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New York Times, Friday, July 3, 2026

Author:
Barbara Lin
Editor:
Will Shortz
Blog:
34-Across : Makes a return that hits the net?
TotalDebutLatestCollabs
201/23/20207/3/20263
SunMonTueWedThuFriSat
1233623
RebusCircleScrabDebutFlowFresh
131.6010339.150%
Barbara Lin

This puzzle:

Rows: 15, Columns: 15 Words: 72, Blocks: 25 Missing: {JQVXZ} Spans: 4 This is puzzle # 20 for Ms. Lin. Grid flow: 67.9 Friday freshness: 30%
Jim Horne notes:

"Makes a return that hits the net?" shows how a great clue can redeem a less sparkly answer.

1
I
2
M
3
P
4
E
5
I
6
T
7
A
8
K
9
E
10
S
11
A
12
B
13
O
14
W
15
M
O
L
T
S
16
S
M
I
L
E
L
I
N
E
17
P
R
E
S
I
18
D
E
N
T
I
A
L
R
U
N
19
U
T
A
20
T
O
T
E
21
A
M
I
D
S
T
22
L
A
D
23
E
24
A
S
S
25
N
26
Y
E
S
27
S
R
S
L
28
Y
29
E
T
A
30
S
31
S
O
32
D
33
S
34
E
F
I
L
E
35
S
36
Y
A
P
37
S
38
F
O
E
39
B
I
G
E
A
S
40
Y
41
N
E
T
42
I
P
O
T
43
U
R
N
44
S
N
I
45
T
46
C
A
N
A
R
D
47
Y
E
O
48
H
49
S
P
E
50
W
51
T
H
R
O
E
52
R
I
53
M
54
S
M
O
55
G
56
D
A
P
S
57
G
58
O
A
T
E
59
E
60
P
O
E
61
M
62
D
E
I
63
I
K
N
O
W
T
64
H
E
F
E
E
65
L
I
N
G
66
B
I
C
U
L
T
U
R
E
67
R
O
S
E
N
68
B
E
E
T
S
U
G
A
R
69
E
W
E
R
S
© 2026, The New York Times7/3/26 ( No. 27,996 )
Across
1
Bank of China Tower architect : IMPEI
6
Accepts accolades onstage, say : TAKESABOW
15
Loses some hair, e.g. : MOLTS
16
Facial feature also known as a "nasolabial fold" : SMILELINE
17
Race to the top : PRESIDENTIALRUN
19
N.H.L.'s Mammoth, on sports tickers : UTA
20
Bag that may contain swag : TOTE
21
In the thick of : AMIDST
22
Bring on board : LADE
24
N.A.A.C.P. member?: Abbr. : ASSN
26
Disingenuous reply to "Are you asleep?" : YES
27
"omg rly?!" : SRSLY
29
They may change midflight, in brief : ETAS
31
Lays out some green for : SODS
34
Makes a return that hits the net? : EFILES
36
Blabs : YAPS
38
Opposite side : FOE
39
Saints' setting, with "the" : BIGEASY
41
Congestion easer : NETIPOT
43
Coffee spot : URN
44
Huff : SNIT
46
Fake news : CANARD
47
Best Actress Oscar winner between Chastain and Stone : YEOH
49
Gush : SPEW
51
Pang : THROE
52
Part of a volcano : RIM
54
Environmental portmanteau : SMOG
56
Greets, in a way : DAPS
57
Prominent feature of Jafar and the Genie in "Aladdin" : GOATEE
60
Villanelle, e.g. : POEM
62
Advocatus ___ : DEI
63
"Tell me about it!" : IKNOWTHEFEELING
66
Lifestyle for those who go both ways : BICULTURE
67
Senator Jacky of Nevada : ROSEN
68
Root crop product : BEETSUGAR
69
Classic pitchers : EWERS
Down
1
Item that's not on the list, say : IMPULSEBUY
2
Shelling : MORTARFIRE
3
Claims not to have known : PLEADSIGNORANCE
4
Many sci-fi villains, informally : ETS
5
"Really?" : ISIT
6
Creature that transmits sleeping sickness : TSETSE
7
Get-out-of-jail-free card, so to speak : AMNESTY
8
Nurse's tote : KIT
9
Essayist who wrote "Not many sounds in life, and I include all urban and all rural sounds, exceed in interest a knock at the door" : ELIA
10
Not looking reputable : SEAMY
11
Supporters of L.G.B.T.Q.+ people : ALLIES
12
Tropical specimens that can be either flora or fauna : BIRDSOFPARADISE
13
Burden : ONUS
14
Elapsed : WENT
18
Like a nonstarter, for short : DOA
23
Woods seen on Broadway : ELLE
25
Curry accompaniment : NAAN
28
Pros in Washington : YEAS
30
What some articles are written on : SPEC
32
Device in many a garage : DOOROPENER
33
Play pieces? : SETDESIGNS
35
Former Medicare IDs : SSNS
37
Mode, for one : STAT
40
Choking cause, with "the" : YIPS
42
Very clear, as a telecast : INHD
45
Oil alternative : TEMPERA
48
Strongly criticize, with "at" : HITOUT
50
Bass player : WOOFER
53
Whimpers like a baby : MEWLS
55
"Who knew?!" : GEE
57
Brothers ___ (pop stars of the 1960s-80s) : GIBB
58
Many a classic Steinbeck character : OKIE
59
Dramatic "Not you, too?" : ETTU
61
Nothing but : MERE
64
Hold close : HUG
65
Bass or base : LOW

Answer summary:
8 unique to this puzzle, 2 unique to Modern Era but used previously.

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