Wordy Wednesday 714: Mini Touchword 16

WORDY WEDNESDAY #712
LETRAVEX 7 (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 (blue names indicate the testing team, and red names indicate Patreon supporters):
Joseph DeVincentis **
Russ Kale **
Sam Levitin **
Derek Allen **
M. Sean Molley **
Michael Lebowitz **
Pavel Curtis **
Randy Rogers **
Ryan Faley **
SquishmallowsUnited **
Steve Levy **

WORDY WEDNESDAY #713
CODEWORDS 36 (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 #714
MINI TOUCHWORD 16
(click here for a PDF version)

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. (If you want more of these puzzles, the author offers the Touchword subscription service Outside the Fox Puzzles.) Arrange the letters in the shaded squares to form the final answer, a Scrabble-legal (unhyphenated, uncapitalized, etc.) 6-letter word. 

1 Large crowd / Have a taste test of
2 There are 32 in a Monopoly set / It may be measured in radians
3 Awaken / Tarry
4 Athlete like Alex Honnold: 2 wds.
5 ____ and pinion / Room
6 YouTuber who hosts the personal finance podcast Financial Audit: 2 wds.
7 Star / “What an annoyance!”
8 Central point of the circle in Leonardo da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man: 2 wds.
9 Hector / 1970 war drama starring George C. Scott
10 Ringlet, as in one’s hair / Splash with specks
11 Electrical wires / Spoil

COMING NEXT WEEK. . .

* What's a 5-letter word for "Ella of The Idea of You (2024)"?
* Patron Puzzle #148, which will be delivered on September 8, 2026, exclusively to Patreon supporters at the Super Fan level and up ($5 or more per month), is a Large Sudokurostic.

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