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New York Times, Monday, November 10, 2025

Author:
Zhouqin Burnikel
Editor:
Will Shortz
Blog:
23-Across : Head rubs that relieve tension
TotalDebutLatestCollabs
8411/13/201212/8/202525
SunMonTueWedThuFriSat
6302275113
RebusCircleScrabDebutFlowFresh
291.5637932.437%
Zhouqin Burnikel

This puzzle:

Rows: 15, Columns: 16 Words: 79, Blocks: 42 Missing: {JQX} Spans: 1 This is puzzle # 83 for Ms. Burnikel. Grid flow: 32.0 Monday freshness: 53%
Jim Horne notes:

The circled squares, when read across, reveal different kinds of animal coverings.

1
D
2
A
3
W
4
N
5
S
6
R
7
A
8
S
9
A
10
V
11
A
12
S
13
T
14
E
T
H
E
R
15
S
O
D
A
16
Z
I
P
P
O
17
S
T
A
T
S
18
H
A
I
L
19
C
A
E
S
A
R
20
K
I
T
T
21
A
E
R
O
S
O
L
22
O
N
T
23
S
C
A
L
24
P
M
A
S
S
A
G
E
25
S
26
T
E
E
N
27
S
A
U
28
T
29
E
30
P
31
A
R
32
S
O
33
L
34
A
35
C
36
E
37
P
O
P
38
E
39
I
V
E
40
G
O
T
Y
O
U
C
41
O
42
V
E
R
E
D
43
C
I
A
O
44
E
L
T
O
R
O
45
N
E
T
46
S
T
O
47
L
48
I
49
C
L
50
O
T
51
F
I
R
52
E
53
B
54
R
55
E
A
T
H
E
56
R
57
S
58
T
59
I
60
P
61
P
I
S
T
O
L
S
62
S
N
O
W
63
S
H
O
64
R
T
S
P
E
L
L
65
A
U
D
I
O
66
P
O
L
I
O
67
Y
A
L
E
68
T
R
O
L
L
69
S
P
O
O
N
70
S
M
S
71
S
E
N
S
E
© 2025, The New York Times11/10/25 ( No. 27,761 )
Across
1
Beginnings of days : DAWNS
6
Dorm supervisors, in brief : RAS
9
Pirate's "Stop!" : AVAST
14
Old-time anesthetic : ETHER
15
Bubbly beverage : SODA
16
Diddly-squat : ZIPPO
17
6'4", 186 lbs. and others : STATS
18
Roman Forum greeting : HAILCAESAR
20
"Santa Baby" singer Eartha : KITT
21
Spray can output : AEROSOL
22
Toronto's province: Abbr. : ONT
23
Head rubs that relieve tension : SCALPMASSAGES
26
Babysitter, often : TEEN
27
Cook quickly in a pan : SAUTE
30
Putt-putt standard : PAR
32
Comfort in hard times : SOLACE
37
Leader with a Swiss Guard detail : POPE
39
"Leave it to me" ... and a hint to the circled letters in this puzzle : IVEGOTYOUCOVERED
43
"Gotta bounce!" : CIAO
44
Matador's opponent : ELTORO
45
Circus safety device : NET
46
Absolut rival, for short : STOLI
49
Form a clump : CLOT
51
People spouting zealous rhetoric : FIREBREATHERS
58
Bit of advice : TIP
61
Weapons used in many duels : PISTOLS
62
Part of a winter wonderland : SNOW
63
Brief period of time : SHORTSPELL
65
Sound in a broadcast : AUDIO
66
Sabin vaccine target : POLIO
67
New Haven university : YALE
68
Blog commenter who is best ignored : TROLL
69
Utensil in a soup bowl : SPOON
70
Texting format, for short : SMS
71
Touch or smell : SENSE
Down
1
Places students sit : DESKS
2
Top story of a house : ATTIC
3
"Isn't this pleasant!" : WHATATREAT
4
Stinging plant : NETTLE
5
Soon-to-be grads: Abbr. : SRS
6
Sounds from lions : ROARS
7
"So long, amigo" : ADIOS
8
Tortilla chip dip : SALSA
9
Shrub with bright flowers : AZALEA
10
Compete (for) : VIE
11
Lhasa ___ (dog) : APSO
12
Reach across : SPAN
13
Legal injury : TORT
15
___ butter (lotion ingredient) : SHEA
19
Minor machine parts : COGS
21
"Are too!" reply : AMNOT
24
Mexican currency : PESO
25
Condo honcho, casually : SUPE
28
Possible outcome of a bad sprain : TORNTENDON
29
Fencing sword : EPEE
30
Instagram posting, informally : PIC
31
Enterprise rival : AVIS
33
Harsh cleaning agent : LYE
34
Dial-up pioneer : AOL
35
"Stop filming!" : CUT
36
___-warrior : ECO
38
Aug. setting in Augusta : EDT
40
Make a whoopsie : GOOF
41
Marine apex predators : ORCAS
42
Battery unit : VOLT
47
Pure Leaf tea distributor : LIPTON
48
Ring around the pupil : IRIS
50
"Yeah, I bet" : OHSURE
52
Awards with a Best Boxer category : ESPYS
53
Second-string squad : BTEAM
54
___-Royce : ROLLS
55
Fashion magazine founded in France : ELLE
56
Muddies up : ROILS
57
Buff, to gym bros : SWOLE
58
Small recipe amts. : TSPS
59
Denny's alternative : IHOP
60
Game played on horseback : POLO
64
___ de Janeiro : RIO
65
Mentions directly, on X : ATS

Answer summary:
4 unique to this puzzle.

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