They’re not easy, but the brain-bending puzzles are a celebration of “the hidden magic within language”. Not to mention ...

Daniel Raymon delivers a crisp October cryptic. By Caitlin Lovinger CRYPTIC CROSSWORD — This is Daniel Raymon’s 11th cryptic crossword for The Times; he also constructs daily grids and Puns and ...

Among the most challenging crossword puzzles are those in which the answers are hidden in the clues themselves. These are aptly called cryptic. For example, what is the answer to Used to be healthy, ...

For a different sort of challenge, try this cryptic crossword. Subscribe today to get access to dozens more, and a new crossword every week. Download the app ...

Cryptic crosswords look tricky, but there are conventions that can help newcomers. Most clues comprise a cryptic part and a straight definition (often a synonym of the answer). Consider the following: ...

How your daily crossword could subtly be affecting your political views - In a new book, a veteran crossword constructor ...

Today’s theme: 2025 in poetry.

Crosswords, inexplicably, are more popular than ever. The New York Times alone apparently has more than 28 million people playing its word games. (Speaking of which, have you tried Slate’s?) Something ...

Richard Silvestri delivers a doozy of a challenge. By Caitlin Lovinger CRYPTIC CROSSWORD — This is not a puzzle to zip through unless you’re an absolute whiz at cryptics. I mulled it over for a couple ...