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

New York Times, Saturday, September 6, 2025

Author:
Kunal Nabar
Editor:
Will Shortz
Blog:
"People are wrong when they say ___ is not what it used to be. It is what it used to be. That is what's wrong with it": Noël Coward
TotalDebutLatestCollabs
36/23/20239/6/20251
SunMonTueWedThuFriSat
1000011
ScrabDebutFlowFresh
1.532545.769%
Kunal Nabar

This puzzle:

Rows: 15, Columns: 15 Words: 68, Blocks: 37 Missing: {JQXZ} This is puzzle # 3 for Mr. Nabar. Grid flow: 45.0 Saturday freshness: 29%
Jim Horne notes:

A fellow opera-loving friend used to ask years ago, "Which do you think will last longer — opera or democracy?"

That question isn't so funny anymore.

1
M
2
O
3
V
4
I
5
E
6
T
7
I
8
C
9
K
10
E
11
T
12
S
13
O
P
E
N
M
A
R
R
I
A
G
E
14
S
15
B
A
R
E
E
S
S
E
N
T
I
A
L
16
S
17
S
H
A
R
K
18
S
T
E
F
19
E
E
20
K
21
T
A
22
K
23
E
T
E
N
24
F
E
T
E
25
A
26
L
27
A
I
28
N
A
E
29
P
U
P
P
Y
30
M
A
M
A
31
B
I
R
D
32
D
A
R
W
I
N
33
P
I
N
34
A
T
L
35
P
R
Y
36
E
E
O
37
E
D
E
38
M
A
S
39
C
L
A
S
40
S
A
C
T
41
D
I
S
C
S
42
H
U
M
43
C
R
E
E
44
U
N
I
S
45
N
46
B
A
G
A
47
M
E
48
P
T
A
49
G
O
R
P
50
O
P
51
E
52
R
53
A
54
O
C
55
T
A
V
I
A
56
E
57
B
U
T
L
E
R
58
S
I
L
E
N
T
R
E
T
R
E
A
T
59
T
A
L
K
I
N
G
H
E
A
D
S
© 2025, The New York Times9/6/25 ( No. 27,696 )
Across
1
They help you see the big picture : MOVIETICKETS
13
Swing states? : OPENMARRIAGES
15
Things you can't do without : BAREESSENTIALS
17
Animal that's born with a full set of teeth : SHARK
18
Actress Dawson of "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay" : STEF
19
Sound from a chicken : EEK
21
Stop working, say : TAKETEN
24
Bash : FETE
25
Half of a rhyming game name : ALAI
28
Not from Scotland? : NAE
29
A little husky? : PUPPY
30
One preparing eggs : MAMABIRD
32
19th-century naturalist buried in Westminster Abbey : DARWIN
33
Bubble burster, perhaps : PIN
34
Delta hub, in brief : ATL
35
Nose around : PRY
36
Inits. in a job posting : EEO
37
Swellings in bodily tissues : EDEMAS
39
Dignified and gracious sort : CLASSACT
41
Checkers, e.g. : DISCS
42
Nothing needs to be said to do it : HUM
43
First Nations people : CREE
44
Down Under colleges : UNIS
45
Jazz fest? : NBAGAME
48
Child support, in brief? : PTA
49
High-energy snack : GORP
50
"People are wrong when they say ___ is not what it used to be. It is what it used to be. That is what's wrong with it": Noël Coward : OPERA
54
First science fiction writer to receive a MacArthur Fellowship : OCTAVIAEBUTLER
58
Reflective period : SILENTRETREAT
59
Many TV panelists : TALKINGHEADS
Down
1
Packs : MOBS
2
Sea creature also known as a redfin ocean pan : OPAH
3
Unseen wife on "Cheers" : VERA
4
It keeps things going : INERTIA
5
___ Okafor, 6'10" Charlotte player who was the N.B.A.'s 2005 Rookie of the Year : EMEKA
6
Many lab instructors, informally : TAS
7
Org. whose logo includes scales and an olive branch : IRS
8
Reached the maximum : CRESTED
9
"Roots" surname : KINTE
10
Polished off : EATEN
11
Cry of relief : TGIF
12
It's "wine-dark," in Homer's "Odyssey" : SEA
14
Pajamas : SLEEPWEAR
16
Free kick, e.g., in soccer lingo : SETPIECE
20
Special delivery at a conference : KEYNOTE
22
Unites after a break : KNITS
23
Rank above viscount : EARL
24
Subject of trade that gave rise to St. Louis and Detroit : FUR
25
Jazzed : AMPEDUP
26
Went at : LAIDINTO
27
Ones with big blocks? : AMNESIACS
29
Is worth the effort : PAYS
31
Some farm sounds : BAAS
32
Much "Real Housewives" doings : DRAMA
35
Bang the drum for : PLUG
38
Makes some introductions, informally : MCS
39
Bread whose dough is rolled on a chakla : CHAPATI
40
British royal Rod of Equity and Mercy, e.g. : SCEPTRE
45
Unprecedented : NOVEL
46
Lip : BRINK
47
Be sassy, with "off" : MOUTH
49
Ball : GALA
51
Ancient home to many pre-Socratic philosophers : ELEA
52
Verb before lips and palms : READ
53
They may be fine : ARTS
55
Small songbird : TIT
56
Directional suffix : ERN
57
Solicit : BEG

Answer summary:
6 unique to this puzzle.

  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
39 ms