This web browser is not supported. Use Chrome, Edge, Safari, or Firefox for best results.

New York Times, Monday, March 2, 2026

Author:
Leslie Benson
Editor:
Will Shortz
Blog:
29-Down : Obsessor over "the precious" in Tolkien lore
TotalDebut
13/2/2026
SunMonTueWedThuFriSat
0100000
ScrabDebutFlowFresh
1.62130.218%
Leslie Benson

This puzzle:

Rows: 15, Columns: 15 Words: 76, Blocks: 40 Missing: {JQXZ} This is the debut puzzle for Ms. Benson. Grid flow: 30.2 Monday freshness: 56%
Leslie Benson notes:
HEY EVERYONE, IT'S MY DEBUT PUZZLE! Ahem. Sorry to yell, I'm just so excited and, given the theme, I figure one sentence of all caps ... read more
Jim Horne notes:

Umpires do yell STRIKE (25-Across). Starting this year, Major League Baseball will be using robo-umps to help make those calls. Should be interesting.

1
D
2
I
3
T
4
C
5
H
6
S
7
C
8
A
9
N
10
C
11
L
12
A
13
M
14
I
D
A
H
O
15
L
I
N
E
16
R
E
P
O
17
F
O
R
E
S
18
H
A
D
O
W
19
A
T
O
P
20
S
E
I
N
E
21
A
I
S
L
E
22
A
23
P
24
R
S
25
S
T
R
26
I
27
K
E
G
O
L
D
28
R
O
O
M
29
S
30
F
A
R
31
N
O
S
32
E
N
T
O
M
33
B
34
A
S
B
A
35
D
36
G
I
V
E
A
37
S
H
O
U
T
O
38
U
39
T
40
E
A
R
N
S
41
L
E
C
H
E
42
S
43
P
44
A
45
S
46
G
O
A
47
S
T
O
R
K
48
A
C
T
49
I
O
N
P
50
L
51
A
52
N
53
O
H
M
Y
54
R
U
R
A
L
55
A
R
E
56
A
R
57
A
T
O
M
58
T
59
I
M
B
E
R
W
60
O
61
L
62
F
63
D
E
N
S
64
H
O
B
O
65
C
H
A
I
R
66
E
R
G
O
67
U
S
S
R
68
H
O
K
E
Y
© 2026, The New York Times3/2/26 ( No. 27,873 )
Across
1
Leave behind, informally : DITCH
6
Read, as a bar code : SCAN
10
Happy as a ___ : CLAM
14
The Potato State : IDAHO
15
Bit of dialogue : LINE
16
Seized vehicle, in brief : REPO
17
Hint at, as what's to come : FORESHADOW
19
Sitting on : ATOP
20
Parisian river : SEINE
21
Wedding walkway : AISLE
22
Figs. that include interest : APRS
25
Hit the jackpot, so to speak : STRIKEGOLD
28
Hotel units : ROOMS
30
Distant : FAR
31
Refusals : NOS
32
Place in a pyramid, as a mummified pharaoh : ENTOMB
34
"There's no such thing ___ publicity" : ASBAD
36
Acknowledge during a broadcast, say ... and a hint to the shaded squares : GIVEASHOUTOUT
40
Brings home the bacon : EARNS
41
Tres ___ cake : LECHES
43
Dads : PAS
46
Popular coastal destination in India : GOA
47
Bird featured on many baby shower decorations : STORK
48
Sequence of steps to accomplish a goal : ACTIONPLAN
53
"Good heavens!" : OHMY
54
In the countryside : RURAL
55
Toward the back : AREAR
57
Tiny unit of matter : ATOM
58
Wild canid of the Great Lakes region : TIMBERWOLF
63
Foxholes, e.g. : DENS
64
Drifter : HOBO
65
Committee head : CHAIR
66
Therefore : ERGO
67
The Beatles' "Back in the ___" : USSR
68
"The ___ Pokey" (children's dance song) : HOKEY
Down
1
"What's the ___?" ("Who cares?") : DIF
2
Wedding vow : IDO
3
Black goo : TAR
4
Knight captures bishop, e.g. : CHESSMOVE
5
Garden faucet attachment : HOSE
6
Bias : SLANT
7
Fermented apple juice : CIDER
8
Year on the Yucatán : ANO
9
Just purchased : NEW
10
Daniel ___, 007 portrayer : CRAIG
11
Divulges : LETSON
12
Moon-landing program : APOLLO
13
Bikes with small engines : MOPEDS
18
___ and hers : HIS
21
Infuses with bubbles : AERATES
22
"Things ___ looking up!" : ARE
23
Ping's partner : PONG
24
Indian flatbread : ROTI
26
"In that case ..." : IFSO
27
Afghan capital : KABUL
29
Obsessor over "the precious" in Tolkien lore : SMEAGOL
33
British nobleman : BARON
34
Sounds of satisfaction : AHS
35
Sci-fi series with a "Time Lord" traveling in a TARDIS : DOCTORWHO
37
"___, crackle, pop" : SNAP
38
"Yikes ...!" : UHOH
39
Glossary component : TERM
42
Where the stars are : SKY
43
Veterans Day event : PARADE
44
Sharper : ACUTER
45
Muscular : STRONG
49
"You are not!" retort : IAMSO
50
Baby sheep : LAMBS
51
___ Day (tree-planting celebration) : ARBOR
52
Maiden name preceder : NEE
56
Part of a foot : ARCH
58
Wed. follower : THU
59
Apple platform : IOS
60
Sturdy bookcase material : OAK
61
What one should let sleeping dogs do, proverbially : LIE
62
Word after deep, stir or small : FRY

Answer summary:
1 unique to this puzzle, 1 unique to Modern Era but used previously.

  Please log in to use the Analyze feature.

Found bugs or have suggestions? Please let us know.

Like this puzzle? Please share this page on social media to help spread the word about XWord Info. Thanks!

XWord Info Home
XWord Info © 2007-2026, Jim Horne
35 ms