This web browser is not supported. Use Chrome, Edge, Safari, or Firefox for best results.

Thumbnails

Puzzles for March, 2020
with Editor comments

POW Sun 3/1/2020 LETTER DICTATION
SHAMANKEEPBIGBEN
OOLALAMOMMASOPRANO
SPLITPEASOUPBOWSERJR
EOSARGOTLOOEROS
TRONGIVETHESTINKEYE
DONNEOREOOSNASL
EGOAPSEANNASUIORB
LONGTIMENOSEEKILLFEE
IDEENOLIKEYNITAFTS
NICKQEDBBCAZURE
OHBYTHEWAYYEAHWHYNOT
ROLESRIBFAAAHAB
AUERBIZHANSOLOURSA
TRESBONBEINTHEMOMENT
ESPRAGDOLLSTEMFLO
CPASWWIACEABRAM
GREENTEAEXTRACTNOEL
LENSFDRISLAMASU
USSENATEAREYOUWITHME
GEOTAGSCARATAVEENO
STRAPSLESSHELDIN

Sam Trabucco, 27, is a cryptocurrency trader who divides his time between San Francisco and Hong Kong. He got into crosswords as a child by playing competitive Scrabble. He says, "My first attempt at making one was fueled by the (very wrong) assumption that making a crossword would be essentially the same as playing Scrabble."

This is Sam's 24th puzzle for The Times since his debut in 2015.

Mon 3/2/2020
CBSETCHBSIDE
HINTLORIRATIO
EBAYARAPIBSEN
ZIPPOLIGHTER
OEROAFISH
SQUATJUMPSNYET
KATERMALAMAR
ITOGRANITEPRO
MAFIAODOMASL
PRIMZEROMOSTEL
ITALICNTH
NOTHINGDOING
DELAYODORCZAR
OMEGAELSAKENO
MODELDYEDRAW
Tue 3/3/2020
TESTSECOLPVT
STIRUPLAVAAIR
ANNIEOAKLEYUSE
RASPSRSREFLEX
OMITSHRUB
GASLITGOESNUTS
EMAILBOARKNEE
TONALROKERYAW
AUTOOAFSABASE
TRAVESTYSTONED
CARESGWEN
YELLATCUEFETA
AVASIMONEBILES
LIUEMITPARIAH
ELSSEXYGEEKY
Wed 3/4/2020
VAPORGEARFOIL
AGAMEANDYLIME
CONGAZODEFENSE
MIELEBAKER
SSEGIANTSSTY
SWANSONDATA
HOWOARTHCARESS
ALEUTOOHTONKA
WEDGIETATUMOAL
HAMAMISACTS
PATTUNEINSHE
AGILEINLET
CLAUDEMOTWRENS
TORNMAKOONEUP
SWAGOLINSALTY
Thu 3/5/2020
DEFACESWEBSTER
OCANADAAMILATE
NOTABITGIGOLOS
NRAETCOWEN
APLUSESTATE
SESSIONDRAW
CLARETOTBERA
STIFFSLADIES
ARCSADSELINA
CLEFMETHREE
AMELIARUBIN
ALDIORDESO
STAINEDPANGRAM
TOWNCAREMPORIA
LINGERSINROADS
POW Fri 3/6/2020
PADSTEMPMIMI
COURTHAIRTONIC
ALTARERRORCODE
LOOFACLOSEKNIT
TINASEXT
OHMYGOSHAIMS
MAOHABITBINET
IDONTHAVEALLDAY
TIRESHEAVEILL
STEWSTINKEYE
AHABODDS
STAGECREWETHER
ORDERHEREDAILY
POORDEVILITSME
SUSSSEESNESS
Sat 3/7/2020
MACYWRAPSDAFT
AGUEHOLEYISAO
GOTASECONDSKIP
MOTHERHENSCAR
ADOSEESSPONGE
PAWTWOYAK
HOMESWEETHOME
PAPERAIRPLANE
CASESENSITIVE
SYNEWEAGE
APOGEEBASHENE
HINDFISHTACOS
CODAJELLOSHOTS
CNETREBARELIE
SEASSTONEMINX
Sun 3/8/2020 WHAT'S SHAKING?
CROWSARTHUROPALS
BAABAAMOROSELADLE
RUBNINTHEWOUNDDREAM
AGRODIOSTRAFFICNIP
ILESROILSLEEDESI
SEREPEKOETSARPERON
ERASMUSWITHAGRAINOFN
EATSALARYINNSTE
SPICESUPAXEISNT
WACOOARSCAPNOODLES
IRONNWATERTAFFYRAVE
GANDHITUNETARAIMAX
ONESDDTNONEVENT
IAMVIMDRIESTCUE
NLAKECITYUTAHPERUSES
ULCERLIENSODASPURL
MOLYBINMEWEDATNO
PTACRAYOLAOUTSWUSS
TITLETHENOFTHEEARTH
ENSUEITSELFANGLES
DEKEDMOSSESIDOLS

