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Puzzles for January, 2026
with Jim Horne comments

View these same grids with comments from:
Constructor (4)Editor (4)Jim Horne (14)Hide comments
Thu 1/1/2026
THISRASPTUNER
HOSTACTEDALONE
RUSEWHATOUTBOB
USUALSTYXALLA
MEEMAWETESEAR
UNCLESAM
PAPERBOYTAMPA
THEREAMSPINAAP
ASIANRELAXANT
SCOPEOUT
EPIEVALMEDUSA
GANGERINDEMON
ANSWERKEYSBALI
DETECTIVESIMAM
SLANGTETETIRE

A piano technician (9-Across) will tune your piano, but that's a small part of what they do to keep your piano repaired, the keys balanced, the hammer density maintained, etc. It's like calling a car mechanic an oil changer.

Fri 1/2/2026
ARFWHATISART
DEIGNHABANEROS
APBIOICANTLOOK
MOONWALKDEFATS
SSNWWEBORER
AFEWBOONS
RECURTAXRETURN
EMCEEOSUTEPEE
GUILTTRIPFEAST
TAHOEDAMN
PALESPAMDAX
CLUNKYMONOGAMY
AIRKISSESUNTIL
VEGENAISESCENE
ENERGYBARMOM
Sat 1/3/2026
BADAPPLESSPADE
ICEPALACETOBEY
LASTDANCEAMBLE
LIKELIKEDPERES
SONYMULLET
ROTCMOREOVER
MINSKBONDSITE
ACESPICEUPAHI
HEMIEBAYLETIN
ICANHELPAGES
ONTAPEDING
SOBERCLICKHERE
OKANDAUNATUREL
SENSEMNEMONICS
ORDERPARENTESE

I like like this one.

Sun 1/4/2026 Base Pairs
RIBCAGEOSIRISAMA
NITRATESSESAMEPLACE
APLUSSESSTOPITYOUTWO
MALTANEOMINMENTOR
BUBBAHADENGAWKS
CAESARIGNORESTELOS
ALFSUBMENUPAOLO
MAUDTYPEABALITASIS
PINENUTSPLACATEDCFC
NOSEPOETRYMUFASA
AURICFILCHESERROR
SGTMAJSPIRESJULY
ALEPUSHESONPOPSUGAR
PISHDRATSINTERPAVE
ADAIRSAYSYOULOS
JESUSPREENEDASLANT
CURADHADSTBREAD
ADOBESNYSSIECURIE
LATEBLOOMERSAGRARIAN
SIERRALEONEGOOSEEGG
CFOKIDNAPOTHELLO

At 13-Down, Set (also spelled Seth, Sutekh, Setekh) is an ancient Egyptian god, most famous for murdering his brother Osiris.

  • Role in myth:

    • Set is Osiris's brother and Horus's uncle.
    • In the Osiris myth, Set murders Osiris—often by trapping him in a coffin and later dismembering his body.
    • He scatters Osiris's remains across Egypt, per 13-Down.
    • Isis, Osiris's wife, searches for and reassembles the pieces so Osiris can be resurrected in the afterlife.
  • Usurping the throne:

    • After killing Osiris, Set takes the throne of Egypt.
    • Osiris and Isis's son, Horus, later challenges Set for the kingship in a long series of contests and trials.
    • In most versions, Horus eventually wins and becomes the rightful king, restoring order.
Mon 1/5/2026
WORTHASHHALO
ENNUITIEPARER
BOARDROOMAIRED
KEANUATTIRE
MRTTAXIDRIVER
COUNSELGOOEDS
ASSETNOBLE
TAKEOFFFROMWORK
DWELLAARON
EBBATAPENNAME
FLYSWATTERLEE
FILIALBRICE
EMILYTOUCHDOWN
TENTSINSIGLOO
EYESSEECEDED

You BOARD a plane, TAXI, TAKE OFF, FLY, and (if things go well) TOUCH DOWN.

