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Puzzles for June, 2026
with Jim Horne comments

View these same grids with comments from:
Constructor (6)Editor (4)Jim Horne (20)Hide comments
Mon 6/1/2026
JAMDASANIQUO
AGOAPEXAMURL
GEMDETESTEND
JABSTHEE
STENOERROR
GRANDSCREEPY
TINSETTLEYEE
SOSAAURAHENS
DYSTOPIA
CAMEOUTONTOP
MOTOWNMUSCAT
ELONPOPETUNE
MANIABUTALAN
ODESSOMENAME
SASHSEARDRAT

Remarkable audacity. Bravo.

I wonder if this will start a crossword trend: Mom, Dad, I'm broke / sorry / quitting college / Democrat / LDS / vegan / published in the NYT / ...

Tue 6/2/2026
OSLOATWARUTAH
PLOWCHOSEBARE
TOOLATENOWEPEE
IMMENSEFORREAL
COSTAVIP
SICSTHEDOGON
UMPSAHIBSORRY
ROOFLABORLACE
SALEMLIMBOMAT
ATELIKEABIRD
LSUDEICE
WHODOWEOPOSSUM
ROMOAPPRECIATE
ANEWIPASSRAIN
PENNTSLOTEKED

The starts of the first four theme answers sound like 2, 4, 6, 8.

Wed 6/3/2026
OHHIORSOALTA
PEONSWOOTCARS
IMTOOOLDFORTHIS
TUNATHECOPA
RIOTGRRRLCARLY
ITDTOYSSEE
PADSEEEWEAU
SLYNODSMALARIA
ANABELLLABS
THCMAAMREP
SHAKACHESSSETS
ARSENICAHAB
DEADTREEEDITION
IAGOIDYLPERRY
ETONSEEKDDAY

The repeated letters spell OR ELSE — a triple (letter) threat itself!

Thu 6/4/2026
ACTVFENCESSLT
NORIALOHASUTE
GRAVENIMAGEPIE
LOCAVEESLGEMS
ENTIDSMENORAH
ASSAILSTAKETO
ENTICESAGET
TSARSMARMROSS
ATLASELDEST
GRAPPAYOGOSES
LICHARMCLINOS
IPASTAOELICIT
NORBIGBOXSTORE
ESTBEMINEEDEN
SEECRATESMEET

In print, the four rebus squares are drawn extra-large.

Fri 6/5/2026
EMENDSGRRDAIS
MAKEITMAKESENSE
THEWAYILOOKATIT
SISPLEAPOLISH
PEENHERE
RADARSPANTRIES
AGARSFLIESSOLO
CAVAROALDSTIR
EMISSIONSPHASE
REDAPPLEGOOSES
IRISLITE
MAILINDEVOAIM
RUNINTERFERENCE
IDONTWANTTOKNOW
SINGOROHOGANS

Coat on a tip? Ah, fingertip. Brilliant.

Sat 6/6/2026
SCHMEARSICESAW
UHAULVANMOMALA
BURNSAGEFRILLY
PRESTIGEINLEAF
ARMHOLESNCISLA
ROSINEDAERATOR
DEEMINANE
COPEDDREBOXER
LUISEGANG
ATECAKEDESKSET
SAFARIFMTUNERS
STIRINRESPONSE
PIGGEDINTELSAT
IMHOMESTARLETS
NETTERKINGSIZE

As Daniel implies in his notes, this amazing grid shatters the 15x15 record for most open squares — white squares that do not touch black squares, even diagonally.

As you'll see in this thumbnail view, many of the highest-open-count grids are quite segmented, meaning low "flow" values. Think of today's as four mini-Saturday crosswords that happen to connect in the middle.

Sun 6/7/2026 Split Seconds
RIGIDPHOEBESOCKET
ADORESRAILSATCHASER
GATECHANGELICENSURE
AHAKASBAHTHENEA
SOLISTENCHESSTABLES
SONATAGSIXNESTLEUP
ATBATSSPRYANGI
MADRESPECTATEDINNER
SMOOTHISHTETESCONE
GIFSATRAINCLEANED
TWOOUTOFTHREE
ARTTESTMORAYSSMOG
CARESEMUSRIDTSHAPE
CHIASMUSCLEMENTINES
ERASRARESOMALI
PAGERANKADDSSONOFA
THERESTIMEANTITHEFT
RUSHINHEARTSSTE
WASABITODDLESSOFTEN
ELITESANYSIZETUDORS
DECENTLEEWAYPASSE

When consecutive groups of three across answers are grouped together, you have to split the second and parse them as only two answers (two out of the three):

Grid Reads As Parses To
GATECH / ANGELIC / ENSURE GATE CHANGE + LICENSURE
SOLI / STENCHES / STABLES SO LISTEN + CHESS TABLES
MADRE / SPECTATED / INNER MAD RESPECT + ATE DINNER
CHIAS / MUSCLEMEN / TINES CHIASMUS + CLEMENTINES
THEREST / IMEANTIT / HEFT THERE'S TIME + ANTI-THEFT
WASABI / TODDLES / OFTEN WAS A BIT ODD + LESS OFTEN

LICENSURE is the process by which a government agency grants an individual legal permission to work in a regulated profession.

