SUNDAY NEW YORK TIMES CROSSWORD |
Jeremy Newton, of Austin, Texas, is an engineering manager for mobile games at Sciplay. He’s been making crosswords for The Times since 2008. He says this one is a special accomplishment, because the idea for it has been kicking around since 2010. He finally managed to find a consistent theme set he was happy with. While creating the puzzle, he mumbled a lot. You’ll soon see why. — W.S.
Across
1 King, queen, etc. 9 Overly impulsive 13 Something in a cocoon 17 It may produce both a cringe and a laugh 19 Acclaimed rock ’n’ roll biopic of 2022
21 Emerald or aquamarine 22 “That cult’s initiation ceremony is brutal!” [1983]
24 Creator of the games Xybots and Klax
25 Bit of memory, for short
26 It’s quite the stretch 27 Not stay outside, informally
29 Spurred into action 32 Bronzed New York basketball player from Bangkok [1997]
34 Junk
35 Prominent features of Sphynx cats
38 Treaty that was dissolved in 2020 39 Neighbor of a return key
42 Places
44 ____ Stavro Blofeld, enemy of 007
48 Therein lies the rubbed
49 Why the Devil was forced to pay “The Greatest” [1969]
52 Parks at a pier 54 Anise-flavored liqueur 56 Passes (out)
57 Not play by oneself, perhaps
59 “Remarkable!” 60 Bucatini, ziti and rigatoni, e.g.
62 High point of a trip to Europe?
63 Total breeze
64 Do some making up 65 Cry after remembering to meet at noon [1984] 68 Somewhat off 69 English football powerhouse, to fans 70 Time out in pre-k? 71 Change for the better 72 Belly, cutesily
73 “You didn’t fool me!” 75 One way to cross a lake 77 One in the oil business?
80 Actress Davis
81 “You there, hoarding the Quattro razor!
Scram!” [2002]
85 Losing line in tick-tack-toe
86 Wryly comical
88 Word with pie, pot or port
89 Subject of SETI space scans
91 Partner of Clark in American history 93 Stefani who sang the 1996 hit “Don’t Speak” 94 Six-foot runners? 95 How one cannibal felt after devouring the other [2000]
101 Like “threads,” for clothing
104 Latest releases, of sorts
105 Neighbor of an Emirati
108 Anxiety condition, for short
109 I.T. bigwig
110 Some optical illusions created with one’s fingers [1999]
116 Rival of a ’Vette
117 “Socrate” composer 118 Auditing a class, maybe
119 Part of H.K.
120 Miffed, with “off”
121 Compliment to Daisy during a game of fetch
Down
1 Summer hrs. in Dallas 2 “Nice joke!” 3 Previously, poetically 4 Bit of apparel that covers the face
5 Turn into confetti
6 Big change in price or power
7 Classic record label 8 Lug around
9 [Yuck!]
10 Greeting that means, literally, “love” 11 Crime-show spinoff, to fans
12 Skedaddle, with “it” 13 ____ Hall, home of the NCAA’S Pirates
14 Many a Zoroastrian 15 Line at a karaoke bar 16 “Hogan’s Heroes” colonel
18 Ambassador, in brief 20 Pile of papers 21 Cosmic comeuppance 23 Big drinkers
28 Pay (up)
29 Freak
30 What you get upon reading aloud the answers to the seven italicized clues
31 “Works for me!” 33 Historic builders of rope bridges
34 Recipe qty.
36 Syst. of unspoken words
37 Diamond shapes 40 Make an appearance 41 Many a watch display, for short
42 1983 No. 1 hit for David Bowie
43 Work of appreciation 45 Dozes after a dose, say 46 Category for which every 30-Down in this puzzle was recognized, aptly
47 Its loss can cause baldness
50 Ganja
51 Didn’t go anywhere 53 Filling-station brand 55 “Not good, amigo” 58 Missions, in brief 60 “____ OK!”
61 One who makes calls 62 Writer Rand
64 Like the death of 19-Across, some claim 65 Grammy-winning Difranco
66 Out of control 67 Cowboy’s cry of excitement 69 Aerial threat during the Cold War
72 Classic Disney film that opens at Flynn’s arcade 74 On display, as a painting
75 Tapped
76 Feel bad
77 Travel through time? 78 Easily persuaded sort 79 Things pandas have 20 of
82 Chew the fat 83 Jubilant cheer 84 Options for “bee’s knees” cocktails 87 Alternative to Levi’s 90 End of a flight, in two senses
92 Serves, with “on” 93 Nickname for Mom’s mom
95 Grind
96 Brought about 97 “Well, shucks!” 98 Contacting on Twitter, for short
99 Compadre
100 Journalist in a field 102 Ball game? 103 Like the smell of burnt rubber
106 Rapper behind the “King’s Disease” trilogy 107 “Copy,” to a cat
111 Great Basin people 112 D.D.E.’S WWII battleground
113 Sci-fi film staple, for short
114 White-wine aperitif 115 Show with a “What’s Up With That?” segment, for short