The New York Times Crossword

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Timothy Polin of Central City, Pa., has been making crosswords for The Times since 2011. He specializes in puzzles with visuals in the grids — like a “Jaws’’-themed crossword in 2018. This isn’t quite as unusual, but it’s close.

ACROSS

1 Disseminated

5 JPEG alternative 8 Quick-witted 14 “Forbidden fruit is the sweetest,’’ e.g.

19 Kind of writing 21 Hurting more 22 Mineral used as a flame retardant 23 Aromatic herbal drink 24 Carmen McRae or Anita O’Day, notably 26 Disorganized

27 Sound in the Serengeti 29 Tying words? 30 Horrible boss, say 31 Neighbor of S. Sudan 32 Endpoint of a Shinto pilgrimage

36 What’s going up in Chicago?

38 And so forth 40 Munchkin

41 Spade with a short handle?

42 Morse morsel

43 You can have a blast with this

44 “Yes, indeedy!’’

47 ____ volente

49 Makes clearer, in a way 51 1997 pop hit with a nonsensical refrain 52 Fete

56 Anago, on a sushi menu 57 In ____ fertilization

58 & 59 Flag bearers, for short?

62 Clap back

63 Many moons 64 Chaired

66 Many, many, many moons 68 Subj. line heading 69 Birthplace of five U.S. presidents, with “the’’ 73 German title

74 Like discriminatory employers, often

75 Just roll with it!

76 See 88-Across 77 Eliminates, mob-style 79 Driving stick?

81 ____ out a victory 83 Pack (in)

84 Fracases

85 Start of some conventional wisdom

88 With 76-Across, Mexican business magnate who was once the world’s richest person 89 Means of a quick recharge 92 “____ funny!’’ 93 Fab

94 Akin to

95 Rapper ____ Cudi or DJ ____ Loco 97 Comprehension 99 Domain of Mars 100 Boise-to-Spokane dir. 102 Post-default event 104 “Eureka!’’

108 “That’s the spot’’ 110 Kinda

111 Lunkhead

113 Court order

114 Red accessory for cartoondom’s Huckleberry Hound

116 Scientific contribution from 98-Down, discovered in a manner suggested by this puzzle’s theme 120 Crow’s-nests, e.g.

122 One living in the rial world?

123 Lingerie fabric 124 Blights

125 More mirthful 126 Defiant refusal

127 ____ Plaines, Ill. 128 Start of a story, in journalese

DOWN

1 Cause of a jolt 2 Really busy, perhaps 3 It’s nothing to joke about 4 Artist known for his lampooning cartooning 5 Startin’ place 6 “____ moved on’’ 7 Calming words

8 Holy city near Baghdad 9 Hardly a lover of hot wings? 10 Radio-frequency meas. 11 Ad or show follower 12 ____ P. Morton, Benjamin Harrison’s vice president 13 Lost deposits, as a bank? 14 Attorney’s org. 15 Sorrow

16 Thank you, in Tokyo 17 Stovetop device 18 Breadths

20 Sled dogs, e.g.

25 Word in some cocktail names 28 Baseball’s “Master Melvin’’ 33 Westernmost sch. in Conference USA 34 Actress ____ Pinkett Smith

35 “Er ... umm ...’’ 37 Nonbinary possessive 39 Game-show invitation 45 Modern lead-in to “X’’ 46 Got out fast

48 Exit

50 Tom Petty hit with the opening line “She’s a good girl, loves her mama’’ 51 Rendezvous 52 Nickname for Virginia 53 Declare

54 Is beaten by

55 You might take a lift to one 56 Married mujeres: Abbr. 57 All-in-one purchase from a smoke shop 60 Unforgettable, unstoppable sort 61 They’re not to be trusted 65 Julie who played Catwoman on old TV 67 Puzzle (out) 70 Personal bearing 71 Strong pan

72 Hard thing to do? 78 German title 80 Capital of Bangladesh 82 Mushroom in miso soup 86 Afterword

87 Nicolas who directed “The Man Who Fell to Earth’’ 88 Lab where the Higgs boson particle was discovered 89 Inventory

90 “My Cousin Vinny’’ setting 91 Airport route 93 Squealed 96 Opposite of a glut 98 Who was famously hit over the head with inspiration?

99 Tech release of 2006 101 Didn’t act rashly, say

103 Pit

105 Words before relax or remember

106 Small section of a pit 107 Bowl-shaped cooking vessels

109 German state that includes Frankfurt 112 Manage

115 What’s got ewe covered? 117 Hemlock relative

118 Old ____ (London theater)

119 Gag line?

121 Spanish “hey!’’