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Puzzles for July, 2026
with Jim Horne comments

View these same grids with comments from:
Constructor (10)Editor (4)Jim Horne (17)Hide comments
Wed 7/1/2026
TUBERSTAGREBUT
ENOLAURGEALONE
SPRATSEATTARPS
LIENTHATSONEIL
ANDWHITELIEDNA
SKOROLED
SOFASIMHOLECHE
ORALICIESTMOOR
LEVITEASESONES
OVALAURA
PARALLELUNIVERSE
EVITAVASERETAG
ALTERNATEREALITY
RAEMODESTLYSIP
LBSSHESISTNT

In this high-concept puzzle, the top-left and top-right worlds represent different realities, connected only through a wormhole.

One "universe" Alternate version Relationship
TUBER REBUT reversed letters
ENOLA ALONE reversed letters
SPRAT TARPS reversed letters
LIEN NEIL reversed letters
AND DNA reversed letters
TESLA TESLA different clue
UNPIN UNPIN different clue
BORED BORED different clue
ELAN ELAN different clue
RAT RAT different clue

Here are the other grids with zero flow (because of disconnected regions.)

Thu 7/2/2026
HAPPYSIBSPSST
OLLIEIDEARHEA
PLAZADLEGTIONS
MIZPOETIOWA
BENAMINPTROTS
ETAACESOUTFOP
BANANATALEFRY
ELECSAFARI
SABOTSMCCC
ECGBORECABALA
MAOUSENSUSRIB
UNTIESMDISONS
NAVLMACSHUG
JOHNANOCKMISSM
OLIOINREOLETA
BITESKEDCOLON

On July 2, 250 years ago, the Continental Congress voted for independence, two days before the Declaration's adoption.

Fri 7/3/2026
IMPEITAKESABOW
MOLTSSMILELINE
PRESIDENTIALRUN
UTATOTEAMIDST
LADEASSNYES
SRSLYETASSODS
EFILESYAPSFOE
BIGEASYNETIPOT
URNSNITCANARD
YEOHSPEWTHROE
RIMSMOGDAPS
GOATEEPOEMDEI
IKNOWTHEFEELING
BICULTUREROSEN
BEETSUGAREWERS

"Makes a return that hits the net?" shows how a great clue can redeem a less sparkly answer.

Sat 7/4/2026
RAPBATTLELEGGS
OCEANARIAADORE
BACKDRAFTTELEX
BIKERACEVENDEE
ONTIMESEND
SCHEMAMENNBC
THEREIDIGCEL
RILEDOTSOHARA
ELIALMADOLES
SICANTTHEFTS
SPOTPIERRE
TAPIRSSOULMATE
ESTEEPALMPILOT
STERNCREAMSODA
TERSESTONETOOL
Sun 7/5/2026 Boxed Sets
STIFFENACCRAESPORT
CHINRESTSHOESSAILOR
BABEINTHEWOODSPINGME
GRIPAARPENDCAPS
BEATSAROUNDTHEBUSH
HUEDIRSHEROS
POWERBEHINDTHETHRONE
KABALAAMORUNOACL
EVERLABRATSNBAREF
YEATSPREGOSONNET
HONORAMONGTHIEVES
RINSESAARONYIELD
TRENTAABRAHAMNEAR
AOLIIILETTUSTIME
TWOBIRDSWITHONESTONE
SENORYAWOSHA
ROLLWITHTHEPUNCHES
ARSENALOAHULOMA
LAIDONDOWNINTHEDUMPS
IGNOREODEONKILOBITS
TEEMEDEDDIEODYSSEY

32-Down: What has flatter feet = ODE
What a great clue! "Feet" as metrical units, and an ode as something that flatters/praises.

