NYT Crossword for Friday, October 31, 2025
This Friday’s New York Times crossword was constructed by Juliana Tringali Golden and edited by Will Shortz.
The puzzle features a 15×15 grid with a high flow value of 71.5 (96.6 percentile for Modern Era crosswords), meaning answers connect exceptionally well — giving solvers a smooth experience as they build from known clues.
✳️ Across Clues and Answers
| Clue | Answer |
|---|---|
| A large quantity | TONS |
| Where one may park to see the Super Bowl | SOFA |
| Boot | EJECT |
| Humans, gorillas and chimpanzees | GREATAPES |
| Like a skunk’s tail | BUSHY |
| Hot-weather coolers | ICEWATERS |
| “Mangia!” | EATUP |
| It’s cool while it’s hot | FAD |
| Funny Fey | TINA |
| Upset | ENRAGE |
| Green bay? | LAURELTREE |
| Emerged (from) | STEMMED |
| Old-fashioned “w00t!” | HUZZAH |
| Earth goddess in “Das Rheingold” | ERDA |
| Overlay | DRAPE |
| Caroline Kepnes thriller written partly in the second person | YOU |
| Cookie marketing units | GIRLSCOUTTROOPS |
| Opposite of the Latin “odi” | AMO |
| Handled press agents? | IRONS |
| Stinky ___ (“Toy Story 2” antagonist) | PETE |
| Web host? | SPIDER |
| Some diving briefs | SPEEDOS |
| “We should get out of here” | LETSBOUNCE |
| Actress/singer Steinfeld | HAILEE |
| Easily crushed | ACED |
| Cone ___ (iconic Jean Paul Gaultier undergarment) | BRA |
| Lineup | ARRAY |
| Prayerful form of worship | ADORATION |
| Option at a dealership | LEASE |
| “See ya!” | IGOTTARUN |
| Flops | TANKS |
| Move, informally | RELO |
| Word with sound or snake | BITE |
🔻 Down Clues and Answers
| Clue | Answer |
|---|---|
| Something a workaholic is unlikely to say | TGIF |
| Predator in a pod | ORCA |
| Point in a film when an iconic song sets the scene | NEEDLEDROP |
| Caught | SAW |
| The Onion’s output | SATIRE |
| Provided entrees | OPENEDDOORS |
| Wild | FERAL |
| Mother of a hinny | ASS |
| Yosemite Sam’s role in “Bugs Bunny’s Christmas Carol” | EBENEZER |
| City across the Rio Grande from El Paso | JUAREZ |
| “No ___ mal” (“It’s not bad,” in Spanish) | ESTA |
| Repeated cry at a kegger | CHUG |
| Sort | TYPE |
| Channing of “Blink Twice” | TATUM |
| Hit the ceiling | ERUPT |
| Human rights lawyer Clooney | AMAL |
| “Wow, pretty sweet!” | THATSSOCOOL |
| Apt anagram of GAMES minus M | SEGA |
| Decorates | TRIMS |
| Emmy-winning actress for “The Bear” | AYOEDEBIRI |
| Get on (it) | HOPTO |
| “Hurry!” | RUN |
| A smartphone has many of these | USES |
| Suspicious looks | SIDEEYES |
| Island home of what may be the world’s oldest living olive tree (2,000+ years) | CRETE |
| The U.A.E. is in it | OPEC |
| “Let me check with them” | ILLASK |
| Port of Spain? | PUERTO |
| Go up to | ENDAT |
| Good Neighbor or Design a Robot, e.g., in 35-Across | BADGE |
| Pull up | HALT |
| Purview | AREA |
| Founding member of 38-Down | IRAN |
| Easy triumph | ROUT |
| British monarch between William and George | ANNE |
| It’s all around us | AIR |
| Spreadsheet feature | TAB |
🎭 Notable Features and Highlights
- Clever wordplay runs throughout the puzzle. Entries like GREEN BAY? → LAURELTREE, LETSBOUNCE, and THATSSOCOOL showcase sharp humor and natural conversational flair.
- Smart misdirections:
- SPIDER as “Web host?” — a double meaning that tricks digital-savvy solvers.
- IRONS for “Handled press agents?” — a pun combining household and figurative handling.
- Strong grid connectivity thanks to its 71.5 flow score, allowing smooth solving momentum.
🎃 Halloween Twist
This puzzle landed perfectly on October 31st, and solvers noted a subtle Halloween-themed rebus element — one that only becomes apparent after completing surrounding entries, adding an extra layer of seasonal fun.
Summary Snapshot
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Constructor | Juliana Tringali Golden |
| Editor | Will Shortz |
| Grid Size | 15×15 |
| Flow Value | 71.5 (96.6 percentile) |
| Theme Element | Halloween rebus (revealed post-solve) |
| Overall Tone | Playful, clever, and conversational |
| Difficulty | Friday-level — tricky but fair |
🧠 Conclusion
Juliana Tringali Golden’s October 31, 2025 crossword is a fine example of smart construction and creative clueing.
It mixes pop culture, language play, and seasonal energy into one satisfying grid — a treat for solvers rather than a trick.
