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Puzzles for April, 2025
with Jim Horne comments

View these same grids with comments from:
Constructor (2)Editor (4)Jim Horne (13)Hide comments
Tue 4/1/2025
AMIGAASPENBETA
MINERTIARAAVOW
INFLIGHTMAGAZINE
EELLESAIOLIS
USEONSANTO
SEATBACKPOCKET
SUNDAEHUPHANES
AMCSHINTODNA
GUESSICKNEURON
PRIORPASSENGER
GLASSPATHS
GETMADMACUFO
RETURNTRAYTABLES
INONEBIKEOATES
NYPDRAGEDLASSO

The initial view shows the puzzle as started by a PRIOR PASSENGER. Click the grid to overlay those letters with the solution. Click again for a clean grid, and again to reset. The red letters were correct.

Wed 4/2/2025
FIFEPAWNWED
ICONCANOEAPE
NEATWINDOWTRIM
IBMREAIRTULSI
SEPIATONEDPOTS
HEARTSORACLE
RDACARJACKED
RACCOON
BUDGETCUTNBA
ASIAGOSCOURS
REAMPERFECTFIT
IDLESBOILSFAR
SPORTSBUFFBONO
TONARENABONN
ATETODDSNAG
Thu 4/3/2025
EBBRAMBOCO*
BARQSEVIANHUN
THE*RYNIGHTETS
REBOOTSTATELY
DAZEUMMPAREN
PIERRE*EAROTC
INSTAAFGHANS
NON*TER
BEANIESSUMOS
CU*DLO*TSSOME
ATTICHOPAVEC
STRAYEDMANUEL
TSASTARCROSSED
LIDTANYASAUTE
ENESLEETPSI

Read the rebus squares as STAR going Across, and an asterisk going Down, as in *NSYNC, Q*BERT, M*A*S*H, and E*TRADE.

Hanh Huynh seems to like this kind of gimmick. Check out the holes in a previous grid.

Fri 4/4/2025
ALSOBLOBSMUSH
SIAMRADONASHE
KEYBOARDWARRIOR
SUTRASTRAINED
HEROOILING
ATESWINESATIN
BAMNSFJETHRO
ICALLEMASISEEEM
DOGEARVANONA
ESIGNSOCKSLED
CRATERSOLD
AIWEIWEINOBLE
CROSSATTHEGREEN
MARTIHEARNANO
ENDSNESTSANTS

Six interlocking grid spanners. That's using the old bean.

Sat 4/5/2025
LBSJOSHTRANS
AUTOMAKERMAYBE
TROJANWARINCAN
CRASHSITESDAFT
HOTAPSPRIORI
ALOESARMANI
OHIFORGOTAWMAN
LENTTUNICABLE
ALTERYOGACLASS
FLORESSHREK
HOPOUTTEAMTV
CODANOPRESSURE
ALERTPHONEITIN
PEETAPIPEDREAM
ESPYSSLEDSLO
Sun 4/6/2025 Course Correction
ASEABBASTESAABGAL
WHYDIOTHERTUNATACO
SEEMOTRIESUTTERROT
CAMPSHIRTIDOSEARS
SCANSINALIGNPMAGNA
PORNCAAEMPTSACES
AMESGAPYEARYPLS
TRASHYSOBSLEAZE
SCIONSSLAPSTONELAD
RAKEOBITURLSEGG
ETSYSPINCLASSESISAY
MRTTOILSOLOSKIM
TIAHUCKSTERNIMPART
SPYBOTSIDTIPTOE
CARLDARKALEISTO
QUINILIONERHUMET
BURLYTESTESCUSPIDS
LOREACIDHAPPYMEAL
ATERIGHTAIDEDMLEWD
SANSKRITBRIEFUMARY
ESTEASYSANDSSSTYE

The initial view shows the grid as you fill it in. Click the grid to see the courses being corrected (spun) to satisfy the crossing clues. Click again to reset.

Mon 4/7/2025
MOTHPICKBLAB
AWRYROMEPROSE
LIAMETONEIGHT
TENNISANYONE
SAFEAPTUMA
WELLINTENTIONED
AMATISUPEND
LITUPESCMIATA
KNIFEEONREM
TENORSAXOPHONES
OMGCONROTE
TENTOONEODDS
PECANISLEOREO
AGENTCHEWLUMP
LOOKSASSENOS

Each TEN and each ONE start on an odd-numbered square.