Mon 7/6/2026
SAGASTIESTSAR
ALAMOELMOEMMA
TALENTSHOWHEAT
ANGOLAGRAZE
ASPBLANKSTARES
PLACIDAVON
RIGORYOREIMO
STOPDROPANDROLL
SSEOUSTEARLY
NAANMCNAIR
THEHANGOVERTEE
AURASPOMELO
SMOGVOICEPARTS
TIDEANNAISIAH
EDENLOEBTEARY
Tue 7/7/2026
BABAIDLEGETUP
OLAVCOALAWAKE
MOJOENYAMAXED
BEACHBUNNIES
ABATEDOTGOV
HOTDOGSLIVEONE
OREOPINEPAR
RAESUNBEAROUT
NCOPTASROTE
ELFHATSFIREFOX
DEFAMENAMES
WARMANDFUZZY
ARIALUNDOLEIA
CATIOSNOWTRON
ENDITHYMNSONG
Wed 7/8/2026
MAPSELAPSEESP
ATITROURKEALA
MAKEORBREAKSAG
BREADEASTHYPE
AISLOPTEEUP
TRICKORTREAT
ITCHNAMSTALE
NAHATTABOYSON
CLEARROTEYES
HEADSORTAILS
TAEBOSATIRE
HAMMLOFTRESET
ALELIFEORDEATH
NBAAGENDAMARE
GALPERSONSKOR
Clue Answer Mechanism
[C/P]ause MAKE OR BREAK Cause OR Pause
[L/C]ure TRICK OR TREAT Lure OR Cure
[M/H]inds HEADS OR TAILS Minds OR Hinds
[Z/R]est LIFE OR DEATH Zest OR Rest

Teenage constructor list.

Thu 7/9/2026
CHICORCAABCS
YOGAREARCRATE
STUTTGARTCOVEN
THANEPALEODIET
NATOTELLALLS
LOOPERSSLAT
ODDSETASDETER
CEOFORGONEAPU
HANOIIONAATIT
SNAPSTOMACH
BASSISTSSWIM
ASWESPEAKEDITH
MOUTHAPIASAMOA
ANNIESONSLAGS
EGADERGSATOP

FORGONE: In the theme answers, look for four identical letters, and remove them to match the clues

  • STUTTGART - TTTT = SUGAR
  • TELLALLS - LLLL = TEAS
  • BASSISTS - SSSS = BAIT
  • APIA SAMOA - AAAA = PISMO
Fri 7/10/2026
TASERINESALAD
ESPRESSOMACHINE
NOISECOMPLAINTS
SNLLABOREDEEK
EELSMARESBOAS
EEGRESDEFT
ORDAINSSMEARED
WETBARRIVERA
ENHANCEWISEASS
TESTNTHMRS
CABSHAHASSOFT
OLETUBETOPNEW
ICANONLYIMAGINE
FANINTERFERENCE
SRSLYDESEDGED
Sat 7/11/2026
POKESKIPSCLASS
LAIRLEGALLIMIT
OHNOAPUTRILOGY
TUGSPIESCARNE
THOJOSSAKC
WALTONSUNSBIB
IWISHETSYFOMO
SAVANNAHBANANAS
TIERERASURALS
SIRBOLTONEPLY
GINSIBSPAP
ASHESETREBELA
WHATTHEHEYETON
LOVERSLANEAINT
SEAMONSTERUTES

The SAVANNAH BANANAS are hilarious. They play baseball under slightly, uh, modified rules. My favorite: if a fan in the stands catches a foul ball, the batter is out!

23-Down: Doesn't Pope John XXIII mean there were 23 Pope Johns? John XVI was an antipope and there is no John XX. That leaves 21.

