This page is just for fun. It's a random collection of rare crossword answers; so rare that each appears only in a single Modern Era puzzle. Bogus entries (thematic words that make sense only in that crossword) are excluded.
There are 50,562 unique Modern Era answer words in the database.
Click any word to see it in the context of its puzzle. Words in this color did appear in pre-Shortz crosswords.
| Word | Date | Clue | Author |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACTSALONE | Fri Sep 14, 2007 | Doesn't support a conspiracy theory? | John Farmer |
| BAGGIER | Sun Mar 7, 1999 | Poorer-fitting, in a way | Randolph Ross |
| BYTRIALANDERROR | Fri Sep 28, 2007 | One way to solve problems | Harvey Estes |
| CABLETS | Sun Dec 10, 1995 | Small heavy ropes | Jim Page |
| CAKEMAKEUP | Sun Aug 13, 2000 | Facial foundation | Nancy Salomon and Harvey Estes |
| CATCHESATRAIN | Sun May 5, 2013 | Just makes the 7:47, perhaps | Alan Arbesfeld |
| CELERYSTICK | Mon Jul 25, 2011 | Bloody Mary garnish | Nina Rulon-Miller |
| CLOSESUP | Sat Nov 13, 2004 | Sutures, say | Frank Longo |
| CODIFY | Sun Nov 19, 1995 | Arrange systematically | Cathy Millhauser |
| CROSSATTHEGREEN | Fri Apr 4, 2025 | Anti-jaywalking directive | Karen Steinberg |
| DUMBQUESTION | Mon Aug 20, 2012 | There's no such thing as this, according to a saying | Robert Cirillo |
| ENHALOING | Fri Oct 5, 2012 | Surrounding with a glow | Patrick Berry |
| FILLER | Mon Dec 16, 2024 | Lip-plumping injection | Ailee Yoshida |
| FLIGHTLESSBIRDS | Thu Sep 17, 2009 | Moas | Arthur Schulman |
| FLOUTS | Sun Jul 15, 2001 | Scoffs at | Elizabeth C. Gorski |
| HEDGERS | Sat Sep 15, 2001 | Topiarists | Michael Shteyman |
| ILLTRYYOULATER | Thu Sep 8, 2005 | Promise on a patient prosecutor's answering machine message? | Ben Tausig |
| INNERNERD | Mon Nov 26, 2018 | The secret geeky part of you ... or a hint to 17-, 23-, 32-, 42- and 49-Across | Evan Kalish |
| ITSALLALIE | Sun Nov 26, 2023 | "Don't believe one word of that!" | Adam Wagner and Michael Lieberman |
| KUOYU | Sun Sep 3, 1995 | Official language of China | Ernie Furtado |
| MICHELOBBEER | Sun Apr 14, 1996 | Quaff introduced in 1896 | Henry Hook |
| MUSICALTHEATER | Sat Aug 14, 2021 | Background for someone who's good with numbers | Nam Jin Yoon |
| OPTEDTO | Sun Aug 6, 2006 | Decided one would | Mark Feldman |
| PEREGRINEFALCON | Fri Oct 3, 1997 | Tercel | Martin Ashwood-Smith |
| PERISCOPE | Sat Apr 4, 2015 | Means of looking above and beyond | Ned White |
| PLAYTHEPONIES | Sat May 26, 2018 | Patronize off-track betting, say | Peter Wentz |
| PRECEDINGMESSAGE | Sun Feb 4, 2001 | MESS | Frank A. Longo |
| PRETTILY | Sun Mar 30, 1997 | With grace | Elizabeth C. Gorski |
| PURPLEPEAS | Wed Apr 3, 2024 | _lum-colored _lants | Alex Eaton-Salners |
| RAININGCATSANDDOGS | Fri Dec 8, 1995 | Pouring | Frances Hansen |
| REWAX | Wed Feb 13, 2002 | Add luster to | Steven Picus |
| ROSEDALE | Fri May 10, 2019 | Queens neighborhood with a floral name | Andrew J. Ries |
| SCULPTED | Mon Nov 2, 2020 | Made a bust? | Luke Vaughn |
| SPAWNPOINT | Sat May 24, 2025 | Location where a video game character starts (or restarts) a level | Gene Louise De Vera |
| STOPE | Wed Dec 7, 1994 | Mine excavation | Chet Currier |
| STRINGSECTION | Thu Sep 20, 2018 | Group that bows onstage | Sam Ezersky |
| VAMPING | Sun Nov 30, 2025 | Noodling in a jazz tune | Natan Last |
| WAITPERSONS | Sat Dec 18, 2004 | Modern restaurant staff | Dana Motley |
| WHATABEAST | Sat Dec 2, 2023 | Statement upon witnessing an impressive feat | Royce Ferguson |
| WHEEZES | Mon Dec 24, 2018 | Asthmatic noises | Brendan Emmett Quigley |