Tue 4/8/2025
ERASRAMENSTIR
SOLOERIKAMANY
TOLLHOUSECOOKIE
VERBSLIKENS
POKERGAMELEAK
OPINESEMMYS
SENTMANIATSK
ERECHIPSINRON
DASRUGBYCONE
TROTHDAHLIA
KHANTACOSALAD
ONECUPRURAL
DESKTOPCOMPUTER
ELIEUSEMEPALO
STATTUDORAXLE
Wed 4/9/2025
BTSMILLETANCHO
LOWELAINEBOOTH
UNEMIXEDRESULTS
SEEYOUUMAREPO
HITORMISSRBI
TIDYLEEFISCAL
IDEACOWAUTHORS
SOPPASSABLENIA
TWIDDLEBUSEAST
ONEWAYWETBART
ISPITSJUSTOK
ATTNSAGDRYICE
GOODNOTGREATSRA
REPLYOLEATOTAN
ASSETNEATENSTU

Oren joins Aidan on the Teenage Constructors page.

The NYT self-own at 61-Down is lovely.

Thu 4/10/2025
MACJARULETBSP
OREACUNITREAR
ERRGENTLENUDGE
TIVOTIAATTIC
VENDINGMACHINE
AZTECALLMAD
LAOSSTUDEWE
PINKYRING
REMAIRYSEND
ERAVIPAFTER
FINGERSANDWICH
UTURNEEOTKOS
GRAINOFSANDRUE
EELSHOORAYUSE
EASTOOPSIEBEN

Cute theme.

Fri 4/11/2025
COCACOLASITSME
OPERAROLELOPED
BARTRIVIALYING
SLAMPOETSWINDY
AOLOCEANS
GIJOESARIGATO
ERROLEFLATYUP
BOORAXELSDATE
BUNDRANORERUN
SPINACHPAEANS
CURSORLSD
SPARKLEFTALONE
PULSEICEPLANET
ARLESCOMOESTAS
TRYSTSNAPSTORY
Sat 4/12/2025
ITSABETTHATSO
NOTTODAYHESOUT
AGERANGERISERS
VISASCORE
LESTCAANSCUD
ICKMONTESSORI
SKAWONDERWOMAN
CEREALSROARING
IMEANCOMEONCIO
FALSEALARMTRU
IDLYJETSPOEM
WRESTMEAL
LARIATEGOTRIPS
ATONCEDELIMEAT
SENSESLETSFLY
Sun 4/13/2025 Both Sides Now
LEADDOGSNODSATSSRI
AUDIOJACKOTOOLETOWIT
PROCESSIONSCONCESSIONS
COPESPODIAONCOLOGY
APTSSNKIDFLASHPLO
TOETAPLONELYADIEU
PROTESTANTCONTESTANT
RODEBYIGNOREIT
RIPONCHIMPPRATFBI
EMINEMTAOOFPOOHIRON
CONTRACTORSPROTRACTORS
AUTODRINKYPOOGOSSIP
PTARAINOGRESRATSO
SEMPERFIBLEEPS
CONFESSIONPROFESSION
POLLSMATRIXPENNEY
ORDTIMELOOPPANTWO
PROMDATESEMISMARYI
CONVOCATIONPROVOCATION
ADEPTLOOKIETONYSTARK
NESSYONDERTEDTALKS

PROSTITUTION CONSTITUTION probably wouldn't fly at the NYT but these are five nice finds. Here are some more. There's an old joke that CONGRESS is the opposite of PROGRESS.

Mon 4/14/2025
CAMIVEERSAMMO
BLIPIMPEILOON
SERAGOINGOSLO
CODEOFCONDUCT
ALDAADO
EGGPLANTDIPWAS
LOOPSOARSMPH
LADSBENDSLUNA
ELFSEMIPALER
NSAKNUCKLEHEAD
TRIHARD
WHATSCRACKING
SHEDHAIKUDING
TERIAGAINACAI
PESOMENSAHEWN

It looks like the clue for 65-Across, "Elite group whose members include Steve Martin and Geena Davis", is incorrect.

