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Puzzles for March, 2024
with Constructor comments

View these same grids with comments from:
Constructor (7)Editor (4)Jim Horne (9)Hide comments
Fri 3/1/2024
CIRCUITSOBIT
UNIONREPNACHO
INCREASECLERIC
NECKSTEREOELO
GRISTSCIOPERA
CHIHOGEPIC
TRYNOTTOLAUGH
THEMSTHEFACTS
AREWETHEREYET
LIMEAERRUM
OPEDSRAGPALES
HOPADSPOTKILO
ALASKAISURECAN
IRKEDSENORITA
KISSTEAMSTER
Sat 3/2/2024
KABUKIELLIS
BULLPENLEONE
BALLOONSMILLE
MENTIONTWOCOY
ARGUEDNAEHAVA
SLURSOUNDBITE
HEPSTUNTDOGS
FORTHWITH
RARECOINSTSK
MOVEALONGTATA
MACEMADBREXIT
ARKASSPAUNCHY
ZOOMSSEANPAUL
DOUGHEVIDENT
ANTSYDORSET
Sun 3/3/2024 Countdown
TTDRESSPJSCLECGI
ERITREASULUOILBOOMS
NUMERALALUMNWSLETTER
OWLETSNIPPETYAT
FRETRAINPHONOALANA
LEIAREDCAPEXACTO
ARGUEMAORISPRESST
RAHMEATBALLSPOSTERS
ENTHUSEMEREOCTAVIO
ESTSTUSDOSSTEEL
ABCSAVIASTAKEFUNDO
PLOWSAXLWINSISR
PETITFSELANAVENGER
TATTOOSSANDRALEERAE
KAHLUAONEILLPIETA
MERLINARABICNEED
ASPENDENTSEARTNTRY
CHIASPIRERNENEH
DONTRKTOOHARDCORLEOS
CREWTEAMIDEAELEGANT
TSOESSEPSSEESRED
Mon 3/4/2024
EIGHTSHUTSABA
SCUBANANASYER
LYSOLAISLESEAT
MONGRELCAKE
CABANANAYSAYER
CHEXGAELEMERY
SATHALTALP
BANANASPLITS
EGOHIPSOIL
AQABACAPECOLA
SUBURBANANALOG
SOULENDURES
ITSAMATCHPINTA
SEECUBANANAIS
TDSUTEROLOPES
Tue 3/5/2024
BOBASHREDCCS
ODINLOIREHAT
LOGICALFALLACY
ARMONMEARAL
OSAGETIPTOE
EMPTYSPACE
ASEACURLBAR
MSNPIGSTYAMI
YOTEAMOFROG
FRUITDRINK
GOLIMPAWARD
ETALRYESANT
THREEHOLEPUNCH
EEKKABOBSCAR
MRSEMORYBEAU
Wed 3/6/2024
PILLBOGSPBJS
EPEETRALAAREA
ZOOMHIKERPURL
ONEEYEDJACKS
ADONISIOWEYA
DOUBLEAGENTS
IOTASDONECBS
EMIRFORDSBRIT
USEARGOTRITE
THREEWISEMEN
INSEAMRAWEST
FOURHLEADERS
OLESADDONKISS
LIMENIECEIDEA
DEERDESKSOAP
Thu 3/7/2024
LABSMACROBLAB
ECONOCEANLEIA
IKNOWWHOSEWOODS
RISESDISSES
CCTVSATS
THESEAREMYHORSE
EONSHALEMAMA
MITEASIANSNOT
PREYSTRAPTOM
ISRESTLESSIHAVE
PORELATE
CANARYSEWER
ALOTTODOGIDDYUP
SPECNASALLORE
TOSHEBONYYUNG
Fri 3/8/2024
CLAMORSARISE
WAITABITLUCIE
THREESOMETROLL
DOESTEEMMAUVE
POTLESSBALLER
APOLARVANDRS
SEEINJEERDEB
SELFDRIVINGCARS
CATONELTOTAL
BUBTAXMONACO
ISOPODSHESHEP
SHREWNAANDOLE
TIARAOLDSCORES
ROTORTEACHEST
ONENDIMTHERE

Hello! I'm psyched to be making my New York Times debut! I'm 16 years old and a junior in high school.

