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New York Times, Monday, March 9, 2026

Author:
Christina Iverson and Andrea Carla Michaels
Editor:
Will Shortz
Blog:
Enters a game at the half, say
TotalDebutLatestCollabs
417/30/20193/9/202631
SunMonTueWedThuFriSatVariety
118622471
RebusCircleScrabDebutFlowFresh
331.5922641.450%
Christina Iverson
TotalDebutLatestCollabs
936/12/20003/9/202662
SunMonTueWedThuFriSat
769122300
RebusCircleScrabDebutFlowFresh
251.6432626.221%
Andrea Carla Michaels

This puzzle:

Rows: 15, Columns: 15 Words: 74, Blocks: 40 Missing: {JQVZ} This is puzzle # 41 for Ms. Iverson. This is puzzle # 93 for Ms. Michaels. Grid flow: 24.6 Monday freshness: 90%
Constructor notes:
Christina: I always love working with Andrea! When I noticed how many Best Actress winners had names that were also words, I thought ... read more
Jim Horne notes:
A tribute to Sally, Emma, Jodie, and Halle — all Best Actress Oscar winners.
1
U
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R
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S
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A
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S
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T
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E
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A
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M
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A
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W
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W
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N
A
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O
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C
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D
A
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P
R
E
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F
I
E
L
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D
H
O
C
K
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Y
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P
A
T
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E
S
P
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O
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K
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A
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G
E
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T
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D
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S
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A
R
M
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S
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T
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O
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G
E
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N
O
S
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E
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R
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U
P
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L
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N
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O
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G
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S
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F
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S
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D
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O
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G
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A
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B
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C
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T
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B
U
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S
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L
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D
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S
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N
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T
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B
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N
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S
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B
E
R
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Y
P
I
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E
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R
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U
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P
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E
F
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M
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X
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M
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H
B
O
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R
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O
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B
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E
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C
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T
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O
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I
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A
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S
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L
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D
L
E
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G
E
N
E
© 2026, The New York Times3/9/26 ( No. 27,880 )
Across
1
Constellation word before Major or Minor : URSA
5
Something to blow off or let off : STEAM
10
"So-o-o cute!" : AWW
13
Western defense grp. : NATO
14
"I ___ been a contender ..." : COULDA
15
Lead-in to natal or nuptial : PRE
16
*Outdoor sport with sticks (1979, 1984) : FIELDHOCKEY
18
Gentle touch : PAT
19
Letters for a mind reader : ESP
20
Grunt from a pigpen : OINK
21
Athlete's representative : AGENT
23
Take weapons away from : DISARM
25
*Period for Fred, Wilma and Pebbles (2016, 2023) : STONEAGE
28
More in-your-business : NOSIER
30
Encourages to buy a more expensive model, say : UPSELLS
31
Ernest Hemingway's "To Have and Have ___" : NOT
32
Monster of folk tales : OGRE
34
Goal for collectors : SET
35
*Temporary guest from a canine shelter (1988, 1991) : FOSTERDOG
39
Oscars airer : ABC
42
"Pencils down!" : TIME
43
Double-decker, e.g. : BUS
45
Strings along : LEADSON
48
Some steaks : TBONES
51
*Popular fruit dessert (2001) : BERRYPIE
53
Rebel as a group : RISEUP
55
Zimbalist Jr. of "77 Sunset Strip" : EFREM
56
Plastic Ono Band's "Happy ___ (War Is Over)" : XMAS
58
Network for "The Wire" and "Euphoria" : HBO
59
Birthplace of the bossa nova, informally : RIO
60
Academy Award category ... or a hint to the starts of the answers to the starred clues : BESTACTRESS
64
Vietnamese holiday with a palindromic name : TET
65
Baltimore baseball pro : ORIOLE
66
Colorful body part ... or a colorful flower : IRIS
67
"___ gratia artis" (classic MGM motto) : ARS
68
Chicken noodle scoop : LADLE
69
Heredity unit : GENE
Down
1
Like expired parking meters : UNFED
2
___ Bran : RAISIN
3
Bobby, Peter or Greg, to Carol Brady : STEPSON
4
Internet pioneer : AOL
5
"Coming ___ to a theater near you" : SOON
6
Partner of nips : TUCKS
7
Relative of a reindeer : ELK
8
Suffix with lemon or orange : ADE
9
Ancient Central American pyramid builders : MAYANS
10
They go to a higher court : APPEALS
11
Round up, as cattle : WRANGLE
12
Receiving the most rain : WETTEST
14
Grandfather clock sound : CHIME
17
Piquant triangular chip : DORITO
22
"Gosh!" : GEE
24
Starting on : ASOF
26
Small castle tower : TURRET
27
Guest opinion column : OPED
29
Corkscrew-shaped pasta : ROTINI
33
Opal or ruby : GEM
36
"Enough already!" : STOP
37
Double-reed woodwind player : OBOIST
38
Biceps, boastfully : GUNS
39
Canadian province north of Montana : ALBERTA
40
More brawny : BEEFIER
41
Bugs Bunny's supply : CARROTS
44
"Now, you listen to me ..." : SEEHERE
46
Beats by ___ (headphone brand) : DRE
47
Word with sex or status : SYMBOL
49
Support for a knee or a neck : BRACE
50
Enters a game at the half, say : SUBSIN
52
Praise enthusiastically : EXTOL
54
Group assisting a sheriff : POSSE
57
Like a bull or buck : MALE
61
Memorable period : ERA
62
Caesar of old comedy : SID
63
18-wheeler : RIG

Answer summary:
3 unique to this puzzle, 1 unique to Modern Era but used previously.

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