A famous CHIASMUS: "Ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country."

Mon 6/8/2026
STAGDEMOSEA
HUGOSERIFSPAN
IBETPLANTPAST
PARCHEESIMEMES
HALTLEAF
PARALLELPARKING
ORESERICLEO
PEPKNAVERYTWO
UNOAIDEMEAD
PARTYPARTYPARTY
TWASHEAR
RUBIKPARAMOUNT
IRANBASISOHIO
ONCEALOFTNONE
TSKHEFTSHED

50-Across: PARAMOUNT reparses as PAR AMOUNT, i.e., how many occurrences of PAR appear in the answer.

Tue 6/9/2026
INITABYSSINDY
MEMEBLEEPLANA
AWEDSONARLIAR
MMARUBSRAWLSD
ENTERWAIST
EXCEEDINGLYRARE
DIMESRANSALAD
ICONALBUMTONY
TONSILAMENDS
MLBRIO
HAPPYMEDIUM
SOARREECESEGA
THISWONTENDWELL
USTOOORDINTEL
BOINKWOEATSEA
Wed 6/10/2026
ALFBRAWLJAZZ
SOOLETOUTIDEA
AGOAFFRAYGONG
PETRILUSTS
WARGODWAKES
SPATENCNOWISE
TIRETAURUSCTR
ALMSWIPEDSKAT
NEEGERWIGASTA
CORNETINEUTES
ENSUENARITA
ASHENTERPS
PAWNAVENGETET
EXECMIRIAMELY
CEDEESPYSREX

The circled three-letter strings are the FIFA country codes for each nation that has won the World Cup:

Code Country Years in clue
BRA Brazil 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002
FRA France 1998, 2018
ARG Argentina 1978, 1986, 2022
URU Uruguay 1930, 1950
GER Germany 1954, 1974, 1990, 2014
ITA Italy 1934, 1938, 1982, 2006
ENG England 1966
ESP Spain 2010
Thu 6/11/2026
HALFACMESOAKS
ARALLOOSEULNA
MENUTWOCAPTAIN
MASSLESSFAINTS
HARVOTE
HUNDREDLEGSCDC
OPERAGOERSHOO
NOVAONAIRALUM
KNEWOPTICLOBE
SERFORTYSHEETS
MARSKAI
AFRAIDACIDTRIP
FOURLEAGUEEASE
ROSEACRESMRNA
ODESLEASTSETS

Sound out the numbers in the theme clues as Roman Numerals:

  • TWO CAPTAIN → I I (aye aye) CAPTAIN
  • HUNDRED LEGS → C (sea) LEGS
  • FORTY SHEETS → XL (Excel) SHEETS
  • FOUR LEAGUE → IV (Ivy) LEAGUE
Fri 6/12/2026
DUDSSEASICK
BABARATTACHE
GENETICLOTTERY
DESIREOMNICOW
ANTSDINOCARNE
SIKHSSENDLEIS
HEETINYIMPACT
POINTILLISM
UPTURNSILKPTS
PASTSOLOEMAIL
TRESSPANSARTE
OTCADINIMGLAD
PORTLANDOREGON
ANEMONEREAIR
RETINASANTE
Sat 6/13/2026
AMASSCAIMAN
TWILLROADRACE
LAMARSEXDREAMS
AHOYSEGOINNIT
SADSTAGNEEDLE
THEHEATISONPAR
ALARMBELLBANS
VAPEJUICE
BADEPLASMATVS
AMACATCHINALIE
GOTMADKITEONE
CREELUSESIGGY
LOSALAMOSANGLO
ISURECANSTEER
POPARTHORSE
Sun 6/14/2026 Limited Runs
POPHITDUELSHYUNDAI
BTEAMSCONGEEMEGAOHM
SOPHPOOHPOOHSPOSHSHOP
HEARTEESRAHSASKS
YOWIEDEMIDDT
REEVESREVERESSERVERS
TAXACTYVESPHONEDEE
ORTHOAGITADISCERN
FIRMAMACASSSCAMSCMAS
UNALIVEDTATALANE
OCANADARESURGE
SHOOGENATRUEFACT
NESSIESEENINSEINEBOO
EATENATPEKOEKMART
AVEORALBIMACAGATES
DERRIERERIDERDERIDED
OLDXENOTWERE
SILLYUANETRELAMB
SMALLCASTOFCHARACTERS
NUMETALHURRAYHORSIE
SPAREMESTOUTANYHOW

Each themer uses exactly four distinct letters.