This grid came about as I was first attempting to construct a themeless puzzle. I've always loved puzzles with long vertical entries, especially stacks, hence this puzzle's design. I seeded it with WHOOPEE CUSHION and I COULD EAT A HORSE — a little testament to my sense of humor and personality. I also love the contemporaneity of SELF-DRIVING CARS, tying the two sides of the puzzle together.

Special shoutouts to my brother Ben for putting me onto making crosswords, to my parents for supporting (most of the time) my crossword obsession, and to my dad for helping with the clueing process.

Sat 3/9/2024
DIORAMASISLE
INFODEMICSTEIN
NEWNORMALLARGO
GRANCOMEDYVHS
STRIPYFIDGET
EBBEDGOATEE
FITJURYRIGGING
AGESCOSETSMUG
NOLUCKSOFAREPS
STEELENILES
TODATEDIODES
CALUSABLEMONT
IRONSROOTCAUSE
AUGIESOLOALBUM
ONYXTAXBITES
Sun 3/10/2024 Rack 'Em Up
CRATEASPCABTSALPS
LETEMMOLARUSESPORT
INAPURCHASETHEHORROR
PARISHONEANIMALEVE
SLIDIMTOLDFORTHISNOW
DNAOATTOAST
SMSMOPSAVEASTESSA
HAWAISLANDERSBREWPUB
ELECTERAHERONAMI
STEERGLIDERNUTCOT
TRIPLELETTERSCORE
ABCRANGAELICNOSES
BRODOZENICHELUDE
BARCODECNEWSHEADLINE
ANNANGOATEETUGTAP
MELEEBAETSE
KRISTINSCOTHOMASTHIN
NAMHOTTUBONTIPHONE
ODDMANOUTBUSINESENSE
COURTMRICREDOASKED
KNEEBEEESTARTESTY
Mon 3/11/2024
GRAMLAKERAIL
LAMABRIMALDA
APPLESTOAPPLES
DIETSSIRTAT
ENDPICKLEBALL
SOUPNOSELLY
EPIPENDORKY
CORNHOLE
STARTUNEASE
STIRBLTLIAM
CANDYCRUSHTRI
ASKOOOOWENS
THEHUNGERGAMES
HERBCURECASE
ESSOHEADOPTS

This puzzle began as most of our collaborations do. Rebecca texted Rachel "CORNHOLE, PICKLEBALL… Is this anything?" Rachel pitched HUNGER GAMES as a revealer, and after extensive debates over whether or not NOODLE JOUST is a real game, we landed on APPLES TO APPLES (Rachel's preferred card game) and CANDY CRUSH (Rebecca's preferred mobile game) to round out the set. As per usual, making the grid was a team effort, and then Rebecca wrote the Across clues and Rachel wrote the Downs.

We are also thrilled to announce that These Puzzles Fund Abortion 4, which Rachel co-edits and to which Rebecca contributed a puzzle (in collaboration with Adam Wagner!) is currently available for presale. If you donate before March 15, you'll receive the pack when it's released on Friday, but donations will be accepted through the end of May.

Tue 3/12/2024
DROPLAVASATAY
ROVEIWINPREGO
APARTMENTITCHY
MELHIDESNIHAO
ASSORTSASS
PISAALLTALK
AVRILTALEEVER
FIELIEDOWNVII
ACAISASHABYSS
REDCENTABRA
MELTANDHOW
ACURABLINIAYE
POSITLOOKALIVE
OPINEOATSOKED
PECKSBDAYGUYS
Wed 3/13/2024
AULDWASSEMIS
SNORTALAATONE
SARAHSEMAPHORE
AGAPETROMPNED
MIXEDMETAPHOR
DUOSOSOON
ACHDONORLOBO
CHIWETELEJIOFOR
TATETEXANSEA
SISTERMSG
ASNEVERBEFORE
ADSSERTACONES
FINALFOURTREAT
EVADEODESCARE
WAGERMEDELSE
Joel Fagliano is credited as the editor starting here
Thu 3/14/2024
MASTSNTHRIATA
EATUPOHOUPLIT
THETOWEROFBABEL
PURPLEPROSE
MPHEASESINRCA
ALESETAL
HANOIGPSBUENO
ETHANRIPALIEN
ROAMSADADENSE
WIIYAMDRS
PAKSWAYBARTUT
ALISTEROPENERA
LINEONETSARISM
MAGENTASEMANAS

Happy PI DAY everyone!

