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 51,029 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| BOGUSALIBIS | Wed Aug 18, 2004 | Fake cover stories | Nancy Salomon and Levi Denham |
| BREAKINGTHROUGH | Sat Jun 14, 2003 | With 56-Across, successful like Jackie Robinson [and a hint for 22-, 35- and 49-Across] | Manny Nosowsky |
| CENTERSTAGE | Sat Feb 6, 2010 | Prominently featured | Frederick J. Healy |
| COGRAILWAY | Sat Jun 1, 2013 | How many reach the top of Pikes Peak | Barry C. Silk |
| CUBEFARM | Fri May 14, 2010 | Its workers aren't behind closed doors | Barry C. Silk |
| DIAPERED | Fri Feb 10, 2017 | Tended to, as a baby | Kyle Mahowald |
| DODGEVIPER | Tue Feb 6, 2018 | American-made sports car with a V-10 engine | Bruce Haight |
| DRUGWAR | Sun May 18, 2025 | Crisis involving cartels | Garrett Chalfin |
| ELLORA | Sun Sep 25, 1994 | Cave temple site in India | Nancy Nicholson Joline |
| FELTED | Fri Sep 6, 2002 | Like a billiard table cushion | Manny Nosowsky |
| FIDELCASTRO | Wed May 1, 1996 | Man with a 36-Across | F. Piscop |
| FINISHINGSCHOOL | Tue Dec 12, 2023 | Where social graces were once taught ... or a hint to this puzzle's theme | Peter Gordon |
| GODFREY | Sat Sep 30, 1995 | 1936 William Powell title role | Bryant White |
| GULPING | Fri Sep 16, 2011 | Reaction of thirsty people | Joe DiPietro |
| HERESWHY | Fri Nov 21, 2025 | Lead-in to a clarification | Joyce Keller |
| HITTHEBOOKS | Fri Nov 10, 2023 | Study | Kate Hawkins |
| HOLDSOUT | Wed Apr 15, 2020 | Waits for a better offer, say | John-Clark Levin and Jeff Chen |
| IMINTROUBLE | Tue Feb 5, 2008 | "Uh-oh" | Peter A. Collins |
| INFLIGHTMAGAZINE | Tue Apr 1, 2025 | Publication where this puzzle might be found | Sande Milton |
| ITSRIGHTUPYOURALLEY | Sun Jul 27, 2008 | Sentiment suggesting "Try this!" | Mike Nothnagel and David Quarfoot |
| IWASONLYKIDDING | Sun Feb 4, 2018 | "Jeez ... lighten up!" | David Levinson Wilk |
| LIFEONEARTH | Sat Nov 27, 2004 | Theorized result of comet bombardment | Byron Walden |
| LITHEST | Thu Jun 1, 2017 | Most svelte | Derek Bowman and Sarah Keller |
| LITTLEST | Sat Nov 20, 2004 | Least important | Robert H. Wolfe |
| MITTERRAND | Fri Dec 9, 2011 | Longest-serving French president | Patrick Berry |
| NEWYORKER | Tue May 8, 2007 | Magazine with the recurring heading "Onward and Upward With the Arts," with "The" | Sarah Keller |
| OSTEOLOGY | Sat Apr 11, 2020 | Ribs course? | Erik Agard and Wyna Liu |
| PHONELINES | Tue May 24, 2016 | "Open" things for a call-in show | Jonathan Gersch |
| PIGMENTS | Sat Sep 28, 2013 | Eyeshades? | Joe Krozel |
| POMADED | Wed May 17, 2006 | Having a scented ointment, as hair | Patrick Blindauer |
| QIR | Sun Dec 14, 2003 | Abu ___ Bay, site of Horatio Nelson's naval victory, 1798 | Elizabeth C. Gorski |
| REAPPEALS | Sun Apr 30, 2000 | Tries for a third trial | Cathy Millhauser |
| SCRIPTO | Thu Sep 9, 2010 | Classic pencil brand | Kevin Wald |
| SPECIALRELATIVITY | Sun May 18, 2008 | Einstein subject | Brendan Emmett Quigley |
| SURMISES | Mon May 4, 1998 | Conjectures | Hugh Davis |
| THROWRUG | Mon May 2, 2005 | Small floor covering | Tyler Hinman |
| TOILERS | Fri Jun 5, 2009 | Slaves | Martin Ashwood-Smith |
| TRIESONESHANDAT | Sat Apr 1, 2000 | Attempts | Manny Nosowsky |
| UTAHUTES | Sun Nov 26, 2023 | Football rival of the Brigham Young Cougars | Adam Wagner and Michael Lieberman |
| WHATNOWMYLOVE | Sun Jun 18, 1995 | Sonny and Cher question, 1966 | Rich Norris |