Sun 7/12/2026 Slight Adjustments
ENYAPETSPAABSHOLE
LEEKSAVATARBRAARAL
BITINGREMARKSELTZERS
ANIMALSASKSEASYMODE
BFAFLEAANKARA
GROUNDLESSACCUSATION
SUECAYDEEPSAVE
KNEELEDATODDSBRUGES
IGLOODLINEBUNIONS
THINLYVEILEDTHREAT
SONACMEEOINSIS
PATRONIZINGCOMMENT
GFORCESDOMESOUIJA
REPASSGALOOTHANGTEN
AMENKOBEVACASS
BACKHANDEDCOMPLIMENT
CARESSICESDAY
ITSATRAPAGEDFINEART
POOLSIDEBALDFACEDLIE
ORALVIEBROLINSOFAS
DIPSENDASTERSCANT
Mon 7/13/2026
AKINSPUDSSLEW
RACYMANIACONE
ERECTORSETAGRA
NABOGREINCAS
ATOLLORALSTAGE
SEXIESTCOPBEL
ADEYESRIDS
IRONCURTAIN
SINSDAMIFS
ESCCURSTREAMS
TURBOPROPESTEE
TRIADMASSODE
LESSPLAYTHINGS
EDITHONEYSCAT
DOSEOXIDEHERO

ORAL STAGE makes its NYT debut today, reinforcing Ms. Lempel's reputation for delightfully cheeky entries. Some of her other debuts:

Those are all fine, of course, unless you have your MIND IN THE GUTTER (which she also debuted.)

Tue 7/14/2026
BFFSHAMPAST
NEARTADAALLY
BADAPPLESPEEP
CREPEALAEXPO
SPOILEDBRATS
ALIENSAOC
IONBEDBUSTA
ROTTENTOMATOES
SNOOTAXEMAP
PSAROVERS
FUNKYCHICKEN
ISONRENSNEAK
OHIOOFFCOURSE
NESTSTUDEVAN
ARESSYNCSEP
Wed 7/15/2026
ALLINATRAAPED
SAUNAROADDELI
TURNINGPROODIN
ODELOUIEORATE
MADSCRAMBLES
EMPIRELISP
ROOSTORBITOVA
ICETFRUITAWED
ESTTAKENBLEND
RYANBOARDS
FLYINGCOLORS
OASESOPENSIPA
GULLSPEEDCUBER
GRADKERRHAITI
YAMSISAYTESSA

Squares in the central 3x3 block are circled in print. They contain an anagram of ERNŐ RUBIK, the cube's inventor.

If you solve on the NYT website, the colored letters shuffle around to spell out the name.

Thu 7/16/2026
POSHSMASHINLAW
HAHAPINTANOONE
IRONMANTRIATHLON
VDAYITCHCID
GREENDEFILEANY
MILLIPEDEBUTTS
TOEOUIFLAG
DIRECTFLIGHT
NAMEROEHAS
SMOCKYARDSTICK
POXESPANAAORTA
ARTIHOPAVID
DOESTHISHAVELEGS
ASAHISAUCEEYRE
YEMENETHERDEET

Genuinely funny theme!

Fri 7/17/2026
SCALLIONPANCAKE
MADEACLEANBREAK
ORDEREDALACARTE
REMDEERMOOD
EWERSETUP
USEDRUNWOO
ANTIWARMOVEMENT
LEONARDODAVINCI
MOISTTOWELETTES
SNLCHODUNE
SHAMSSKOR
ACTIPAWSEWE
SAUCEAMERICAINE
ISNOTHINGSACRED
STANDATTHEREADY
Sat 7/18/2026
TEAMELFSWISS
OXFAMTERMLIMIT
SCORESTUDYDATE
PURISTSISEGAN
ASTOHEFTQBERT
REISELLHUE
EMOJIKEYBOARD
EROTICLACTIC
IJUSTWORKHERE
OPSRODSGEM
GRUBSTIMETOMB
LOLAFITDEALER
AUTOSAVESBLUEY
STRIKEOUTBONGO
SEALYSPYNAGS
Sun 7/19/2026 Raising Capital
SEEMELLIONPECBATE
TIDALISSUEALLOWEDIN
AGGIEMULTIDECLARANT
THANKSAASLMAILIN
TRITEAMCREDDITCPR
TREATOMENSDESREE
UNEARNEDRUNOBEDIENT
ALUMDAREDFURSEDNA
TNTCROSSTUTURRIER
MACLAINEOVERSMART
EROICAESSAYCABALS
AARONGLOMPHRASING
VICTODROOERECTMAR
ANKHGOESADMITNIKE
STEEPENSGUESSTIMATE
CORSETUSAGEMATER
OWSNACRESPISLORIS
RTGAGEISORLWANTS
SOJOURNEDSINAIITSOK
CHAMPIONSAGINGNOTME
HOMEPETWHATAGRAPE