Tue 1/6/2026
UHURASIGMAOTS
LETATILIADNEO
THERESNOTWOIMS
RIRIABSLDOPA
AMINORITYOFONE
PANODORS
PHASERYEIKEA
SETINOPPOSITION
IMANMAGDONNY
LEVARADE
NOWINSITUATION
DOWSEBLMROMO
ACEWAYSABOUTIT
DABALOESMCATS
APBSTUNTGESSO
Wed 1/7/2026
JADAHEALSAPES
EPICENRONWOAH
TINKERBELLAWRY
LEEASAPARENA
ACIDSNANCYDREW
GENETICOOOTSA
FEDSSNCITY
DOROTHYGALE
SMOGTAOEMO
TAGFORPETSPAS
ELLEWOODSREESE
AWORDPAPASHE
LAVAHELLOKITTY
TRESALUMSALOO
HEREMISSYMENU
Thu 1/8/2026
BELABCSARBUS
AMADRIPYOINK
HIGHDIVEPONZI
TRUETIANAGIN
NAECROPTOPS
THIRDSVIE
OATGENIEAFRO
GRADEINFLATION
APSEZESTYFSU
AXEYENTAS
OVERBOOKSAY
AILONSETSCOT
KOTEXALISTERS
ELOTEGLEENCO
NANASEYRETAS

Thanks to GRADE INFLATION:

  • HIGH FIVE → HIGH DIVE
  • DROP TOPS → CROP TOPS
  • OVERCOOK → OVERBOOK
  • A LISTERS → BLISTERS
Fri 1/9/2026
PUPPYLOVETABS
ONAHEATERURLS
CIGARBOXESBEAN
OXESHECKYEAH
TELLSTIES
CPUOUINOTME
AIRMARSHALCRAP
BENEFITSPACKAGE
ICEEDONTSASSME
NERTSSETHAS
CUTINREAP
CRUSADEDNAPS
BOOTMRRIGHTNOW
IDLEIVENOIDEA
ZEESSETUPCAMP
Sat 1/10/2026
YOULOOKFABRAFT
WATERHORSEACAI
CRAIGSLISTTING
ASHANNEESIDLE
NSANTHPOWER
VAMPEDORNATE
RIBSCOYLYSTY
DITSNOFEERHEE
ADARANDOBEER
MELLONOHCRUD
NOSEHAIRZIP
DRIVESONESREB
EDGEATTACKMODE
SINENOHTHEATER
TESSYOYOSTRING
Sun 1/11/2026 It's All Greek
RAFACHUNTHTAMP
IMINPANAMADOREOBOE
PΦNGPADDLEFEDEXPURR
OBELIROOTALIAMAZES
FIRECHIEFCRΦSSPUZZLE
FAYTOASTERCOIN
DUNNMOETNURSES
SAPΦRESTPAΦDSOΦSTS
ALONESOΦASKIPENTRE
WIIGTEMPTIDSAYGRIP
ENDAWASHNACREVAC
ANTIDELHIGNATSONTO
PASTSDIAZICRYLIGER
STACHEAPENEDPACERS
ETHENEEDITWISE
EYREPODCASTACE
FLΦPSANDALSOHTHATSOK
ALLAHEDGYPLOTCRANE
CABSASIANHΦPARTISTS
EMITSTERNINIGOBEEB
SANESOSNEWETSY

Phee PHI pho phum...

The Greek letter Φ — spelled out as PHI — looks like an I superimposed on an O, often depicted with serifs as represented in the grid. In this puzzle, Φ sometimes means PHI and sometimes means the first part of the answer has an I and it loops back and is then repeated as an O. Answers below the grid are fixed up.

The app at the Times takes PHI or IO or OI or O or I or various other combinations as correct.