Laura Taylor Kinnel of Newtown, Pa., teaches math and is the director of studies at a Friends boarding school near Philadelphia. She has been solving crosswords since childhood but just started constructing them a little over a year ago. A cousin who solved a 2018 Christmas puzzle of Laura's encouraged her to make more. She was pleasantly surprised to discover all the help available online to new puzzle makers.

This is her second Times crossword, both Sundays.

Mon 3/9/2020
BARHAREFORAGE
AWEOPELROUTES
LADGRAINOFSALT
MYHATPTATREE
ARIDITSALIE
OUNCEOFSENSE
OLDSLETATSTUD
PEEPLYGPAASA
SEDERSCOOEKES
POUNDOFFLESH
DRIPPEDFEMA
ARESAREASPEN
TONOFBRICKSERE
ROADIEVOITELO
ALLEGEENDSKEN
Tue 3/10/2020
MICEHEADCOOL
ORALBARGEALOE
JOSEFERRERMAZE
ONSCENEASEVER
TAGBRIAR
OSERAFAELNADAL
FAROLOTSEMILY
FRANCISCOFRANCO
EDSELSALANEON
DIEGORIVERADAS
ASALELET
LADLESHEREIAM
OPALCALIFORNIA
GOTOAPARTMIDI
OPENLUXESTAN
Wed 3/11/2020
PECANHEATCOBRA
ARUBAALTOIDEAS
LETUPTELETEENS
MAIEYECANDYFLU
EDENASTRAYSCAM
REPOPORGIETAPE
RICANOELARKS
EARPALOE
STUDMUFFIN
BLAHMEANERGAGS
OARANGELORAT
UTEPSTEALSHIYA
GINUPINTOMIAMI
INTROSTEWINNER
EXILETANSSTARS
Thu 3/12/2020
CANASTASPILLED
ABORTEDHEROINE
FORSALERAISEUP
SOILGUTSSRO
UPENNBABYSHOES
RUMSPARSCONDE
GRASITDMAA
ERNESTHEMINGWAY
ICYNODYETI
ASANALEOIXNIP
NEVERWORNBUTTE
SRILAOSTONS
WEASELSSIXWORD
ENTITLEKNEELER
REENTERITSDONE
POW Fri 3/13/2020
VERISMO
NOTENOUGH
BOWANDARROW
PLUSFENESAS
LEANPANDAESPN
ESCITSHIE
ACKOREOSIRA
SEAIVERSONNIP
ATNINELONGTO
LADDERDISTAL
ORWORSEMARCONI
NIHTEAROSENIT
GAINECOLIOZMA
ANTISHOESJOAN
SEXSOL
Sat 3/14/2020
CANDORBOOTUP
PIERRECATERTO
ARRESTJANEDOES
JVSOCCERRINSE
DOESHASASIP
ARBYSDUMPUSGA
HDLOHISEESERB
LAOBELLLAPTAU
INCAFLICKRTVS
ASKSTAZOYALIE
KEYCARDPETS
AXMANMRNOBODY
STENOPADBUGOFF
IRECKONBREWER
FAKEIDSPENDY
Sun 3/15/2020 READY, SET ... GETS LOW!
ABBAICUSCADSAPCALC
DEEDFOPOAKENHOORAH
ALLHAILHALLALEARMANI
GLIDELIBELGAGKANYE
EYEITALORAKEDCAF
BOOBLURREDBLUEBIRD
DEPAULTEAPOYBRANDO
IMANICEIMOELITISM
SONERVOUSNOSERVICE
UTEDENCHNEMEANAXES
SERRACHANDENSHUEVO
ESAUWARREDNOIREDEW
STEVEDOREDIVASTORE
SALTINEPATREDOUST
AGEISTAGENTSIDOTOO
DUTCHTOWNTOUCHDOWN
TIMOREOSRAISESPF
ALEUTRECSTONYEMCEE
LETTERBCHORDKEYBOARD
ERRATAIHOPEIREONCE
SAYHEYTIPSYESPSTYX

Nancy Stark, of New York City, is a writer, lyricist and former editor for the Literary Guild book club. Will Nediger, of London, Ontario, is a professional crossword constructor. They met through a notice that a friend posted for Nancy on Facebook seeking a collaborator. Nancy came up with this puzzle's theme and wrote most of the clues. Will did the grid.

