Words: 11 (6×5)
Average Length: 4.91
As you probably guessed, 1A was the seed for this puzzle. Why seed the puzzle with an answer that only a couple of solvers are likely to have heard? Because, as things get increasingly fractious and belligerent, the word captures the sort of awareness we could use a great deal more of right now. So spread the word!
Words: 55 (11×14)
Average Length: 4.45
After a year of strife, here’s a peace-focused puzzle.
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My puzzle-making colleague, Jeanne Breen, published a terrific acrostic puzzle yesterday based on a passage chosen by the incomparable Frank Bruni as one of his favorite bits of prose from 2025. You can solve it here, and you should, unless (as she put it) “you’re a proud supporter of POTUS 45/47.”
Words: 78
Average Length: 4.69
1 Across-6 Across-9 Across, everyone!
I posted 107 puzzles in 2025, with nearly 8000 visitors from 62 countries, accounting for more than 18,000 views. Thank you all – I wish each of you a year filled with health, happiness, meaning, and lots of “aha” solving moments.
If you’re interested, I’ve compiled a list of my favorite books that I read during 2025. I love to read and would enjoy getting book recommendations from all of you brilliant and worldly solvers. You can put them in the comments or email me at Jeffspuzzles@gmail.com.
Words: 10 (5×5)
Average Length: 4.40
I constructed a cryptic mini and, when I finished it, decided to provide a version with American-style clues as well. (Each version has the same answers.) So solve either, both, or mix and match.
If you like the idea of parallel cryptic and American-style minis, let me know. It’s a good exercise for me as a constructor and may help solvers who are cryptic neophytes. Plus it gives me twice as many chances to mess with your minds and funny bones!
There’s only one online link because I combined both sets of clues into a single puzzle on Crosshare. Each set is blacked out, so you just need to click on either the first clue (cryptic) or the second (American-style) for each entry.
online | cryptic puz | cryptic pdf | American-style puz | American-style pdf | solution
Words: 74
Average Length: 4.95
I apologize in advance for the clumsy wording of the clue to 66 Across, which is the key to understanding the theme answers. That said, I hope you enjoy the puzzle – I’m pretty pleased with several of the non-theme-related clues.
Words: 14 (7×7)
Average Length: 5.29
2 Down and 8 Across were the seeds. Apologies that 6 Across will leave you with an earworm, assuming you know the commercials (consider yourself fortunate if you don’t).
Words: 12 (6×6)
Average Length: 5.33
This was a weird puzzle to construct. I had two seed entries, neither of which survived the filling and editing process. Then I spent far too long trying to come up with a clever title before deciding just to literally bestow a title upon the puzzle.
Words: 69 (14×15)
Average Length: 4.93
I constructed this puzzle back in August and figured that, given the theme, it was worth waiting until the first icy breaths of winter had appeared, which they did early this week, at least in the D.C. area. If you’re so inclined, the online version contains the appropriate color for the circled squares.
Words: 11
Average Length: 4.73
Here’s a mini puzzle covering anatomy, biology, fashion, natural history, literature, pop culture, and advertising. Never say you don’t get bang for your buck at JeffsPuzzles.com (especially since it’s free)!
Words: 74
Average Length: 5.16
Several years ago, I posted a Thanksgiving puzzle (“I’ll Never Be Your Feast of Burden”) that was chock-full of Thanksgiving-related entries. (I’ve slightly updated that puzzle, but it still shows my relative construction inexperience back then, particularly with so many 3- letter answers.)
This year, I wanted to try something different. Today’s grid has nothing related to the holiday in it – but if you read down the first letters of the Across clues, you’ll see my heartfelt expression of gratitude to everyone who solves my puzzles.
Speaking of gratitude, I need to single out fellow constructor Jeanne Breen for special thanks. Because of the constraints imposed by the Across cluing, some of those clues were a bit clunky as first drafted, to put it kindly. Moreover, the original version of the SE corner was drecky, which isn’t a word but should be. I asked Jeanne if she had any ideas, and she not only greatly improved the most troublesome clues, but came up with a whole new SE corner that is leagues better than the original.
Jeanne is a talented constructor of all manner of word puzzles, which you can – and should! – match wits with on her site, In Pursuit of Puzzles. Follow her, and while you’re at it, follow me if you’re not already doing so! The more followers we constructors have, the more visible our puzzle sites are in search results.
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