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Puzzles for December, 2024
with Editor comments

View these same grids with comments from:
Constructor (2)Editor (5)Jim Horne (15)Hide comments
Sun 12/1/2024 Drive Around the Block
BUSSDIPSILASMISCHA
OHIOADAMSMITHUNCLOG
SURFACESCRATCHSERENE
CHITCHATSWHOSTREAKS
PEALEWAGBEATEN
ADDEDSLOWROLLINGSPF
LOUDPEEWEEGATHER
DUMASTBSDESSEETO
APPLEPIEICEDOCSECS
ERSTICEMSUSTAT
SIGNPOSTICEOUTLASTS
IDLEBUYICENEUE
LOONEERICEEMPERORS
ANSELSITDYEROBOT
GOSSIPZSAZSAYETI
ETEFROZENASSETLAYER
SPEEDODMSBASAL
ROOSTEDORBSOUTHBEND
INVAINSMOOTHOPERATOR
FEELMERAINMAKERLAVA
FARMEDINDICSSNLSAT

John Lieb is a high school mathematics teacher and football/baseball coach living in Boston, Mass. He is also the co-director of Boswords, a series of in-person and online crossword puzzle tournaments.

This is his first Sunday for the Times. He is particularly proud of his fresh clues for crossword staples, such as at 122-Across, 3-Down and 111-Down.

Mon 12/2/2024
COMMADRAWTHE
ONIONEASETREX
PASSINGFADHUMP
PSSTOATHAISLE
ESTPESSIMISTIC
DIESELORIENT
SPUDUPONSEES
PISSEDOFF
ASHETENDRUGS
DHARMASENATE
POSSIBILITYVAX
AWAITRITATERI
GENZPUSSYFOOTS
ERIEALTOADULT
SSNDESKNOTES
Tue 12/3/2024
SETUPCOMICCAP
ALONEANONOADO
MOOSETRACKSNON
LAVEDHUMANLY
ADRIENMAPOTOFU
WOODDAISATOP
EGOBARRJAR
EMPTYCALORIES
ASSMAHILED
EDENLAWNBEER
MINITWIXCHOPPY
BARCARTSHUSH
ALIMEATTORNADO
LUCPANSYLINUX
MPHSKYPESATBY
Wed 12/4/2024
MARCOJARSWHET
ARSONELIEHULA
LEVEETEDXIMAX
PRICEESTIMATE
COOOEDNED
STRETCHOFTIME
OREAKONGIRDS
LEAKSNAFUORAL
DELISISLAONO
MAKEARUNFORIT
FCCERSARK
ROCKGUITARIST
ANONPAARCULLS
NEYOTNUTARDOR
CYSTSASSNERTS
Thu 12/5/2024
MICSALSOCODES
AHOYNAPAOPERA
COLDSORESUSING
SPUNKALIENSIA
MEATUSSTATES
TINYWANCOG
ARIKINKALAMO
DISHINGSPARING
STUDSCOIFCIA
TSEASSARTS
REBUTTEDTOGO
OERASYETDRDRE
ORALBINSIDEOUT
FINALNCAAESSO
SEDGEGERMSEEN
Fri 12/6/2024
FAITHMEREITCH
ELSIEALOETHEO
ROTARYDIALTINS
NTHDAREDPASTE
ACELATHEKISS
INTERESTRATES
TOADSWINESNOB
ENYASIPTORE
MEERKATSSITAT
SPIRITANIMALS
SWOLLENDOXED
MORALGROUPRAE
EWANDROPSAHINT
LINKRAPTCOLAS
LEOSEYESKELLY
Sat 12/7/2024
BITOFFIAMBIC
UNITARDTHEUSA
MOTOROILSETSON
RULERRESMEHTA
AYESLEAPSDIOR
PEDMISDEEDSPY
DONTBLAMEME
ROADRALLIES
CENTRALBANK
TBDSOILINGTOM
ORALSTONEFUJI
PALESSODSEMIS
IDEALSNECKRUBS
CIRCUSROYALWE
SOTHENDELTAS
Sun 12/8/2024 Just for Fun
PUSHPOPMADAMATOOFAR
ASYOUDOORATORARCANA
COMPLIMENTSFORFISHING
PELEWISHCALLONIT
ZAHNMESPOKYTKO
ALOOPFORTHROWINGSOAP
PONTIACSEAUSTOLAF
STYNTHGRIFTLOCHTE
POSITIONFORJOCKEYS
GSPOTERSETHICSAPT
OORTLANATOGOTREE
UNELEDOFFPENSITAR
DISASTERFORARECIPE
ACTSASERIESLAOPOE
OUTGUNUNALEGOLAND
ORCSONESMONEYFORARUN
NIHJAYSTNTMESA
STANPARDIMEDECON
PUNISHMENTFORAGLUTTON
EAGLEDSEASONPARTAKE
CLOSESTYRONEANDALSO

John Kugelman, of Gainesville, Va., is a software engineer and musician. When he isn't making puzzles, John likes to spend his time off rock climbing and attending weekly trivia competitions with his dad, sister and niece.

