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Puzzles for April, 2026
with Jim Horne comments

View these same grids with comments from:
Constructor (2)Editor (3)Jim Horne (16)Hide comments
Wed 4/1/2026
BLAMECASHVISA
BOGIEOHIOEGOS
QUICKSTARTGOSH
SILKOTSDOGTOY
SEESTOTACIT
YOUNGATHEART
DOWDYRTESSUE
ETASIKEASTAMS
NOTANNECRYPT
SECONDINLINE
HITITOHNEAT
LETLIEECOFLEA
ASHEPAYUPFRONT
STIRORESROUST
SASSPESTOGDEN

The theme answer phrases describe the circled letters. Q is the START of QUICK, U is at the center (HEART) of YOUNG, I is the SECOND letter in LINE, and P is at the FRONT of PAY.

Thu 4/2/2026
CULTSPHOJEDI
OPERACREWOMAR
WTVEWEHEREYANK
LOISCOOPRICE
TTSHIPSSAILED
REALTORCORD
ESTEESACEARS
USEWLESRKSRAP
PODSIANCITGO
UTESPIANIST
TNKSBUTNOTNKS
HEAPSORCLAMP
RAZELAUGHLINES
ETONTINYGNATS
WOODELSAGLET

The overlay adds thick vertical bars that are interpreted as laugh lines (HA) in Across answers.

Fri 4/3/2026
ABBIEHINTACID
READYSETGOLOCO
OHNOREASONDREW
MAGEARSILENTN
AVESSTPANDRE
SERIFBAGITOAR
GREENENERGY
THELASTOFUS
TASTETESTER
BICNASALEATIN
SLOMOROCLANE
HABITATSHONDA
APEXMOCHIDONUT
RILEFREEADVICE
PALSMELDSANER
Sat 4/4/2026
POMPOUSASSEGGS
BREAKSERVEPOOP
JEWISHRYESALTA
SOLDIERANTSDEC
AGRAEOCENE
GODNOHITSONGS
ELSSUPESOPRAH
MICATALIBYUGO
ATALLCITEDLET
ITRIEDTOTAMED
LEHANEGAYE
SROSECRETSANTA
PASTJEANRENOIR
ATTAACTIONITEM
MISOYESINDEEDY
Sun 4/5/2026 Badvertising
IDOLSADOBOSABIGAIL
STOGIEMANILAREMORSE
NINEPMFREEENTERPRISE
OSTEOIDINNUNTIE
BOTNOPAINNOGAINUSS
SNOWFALLLIAREGGSAC
USURPEDACEITERATO
UNCUTHAIGRODEOEGOT
BAHUNITEDWESTANDANT
ENTERONGPAASSISI
RAHRAHPOSTINGAGENDA
ARMORYEMOCLEMSON
ZITAPPLECRUMBLESTHO
ODDSEMOJIPARETATAS
REIKISNERTDAMPISH
BAAINGCREDGOOFIEST
ALLLIFETIMEBANSWET
SAJAKPTASEENOTE
JUSTTAKEAGUESSSCARFS
UKRAINEBARRELARMLET
LEARNEDCLASSYSUEDE
Mon 4/6/2026
BONGWISPLEMUR
IRAQANTEERASE
BATSIGNALGASES
SLOTSSTOOLTRI
YEPSWOREIN
APPLEOFDISCORD
SHOEMOIKEY
HIPAPPENDSODE
CARGAYIDOL
CUTMESOMESLACK
MALLRATDHL
ANTERREDALIAS
YOURSEYETWITCH
BERETAREAVETO
EDENSMEMOEMIT

SIGNAL, DISCORD, SLACK and TWITCH are all APPs.

Tue 4/7/2026
AMERDORADOCBD
CITESEXUDEDAYE
EXERCISEBIKESAC
TREATNODEOHNO
RANATABFASTFOOD
IPADLOAFSOFUSE
GELDISSSKATER
BEACHHOTEL
UPTURNUDONTHE
MORSEKENDOLAOS
BLACKKEYSPEAKUP
RICHOVEREASED
ATTBALLANDCHAIN
GEOCLAIREHENNA
ERRCARDEDSLIP

BALL can follow the first part of the theme answers, and CHAIN can follow the last part of the theme answers.

Wed 4/8/2026
ALASNOALPOINTL
REDEEMGUACDARE
CODASILENCEAVID
ANONSONATATHING
DINPSATNOOGIE
EDSAIMRASPATS
CROLASKATY
STANZACHANCE
SERBIDKROE
SOWORGSBITRAJ
OLEOLELASSAKA
FORZAMOMENTIDIG
TAROARIAKIDDING
ICANRAMSDILATE
ETTEKLEEEMINOR

Music puns!