Tue 4/15/2025
SLANGFRATMUM
GIJOELURESITE
TRAGICOMICWREN
SAXSHOOBOARS
CHERRYGARCIA
APPEAREASEL
BOHOMUSTIEPA
CLOSEBUTNOCIGAR
SETNARCOCRIT
ODORSLABORS
MAGICREALISM
ALEPHLUNKSAC
MINICRAIGSLIST
AKINBORGOILER
SECDEMIFETAL
Wed 4/16/2025
MUTEDHOWDALP
EGGNOGINHDKEA
SLEDGEREOSRAN
SILOTOTALCOST
ROTSCEMENTS
APESUITTBAR
GOVERNEDACESUP
ROIDGREGGATRA
AFLCIOFROGLEGS
HANGAFRAMES
SCHEMERPTUI
CRUXSEDERSTEW
RUMOKAYISLATE
ADOWISEXTERRA
PEREXESUSTEN
Thu 4/17/2025
ACAIACTINEMIT
BANSBRUNOGILA
ERGOLUNCHBOXES
TOESHOEHER
LLCOOLJLOTUS
ELMESPOUSES
SABLEFTCMNEME
TREESASHSETIN
ANASCROWDUHNO
FIRMARNERPEAR
FENCRISPEDFLA
APPLEPAULO
THITHEREMPIRES
POSSESSSOLACES
SWEDESFOREST

Click the grid to see the FOREST for the TREES. Click again to reset.

Having the entries before and after the letter additions both be legit crossword entries used to be considered a sign of added elegance. Now that crossword construction has become more sophisticated, it's become expected and even necessary. Even better, all the truncated answers here are types of trees.

Note that the arrangement of black squares alone is more or less tree-shaped, or at least tree-reminiscent. Another nice touch. The resulting pattern has neither rotational nor mirror symmetry. It's a rare asymmetric grid. Does this bother you? Did you notice?

Fri 4/18/2025
DIALITBACKISAY
ANTISOCIALMAMA
BARBIECOREONES
SPIESLEISTRI
TARAMINOFAIR
TALCDISC
PLAYITCOOLGUAM
DOUBLEORNOTHING
ANTEROCKBOTTOM
DOLLEONS
FOLLOWOYSDAM
ANOBRASTIGER
CZARACCELERATE
TONIPLAYACTION
SOSOSUREWHYNOT
Sat 4/19/2025
IBARDEBSCUD
RULEEXAMPAPER
ASOFACTIONITEM
INEZOHBOYEVA
ENGRAINSFORCED
METINSETNOTRE
ASHORETUTVISA
ISOMERSGRIEVES
LASETARINSECT
SCENTDEREKBOO
PULSARBASEJUMP
AMIBORONDORM
MENTALNOTEREUP
NEARFATALTATA
SUDSSTYSUED
Sun 4/20/2025 Double Vision
RIPSPARSSBARROBACON
UNOARRAYHINTATTRYME
ITSWOODSWOODSCREWCREW
NOTFITSTEWSHAMWALE
OPINESEDUCATEOPENER
ODORSPAMSPAMALOTALOT
RESENTEDNILWEED
BETSYNABOBGOONASWAN
SPAMADMADISONISONHMO
GAPSSTILTLUCPOPS
OVERHITSNORESPURPOSE
DEAFDOCBEGANLOEW
DIGDEMDEMAGOGAGOGHAD
SNEERACNEASADAABODE
SUETSAPIMINLOVE
PROPROCURESCURESOPED
LOITERHEATHERREJOIN
OLDEERADANAECOMETO
REDREDACTIONACTIONPUP
DALISTHEDOTINANEIRA
EXECSSALARYLANDSEEL
Mon 4/21/2025
TENDDUMBAGAR
ALEEATTICROPE
BARMITZVAHCOPA
ANDALESISDEC
STINKTHECASBAH
CREDMOODREESE
OARSANNBATTED
CHEETAH
DENALIYRSADAS
OPERAODIEPORT
JIMMYCHOOMAGMA
ATESAWSECTOR
COSTGESUNDHEIT
AMINELENAEARL
TESTLEAPSMEE

These quips are nothing to sneeze at.

Tue 4/22/2025
CUBAEMITFROYO
AHOYMIRALOVER
CAROLINAREAPERS
HUGONUSAVER
ELECTEEPROASA
SAINTPATRICKS
NOTACHQTIP
RODINTSKMUSTS
AKINKATSAO
GREEKELEMENTS
EARINKACCEPTS
EMMYBRUHHOU
BASEBALLPLAYERS
IDINAGALAURSA
GASUPAMERPEON
Wed 4/23/2025
DIBSSUNDAEAIRS
IMACONERUNSCAT
NEBULAAWARDPAPA
GAYBARAMOSARAN
UNCAPSTARSTRUCK
SIRSPAATEASE
TIPICONRPG
BLACKHOLESUN
ANNOBOESOS
DINDINLPSTAC
NOVASCOTIALHASA
ALTHONYCCAUGHT
FLUEGALAXYBRAIN
TUBAAMELIALIMA
APEDBERLINSNIP
Thu 4/24/2025
DARKFMOCKUMEN
ATONALOBEISANT
BEMINEVENDETTA
STATESDEER
ELCHAPOEARDRY
TOOSTUSEA
TIZZYCOMINGO
ANYASHEAFAFEW
MYSTERYPRADA
NEOESEGIG
GSUEWWSTREETS
ETNAOBTAIN
NICKNAMELOOFAS
RELIEVEREDKOCH
EBENDINGPIECE

Genres bend around corners.