Despite what you might think, he laments that "being good at crosswords means jack squat on trivia night." Still, he's holding out hope: "One of these weeks, they'll have a Yoko Ono-Brian Eno round, and we'll show them all!"

Mon 12/9/2024
IPODTSPSFARSI
MUCHHOOPIDIOM
PLEAEDGELAPUP
ALABAMASLAMMER
IONIZELCD
RNSUNITLOUNGE
ALUMINUMFOIL
HOAXDAEORGS
ALBERTBROOKS
NASSAUANNEOLD
CBSBEANIE
YOUCANCALLMEAL
TEMPOORCAEDIT
HUNDORUTSNASA
UNIONEXITDYES
Tue 12/10/2024
ISAACMATTHEW
COSMOMETOOERA
ETHICEASTEREGG
UTEOINKSSLOE
POSENUDEAMOK
MUDUGLIITS
IMHITSPEARCHI
SWARMHANROKER
LATINERTOASES
AHHLASTARF
ARKSINCISORS
SOYAPSALMPEW
IWONTBITEAGILE
BIGDEALSGENIE
SEABASSELECT
Wed 12/11/2024
ESPORTSVEHICLE
MAEWESTCRASHER
MADEHAYRANPAST
ABIDEGOOSE
TAUTFESS
PRIORTORETESTS
EONSEAELIAHA
EMOJISSEGAMER
LENINTILHYENA
EGGEDOTEL
DISSBREADSLAM
ALEALOADOFICU
MINISUVENAMORS
PASTIMEROTATES
DEAFENSTENTS
Thu 12/12/2024
POSEJAMMUCHO
JOHNUNAARROZ
SPOTSTRANGERS
SWEETSIXTEEN
BRADAIR
SAORONSALONS
IGATIERANEW
CATCHTWENTYTWO
EVESTUBAHBO
MEDICIPANASP
RNSSECT
AREAFIFTYONE
TRATTORIADORA
LATTEERRETAS
CLEARDMSSESH
Fri 12/13/2024
HATRACKGIFTBOX
OHHELLOONLEAVE
TOOSOONFLANKED
ERRINGMEANDER
LANGEBURYODDS
NAMESUNZIP
LETSGETITONIDA
ESAAAACARDTIC
ACTINSINCERITY
COTANATARI
HOODPONEWHOSE
TOECAPSSHARPS
SEALANETEENLIT
ARRIVALBARNONE
MSTEAMSSNEAKER
Sat 12/14/2024
SERBLEAFTECH
EXCUSEZMOIALLO
SECRETPACTPLOP
ATONEALISTEVE
MELTBSASABRES
ERADISCEREBRO
CASTPARTIES
GAYMARRIAGE
COTTAGECORE
PASTORSHUEBTS
INSYNCTASCAIN
ANIAKBARLARVA
NOPENONGMOCROP
OLESDRYERSHEET
SIRSEARSENDO
Sun 12/15/2024 Art Heist
TACTICSMONETSWAP
RADISHESPOTASHKAHLO
EASTEANDARDTIMEORION
INFSLOERECOGLED
SLATESELLSGNKEES
BUENOSAIRESINAUSN
ATAALOTSLALOMTELE
TUNATONTOLILLEBOD
ERNSTNIELSFAIRWONT
SEAHAGAXLEDHOOKUNGE
ORELTITERSUET
FROMOTENEAGERSMOCTS
LAMESHAMTAPESSNOOP
AVAWADUPSLANGGOYA
MIROIRISEDOVERKMS
KOSREGISTEREDDIET
STEAMNSTATDARIEN
DARESUMACRESTIA
ALIFEMARYHADTTLELAMB
LEAFSBITTENPOISONER
ISLESLEDSMETGALA

David Kwong is a magician and crossword constructor in Los Angeles. He was the head magic consultant on the 2013 heist film Now You See Me and has consulted on magic and puzzles for many other films and TV shows. He wrote his honors thesis at Harvard on the history of Eastern magicians and their impersonators.

