Wordy Wednesday 418: Diagramless Crossword 7 & Wordy Wednesday 419: Touchword 21

WORDY WEDNESDAY #416
SECTION SIX 41 (answer)

Here is the answer to this puzzle. If you still wish to solve it yourself, please go here for the normal version of the puzzle, or here for the easier version of the puzzle. Here's a list of people who solved it:
Cindy Heisler **
Joe Bernard **
Karen Spencer **
Stephen Potter **
Tyler Hinman **
Kevin Orfield **
Ryan Faley **
Sam Levitin **

WORDY WEDNESDAY #417
DIVIDED INTO COLUMNS 6 (hint)

As of this writing, 6 people have solved this puzzle. Haven't solved it yet? Here's an easier version. Send your answers to glmathgrant[at]gmail[dot]com within the next week to appear on the solvers list and be recognized for your puzzle prowess. Good luck, solvers!

LAST WEDNESDAY OF THE MONTH = DOUBLE WORDY WEDNESDAYS!
WORDY WEDNESDAY #418
DIAGRAMLESS CROSSWORD 7
(click here for a PDF version)

This crossword has 66 entries in a 15x15 grid, obeys American crossword rules, and has standard rotational symmetry.

ACROSS

1 Online profile picture

7 Get in the way of

8 Pose a question

11 First part of a clue to the final answer: ? wds.

15 Certain container

16 Star Trek: ____ (2020 sci-fi debut)

19 Finishing point

20 Word on a man’s bath towel, perhaps

21 Excessively

22 Hilo garlands

24 Certain writing implement

25 Morse ____

26 ____ Ant (cartoon superhero)

29 Gotten up from bed

31 Second part of a clue to the final answer: ? wds.

33 Poles in a circus

34 Russian opposite of “da”

36 Pain

38 ____ an egg (utterly fail)

39 ____ Like It Hot

42 ____ constrictor

43 “It’s so obvious!”

44 Month after April

45 Large arteries

47 Goof up

48 Third part of a clue to the final answer: ? wds.

55 Understand

56 Excite

57 Walmart rival

DOWN

1 Word between “ready” and “fire”

2 Show with trophies depicting an astronaut: abbr.

3 Befitting

4 Golfer’s peg

5 Compute a sum

6 “Radio Free Europe” band

8 Alamo alternative

9 Word indicating a mistake in a quoted text

10 Family Ties family surname

11 First murder victim in Genesis

12 “A stitch in time saves ____”

13 A Passage to ____

14 Personal viewpoint

17 Rocker Stewart

18 Female deer

20 Basil or thyme, for example

23 32-Down, since January 4, 1896

24 Country singer Cline

25 Gives up

27 Japanese sash

28 Snail, for one (note: you want the alphabetically earlier of the two alternative spellings)

30 Foxy

32 Where Salt Lake City is

33 Swimming with ____ (1994 film)

35 Actress Marisa

36 Grp. for lawyers

37 Emulate a pigeon

40 Double Dare host Summers

41 Jane created by Charlotte Brontë

43 Palm fruit

46 Make a knot

49 Panama ____

50 Historic period

51 Neither’s partner

52 Was really into

53 112.5 degrees on a compass

54 Ex-soldier, for short

WORDY WEDNESDAY #419
TOUCHWORD 21
(click here for a PDF version)

This puzzle contains a word suggested by patron M. Sean Molley. Support me on Patreon at the Super Fan level ($5/month) and solve the monthly Patron Puzzle for a chance to suggest a seed word for a future puzzle, or at the Ultra Fan level ($20/month) to suggest one seed word every month!

In a crossword, words cross each other; in this puzzle, they merely touch. More specifically, all answers read across, and every letter shares an edge with at least one identical letter either immediately above or immediately below. The top and bottom rows are considered adjacent.

Arrange the letters in the shaded spaces to form the final answer, an 8-letter word.

1 Ring-tailed ____ / Chessman that can be fianchettoed / Beyond elegant

2 Mike’s Hard ____ (alcoholic beverage brand) / Overly concerned with one’s appearance, perhaps

3 Mexican lager brand / Skillful / “Down with Disease” band

4 Another name for cilantro / One of the Society Islands

5 Robin Hood’s maid / Sleep Number alternative / Certain pasta

6 Michael Sembello hit from Flashdance / Applying perfume, perhaps

7 ____ ray / ____ Sun (beverage brand) / Another name for the short-lived Volkswagen Type 181

8 Certain vocal composition / Key ____ / Employ

9 Walking stick / Level in a video game / Shape defined by x²+y²+z²=r²

10 Pig enclosures / Profoundly wise people / Newspaper-printing device

11 One of a circus performer’s pair / An Italian sausage / “Dress for Less” retailer

12 ____ Guys: Ultimate Knockout (2020 video game) / Edison’s rival / Drink made from champagne and orange juice

13 Some flat-chested women wear these / Landlocked Asian country / Mineral with perfect basal cleavage

14 Zebras / Certain wading bird / Care designed for the terminally ill

15 Freshen up, as decor / Not be in favor of

COMING NEXT WEEK. . .