Mon 1/12/2026
PSYCHSWOOPSHED
ALOHANITROCODA
SAYITDONTSPRAYIT
STOPECOOPERATE
SOMANYILY
CPRNOPAINNOGAIN
ELUDESPASOMNI
LUBESELSECONAN
EMILOREIODINE
BEKINDREWINDOER
CODKISSED
MYFAULTSAPEDEN
YOUSNOOZEYOULOSE
OGRETRESSSHISO
BAYSSEETOSITON
Tue 1/13/2026
LAGTHETABALI
ALECOLASEXEC
WINHOLLAAIDE
NEONATALNURSE
SNAILARC
CLIOSAURA
MECHANICALBULL
CLUECLODSNIA
ALTCARNEBAND
TECTONICPLATES
NOIRGETAT
MGSPITCH
WEWILLROCKYOU
JAVAOMAHAPUN
OVALPAINTELK
GENZSOLOSADS
Wed 1/14/2026
PALEDGUCCITWO
AIOLIREARMAHI
BROADWAYMUSICAL
ASKOEDSCOOTS
INKSPSHAW
ISEETEATRATES
NILEENCOREOUT
LEOORDEREDERA
EGOKNICKSGTOS
TESSAVASTRASH
HYPERSLOP
PETITEBOAPHO
STEPHENSONDHEIM
INNELIOTLARVA
SADNEXUSESSEN

There's a part of you always standing by
Mapping out the sky, finishing a hat
Starting on a hat, finishing a hat
Look, I made a hat
Where there never was a hat

It's hard for me to be objective because, like so many other word nerds, I do worship at the Sondheim Shrine, but Sunday in the Park with George is such a great exploration into the art of making art. The creative process where an artist makes, say, a hat where there never was one before always seems magical. And, of course, crosswords are artistic creations too.

Check out the other Sondheim tributes.

tip
Thu 1/15/2026
MOOSSWEATGRECO
ANNASENSEAIMED
SEEKANDYHALLFIND
ANISEGAYULTRAS
LILRBIICES
ALLDAVERYDAYTSA
YTDEONSSEND
IRENEFIDOKEELS
NOTECAKEARM
CDSFAMILYGAIGHT
GAPEAOKOUI
SNOOZECELEATME
CONFIRMATIONBIAS
ANTONAFTERUMNO
REORGTEASETEEN

Three "confirmation" words (YES, AYE, AMEN) are on the bias (i.e., diagonal.) Follow them up and down to match the clues.

Fri 1/16/2026
BABYSHOWERWRAP
ANYONEHOMEAAVE
SINKORSWIMGNAT
ITOODUSTSEALS
CAWFIRGASCAN
JANEGREYRNA
JADINGLETSROCK
OPENCHOPSASHE
BOOKFAIRAMUSES
OLDATSYMBOL
FLOTUSEATMOP
FOREXNEEDFIVE
EVANCARTRAILER
RINDANIMALFARM
SITSFAKEPLANTS

AAVE stands for African American Vernacular English.

Sat 1/17/2026
FACEPALMSDAISY
BRANDNAMEELOPE
OUTOFTIMELENIN
MBASODDMIXINS
BANKNICKKNACK
RAINCOATBID
CAIROCOYCOCA
FOISTMLKLANKY
BASKSAXMOLDS
ILLFAUXNAIF
MEGAPIXELSGAP
RISERSVETCASE
INERTSIDEWALKS
TEAMSTINDERBIO
ARTSYPITSTAINS

MMMDCCCLXXXVIII

Let's break it down:

  • MMM = 3000
  • D = 500
  • CCC = 300
  • L = 50
  • XXX = 30
  • VIII = 8

3000+500+300+50+30+8=3888, and that's our final answer.

MMMDCCCLXXXVIII (3888) is famously the longest number you can write using standard, non‑overlined Roman numerals.


🧱 Why 3888 is the longest in standard Roman numerals

Classical Roman numerals (the everyday kind we use today) follow two constraints:

1. No overlines

Overlines multiply a numeral by 1,000, but those are considered extended notation, not standard.

2. No more than three repeats

You can't write:

  • IIII (must be IV)
  • XXXX (must be XL)
  • CCCC (must be CD)
  • MMMM (not allowed at all)

Because of that last rule, the largest number you can write without breaking the repetition rule is:

3888 = MMMDCCCLXXXVIII

It maximizes every digit:

  • Thousands: MMM = 3000
  • Hundreds: DCCC = 800
  • Tens: LXXX = 80
  • Ones: VIII = 8

Each place value uses the longest allowed sequence of symbols.