As an engineering student with an affinity for all things math, I've been thinking about making a PI DAY puzzle for a while. I'm glad to see this one come to fruition. A lot of things had to go right to make the puzzle work, and at every step of the construction process it felt like the puzzle was meant to be.

One of the challenges in constructing a puzzle like this is balancing the relatively low amount of theme content with engaging fill to keep the solving experience interesting, especially for an undersized grid with a constrained block pattern. I did my best to treat it as a themeless and maximize longer entries where possible. It's definitely a puzzle unlike any others I've ever constructed, but hopefully in a way that solvers will enjoy. You'll have to be the judge of that.

Have a great Thursday and enjoy some pie for PI DAY!

Fri 3/15/2024
BASHOKRAPECOS
OSHAPOETEXALT
PHILLISWHEATLEY
SELFIEROSTRA
NOTVWIMPABLE
HITRATEMERER
MYEYETAXIES
CARELESSMISTAKE
UBEREDHONOR
SEDERVIETNAM
SLAPWESTJEEZ
POPARTTAXTIP
ESPRESSOMARTINI
WILTSORALREEK
WRESTSYNCARSE
Sat 3/16/2024
ALSOPOMAMBLE
DEEPFAKEAMORAL
DISPOSALRACISM
SHOOTYOURSHOT
STEEDSSACS
ANGERDIMESHEL
SOLDERCAGEECO
KOASEWPAYBOO
ENDTAOSDEBUNK
WETSLOTRTENDS
COPAERASED
ADOPTDONTSHOP
PRONTOPLATELET
GEIGERHOTSAUCE
ASTEREWEDOSE
Sun 3/17/2024 All Over the Map
BOSCACDCOTOHDIAL
BALERSLIERLANEOUTDO
MADEAHOTMAGENTAFRODO
WTFTRITENIAGARAFALLS
SHAKEONSTIRRERVENDEE
INRUSHLADYLIBERTY
STOLEENCLSOARTEARY
SCHWAMYBNEMOSKA
OAFKAYASHTONWARROOM
STUDENTSTOECAPNYE
OSLOTHESOUTHWESTPEDI
TEMCENSORTOREOPEN
JOSHGADTEENERLAVCAD
AXEONITBADEBONY
BOLTSSOCAPHILBRATS
FOURCORNERSTRAGIC
BISTROKATRINAOILLEAK
AREAFIFTYONESISTANEE
CARLELIONSSHAREDOTTY
HIVEDOMNITUNASEDENS
SLEDPESOSHAQSERA
Mon 3/18/2024
ABBIETOYSJILT
DRUNKABETUBER
SISTERCITYMEGA
EYEATEMOPTOP
BLOGFITS
ECOPURPLESTATE
PADMEALASALEX
ORIONTAUKRONA
CLEODOINETHEL
HOSTCOUNTRYATT
PANTASAP
ESCORTFYIBAA
DALIALIENWORLD
IRANSILLARTOO
TINTKEEPSTYES

I'd like to tell you some insider process things about how I constructed this puzzle. But I can't. Because I don't remember much about making it. To tell the truth, I remember less and less about more and more. Like when I go from the living room to the bedroom with purpose, only to find that seconds later I don't remember why I'm there.

I do remember having the idea of doing a progression theme for a Monday. So there's that. As any constructor knows, you've got to be brutal in rejecting non-Monday material from your grid. I'm generally satisfied with this puzzle in that regard, although KRONA hasn't appeared on a Monday since 2009. Apologies if that gave you any trouble, but getting better at crosswords is a long process of not knowing stuff followed by then knowing said stuff. In that sense, you're welcome.

Where am I? What was I saying?

I'll be an official at the ACPT coming up April 5-7. If you're there, I'd love the chance to say hello. Finally, I'd like to offer Will Shortz my best wishes for a speedy recovery. Puzzles today bear little resemblance to puzzles before Will came on the scene. I offer him my deepest thanks for his stewardship of our beloved pastime.

