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Some Theme's Missing

New York Times, Sunday, December 18, 2022

Author:
Ryan McCarty
Editor:
Will Shortz
One might crawl out of the woodwork
TotalDebutLatestCollabs
276/17/201711/12/20232
SunMonTueWedThuFriSatVariety
100012221
ScrabbleFresh
1.6096%
Ryan McCarty

This puzzle:

Rows: 21, Columns: 21 Words: 122, Blocks: 60 Missing: {JQV} Puzzle has duplicate clues. This is puzzle # 23 for Mr. McCarty. Jeff Chen's Puzzle of the Week pick. Sunday freshness: 100%
Will Shortz notes:
Ryan McCarty, of Washington, D.C., is a principal consulting manager at a firm specializing in data/analytics for federal clients. He is also a baritone in multiple vocal ensembles. This ... read more
Ryan McCarty notes:
Thrilled to have my first Sunday puzzle in the Times! This grid features one of my favorite open middles that I've made as it pulls from a variety of subject areas. I had originally tried ... read more
Jeff Chen notes:
Visually stunning layout, sort of like a cross between a windmill and a hedge maze. All of the black square diagonals produce a mesmerizing sense of movement and grid flow. Ryan is ... read more
1
A
2
H
3
B
4
L
5
I
6
S
7
S
8
M
9
E
10
R
11
C
12
I
13
H
14
O
15
P
16
E
17
S
18
B
A
L
O
N
E
Y
19
C
A
R
P
E
N
20
T
E
R
A
N
T
21
C
L
O
W
N
E
D
22
T
H
I
S
I
S
T
H
E
L
I
F
E
23
S
L
O
W
E
D
24
T
H
I
N
E
25
T
R
A
D
E
D
U
P
26
O
M
A
R
27
C
A
R
P
S
28
M
B
A
29
S
A
F
E
S
30
S
W
I
T
31
G
O
G
O
S
32
F
E
I
N
33
T
34
N
O
G
O
35
P
E
N
E
36
T
R
A
T
E
37
C
O
M
E
S
A
38
T
39
R
O
N
40
L
E
G
R
A
I
S
E
41
P
H
O
E
N
I
X
A
42
Z
43
I
K
O
44
B
E
T
A
45
W
A
R
D
S
46
T
E
X
A
47
N
48
T
E
N
49
S
50
F
E
M
I
N
I
S
T
51
S
52
S
I
D
E
53
S
54
S
N
I
T
55
S
56
R
E
S
T
S
T
O
P
57
S
58
S
I
X
E
59
S
60
D
O
R
I
61
C
62
D
E
S
P
A
C
I
T
63
O
64
E
T
C
H
65
N
O
T
I
66
T
67
C
R
A
N
K
C
A
L
68
L
69
T
O
E
70
M
A
D
E
71
P
R
O
U
D
72
I
M
S
O
73
D
O
N
E
74
F
75
I
76
B
77
T
E
L
L
A
L
L
78
K
N
E
E
B
E
N
D
S
79
I
M
A
80
M
81
R
E
E
C
E
82
G
L
E
N
N
83
L
O
C
H
84
R
A
N
A
85
T
86
P
A
K
87
C
R
A
S
S
88
S
I
T
H
89
E
L
G
R
E
90
C
O
S
91
G
A
I
U
S
92
L
A
S
H
A
93
T
94
P
O
L
I
C
E
R
E
95
P
O
R
T
S
96
P
O
U
T
I
N
E
97
O
N
E
S
H
O
T
D
E
A
L
S
98
C
A
D
E
N
C
E
99
T
E
S
T
Y
100
S
O
R
T
A
101
S
M
I
D
G
E
N
© 2022, The New York Times12/18/22 ( No. 26,703 )
Across
1
"I'm in heaven!" : AHBLISS
8
Word of gratitude overseas : MERCI
13
Optimists keep them high : HOPES
18
Bunk : BALONEY
19
One might crawl out of the woodwork : CARPENTERANT
21
Goofed (around) : CLOWNED
22
"I'm in heaven!" : THISISTHELIFE
23
Entered a school zone, say : SLOWED
24
What used to be yours? : THINE
25
Got a newer smartphone, maybe : TRADEDUP
26
Persian polymath Khayyám : OMAR
27
Quibbles : CARPS
28
Many a consulting hire, for short : MBA
29
They may be locked and loaded : SAFES
30
Loretta who played "Hot Lips" Houlihan on "M*A*S*H" : SWIT
31
All-woman rock band with the 1982 hit "Vacation" : GOGOS
32
Bit of deception : FEINT
34
Scrubbed, as a rocket launch : NOGO
35
Go through : PENETRATE
37
Moves to attack : COMESAT
39
___ Carter, most-recorded jazz bassist in history : RON
40
Exercise typically done lying down : LEGRAISE
41
Largest U.S. state capital by population, on a postmark : PHOENIXAZ
43
When doubled, a classic Mardi Gras tune : IKO
44
Annual honors celebrating African American achievement : BETAWARDS
46
Likely Cotton Bowl attendee : TEXAN
48
Place in math class : TENS
50
Many equal rights champions : FEMINISTS
52
Pros and cons, e.g. : SIDES
54
Peevish displays : SNITS
56
Welcome sights on road trips : RESTSTOPS
58
"Boxcars" : SIXES
60