Sun 1/18/2026 Use Your Words
DIADEMLENAGOESBALD
ENTIREASTROANNARBOR
AFTERMATTHEWSETLISTS
LEAHOPTWOETRON
SCAMREVIEWTHEENGINE
THROBSONOCORESDYE
DNADINKSOMSDILL
ACTADSALETIKNANOS
THESETTLERSOFYUCATAN
MAMIAAAMRSNATE
SOUNDSLIKEAYOUPROBLEM
COTEAASSIDAURA
UNITESINSHININGARMOR
SPATSWEEBONSAIPSA
ABBYRBISTEIGMAG
LOOGEESEOARREREAD
TWOANDAHALFMENUTODO
GOBSREFYEPROSA
MALAMUTEVENUEDIAGRAM
ILOVEDITYEASTTWINGE
ASSESSESSPASTEASES
Mon 1/19/2026
GIFTCHURNQTIP
OMARHIPTOURNS
TINYDANCERAUDI
ONGOINGSMILEYS
USTEDALI
CASTSSMALLTOWN
ARISESVIIYURI
LEDSPASZATIN
EPEEALEELDEST
BABYGRANDGIRTH
EEKDOJOS
UNKEMPTCURACAO
COAXLITTLEROCK
LALAUNSEEMORE
AHEMGEARSSLED
Tue 1/20/2026
POSIESIFSOASP
GRAMMYSONATINA
ADLIBSLOITERER
NATOALPHABET
ATLREXMARY
GREEKMYTHOLOGY
RAINWAWA
AMAZONWAREHOUSE
ROTIWELT
THEGRANDCANYON
NEINORCSPA
ECHOLOCATION
WHALEPODTROOPS
LITAFIREINARUT
YESTEENCSHARP
Wed 1/21/2026
SPIELSTREMBLE
CONGEEOATMEAL
ULTRONPOTHEADS
SOREOSAKANDYE
ESOTERICBIT
SERIALCOMMA
UPSETSFOERUIN
NIHAOBINHELLO
PLOTSICEOUTED
EARSGOOEMPIRE
GREATESCAPE
TONEBAYSALE
CIARUPAULPSIS
OCCASIONAERIES
MAHJONGBRIDGE
PLEASESSATEEN
Thu 1/22/2026
PINTVSOPANTIC
ISISOHHIPORNO
TICKCOMEREDASS
STETTEDRUMFEE
ANTSYUCLAFCC
WORKINGREENNIT
STYNOENDACS
MGMTETCH
AWEURANOSAD
LOREDPORTUNITY
MLKVASTROGEN
IREEMTESTONIA
XINGREENUTDATS
USUALAEROGLUT
PEPPYMEOWESPY

GREEN means GO and RED means STOP, so:

