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Puzzles for May, 2022
with Editor comments

Sun 5/1/2022 Blank Expressions
AHALTESCHMOISHNIB
REXREEDSHOOINSDUALIPA
PHLEGMYFORTLEEABRAHAM
WAPGOODNEATSADS
ANGELENOPAPALWARNZONE
DEADNHEADTOGCASUALSEX
LASSIPLANETEARTHSOAMI
ITSDOTIMELOCALSGET
BOYSDUEIBARSHMOSEAS
OWENCLARIONELON
ABASEEWEDMSEIDSUGAR
LANAISTOOKNOVERFIGARO
ARIREEFLAHTIETRESMU
BNSIDESAERATEDHARPNON
ABEFORTASMIOROCKSOLID
MATSSOLARSAILDIRE
ACELUPINEPEDANTNED
KARATEENDUSERGOOSES
EBERTOUSTSSLOPE
SWEATSNITMARSTARNDATE
TILDESNOWPIERCERHUMOR
ADAMSETPHONEHOMEACELA
TENETSEANTOTSTENDS

Brandon Koppy works for a digital ad agency in Austin, Tex. He has two girls, 2 and 4 years old — which he calls "black hole ages" that seem to consume all his time.

This puzzle started with a general idea and a title (above). Once he decided on the puzzle's "meta" answer, he was off to the races. After you've finished solving, look for an appropriate bonus phrase.

POW Mon 5/2/2022
ACHOOEDSSALEM
PLANKNYEUSAGE
NEVEREVERRINGS
ERAALIBREADTH
WINEMARIABAE
SCANSBEARSEARS
REALMENACT
LADLEFLASK
NIGELROYCE
HOVEROVERKURTA
ATETEXTSPEAT
HALFASSNAPTNT
AFOULTHIGHHIGH
HANESEBTDARLA
ANGLODOESWEET
Tue 5/3/2022
DIALOGEDITALL
IGNOBELNORITEA
MINGLEINTHECROWD
EVOOSCARSENDS
SEDANIPAATE
OMGTANGLEDWEB
ACMESTOLEATA
CHINESEDYNASTY
EONTOTALGNUS
SUITTOATEEOUT
RANTENRECON
WIKIEARLAPLSU
HANGINGBYATHREAD
EGOTOGOIMANAGE
WOWTROYSNARES
Wed 5/4/2022
ZAPTHEDOWICE
ILLSEUGENENHL
TOUCHETYPESCAL
INTROPTSDOPE
GOESONTHELAME
ETNACAMERA
ALANIFSOSETON
REVATTACHEANA
ITALYATTAAXEL
ASLEEPANAT
PASSEJUDGMENT
SANSYENEMAIL
ARCGOTDOWNPATE
NTHATTILAOCHO
DYELEADERPEN
Thu 5/5/2022
FIBKORUNASGSA
AHAADDSALTOCD
MATHTEACHERLIE
IDSAYCORDEN
STIRSOONPEEN
HONSPIRALONCE
COOLDUDEREX
SLITETONACC
DEARTRIPSTAO
TOQUEHULASIMP
ELUDEEPITTOPS
CLEESEEUR
HINTTRIALDATES
SECTSUNFLOWERS
SEEYESTERYEAR
Fri 5/6/2022
SEAMAPFLOATS
POPTARTSENSEI
ICESHOWSTOTING
GEMSIPHONTAN
ONEWAYTRIPWBA
TENAMTISTCELL
HEWENTTHERE
WINORGOHOME
WINDOWFRAME
PANESALYANSEL
EKEGRINDSTONE
TATEISNERBEN
SNOODSGREATEST
ADUNITDADVICE
TAROTSRESTON
Sat 5/7/2022
FIFTHSMADAM
UNREALOXEYES
JOANNERELENTS
ITTAKESALLSORTS
NEPALAIRIER
STROLLSRAVES
RISENYUMHELL
MIDDIDMEHFEY
STEPTAGTUDOR
NADALDEJAGER
BOOYAHTOPUP
CROSSOFFTHELIST
ARTSIERONESIE
SUISSEROTATE
BETTESTEWED
Sun 5/8/2022 Two-by-Two
IBMSGOBUSTPDFSSHOP
SISTERSISTERARIAHOPI
MONACOMONACORANTOMEN
LOGONHOMAGETEENS
FAWNSITHKUDOPIBB
ALMAICEINLOUIELOUIE
TOURBUSAGEEXTRAEXTRA
SONTAGHOTSIRSTET
ERRELKOHNOMPSBONA
ASAPYESNOTSARHORNET
ETCETERAETCETERA
SURPRISESURPRISE
CRIKEYUSERDOSASSERF
LEVYNTHIDESMMALEO
AREAAAAEONAPPALL
NAMESNAMESETDKNEEPAD
KNOCKKNOCKRINGSASIS
VOTEFUELDARTCCED
GRECOGOAWAYIRULE
YODABENDPEOPLEPEOPLE
MOORARGODOUBLEDOUBLE
SSNSAMORWISETOTACK

Matthew Stock works for a math education nonprofit in East St. Louis, Ill. Chandi Deitmer, of Cambridge, Mass., is a social worker in the fields of psychiatry and geriatrics.

