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New York Times, Saturday, December 20, 2025

Author:
Robert S. Gard
Editor:
Will Shortz
Blog:
Mardi Gras parading societies
TotalDebutLatest
49/9/202312/20/2025
SunMonTueWedThuFriSat
0011002
RebusScrabDebutFlowFresh
11.691853.288%
Robert S. Gard

This puzzle:

Rows: 15, Columns: 15 Words: 64, Blocks: 35 Missing: {JQXZ} This is puzzle # 4 for Mr. Gard. Grid flow: 83.9 Saturday freshness: 88%
1
A
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G
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S
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S
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I
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M
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C
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O
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F
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W
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F
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D
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A
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N
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F
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O
R
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C
A
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B
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S
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A
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C
O
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S
K
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S
A
Y
S
T
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C
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R
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P
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M
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I
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S
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K
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S
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N
© 2025, The New York Times12/20/25 ( No. 27,801 )
Across
1
Sampras rival during the 1990s : AGASSI
7
Get on board : EMBARK
13
Let off steam, perhaps : VENTED
14
Perry Como or Bing Crosby : CROONER
15
Frustrated and making poor decisions, informally : ONTILT
16
#1 on Wired magazine's list of the 10 most influential video games of the 2010s : FORTNITE
17
"Aren't we all hoity-toity?!" : WELLLADIDAH
19
Generate clippings, say : MOW
20
First name in hog riding : EVEL
21
Established fact : GIVEN
22
Let go of : FIRE
23
Body layer : DERMA
25
Events at which to release one's inner geek : NERDFESTS
27
Makers of frightening but (thankfully) rare marine attacks : ORCAS
29
Source of half the world's sugar during the late 1800s : BEETS
30
Higher power? : SOLAR
31
They're stoked : COALS
32
Word with blue or open : SKIES
33
Speak, as thou might : SAYST
34
Kind of beard that follows the jawline : CHINSTRAP
36
Dunderheaded : THICK
40
"You ___?" : RANG
41
Punted : POLED
43
Foe of the Iroquois during the Beaver Wars : ERIE
44
Org. that's gone to the dogs? : AKC
45
[womp, womp] : SADTROMBONE
47
Major magazine pieces : FEATURES
49
Delicatessen offering : REUBEN
50
Loser of the 2025 World Series : TORONTO
51
Where to follow local customs, it's said : INROME
52
Underhanded : SNEAKY
53
Beach shade : SUNTAN
Down
1
Sworn : AVOWED
2
City, lake or canton de Suisse : GENEVE
3
Tip on quite a few bucks? : ANTLER
4
Extremely rare, facetiously : STILLMOOING
5
Act bearishly : SELL
6
What might come with some baggage? : IDTAG
7
Dogsbody : ERRANDBOY
8
Io or luna : MOTH
9
When repeated, a small treat : BON
10
Shamans, typically : ANIMISTS
11
Claps back : RETORTS
12
Mardi Gras parading societies : KREWES
14
Tech job : CODER
16
Bills first introduced in 1861 : FIVES
18
Currency of Serbia : DINAR
22
Exercise almost to a point of pain : FEELTHEBURN
24
Van Gogh retreat in southern France : ARLES
26
Significant spread : FEAST
28
Post-show celebration : CASTPARTY
30
Some spa treatments : SKINCARE
31
Escapade : CAPER
32
Agree to, in a way : SHAKEON
33
Bath ___ : SALTS
34
Fashions : CRAFTS
35
Clown locale : RODEO
37
Futuristic sci-fi classic with tales set in 2021 and 2029 : IROBOT
38
Field of the annual César Awards : CINEMA
39
One of the Wayans brothers : KEENEN
42
Day at the movies : DORIS
45
Like some costs : SUNK
46
Many a drop-down : MENU
48
___ T : TOA

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

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