* What's a 5-letter word for "____ VCS (2021 microconsole based on a 1977 video game console)"?
* Patron Puzzle #86, which will be delivered exclusively to Patreon supporters at the Super Fan level and up ($5 or more per month), is a Snake Crisscross.

Submit your answers to glmathgrant[at]gmail[dot]com. Until next time, happy solving!

Wordy Wednesday 417: Divided Into Columns 6

WORDY WEDNESDAY #415
PENT WORDS 83 (answer)

Here is the answer to this puzzle. If you still wish to solve it yourself, please go here for the normal version of the puzzle, or here for the easier version of the puzzle. Here's a list of people who solved it:
Cindy Heisler **
Cole Kendall **
James Haddad **
Joe Bernard **
Karen Spencer **
Stephen Potter **
Tyler Hinman **
Kevin Orfield **
Ryan Faley **
Sam Levitin **

WORDY WEDNESDAY #416
SECTION SIX 41 (hint)

As of this writing, 8 people have solved this puzzle. Haven't solved it yet? Here's an easier version. Send your answers to glmathgrant[at]gmail[dot]com within the next week to appear on the solvers list and be recognized for your puzzle prowess. Good luck, solvers!

WORDY WEDNESDAY #417
DIVIDED INTO COLUMNS 6
(click here for rules)
(click here for a PDF version)

This puzzle contains a word suggested by patron Kyle Nils. Support me on Patreon at the Super Fan level ($5/month) and solve the monthly Patron Puzzle for a chance to suggest a seed word for a future puzzle, or at the Ultra Fan level ($20/month) to suggest one seed word every month!

Note: The symbol † indicates headlines from The Babylon Bee, the “trusted source for Christian news satire”.

Monty Python's Life of ____ (1979 film) __ __ __ __ __

                                        33 02 66 44 68

Assume a false identity on social media, perhaps __ __ __ __ __ __ __

                                                 13 80 72 85 20 41 07

† “USPS Finally Delivers Paul’s Third ____ To The __ __ __ __ __ __ __

   Thessalonians”                                 54 29 59 22 03 61 49

Baggy bottoms associated with the rapper who __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

   performed “2 Legit 2 Quit”: 2 wds.        46 48 62 17 76 30 84 05 11 34 71

Milkshake ingredient: 2 wds. __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

                             01 09 27 58 63 65 19 24

† “Bill Clinton Calls ____ Pence's Strict Marital Practices __ __ __ __

   ‘Excessive’”                                             51 50 23 36

____ Jones (2001 film whose title character is a white __ __ __ __ __ __ __

   blood cell)                                         67 18 83 38 26 77 69

† “8 Techniques To Guarantee God Will Hear Your ____” __ __ __ __ __ __

                                                      55 78 79 39 14 31

† “Source: Answer To Any Question Sunday ____ Teacher Asks __ __ __ __ __ __

   Probably ‘Jesus’”                                       86 60 16 21 25 82

Final score where only one side of a contest has points __ __ __ __ __ __ __

                                                        56 47 04 42 08 32 35

Not even close to long-winded __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

                              52 74 81 06 37 12 15 87

† “Riot Police Unsure If Their ____ Worked Since Libs Were __ __ __ __ __ __ __

   Already Crying”: 2 wds.                                 73 28 75 40 45 64 53

Cow’s nipple __ __ __ __

             70 10 57 43

COMING NEXT WEEK. . .

* What Jane was created by Charlotte Brontë?
* What is another name for the short-lived Volkswagen Type 181?

Submit your answers to glmathgrant[at]gmail[dot]com. Until next time, happy solving!

Wordy Wednesday 416: Section Six 41

WORDY WEDNESDAY #414
HEX PATHFINDER 25 (answer)

Here is the answer to this puzzle. If you still wish to solve it yourself, please go here for the normal version of the puzzle, or here for the easier version of the puzzle. Here's a list of people who solved it:
Cindy Heisler **
James Haddad **
Joe Bernard **
Karen Spencer **
Kyle Nils **
Stephen Potter **
Tyler Hinman **
Kevin Orfield **
Ryan Faley **
Sam Levitin **

WORDY WEDNESDAY #415
PENT WORDS 83 (hint)

As of this writing, 10 people have solved this puzzle. Haven't solved it yet? Here's an easier version. Send your answers to glmathgrant[at]gmail[dot]com within the next week to appear on the solvers list and be recognized for your puzzle prowess. Good luck, solvers!

