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Puzzles for December, 2025
with Editor comments

View these same grids with comments from:
Constructor (4)Editor (4)Jim Horne (13)Hide comments
Mon 12/1/2025
MEMOLEAPMENDS
ACAIALSOAVAIL
CHILLPILLGAUGE
HONDATAKEIRIP
FROZENACCOUNT
PERUSEOAR
ADAMRHEACAGES
DIMCOOLCATRAP
STEPHPIERMASA
EATTRACES
POLAROPPOSITE
AHAATARIFUNGI
RATEDCOLDFRONT
IRENEKNEEETAS
SEXTSSERFDEWY
Tue 12/2/2025
MASTSERICMMA
IMMADRATABEAM
NOOKSDIEMEGGO
ACRESOSECLAIR
JOEPESCILAV
ONENBATEAMS
CBSTVAGESDRAG
LIPSYNCATHEART
OTOHONCDARBYS
DETOXTEAALE
TISPGMOVIES
OCASIOIMPOSLO
COLABETAADLIB
HOOTACAISKATE
OPTDOLLLAMER
Wed 12/3/2025
LADSBALEDAMID
OLEOALEXANIKE
FORMILESICANSEE
THEENDTATGAP
YAKPEDSOSU
SURVIVEIWILL
BRITOBIEIDES
FLAXPRELLPEND
LODEHAREBEDS
AGIRLIKISSED
OSOATENASA
ASHCSIEJECTS
THESHERIFFISHOT
RIALMAORIPOOR
ANDYIQUITYODA
Thu 12/4/2025
CEDARSAABCCCP
ILOSEAGRAORAL
TOOKNOTICEMARA
RIMSPALHENRY
USENINETIESKID
SERTAINNSAO
ANIMALSHIGH
CARAMELDELITE
MOSSPLEATED
ARTGEONERDS
CREEPINGOUTOOH
HORASIRSONCE
ODORCARBONDATE
NEILUGLITALON
EDDYBESTHYDRA
Fri 12/5/2025
GHANASAUDI
SEASONTICKETS
DONTPOKETHEBEAR
EVEENLACESRIA
RISENEROSCALI
MEERSTEMBATON
ATTACKADLONERS
SLITMINI
SCREAMTAKETHAT
ALARMRATEBOTH
LAYSPILEPESTO
ARKALBERTATEN
HEREGOESNOTHING
TODAYYEARSOLD
CURSELEYTE
Sat 12/6/2025
TIRESPICEDALES
HAULTECHNOBEAT
AMMOPLEASERISE
TSORATERAFEW
SORBETSLOOM
ATHENSTILESAWS
WHALEWAXEDCHU
RESTNARCOQTIP
ARIDETOXQUITE
PETNAMESQUIVER
ODORQUAKERS
CNETVIBEYWHO
HOLYSMOKESBEIN
UPSETALERTCANI
MEATSWEATSCROC
Sun 12/7/2025 Original Thinkers
COIFSIPASSAHABALPO
UBOLTWASATPACEPOOH
POWERCOUPLEBIRDBRAIN
SEAAIRLIARSREELNNE
VARCANOELIOTTA
CABLEGUYMOUNTAINGOAT
HURONNIBPREVAIL
OTICASPENSORESASSY
MOTIONDETECTORLOWS
PTAMOESGAITERGAVEL
UNMADEPARESONESIE
ANNANPARTEDOMENETC
NEINSEEDYCHARACTER
TRACEOKSYESANDLENA
AMOROSOARTCURES
DRIVINGFORCEAIRHEADS
REMENDNEEDSCOE
UGHEARLORINGTWISTS
DREAMTEAMSTARWITNESS
GERMEAVEEERIEORGAN
ETESSLATIDESTYEARS

Kate Jensen is a professor of computer science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. This is her first puzzle for the paper.

Kate comes from a long line of crossword lovers. "My grandmother would regularly do the New York Times puzzles," Kate says. "I have strong memories of ‘helping' her solve them from a young age. And my dad used to challenge me and my siblings to crossword ‘races' — we'd print out the daily puzzles and see who could complete them the fastest."

