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Puzzles for December, 2023
with Editor comments

View these same grids with comments from:
Editor (5)Jim Horne (8)Hide comments
Fri 12/1/2023
SAGATNTGAOL
UPONSHOOALCOA
ROCKCLIMBGLEAM
FLOATONAIRTANG
ELLATMNOTONCE
RODSCISYEOMAN
THANKSAHEAP
QUANTUMLEAP
BUNNYSLOPES
ARETOOLOAYAYS
REEFINGTLCGEM
EARLSASHAOBAMA
ATEINVOICEOVER
SHYERISEEBENT
SERANOSASIS
Sat 12/2/2023
ATWARHALSTECH
WHATABEASTACAI
ROSEPARADEKORN
YUPGOBSPRESET
SOBSSOOTHE
AGENDADONOHARM
MISOBALDTEMPO
UNCONSCIOUSBIAS
SMAZEINITANTE
TAPENADETHIGHS
REFERSMEET
ATRESTNARYSKA
BIOSSHARENTING
INOTEASYDOESIT
TIMSTHAIWAITS
Sun 12/3/2023 Freestyling
WHATELSEISNEWCLONING
HELENAMONTANAAIRASIA
ESTROGENPATCHDRAGONS
TSARSLIENLLBEANGET
SERAPLANROBOTSDOHA
TEENMASERSTENON
OSWALDSATIREPRTALK
DOLIKEINNINGMEASLES
OLINETRYINGJUAN
WACKADOODLEHELLSCAPE
SLEEPAPNEAFORCEFIELD
EARDOCTORFIRSTDEGREE
WHENTONNESRAINN
RAMADANCRIKEYARRETS
ELITESMAULEDCLASSY
DONORTERMEDTAIL
COINSOGLADJILTSIVA
EGGBETSONHULUHURON
DOORONEREMINDMEAGAIN
ABLEISMFRONTENTRANCE
RIFFLESFANTASYSERIES

Tracy Bennett is a digital puzzles editor for The Times. She manages Wordle and helps with the crossword.

In this themeless puzzle, she took a bold grid pattern with lots of white squares and, in each corner, positioned a marquee answer — "something new or that had an appealing sound or cluing potential." Then she built out from there. FYI, those starting points were 23-, 48-, 50-, and 87-Across.

Mon 12/4/2023
STEALASPSBOLT
KARMAFLEAEVEN
AMISSROAMCENT
SETANEWRECORD
EGOSDUO
TURNTHETABLES
POSEASLAYSMIA
OTTOAIRNANA
LEOPSSTSTOICS
MOVETHENEEDLE
ERAEGAD
DONTMISSABEAT
DELTIBETADMIT
JADENAMEGAMER
SLEDARIDSTORY
Tue 12/5/2023
ASAPMASCASH
MILERADIODNA
PRINTORDERRON
POCKETDOORS
SHRANKRESPITE
KEELJUSTTYL
IANSOSFBI
STOCKCHARACTER
OAKREDEVA
ABBAGEEONIT
FRECKLEGIRDLE
FASHIONLINE
ANTOUTOFSORTS
IDOSPLATOAHU
ROWKEENSTEP
Wed 12/6/2023
MASSSCAMCHOIR
ERMACOCARANBY
HEAVYHANDEMCEE
REVEREDWHETS
KITEMSASNO
ANYSEESPECTRA
RAPHICKHOP
AKABAMELKASS
CNNEVOSTSTEC
HOTHEADSOO
ITSATIEBOYSIR
TALLEREOLE
FISHYSTEWART
ONEALHIGHHORSE
POLIOIDEACUTS
STARRPEETKEEP
Thu 12/7/2023
OSCARPEARPUFF
LEASEELLEOSLO
DEFIBROOFTOAAR
EYESSITEELSIE
RAAATTLEFATAL
LIARSLIMO
IHADTOPERYMCA
SUIALCHEMYAHI
HTTPLUXNECKED
EMITBEALE
STAINPUSHUARA
SPECSPENSSTAN
POAOTTLESSTUNG
OKRAWOVEHERDS
TENTOPENORNOT
Fri 12/8/2023
SHIPMENTS
WHODOESTHAT
NARROWSTHEGAP
BONUSSADSATAN
RANGESCENTRE
IPAYAMAHASOTT
COMATAMEDGOYA
KLAYCREEDEATS
YOKEHINDIERRS
AGEAMASSESTIE
RIALTOSTRICT
DEBITBIDRISKS
SENIORMOMENTS
TURNEDHEADS
SEEDBANKS
Sat 12/9/2023
ACTNATURALSTEW
BLUEDANUBEAHME
CANCONFIRMDEBT
TREKSONOREAIR
VARALSACEPGA
HANDDUCKEGG
SKITTERRHIMES
NOTTODAYSATAN
BOWMENWOOLENS
ARTEMISURLS
TKOPOETRYCAL
PEWITROTPARSE
OLINTABULARASA
LENDOPERACAPES
EDGYWHYNOTBOTH
Sun 12/10/2023 Political Pun-ditry
MUDCATCARDIOOVUM
ACRONYMSAWBUCKOBESE
ALONGPARTYLINESNONOS
MAPSOSHASPAAETNA
NUBHOTBUTTONISSUES
CLAMORARIPASTOR
LAMEDUCKBILLSPALEST
IREBOOREBBRODEO
CASIOMOIUPLOADOUR
SPEAKERSOFTHEHOUSE
BRITAEELKENTS
GRASSROOTSMOVEMENT
LUCPALATEELISOPOR
ANIMATELGONGIDO
MONAMICAMPAIGNCHAIR
GROVESBRACRANNY
CABINETPOSITIONUZO
AGINGRIMFROSASIA
BAKESANACTOFCONGRESS
AVERTDENSELYBIODATA
LESSEDITEDPOSTOP

