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New York Times, Friday, September 18, 2026

Author:
Ryan Mathiason
Editor:
Will Shortz
Blog:
Clicked with a partner?
TotalDebutLatest
33/31/20259/18/2026
SunMonTueWedThuFriSat
0200010
ScrabFlowFresh
1.6034.442%
Ryan Mathiason

This puzzle:

Rows: 15, Columns: 15 Words: 68, Blocks: 38 Missing: {VWX} This is puzzle # 3 for Mr. Mathiason. Grid flow: 59.6 Friday freshness: 52%
1
I
2
T
3
S
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H
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O
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T
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S
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E
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G
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U
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E
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D
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Q
R
C
O
D
E
14
S
O
T
O
S
A
Y
15
S
E
E
R
E
D
16
J
U
N
E
B
U
G
S
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E
N
D
S
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D
A
M
S
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A
R
L
O
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T
R
A
E
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M
A
C
S
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I
N
P
E
N
23
A
I
R
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B
A
R
K
25
P
G
A
26
U
N
I
27
T
E
D
N
A
28
T
I
O
N
29
S
30
G
O
A
L
L
I
N
E
S
T
A
N
31
D
32
S
P
L
I
T
D
E
C
I
S
I
O
33
N
34
D
E
B
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C
H
E
N
36
F
A
A
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O
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R
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C
A
S
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F
O
E
S
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K
F
C
S
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F
E
R
N
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P
I
K
E
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D
A
T
A
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A
L
A
C
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A
R
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E
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D
A
R
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M
48
E
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G
A
Z
E
B
O
S
50
O
N
E
S
E
C
51
E
Y
E
D
U
P
52
C
A
N
T
O
O
© 2026, The New York Times9/18/26 ( No. 28,073 )
Across
1
Server's warning at a restaurant : ITSHOT
7
Moved along (to) : SEGUED
13
Modern tech aid whose design was inspired by a Go board : QRCODE
14
Figuratively speaking : SOTOSAY
15
Begin to boil : SEERED
16
Insects named for when they emerge : JUNEBUGS
17
Breaks off : ENDS
18
Water containers : DAMS
19
Dinosaur in Pixar's "The Good Dinosaur" : ARLO
20
Four-time N.B.A. All-Star Young : TRAE
21
Line at an Apple Store : MACS
22
Permanent, perhaps : INPEN
23
Contents of some pockets : AIR
24
Yell sharply : BARK
25
Org. whose events are typically held at clubs : PGA
26
Country club? : UNITEDNATIONS
30
Defensive effort in the red zone : GOALLINESTAND
32
Not everyone agrees on this : SPLITDECISION
34
Ball girl : DEB
35
"Big Brother" host Julie : CHEN
36
Org. concerned with traffic : FAA
37
Ones catching rays, perhaps? : ORCAS
40
Two in a row? : FOES
41
Places to buy buckets, familiarly : KFCS
42
Common plant for a "plant mom" : FERN
43
Long-bodied fish : PIKE
44
Cookie contents : DATA
45
Not together, in a way : ALACARTE
47
"Is that a challenge?!" : DAREME
49
Some features of backyard landscaping : GAZEBOS
50
"I'll be right with you" : ONESEC
51
Gave the once-over : EYEDUP
52
"Don't believe me? Just watch!" : CANTOO
Down
1
Brightness measures, in brief : IQS
2
Element of a dating profile? : TREERING
3
Potential outcomes : SCENARIOS
4
Mass : HORDE
5
___ of Solomon, literary collection written in the first or second century : ODES
6
Sci-fi writer Chiang : TED
7
"&" follower, in some business names : SONS
8
When much rainy weather occurs in Côte d'Ivoire : ETE
9
Flip : GOBANANAS
10
Seize : USURP
11
High-ranking scout : EAGLE
12
Company whose products suck : DYSON
14
Additional schoolwork? : SUMS
16
Simple cocktail named for two brands : JACKANDCOKE
18
"Phooey!" : DARNIT
20
Torque symbol, in physics : TAU
21
Bit of nonsense writing that typically gets a laugh : MADLIB
22
Delighted cry upon receiving an acceptance : IGOTIN
24
Ball girls : BELLES
25
Leap day baby, e.g. : PISCES
27
Clicked with a partner? : TAPDANCED
28
Snicker : TEEHEE
29
Simple check for freshness : SNIFFTEST
31
Act like yourself, perhaps? : DOACAMEO
33
Nasty ___ (noted rap moniker) : NAS
37
Not in the minority? : OFAGE
38
It often has four legs : RELAY
39
Fidget spinners or Angry Birds, once : CRAZE
40
Give ___ (cause consternation in) : FITS
41
Character played by Rashida Jones on "The Office" : KAREN
43
Set piece : PROP
44
Longtime U.F.C. C.E.O. ___ White : DANA
46
Aladdin's sidekick : ABU
47
Many a nonfiction Oscar nominee, informally : DOC
48
Lead-in to "lab" in the name of an S&P 500 company : ECO

Answer summary:
5 unique to this puzzle.

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