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New York Times, Thursday, December 18, 2025

December 19, 2025

By Joseph Gangi • 78 Clues

Across Clues

1. "We're the best!," e.g. → BOAST
6. Lengthy pitch → SPIEL
11. Web access co. → ISP
14. Mushroom in ramen → ENOKI
15. Trunks → TORSI
16. Platoon sgt., e.g. → NCO
17. Feats performed on knights' quests → DARINGRESQQ
19. "Platoon" setting, for short → NAM
20. ___ tight → SIT
21. Dig in → EAT
22. Appropriate inappropriately → USURP
24. Go off on → RAILAT
27. Bear with a message → SMOKEY
29. "Colorful" Atlantic Coast Conference team → SYRAQQORANGE
32. Helpful → OFUSE
35. Some radar blips → UFOS
36. Reveal private data of, in modern lingo → DOX
37. Mama's mama → NANA
38. Jake's love in "The Sun Also Rises" → BRETT
40. Bit of aerial arts equipment → HOOP
41. Word with ball or card → CUE
42. Lake ___, body formerly known as Lac du Chat → ERIE
43. Botch → MISDO
44. Follow-up to an oath → EXQQMYFRENCH
48. Fluid for a lighter → BUTANE
49. Crosses off → XESOUT
52. Get schooled → LEARN
53. Volleyball team count → SIX
54. OK signal → NOD
56. Off-line, online → IRL
57. Point at the wrong person → UNJUSTLYAQQ
62. The time of one's life? → AGE
63. He said "Every great film should seem new every time you see it" → EBERT
64. Smooth transition → SEGUE
65. Visibly embarrassed → RED
66. Alley components → LANES
67. Preserved, in a way → DRIED

Down Clues

1. Some queens → BEDS
2. Live → ONAIR
3. It comes from the heart → AORTA
4. Glide down a piste → SKI
5. ___ soldier → TIN
6. Levels → STRATA
7. One versed in verse → POET
8. Agcy. that takes many forms → IRS
9. Title for a J.D. → ESQ
10. Spirits → LIQUORS
11. "That's what she said" and others → INNUENDOS
12. Beyond impressive, informally → SCARYGOOD
13. Ceremony → POMP
18. One of several in a watch → GEAR
23. Caribbean music genre → SKA
25. Rae of "Insecure" → ISSA
26. NaOH → LYE
27. About 35,000 for the Taj Mahal: Abbr. → SQFT
28. No longer relevant → MOOT
30. ___ Nation (activist organization since 1990) → QUEER
31. Fair → EXPO
32. T.H. White's "The ___ and Future King" → ONCE
33. Knockoff version of a bejeweled Imperial egg, e.g. → FAUXBERGE
34. In a class by oneself → UNEQUALED
38. ___ Mawr → BRYN
39. Teeming (with) → RIFE
40. Greeting from Kermit → HIHO
42. Name that sounds like a computer guidebook → EMANUEL
43. Hosts, for short → MCS
45. N.F.L. div. → QTR
46. Lives → EXISTS
47. Coming right up → NEXT
50. Eel, at a sushi bar → UNAGI
51. "Ratatouille" topper → TOQUE
52. Fabrication expert → LIAR
53. "I guess so" → SURE
55. Barred from competing, for short → DQED
58. Trail Blazers' grp. → NBA
59. "Severance" actress Tullock → JEN
60. Microdosing drug → LSD
61. "Quit ___ yappin'!" → YER