?" | Adam G. Perl |
| MAKEHEADSROLL | Wed Dec 10, 2003 | Exact heavy vengeance | Nancy Salomon and Harvey Estes |
| NETSHOTS | Sat Jul 10, 2010 | Badminton dinks | Joe DiPietro |
| NEWTONSCRADLE | Thu Jul 11, 2013 | Gizmo often with five balls that demonstrates conservation of momentum and energy | Henry Hook |
| NEXTEL | Fri Oct 26, 2007 | Sprint acquisition of 2005 | David Quarfoot |
| PAPAHAYDN | Tue Dec 22, 2020 | Affectionate nickname for the "Father of the Symphony" | Amy Yanni and Jeff Chen |
| PENTASYLLABIC | Thu Nov 14, 2013 | Like 52-Across | Tom McCoy |
| PIANOSCORE | Mon Apr 2, 2012 | Sheet music for Van Cliburn, say | Lynn Lempel |
| PLUGANDPLAY | Sun Jul 22, 2001 | Theater show that follows a commercial? | Patrick Berry |
| REDLEAF | Thu May 16, 2024 | Colorful variety of lettuce | Sara Muchnick |
| RODEON | Sun Feb 25, 2018 | Was mounted atop | Will Nediger |
| SILKROAD | Fri Sep 21, 2018 | Marco Polo was on it for 24 years | Zhouqin Burnikel |
| SLIDINGDOOR | Sat Jul 30, 2022 | Future-altering decision point, metaphorically | Lance Enfinger |
| SPORTSMAN | Sat Nov 4, 1995 | Not a sore loser | Frank A. Longo |
| STEMWARE | Fri Oct 7, 2016 | Fancy glasses | Robyn Weintraub |
| SUPERSTATE | Thu Dec 25, 2025 | Eurasia or Oceania, in "1984" | Sam Ezersky |
| TABLETOPS | Fri May 17, 2019 | Things felt at a casino? | Adam Fromm |
| THECOW | Mon Aug 19, 2013 | Moon jumper, in "Hey Diddle Diddle" | Jean O'Conor |
| VAIR | Wed Dec 4, 1996 | Heraldic fur | M. E. Skolsky |
| VIZCAYA | Sat Apr 22, 1995 | Noted Miami villa and garden | Alex K. Justin |
| WEIGHANCHOR | Mon Apr 26, 1999 | Cheerful command from the bridge | Robert Dillman |
| WITHHOLDING | Thu Feb 24, 2000 | Kind of tax | Manny Nosowsky |