Will Shortz

Indiana

Weekend Edition Sunday Puzzle Master at NPR

Crossword Editor at The New York Times

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Sunday Puzzle: Hidden Capitals

3 weeks ago | kpbs.org | Will Shortz

I'm going to read some sentences. In each one find the name of a national capital hidden somewhere in it phonetically. Ex. On eBay, rutabagas are seldom seen. --> BEIRUT1. Where is the handbag daddy bought? 2. Throw the anchor away. 3. To an all-round athletic phenom, pentathlon is the ultimate sport. 4. We have tickets to see the Fighting Illini, Row B, seats 1 and 2. 5. During the Civil War sausage was scarce. 6. The gala was attended by many black tie-paying guests. 7.
Sunday Puzzle: Supermarket Brands

1 month ago | kpbs.org | Will Shortz

I'm going to give you some words. For each one, change one letter to get the brand name of something you might buy at a supermarket. Ex. BOUNCY (paper towels) --> BOUNTY1. SPRITZ (soft drink)2. CRUST (toothpaste)3. ACRID (deodorant)4. SCORE (mouthwash)5. WICKS (cough and cold medicine)6. SPITTLES (candy)7. ALIVE (pain relief)8. ANVIL (pain refief)9. ELDERS (glue)10. TOAST (soap)11. WINDER (glass cleaner)12. GLARE (air freshener)13. PIXIE (disposable tableware)14.
Sunday Puzzle: Initial fame

1 month ago | kpbs.org | Will Shortz

I'm going to give you clues for some famous people past and present. The first two letters of each clue are the initials of the answer. Ex. Fancy dancer --> Fred Astaire 1. Printer and patriot of colonial Boston 2. Annual prize creator in Physics, Chemistry, and Literature 3. Jogged to a gold medal at the 1936 Olympics 4. Assassinated Egyptian leader 5. Astronaut who was the first American in space 6. Writer of political commentary in the early 20th century 7.
Sunday Puzzle: Two plus five

1 month ago | kuow.org | Will Shortz

Sunday Puzzle NPR On-air challengeI'm going to give you two five-letter words. For each pair put the same two letters in front of each of them to make two common seven-letter words. Ex. ASTER TALLY --> TOASTER and TOTALLY1. GRANT MOOSE2. EATER ROUGH3. LANCE THING 4. FAULT SCENT5. VOICE STALL6. SPICE USING7. MEADE STING8. ALLOW UDDER 9. LATIN STATE10. REIGN UNDER12.
Sunday Puzzle: Two plus five

1 month ago | wuky.org | Will Shortz

On-air challenge I'm going to give you two five-letter words. For each pair put the same two letters in front of each of them to make two common seven-letter words. Ex. ASTER TALLY --> TOASTER and TOTALLY1. GRANT MOOSE2. EATER ROUGH3. LANCE THING4. FAULT SCENT5. VOICE STALL6. SPICE USING7. MEADE STING8. ALLOW UDDER9. LATIN STATE10. REIGN UNDER12.
Sunday Puzzle: Same beginnings

2 months ago | nhpr.org | Will Shortz

I'm going to name some things. For each one you tell me something the thing has that starts with the same first two letters that the thing does. Ex. TRee —> TRunk (A tree has a trunk, and both tree and trunk start with TR)1. Fish 2. Horse 3. Hammer 4. Coat 5. Body 6. Magazine 7. Strawberry 8. Car 9. Blender 10. Mouth 11. Broom 12. Corn Last week's challenge comes from Philip Goodman, of Binghamton, N.Y. Name an animal in five letters. Add two letters and rearrange the result to name a bird in seven letters.
Sunday Puzzle: Earth Day categories

2 months ago | kpbs.org | Will Shortz

In honor of Earth Day on Tuesday, I've brought a game of Categories based on the word EARTH. For each category I give, name something in it starting with each of the letters E-A-R-T-H. For example, if the category were "Two-Syllable Girls' Names," you might say Ellen, Amy, Rachel, Tina, and Helen. Any answer that works is OK, and you can give the answers in any order. Note: In some cases there may be more than one answer.
Sunday Puzzle: What's that familiar phrase?

2 months ago | ctpublic.org | Will Shortz

On-air challenge: Every answer today is a familiar phrase in the form "___ and ___." You'll get the first and last words, but with a letter changed in each one. Figure out the familiar phrase. Ex. CRAZE & BARREN --> CRATE & BARREL1. BREAK & BUTLER2. CLOCK & DANGER3. BLACK & TICKLE4. ROUGE & FUMBLE5. WIELD & STREAK6. BLOCK & DICKER (commercial name)7.
PUZZLE 04062025

2 months ago | wesa.fm | Ayesha Rascoe |Will Shortz

NPR's Ayesha Rascoe plays the puzzle with WSHU listener Ted Heyn of Fairfield, Connecticut, along with Weekend Edition puzzlemaster Will Shortz.
Sunday Puzzle: Alphabetical arrangements

Mar 23, 2025 | tpr.org | Will Shortz

On-air challenge: I'm going to name some things that are in categories -- like days of the week or U.S. states. Each one I name is second alphabetically in its category. You name the one that's first. Ex. Five --> Eight (alphabetically the first two digits)1. August2. Sight3. British Columbia4. Astros5. Columbia6. "Antony and Cleopatra"7. Huron8. BrooklynLast week's challenge: Last week's challenge comes from Joseph Young, who's a frequent contributor here. Name a famous island in eight letters.

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