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

New York Times, Thursday, July 30, 2026

Author:
Joel Woodford
Editor:
Will Shortz
Blog:
6-Across : Like former secrets
TotalDebutLatest
38/28/20257/30/2026
SunMonTueWedThuFriSat
0100200
CircleScrabFlowFresh
11.6827.626%
Joel Woodford

This puzzle:

Rows: 15, Columns: 16 Words: 79, Blocks: 36 Missing: {JQWZ} This is puzzle # 3 for Mr. Woodford. Grid flow: 27.1 Thursday freshness: 31%
Jim Horne notes:
Replace the first letter of each italicized clue with its NATO alphabet equivalent. Clue Parse NATO conversion Cluster C + luster Charlie + ... read more
1
R
2
E
3
S
4
E
5
T
6
S
7
H
8
A
9
R
10
E
11
D
12
H
13
O
14
P
15
E
X
T
R
A
16
K
O
S
O
V
O
17
A
P
T
18
C
H
A
R
L
19
I
E
S
H
E
E
N
20
R
H
O
21
T
A
N
22
K
N
E
E
23
N
24
O
V
E
L
25
O
L
D
26
P
R
O
27
A
28
L
29
P
30
H
A
M
A
L
E
31
R
E
B
R
A
N
32
D
33
O
L
E
34
G
R
I
M
35
D
Y
E
D
36
A
37
P
C
A
L
38
C
39
D
A
Y
40
S
I
41
E
R
R
A
C
L
U
42
B
43
P
44
I
45
G
46
O
R
I
O
L
E
47
R
O
48
S
49
S
50
C
H
A
51
N
52
M
E
N
53
S
54
P
I
R
I
T
55
S
56
G
O
L
F
57
R
A
N
G
58
E
59
L
O
N
D
O
N
60
A
P
P
L
E
61
L
62
A
O
S
63
E
N
O
64
M
E
A
65
N
66
A
67
T
68
O
A
L
P
H
69
A
B
E
T
70
E
S
L
71
T
R
E
A
T
S
72
O
V
E
R
T
73
S
O
S
74
S
T
E
R
E
O
75
P
A
T
S
Y
© 2026, The New York Times7/30/26 ( No. 28,023 )
Across
1
Change entirely : RESET
6
Like former secrets : SHARED
12
Make like a frog : HOP
15
One who doesn't speak while in a cast : EXTRA
16
Balkan state that's been independent since 2008 : KOSOVO
17
Like the name of former soccer star Mark De Man : APT
18
Cluster : CHARLIESHEEN
20
Density symbol : RHO
21
Go for gold? : TAN
22
It may be padded or slapped : KNEE
23
Do you read me? : NOVEL
25
Veteran : OLDPRO
27
Agent : ALPHAMALE
31
Change logos, maybe : REBRAND
33
"Bravo!" : OLE
34
Dour : GRIM
35
Unnatural, in a way : DYED
36
H.S. course covering integrals : APCALC
39
___ trading : DAY
40
Steam : SIERRACLUB
43
Sow, e.g. : PIG
46
Black-and-orange bird : ORIOLE
47
Bob who painted "happy little trees" : ROSS
50
Jackie who co-starred in "Rush Hour" : CHAN
52
Top halves of centaurs : MEN
53
They may be lifted ... or downed : SPIRITS
56
Gambit : GOLFRANGE
59
City with red buses : LONDON
60
Big or bad follower : APPLE
61
So-called "Land of a Million Elephants" : LAOS
63
Fripp & ___ (musical duo) : ENO
64
___ culpa : MEA
65
Communication aid that helps make sense of the italicized clues : NATOALPHABET
70
Subj. for immigrants, maybe : ESL
71
Training aids for a lab, say : TREATS
72
Plain : OVERT
73
___ pad : SOS
74
What headphones often play in : STEREO
75
Shark's mark : PATSY
Down
1
Church leader : RECTOR
2
Took one's breath away? : EXHALED
3
Remain loyal to : STANDBY
4
Pronounce "aisle" as it's spelled, e.g. : ERR
5
It often leans left or right : TALKRADIO
6
___-Ball : SKEE
7
Joel follows it : HOSEA
8
Flame's remains : ASH
9
Lumpsucker eggs : ROE
10
Biblical second coming? : EVE
11
Prima ___ : DONNA
12
University of Cambridge : HARVARD
13
"Hamlet" noblewoman : OPHELIA
14
Developer of a geocentric model of the universe : PTOLEMY
19
Words after cash or zero : INON
24
[Horrors!] : OMG
26
Org. leader : PRES
28
One who knows all the shortcuts, maybe : LOCAL
29
Puts down : PLACES
30
Where Dante's path to paradise begins : HELL
32
Panama's ___ National Park : DARIEN
37
That's the whole point! : PRONG
38
Seller of knickknacks : CURIOSHOP
41
Gospel singer Franklin : ERMA
42
Like a zoomer after 1997 : BORN
43
Minecraft and World of Warcraft : PCGAMES
44
"If we're lucky!" : IHOPESO
45
Rhyming name for a certain group of friends : GALPALS
48
It's not the main part of the action : SIDEBET
49
High achievers? : STONERS
51
Notable org. with 32 members : NFL
54
Sit (down) heavily : PLOP
55
Arrogant : SNOTTY
57
Lets : RENTS
58
Really please : ELATE
62
Plus : ALSO
66
It might be left hanging : ART
67
Most common letter in this clue : TEE
68
Boat propeller : OAR
69
Director DuVernay : AVA

Answer summary:
2 unique to this puzzle.

Log in or purchase a subscription to view an analysis of this puzzle.

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
36 ms