The latest crossword puzzle from The New York Times, released on October 27, 2026, features a Halloween-themed design. Creators Jeff Chen and Bharati Hemmady collaborated on this puzzle, highlighting creatures tied to the spooky season.
This week’s puzzle theme is revealed at 60-Across, which asks for a term that describes something akin to an untrustworthy business. This term also serves as a clue for the ends of several other clues in the puzzle, namely 17-Across, 29-Across, 39-Across, and 47-Across.
The answers to these specific clues include 17-Across, which is “MOCK COMBAT,” referring to staged fighting; 29-Across, “WOOLLY MAMMOTH,” the extinct cousin of elephants; 39-Across, known as the “PRO BOWL,” which is a longstanding NFL all-star game; and 47-Across, “BAIT-AND-SWITCH,” defined as an unethical marketing tactic.
The term “FLY-BY-NIGHT,” serves as the final clue, which fits the untrustworthy business description. A closer look reveals that this term has a double meaning, reflecting the presence of various nocturnal creatures hidden within the puzzle entries: “bat” in “combat,” “moth” in “mammoth,” “owl” in “bowl,” and “witch” in “switch.”
The puzzle makers also cleverly incorporated a thematic reference at 8-D, where “FALSE FRONT” is noted, a phrase often used to describe deceptive business practices.
Crossword enthusiasts can access the puzzle online to test their skills. The Halloween week is a fitting backdrop for this creative collaboration between Chen and Hemmady as they provide a seasonal twist for solvers.