Thu 4/9/2026
GOIPOBACHITDVD
ACRIDADHEREROO
RHINONOODLEBOWL
POSERARODLOEB
ASONEAWFULLY
GASPJADEARE
ILLPASSNANOBOTS
ROALDPLOPSEPIA
LOVEABLEPETRIFY
EPIISLEREFS
TANKTOPTELLY
IKEAEARNOCTAL
ARTCURATORTRUCE
ROWMALIBUUMBRA
ANTSESTETSLEEK

Desserts made literal:

  • 4-Down: PINEAPPLE followed by CAKE UPSIDEDOWN
  • 6-Down: BANANA, and then follow the circles as they SPLIT left and right
  • 38-Down: APPLE followed by TURN turned over
  • 20-Down: BLUEBERRY and then follow the circles as CRUMBLE is crumbled.
Fri 4/10/2026
ANDIQUOTELAB
TURDUCKENOTRO
AMILOSINGMYMIND
RENEFEAREDNEE
IRKBATAGRA
SOINBALMFUSED
NOLOSEMIGUEL
DIGRESSNOREPLY
ELITESDESERT
NOTOKFISHSHAH
IVANNAVERA
EELSYNODSARES
SILENTTREATMENT
TIKIACCLIMATE
NETNEOSPORIN
Sat 4/11/2026
THATSAYSALOT
WHATHAVEIDONE
WHYTHELONGFACE
SEASOFUNHEMEN
HELDSTDATE
EPEESPCSMAN
POPLARTREESATE
AVOIDATALLCOSTS
REDSNOMEANFEAT
DRSLOPNARCS
PINCOESAKI
AFOULBAATHTEN
CALLITINTHEAIR
DIGITALSHORTS
CRASHBLOSSOM
Sun 4/12/2026 Initial Thoughts
WITHDOLTSCUBAMASH
CHLOEAFOOTANONALOE
HELENOFTROYNINJASTAR
ARABSTENTGIVEORTAKE
SELENANEATHRUSE
LAUGHLIEINSORCAS
BLONDEONBLONDEINCODE
LOWESTERTENPMLOIN
TRIMSSWIFTDEEPFAKES
SITUMADEIRAREISSUE
MAILORDERBRIDES
PITBOSSENCLOSEEPEE
INALLCAPSTOUCHASADA
TETEUSAIDECIGSREV
ARARATSNAKESONAPLANE
STRATASKMOMGREED
PEASONOFFIRVING
KEEPITDOWNTILTSEDIE
ARGENTINATEXASHOLDEM
LIARIDIGERIKALULLS
ENDSCITEASTERAPES

Clues that start with a word in all caps indicate that the letters are the initials of the answer phrase. Eg, HOT for HELEN OF TROY.

Mon 4/13/2026
REACTSPARKGEL
EXPORTLEAFEGO
HIPHOPMUSICTRI
ALLEYAMOSAMEN
BEERHIPPOCKETS
TESSNOI
RCAABDULSTATE
HURRICANESEASON
OPTEDMOTELWED
TAPELLE
RAYCHARLESASTA
UTAHSEEKTYPOS
MELTHREECHEERS
BITATADAERATE
ANATONSBASKET

The first 4 theme answers start with HIP, HIP, HUR, and RAY, which together sound like THREE CHEERS.

Tue 4/14/2026
BASEKAYOIMED
MANXUNWEDNATO
WHATSNEWWITHYOU
STRIDEOHDANG
CAGECLUE
NTHHASHESITOUT
IRESDCONSENSE
NODESOCDMATES
JOULERUTSSHOT
APPLEICLOUDENS
DOHABREW
FROZENSANTAS
WATERINGTROUGHS
IRISAEIOUDOIT
WESTNEAPENVY

RegEx is great for finding answers that fit the AEIOU pattern.

Wed 4/15/2026
CASTSGIBEAVID
ASAHIOBOENORI
MAKEASTINKGDAY
OPEDKISSELK
EDAMABREAST
CREATEAMONSTER
CLOTHENINOORO
RATSPOSSECNET
AMOCUKETRAINS
FORMANALLIANCE
TROTSKYAROD
ODESKYEYMCA
VETOBUILDABEAR
OREOARLOLATKE
WARMMEOWTREES
Thu 4/16/2026
ATRIAATEUP
PAINMEDOTTESSA
POPDIVAPALATES
PINEYERASE
FALCONSNOSEEUM
ARIPBSMMA
KINDDARESBENT
EDGEISAACADOS
LAVRES
SCRIBESGIGABIT
LEISUREAPOLOGY
ADPCRYNOR
TESSAROMAPITA
ETASSEVENATTN
DOWNSTERNTOAT

15 Down answers that go DOWN TO A T (that is, down to the block of T-shaped black squares) add that terminal T to match the clue. Across answers are unaffected.

