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New York Times, Friday, September 5, 2025

Author:
Bryan Cheong
Editor:
Will Shortz
Blog:
Small semiaquatic mammal with 22 tentacles on its snout
TotalDebut
19/5/2025
SunMonTueWedThuFriSat
0000010
ScrabDebutFlowFresh
1.61682.587%
Bryan Cheong

This puzzle:

Rows: 15, Columns: 15 Words: 66, Blocks: 36 Missing: {QZ} Spans: 1 This is the debut puzzle for Mr. Cheong. Grid flow: 82.5 Friday freshness: 67%
Bryan Cheong notes:
Hey everyone! I'm a 14-year-old student from Singapore. I'm thrilled (and a little stunned) to be debuting today as one of the ... read more
Jim Horne notes:

Star-nosed moles are lovely, aren't they?

Bryan Cheong is indeed the youngest NYT themeless constructor, and he slots in at sixth youngest overall.

1
D
2
E
3
N
4
T
5
I
6
S
7
T
8
E
9
S
10
C
11
O
12
R
13
T
14
L
O
V
E
N
O
T
E
15
S
H
A
V
E
S
16
I
D
I
O
T
T
A
X
17
T
O
R
E
U
P
18
E
G
A
N
19
A
R
T
20
M
A
J
O
R
S
21
S
E
N
T
22
R
B
I
23
I
M
S
A
24
D
25
E
26
M
27
T
28
O
O
29
P
30
T
B
A
31
S
T
A
R
32
N
O
S
E
33
D
34
M
O
L
E
35
T
E
R
I
Y
A
K
I
S
A
U
C
E
36
D
Y
N
A
M
I
T
E
S
T
I
C
K
37
I
P
O
38
T
U
X
39
O
S
H
40
S
E
R
41
I
42
F
43
R
A
44
M
45
A
46
F
47
R
48
O
49
F
I
N
E
50
B
E
M
A
51
D
52
C
R
O
W
53
R
A
T
E
D
R
54
P
L
O
55
T
H
O
L
E
56
E
C
A
R
T
E
57
L
I
M
E
A
D
E
S
58
B
E
S
T
O
W
59
E
A
S
E
S
O
N
© 2025, The New York Times9/5/25 ( No. 27,695 )
Across
1
One who tries to make a good impression : DENTIST
8
Go with : ESCORT
14
It has its X's and O's : LOVENOTE
15
Manscapes, perhaps : SHAVES
16
Money wasted on poor decision-making, jocularly : IDIOTTAX
17
Destroyed emotionally : TOREUP
18
Greg ___, author of the 1994 science fiction novel "Permutation City" : EGAN
19
Ones who might be looking toward careers at museums : ARTMAJORS
21
Elated : SENT
22
Goal of a squeeze bunt, for short : RBI
23
😔 : IMSAD
25
Pro whose work might be shocking : EMT
28
Alley ___ : OOP
30
Sched. placeholder : TBA
31
Small semiaquatic mammal with 22 tentacles on its snout : STARNOSEDMOLE
35
Condiment at an Asian fusion restaurant : TERIYAKISAUCE
36
Ground-breaking invention? : DYNAMITESTICK
37
Big N.Y.S.E. news : IPO
38
Formal duds : TUX
39
Kyrgyz city on the ancient Silk Road : OSH
40
What the "sans" refers to in Comic Sans : SERIF
43
Bang into : RAM
45
Musical lead-in to beat : AFRO
49
"OK, don't accept my apology then!" : FINEBEMAD
52
Bird that can build tools and remember human faces : CROW
53
Not family-friendly, in a way : RATEDR
54
Logical inconsistency in a story : PLOTHOLE
56
Game with a 32-card deck : ECARTE
57
Refreshers that can be served with green wedges : LIMEADES
58
Present : BESTOW
59
Gently presses, as a gas pedal : EASESON
Down
1
Skirt : DODGE
2
Water brand whose logo shows the Alps : EVIAN
3
Colorful fish with iridescent stripes : NEONTETRA
4
Need for a demo, maybe : TNT
5
Really small amount : IOTA
6
Belle ___, real-life 19th-century outlaw celebrated in film and TV : STARR
7
Paragon : TEXTBOOKEXAMPLE
8
"___ bien!" ("All right!," in Spanish) : ESTA
9
Sliding screen in a Japanese tearoom : SHOJI
10
Bounce : CAROM
11
Excess of inventory : OVERSTOCK
12
Like canvas grocery bags : REUSABLE
13
Cookbook qty. : TSP
14
Does some stretching? : LIES
20
Constriction of the pupils : MIOSIS
24
Daniel ___ Kim of "Hawaii Five-0" : DAE
26
Seriously harm : MAIM
27
"Come on, just once!" : TRYIT
29
Topping dolloped on fresh Italian tomatoes, maybe : PESTO
31
Misses watching a bullfight? : SENORITAS
32
Word with human or second : NATURE
33
Spot for a speaker : DAIS
34
Young 31-Down : MUCHACHAS
35
Bold choice, perhaps? : TYPEFACE
36
Lead-in to integration : DIS
41
Not going anywhere : INERT
42
Provided with, as anonymous tips : FEDTO
44
Obama family member with credits as a TV writer : MALIA
46
Noted ring bearer : FRODO
47
Slugger Scott with eight Gold Gloves : ROLEN
48
Has an unsettled Venmo request, say : OWES
50
Cold one : BREW
51
Monks' honorifics : DOMS
53
Jewish honorific : REB
55
Bit of concert merch : TEE

Answer summary:
6 unique to this puzzle.

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