Mon 12/8/2025
MADAMTACOLAD
OPERAASTINALA
JACKSONHOLESOW
OROCAKEPISTON
STREAKSEALED
URSAMILLIE
LYCRASCANTSA
SOHODIGITSCAT
DYERAILHOHUM
ORIGINSLAM
RARESTIMEANT
SLYNODACESROI
CUPWORKOUTWELL
ALILUTESEENIE
BLTTENTRITES
Tue 12/9/2025
ADDSPADREPEPS
DIETTULIPEMIT
ASFARASICANTELL
PURESSEOARS
JUSTSPITBALLING
ATEUAEERATEA
BEDAMNZEEMARY
HEDGEROWS
GAGAOLDLANDED
ISOTRIAAHUNO
FORWHATITSWORTH
FIRECRTAFAR
ONLYATHOUGHTBUT
POLLHENNAELSA
SWAYASSESNETS
Wed 12/10/2025
WEVESWATATZEUS
EVELTACOMAONTO
BEGSPRERECORDED
ANGERPRINTER
PEIUHSDOUBT
PREPPYATMSNEO
BEADRICEPADDY
NATURERESERVES
ESCALATORDOER
CFOSAWSESCROW
OWNEDSRIERA
RATTRAPTUPAC
ROSESAREREDRACK
ERICTOILETSILO
VENTSYNODSARES
Thu 12/11/2025
ANTIHERAALPE
LOOTOPERALIEU
DREAMTEAMSAFAR
AISLEEPSOMECO
ILLNEALE
PICTUREPERFECT
JOGSNINAITSOK
IPOSANDPITSRO
METALSEEPOOPS
IMAGINEDRAGONS
OWETODOH
HBOSLOMOALEXA
AIMSTHINKTANKS
CLANEMCEELICK
KENOSEGAADDS
Fri 12/12/2025
PSASCAUSEACTS
IKNOWRIGHTSUIT
TINFOILHATPLEA
TEAMSWASHTUB
BESTSHASPS
VALENCIAMOLT
IPADRAWFOOTAGE
SOBFONDANTTOE
APPLESAUCEDUAL
AIDSSTYLISTS
SERVETSTOP
ARTEXPORILKE
PINSASSEENONTV
ICEETHERESMORE
DARTHANGSABET
Sat 12/13/2025
BADBREATH
CURRIEDCRAB
FOODADDITIVES
GARYNEATOEATS
ESPHOTPINKRUN
THORASENNOTDO
TIRADETETHER
HOAGIESOILTANK
ENTITLEPALETTE
MIENEAGERRILL
ECGORDINALNOI
MORPHOVAAWMAN
ONEOFEVERYTHING
SECUREMATINS
DONGSSWORD
Sun 12/14/2025 Change Locations
STORMTOPLSUCARDS
CHAFEWRAPUPSREVERE
OOHIMSOSCAREDPADAWAN
PRUDENTMIKAFAVEIFS
EPAAIDANRHINEUNTO
DENVERMINTMARSLANDER
ELLENPETEYBASES
ENOSGOALNETGEL
FLIPAHOUSEDRUMLINES
ALIETETSARABCKENO
VESTSLISAVAPEFEWER
OSHASLRMALLRCAEMT
WHATAHOOTNOTEXACTLY
TRYNEGATORNEAL
SPILTDWELLNOTIP
IOWEYOUONEGAINEDADAY
CLADPROSEALEVEOLE
KENMEADCOLDINERTIA
BATHINGALTEREDSTATES
AXIOMSCURSIVEAGENT
YENTETBANEOSUDSY

Zachary Edward-Brown is a 16-year-old high school junior in Highland Park, Ill. John Kugelman, of Gainesville, Va., is a software engineer and veteran crossword maker.

Zachary reached out to John for help in developing this puzzle's theme. They did everything jointly — brainstorming examples, constructing the grid and writing clues. "Zachary is a natural-born constructor," John says. "I didn't find out he's a teenager until we were done."

