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New York Times, Wednesday, July 8, 2026

Author:
Mason Hyunjin Lee
Editor:
Will Shortz
Blog:
Low-quality synthetic images, informally
TotalDebut
17/8/2026
SunMonTueWedThuFriSat
0001000
ScrabFlowFresh
1.5425.82%
Mason Hyunjin Lee

This puzzle:

Rows: 15, Columns: 15 Words: 78, Blocks: 36 Missing: {JQVWXZ} Puzzle has duplicate clues. This is the debut puzzle for Mr. Lee. Grid flow: 25.8 Wednesday freshness: 2%
Mason Hyunjin Lee notes:
Hello scholars! I am stoked to share my debut puzzle for the NYT! Coming from LA, I am a 16-year-old high school Sophomore heading ... read more
Jim Horne notes:
Clue Answer Mechanism [C/P]ause MAKE OR BREAK Cause OR Pause [L/C]ure TRICK OR TREAT Lure OR Cure [M/H]inds HEADS OR TAILS Minds OR ... read more
1
M
2
A
3
P
4
S
5
E
6
L
7
A
8
P
9
S
10
E
11
E
12
S
13
P
14
A
T
I
T
15
R
O
U
R
K
E
16
A
L
A
17
M
A
K
E
18
O
R
B
R
E
A
K
19
S
A
G
20
B
R
E
A
D
21
E
A
S
T
22
H
Y
P
E
23
A
I
S
L
O
24
P
25
T
E
26
E
U
P
27
T
R
I
28
C
29
K
O
R
T
R
E
30
A
31
T
32
I
33
T
34
C
H
35
N
A
M
36
S
T
A
L
E
37
N
A
H
38
A
T
T
A
39
B
40
O
Y
41
S
O
N
42
C
L
E
43
A
R
44
R
O
T
45
E
Y
E
S
46
H
E
A
D
S
47
O
48
R
T
A
I
49
L
S
50
T
A
E
B
O
51
S
A
T
52
I
53
R
54
E
55
H
56
A
M
M
57
L
O
58
F
59
T
60
R
E
S
E
T
61
A
L
E
62
L
I
F
E
O
63
R
D
E
A
T
H
64
N
B
A
65
A
G
E
N
D
A
66
M
A
R
E
67
G
A
L
68
P
E
R
S
O
N
69
S
K
O
R
© 2026, The New York Times7/8/26 ( No. 28,001 )
Across
1
Cartographers' concerns : MAPS
5
Go by : ELAPSE
11
Helpful skill for guessers : ESP
14
Working obediently : ATIT
15
Mickey with an Oscar nomination for "The Wrestler" : ROURKE
16
Champiñones ___ plancha (Spanish dish) : ALA
17
[C/P]ause : MAKEORBREAK
19
Droop : SAG
20
Food mentioned in the Lord's Prayer : BREAD
21
What "Eat" stands for in the mnemonic "Never Eat Soggy Waffles" : EAST
22
Buzz before a release : HYPE
23
Low-quality synthetic images, informally : AISLOP
25
Prepare to drive, in golf : TEEUP
27
[L/C]ure : TRICKORTREAT
32
Result of touching poison ivy : ITCH
35
"The Deer Hunter" setting, in brief : NAM
36
Old, as a joke : STALE
37
Casual refusal : NAH
38
"Way to go, kid!" : ATTABOY
41
Heir to the throne, maybe : SON
42
Like a good explanation, say : CLEAR
44
Brain ___ : ROT
45
Prominent features of tarsiers : EYES
46
[M/H]inds : HEADSORTAILS
50
Fitness fad popularized by Billy Blanks : TAEBO
51
"Animal Farm" or "The Simpsons" : SATIRE
55
Soccer great Mia : HAMM
57
Apartment with a high ceiling : LOFT
60
New beginning : RESET
61
Pub order : ALE
62
[Z/R]est : LIFEORDEATH
64
Magic setting, in brief : NBA
65
List of things to discuss : AGENDA
66
Mother of a stable family? : MARE
67
___ pal : GAL
68
Individual : PERSON
69
Hershey toffee bar : SKOR
Down
1
Black ___, nickname for Kobe Bryant : MAMBA
2
Company that created Pong : ATARI
3
Fish, roads or weapons that are long and thin : PIKES
4
Sneakiness : STEALTH
5
Goof : ERR
6
Brain or ear part : LOBE
7
Coolness, of a sort : AURA
8
Magician's cry : PRESTO
9
Many a Winter Olympian : SKATER
10
"Holy moley!" : EEK
11
"No sweat!" : EASYPEASY
12
___ on the wrist : SLAP
13
Word with home or half : PAGE
18
What cologne may mask : ODOR
22
Injured : HURT
24
Pub order : PINT
26
Site for "unique and creative" items : ETSY
28
"Sleep is like a ___: It only comes to you if you ignore it": Gillian Flynn : CAT
29
Big box store that merged with Sears in 2005 : KMART
30
Sunburn remedy : ALOE
31
X's, sometimes : TENS
32
Ruler division : INCH
33
Tall story : TALE
34
Weekly reward for a strict dieter, maybe : CHEATMEAL
38
Keister, in Leicester : ARSE
39
Feathered accessory that won't constrict you : BOA
40
Singer Redding : OTIS
43
First in a race? : ADAM
45
Regards highly : ESTEEMS
47
Do a favor : OBLIGE
48
Worker overhead : ROOFER
49
Cooking fat : LARD
52
Chris with the 1991 hit "Wicked Game" : ISAAK
53
Cool again, maybe : RETRO
54
Heavens : ETHER
55
Rest like a bat : HANG
56
Jessica of "Fantastic Four" : ALBA
58
Marshy areas : FENS
59
Task on a list : TODO
62
Greatly surpass, as competitors in a race : LAP
63
Raced : RAN

Answer summary:
3 unique to this puzzle.

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