WORDY WEDNESDAY #416
SECTION SIX 41
(click here for a PDF version)

This puzzle's grid has six rings and six sections. Each ring contains a series of words placed end to end, reading either clockwise or counterclockwise; all the words in a given ring will read in the same direction. Ring 1 (the outer ring) contains six answers that read clockwise; the starting spaces are numbered in the grid. Clues for the answers in the remaining rings are given in order, but their starting points and direction are for you to determine. The sections (separated by the heavy lines radiating from the center) will help you place the inner rings: in a given section, each ring segment contains all but one of the letters in the next segment outward. In other words, a section's outermost segment contains six letters; the next segment inward contains five of those six letters in some order; and so on, until only one of the original six letters remains.

Arrange the letters in the six starred spaces to form the final answer, a 6-letter word.

Ring 1

1 Chewing gum brand

2 Bear whose first appearance was on The Huckleberry Hound Show

3 ____ cream (custard dessert)

4 Will who appeared in the 2006 documentary Wordplay

5 Part of a reciprocating engine

6 Italian city where the Palazzo San Giorgio is located

Ring 2

* ____ stew (stew that often has mutton)

* Controlled, as a boat or plane

* Idea

* ____ Carter (2015-2016 Marvel TV series)

* Razor sharpener

Ring 3

* Fred of The Wonder Years

* Contributing to a charity, say

* ____ citizen

* ____ Lizzy (“The Boys Are Back In Town” band)

Ring 4

* Like the glass in some church windows

* California governor Newsom

* Voice actress Tara of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic

Ring 5

* Paying no heed to

* Relieve one’s anger, perhaps

Ring 6

* The 41-Year-Old ____ Who Knocked Up Sarah Marshall and Felt Superbad About It (2010 film with quite possibly the lowest ratio ever of average IMDb rating to title length)

COMING NEXT WEEK. . .

* What's a 7-letter word for "____ Jones (2001 film whose title character is a white blood cell)"?

Submit your answers to glmathgrant[at]gmail[dot]com. Until next time, happy solving!

Wordy Wednesday 415: Pent Words 83

WORDY WEDNESDAY #412
ANACROSSWORD 25 (answer)

Here is the answer to this puzzle. If you still wish to solve it yourself, please go here for the normal version of the puzzle, or here for the easier version of the puzzle. Here's a list of people who solved it:
Cindy Heisler **
James Haddad **
Karen Spencer **
Kyle Nils **
Stephen Potter **
Tyler Hinman **
Kevin Orfield **
Ryan Faley **
Sam Levitin **
Seth Christenfeld **

WORDY WEDNESDAY #413
DIV IDE DIN TOT RIP LES 11 (answer)

Here is the answer to this puzzle. If you still wish to solve it yourself, please go here for the normal version of the puzzle, or here for the easier version of the puzzle. Here's a list of people who solved it:
Cole Kendall **
Karen Spencer **
Kyle Nils **
Stephen Potter **
Tyler Hinman **
Kevin Orfield **
Ryan Faley **
Sam Levitin **
Seth Christenfeld **

WORDY WEDNESDAY #414
HEX PATHFINDER 25 (hint)

As of this writing, 10 people have solved this puzzle. Haven't solved it yet? Here's an easier version. Send your answers to glmathgrant[at]gmail[dot]com within the next week to appear on the solvers list and be recognized for your puzzle prowess. Good luck, solvers!

WORDY WEDNESDAY #415
PENT WORDS 83
(click here for a PDF version)

In this puzzle, you must divide the grid into pentominoes (regions containing five cells each), and write a letter in each cell. The rows, reading from left to right, will contain the words hinted at by the Across clues. The letters in the pentominoes, in reading order (left to right starting with the top row), will form the words hinted at by the Pentominoes clues; these clues are presented in no particular order. (In the example, the rows spell PLANT, SHARE, and BITES, and the pentominoes spell the words PLANS, TREES, and HABIT.) Use the ACROSS answers to determine where the pentominoes are.

