This page is just for fun. It's a random collection of rare crossword answers — so rare that each appears only in a single Shortz-era puzzle. Not all these words make sense. Some of them are unique because they're part of some wacky theme. Some are errors that don't fit the standard Across Lite format. There are 47,671 unique Shortz-era answer words in the database.
Click any word to see it in the context of its puzzle. Click here to see a new list. Words in this color did appear in pre-Shortz crosswords.
| Word | Date | Clue | Author |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACTIONDOLL | Mon 9/10/2007 | G.I. Joe, for one | Edward M Sessa |
| ALEVANS | Thu 3/2/2006 | Brewery wagons? (D.E.) | Patrick Merrell |
| ALTERON | Wed 8/29/2012 | Words of encouragement to a tailor? | Tony Orbach |
| ANDALUSIAN | Thu 9/4/2008 | From southern Spain | Matt Ginsberg |
| ANOFFER | Sun 6/22/1997 | See 26-Across | Matt Gaffney |
| BENDY | Sat 10/20/2001 | Highly flexible, as wire strips | Patrick Berry |
| BUTTERFLYSTROKE | Wed 9/3/2008 | One technique used by 36-Across | David J. Kahn |
| DEARDIARY | Thu 12/24/1998 | Journal opening | Jim Page |
| DEFICIENCY | Fri 10/16/1998 | Shortfall | Martin Ashwood-Smith |
| DETRAINS | Tue 12/26/1995 | Gets off a Pullman | Jonathan Schmatzbach |
| FEASTOFSTPATRICK | Sun 3/16/2003 | Parade Day | Elizabeth C. Gorski |
| FILLETS | Sat 1/22/2005 | Sole options | Byron Walden |
| FOURCORNERS | Thu 9/2/2004 | Western tourist attraction | David J. Kahn |
| GAMIEST | Wed 1/28/2004 | Most off-tasting | Jim Hyres |
| GASENGINES | Thu 10/5/2006 | Ubiquitous auto features | Joe DiPietro |
| GLUEALL | Fri 8/1/2008 | Elmer's product | Patrick Berry |
| GOS | Sat 12/29/2012 | Get-___ (starts) | Joe Krozel |
| GRADEAS | Fri 5/25/2007 | Good eggs | Mike Nothnagel |
| HOWELSECAN | Wed 1/1/2003 | Comment, part 2 | Ed Early |
| INAPIGSEYE | Wed 5/29/1996 | "Never!" | R. Norris |
| INCONTACT | Sat 6/23/2001 | Like pen pals | David J. Kahn |
| MEOHMYDARLIN | Wed 6/22/2005 | See 23-Across | Verna Suit |
| MOCA | Sun 3/1/1998 | Provincial capital in the Dominican Republic | Cathy Millhauser |
| MOLDIER | Sun 7/1/2007 | More decayed | Nancy Salomon and Bill Zais |
| MUTINY | Sun 6/25/1995 | Rebel | Frances Hansen |
| PICKEDUPSPEED | Sun 2/3/2008 | Accelerated | Matt Ginsberg |
| POPSIN | Thu 11/10/2011 | Comes calling unexpectedly | Tim Croce |
| POTPOURRI | Tue 12/19/1995 | Mishmash | Marie Heller |
| PRECOOK | Sat 1/29/1994 | Make beforehand, as rice | Bob Klahn |
| QUESTIONS | Thu 11/23/2006 | They're often raised | Ari Halpern |
| QUILLER | Sat 11/13/1999 | English poet Sir Arthur ___-Couch | Jim Page |
| RETEAM | Thu 2/9/2012 | Join forces anew | Kevin G. Der |
| RISTORANTE | Sat 5/10/2003 | Pasta place | Bob Klahn |
| SALIFY | Fri 3/18/1994 | Add NaCl to | Mark Diehl |
| SENSO | Thu 10/5/2000 | Feeling, Italian-style | Cathy Millhauser |
| SHIRLEYMACLAINE | Sun 2/24/2008 | Actress (1983), supporting actor (1999) | Nancy Nicholson Joline |
| SKIMPEDON | Sat 8/14/2004 | Wasn't generous with | Joe DiPietro |
| SUMPTER | Sat 3/17/2007 | Packhorse or mule | John Farmer |
| TAPERACKS | Sun 12/30/2001 | Audiophiles' purchases | Elizabeth C. Gorski |
| XXXXXXXXXXXX | Wed 10/9/2002 | How the perfect game is shown on the scoresheet | Peter Gordon |