dictionary

skep on 29 May 2026

As long as you’re keeping to mainstream publications, we shouldn’t have any problems :p

Speaking of which, did you know Merriam-Webster Dictionary does a daily crossword called The Missing Letter? It’s actually kind of an interesting way to play a crossword, since it has an (understandably) heavier focus on dictionary definitions, often using them as clues.

On the other hand, the “gimmick” of the game forces them to find ways to start words with Q and Z and all the weird letters you don’t see very often, which leads to some mixed results (you can really tell they struggle with X in particular). Monday’s puzzle in particular had some… interesting choices.

My old frenemy

sorbier on 23 May 2026

Ha, Skep, I never considered that running this blog with you could turn crosswording into a PvP game where I insert red herrings into my posts. I would never do that!

Last post's crossword was fun and fresh, delighting me with such sophisticated answers as ASS. Today's post is... not that. Having resubscribed to the New York Times crossword, I am now remembering how staid and frustrating these puzzles can be... A real hard 180 from the AVCX offerings.

Yes, the AVCX puzzles are easier than their NYT counterparts, but they're also so much less stuffy and moustache-twirling. They demand no knowledge of random sports, European literature, or old-timey celebrity trivia. In short, they target an audience that's decades younger.

Anyway, in the spirit of positivity (as though I didn't just gripe at length about the NYT puzzles), let's get into the one NYT crossword that I've done this week that I enjoyed.

NYT, (Friday) May 22 by Gene Louise De Vera

fudge

skep on 23 May 2026

Sorb, I was fixing up your last post before I’d even gotten a chance to do that crossword. I tried to pay attention to as little of your content as possible while working, but of course the one word that got stuck in my mind was BRALESS, which wasn’t even the right answer for 49A.

Half of my struggle on the southeast corner was me going “how in the hell am I supposed to fit a seven-letter word into nine spaces???”

i have lots of takes, all of them lukewarm

sorbier on 15 May 2026

Hi all! Sorbier checking in here with my first foray on the website.

While Skep is a regular crossword fiend, polishing off crosswords from diverse sources every day, I admit that I have taken a long break from crosswording. It's been a few years since my last crossword, so if anyone around here is going to have lukewarm takes, it's going to be me.

AVCX+, May 15 by Hannah Slovut-Einerston

Themeless, titled "Get Ready!".

This crossword was delightful! A really fun re-introduction to crosswords.

wooingly

skep on 10 May 2026

Double-posting since Sorb is too busy writing our CSS to do crosswords.

Lil AVCX, May 4th by Madison Shultz

14-Across: Malcolm in the Middle cooking prodigy sibling
Me: “Oh yeah, I think I vaguely remember that being a thing I guess. Who was that? Dewey and REESE both fit. REESE seems right to me for some reason. What about the older brother who was in the military, what was his name? Right, Francis. That doesn’t fit. …Hold on, why the hell do I even remember all these names?”

Puzzmo Cross|word, May 5th by Henry Lin-David

Clue for 24-Across was These numbers are pointless!. I got INTEGERS on the crosses, but it took a few moments to click for me. It’s referring to the lack of decimal point. Smart!