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Puzzles for December, 2025
with Jim Horne 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

Jean-Paul Sartre's "LES Chemins de la Liberté" is a series of novels. The title refers to the Trails to Liberty — paths through the Pyrenees for people escaping the Nazis from France into Spain. You can take guided hikes through them now.

Thu 12/4/2025
CEDARSAABCCCP
ILOSEAGRAORAL
TOOKNOTICEMARA
RIMSPALHENRY
USENINETIESKID
SERTAINNSAO
ANIMALSHIGH
CARAMELDELITE
MOSSPLEATED
ARTGEONERDS
CREEPINGOUTOOH
HORASIRSONCE
ODORCARBONDATE
NEILUGLITALON
EDDYBESTHYDRA

Jeff Chen hits a significant milestone with this puzzle. It's his 117th NYT collaboration crossword, moving past the previous record holder Nancy Salomon.

Ms. Salomon was famous for mentoring a huge number of new constructors, including recently retired Wordplay writer and NYT Crossword "It Girl," Deb Amlen. Mr. Chen has mentored even more, collaborating now with 68 different constructors, including yours truly.

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
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

Clever theme.

Wed 12/10/2025
WEVESWATATZEUS
EVELTACOMAONTO
BEGSPRERECORDED
ANGERPRINTER
PEIUHSDOUBT
PREPPYATMSNEO
BEADRICEPADDY
NATURERESERVES
ESCALATORDOER
CFOSAWSESCROW
OWNEDSRIERA
RATTRAPTUPAC
ROSESAREREDRACK
ERICTOILETSILO
VENTSYNODSARES

I'm not aware of more than one Hydra (26-Down) in Greek myth. The famous Lernaean Hydra was the child of Typhon and Echidna, two primordial monsters who also birthed creatures like Cerberus and Chimera. It was finally killed by Heracles (with help from his nephew.)

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

I'm amused by "criss-cross applesauce", but I never encountered that phrase before. I presume it's an American thing? British? Is it common knowledge that I just missed?

Sat 12/13/2025
BADBREATH
CURRIEDCRAB
FOODADDITIVES
GARYNEATOEATS
ESPHOTPINKRUN
THORASENNOTDO
TIRADETETHER
HOAGIESOILTANK
ENTITLEPALETTE
MIENEAGERRILL
ECGORDINALNOI
MORPHOVAAWMAN
ONEOFEVERYTHING
SECUREMATINS
DONGSSWORD

Click the Analyze button below the clues. A chart shows that every length from 3 to 15 is included at least once. This is the only 15x15 in NYT history with that property.

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
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

BOOK COVER & STORY BOOK, BOOK BAG & CHECK BOOK, etc.

Wed 12/17/2025
COIFSARABSTEP
UBOATLANAURGE
POUTYPARTYBUGS
SESHUSESQUEST
OURCURT
CHAMPSATTHEBOUT
RAPDECREEALLY
AMOCOTUEKNITS
BULLNOSTRAFRO
SPOUTINTHEOCEAN
GEEKPSA
CHILESLOETIPS
OOZESPELLITOUT
SEESKINDCOTTA
ADDSANTEHYATT

Per 60-Across, change the spelling of OUT to IT, so POUTY PARTY becomes PITY PARTY. SImilarly for CHAMPS AT THE BIT and SPIT IN THE OCEAN.

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
Mon 12/22/2025
COMASACELABAG
ANODEWISERILL
JAZZQUARTETGLO
ODIEBRRISLES
LILJEDIMASTERS
EELERSOUTRAGE
STATEANNEDYS
OPENNOTES
POPOSATASANA
ONATEARGASLOW
PERSNICKETYDNA
FLOYDANIBEAK
OILSHORTCHANGE
UNEAURALANTON
LEDTESTYTEENS

PENN is short for, what?

Well, kids, back in the olden times, there used to be this small brownish coin called a PENNY. You could buy thoughts with it. Even real things. Honestly!

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

FAKE IDS. Excellent theme.

And ah, those popular no-clothes college gatherings. I remember them well. Uh, no, but I'm sure they were fun, right? And kids wonder what the point of university is.

Thu 12/25/2025
AHASNOWSURF
POLKALEUTILE
LOLLYGAGPACING
OBSESSONEHORSE
MOESURNTUE
BYTHEHORNSDIRK
CERATBONES
RICHARDHARRIS
PERIODIOTA
EASTWHITEHEELS
LGATRUAXEL
LAUGHINGLOCHTE
ANDYETBROUHAHA
SIREEYEARLIZ
TOUREFFSEMO

"Laughing all the way..."

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

The baseball card for Alex [no photo available] Eaton-Salners shows 22 Variety puzzles, but that undercounts his achievements. PDF-only puzzles are not included in either his card or his author page.

Here are a few of his recent uncounted contributions. Pro-tip: these make for fun family challenges over the holidays. XWord Info account required.

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

Each theme answer has only one vowel, and they're in order.

Wed 12/31/2025
RAMPERPSVAT
PLANAMOREMIME
MINIPIVOTAVID
SQUAREDANCE
NOCARBSSTEALTH
ENABLEROWERS
TIPAGORAREN
CELLRECEPTION
EDIETHAEDIT
BOXSOCIAL
AMNESICHOMERUN
DIORNOTESCENA
ALGAEMUDCHAIR
BLOCKFBIPARTY
ISEEYENATMS
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