Random unique answer words

40 answers which have never been reused

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.

WordDateClueAuthor
ACTIONDOLL Mon 9/10/2007G.I. Joe, for oneEdward M Sessa
ALEVANS Thu 3/2/2006Brewery wagons? (D.E.)Patrick Merrell
ALTERON Wed 8/29/2012Words of encouragement to a tailor?Tony Orbach
ANDALUSIAN Thu 9/4/2008From southern SpainMatt Ginsberg
ANOFFER Sun 6/22/1997See 26-AcrossMatt Gaffney
BENDY Sat 10/20/2001Highly flexible, as wire stripsPatrick Berry
BUTTERFLYSTROKE Wed 9/3/2008One technique used by 36-AcrossDavid J. Kahn
DEARDIARY Thu 12/24/1998Journal openingJim Page
DEFICIENCY Fri 10/16/1998ShortfallMartin Ashwood-Smith
DETRAINS Tue 12/26/1995Gets off a PullmanJonathan Schmatzbach
FEASTOFSTPATRICK Sun 3/16/2003Parade DayElizabeth C. Gorski
FILLETS Sat 1/22/2005Sole optionsByron Walden
FOURCORNERS Thu 9/2/2004Western tourist attractionDavid J. Kahn
GAMIEST Wed 1/28/2004Most off-tastingJim Hyres
GASENGINES Thu 10/5/2006Ubiquitous auto featuresJoe DiPietro
GLUEALL Fri 8/1/2008Elmer's productPatrick Berry
GOS Sat 12/29/2012Get-___ (starts)Joe Krozel
GRADEAS Fri 5/25/2007Good eggsMike Nothnagel
HOWELSECAN Wed 1/1/2003Comment, part 2Ed Early
INAPIGSEYE Wed 5/29/1996"Never!"R. Norris
INCONTACT Sat 6/23/2001Like pen palsDavid J. Kahn
MEOHMYDARLIN Wed 6/22/2005See 23-AcrossVerna Suit
MOCA Sun 3/1/1998Provincial capital in the Dominican RepublicCathy Millhauser
MOLDIER Sun 7/1/2007More decayedNancy Salomon and Bill Zais
MUTINY Sun 6/25/1995RebelFrances Hansen
PICKEDUPSPEED Sun 2/3/2008AcceleratedMatt Ginsberg
POPSIN Thu 11/10/2011Comes calling unexpectedlyTim Croce
POTPOURRI Tue 12/19/1995MishmashMarie Heller
PRECOOK Sat 1/29/1994Make beforehand, as riceBob Klahn
QUESTIONS Thu 11/23/2006They're often raisedAri Halpern
QUILLER Sat 11/13/1999English poet Sir Arthur ___-CouchJim Page
RETEAM Thu 2/9/2012Join forces anewKevin G. Der
RISTORANTE Sat 5/10/2003Pasta placeBob Klahn
SALIFY Fri 3/18/1994Add NaCl toMark Diehl
SENSO Thu 10/5/2000Feeling, Italian-styleCathy Millhauser
SHIRLEYMACLAINE Sun 2/24/2008Actress (1983), supporting actor (1999)Nancy Nicholson Joline
SKIMPEDON Sat 8/14/2004Wasn't generous withJoe DiPietro
SUMPTER Sat 3/17/2007Packhorse or muleJohn Farmer
TAPERACKS Sun 12/30/2001Audiophiles' purchasesElizabeth C. Gorski
XXXXXXXXXXXX Wed 10/9/2002How the perfect game is shown on the scoresheetPeter Gordon