Mon 12/15/2025
SAINTBANCJFK
ARTOOAREAALI
RESTUPDISROBED
ASALIESSUBBED
HOBNOBBEDSOAK
STUBBEDTOE
TRUSSDASTOP
HERBERTYESWEDO
ODDIUDEARED
DUBBEDFILM
CHINBEDAZZLED
TOUCANPELEIMO
BUNKBEDSASIMOV
APTLOREUNITE
RESENYAPETER
Tue 12/16/2025
BOOKAPPSBEGIN
AKINBRAHUSONE
NINECOVERSTORY
DEKESGEEKYGEO
LIARNOBEL
ALEGROSSEXECS
BAGCHECKWECARE
OTOHAKIRAOBOE
REMISSFAIRPLAY
TRACEEFILEETA
SODASSSNS
AUSASCIITESLA
SMARTPHONEITEM
OHGEEEWERZANY
FIEFSRATSENDS
Wed 12/17/2025
COIFSARABSTEP
UBOATLANAURGE
POUTYPARTYBUGS
SESHUSESQUEST
OURCURT
CHAMPSATTHEBOUT
RAPDECREEALLY
AMOCOTUEKNITS
BULLNOSTRAFRO
SPOUTINTHEOCEAN
GEEKPSA
CHILESLOETIPS
OOZESPELLITOUT
SEESKINDCOTTA
ADDSANTEHYATT
Thu 12/18/2025
BOASTSPIELISP
ENOKITORSINCO
DARINGRESQQNAM
SITEATUSURP
RAILATSMOKEY
SYRAQQORANGE
OFUSEUFOSDOX
NANABRETTHOOP
CUEERIEMISDO
EXQQMYFRENCH
BUTANEXESOUT
LEARNSIXNOD
IRLUNJUSTLYAQQ
AGEEBERTSEGUE
REDLANESDRIED
Fri 12/19/2025
ELSABASSDRUM
DOTSILLINOISE
GOUTFREESOLOED
AMBITIONIRA
REBHANDSKNICK
DEPOTEPEENAN
ELDERIDEALMATE
NATEINFEREDIE
DROPSDEADTREND
AGEWORMFACET
TESSATIPINPHI
MGSLENGTHEN
NEPOBABIESOOHS
OPERAGOERCLAP
WAGEGAPSKETO
Sat 12/20/2025
AGASSIEMBARK
VENTEDCROONER
ONTILTFORTNITE
WELLLADIDAHMOW
EVELGIVENFIRE
DERMANERDFESTS
ORCASBEETS
SOLARCOALS
SKIESSAYST
CHINSTRAPTHICK
RANGPOLEDERIE
AKCSADTROMBONE
FEATURESREUBEN
TORONTOINROME
SNEAKYSUNTAN
Sun 12/21/2025 Present Time
SKIPLANESBAMASODAOP
TETROMINOAMIRPROWLS
EASESINTODARNREMEDY
ANILLEESUNROSESDMC
MENUAPRILDOLCENAH
DATARICARDOOVEN
SPHERESAPAPOFFAS
COATSTETONREBRANDED
IMSOEDVENTNORONSALE
OMNINOIRFANSITEYIN
NETSCAPESETITHRU
SABESTEORHIANNON
POPBARCLAYBIENDELI
TOOKINLAYFLATGREWIN
SHRINKRAYAURASBRAVE
CAESARCLECHITTER
MUSTVESSELSHUSH
SUPMENLOETHERESPN
ELFDANCOUNDIMSTHEE
ELIDESRARESKATERATS
YESYESONCEGETOVERIT
ADHEREWEEDTRANSEPTS

David Kwong is a magician in Los Angeles. When he was seven, a magician at a pumpkin patch fooled his father, a biochemist (to the boy, "the smartest man in the world"), with a magic trick. That's when David knew what he wanted to be when he grew up.

David's traveling show, "The Enigmatist," concluded a successful run in London last month.