Matthew was making a themeless puzzle a few years ago and his constructing software suggested [41-Across] and [49-Across] in adjacent spots. That didn't work out, but he tucked the thought away. A fan of Chandi's last Times crossword, he asked if she'd like to collaborate on this one.

Mon 5/9/2022
TEMPORAMSEEP
KARATJOKEULNA
OUTROOBITDEER
THISONESONME
ITSYTECOKAY
TOOBADFORYOU
AWFULPEETBRB
LETSLIPASHTRAY
ORGTRAMERUPT
SHALLWEDANCE
MAYABOASODS
PASSTHETORCH
DRATICEDHAPPY
ACNEGRAYIRATE
SHAMHUMATTAR
Tue 5/10/2022
IPODPSALMTRAM
MENUONSETRACE
PREVAILINGWINDS
SUGARHADHATCH
LMAOERIN
PULLEDSTRINGS
IPADOTHDELETE
EDYSSITELON
DOULASNOTIMED
PENTAGONBRASS
EDAMKNEE
HARPSOOHAFLAT
THESOUNDOFMUSIC
MONOGRILLGARB
LYONHANDYETSY
Wed 5/11/2022
BLOWSITASIAREF
RONALDOTTOPEMO
ROCKINGHORSEMIG
SEETOELICANE
AEONSWILDTURKEY
REVBIDESTEEMS
INEDIBLEHIE
DRUNKENCHICKEN
SCIHARASSES
CRETANSALTCTA
RAGINGBULLBLAST
AMENASKKOALA
NOSPARTYANIMALS
ENTOGRESENATES
DASWOODLEGREST
Thu 5/12/2022
UTAHNATHAWAII
NINAOPSADAPTS
PENNUBERMENSCH
CREDITSLIPDOH
CVSINSTA
LAYBODHIAWE
SPORSETITSCOL
NAIVETEBRONTES
ONEEAROYEAIDE
WESSABREMRI
ATWODREF
EMUHAAGENDAZS
FLIRTATIONOREO
UMLAUTNYEWISP
ROASTSSAWNETS
Fri 5/13/2022
CHARTSPFOWLS
ROMANACLEFLEOS
ARENTWEALLDION
ISNTANYTAKERS
GETWITHKINDER
ROBOTOPEDSEA
BATONCORDCONK
TCHOTCHKECRUDE
SEATLAYABOUTS
STYLEDCONS
CIORHYTHMS
PILAFRAISEHELL
ADULTSITESADIE
DECLUTTERTRIMS
SAYPLEDDAYS
Sat 5/14/2022
ASTONISHSTUB
SCREENCAPGOODE
SHORTFALLERROR
AWLSILLYSTRING
YALLNEOPAY
ITISWHATITIS
PROFITSICAIDE
HOMEGYMMENSREA
ELALPOPWOKEST
WEREDONEHERE
SOODASDOES
CONSULTANTSHAH
ADIOSOLDELPASO
MILNEMETROAREA
ONESDONTTELL
POW Sun 5/15/2022 Way Out West
METSSISTINEGERBIL
ETRESCREAMINSOLOIST
THEMOTHERROADMARMOTS
REVIVERVONPAOLO
ELITEOMITFOLKSYHIP
ORDEALBASTECORA
PAINTEDDESERTSQUALOR
STREAMERINGUNPACK
HOVKOREANOKSHOOT
ANISEGEMHURTINT
WENTGATEWAYARCHOARS
DEAICONYAKINTOW
SILENTXNIACINIPA
PUSHEDRANDONTDOIT
INVERSECADILLACRANCH
ETESLLOYDEATSAT
RONONMEDSBAITNANAS
PEEVEPANACETONE
CRAZIERROUTESIXTYSIX
DEPENDSENTHRALLPITT
CARNEYDETESTSERAS

Daniel Mauer is a software engineer in Massachusetts. He started solving crosswords with his father when he was growing up and began making them six years ago.