David's new children's book of magic tricks, How to Fool Your Parents, is in bookstores everywhere.

Mon 12/16/2024
USAARBORPCS
NORASUAVESOAP
SITHSPLATTELL
CHIASEEDOUTIE
RESPRESSOFFICE
EATSATEDUCON
WRITACROSS
COFFEEBREAK
PEARLSLEAF
IFITRISLEEVE
MISSAMERICANOD
PLOPSELEGANCE
ELMOCHAINBEAR
DEETVALUEUSDA
ERRSIMMSSOL
Tue 12/17/2024
ATOPAISLEKAVA
SINELOCALIGOR
KNICKKNACKKNOCK
EGOHASTYEDGES
DENIALNEO
FLIPFLOPFLAP
GOLFSALIVAACL
OBEYSGITTBONE
OVAURANUSASEA
PINGPONGPANG
APEMESSES
ATALLLABOREXT
DILLYDALLYDOLLY
ELLEARGUEAMAL
SLAYBAAEDTAXI
Wed 12/18/2024
POSYRBICABLE
UHAULORCISLES
FANTAGREENPEAS
FRAZZLEEVEUFO
YENEARLIAM
TOSSALLSORTS
SONEPEETRAIT
CONSIDERTHEODDS
ALIENETSYSOY
FOOTNOTEPEEN
SOBSTEMTBA
IFSVIMARCHERS
SITUATIONEASES
ADAPTMLKESTEE
WORSEIDSPSST
Thu 12/19/2024
ROANSJEONG
VUNNELORDERS
SINCITYBADRAPS
ISLEPLEBONIT
MIAVAYLORSDNA
MOTLEYSAUTEPAN
SNEERVERMINAL
ISEEDIRT
POPSICLESELSA
RHOOHOKSCREEN
IFSNICEHOSTED
METEDISMAYSNO
PRSTUNTAREWEON
SUNRAYGESTATE
PALSESTATE
Fri 12/20/2024
ETALSPASSCORE
MARIJUANALEAVES
UNICORNSTARTUPS
GAIAWINMOO
TOPSEEDED
ACTAIRXES
THEGOLDENSPIKE
MINERALDEPOSITS
TONGUETWISTERS
REAODEDEN
SNOTNOSED
FOOMAOLOBS
IDHAVETOKILLYOU
REMAINANONYMOUS
MAYANREINABLE
Sat 12/21/2024
BENDYSTRAWACCT
OPERAHOUSEPOOH
TITOPUENTEALMA
OPTIUDSLET
NOBLYANTSINESS
URLSRITELOGAN
CIOPEKEMORESO
LOWERFORTYEIGHT
ENACTSFUNDROB
ANGIEREBAMARA
REAGANERAWADED
PBSMOMEBRR
AUKSBONSAITREE
CLEOITCANTHURT
TATSDEEPSEATED
Sun 12/22/2024 Go With the Flow
DEADLIESTCATCHCPUS
EXPRESSCHECKOUTAINT
PERISHTHETHOUGHTPELE
TTOPSENSUEPORESTRIP
HENSFLOESSEAPORT
SRSBOLOSTSPERASE
HEWEDSHOESJRS
JELLLITEBRITESFTW
COALBETATESTERROAR
LOGRIDESHAPINKBERRY
ACTSNORMALDINNERDATE
TORTILLASFIRIRONBAR
TAOSLIFESAVERSCOIN
ESTVANITYCASEHOST
MIRAUNTSASIDE
PARTBPCSCREPEMOM
BELARUSBASESFORA
LAWCLERKSMOVEDGRAIL
OTTOEQUATORIALGUINEA
SHELALTERNATEENDING
TERMLETTERSTOSANTA

Adrian Johnson, from Laramie, Wyo., is currently a substitute teacher in Knox County, Tenn., where he is affectionately known as "Mr. A.J." He sold his first crossword to The Times three years ago when he was 21. This is his ninth puzzle for the paper — and the seventh one that is unthemed (his favorite type of crossword to make).

Puzzles like this are built on the interlock of long, colorful answers throughout the grid. Many, like 1-, 27-, and 91-Across here, are making their Times debut.

