WORD LADDDERS
Sam Trabucco is an American cryptocurrency trader based in Hong Kong. When he’s not working, he enjoys playing board and card games, especially Magic: The Gathering and poker. Sam says one of his top priorities as a crossword constructor is to make his puzzle relatable to younger solvers. ‘‘I want this hobby to remain relevant forever!’’ This is his 25th puzzle for The Times. — W.S.
67 Nobel winner 130 Sweet Mexican
1 Something blurred to Morrison dessert avoid trademark 68 One who has a lot 131 Backsides, to infringement to offer? Brits
5 ‘‘Well, that’s 71 Yellow variety of 132 Certain sneak
ridiculous!’’ quartz 133 Caesar’s
9 One method of 73 Norse troublemaker accusation
coffee-making 76 Spotted 134 Like a fox
13 Fully intends to 77
Fenway team,
18 Reason for people familiarly to hide
78 ‘‘However hard I 1 Counterculture drug, 20 Bit of ancient text try . . . ’’ for short
21 Home of Roma 81 Child-care expert 2 Geneva accord?
22 Expert on nutrition LeShan 3 Newbie
23 Bantering remark 82 Parts of ziggurats 4 Chose
24 Feature of Captain 85 Twin of Jacob in 5 Bit of butter
Ahab the Bible 6 Govt. org. with the 25 Many M.I.T. grads: 86 Lifetimemotto ‘‘Fidelity,
Abbr. achievement Bravery, Integrity’’ 26 End of many a ceremonies, e.g. 7 Dramatic touches name on the 91 Bequeaths 8 Comedian Judy periodic table
93 Difference between 9 Nickname for
28 Doctor’s hand dark and light, in covering basketball star
a way Julius Erving
30 Tokyo, before it 95 Bacterium in some 10 Is sorry about
was Tokyo raw meat
31 Not wanted 11 Photo-sharing app,
96 Center of a cobbler familiarly
34 Pop star Grande, to fans 99 Clorox cleanser 12 14th-century king
of Aragon
35 French movie 101 Leaves alone theaters 102 Uses a modern 13 Written using an
outline
37 ‘‘Ki-i-i-i-nda’’ engine
14 Witch
38 ‘‘You’re on!’’ 106 Kenan’s partner
on an old sitcom 15 Basketball star
41 Black-market, say nicknamed ‘‘The
107 The ‘‘L’’ of B.L.M.
43 Occasion for Answer’’ male bonding, in 108 ‘‘Geaux Tigers!’’ 16 Kind of test modern lingo sch. with unproven
46 Pressing need 110 Love of money, accuracy
when on the go? per 17 Largest city of
48 Part of a mediaI Timothy 6:10 Nigeria sales team, 113 Brand of nail 19 Word ladder, Part 1 informally polish 21 Big milestone for a 49 ‘‘Agreed’’ 114 Appeasing start-up
53 Philosopher who 117 School closing? 27 Slangy ‘‘I messed
tutored Nero 118 One of the up’’
55 Message made former Big Three 29 Word ladder, Part 2 with cutout letters, information 31 Old food-label std. stereotypically services, along
32 Where an auto
57 Chowder ingredient with CompuServe
and Prodigy racer retires?
60 Game in which 33 Enjoyed home each player starts 119 Words from a
cooking, say with a score of present giver
501 121 Sweetheart, in 36 ‘‘I Love It’’ duo ____
Pop
61 West Bank grp. Rome
37 Letter-shaped
62 Social-media 123 ‘‘That one’s mine!’’ beam avatar, for short 128 Word often 39
When repeated,
65 Thing given as a confused with king of Siam’s
concession ‘‘least’’ refrain in ‘‘The
66 Castle defense 129 Frenzied King and I’’
ACROSS
DOWN
40 Result of peace
talks
42 Some smartphones 44 Oppressive ruler
45 Lacking + or –,
electrically
47 ‘‘____ and Janis’’
(comic)
50 Whirlybirds
51 Óscar’s ‘‘other’’
52 Gas that’s lighter
than air
54 Nile danger
56 Fire in ‘‘Jane Eyre,’’
e.g.
58 Like most lions
59 Mrs., abroad
63 Word ladder, Part 3 64 Subsided
66 ★, ★★★ and
★★★★★ , say
69 Where to find some
cliffhangers?
70 Unpopular
legislation of 1773 71 N.F.L. referee, at the start of overtime
72 ____ Valley (San
Francisco area)
74 Gem that’s also a
name
75 New Zealander
77 Start of some Quebec place names: Abbr.
79 French filmmaker
Jacques
80 Celebrity chef
Eddie
83 Way to go
84 Hot-cocoa brand
87 Sublease
88 ‘‘Be sharp!’’
89 Frequent tabloid
cover subject
90 Spot for a
houseplant
92 Letters on a
Cardinal’s cap
94 Greenpeace or the
W.W.F., for short
97 Word ladder, Part 4 98 Optimistic assertion 100 ‘‘____ Beso,’’ Paul
Anka hit
103 Prospector’s find
No. 0927
104 Start streaming,
e.g.
105 Internet meme with grammatically incorrect captions 107 Shower scrubber 109 Eel, on a sushi
menu
111 Word ladder, Part 5 112 Prospectors’ finds 115 Mel of baseball
116 Understand,
informally
120 Clarifying word on a school-reunion name tag
122 Tinder bio info
124 Amazon worker
125 ‘‘Kill Bill’’ co-star
Lucy
126 Jazz composer
Beiderbecke
127 Like a fox