Two favorite activities of Daniel and his wife are solving the Times crossword, which they do first thing every morning; and taking road trips. The latter was the inspiration for this puzzle.

Mon 5/16/2022
MARESASOFEGOS
AWASHTOGANOAH
ZAPPAWALLVOTE
DRINKLIKEAFISH
ADDEELFREE
RUNLIKEADEER
AESOPRELYGRE
FLOWSWAYSTGIF
EMUALOTGASES
WORKLIKEADOG
BEETNUTSTS
WATCHLIKEAHAWK
DOLTEARLJAMIE
ROLLRIMEOZONE
ELSESCATBEAST
Tue 5/17/2022
GOATSABETAWOL
ARNIEMYNACOPE
BEEKEEPERSTORN
SOWINGNOTELAG
OHOLYNIGHT
OLSONOWLGNASH
YOUTUBESTUNT
SUBTLYALOHAS
SALUTENFUEGO
TREVIRIMSTREW
DECAFLATTE
PATYAMSSTYMIE
ALIASPELLBOUND
SLOBELLESULKY
SYNCREFSPRESS
Wed 5/18/2022
SOFAPIPEDVSIGN
IMACLLANOOHBOY
LAYITALLOUTTHERE
ONEDAYLUCRETET
INFOGHOST
PICKUPTHEPIECES
GABSLEWENCORE
RUSSCOWLHANG
ALEASTIOTATSA
FINDTHERIGHTFIT
ERODEYETI
OHMASIDEWILLOW
SEETHEBIGPICTURE
LLAMALAGEREXES
OPTINELOPEREST
Thu 5/19/2022
MPGARCSLOWES
AHANAOMIOVALS
DISCIPLESCUTIN
ALTACALLTIME
MIRRORTEARNS
SPORTEDSCRUBUP
TWINTOPEKA
PALEOPAYTIDES
OLIVIABETH
HOMEICETAKEOFF
LEOEXOSOPHIA
RAISINETEGGS
FLINGSTRIKEOUT
GODNOTOTESORE
SWEARPERUDEN
Fri 5/20/2022
OMNIABUTCLAM
LOINCLOTHOHARA
DOGNAPPERCAKES
SHUTPRESCIENT
MAHOAHUGAS
ARSENICTORME
HOURSUPERSONIC
ABRAPRINTZENO
SOFTTARGETAVID
TEENYDOGMATA
NTHRIFFNOB
IRENECARANICK
CANESVELAZQUEZ
HYENAODDCOUPLE
ESTAROOTESPN
Sat 5/21/2022
CARPAYMENTCRAP
OREOCOOKIELOLL
MEDSTUDENTACLU
MODISHJETSKIS
ALITESTARHINO
SATBATHTOYDAN
MARRYUPROLE
TVGUIDEREFILLS
WOODMEATRUB
ITOSETPLANEBB
HEDDASPECAMIE
ADVILPMALLOTS
ROIDHANDPUPPET
DUBSDRIVESHOME
STETSTARSHAPED
POW Sun 5/22/2022 Parting Ways
MDPHDBROPOLWHIM
AERIEIANERATHINE
STOPSIGNSREVERENCE
COGSINCHSOAMIGUT
AXEPIEHOLECOPIERS
RENALWOREATOP
ASYLUMSETCKENOSHA
TMISHOESPAS
DEPOSITIONTORN
AMORCORNICEERODE
RAGEBONYRELEVANCE
ANTGERLTEFAD
NOREGRETSASIANUSE
CHESSREACTTOSLED
IMACANIMATIONS
NATSPLATSRI
INSIDERARKCHAPTER
CECEOATHTERRA
BODYARTINSHAPEIMP
APERERUNHERRSLIP
REVOLTINGMILESTONE
BRINYADOIREPAGER
SALELOTRSSABYSS

David, Karen, and Paul Steinberg live in Pacific Grove, Calif. David is the puzzles and games editor for the Andrews McMeel Universal media company. Karen and Paul are his parents — also longtime puzzle enthusiasts.

The idea for this one was Paul's. David wrote a program to generate possible theme entries. When the standard 21 x 21-square grid couldn't be made to work for the theme, Karen suggested changing the grid size, which was successful.

Karen and David did the fill and Paul look the lead on the clues. This is the Times's first all-family crossword collaboration.