I adore the Thursday Murder Club novels. The audio books are even better.

Fri 4/25/2025
SOVIETBLOCJABS
IMALLALONEUCLA
RANLIKEMADSCAN
INSIDEDOPETEND
NESATHAND
MAITIPROAST
CANMETARELAY
HIDDENSTAIRCASE
UNWEDEMMYMIA
HEADSLAPGPA
CAPLETLAO
POTSCARBOLOADS
OMNIAYOEDEBIRI
SMOGLUMBEREDIN
HATHSPEEDTRAPS
Sat 4/26/2025
EGGHEADEDAGLOW
DREAMYOGAINANE
WANTTOTRYDATES
IVIESTESHWEPT
NYEHOTPADRAE
MOODAIRSIGN
BONMOTLAPSED
SECRETADMIRER
RUSHATMEANER
OPTIMUSERSE
YEAPREPPYAND
ARCSFIEFTAMER
LITONSTAGEDIVE
WOOLFMAKEMAGIC
ERROLSLEEPMASK
Sun 4/27/2025 Numbers Game
NOTATALLKISSABLE
TRUTHBOMBSONOTTRUE
SANTACLAUSTHEONERING
BLEATONALEADAIDES
SCISTORMMCRAE
MUKBANGSIBMLOANZIT
STAYINALIVEMOONSHINE
DINEDIRAMASTALDA
OLGACUDIFONTHARLEM
SEARCHHISTORYPENTAX
LIONOLESILT
IMRICHBALLETSLIPPER
CREEPOTIDYSEASERMA
YADAERASIALCROOK
STILETTOSEMILYBRONTE
TEAGISTPGAARRANGED
FOGGYSEAMSSAY
LIANEGANDALFOPEDS
UPSIDEDOWNCALCULATOR
CATCONDOSTOPBANANA
ASSENTEDWRESTLES

If you're old enough, you'll remember how hilarious it was to see words spelled upside down in early calculators. Or you weren't a nerd, and you thought it was dumb. Either way, the puzzle works. This puzzle has a high percentage of creative clues. Bravo to Jacob Reed (this is his solo debut) and to the editors.

You can search for "calculator words" right here on XWord Info. This RegEx query finds the words from our wordlist and our dictionaries using only the letters Jacob used: BEGHILOSZ.

This OneLook query uses a different syntax and finds a different set. Many of the new words are unusable. A surprising number are colored light brown, meaning they did appear in pre-Shortz crosswords. Constructors are getting better, and software helps a lot.

Also, let's all please remember that CHICO Marx's name is pronounced chick-o, not cheek-o, a moniker highlighting his renown as a "chicken chaser", i.e., womanizer.

Mon 4/28/2025
MITTSSPANURSA
ONIONTUTUSETH
JACKOFALLTRADES
ILKORSEINE
TILFIVEYEAROLD
ONEMILEUMPSEE
SEDANARMAERO
KNOWITALL
LETOVIMOPTIN
AGODEFAWESOME
MOTHERINLAWATM
SAABIONSHE
MULTIHYPHENATES
TRUEPEPAOTERI
SFPDSAYSDARES
Tue 4/29/2025
GODSSMOKEDBLAB
EDITCAVIARRENO
LENAOHENRYONYX
GROWINGPAINS
VOLDNC
GETEMHIEDLOPEZ
ELOPRIMROSEHBO
RIOHOTORNOTOSO
MOLDSTPATSITEM
STARTHENSICONS
TANGENTLINES
SCEPTERONAWHIM
HONENOCLUEIOWA
ODORTOPICSNOIR
DEWYFISHETNA
Wed 4/30/2025
KALERCAFATS
ASIAALLDRIP
THETIMEISRIPE
HARDCOACHDJED
ANATENNERSADO
SAFARIULTRON
CENSORBAR
HOCKENETIFF
DALESWESSALAD
ENDSDISCODACA
PDFSINCURSTEW
ASLPEGLEGSFWD
ROADSBODIDEAL
TAMESECOGEESE
PELTEKGHASH
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