Zachary David Levy is an assistant professor of neurosurgery and emergency medicine at Hofstra's Zucker School of Medicine on Long Island. This is his sixth crossword for The Times, and first Sunday. Jeff Chen, of Seattle, is a writer and longtime crossword contributor.

Zachary initially submitted a smaller version of this puzzle with three theme entries for the daily paper — but the theme idea felt better suited for a Sunday with more examples. He enlisted Jeff to help.

Mon 12/11/2023
RAMPSPASMDAHS
OPALPANKOEXAM
MEGAMERGERFILE
EDITEDLETSROLL
COTMETACOMET
DABADOSLRS
ARESORBATSEA
MEATTHERMOMETER
SANAARAWDALI
IHOPKEGLSD
METRONOMEATE
ANISETTEBLIMPS
ISNTITSMEAGAIN
LUGEMESASETNA
SEEPEDICTREAP
Tue 12/12/2023
LEGALXRAYTUNA
PARTIBONOONES
GRUMPYOLDMENSCH
ANNLAXLYPIECE
THINPIGEON
SEWINGKITSCH
CLOSEEROSTRAM
AIRRESENTSICE
BAKUGENEKINDS
STAYEDPUTSCH
GIDEONELSE
ADORNSKOALSPA
FINISHINGSCHOOL
FONDODORAMUSE
ETASPETEPOTTS
Wed 12/13/2023
PLODPROFSHAGS
LOVETIARAAVON
OCEANSPRAYLAVA
WORDEDPSALTER
DREVAPORWARE
CLOUDNINEEARNS
VEINYETPAY
SITDESIRESTAB
BETWANSAGA
CMERERAINMAKER
RIVERCARDADE
INAWEOFGREASY
NUDEWATERCYCLE
GEERLEVEEEURO
ETSYSLYLYSESH
Thu 12/14/2023
GOOPDESIANGEL
OMNISWANMARNE
BEANSTALKENACT
LATTENEPALPHI
IRISESMAGICHAT
NAPYEADEALING
LOADSOTTO
YOUREONMUTE
ACERSOAPS
CHARIOTMRSACA
TIREMARKYELLOW
FABPRIESTABLA
ANODEPIKESPEAK
STOOLOREOSIDE
TIKISDAWNETAS
Fri 12/15/2023
SPARHANGTIME
PALECANYOUNOT
ASOFSALTEDNUTS
NTHBALLSREKEY
RAREGEMNYT
BYSEABARSOAT
OCHERROFLNET
CHILDLIKEWONDER
AERSASHCOSTA
FTWWHOMUPTOP
ELSLETSEAT
LIANASITATYAM
AVIDREADERCOLA
MEDIABIASDUEL
ASSEMBLYCTRL
Sat 12/16/2023
SALADBARIRA
CRIMERINGCRUX
OPTICALARTPORNO
WEELASSOHCOMEON
GRADSSURESIGNS
AGATECAPULETS
SIRECOLDPLAY
SOYCARSALESPAM
TOPRATEDWENT
RIPTIDESDARIN
FLATSODASFIRMS
LUTHERANPASTIES
AIRESSCOUTMOTTO
NGOSEARWARMER
KIDREALNEAT
POW Sun 12/17/2023 Get Over It
JOYSHANDCARBRAS
AMENSPALOALTOFUELED
CAMBUNIVERSITYARCADE
ONEONONEMASHINBUT
BINGDOTBOMBEREACE
ASTOUNDSTYDOMES
HAJIIRSURBABNART
SOBULFULLYMOUSSE
PODSIMADEITLDSPULP
OFTFEUDSROILAMPLE
USEOFMIBCEANDMENTOE
SIXTYESPNCOASTOYL
ETTUALSREARLITHYDE
SALAMIHELLAGOOBD
ALAKBAZAMEMOOPUS
MIDSTUNODELTACO
TKOOWLDUDEBROMAYI
REPOHISEEOILBASED
ANTIFAWATERUNDERTHEB
KEEPATASAGUIDEREESE
WEARBYGONESOSHA

