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New York Times, Wednesday, September 3, 2025

Author:
Michael B. Berg
Editor:
Will Shortz
Blog:
Neutral shade in some Florida décor?
TotalDebutLatest
23/15/20239/3/2025
SunMonTueWedThuFriSat
0002000
ScrabDebutFresh
1.59818%
Michael B. Berg

This puzzle:

Rows: 15, Columns: 15 Words: 78, Blocks: 36 Missing: {JQVX} This is puzzle # 2 for Mr. Berg. Wednesday freshness: 41%
1
S
2
C
3
A
4
R
5
F
6
A
7
G
8
A
9
R
10
N
11
A
12
S
13
H
14
A
I
R
E
D
15
T
U
N
A
16
A
R
L
O
17
T
A
M
P
A
18
B
E
I
G
E
19
S
T
A
R
20
S
O
S
O
21
L
U
L
L
22
D
A
M
N
S
23
S
24
K
I
P
T
O
25
M
Y
L
U
G
E
26
T
27
A
28
P
T
A
P
29
E
E
L
S
30
I
L
O
S
T
31
P
32
A
33
W
N
34
Y
E
35
T
36
I
37
L
O
P
38
Z
39
H
U
Z
H
U
40
P
41
U
H
S
42
L
O
T
43
R
44
O
N
T
O
45
L
46
O
M
A
N
47
H
E
48
L
L
49
G
U
N
S
I
T
50
T
51
H
E
D
E
A
52
D
53
S
54
I
E
G
E
55
H
I
H
A
T
56
E
A
R
N
57
I
58
D
59
O
60
L
61
E
T
O
N
62
B
U
C
K
A
63
R
O
U
G
E
64
M
O
O
T
65
A
C
H
E
66
A
T
A
R
I
67
E
N
D
S
68
R
E
A
D
69
P
A
L
E
S
© 2025, The New York Times9/3/25 ( No. 27,693 )
Across
1
Project for a beginning knitter : SCARF
6
Petri dish medium : AGAR
10
Niecy ___ of "Clean House" : NASH
14
Exposed, as one's dirty laundry : AIRED
15
Protein in a niçoise salad : TUNA
16
Guthrie who sang "Alice's Restaurant" : ARLO
17
Neutral shade in some Florida décor? : TAMPABEIGE
19
One getting top billing : STAR
20
Just OK : SOSO
21
Break in the action : LULL
22
Censures : DAMNS
23
Lighthearted invitation for joining one's sled team? : SKIPTOMYLUGE
26
[Is this thing on?] : TAPTAP
29
Fish feared by dragons in "How to Train Your Dragon" : EELS
30
Cry of defeat : ILOST
31
Chess piece that can be promoted : PAWN
34
Creature of Sherpa folklore : YETI
37
Chop (off) : LOP
38
Fancify … or a phonetic hint to 17-, 23-, 50- and 62-Across : ZHUZHUP
41
Stalling sounds : UHS
42
Tolkien trilogy, to fans : LOTR
44
Word after latch or glom : ONTO
45
"Death of a Salesman" salesman : LOMAN
47
A half-filled auditorium, per Robert Frost : HELL
49
Puts the pedal to the metal : GUNSIT
50
Headline during a zombie attack? : THEDEADSIEGE
55
Pair of cymbals with a foot pedal : HIHAT
56
Gain : EARN
57
World's most-watched television franchise, informally : IDOL
61
School within both Princeton and Carleton? : ETON
62
Price of makeup at the dollar store, informally? : BUCKAROUGE
64
No longer applicable : MOOT
65
Feel sore : ACHE
66
Console for the game Pitfall! : ATARI
67
Partner of odds : ENDS
68
Rhyming word after speed : READ
69
Loses color : PALES
Down
1
Exams that are often optional : SATS
2
Florence farewell : CIAO
3
Munitions : ARMS
4
Spreads on social media : REPOSTS
5
Cosmetics-regulating org. : FDA
6
Couldn't get enough of : ATEUP
7
Reason for a tucked tail, perhaps : GUILT
8
___-Saxon : ANGLO
9
Issa of "Insecure" : RAE
10
How a Dylan impersonator might sing : NASALLY
11
Tate Modern and others : ARTMUSEUMS
12
"That slaps," for something good, e.g. : SLANG
13
One might be mounted : HORSE
18
Tiny deviation from a general trend : BLIP
22
Product from Rit : DYE
24
New York City deli name : KATZ
25
It might be fixed at a chef's table : MENU
26
Cashier's tray : TILL
27
___ gobi (potato curry) : ALOO
28
Prepare to do an oil change, say : POPTHEHOOD
31
"The shoddy sandwich knife couldn't cut the mustard," e.g. : PUN
32
Early H.I.V. med : AZT
33
"___ knows?" : WHO
35
Phuket native : THAI
36
"___ she lovely?" (Stevie Wonder question) : ISNT
39
Greeting that becomes another greeting if you add an A at the front and reverse it : HOLA
40
Promote : PLUG
43
Stinging insects : REDANTS
46
The least amount a person might give : ONEIOTA
48
Tennis umpire's call : LET
49
Rowlands of "A Woman Under the Influence" : GENA
50
Subject : THEME
51
Discover by chance : HITON
52
Two in a hand : DEUCE
53
___ Baron Cohen, "The Trial of the Chicago 7" actor : SACHA
54
Ticked off : IRKED
58
Twofold : DUAL
59
Fairy tale baddie : OGRE
60
Some island rings : LEIS
62
Setting for many a joke with a priest, a pastor and a rabbi : BAR
63
Sharp knock : RAP

Answer summary:
7 unique to this puzzle.

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