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New York Times, Monday, May 25, 2026

Author:
Anthony Grubb
Editor:
Will Shortz
Blog:
Variety of chili that can reach a Scoville score of 1+ million
TotalDebutLatest
36/24/20245/25/2026
SunMonTueWedThuFriSat
0300000
ScrabDebutFlowFresh
1.68529.919%
Anthony V. Grubb

This puzzle:

Rows: 15, Columns: 15 Words: 78, Blocks: 38 Missing: {FJQX} This is puzzle # 3 for Mr. Grubb. Grid flow: 24.3 Monday freshness: 28%
1
K
2
I
3
D
4
S
5
M
6
I
7
L
8
D
9
M
10
O
11
T
12
E
13
L
14
E
D
I
T
15
A
C
E
R
16
I
M
A
G
E
17
L
O
V
E
18
S
C
E
N
E
19
L
E
M
O
N
20
P
L
E
A
T
21
D
A
22
R
K
N
E
S
S
23
L
A
24
W
25
N
26
M
A
T
27
S
28
P
29
A
30
G
H
O
31
S
T
P
E
32
P
33
P
34
E
35
R
36
A
L
P
37
S
38
A
S
H
39
S
A
L
I
V
A
40
L
A
N
E
41
T
E
A
42
C
H
43
O
P
E
N
44
A
T
E
A
45
S
E
46
W
O
E
47
T
E
N
D
48
D
E
A
T
H
V
49
A
L
L
E
50
Y
51
S
T
Y
52
T
E
N
53
A
T
O
54
P
55
B
56
E
57
S
58
M
I
R
C
59
H
60
Y
A
61
W
62
N
63
S
64
A
Z
T
E
C
65
H
O
66
T
67
H
O
T
H
O
T
68
T
R
U
N
K
69
O
B
O
E
70
H
I
V
E
71
H
A
N
D
S
72
S
O
N
Y
73
S
P
A
M
© 2026, The New York Times5/25/26 ( No. 27,957 )
Across
1
Jokes (around) : KIDS
5
Not very spicy : MILD
9
Super 8 or Red Roof Inn : MOTEL
14
Paper cut? : EDIT
15
Big name in laptops : ACER
16
Public relations concern : IMAGE
17
Steamy segment in a movie : LOVESCENE
19
Fruit that makes your lips pucker : LEMON
20
Tennis skirt feature : PLEAT
21
Lack of light : DARKNESS
23
Locale for a plastic flamingo : LAWN
26
Yoga studio essential : MAT
27
De-tension center? : SPA
30
Variety of chili that can reach a Scoville score of 1+ million : GHOSTPEPPER
36
European ski destination : ALPS
38
Volcanic spew : ASH
39
Sample collected by Ancestry.com : SALIVA
40
Daily Planet reporter Lois : LANE
41
Show the ropes : TEACH
43
"___ sesame!" : OPEN
44
Comfortable : ATEASE
46
Anguish : WOE
47
Manage, as a bar : TEND
48
California national park known for its dryness : DEATHVALLEY
51
Pigs' digs : STY
52
Number starting a countdown : TEN
53
Sitting on : ATOP
55
Bring dishonor upon : BESMIRCH
60
"I'm sleepy" signals : YAWNS
64
Ancient Mexican empire : AZTEC
65
1980s hit with the lyric "Me mind on fire, me soul on fire" ... or how one might describe 17-, 30- and 48-Across? : HOTHOTHOT
68
Back of a car or front of an elephant : TRUNK
69
Orchestral woodwind : OBOE
70
Place of buzziness? : HIVE
71
Most watches have three of these : HANDS
72
Japanese electronics giant : SONY
73
An estimated 25% of modern phone calls : SPAM
Down
1
Seaweed in an underwater forest : KELP
2
Revered figure : IDOL
3
Go off the deep end? : DIVE
4
Incredible bargain : STEAL
5
Kraft ___ & Cheese : MAC
6
Lead-in to maker or breaker : ICE
7
Give, but expect back : LEND
8
Experienced during sleep : DREAMT
9
Frothy drink often served with boba : MILKTEA
10
A ladybug landing on you is considered a good one : OMEN
11
Opposite of wild : TAME
12
Alter ___ (other selves) : EGOS
13
Camera shop purchase : LENS
18
Adult male deer : STAG
22
A hardened criminal might have a long one : RAPSHEET
24
"Yeah, yeah" : WHATEVER
25
Missing part of the Great Sphinx of Giza : NOSE
27
Leafy lunch order : SALAD
28
Piece of armadillo armor : PLATE
29
Common sleep disorder : APNEA
31
Item worn over the shoulders : SHAWL
32
"The ___ thickens ..." : PLOT
33
Vocal cords, informally : PIPES
34
Happening : EVENT
35
Singer Newman with the hit "You've Got a Friend in Me" : RANDY
37
Chair or pew : SEAT
42
Coke or Pepsi : COLA
45
Gimmicky routines : SHTICKS
49
Dried poblanos used in mole sauce : ANCHOS
50
Toy on a string : YOYO
54
Trails : PATHS
55
Relaxing soak : BATH
56
Book just after Ezekiel, alphabetically : EZRA
57
Flabbergast : STUN
58
Patch up : MEND
59
Drifter in search of work : HOBO
61
What to do with egg whites when making meringue : WHIP
62
Luminous stellar explosion : NOVA
63
Women in ___ (educational advocacy group) : STEM
66
Colossal quantity : TON
67
"Yoo-hoo!" : HEY

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

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