This web browser is not supported. Use Chrome, Edge, Safari, or Firefox for best results.

New York Times, Friday, February 7, 2025

Author:
Kelly Morenus
Editor:
Will Shortz
Blog:
Bumping into someone, e.g.
TotalDebutLatest
510/21/20236/5/2026
SunMonTueWedThuFriSat
0000041
ScrabDebutFlowFresh
1.503352.579%
Kelly Morenus

This puzzle:

Rows: 15, Columns: 15 Words: 68, Blocks: 37 Missing: {JQZ} Spans: 2 This is puzzle # 2 for Ms. Morenus. Grid flow: 35.1 Friday freshness: 39%
Jim Horne notes:

Six terrific debut words in this grid.

The beautiful sea urchin Coelopleurus exquisitus was indeed discovered on EBAY.

1
P
2
R
3
E
4
D
5
I
6
C
7
T
8
A
9
B
10
L
11
E
12
C
R
I
M
E
N
O
V
E
L
I
S
13
T
14
C
H
A
N
C
E
E
N
C
O
U
N
T
E
15
R
16
P
O
W
D
E
R
17
C
O
N
E
18
A
X
E
19
R
I
N
S
E
20
P
E
P
S
21
E
B
A
Y
22
L
E
A
S
23
P
A
L
S
24
O
25
F
26
F
27
I
28
C
I
A
L
29
L
E
V
I
T
30
Y
31
P
R
O
T
E
C
T
32
F
O
R
E
S
E
E
33
S
E
R
E
N
E
34
R
I
C
K
S
H
A
W
35
E
M
M
A
36
T
E
A
K
37
T
H
U
S
38
W
E
S
T
39
D
40
E
41
A
42
N
43
S
44
H
A
L
45
M
A
N
U
46
B
U
R
S
A
R
47
O
N
A
48
R
E
G
U
L
49
A
R
B
A
S
I
S
50
D
I
N
N
E
R
T
H
E
A
T
E
R
51
C
A
U
S
E
S
A
R
I
O
T
© 2025, The New York Times2/7/25 ( No. 27,485 )
Across
1
Like the ending of a typical rom-com : PREDICTABLE
12
Murder she wrote? : CRIMENOVELIST
14
Bumping into someone, e.g. : CHANCEENCOUNTER
16
Material that goes on a foundation : POWDER
17
What's holding up dessert? : CONE
18
Chop : AXE
19
Step on a shampoo bottle : RINSE
20
Amps (up) : PEPS
21
Site where a previously unidentified species of sea urchin was discovered in 2004 : EBAY
22
Grazing spaces : LEAS
23
Buds : PALS
24
Recognized : OFFICIAL
29
It lightens things : LEVITY
31
Cushion : PROTECT
32
Divine : FORESEE
33
At peace : SERENE
34
Popular mode of transport in Dhaka : RICKSHAW
35
___ Bunton a.k.a. Baby Spice : EMMA
36
South Asian wood : TEAK
37
Ergo : THUS
38
Wild ___ : WEST
39
Campus figures : DEANS
44
Shakespearean prince : HAL
45
First English football club to win the European Cup, informally : MANU
46
Campus figure : BURSAR
47
Every other day, say : ONAREGULARBASIS
50
Play with one's food? : DINNERTHEATER
51
Sets off mayhem : CAUSESARIOT
Down
1
10-legged crustacean : PRAWN
2
Some garnishes : RINDS
3
Announcer : EMCEE
4
Does, perhaps : DEER
5
Chemical suffix : INE
6
Mask : CONCEAL
7
Kojak and Friday, for two : TVCOPS
8
A long, long time : AEONS
9
Down : BLUE
10
Architect Maya : LIN
11
Prove : ESTABLISH
12
"Parasite" actor ___ Woo-shik : CHOI
13
Oil, slangily : TEXASTEA
14
Medic's skill, for short : CPR
15
Felipe VI, en España : REY
20
Source of some smokiness in whiskey : PEAT
21
Aid in keeping rain away from walls : EAVES
22
Some sources of typhus : LICE
23
Benefit : PERK
24
Brief missions : OPS
25
One way to illustrate : FREEHAND
26
Unoriginal, as a plot : FORMULAIC
27
Hot couples : ITEMS
28
John ___, longtime W.W.E. wrestler : CENA
29
Secure : LOCK
30
Tree with red berrylike fruit : YEW
32
Command : FIAT
34
They may be guaranteed ... "or your money back" : RESULTS
36
Campus protection : TENURE
37
Poetic conjunction : THO
38
Topic for collective bargaining : WAGES
39
Land that has no personal income tax : DUBAI
40
Muse with a lyre : ERATO
41
Positive : ASSET
42
Depilatory brand : NAIR
43
Campus figs. : SRS
45
It might be open for lunch : MENU
46
Uncle Remus title : BRER
48
Minuscule messenger : RNA
49
___ moment : AHA

Answer summary:
6 unique to this puzzle, 2 unique to Modern Era but used previously.

  Please log in to use the Analyze feature.

Found bugs or have suggestions? Please let us know.

Like this puzzle? Please share this page on social media to help spread the word about XWord Info. Thanks!

XWord Info Home
XWord Info © 2007-2026, Jim Horne
26 ms