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New York Times, Tuesday, September 16, 2025

Author:
Jonathan Daly
Editor:
Will Shortz
Blog:
36-Down : ___ favor
TotalDebut
19/16/2025
SunMonTueWedThuFriSat
0010000
ScrabDebutFresh
1.60425%
Jonathan Daly

This puzzle:

Rows: 15, Columns: 15 Words: 78, Blocks: 36 Missing: {JQXZ} This is the debut puzzle for Mr. Daly. Tuesday freshness: 48%
Jim Horne notes:

The word BOARD can attach to each half of each starred clue answer. BLACKBOARD, CARDBOARD, etc.

1
F
2
A
3
M
4
C
5
A
6
M
7
E
8
O
9
S
10
O
11
L
12
V
13
E
14
A
L
E
15
U
R
B
A
N
16
C
R
O
A
K
17
B
L
A
18
C
K
C
A
R
D
19
E
C
O
L
I
20
L
I
T
H
E
21
L
E
22
O
N
23
K
E
N
24
E
N
Y
A
25
K
26
E
Y
C
U
T
27
T
I
N
G
28
L
29
E
I
A
30
K
I
S
M
E
T
31
B
32
A
33
C
K
W
A
S
34
H
35
C
L
I
36
P
37
U
N
A
38
E
S
T
E
39
L
40
L
41
A
42
O
N
O
43
M
I
S
44
O
45
S
E
A
F
46
L
O
O
R
47
S
T
R
48
A
49
W
50
S
51
E
T
T
A
52
H
E
A
D
C
H
E
53
E
S
E
54
S
55
O
56
S
57
O
58
A
S
S
59
C
O
W
L
60
U
S
H
E
R
61
B
E
I
62
G
E
63
A
L
64
L
65
A
B
O
A
R
D
66
L
E
D
O
N
67
G
E
O
D
E
68
R
T
E
69
A
D
E
P
T
70
E
N
T
E
R
71
E
A
R
© 2025, The New York Times9/16/25 ( No. 27,706 )
Across
1
Relatives, informally : FAM
4
Carved bit of jewelry : CAMEO
9
Figure out : SOLVE
14
Pub pintful : ALE
15
___ Dictionary (crowdsourced online reference) : URBAN
16
Frog's sound : CROAK
17
*High-status American Express offering : BLACKCARD
19
Cause of food poisoning, for short : ECOLI
20
Thin and graceful : LITHE
21
Revolutionary Trotsky : LEON
23
Barbie's boyfriend : KEN
24
"Orinoco Flow (Sail Away)" singer : ENYA
25
*Task for a locksmith : KEYCUTTING
28
Science fiction princess : LEIA
30
Destiny : KISMET
31
*Motion of receding waves : BACKWASH
35
Office paper fastener : CLIP
37
Spanish article : UNA
38
Miss Havisham's ward in "Great Expectations" : ESTELLA
42
Lennon's love : ONO
43
Japanese soup flavoring : MISO
45
*Bottom of the ocean : SEAFLOOR
47
Drinking aids : STRAWS
51
"At Last" singer James : ETTA
52
*Product of meat scraps that, despite its name, is dairy-free : HEADCHEESE
54
Not bad, but not great : SOSO
58
Donkey : ASS
59
Monk's hood : COWL
60
Theater employee : USHER
61
Shade akin to cream : BEIGE
63
Train conductor's cry … or a hint to each word in the answers to the starred clues : ALLABOARD
66
Strung along : LEDON
67
Rock with a crystal-filled cavity : GEODE
68
Hwy. : RTE
69
Highly skilled : ADEPT
70
Opposite of delete : ENTER
71
Floppy part of a beagle : EAR
Down
1
Story with a moral : FABLE
2
Bold poker bet : ALLIN
3
Substantial : MEATY
4
Long, green veggie : CUKE
5
Curved path : ARC
6
Wall St. credential : MBA
7
Premature : EARLY
8
Next to bat : ONDECK
9
Aromas : SCENTS
10
Elf's foe : ORC
11
A shopper, not a buyer, informally : LOOKIELOO
12
Fashion house named for its founder, Signor Garavani : VALENTINO
13
Scraping (by) : EKING
18
Sidewalk writing medium : CHALK
22
Non's opposite : OUI
25
Soul and Sorento : KIAS
26
Sunrise direction : EAST
27
Cable inits. for cinephiles : TMC
29
Farm mother : EWE
31
Mooch, as a cigarette : BUM
32
Licorice-flavored spice : ANISESEED
33
Rejected : CASTASIDE
34
"___ Just Not That Into You" (2009 film) : HES
36
___ favor : POR
39
Levi's alternative : LEES
40
Behind : LATE
41
Rear, in the boat : AFT
44
Chicago airport code : ORD
46
Rodeo rope : LASSO
48
Southern drawl, for example : ACCENT
49
Owl's question? : WHO
50
Waste that's been flushed : SEWAGE
52
"Se ___ español" : HABLA
53
Actress Pompeo of "Grey's Anatomy" : ELLEN
55
Chicago airport : OHARE
56
Sealy competitor : SERTA
57
Big Mac meal with a Coke, e.g. : ORDER
60
Ride from an airport, maybe : UBER
62
Republicans, for short : GOP
64
Place to park : LOT
65
Citrus drink suffix : ADE

Answer summary:
4 unique to this puzzle, 3 unique to Modern Era but used previously.

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