ACROSS (two answers per row):

1 One of multiple leads / “When in ____. . .”

2 Certain simple machine / Navajo dwelling

3 Tanka relative / ____ Beach Diet

4 One with ginger hair / “The ____ You Make Me Feel” (Michael Jackson hit)

5 First noun in the Second Amendment / Agricultural tool

6 Daughters of a sibling / Anywhere but Here novelist Simpson

7 Competes on The Voice, say / The ____ Limits

8 Kuala Lumpur resident, for example / Ocean ____ (cranberry juice brand)

9 And / “Kid ____. Mother Approved.” (Kix slogan)

10 Dish of seasoned rice and meat / Upper leg bone

PENTOMINOES:

* HALF OF THE FINAL ANSWER

* THE OTHER HALF OF THE FINAL ANSWER

* Prices

* Mild Dutch cheese

* Dominican Republic neighbor

* Intended

* English author Alan Alexander ____

* Certain mackerel

* Jasiri of the Disney Junior series The Lion Guard is one

* Adhesive substance

* NFL great Bradshaw

* Rented

* Many an academic assignment

* “All the ____ Things” (blink-182 hit)

* Stuff on a cake

* Sound made by old floorboards, perhaps

* Work force

* Item in a quiver

* Take exception

* Student

COMING NEXT WEEK. . .

* What's a 6-letter word for "Will who appeared in the 2006 documentary Wordplay"?

Submit your answers to glmathgrant[at]gmail[dot]com. Until next time, happy solving!

Wordy Wednesday 414: Hex Pathfinder 25

WORDY WEDNESDAY #411
DIAGRAMLESS CROSSWORD 6 (answer)

Here is the answer to this puzzle. If you still wish to solve it yourself, please go here for the normal version of the puzzle, or here for the easier version of the puzzle. Here's a list of people who solved it:
Joe Bernard **
Karen Spencer **
Pavel Curtis **
Stephen Potter **
Tyler Hinman **
Brian Cross **
Jason Boomer**
Kevin Orfield **
Ryan Faley **
Sam Levitin **

WORDY WEDNESDAY #412
ANACROSSWORD 25 (hint)

As of this writing, 10 people have solved this puzzle. Haven't solved it yet? Here's an easier version. Send your answers to glmathgrant[at]gmail[dot]com within the next week to appear on the solvers list and be recognized for your puzzle prowess. Good luck, solvers!

WORDY WEDNESDAY #413
DIV IDE DIN TOT RIP LES 11 (hint)

As of this writing, 9 people have solved this puzzle. Haven't solved it yet? Here's an easier version. Send your answers to glmathgrant[at]gmail[dot]com within the next week to appear on the solvers list and be recognized for your puzzle prowess. Good luck, solvers!

WORDY WEDNESDAY #414
HEX PATHFINDER 25
(click here for a PDF version)

In this puzzle, each answer starts in the correspondingly numbered hexagon and winds through the grid, starting in the indicated direction. When you have finished, every letter will be used in exactly two entries.

Rearrange the letters in the shaded spaces to get the final answer, a 7-letter word.

1SW River deposit (5)

2SE Tie-breaking football period (8)

3W Legendary Indiana Pacer with the retired jersey number 31 (12, 2 wds.)

4SW Separating grain from chaff, say (7)

5SE One overly involved in their kid’s life (16, 2 wds.)

6SE Thrilling sensation (6)

7SW Byron White’s 1993 replacement (17, 3 wds.)

8W Hairlike structures on mammalian cells (5)

9SW “Full speed ____!” (5)

10NE Family of marine animals, including Hawaii’s humuhumunukunukuapuaa, whose name suggests a part of a gun (11)

11SE Kevin who portrayed Hercules (5)

12SW Chooses to be a part of something (6, 2 wds.)

13NW One of two in a Christmas carol (10)

14SE “____, Goodbye” (The Beatles song) (5)

15SW Belch (4)

16E Male sibs (4)

17NW “____ to the Chief” (4)

18SE Lightly burn (5)

19SW Excessive growth (5)

20W Reluctant (5)

21SW Women's fashion magazine since 1939 (7)

22W Minor dent (4)

23E Bite Squad competitor (7)

24E Car rental company founded in Orlando (not San Antonio, perhaps surprisingly) (5)

25SE 2005 movie starring Christian Bale (12, 2 wds.)

26W It might be prescribed for lowering a patient’s blood pressure (11, hyph.)

27W Reproof (8)

27SE ____ Forever After (2010 film) (5)

28E “In a ____ of speaking. . .” (6)

29E Structures housing a warship’s guns (7)

30SE One providing betting advice (7)

31W Helmet material, perhaps (4)

COMING NEXT WEEK. . .

* What's a 5-letter word for "Jasiri of the Disney Junior series The Lion Guard is one"?

Submit your answers to glmathgrant[at]gmail[dot]com. Until next time, happy solving!