Mon 12/22/2025
COMASACELABAG
ANODEWISERILL
JAZZQUARTETGLO
ODIEBRRISLES
LILJEDIMASTERS
EELERSOUTRAGE
STATEANNEDYS
OPENNOTES
POPOSATASANA
ONATEARGASLOW
PERSNICKETYDNA
FLOYDANIBEAK
OILSHORTCHANGE
UNEAURALANTON
LEDTESTYTEENS
Tue 12/23/2025
NCISADEPTSAVE
CASHMINORCLIP
OTTOSABREOLGA
CHOCOLATECOIN
KHAKIUNIAPNEA
EATCUPCAKEFTC
MISHAPASTUTE
PROUDOFSTAINED
CANDYCORN
TASKNEOETCH
USESAYSWHOUSA
STEPUPANDCUT
CHRISTMASCOOKIE
AMENLASIKVETO
NADAYELPSEDEN
Wed 12/24/2025
SIRIAMASSSTAR
TOOLPRICEORCA
ITALIANDRESSING
RAMPSOYEAWGEE
ALSOEDGE
ISAKDINESEN
ACLSELVESTARP
GOLBEEFRIBKEL
ARARATGIVETO
INDEPENDENCEDAY
NEVEREINSAPIS
RIDSCCSPLAN
APSFAKEIDSREN
RUEPLEDGESTRI
CBDDIDNETYSL
Thu 12/25/2025
AHASNOWSURF
POLKALEUTILE
LOLLYGAGPACING
OBSESSONEHORSE
MOESURNTUE
BYTHEHORNSDIRK
CERATBONES
RICHARDHARRIS
PERIODIOTA
EASTWHITEHEELS
LGATRUAXEL
LAUGHINGLOCHTE
ANDYETBROUHAHA
SIREEYEARLIZ
TOUREFFSEMO
Fri 12/26/2025
SLOWPOKEABORTS
MONEYBAGLOWART
USHERINGBULGUR
GEODEGAMUTNEO
LILYNANASCALL
YTDMARDICAROL
TACOSSHROVE
TIGHTROPEWALKER
APIECEOPINE
BRASHMOISTMOA
LONEKENTSGIFT
EMTRETROPORNO
TIEDINAMBITION
OSSIFYCELLMATE
PESETAESTEEMED
Sat 12/27/2025
YMCAANYARANDO
EARSLOOPDELOOP
SLITIMUSEDTOIT
NINESSHOEHORNS
OAKRIDGEREN
OLINEASEAPDA
ABESLARADALES
JACKDIDDLYSQUAT
AMUSEAMSOUNTO
RATMEMELEIGH
BOAROOMTEMP
WATERSKISTAPER
ELITEEIGHTIOTA
DOTTEDTHEINOAM
SPIELETALELLS
Sun 12/28/2025 Off Broadway Musicals
PLATHSDCARDLAVSTIG
AISHAWEAREREXITWRY
ROSETTASTONENEPOTISM
KNEEUNITSAFTPARTA
STARRLETMEEATITUP
GENOMEEJECTSEDU
FIELDTRIPMOBIUSSTRIP
ACTEDALECBLEDMASTS
TAOSPLENUMEREBUS
ARIPALSSALSAERECT
LULLABYSPLITREFRAIN
SEALSPASTSBOTSRNA
BATTENSPRATSPEGS
COSECWATTSOBAGREET
PROLETARIATOUTDOORSY
AERENLACETREATS
SOBBINGGOLOWNOTRE
POUNDGOBCOLASRAVI
EINSTEINAVERAGEJANES
MENERMAREADMEATONE
USELSATSENSEDYENTE

Alex Eaton-Salners is an in-house attorney for Sandisk, a technology company in Milpitas, Calif. This is his 54th crossword for The Times.

When he's not making puzzles, Alex has been spending a lot of time lately at Activate, a sort of "hybrid puzzle room/sports simulator" that offers a mix of co-operative and competitive games at about 100 locations around the world.

Mon 12/29/2025
BIOSPACESWAMP
ADOEDGESPAGES
WORKSFORPEANUTS
LLAMAGAIANAST
SHAMEERMA
RECORDLABEL
SPOTREANEPAL
ELSJURYBOXETA
CELLOOILDEEP
BOOKSONTAPE
BETHFIRES
SOPSARFSTENET
THETOTALPACKAGE
AIREDTEETHCUE
GOURDSADLYTED
Tue 12/30/2025
CADSNIBGAPS
OREOSISOLURES
LGBTQFLAGISOLA
OUIOUIWENTPFFT
NETALAYETI
BLARESECEDE
DROOLBMXTRICKS
OURSROPESOHNO
NBCSPORTSBUOYS
SEABEDYIKES
ARIANAHESP
PRSTUNTSRAPDUO
JOLTSBUYAVOWEL
SMILEAREELIDE
APEDTENONES
Wed 12/31/2025
RAMPERPSVAT
PLANAMOREMIME
MINIPIVOTAVID
SQUAREDANCE
NOCARBSSTEALTH
ENABLEROWERS
TIPAGORAREN
CELLRECEPTION
EDIETHAEDIT
BOXSOCIAL
AMNESICHOMERUN
DIORNOTESCENA
ALGAEMUDCHAIR
BLOCKFBIPARTY
ISEEYENATMS
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