The answers shown here include that T at the end. In a nice touch, Down answers with or without the final T are legit crossword entries.

Compare with this 2020 puzzle by Alex Eaton-Salners.

Fri 4/17/2026
TIEDGOBIGTIN
ORCAENOKIAWE
PARTBTAPERKAT
SQUAREUPATHENS
BITSOFHOST
GLANCESATPACK
PRONGDICEDHAN
DARKESTTIMELINE
ANDREOILAANDE
STIRCIVICDUTY
OTOHTETRAD
GROWUPNAYSAYER
LIVGADOTSNORE
ONEOWETOUDON
PORSNEERMAST
Sat 4/18/2026
SPINOFFBAMA
SOONERORLATER
CALIFORNIAROLL
HUDSONDETENTE
DOCTORMODFEES
FREONSAFEWORD
WEDDUALGEOS
HANGTIGHT
PARDELSASET
RESTEASYDWADE
MATSCLEMARTIN
IMFORITMADEIT
CROCODILETEARS
ROOKIEMISTAKE
ODDSDAMSELS
Sun 4/19/2026 Nuclear Fusion
HOHUMPRISMSWAPAGUA
AROSERASTAKIWITORN
ISLANDOPPEDIFEELREAT
ROYTEMPPAWNEDAISLE
CHEAPSOMADTSAR
PLAYEDOWINSECRETLOTS
SANDSSAMHELENGET
ACNEHAPPYAMPERSJUNE
LEOPALISADEFAEOED
MULLETTOROCRAW
SPIELCINDRBOCKFLAWS
VERBNONODESIRE
CSIEDOMEATSTEWRAE
MOOSCONCERTATESCHIN
IKETIERSRANHAITI
TEXASOLDEMBIRTHEIGHT
CBERMETROFAITH
STIHLSIERRASLRSFAO
OUTOFLACEUNREADMAILS
UBERAGOGSCALPANVIL
REDSBANGTAPASNIETO

Rebus answers work normally for Across answers. For Down answers, rebus squares are considered in pairs, one above the other. Each final answer is two 4-letter words, using the first letter of each pair, and then going back and using the second letter.

  • [DH] E A [DT] → DEAD HEAT
  • [LG] A S [TP] → LAST GASP
  • [YC] A R [DE] → YARD CARE
  • [BL] O A [TD] → BOAT LOAD
  • [SH] E L [FP] → SELF HELP
  • [HW] A R [DE] → HARD WARE
Mon 4/20/2026
TEMPTPTASASP
AWAREPROMOLIL
TWOOFHEARTSIRA
BLINDSOBEY
CHOOCHOOTRAINS
CLOWNOOH
ROILTHISSUCKS
ASSTRAIPSECRO
METROAREANEIN
ORGSILLY
NOTROUBLEATALL
ITRYEARWIG
CHINATURECALLS
HEMFLAGSKRAUT
ERSLASHSAVVY
Tue 4/21/2026
YIELDSSAGEODE
EMPIREPLOWNOM
SPIRITGUIDEELI
ABSORBITLL
CONSUNITEDWAY
AVEAPRSENIORS
LEMONADEADO
FRONTIERJUSTICE
LINMOROSELY
MCCAFESINNDOE
DELTADAWNASPS
PLIEWRITES
HIMFLYINGSTART
DNALIESISOMER
SEXYURTFORYOU

"Flying start" means the theme answers start with airline names.

Wed 4/22/2026
STAGESLABPREP
HERODHUGEHELI
ENCOURAGEDODIN
ADHDSHEESHUSC
ATVSLOUCHE
PULLUPREAPPEAR
ATILTCELTIC
CANDAUBSCAN
AVERSECRAMS
TEAMMATEGAELIC
INROADBANC
RAMSLIVERYEOW
IMACINSTRUCTOR
NONAENOSGLAZE
GRINROPYHELEN

It's Earth Day!

