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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsThe Thursday, March 19, 2026, New York Times crossword was constructed by John Kugelman and edited by Will Shortz. Its theme is built around the “sides” of words: remove the first and last letters from theme answers to get the clue fills. The letters removed spell FRIES and SALAD.
March 19, 2026 NYT crossword answers
Here are selected clue-and-answer pairs from the puzzle. This is not the complete answer key; consult the dated puzzle record for the full across and down list.
| Clue | Answer |
|---|---|
| 1-Across: “Exploiting an I.R.S. loophole, e.g.” | TAXDODGE |
| 9-Across: “Forensic analyst’s workspace” | DNALAB |
| 15-Across: “Like the national dish tavë kosi (baked lamb with yogurt sauce)” | ALBANIAN |
| 16-Across: “Moon that’s a neighbor of Ganymede and Io” | EUROPA |
| 17-Across: “A boatload” | OODLES |
| 25-Across: “Resident of Muscat” | OMANI |
| 33-Across: “Like some flaws” | FATAL |
| 45-Across: “___ badge” | MERIT |
| 51-Across: “Crooner Mel” | TORME |
| 64-Across: “Certain hockey and soccer infractions … or a hint to this puzzle’s circled and shaded squares” | OFFSIDES |
| 69-Across: “Locations for some posers” | YOGAMATS |
| 1-Down: “First president to sit in the Oval Office” | TAFT |
| 3-Down: “Halo console” | XBOX |
How the theme works
The five theme answers lose their first and last letters—their “sides”—to produce the corresponding fills. Across the shaded first letters, the removed letters spell FRIES; the circled last letters spell SALAD. Together, those words suggest two familiar side dishes.
| Theme answer | After removing first and last letters |
|---|---|
| FOODLESS | OODLES |
| ROMANIA | OMANI |
| IF AT ALL | FATAL |
| EMERITA | MERIT |
| STORMED | TORME |
Why the revealer is OFFSIDES
The revealer, OFFSIDES, points to the first and last letters sitting on the “sides” of each theme answer. It also has a separate, literal meaning: offsides are infractions in sports such as hockey and soccer.
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Puzzle details
XWord Info records the grid as 15 rows by 15 columns, with 74 words and 33 blocks. Its puzzle listing identifies John Kugelman as constructor and Will Shortz as editor. The theme explanation is attributed to Jim Horne’s notes on that listing.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Where to play the March 19 puzzle
The New York Times says past daily and Mini puzzles are available through its Crossword Archive. In the Games app, open the Archives tab. On the website, go to Crossword Archives from the Games homepage. Choose Daily or Mini, then select the month and year to find the puzzle. Archive access is available to Games and All Access subscribers; people without those subscriptions have limited access. See the NYT Crossword Archive help page for details.
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