Shortzian

comparative more Shortzian · superlative most Shortzian

1. Of or pertaining to the style or tenure of New York Times crossword puzzle editor Will Shortz, featuring wordplay and colloquial vocabulary, especially in contrast to previous editors such as Eugene Maleska

   Or, maybe it was a crossword puzzle with some mis-numbered clues, some Shortzian red herrings.

   2015 June 27, BJ Creighton, No Sanctuary, Scribl, →ISBN

   2 more examples

   And yet the Shortzian spiral below is a far more recent example. Letters are arranged concentrically, with answers reading on inward and outward paths and no clear demarcation between answers in either direction.

   2013 May 1, T. Campbell, On Crosswords: Thoughts, Studies, Facts and Snark About a 100-Year-Old Pastime, Morgan James Publishing, →ISBN, page 139

   The grandmaster has only appeared once in the Shortzian era in the debut puzzle of the now prolific David J. Kahn (no relation).

   2021 December 31, Hayley Gold, Letters to Margaret, Lone Shark Games, →ISBN, page 7