Jeremy Newton, of Austin, Tex., is an engineering manager for a mobile games company.

This is his 26th crossword for The Times — mostly Sundays, and most of these having visual elements, a bent he attributes to his artistic background. Jeremy attended a magnet high school for visual arts, the Art Institute of Dallas and then an N.Y.U. Tisch graduate program in code-driven art installations. He likes the large "canvas" that Sunday puzzles afford him.

Mon 12/18/2023
PEWADIOSTWIST
EREREVUEAROSE
QUALIFYINGROUND
UPROARDEAN
OTISASIANGPA
DSTQUACKREMEDY
BUDGEELOPED
ECOLIABAEVENS
SHRUNKALICE
QUEENREGENTQTS
MOBONSETTREE
IONEENACTS
QUARTERLYREPORT
BANDOGEENADIE
SENSEYEASTEST
Tue 12/19/2023
ATARIBREDOSHA
CAPOSAIDENEAR
CLOTHESPUNARID
ROLEXIISPIKE
ANOPECTORALFUN
GRIDSPITA
ALIASOATTOTE
MOZZARELLASTUCK
CLEOODDLETME
READLIARS
GROCERYLUSTTIP
NIALLADEMANO
ALKAIFIWEREYOU
TEEMDELIATEIT
SSNSSWAGMADLY
Wed 12/20/2023
ABBAACREPAIRS
CLOGMOETAPNEA
KONAOCEANSPRAY
WOMENOFLETTERS
EUROAAS
ANNLANDERSDNA
TOILEITTBRIE
STEERINGCOLUMNS
EELSMOIEMOJI
ADSCANTATAMAR
EARRUSS
POINTERSISTERS
IHATETOASKROLF
BITERANTETBAR
BOERSDEARABBY
POW Thu 12/21/2023
LGBTFBIUGGS
ARLOLIONSSOLO
MOATALOFTBDAY
BUSCRATEUPORB
APTDAMRNAWEE
SHIPSEATMENSA
TUNAUNHIPRIAN
EGGYSTALLANTS
GLASSEYES
LMFAOREFRY
AIRPOPSCHARLIE
PRETOPTHISACA
TREKRABIDAMOR
OOZECRANEHELL
PREYHEROSISAY
Fri 12/22/2023
TORAHAARPOLAF
UNODOSTRESRISE
NEWSWORTHYSOIL
ASSDAIYATONAL
DORASCHISM
BBOYSCHEATS
TEAMOALIENSHIP
MACAUPANKEATS
IMKIDDINGMERIT
SNOOTSMEMES
BONITAPALS
HASATLEONACYA
ATOMPIANOTUNER
SHOEHARDRESETS
PENSINNSRETIE
Sat 12/23/2023
PINTERESTBOARDS
EMAILENCRYPTION
THREADTHENEEDLE
BENINEVENDOA
ERINSUMOSMARK
DEATYNERCANOE
HINDSCONCUR
ACDELCOHOSTESS
BLENDSTORTA
NACREBANDSRNS
ONLYBALKSHACK
RNASEALMEDIA
MARINEBIOLOGIST
AMERICANPALEALE
LESSTHANSTELLAR
Sun 12/24/2023 Wrap Stars
ARCOSTABCHISISLE
LIARCASARUNTSANTES
ACROPOLISUMBRASCOOP
SHAMELESSSEPROMOTER
MEADLEASEDSONICS
FEEORPRINTDEALSEAT
ILLLEANDERNOTEDLY
ALAGORGESRIGGESPY
TENRUSESBARREULAPP
FIDOHOTIRONOSSO
SILENTNRARESOPENTOE
SNOWINJUREDDARE
NASHEELIPSSECCOOFT
HIREIONESPEAKSFOE
GONERILRELINKSFIN
OLGASEALKANYEUSTED
DEADENMINGNABRUH
SANTASLITTLEHELPERS
GETBYSTILETRUSSESUP
ACELAKEELSAINTRHEA
POPELSATPETSBERY

Drew Schmenner, of Pacifica, Calif., is a technical writer and editor for an education nonprofit. He was formerly an investigative reporter for The Desert Sun newspaper in Palm Springs.