Mon 6/15/2026
LIDSSHAKEPHEW
ACAIPODIARODE
PENCILSHARPENER
SECNEEDATONE
EASERACERS
JACKINTHEBOX
AURASHOMETMI
RTETARPITSADO
OWEBEETLAILA
SALADSPINNER
ETCHEDEDAM
ALOHAGATEEON
SOMEBODYSCRANKY
SPEWKARMALURE
NESSSPORTLSAT

A pencil sharpener, a jack-in-the-box, and a salad spinner are all things you crank.

Tue 6/16/2026
TELLJELLOAHAB
ALASAROARPAIR
PAPALCROSSJUDO
ATSTAKETOTAL
SEELEDOPEDS
MADCOMPADRE
GAELLEDENAIL
OLDMANANDTHESEA
RAVEBITSUSSR
CRAWDADSGRE
SENORRODSAP
TREADIPLANTO
WHATPOPTHECORK
HUGHPRIZEERIE
OBEYSATYRDEAR

Papa, Padre, Dad, and Pop are all words for an old man, and each shares its answer with a circled C.

Wed 6/17/2026
MISCASTMSNCUSS
ENCANTOGOOFOFFS
STARDOMSHORTCON
CONSOLESORE
ANIRESTSTOTAL
LENOPESTCASE
FUSESTONEPIT
RIFFLESHUFFLES
SETPOINTBUCO
PERUDYEDTOMB
FLYTOWORDSNIA
PSICOOLNESS
ALCAPONEAGAINST
GOOFOFFSDIDTIME
EGOTTOPSTEELER

Each "BEFORE" answer can be split into two equal halves, like two halves of a deck. Interleaving those halves one letter at a time produces the corresponding "AFTER" answer. It's a nice, unexpected twist that GOOF OFFS shuffles back to itself.

Thu 6/18/2026
NESTSCHOPACME
OUTIELONEROAN
BROADWAYOPENING
LOLGISTSTINE
EPIPENSDICECUP
SASHGARISHIVE
ANIMASAIDED
VISITORCENTER
BINETRELETS
INSTWODAYMETH
NETGAINIOWEYOU
GRUNTFMRIEON
FAIRYTALEENDING
URDUEVEREENIE
RYESDEWSSEGER
Fri 6/19/2026
TRITIPAJAPDF
HOMERUNTROTERA
AMUSEBOUCHEROD
WEPTFISHNCHIPS
SHARKWRAPS
WAFERWOODEAR
OHCOMEONNOWTHE
BARRBOBBEIN
ITOTHOMASPAINE
TAPSHOEWINAT
SHEETBROCK
SHOWERBEERSNOW
LABDONTBEAHERO
AMIGLASSBLOWER
PECELIYATSEN
Sat 6/20/2026
CREAMSODASWING
AIRCANNONTIMER
PLOTPOINTADORE
REDSPOTBRENDA
IDEDENEMYSTAT
OKSVATTOLL
SPARERENEEYEA
NOTMYFINESTWORK
OWLSINGSCHUTE
WEEBEGOCHO
BRIOLOTTOARCH
ITSODDHONGORE
ROUGESEADRAGON
DORISORSOIHEAR
SLEEKLETSPARTY
Sun 6/21/2026 Big Draw
RECSBCCSBEATSME
ALOEABLEERRATIC
OFFROADEDNECKING
FAKEFACTCHECK
TEEPADSTASTEOK
SLEEPALESSSN
ERRIQTESTSESTE
NOUNTINSERBTOE
GYNOINTLTIEDOWN
CAPOTESPHERES
POBOXNOVAEVERY
ICESINEDTLOCS
THATSATALLORDER
TORCANWEGOEON
WORLDGIRAFFEDAY
AIWAALTLIMITS
ACTINOHHILITHE
GANESHAMANBAG
ACESOUTENVYRAJA
SISMETSGITELAN
PASANEGATESMUG
TAUPEREPHONE
CORNPITSPOONER
COMESEASYATAD
SAVANNALOTUSROOT
OPENTABIDESSIRI
WENTIPOTATEELKS

The tallest puzzle on the longest day of the year.