Theme answers rise up through capital cities and continue across. So 25-Across starts THANKSA, rises up through LIMA (reading it backward), and continues through LLION to make THANKS A MILLION.

Bern, Cairo, Rabat, Oslo, Rome, and Riga get similar treatment. Answers here are fixed up to match the clues.

Mon 7/20/2026
STRAWNADERPCS
ABATEELITEAHI
LIGHTSWITCHGAP
TREEEEGSITEMS
DRIVERGROVE
SCRABBLETILE
ASMRRUESEEK
PUPSPOUSESWOE
ETASIRSASSN
POCKETCHANGE
PEATYTEETHE
GIRTHTHORFARM
ALAIFEELFORYOU
LOCCORALDEEDS
ATESENDSDEKES
Tue 7/21/2026
LABSDNATHAWS
ALOEDEALTSAYHI
BADABINGBADABOOM
ONESIEAURORA
RIGORSMOGNIBS
SANDBLASTSERUM
OAKJURORS
GOOUTWITHABANG
AUGHTSHEM
LARGESTARBURST
ACERALOTSHORT
OHYEAHHEINIE
REDWINESUPERNOVA
PRIUSPTRAPORES
GASPSSTYSATE
Wed 7/22/2026
GRAILBIOTAPRE
OOPSYUSURPLOX
STEPRIGHTUPUPC
SIRERALETSSEE
INONABLEPHDS
PILOTOATSITIS
TALONCANON
REXESPARTY
RICINSINGH
BANAABETHEATS
ENGRRASPBCAP
HOTDATETIACIO
EVOTRYYOURLUCK
LESTIEUPMOSHE
DRSNORMSSTEIN

Circled letters spelling RING arc through the air and land on a BOTTLE.

Thu 7/23/2026
DEATHSTARAPE
ENCHILADASAROD
IDLEGOSSIPSMOG
HOTNOSCORE
QUIPPEDUSERID
SUPRASNISAN
TOPSYRACETROT
ATEOLEAAH
BADUATADCANTI
NAMIBMOLTEN
SCARABSWANSON
ORDEALSADV
LEDAEPICDEFEAT
IPODDARKENERGY
DENSTONEWARE

ENERGY is spelled out in dark squares.

I would have clued 19-Across as "How a confident conductor shows off". (Guilty.)

Fri 7/24/2026
SCANMAGMAUFOS
MACSOREOSLIVE
ARTFORGERSCNET
CLOWNNOSEDEER
KIRLITEPURPLE
WINBUTRON
BINGEWATCHING
HERESTHETHING
LIFESTOOSHORT
ITOCANAVE
BARCARGATEAAA
SEAMWORDNERDS
SNITMANGOSTEEN
RAGEIKNOWTALE
IGORLEANNUSER
Sat 7/25/2026
POLKADOTSSESH
ICECRUSHERCLUE
GARAGESALEABBA
GLORYITALDOWD
YAYLIEDITSWAR
PETOATYRYE
NOPECHEWPROMS
IMINTHESAMEBOAT
CENSEANYAIMPS
ELKAPPTIFS
GENTLECALLRBG
OTOETHOUIRULE
IBISROUNDROBIN
NASTISNTITTIME
GREYETSYSHOPS

Outstanding clues today.

