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SHIFTING SOUNDS

New York Times, Sunday, May 3, 2020

Author:
Ben Zimmer and Brendan Emmett Quigley
Editor:
Will Shortz
Blog:
Academy Award winner for "Moonlight" and "Green Book"
TotalDebutLatestCollabs
25/3/20204/15/20212
SunMonTueWedThuFriSat
1000100
ScrabDebutFresh
1.561056%
Ben Zimmer
TotalDebutLatestCollabs
1938/7/199612/22/202321
SunMonTueWedThuFriSatVariety
385152119522716
RebusCircleScrabDebutFresh
531.631,16472%
Brendan Emmett Quigley

This puzzle:

Rows: 21, Columns: 21 Words: 140, Blocks: 80 Missing: none – this is a pangram. Puzzle has duplicate clues. This is the debut puzzle for Mr. Zimmer. This is puzzle # 186 for Mr. Quigley. Sunday freshness: 11%
Will Shortz notes:
Ben Zimmer is the language columnist for The Wall Street Journal, a contributing writer for The Atlantic and a former language columnist for The New York Times. Brendan Emmett Quigley is a ... read more
Constructor notes:
BEN: It's a real pleasure to be making my debut as a Times crossword constructor, and it feels like it's been a long time coming. I've been addicted to crosswords — and word puzzles more ... read more
Jeff Chen notes:
Ben Zimmer! Linguist of fame, WSJ columnist, contributor to The Atlantic. Yeah, yeah, but what matters is that he's now part of the NYT crossword constructors' club. Umberto Eco, Brian Eno ... read more
Jim Horne notes:

Ben Zimmer and Will Shortz each took over high-profile word-related jobs after the deaths of beloved predecessors — William Safire for Ben, Eugene Maleska for Will. Both faced initial criticism. Both turned out just fine.