Tue 3/19/2024
ISPYWEBSEDANS
MEREOREEPAULET
MAINDRAGCOUNTER
ELMIDSPHOCODE
NIECESDOORNAILS
SOREMAILANDES
ENIDIRSAFT
BEATTHECLOCK
WHYGEOALDA
ANNIETAROPORN
GOONSQUADRENNET
LISTUSBCPLDAL
ADHERESHALFTIME
REENTERIRASKOR
EASTERDENPENS
Wed 3/20/2024
SPASMACDCFISH
HARPOWHOAIDEA
INTROCLASSBOND
PESACHPEAKNOT
WHIMBISTRO
BAWLCANNABIS
OLEKARELOREOS
BANJOBMWSIEGE
ASTORLEECHIRE
THEBEASTSTEM
ATONALTRAP
BOONUMBLLAMAS
INFOFULLCIRCLE
DEARFLUEASADA
ERRSSLEDSETON

As a math person, I am very happy that my first NYT puzzle has a numbers theme. I had originally used "numeronyms" as a revealer, but the editorial team thought it best to leave it out in favor of more numeronyms, which I admit works much better. For those of you trying to have a puzzle accepted, keep at it. I submitted several puzzles, most of which were (quite rightly) rejected. The theme of this one appealed to the editors, and while the finished product bears little resemblance to the original submission, eventually, with much patience and guidance from Tracy Bennett, here we are. Thank you, Tracy.

Thanks to my college friends for getting me into the NYT crossword in the first place. And lastly, I dedicate this puzzle to Mike, for his encouragement and for his years of putting up with all my puzzling.

Thu 3/21/2024
RARESTZAPSCAB
AMINORODETALE
MIDDLEHOOLARTE
ONEAHASIMPSON
NOSTRILCULT
HICCHASEENE
OARSSAUNTERED
ERIEEAVESNEAT
WEREREWEDTTOP
SOJOURNSCHE
OMNIPRERIBE
SERPENTTYRMOM
AIDAESCAPEROOM
GRANSKATABULA
EENYSSNSMITES
Fri 3/22/2024
GOODSCHARTSO
EXTRACHEESERAN
METALUMLAUTAME
SNOWBOLDTENET
LABSLEADSTO
MOBYVIVSPOT
VOTEWANESRYE
FIRSTGENERATION
USASOBERNADU
NULLLOSDALE
FACEOFFBEAK
ALOOFLARATINT
CADANIMALLOVER
TIEGUESSTIMATE
SDSESSOTENSE

Mansi Kothari: I've been an avid crossword solver since I was a high schooler, when my dad used to bring the printed puzzle home from the paper, with photocopies for each family member. It's a dream come true to be published as a constructor.

HUGE shoutout to my collaborator, Erik Agard, for being such a patient and supportive mentor. My favorite part of the construction process is cluing, and Erik helped me a lot with navigating the technical aspects of some of the earlier phases, such as grid layout and fill (and also reined in some of my crazy clues). He's a very conscientious constructor who taught me to consider the social relevance and impact of my puzzle.

Some of the clues I'm most proud of in this puzzle are:

  • Moved cross-country?
  • Winter coat
  • July birthday celebrant
  • PowerPoint, perhaps
  • Go clubbing?
  • Ring bearer?

I hope this is the start of a long-lived construction journey. Enjoy!


Erik Agard: I'm so honored to be a part of Mansi's NYT debut, and it was so fun to make! Mansi is a dream collaborator, and I admire her fill sensibilities and her diabolical mind for cluing. Looking forward to solving many more of her puzzles!

As for me, I'm (sporadically) on Twitter at @e_a_rly - drop me a line!

Sat 3/23/2024
BIBSSTRIPSTEAK
UHOHWHYSHOULDI
SEXYAUDIOBOOKS
SAFETYNETCIS
IRISHBROSPUNY
NYSTATEKARATS
GAHLORDYULE
LARGEBILL
LIMPMEDIPAW
PERIODGONDOLA
ALTAROBEGALLS
BAIGENOSMITH
BITCOINATMASHE
ANGELFALLSSCAR
STOLEAPEEKKITS
Sun 3/24/2024 Feeling Possessive
PROBBUSESAGASPPEDI
DOVEAMUSTJELLOONES
FUELSSPECULATIONOPAL
STRIPESAPEXPILLAGE
EATSPOTWISEASSES
HOLDSWATERGILSIRS
ELOMONOHOLLALEADS
WISPSGOESALLINASNER
EVELFUDGESFACTSOTTO
DETAILSGAPSISUZU
RONCOYONHUTPERMS
TEAMOAMISPENCAPS
MENSTAKESORDERSESAU
GREEDDONTSTARETSARS
MAUVEDORISAPBSLEI
RICHNONSETSATEASE
HEADCANONRICOSON
ONLEAVEFONZIQRANGE
VONNEXCHANGESNUMBERS
ELECTUPACIMAGELEAP
RATEOSAGETAXESEDDY

This puzzle was inspired by Rebecca Goldstein's Simile Irresistible. The ambiguity of hidden punctuation and spacing in crosswords is so delightful. I had the entry CLEAR AS CRYSTAL stuck in my head for months like a Top 40 earworm. It would pop up at random moments. "Clear, as crystal" ... "Clear, as crystal" ... "Clear, as crystal".