Mon 12/23/2024
ORBSCBCCAROMS
KALEYAOOVERIT
SNACKMIXSECEDE
STABLESELAN
CUTMASSTRANSIT
GLOBALEASTER
INFOAWAIT
AFTERMIDNIGHT
SOOTYEARS
MOUSSESALLIE
COWBOYBOOTSFOX
ANNOARREARS
TREADSOILPAINT
TORTESNOMGEAR
YESSIRONOESPY
Tue 12/24/2024
SHEEPEARSTKO
TEXTEDTHATSAID
ESCAPECANETOAD
ATEPATHIPO
LIPBALMONDRAFT
SATEZEDAMBER
NDALOONLAY
THENUTCRACKER
TAUAGUAFEE
OREOSSPYRHEA
PAYCASHEWGROSS
HMMOSHAOPI
EUROPEANUTOPIA
ONEALARMPOLLEN
NODERIEREADS
Wed 12/25/2024
ALSCOEDRASP
PITTSUCKAEMIR
AGRAETHERVIBE
CHUMMORONSLES
HTTPSPIUAWARE
ESSAYTESTGETIN
MONTOUTEAT
GETUPSMARA
AVASTCATARACTS
RANDOASSOLLIE
LCDMANTISTEND
AUERSARGEHASA
NEMOIRENEOVEN
DESIAYESELS
Thu 12/26/2024
ABSALECAURAS
POKEBOWLASTUTE
PAYRAISETHEBAR
ISSAPTIRT
STAKEGREATKIA
THISPENCILS
ERMABADKNOCK
PUTTIESRAYGUNS
MOIRADADOBIT
PEATBOGMETA
CELSNIDEGASSY
AXEINGWIN
SPACEKSKILIFTS
CASHISOFFLABEL
ATEINNCISICY
Fri 12/27/2024
FOLKARTISTEGGS
ETONCOLLARMILA
MORETOCOMEOVAL
HEELSVESTEMT
LITHESAVORY
FLASKETSNERO
AIDETCHASKETCH
TGIFATALLRAKE
SHORTNOTICEKEN
TSARRFSAVERS
STATICOHARE
TIMPURRBATHE
AMIDROYALCOURT
MEGASTONEHENGE
PROMTHUNDERGOD
Sat 12/28/2024
SPORTSPAGE
WHATABOUTISM
DEERSTALKERCAP
ERRSVIALNED
CELSAINTMINI
CFOSTUNGTENSE
ARCKONGBEATIT
EKEOUTLANDHO
TSHIRTRENTENT
SHORTSONGSMFA
POLEBENDSIUD
SUMELLAMRNA
TENDOLLARWORDS
SIGNEDPHOTOS
HYDROPOWER
Sun 12/29/2024 Multi-Hyphenates
UNTOCLOAKLAGBAWL
HOOPFARGOIGERALPHA
----WORKERPETEHOPES
UNDERDINE----CHARTS
HOODEDNDAROGUETOTO
SETANTELOPEEVES
KETTLESPADLADED
TAMILSURGEDCMON
ALONETREADPHUATM
----DRIVESTRISHHASH
DEPPEMILEVENTIINTO
ALOOMOVES----DANCES
PTANEDAMOURTAINT
LAYSFRAPPETINTS
MOYERBOGSAFARIS
DIREUPARROWSDEC
ODESBESETIONWHARFS
----BACKERSNAGETHAN
RAIMIOOZEDASHEDLINE
AIDEDSUESOTTERANTE
GRANTDSMAYERSOAR

Harry Zheng, of Carmel, Ind., is a second-year student at Purdue University majoring in computer science, math and physics. This is his second crossword for The Times.

During high school, when Harry started submitting puzzles to the paper, his economics teacher said if Harry got one in, he'd frame it and hang it in the classroom. The teacher made good on his promise.

Will Shortz returns as editor
Mon 12/30/2024
SMARTZANYIMAC
TENORELIENOGO
ENJOYBUTTERCUP
PLOTARMIMOKAY
HOURGLASSMAT
ORBSONADATE
BESTIEESESIRE
ALTPROBOWLLOL
ALESTUBTOASTS
SAMOSASTOOL
CATTHINKTANK
SCENESYESODIN
HOLDWATERUSAGE
ILLSNINEBAGEL
PASODEADEXERT
Tue 12/31/2024
ASKEWSPEEDCCS
SHIVATOPSYOLE
POWERCOUPLEFEE
SPINHITSJAFAR
EPICSCORERS
MAIDENSABRES
EDTPAIROFSOCKS
LISANONWAIT
DOUBLEDIGITKEA
SPOOKYRUDEST
MATURECRATE
EMOTEPAINXMAS
DIYTWOPOINTERS
AGOTENETBEGAN
LOUABYSSCRABS
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