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N
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U
© 2020, The New York Times5/3/20 ( No. 25,744 )
Across
1
Smashing : SOCKO
6
Wide-eyed in wonder : AGOG
10
Woofer output : BASS
14
Casual vodka order : STOLI
19
Bubbling : ABOIL
20
Pricey : DEAR
21
Alma mater of Grant and Lee: Abbr. : USMA
22
Board game piece : TOKEN
23
Dog's order at a malt shop? : HOUNDSHAKE
25
The "day" in "seize the day" : DIEM
26
"Arrival" visitor : ALIEN
27
You can see right through it : LENS
28
Part of H.M.S. : HER
29
"Game of Thrones" patriarch has difficulties? : NEDFLOUNDERS
32
Zora Neale Hurston's "___ Eyes Were Watching God" : THEIR
34
Stand-up comic Kondabolu : HARI
35
Drum heard in raga music : TABLA
36
Creator of Christopher Robin : AAMILNE
38
Beat out by a hair : EDGED
40
Big name in ratings : NIELSEN
44
Male sailors : SHIPMEN
45
Words of affirmation : YESSES
47
Upscale : DELUXE
48
Android alternative : IOS
49
___ Mahal : TAJ
51
Kind of diet : FAD
53
Chest muscle, informally : PEC
54
The "S" of 48-Across : SYSTEM
58
Advised a chess player to attack the king? : COUNSELEDCHECK
65
Spanish unit of time with a tilde : ANO
66
Yoda, to Luke : MENTOR
67
Shows as an encore presentation : REAIRS
68
A fingerprint can leave one : SMUDGE
70
Cell no., say : TEL
71
Strips of weapons : UNARMS
72
Coming from two speakers : STEREO
73
Frequent choice for maid of honor : SISTER
75
Deg. for an aspiring attorney abroad : LLB
76
Part of Disney's advertising budget? : MOUSEMARKETING
78
How some pranks might go : TOOFAR
82
Constellation with a palindromic name : ARA
83
Scat syllable for Sinatra : DOO
84
Hula loop : LEI
86
Academy Award winner for "Moonlight" and "Green Book" : ALI
87
Dr. Seuss character who becomes "King of the Mud" : YERTLE
91
Sushi condiment : WASABI
95
Birds that can recognize themselves in mirrors : MAGPIES
99
Beyond sad, or beyond happy : INTEARS
101
Some piercing spots : LOBES
102
Categorically stated : AVERRED
103
Indubitably : QUITE
105
Bellybutton fluff : LINT
106
Bordeaux wine region : MEDOC
107
Decisively defeat a cabinet department? : TROUNCESTATE
111
Musical knack : EAR
112
Share on social media : POST
115
Like a zealous fan base : RABID
116
School attended by 20 prime ministers : ETON
117
Feeling one gets under anesthesia at the dentist? : FUZZYMOUTH
120
Rat in "Ratatouille" : EMILE
121
Word before or after run : LONG
122
Memo heading : INRE
123
Prize for a doc, maybe : OSCAR
124
Stick a fork in : SPEAR
125
Weapon with a bell guard : EPEE
126
Loathsome person : TOAD
127
Indira Gandhi's father : NEHRU
Down
1
Comedian Mort : SAHL
2
Instrument from the French for "high wood" : OBOE
3
Bad shot by Dracula? : COUNTMISS
4
Affinity : KINSHIP
5
Lacking originality : OLD
6
Follower : ADHERENT
7
Prepare, with "up" : GEAR
8
Symbol of sturdiness : OAK
9
___ launcher : GRENADE
10
Close pals : BUDDIES
11
"Yeah, right!" : ASIF
12
Process, as ore : SMELT
13
Language with only 14 native letters : SAMOAN
14
He made his final cameo in "Avengers: Endgame" : STANLEE
15
Spilled one's soul : TOLDALL
16
'30s migrant : OKIE
17
Unwelcome look : LEER
18
Places to exchange dollars for quarters : INNS
24
Stand out from the crowd : SHINE
30
Little bits of energy : ERGS
31
Competitor of eBay : UBID
33
Tree that lines the Central Park Mall : ELM
34
Debut single for both Jimi Hendrix and Patti Smith : HEYJOE
36
Flaws and all : ASIS
37
Shout for 44-Across : AHOY
39
Put off for another day : DEFER
41
Building caretakers : SUPERS
42
Higher-ups in a hierarchy : EXECS
43
Part of a guitar : NECK
46
One on the road in "On the Road" : SAL
50
Maker of Instant Feathers and Hi-Speed Tonic : ACME
52
Laura of "Marriage Story" : DERN
55
Does some bronco-busting, e.g. : TAMES
56
Accustom (to) : ENURE
57
Broadband device : MODEM
59
Loosen, in a way : UNTIE
60
Banned display of firepower, informally : NTEST
61
Conductor Georg with 31 Grammys : SOLTI
62
Passed out in Vegas : DEALT
63
Gambino crime family patriarch : CARLO
64
Attractive but vacuous guy, in slang : HIMBO
68
Mary, Queen of Scots, e.g. : STUART
69
Prod : GOAD
71
Prod : URGE
72
Philosopher Kierkegaard : SOREN
73
"Salud!" cousin : SKOAL
74
Heed an army poster : ENLIST
76
"Will you allow me to demonstrate?" : MAYI
77
Plane ticket info : ROW
79
Comfy seating at a carnival? : FAIRCOUCH
80
Downwind, at sea : ALEE
81
New England art inst. : RISD
85
"Mind. Blown." : IMAMAZED
88
Shot served with salt and lime : TEQUILA
89
Clean : LAUNDER
90
Lexicographer Partridge : ERIC
92
Singer Knowles with a 2016 #1 album : SOLANGE
93
Ever so slightly : ABIT
94
Perk from work : BENEFIT
96
Tex who animated Bugs Bunny : AVERY
97
Diploma equivalent, in brief : GED
98
Make an engaging offer? : PROPOSE
100
British spy Christopher in 2016 news : STEELE
104
Legally prohibit : ESTOP
107
Parisian equivalent to "molto" or "muy" : TRES
108
Increase, with "up" : RAMP
109
Stage prize since 1956 : OBIE
110
It distinguishes meaning in many East Asian languages : TONE
111
Fitch of Abercrombie & Fitch : EZRA
113
Red carpet interviewee : STAR
114
Traffic sign word : THRU
118
Card game call : UNO
119
Sun follower? : MON

Answer summary:
9 unique to this puzzle.

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