This is their third collaboration for The Times, but their first Sunday together.

Mon 3/16/2020
PAWSWOREAGITA
ALOEAPEXKUDOS
SCRAPHEAPCLERK
TARSINCAAFATE
ANISEATTLESLEW
STARRSEAT
POOHIMPSAMMY
ITMEANSALOTTOME
STENSYEPETAT
AHEMGESSO
BATTERYPACKRYE
ECRUROLLOGRES
SCARSPAPALMASS
TRIALETALACNE
SALLYSODANEON
Tue 3/17/2020
AWAYPABSTJOJO
PESOALITOUBER
BEAUREGALDENS
PRIDEANDJOY
EMOYET
FEARANDLOATHING
ETHICOEDERNIE
ECIGARNIEOTTO
SHOCKANDAWE
TITTLEDESREE
ECOEDITWARRYE
NERONAHKEEL
MIXEDFEELINGS
CECELIALETINON
PLAYSONPASTURE
ATLEASTSPASMED
Wed 3/18/2020
USOPENIMINPEZ
MORALENEROAMI
PLAYFULDEADNIP
EATTOOTOUSTS
DREAMEDCAUSE
CAREFULBEARS
DANTEATATRAH
ARESOFTENAERO
FEWDORAENDED
TASTEFULTEST
FONSIEXCELAT
GOLEMTHAIONA
AKAAWFULSHUCKS
IRSROLETAMALE
NAHKEYSSTALER
Thu 3/19/2020
ICESSHAPEBBS
MAMETUGONCLAW
ASIAAMOODTOME
CTRLCRIGHTROBE
REDBALLPIT
PENNEDREBOX
AVOIDHALLOWED
NARCSTOREFETA
ENMESHEDCFLAT
CRONYEASTLA
DISTORTSTL
ODORTOOTHCTRLV
DILLCOBRAWOOD
GOOFUNIONOKRA
ETSTEEMSSUEY
Fri 3/20/2020
POWERCORDSSCOT
ATHLEISUREHAHS
STOLEAKISSARGH
TOWLOANHUMERI
EMOJIROBPETER
SARONGURLSOAT
NEAONSALEETS
INTROTOTAL
ESTODDITYBAD
GABDOURDAUBED
GRECOHEMSTOMA
WATUSISEATREV
ALTOTWITTERATI
SEEMZAGATRATED
HEROANNLANDERS
Sat 3/21/2020
SOIWASLIKEUSPS
PARACHUTESNCAA
CHARLATANSFACT
AUNTDELTABURKE
HUEYURT
INCONTROLSLINK
MEDGAREVERSSIN
PARELITESEE
ELOPEANUTSAUCE
LEMMAYESINDEED
DOUPCOM
PURPLEHAZEIMAC
ONITPALINDROME
TIVOSWITCHEROO
STEPINFIELDERS
POW Sun 3/22/2020 BRING YOUR 'A' GAME
PAPASCOMBATSLIMJIM
TBILLBLUECAPPENTODE
ACQUIREACHOIRINCENSE
STUMPERHERFCCATBAT
VENOMANOISEANNOYS
INSIPIDSRIITAN
LSUVIMPUMMELSJAW
APPALLAPAULIDSPONY
REDBEANSNASSAUDEVIL
SWORETOAUNTEMCERISE
ARIVALSARRIVALS
AFGHANTEEHEEOUTOFIT
CROATDEEDEEMILANESE
DEEMPEAATTACKSATAX
CDSTOYLANDENETOT
PASOIRECANDIES
AVOWELAVOWALKLEIN
BASALDEMBOSLEARNED
ONTRIALAPATCHYAPACHE
RCADOMESATHOMESPAIN
TELSTARPESTOSEENSY

Brendan Emmett Quigley of Brookline, Mass., has been creating puzzles for The Times since 1996 when he was a senior at college. This is his 170th regular crossword for the paper.

For the past 12 years, he has played for the Boston Typewriter Orchestra, a percussion ensemble whose only instruments are old typewriters. You can check them out on YouTube. Brendan's the member with glasses and a beard and who is follically challenged on top.