Mon 5/23/2022
BARSGPASASSET
EXECRENTFIERI
ALSOOLDEFLEAS
NETNEUTRALITY
ETCEMIRADS
SETAHAAMULET
PLAYPOSSUMTATI
OLLIEAUGSATAN
KEEPSPELLCHECK
ERNESTYERRHO
NYTPUTTGUM
SHADOWCABINET
ADHOCGILLMAGI
SNOREACAIIDOL
PAWNSSENDCAST
POW Tue 5/24/2022
VANSPALEADCAR
CHEAPENABREAST
RAWSILKPARABLE
FEELEYED
ORCASEELTOWED
BOARTAMANERO
SOLACERIDEIAN
MUSICALCHAIRS
AIMOHIODUMDUM
YENSORBSPARE
NSYNCPEAALLEN
OHNOYOLO
SPACIERSWADDLE
YOGAMATHEREIAM
NEOPETSISMNGO
Wed 5/25/2022
PARKALPHAIDLE
IRONRURALNEER
PODIUMCASTSCAR
EMITSIMPOSTORS
RANUSAHEM
CRANIUMAPPLE
SHERYLSMOGION
COPYADAPTALSO
ALIGAIAISLETS
MEDIUMSCHOOL
ERAENDOVA
SCRIMSHAWOASIS
HAMSTEDIUMTALK
OPIEARENTOGLE
TOSSRANGEMEAD
Thu 5/26/2022
ABBAROSSEMIT
SLOGONTAPLOCI
HOURSEEYASPIT
WRESTLINGMATCH
OHDEARNOOROLE
BAARUBDIAPER
ORIGAMICLASS
EDNABIOIOWA
LOWBALLOFFER
ARMANIAASFAT
FITIPSOCHECKS
ELECTIONSEASON
WETSNAIADPLEA
ZUNIGROGUNOSH
SPASSNAPURSA
Fri 5/27/2022
CATFISHESTOAST
ONEINCOMERULED
LONGPAUSEATLAS
SALSSKIRT
ITTIDESALOHAS
TOWNEWHIREEDU
ARIDDIEHARDFAN
LOTUSNBASEEPS
INTHEWEEDSFETE
ATETISANESLET
NORMANRONASRS
FUDGEISLA
OPERARADIODIAL
WHEATOPENMATTE
SIDLESTAGEMOMS
Sat 5/28/2022
ASAPOCHREDJED
PAPERTRAILYOGA
PASTASAUCESHOD
BEAVSTEPSONS
LETHEHIND
IAMRATWAXRAG
TRAVELEDINSTYLE
ARRIVESONTHEDOT
LIVEINTHEMOMENT
ODEETSTAONEO
LAWSSANTA
WORSHIPSEVES
DIVEORATORICAL
IKEAWATERSLIDE
SIRSSNERDAGED
Sun 5/29/2022 A Monumental Centennial
TVADSPANGOGHSASH
HOBOKEPTTROUTUTU
ANEWBIRTHOFFREEDOM
INTERNETEARCLIPS
LINCOLNMEMORIAL
MASSEYSOULSCRAGGY
EVAFDADOZENFADRAE
LOVESICKBAGBENSTEIN
TWIGPERSKYRUEHANS
ORRDOCNODSET
BUREAUCASHCOWSTRESS
EGOTISMBEARDBOOMMIC
ELFLAPAGREEATVANA
PITASHONESTABEERNST
HOPSWARHEROSPEC
CELLARSPACIFIC
CHUICUTAPPOM
LENGTHSPSEOREGANO
AVIATESRINMAHATMA
WROTETOEDTSBALOAN
SENORSSTERNS

Daniel Bodily, of Woodbury, Minn., is an R&D robotics engineer. Jeff Chen, of Seattle, is a professional writer and crossword constructor.

Dan started making puzzles three years ago. "Every once in a while I pick a ‘mammoth goal' — something way out of my comfort zone," and in 2019 that was to have a crossword published in The Times. This is his second (and his first Sunday). Jeff Chen has been a frequent contributor since 2010.

Mon 5/30/2022
STAFFBEEFAMOS
PEARLAMMOLORE
YAHOONOUGATBAR
NOLAPOINT
NEUTRONSTARLGA
EARLLAPELGEES
ORGANORATE
NEWBEGINNINGS
NASALPERIL
SEASSTEELROLE
CNNNOODLEBOWLS
ASTROBEES
NUMEROUNOAISLE
TRAPDREWSTAIR
YENSENDSTYPES
Tue 5/31/2022
AMPLELIAMMOSH
NOOILELSAANTI
VOODOODOLLLEAK
ILLSWTSASTUTE
LAPCLOTHDIAPER
ACUARM
ONRUSHPRODONS
LETSPUTAPININIT
EDYSMAWTIDILY
PANLOO
BOWLINGLANENBA
ACHIERICETROT
SHINATMMACHINE
RESTCUBEPANDA
ARTYEGOSANGST
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