To develop the theme set, I wrote a Python script to list phrases with potential ___'S words. It wasn't what anyone would call smart: it spit out 70,000 some candidate entries. I spent hours a night reading through them all. What a slog. After a week I'd collected 162 maybe-usable entries in my spreadsheet. Boy, I tell you, 162 out of 70,000 is just a miserably low hit rate. But hey, you can't make an omelet without cracking tens of thousands of eggs.

Mon 3/25/2024
BABAAHEMCAPE
AMASSROPEAHOY
NOKIAITISRIPE
DREAMCATCHER
BEDDNAMOIST
PANCAKEBATTER
ECOLIESAISRI
VOTERIDONLEAVE
ERAVOIDENDED
NATHANFIELDER
SLOANAXEYAP
WATERPITCHER
WHOAARIADUETO
HOPIGISTSPANX
YETISETSSTAY
Tue 3/26/2024
SCOOTPRODHTTP
CRUDELOFIOHIO
HOTELSUITESWEET
LARSIRSTUTSI
ETABRASPROUTS
PIGTAILTALENUT
AEONORAESPY
ADHOMINEM
NERDAGEMISS
AYEMRRIGHTRITE
BEDSIDEIOSLAV
TUTEEBAHMETE
SECONDTONONENUN
USERGILTENTRE
ITSYEATSTUBED
Wed 3/27/2024
IROCPECKSKIN
TOOTHIMHOPICO
ONTOENAUSEATED
RIGHTYTIGHTY
TAUAOLERSATZ
ENTRAPIREWII
ELATEDHANG
LEFTYLOOSEY
LEAFKILLED
SRIABEDAYSPA
DANUBETIECUE
SCREWDRIVERS
DAREDEVILLONGO
EMIRTINESLEEP
LIPSSLEDATVS
Thu 3/28/2024
PADABUTSEPI
ODESUZIEMOM
TACCAMILLADID
AGEGAPARCANE
TENONPCPHOSTA
OSTEOHOOAAHED
SEDIMENTS
ZIONELATETSAI
INFOMITREAILS
NSFWOVOIDLGBT
CHINESEYUAN
KEENYESDRAB
GENRESADELEH
INTERCHANGEABLE
BYETARDIEROLA
BARRHONEXED
Fri 3/29/2024
PASSERASSAM
FORTUNECOOKIE
MECHANICALBULL
TALKATGONSLED
OCTETAMINOLDS
SHUTDIALING
SOPKENSBLOWIT
UNTWISTPASTIME
PEOPLEWELDDIN
MORTALSMESS
ACKSTEVEMOOSE
SHIAENEWARPED
CATCHREDHANDED
ISTHISTHINGON
IMSETSISTER
Sat 3/30/2024
GILLNETCRAPPER
ONEEACHHOMEICE
LABSITEREARSUP
FHAFOREIGNCAR
BONDSENSABIDE
ALOELATTEANOS
GENTLEREMINDERS
AAVERAGES
ACCIDENTSHAPPEN
GOONROASTORSO
ERNSTWIESTOPS
INGIRONAGEPYE
SPATTERSALTAIR
TIMREIDOLEANNA
STEARNSNESTEGG
Sun 3/31/2024 Turns of Phrase
ISAIDTEMPIHEARCGI
BALSACHRISTISLEARM
ALARMTHERAYSHOTDATES
REMARIASALAALBEE
SOWSEARDAZETHECOUNT
ICKCLOROXASTERS
MENUTHATSOANTEGPA
CITESTHESEELUGEDLAS
ORALINREYALIEBACK
NOSIREESEESINSORES
SCREWSTHETITANS
BETTADRIESTHBOSHOW
RAHSOVERTKNEELIMO
ITESPINEHONORTHEDEW
ETDURLSTONEMEEVEN
HERBALDELUXEOLE
HEATTHEBEETSGOALLIN
ORDERJANPUTTYNES
PISSARROPRESSTHEMEAT
ICECHAROPTSTOAORTA
SHATOOKPIETAHITON
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