  • REDUCE: Circled letters reduce the longer answers to shorter synonyms. ENCOURAGED→URGED, DAUBS→DABS, INSTRUCTOR→TUTOR.
  • REUSE: The answer CAN is reused four times.
  • RECYCLE: Shaded letters reuse letters from earlier in the word.
Thu 4/23/2026
FACTISACHSHAM
AVEENOMAOPALE
WINDOWSILLENDS
NATRHOCICADAS
COATINORM
ABOUTFEELSEEN
ALERTMIDSTDEI
TOEDCAMISCONK
OOFDONUTBOWIE
NFLGAMESPENNE
OLDETHOSE
TIMESUPAMTUSO
ASEAPRIDEMONTH
SLIMOARLADIES
KENSNYEONETWO

Hand ME down.

Three Down answers that should have ME to fit the clue, hand that ME down to the answer below it.

  • CENT and BEEF LO MEIN → CEMENT and BEEF LOIN
  • SO WHAT and COME UPON → SOMEWHAT and COUPON
  • HOLINESS and POMELO → HOMELINESS and POLO

(Pulchritude means beauty.)

Fri 4/24/2026
BIRTHSATHLETES
OHISEETHEOLOGY
BOGARTTEASPOON
SPAREBILLSFIT
LETSDUMASCASH
ENOOASESDARTS
DONOTDISTURB
STILTONSNEAKUP
DESERTISLAND
DOTERSERFSRAF
AXONESSAYJEFF
WTFINLAWHENRI
DAFFODILDENIAL
LIEAWAKEVINNIE
ELEVATESDRYADS
Sat 4/25/2026
IOMOTHCRIMEA
CLICHEDEARANN
ADDTIPPRAGENCY
REYSAFEUSEBOW
ERESENNETADA
GATLEAKBOGEY
VERYWELLTHEN
INFLIGHTWIFI
SEEINGEYEDOG
REZSAKEGHENT
FADERITATREE
OTBMIDCITYRON
NIACINKNEECAPS
DOCOCKGOLFTEE
ANKLESFLOATS
Sun 4/26/2026 Well-Suited
EDITSTOOLYELLCMON
LUNAROHAREARSELANE
MARKETWATCHKIDGLOVES
DEEPENDAROSEEASELS
NORSPECINNER
DIGITALSHORTSCDDRIVE
EDENBAKEDACNEACID
MOTMICADUSTJACKET
ACEDITTANSMARINE
NAVESGENIEARGMIA
DRESSFORTHEJOBYOUWANT
SENYAOYULESLICKS
SORDIDANEWTATAMI
VENTURECAPAFARRAG
EVOOAUDITORICBORN
GETPASTSTEAMERTRUNKS
FAXESALPSFAT
ACUNITOASISSAUNTER
WINDSOCKSSHOTGLASSES
RANGFURSSOFARTITER
YOYOFEATAETNANADA
Mon 4/27/2026
ARCSHOPIREACT
TOOTEWANIKNOW
VOCALRESTGETME
STORETUBSIR
VOLCANICROCK
RIPENERETHAN
AREAOCAGASP
VANDERPUMPRULES
INTELBIOOTS
ALOUDSLEIGHT
VOTINGRECORD
OHOGELMIAMI
LANCEVRHEADSET
TRIADIOUSSEES
SEXTSLYESOAKY
Tue 4/28/2026
ACHYOPITACOS
CHEERWATERPOLO
TIESUPLOOSEENDS
SALINELOTTEA
ADDTOASKIN
GRAMMARSTERN
LOXCLOSEENOUGH
ATITOARCIAO
MISEENPLACETIP
PESOSPAPAYAS
POSTSSENOR
PEWIOUSCRIBE
SEENANDNOTHEARD
STRINGENTSAGAN
TESTYSICROSA
Wed 4/29/2026
COMBUSTSPARGE
OVERSOLDOHCOOL
PATIENCEPOTATO
ODDLOOTMOP
ZONECOMPROMISE
ANYTAPATDINER
COMPOSERLUNGES
RUEDDEMO
LINERSCOMPRESS
ODEONCALMSQUO
COMPARABLEJUMP
ACEMEREHUA
TASTESREBELLED
ORIENTSTILETTO
RESETSCOMPOST

Starred answers read in the grid are legitimate words, but preceding each with DOT completely changes the meaning, and matches the clue.

Thu 4/30/2026
CHEROBEYASPS
DRAMACOMEONMAN
RABBIEXITROUTE
ISLANDAIRCITES
PSALMONETAN
MAASLYTADA
SHREKSTOPSLAB
YOUREITDOTBOMB
NABRHODEAETNA
EXESOWEAYN
PEPPOPCHART
VOILACRABLOUIE
OSCARBAITOGDEN
WHATNERVESAILS
SANSTEESENTS

The hook-shaped circles spell the names of Oscar-hopeful films: RAIN MAN, PATTON, and BEN HUR. Crossing through each is a fish in gray squares caught on that hook.

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