Sun 7/26/2026 Down the Tubes
CHACHIVENDSLOWES
COCOONTHINAIRINANE
CUTIESVINYASAPURSE
PRINCESSPEACHSPUD
ATOPPEARLSPIE
DEREKYOSHISNOOTITD
ELIDETHATSTOWROPE
RECUSESIMSADMEADE
IMOLIKEMAGICRIO
VETSAPEDOMDUOTRIAD
ENTHALPYNESINASENSE
STAIDYUMMANNERDEAN
RAFPOTATOGUNPJS
MAYIMWARIOPEEPTOE
LAZARUSPINKSMILKS
COMGESTEOSSIEASYET
RAMOFHELPERIN
ANALBOWSERSCASTLE
WOMANREDHAIRATTAIN
LUIGIARIANNANEOPET
STASHSTATETDPASS
Mon 7/27/2026
STAGSUMOSOHO
NOTEINONEMIR
IDONTCAREMEGA
PONZUGASLIGHT
SMILEYFACE
SOOTHECSI
OHIOMRSONCE
SOLOMONISLANDS
KYLOASHLEGO
ATVOUSTED
SCOTTIEDOG
TOBESAFEGAMER
EVENGRAYSCALE
PESOROLEIDLE
STEWANTSDEAD

A full solfège scale runs through the gray squares in order.

Tue 7/28/2026
SASSODELLACHE
KNEEPALEOSOON
ITSNOTHINGKNOT
TETONSGITCPA
ENEROPATCHOULI
ANTASHAURAL
MASSACHUSETTS
CUDALT
CATCHYOULATER
ASONEOEROXO
STATUETTECHOCO
SYSRAYPEARLS
EMTSTOSNEEZEAT
RIANAGAINEAVE
TELLTAMPSSLED
Wed 7/29/2026
KARLALFARADAR
ASEAVAINIMAGE
PLOTPOINTPOLOS
PARTYCRASHER
ANGELALYONMFA
SODAKEGELS
TBDNOSTRADAMUS
AREAIREPOKE
KENJENNINGSSET
ITSAGOTAPE
STEGORERANDOM
VENIVIDIVICI
BRAIDLATENIGHT
RAMBOEDENEIRE
ASPENDEMSSNES
Thu 7/30/2026
RESETSHAREDHOP
EXTRAKOSOVOAPT
CHARLIESHEENRHO
TANKNEENOVEL
OLDPROALPHAMALE
REBRANDOLEGRIM
DYEDAPCALCDAY
SIERRACLUB
PIGORIOLEROSS
CHANMENSPIRITS
GOLFRANGELONDON
APPLELAOSENO
MEANATOALPHABET
ESLTREATSOVERT
SOSSTEREOPATSY

Replace the first letter of each italicized clue with its NATO alphabet equivalent.

Clue Parse NATO conversion
Cluster C + luster Charlie + sheen
Agent A + gent Alpha + male
Steam S + team Sierra + club
Gambit G + ambit Golf + range
Fri 7/31/2026
TAXFADMIME
KAMASUTRAIMAX
SERENASLAMDIRT
PETNAMEGELNGO
ONLSDPONYTAIL
ROEUPSANDDOWNS
ENTSALLSMILES
TOREDEAL
ICANTEVENSLAT
SMARTYPANTSONE
OPERABOXPYOTR
WESPOVSNEAKER
HAULAERIALYOGA
ACRETRAVELMUG
THAISPASET

Around 1637, French mathematician Pierre de Fermat was reading his personal copy of Diophantus's ancient Greek math text, Arithmetica (translated into Latin).

When he came across a section on Pythagorean triples (equations of the form a2 + b2 = c2), Fermat posited that no three positive integers a, b, and c could satisfy the equation: an + bn = cn for any integer value of n > 2.

Right beside the problem in the book, Fermat scribbled a famous note in Latin:

"Cuius rei demonstrationem mirabilem sane detexi. Hanc marginis exiguitas non caperet."

("I have discovered a truly remarkable proof of this proposition, which this margin is too narrow to contain.")

Fermat died without ever publishing his proof. It was finally proven over 350 years later by British mathematician Andrew Wiles.

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