  • WORKINGREENNIT → WORKINGONIT
  • COMEREDASS → COMESTOPASS
  • LOREDPORTUNITY → LOSTOPPORTUNITY
  • XINGREENUT → XINGOUT
Fri 1/23/2026
SCANTGRAYSMOG
OHPUHLEASEPICO
LESBIANBARALTO
DRESWEETPREEN
BOYSRAREST
BEENESELECT
HARDERTAPSHOES
USERSNATSANAA
ESCOOTERHONEST
TONGUEANGST
COMMITTUNE
HIREEELENAZIP
EASYCREATIVITY
FREEYEARSLATER
TATSADDSSLIME
Sat 1/24/2026
METATDISPEL
SENIORCENTERS
GENDEREUPHORIA
SECURITYBLANKET
ITTANAOLE
ASIANSTARESKA
WONTPAPERTHIN
PINTEUROSHOST
ISAIDSTOPMOWS
GELOCHSTURBAN
UGHDENORE
AVENGERSENDGAME
HALLOWEENPARTY
ONLINECASINOS
YEETEDRENEW
Sun 1/25/2026 Alert! Alert!
IDTAGTEDLASSOEGGSAC
PRADOCLUEMEINSLEEVE
OUTOFDISKSPACELATEEN
SBARROEESSPASAGET
NEONSEMIARTSCENE
TECEDAMRUNTIMEERROR
IRAQAVIASTIRAYO
VIRUSDETECTEDPRESALE
OCTETLEIALYCRASCOW
REALROMAHOWLCUE
WINDOWSUPDATEFAILED
PODTORAAVIVYVES
ERGSKIWISECRUEASYA
INEEDITSTACKOVERFLOW
VANFLORSNUGSOLE
FILETOOLARGESLOBGOD
OPERANDIMOTHAILS
RHEASAPRHASSUNTEA
CORNEDSERVERNOTFOUND
ENACTSONIONDIPFONDA
DETESTNEGLECTSSPASM
Mon 1/26/2026
PECANSLOGCCME
AMORECANEAHAS
ROSEGARDENMELT
ALLEYSEERIE
THEETAINSUBE
BESTCOMEDYALBUM
SNOUTSSEGUE
PSSTSIDGOUP
THINGSBARRO
DAVIDSONCOLLEGE
EVEMOWALESET
MERCISERVER
UNTOTHREEPEATS
RUESLOGSENNUI
SEXTCEOSDONTS

Pete ROSE, Pete BEST, and Pete DAVIDSON are the THREEPEATS.

Tue 1/27/2026
PETALMASKMAMA
AROSEALIIOLES
NIPATLOTSJEEP
IVSINTHESTICKS
COYOTEASCOT
TAGONAMORAL
OUTONALIMBORO
OPRYREODUCT
REVFLYINGHIGH
ANYHOOSLUSH
EXULTURCHIN
EMPTYNESTERODE
NOAHGNAWIRULE
DOPEETREEASED
STAYDOSESEEDY
Wed 1/28/2026
ACAIMEDUSARAP
SOFTRAINEDEMO
HORSESTABLELAW
POORMILHAZE
DRAGONSLAYER
HEEDWANDOUR
ORDSAIDSOLAME
PIGSKINCATSCAN
ICEHUTMAVSECO
PALSIREUSES
CHICKENSTRIP
LEEKLASRSVP
INCTURTLESHELL
PREADFEESOREO
SISDESPOTTABS

Imagine DRAGON SLAYER is DRAGON'S LAYER, etc.

Thu 1/29/2026
LIMOWAGSMISTS
ADAMIDOLINLAW
NICENANODIANA
GGGGGGGGGGGGGGG
YALIEEEO
NAVATSIGNSLSD
ADEUXMRTFETE
SORSORSORSORSOR
AREAOOFVISOR
LEDFABFIVEILY
DOSMARTS
TOMORTOMORTOMOR
ORATEMININOPE
DALESERIEARES
DLISTNETSLENT

In 2009, Joel Fagliano clued GGGGGGGGGGGGGGG as "G-String". Today, it's a G-ROW as in "grow" meaning "expand."

Similarly, we have a SOR-ROW and TOMOR-ROW.

Fri 1/30/2026
ARTSASTISATUP
DAMETHEMPLEBE
EDITWEEDKILLER
PINGOESBERSERK
TOUCHONLAT
SHODBALLASTS
MAZESBABYGROOT
ELECTESLACURA
WORKSLATELATEX
STOPTIMEWASH
LONTEXTBOX
FACEREALITYERR
REMAINCALMTATA
AROSEINDOACHY
TONESDEEPRHOS
Sat 1/31/2026
MARTIALARTS
PEDIATRICIANS
VANILLAICECREAM
ONTOELAHHOLLA
CEOSCIDERSLAG
ARRPLANNEDEMI
BASSLINEPICNIC
TENSSLAB
INCUBIBUILDSUP
DOHSCRAPESPGA
EDITSELESSALT
AEGISCARGENIE
SANTAMONICAPIER
ROLLERCOASTER
NEANDERTHAL
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XWord Info © 2007-2026, Jim Horne
45 ms