NPR Weekend Edition Sunday Puzzle

July 5, 2026

Will Shortz (3-8)

 

The two words in each pair below can be changed to new ones by adding the same two letters to the end of the first word and to the beginning of the second word. One of the answers is a two-word phrase.

 

Ex: PAPA - PRESS

Ans: PAPACY - CYPRESS

 

1. TOT - BARK

2. DEBT - DEAL 

3. LATER - READY

4. HABIT - TEMPT

5. SINCE - VENUE

6. SURGE - STAGE 

7. BLANK - CHING 

8. SHACK - GROOM

 

Answers:

 

1. TOTEM - EMBARK

2. DEBTOR - ORDEAL 

3. LATERAL - ALREADY

4. HABITAT - ATTEMPT

5. SINCERE - REVENUE

6. SURGEON - ON STAGE  

7. BLANKET - ETCHING 

8. SHACKLE - LEGROOM 

 

The words below are the first half of words made up of two smaller words - but they are not compounds. For example, PAGE and ANT could be joined together to get PAGEANT, but PAGEANT is not a compound word (like BEDROOM), since its two parts are not related. Can you think of the other half of the words below to make longer - but not compound - words? 

1. ASP

2. END

3. FUR 

4. NAP 

5. ANT

6. BUD

7. CURT

8. PLUM

9. GALL

10. MEDAL 

 

Answers:

 

1. ASPHALT

2. ENDEAR

3. FURROW

4. NAPKIN

5. ANTHEM

6. BUDGET

7. CURTAIL

8. PLUMMET

9. GALLEON

10. MEDALLION  

ADD A LETTER - GET A NEW WORD CCCIX

Add the designated letter to each word and re-arrange the letters to get a new word.

1. DUET + E = E 

2. LAMP + S = P

3. MARE + L = R  

4. CHORE + I  = H

5. EBONY + G = B 

6. READY + R = D

7. PLUME + A = A

8. ARMOR + E = R

9. MANLY + H = H 

10. SALAMI + E = M 

 

HINTS:

First letters of the new words:

1. E

2. P

3. R

4. H

5. B

6. D

7. A

8. R

9. H

10. M

 

Answers:

 

1. ETUDE

2. PSALM

3. REALM

4. HEROIC

5. BYGONE

6. DREARY

7. AMPULE

8. REMORA

9. HYMNAL

10. MALAISE  

 

 

Universal Sunday Crossword

July 12, 2026

Paul Coulter

DANCING PARTNERS 

 

The answer to each clue (lower case) below is related to the accompanying name, word, or phrases (upper case) - according to a certain pattern. Can you solve the clues and determine the connections?

 

1. Safari sights - GOLDIE HAWN 

 

2. Bittersweet feelings - SINGLES' BAR

 

3. Villainous characters in white coats - FILM TEASER

 

4. Household like the one in "The Brady Bunch" - SNAPDRAGON

 

Answers to Clues:

 

1. Wild animals

2. Mixed emotions

3. Mad scientists

4. Blended family

 

Relation of clue answers to the accompanying name, word, or phrases:

 

Anagrams of the accompanying name, word, or phrases correspond to the clue answers:

 

1. GOLDIE HAWN - WHALE, DINGO (wild animals)

2. SINGLES' BAR - ANGER, BLISS (mixed emotions)

3. FILM TEASER - FERMI, TESLA (mad scientists)

4. SNAPDRAGON - GRANDPA, SON (blended family) 

 

  

 

LA Times Crossword

December 24, 2017

Paul Coulter 

MAGNETISM 

 

The first five clues below have something in common that is hinted at by the sixth clue. Can you determine what it is?

 

1. PROBATION OFFICER

2. SPIN OUT OF CONTROL

3. WHERE THERE'S A WILL

4. PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY 

5. EVERY TIME YOU GO AWAY 

6. Opposites attract 

 

Answer:

 

Each clue conceals a pair of opposites right next to each other:

 

1. probatiON OFFicer

2. spIN OUT of control

3. wHERE THERE's a will

4. percy byssHE SHElley

5. every tiME YOU go away  

COMPOUND LINKS XXXI

Fill in the blanks with a compound word or two-word phrase so that the first two words and the last two words make up other compound words or two-word phrases.

Ex: HONEY ________ POETIC

Ans: honeyBEESWAX poetic

 

1. LOW ________ ROOM

2. CHAIN ________ KITE 

3. OPEN ________ SHEET 

4. EVERY ________ PRESS 

5. CROSS ________ STONE

6. GUEST ________ STORY

7. STILL ________ PEOPLE

8. FULL ________ WEIGHT 

9. BACK ________ POSITIVE 

10. CONTINENTAL ________ SHOP  

 

Answers: 

 

1. low KEYBOARDroom

2. chain MAILBOX kite  

3. open SEABED sheet

4. everyMANDRILL press

5. crossWINDMILLstone

6. guest STARFISH story

7. stillLIFEBOAT people

8. full MOONLIGHTweight  

9. backWATERPROOF positive

10. continental DRIFTWOOD shop  

ODDS AND ENDS

1. OPEN = CLOSED

   Add one word to each side of this "equation"  to make it correct:

  

2. What do the following rhyming words have in common?

    RAIN

    CHAIN

    PLANE 

 

3. Can you anagram the phrases below into familiar expressions?

    a. VIDEO LOG               -   _____ and _____

    b. REBATE OFFER        -   _____ and _____

    c. PERSONAL PAGES  -   _____ and _____ 

 

    HINTS:

    a. G _____ and E _____ 

    b. B _____ and A _____

    c. A _____ and O _____

 

4. What do the following words have in common?

    LEA

    LIEN

    LOSE

    OVER

 

    HINT:

    Add the same two letters to each word.

 

Answers:

 

1. HALF-OPEN = HALF-CLOSED  

 

2. They are anagrams of countries:

    RAIN = IRAN

    CHAIN = CHINA

    PLANE = NEPAL

 

3. VIDEO LOG - GOOD and EVIL

    REBATE OFFER - BEFORE and AFTER

    PERSONAL PAGES - APPLES and ORANGES

 

4. Each word becomes a new one when a C is placed in front of it and a T at the end:

    CLEAT

    CLIENT

    CLOSET

    COVERT