LA Times Crossword

April 13, 2026

Pranav Daryanani

 

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

 

1. NETFLIX SHOWS

2. NECK PILLOWS

3. NET-ZERO LAWS

4. "This just in!"

 

Answer to Clue 4:

BREAKING NEWS!

 

Answers to Clue 1-3:

 

The word NEWS is "broken" in each of the clues - starting with NE and ending with WS:

 

1. NEtflix shoWS

2. NEck pilloWS

3. NEt-zero laWS   

BIGRAM DELETION

The Enigma

NPL Magazine

November, 2025

COUSIN JOE

 

Two interior letters are dropped from the first answer word to get the second answer word.  

 

His grand speech was meant as

   a _ _ _ _ _ _ _ to the crowd,

Whom he praised to the skies. Anyone

   might feel proud.

The people, though, yawned and

   complained, "What a bore!"

For they thought his words _ _ _ _ _,

   hackneyed, all heard before.

 

Answers:
 

TRIBUTE

TRITE   

NY Times Crossword

April 12, 2026

Lance Enfinger and John Kugelman

INITIAL THOUGHTS

 

The capital letters starting the clues below are the initials of the words in their answers. For example, Clue 1 begins with HOT - and the answer is Helen Of Troy. 

 

1. HOT woman worth fighting for

 

2. GOT in the ballpark

 

3. BOB Dylan album title

 

4. MOB wives 

 

5. SOAP film

 

6. KID napper's demand

 

7. THE big poker game 

 

Answers:

 

1. Helen Of Troy

2. Give Or Take

3. Blonde On Blonde

4. Mail Order Brides

5. Snakes On A Plane

6. Keep It Down

7. Texas Hold 'Em  

 

 

WHO'S THE MAN?  I

GAMES/World of Puzzles

October, 2021

Edward Mooney

 

Can you fill in the names of the twenty people and characters below whose middle name is THE? The names are listed in alphabetical order. 

 

Alexander the Great

________ the Giant 

________ the Hun

________ the Kid 

________ the Clown

________ the Vampire Slayer

________ the Great

________ he Entertainer

________ the Big Red Dog 

________ the Barbarian

________ the Menace

________ the Explorer

________ the Confessor

________ the Cow

________ the Red

________ the Cat

________ the Talking Mule

________ the Cat

________ the Snowman

________ the Horrible 

 

Answers:

 

Alexander the Great

Andre the Giant

Attila the Hun

Billy the Kid 

Bozo the Clown 

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Catherine the Great

Cedric the Entertainer

Clifford the Big Red Dog

Conan the Barbarian

Dennis the Menace

Dora the Explorer

Edward the Confessor

Elsie the Cow

Eric the Red

Felix the Cat

Francis the Talking Mule

Fritz the Cat

Frosty the Snowman

Hagar the Horrible 

  

 

DROP A LETTER - GET A NEW WORD CXXXVI

GAMES/World of Puzzles

February, 2026

FAMILY REUNIONS

Bob Stigger

 

Drop one letter from each word and re-arrange the remaining letters to form nine relates words.

 

1. BLURB

2. BRIEF

3. MAPLE

4. CARPET

5. COHORT

6. LOAFER

7. ICELAND

8. INTERNAL

9. HIGHTAILED

 

HINTS:

First letters of the new words:

1. B

2. F

3. L

4. T

5. T

6. F

7. C

8. L

9. H

 

Answers:

 

1. BULB

2. FIRE

3. LAMP

4. TAPER

5. TORCH

6. FLARE

7. CANDLE

8. LANTERN

9. HEADLIGHT - - - Sources of light   

CRYPTO CLUES CCXIX

GAMES/World of Puzzles

October, 2021

Bob Stigger (1)

Rosalie Moscovitch (2-10) 

 

1. They mark positions of profanity-yellers in the audience

 

2. Opening in tree trunk is incomplete, I hear 

 

3. Head librarian has to improvise

 

4. Box found in maid's parlor3

 

5. Grown old, short French artist  heads west

 

6. Celeb tells all about .....

 

7. Boston guest carrying muscular organ

 

8. Venetian chorale enthralls TV news announcer

 

9. Rocky loves what you do to a mystery

 

10. Auditor's fine-looking carriage 

 

Answers: 

 

1. CURSORS (cursers)

2. KNOTHOLE (not whole)  

3. AD LIB (heAD LIBrarian)

4. SPAR (box)  [maidS PARlor]

5. AGED (west = left) [DEGAS] 

6. STAR (rats = tells all) [about = reversal]

7. TONGUE (bosTON GUEst)

8. ANCHOR (venetiAN CHORale)

9. SOLVE (anagram of loves)

10. HANSOM (handsome) 

UNUSUAL WORDS CXXVIII

Can you give a simple definition of these less-frequently-used words?

1. COVEN

2. MAUVE

3. MITOSIS 

4. SYZYGY

5. PLACKET

6. SPELUNK

7. FURLONG 

8. DETRITUS 

9. FOOLSCAP

10. IMPUISSANT  

 

Answers: 

 

1. COVEN - A group of witches

 

2. MAUVE - A pale purple color

 

3. MITOSIS - Normal cell division

 

4. SYZYGY - The straight-line configuration of three celestial bodies, such as the sun, moon, and earth in an eclipse

 

5. PLACKET - A fold or slit in a garment that allows it to be put on easily or provides a place for buttons or snaps

 

6. SPELUNK - To explore caves

 

7. FURLONG - An eighth of a mile, 220 yards / term used in horse racing

 

8. DETRITUS - Trash, junk, waste, debris

 

9. FOOLSCAP - A size of paper slightly larger than the standard 8 1/2  x 11 - used for legal pads

 

10. IMPUISSANT - Lacking physical strength or vigor, powerless