Mon 3/23/2020
AMOKHGTVSKIFF
BOREERIECASIO
ETSYAINTRHINO
HOPELESSCAUSE
ANTSOWN
HOLDTHEAPPLAUSE
ERASESATSHAM
ATLRAYKROCUNC
THAIQUEHORDE
HOWCOULDIREFUSE
EPASERF
AHOUSEDIVIDED
SLAVSMINIUZIS
TEHEETETETROU
YEARSSTOWYARN
POW Tue 3/24/2020
ORCASTATICBRO
COOLTACOMARAW
TVRECEPTIONACE
EEGARIDESKS
TRIEDONJEANS
TRIGFUNCTION
SIGHEDALTEREGO
INEWRYRRR
AGNOSTICESTEEM
MEDICINEBALL
ELITEIRECKON
MARYSGTEOTS
OMGSEARCHPARTY
SPAORDEALTEEN
TSPREALTYMARC
Wed 3/25/2020
RACECAPOBRAG
PLUMROMANSREDO
MARMEEMARCHIMHO
LARVATAUTENED
TESSAFILCHARP
ICUAPRILKEPNER
COPAPLEATATS
MELINDAMAY
LEIAIMISSYOU
JUNECLEAVERUPS
INTHORSEMALIA
CARRYOUTEAGLE
ABATSPRINGROLLS
MANEETALIANOEL
ARTSSLEDEGGY
Thu 3/26/2020
LESSERRORATOR
ALANYOUPEARCE
WNBATEAMISSUES
FIEROROGUEELI
UNREPSROMANGOD
LOSGUMASTARTE
EURAILKISS
INNERPLANET
OHNOCOINED
SOAKAGENYEBBS
MUSICIANADVERT
ODECLUESTAHOE
SINGEDAUTOMAKE
INSIDERIOOVAL
SIEGEDSTYSEWS
Fri 3/27/2020
SNIPSALPOLAS
POPUPSTORELOCH
IHOPETOGODANTE
NODCANEMAGGIE
SINENANOBOT
THREADBIRDSONG
RAOULCAGEYAIL
OVALPATHSSRTA
LEDLUMETNUDES
LITTEREDSEISMS
ETERNALJUST
YESESHAUNTREI
BATSBALLRETURN
USESMILEAGELOG
SYDWRAPGEESE
Sat 3/28/2020
HOPACABEDUCDC
THATONECENTAUR
SOLOACTHAIRSPA
EITHERORAEON
PROSOLEOVINE
COLACOMMENTS
STILETTOHEELS
ITSRAININGMEN
HAUDENOSAUNEE
SUITCASEGSIX
OPCITCRAGINT
ALDABETATEST
PAINMEDBOOHISS
ETESIANANDOVER
DETAKATEEPEES
Sun 3/29/2020 KEEP THE CHANGE
KODAKRUBSCOBLICIT
ALIENERATENOFUTURE
YESNOAGREEDTOLISTEN
TELLLEFTFROMRIGHT
SQUALIDTIPOPIOIDS
OURSVEALSCOLDTNUT
BIBTEAREDFEINTGNU
DISHLAGUNASNOWDEN
BAPESBODICESWOODW
LAMESLEXEMESHOGH
AGRANADAINADAZEI
CETSCONCHESTONIT
KTASKADVERSEADESE
BONESAWSNAILSESPN
ARFSUSANSOLOEDOOF
WIFICYANSNALAINTO
SOANDSOKONAVENGER
SPOTTHEDIFFERENCE
BAHAMAIDITARODDOBBY
ADORERLLCDANAEMOTE
MOTTSLYEETSYDEBUT

Ricky Cruz, 22, of Glendale, Calif., is a video game concept artist — a maker of detailed designs for other artists to use when creating 3-D game environments. He says this puzzle is an attempt to turn a crossword "into a fun visual experience." The unusual grid alone tells you something novel is up.

This is Ricky's third puzzle for The Times, and his first Sunday.

Mon 3/30/2020
ALPSAJARREACT
WOOLPOLOALLAH
NONOBLOODYMARY
SKYPELESAGE
PRAYSZURICH
GEYSERSENTAI
HADJROANSLANT
ERGOOGLESALTO
ARIESESAUZION
LEEAPRKENYAN
STRATAGYROS
MISHAPDUTCH
EVENSTEVENSALE
SERIFRITAAXIS
LEROYONEGNIPS
Tue 3/31/2020
ABBABASMAKEDO
DRABRIOEXITED
DISCGOLFNETTED
SEESAWAHSTAPS
UNOACHE
ROLLINGTHUNDER
BODEELLERHINO
ASIASOAMIENDS
LISPSORANEGOS
LETSTAKEITSLOW
EASELIL
GUACIRAMAITAI
ACTORSCLAPBACK
BLANCADOTICEE
SADDAYCUESODA
XWord Info Home
XWord Info © 2007-2024, Jim Horne
134 ms