Mon 6/22/2026
SAFEASKINDALI
CURBPHONYIDEM
ARABSPRINGSIAM
MATALEOPERA
HOMEWARDBOUND
ATOPDROOLS
BRUTALMOVIESET
BASFANKEGHUH
AMERICASSENORA
ARENOTIRON
DOOMSDAYVAULT
ERUPTALAFOG
ETTATRIPLEJUMP
THENIHOPEASIA
SORTMOUSYBETS

In the theme answers, the jump synonyms all mean something other than jump in the base phrase.

Tue 6/23/2026
FRANCALTOSTAY
DEVILBOOKTAME
IDINAAGUAAXON
COVERSTORYTSKS
IREOPEC
CSPOTSFAKENAME
OHHEYVICARNOR
MOODHASTYODOR
BUNSALTSERASE
STEEPLESGABLED
STYEAAS
INCABENDSTHETR
FOALOLEOBAYOU
SEMIPLOPARRET
OSSAPANTYEESH

Groups of cirlced letters spell "bent" synonyms for TRUTH.

Wed 6/24/2026
PINUPGMOSTOGA
AGORAHALLAMOS
JOLLYROGERENOS
ATESPUNABIDE
MISSGLAZEDOVER
ATSEAAXEOAT
ASSBRAARTS
WALKIETALKIES
PEPSMRSTIM
IMPKOITARPS
CARBONCOPYTART
ADIOSLEAPMBA
NESSCHICKENOUT
TIESFAVAPONZU
ETSYOMENAMAZE
Thu 6/25/2026
ANODESGODMODE
TUNESINARRIVES
BRAPADSWEASELS
ASIAYUKONRIO
TERRAINSSKIT
TINCANSHIP
TESSAFINEMIST
TUGLPSBAANEA
STONEPITTRIKE
PUBSRONALD
OATSWINEBARS
NEOUCONNAGUA
INSIDERTRADING
NOTDONEHOTGLUE
ASSORTSBLEEPS

Shaded letters INSIDE across answers need to be TRADED around to match clues.

Fri 6/26/2026
XMASFRETBRB
MISERRODECZAR
EXTRALARGEPIZZA
NORNOTYETRATED
LOSDOSCEO
SONARSHARDCAP
AGONYROSEODAY
RIMSTOTEDNINE
ISEEAYESCROON
TRIVIALCLASPS
ILLWHODAT
HOUSEOFPAINMIA
ELECTRODYNAMICS
MAYITRAMLEGOS
SYSOKSOWONT
Sat 6/27/2026
WHATATREATGLAD
HOWABOUTNOREIN
ONEPOTMEALAGRA
DESERTISLEDOCS
RTEODEBUT
THUSRINGOSTARR
HENASTOSUTRA
RYDERETAAXMEN
OWETOITSYAND
WARCABINETANTS
BTSRAJAER
ACTSGETTINGOLD
CHAPGOBEDDYBYE
KITEIMALLALONE
STEWEARLYTEENS
Sun 6/28/2026 Down in the Valley
RAJAHTEATAQUASMOSS
OXIDEARCOBURNTSALON
SOLDLIKEHOTCAKESAKIRA
ANTOINEETAREMCLEVER
NOSHSHOOKLIKEALEAF
SASSIERYSLCOLDEST
VOLDEETGAPOLAV
WATCHEDLIKEAHAWKEATS
SPIREODINAXEILLBET
STOCKSAWOLDECOORA
STUCKOUTLIKEASORETHUMB
HADNASHITCHASSETS
OREGONOJSBEEBOATHS
ESSODROPPEDLIKEFLIES
OBIEBYELENTMEN
ANDALSOALALEAFLET
BUILTLIKEATANKELLA
ARGOTSDASUKRDIOSMIO
BOISEWORKEDLIKEACHARM
ERREDANNIEELIEKAUAI
LAIRYESNOSLAPSTINT

Be LIKE a Valley Girl, and add "like" to phrases that match the clues. As if!

Mon 6/29/2026
FALSECBGBSCAT
USERSARMYMASH
DEVICEVICEECHO
DAYAREAEATEN
SPARRINGRING
GIMLETSAY
ROUEJALAPENOS
INTELLIGENTGENT
PETPEEVESRAMA
IVEFEELER
NOBELISTLIST
ASADAAUNTSUB
VASEFELINELINE
AKINAGOGEENIE
LASSTONIMISTS
Tue 6/30/2026
SLAMWHOAGOT
POLOSPIOUSONE
ALEVEHIGGSDEA
MAGICTOUCHMADS
LETONATLARGE
BRATMEALTICKET
RESHOESLOTH
ANSELOKSHIPPO
ADOUTDONORS
MISTERTOADEWES
INTENDSPASTE
LAIREMPTYWORDS
ALLFRAILIONIA
DIEDIRTYGLAND
YESANTSSPED

MT words are two-word phrases starting M__ T__.

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