This is Drew's fifth crossword for The Times and first Sunday. He and his wife have two daughters, ages 6 and 3, who will be angels tonight at their church's Christmas Eve pageant in San Francisco.

Mon 12/25/2023
MODEMJOANEGGS
ACURAINTOLOAN
CHERRYBOMBSOME
HOTROEONEDGE
SOUWADEAER
STRAWBERRYWINE
ASISEMIRTBS
DASHTOTEDEWOK
KEATEARXENA
RASPBERRYBERET
REVRIDSELS
EVENSOSRIALA
TIRETHATSMYJAM
RESTIOWAPEACE
OWESNEWBSAXES
Tue 12/26/2023
BUBONESPALES
UNEDADAALBINO
GRANDKIDREEKED
LEGOSETSTATE
EELSDECAYTLDR
SLEEPDHLVOICE
SAGEMBARKON
DASDRYWALLEND
OPTIMUMSTOP
NORMACUERENAL
SPASCAPEDDOLE
DODOSYOUREIT
MTDOOMTOYBOXES
CALLMEERLEING
SUEDENEERTSO
Wed 12/27/2023
VISAAFRICAOHS
ACTSLEBRONTOE
TUFTBASALTTRI
RESETSLIPONS
ALARMISTEGOISM
PANOUTAUGER
LICITIBSENTRE
IKIDSPIESPHIL
TASSCOTSTREVI
ECASHIRISES
MARTYRANNOTATE
ERECTEDISUZU
RIAADESTEKRIS
GALLOAFEREURO
ELMEFFORTRSVP
Thu 12/28/2023
LADYSHIVAHALT
EIRETIMIDISAW
GREASEFIREPINE
AHATAINTSPADE
TOMYUMUPTIGHT
ORSOYOMOREOOS
NOUNPAULO
FROZENSOLID
BINGELOOK
DVDSETASPWOWS
MOONLITARARAT
ALOESATARIDNA
JUDEDRIVECRAZY
OMARMORONESAU
REDSSTENTCHAP
Fri 12/29/2023
OWESISSATALC
SCORNNOTYOUTOO
TANGOGLUESTICK
ELBOWROOMCUTIE
WAYBUTPGA
ARABSFURCOAT
LONELYLOSTLOVE
ATOLLOARHAZES
ITSAFACTRESECT
COEXISTSIGHS
GPAAPRCHE
WELSHVIDEOCHAT
IDONTMINDURALS
TACOSAUCECURLY
SMOGTSARHEMS
Sat 12/30/2023
DRERECONPOETS
JUNKERVEILXII
MEDICINEDROPPER
IULSTERATARI
CERTREHABWENT
BASIEIGUESSSO
CANTABLAPASN
ONCEINALIFETIME
TERNCANOEOED
TARRAGONUSING
AQUAUNDERRISE
UNTILDRAPESF
FINANCIALCENTER
OLEKHALELAINE
PARTYMEESECOM
Sun 12/31/2023 It's Going Down
HIMIDLEESSFETA
ADAMEANTSHAKAORALB
HERBIVOREPOWERBROKER
ASIANSINNEWYEARSEVE
STELLACAPUTOALEAER
LOTIONSROBLADS
POPVIDTYPEDUPLOHAN
SPICETEACOEGRUHOSE
HEPANIGHTFOOTBATHS
ARENATREOLUCIA
WATERBILLSSATELLITES
KATIEOTBSLGAME
THATSLIFECASASGHEE
MAYOLETBARGOBEYOND
INCURSERAPESRAYEDY
ARABDELWEASLEY
DIRNORLLBEANLISTIC
ICANTDECIDEONONEWTO
TIMESSQUAREAUTOGRAPH
ZEBRASENORKATSUIRE
RAFTTPSLOOPNON

Matt Linzer, of San Francisco, is a former professional ballet and contemporary dancer who now works in graphic design and art. Rafael Musa, also of San Francisco, is a software engineer at Airbnb.

This is Matt's second puzzle for The Times, Rafa's ninth. After Matt solved Rafa's Pride-themed puzzle in the paper last June, he reached out for help in developing this one's theme.

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