Style of column at Berlin's Brandenburg Gate : DORIC
62
2017 chart-topping hit whose YouTube video was the first to reach 3 billion views : DESPACITO
64
Mark in art, in a way : ETCH
65
Playground game cry : NOTIT
67
Joke that goes over the line? : CRANKCALL
69
Turf ___ (football injury) : TOE
70
Caused to kvell : MADEPROUD
72
"This really needs to stop!" : IMSODONE
74
Piece of fudge? : FIB
77
Reveal the juiciest details : TELLALL
78
Squatting motions : KNEEBENDS
79
Muslim leader : IMAM
81
Volleyball star-turned-model Gabrielle : REECE
82
Close up on the screen? : GLENN
83
Scotland's ___ Lomond : LOCH
84
Charged : RANAT
86
Neighbor of India: Abbr. : PAK
87
Having a sailor's mouth, so to speak : CRASS
88
Group once led by Darth Sidious : SITH
89
Paintings such as "View of Toledo" : ELGRECOS
91
Given name of Caligula and Augustus : GAIUS
92
Harshly criticize : LASHAT
94
Joint accounts? : POLICEREPORTS
96
Québécois dish of French fries, cheese curds and gravy : POUTINE
97
Some limited-time offers : ONESHOTDEALS
98
Rhythmic pattern : CADENCE
99
Peevish : TESTY
100
"Somewhat" : SORTA
101
Wee bit : SMIDGEN
Down
1
Fundamentals : ABCS
2
Portmanteau for an extended autumn celebration : HALLOWEEKEND
3
Fried appetizer that resembles a blossom : BLOOMINGONION
4
Ebb tide feature : LOWWATER
5
___ child : INNER
6
Number in a tournament : SEED
7
Pink Floyd co-founder Barrett : SYD
8
Primary pipes : MAINS
9
Hebrides tongue : ERSE
10
Engineering sch. in Troy, N.Y. : RPI
11
"That's fine," in French : CESTBIEN
12
Making its way there : INTRANSIT
13
Doesn't ignore : HEEDS
14
Author Susan played by Meryl Streep in 2002's "Adaptation" : ORLEAN
15
Covered, in a way : PAIDFOR
16
Really hot, slangily : ENFUEGO
17
Squooshes, maybe : STEPSON
19
Bad things to find in a tea set : CHIPS
20
Lil Wayne's "___ Carter V" : THA
22
Sudden pang : THROE
24
Worked on in tandem : TAGTEAMED
27
Amusement park ride, informally : COASTER
28
Sort of investment purchase with a spike in popularity through social media : MEMESTOCK
30
Skedaddles : SPLITS
31
"Oh, good ___!" : GRIEF
32
One might offer concessions : FOODSTAND
33
Early springtime woe : TAXES
36
Neighbor of the Q key : TAB
37
Basketball legend nicknamed the "Point God" : CHRISPAUL
38
Their business is picking up : TAXIS
41
Term for a male opera character played by a woman : PANTSROLE
42
"White Teeth" novelist Smith : ZADIE
45
Witticism : WISECRACK
47
Very little : NEXTTONOTHING
49
River: Ger. : STROM
51
Thai cuisine quality : SPICINESS
53
Opportunity to make things right : SECONDCHANCE
55
Occupy, as a booth : SITAT
57
Landing sites for bees : STAMENS
59
"Good Lord!" : SHEESH
61
Apple product : CIDER
63
Elizabeth who starred in Marvel's "WandaVision" : OLSEN
66
Gets there in no time? : TELEPORTS
68
Defensive badminton shot : LOB
71
"Go right ahead!" : PLEASEDO
73
Removed from an exchange : DELISTED
74
Earthenware container for transporting heat : FIREPOT
75
"No one's here but me" : IMALONE
76
Ornamental bracelets : BANGLES
78
2019 animated Christmas film nominated for an Academy Award : KLAUS
80
New York college known for its polls : MARIST
82
Southern breakfast bowlful : GRITS
85
Into gadgets, say : TECHY
87
Soul singer Thomas : CARLA
88
Mecca resident : SAUDI
90
Boardroom V.I.P. : CEO
91
Parent of kids : GOAT
92
Mix of sand, silt and clay : LOAM
93
Many a TikTok user : TEEN
95
"___ my last email …" : PER
96
IT department inventory : PCS

Answer summary:
18 unique to this puzzle, 2 debuted here and reused later, 4 unique to Modern Era but used previously.

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