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New York Times, Tuesday, July 22, 2025

Author:
Jeremy Newton
Editor:
Will Shortz
Blog:
Enjoys immensely
TotalDebutLatestCollabs
316/15/200811/19/20254
SunMonTueWedThuFriSat
20133400
RebusCircleScrabDebutFlowFresh
10101.7641132.961%
Jeremy Newton

This puzzle:

Rows: 15, Columns: 15 Words: 76, Blocks: 44Missing: {JQZ}
Jim Horne notes:

Just when you thought you'd seen all the possible "playground comebacks", there's a debut today at 49-Across.

Patrick Blindauer had a similar theme in 2019.

1
V
2
I
3
P
4
F
5
O
6
A
7
M
8
G
9
N
10
A
11
W
12
A
C
A
13
I
14
A
L
T
A
15
S
O
U
T
H
16
T
A
L
L
17
O
R
D
E
R
18
P
E
K
O
E
19
N
E
O
N
S
20
S
21
C
U
S
E
M
E
22
V
Y
I
23
N
24
G
25
H
R
C
26
E
27
S
28
S
E
X
29
O
R
30
C
A
31
U
32
F
33
O
34
S
35
A
C
H
Y
36
S
P
O
I
L
37
C
A
P
E
38
T
R
I
O
39
C
R
O
C
K
40
K
N
E
W
41
M
E
N
U
42
R
O
V
E
S
43
O
G
R
E
44
E
W
E
S
45
U
B
E
R
46
S
O
S
A
D
47
O
48
R
B
49
D
O
50
T
O
O
51
T
52
E
53
A
M
U
S
54
A
55
H
A
V
56
O
57
C
58
A
P
L
U
S
59
S
60
C
61
O
O
P
E
D
U
62
P
63
B
E
A
C
H
64
I
P
A
S
65
R
I
T
A
66
S
E
S
H
67
F
A
T
E
68
N
E
W
© 2025, The New York Times7/22/25 ( No. 27,650 )
Across
1
Someone getting the red-carpet treatment, in brief : VIP
4
Lather on a latte : FOAM
8
Chew (on) : GNAW
12
Purple smoothie berry : ACAI
14
Utah ski resort : ALTA
15
Direction when things go bad : SOUTH
16
Big ask ... or a hint to this puzzle's shaded squares? : TALLORDER
18
Black tea variety : PEKOE
19
Ultra-vibrant colors : NEONS
20
"Come again??," casually : SCUSEME
22
In competition (for) : VYING
25
Inits. of the first female presidential candidate for a major party : HRC
26
County at one end of the River Thames : ESSEX
29
Deep-sea predator : ORCA
31
Phenomena leading some to believe that we are not alone : UFOS
35
Sore, as joints : ACHY
36
Ruin, as the end of a movie : SPOIL
37
Accessory for Batman or Robin : CAPE
38
Quartet minus one : TRIO
39
"What a ___!" ("Nonsense!") : CROCK
40
Was certain of : KNEW
41
Posting at the start of a drive-thru : MENU
42
Wanders here and there : ROVES
43
Storybook baddie : OGRE
44
Females in flocks : EWES
45
Company whose business is picking up? : UBER
46
"Such a pity!" : SOSAD
47
Planetary body, to poets : ORB
49
Playground comeback to "You have no idea!" : DOTOO
51
Powerhouse competitors in women's Olympic gymnastics : TEAMUSA
55
Wreak ___ (cause chaos) : HAVOC
58
Superb grade : APLUS
59
Eagerly obtained ... or a hint to the contents of this puzzle's shaded squares? : SCOOPEDUP
63
Place for umbrellas : BEACH
64
Some hoppy drinks at happy hour, in brief : IPAS
65
Hollywood icon Hayworth : RITA
66
Informal hangout at which attendees may jam or gossip : SESH
67
It's your destiny : FATE
68
Fresh on the scene : NEW
Down
1
Big winery fixture : VAT
2
Volunteer's confident cry : ICAN
3
Ashen-faced : PALE
4
Iranian language from which we get "turban" : FARSI
5
Obsolete : OLD
6
Took a side? : ATE
7
Planet whose evening temperatures plunge to -200°F : MARS
8
Enjoys immensely : GOESCUCKOOOVER
9
Heat in the microwave : NUKE
10
Basic building block : ATOM
11
"This roller coaster is awes-o-o-o-ome!" : WHEE
13
Words that express a deep-felt affection : ILOVEYOUSOMUCH
15
Part of a cowgirl's boot : SPUR
17
Jet-black stone : ONYX
21
Supplies for making sidewalk art : CHALKS
23
"Easy peasy!" : NOPROB
24
Shook it to the beat : GROOVED
26
Directions on the cake in "Alice in Wonderland" : EATME
27
Fastener with threads : SCREW
28
What starry skies and star pupils do : SHINE
30
Roman orator who said "Silence is one of the great arts of conversation" : CICERO
32
Vampire bat feature : FANGS
33
Work of Puccini or Bellini : OPERA
34
Stitched (up) : SEWED
36
Outfits for E.R. staff : SCRUBS
46
Ivory or Dove : SOAP
48
Be in a big hurry : RUSH
50
The items over there : THOSE
51
Kept ___ on (monitored) : TABS
52
Weapon for a duel : EPEE
53
"Ah, such is life!" : ALAS
54
"Keep dreaming, pal!" : ASIF
56
Father of Thor in both myth and the Marvel Universe : ODIN
57
Just adorable : CUTE
60
Tax prep pro : CPA
61
Something to feed a steed : OAT
62
Pussy foot? : PAW

Answer summary:
4 unique to this puzzle.

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