LA Times Crossword Answers for October 25, 2026
· “Easing Does It” · by Pam Amick Klawitter
Every clue — all 144 of them — in the paper's order. Tap one for a nudge, the length and first letter, then tap again for the answer.
About this puzzle
This is a big Sunday grid with a playful theme, and the title is worth reading out loud. The longest entries carry question-mark clues that call for a little wordplay, while the rest of the grid leans on friendly fill like music, sports, TV and food. If a long answer looks a bit off, that is part of the fun.
Hint 1 · A nudge toward the theme
Think of familiar phrases with a word that ends in a long "ee" sound, then imagine that sound being swapped for a common three-letter word ending.
Show the theme
Each theme answer starts with a well-known phrase, then trades the final "ee" sound of one word for ING. PARTY SNACKS becomes PARTINGSNACKS, STRAWBERRY becomes STRAWBEARING, HOCKEY SEASON becomes HOCKINGSEASON, TAXI DRIVER becomes TAXINGDRIVER, MOVIE VILLAIN becomes MOVINGVILLAIN, GHOST STORY becomes GHOSTSTORING, and LIFE OF RILEY becomes LIFEOFRILING. Say the title out loud and it sounds like the E sound gets the ING treatment.
Across
1Muted hue (6)
6 letters, starts with P
Show the answer
PASTEL
7"I'm off!" (5)
5 letters, starts with S
Show the answer
SEEYA
12Signs fraudulently (6)
6 letters, starts with F
Show the answer
FORGES
18Queen of mystery (6)
6 letters, starts with E
Show the answer
ELLERY
19Like a major artery (6)
6 letters, starts with A
Show the answer
AORTAL
20"South Pacific" song (7)
7 letters, starts with B
Show the answer
BALIHAI
21Light fare after a breakup? (13)
13 letters, starts with P
Show the answer
PARTINGSNACKS
23Line judges? (7)
7 letters, starts with E
Show the answer
EDITORS
24Ramen mushroom (5)
5 letters, starts with E
Show the answer
ENOKI
25Caffeine-rich nut (4)
4 letters, starts with K
Show the answer
KOLA
27Sleeveless tops (5)
5 letters, starts with V
Show the answer
VESTS
28General vibe (4)
4 letters, starts with M
Show the answer
MOOD
32Way out (11)
11 letters, starts with E
Show the answer
ESCAPEROUTE
36Archaic possessive (3)
3 letters, starts with T
Show the answer
THY
37__ penguin (7)
7 letters, starts with E
Show the answer
EMPEROR
40Tree on the Lebanese flag (5)
5 letters, starts with C
Show the answer
CEDAR
41Curved paths (4)
4 letters, starts with A
Show the answer
ARCS
43Haberdashery clip (6)
6 letters, starts with T
Show the answer
TIEBAR
44Deal that generates interest (4)
4 letters, starts with L
Show the answer
LOAN
46__ as a pin (4)
4 letters, starts with N
Show the answer
NEAT
48Large med. facilities (4)
4 letters, starts with C
Show the answer
CTRS
51Like the first little pig? (12)
12 letters, starts with S
Show the answer
STRAWBEARING
54Save from ruin (7)
7 letters, starts with B
Show the answer
BAILOUT
56Hit that clears the bases (6)
6 letters, starts with T
Show the answer
TRIPLE
57Blokes (4)
4 letters, starts with L
Show the answer
LADS
60Enter traffic (5)
5 letters, starts with M
Show the answer
MERGE
61Brazilian icon known as "The King of Football" (4)
4 letters, starts with P
Show the answer
PELE
64"Unstoppable" singer (3)
3 letters, starts with S
Show the answer
SIA
65Visual (5)
5 letters, starts with I
Show the answer
IMAGE
67Longtime language columnist William (6)
6 letters, starts with S
Show the answer
SAFIRE
68Bird: Pref. (3)
3 letters, starts with A
Show the answer
AVI
69Best time of year to visit a pawn shop? (13)
13 letters, starts with H
Show the answer
HOCKINGSEASON
72Afternoon refresher (3)
3 letters, starts with N
Show the answer
NAP
73Pan coating (6)
6 letters, starts with T
Show the answer
TEFLON
75Fancy pitchers (5)
5 letters, starts with E
Show the answer
EWERS
76Genetic letters (3)
3 letters, starts with D
Show the answer
DNA
77Some NCOs (4)
4 letters, starts with S
Show the answer
SGTS
78Oscar winner Tatum (5)
5 letters, starts with O
Show the answer
ONEAL
79Play thing (4)
4 letters, starts with P
Show the answer
PROP
80Will, given a chance (6)
6 letters, starts with M
Show the answer
MEANTO
82Chemical variant (7)
7 letters, starts with I
Show the answer
ISOTOPE
84Golf club that's almost too heavy to swing? (12)
12 letters, starts with T
Show the answer
TAXINGDRIVER
90Like butter ready for whipping (4)
4 letters, starts with S
Show the answer
SOFT
91Baby sheep (4)
4 letters, starts with L
Show the answer
LAMB
94Dec. 25 (4)
4 letters, starts with X
Show the answer
XMAS
95Charcuterie slice (6)
6 letters, starts with S
Show the answer
SALAMI
96"Not That Fancy" writer McEntire (4)
4 letters, starts with R
Show the answer
REBA
98"Tiny Alice" playwright (5)
5 letters, starts with A
Show the answer
ALBEE
100Snippets of time (7)
7 letters, starts with M
Show the answer
MOMENTS
101CBS forensic franchise (3)
3 letters, starts with C
Show the answer
CSI
103Over the moon (11)
11 letters, starts with O
Show the answer
ONCLOUDNINE
107Part of a classroom lineup (4)
4 letters, starts with D
Show the answer
DESK
10876-Across strand shape (5)
5 letters, starts with H
Show the answer
HELIX
110Unflappable (4)
4 letters, starts with C
Show the answer
COOL
111Drug cops (5)
5 letters, starts with N
Show the answer
NARCS
114Put to work (7)
7 letters, starts with U
Show the answer
UTILIZE
116One who makes relocating even harder than it already is? (13)
13 letters, starts with M
Show the answer
MOVINGVILLAIN
123Broadway honor (7)
7 letters, starts with T
Show the answer
TONYNOD
124Paperless event notices (6)
6 letters, starts with E
Show the answer
EVITES
125Over-the-top (6)
6 letters, starts with T
Show the answer
TOOTOO
126Partake (in) (6)
6 letters, starts with E
Show the answer
ENGAGE
127Barber's tool (5)
5 letters, starts with R
Show the answer
RAZOR
128"You'll love doing this!" (6)
6 letters, starts with I
Show the answer
ITSFUN
Down
1Friskiness (3)
3 letters, starts with P
Show the answer
PEP
2Huntsville's st. (3)
3 letters, starts with A
Show the answer
ALA
3Camera choice, initially (3)
3 letters, starts with S
Show the answer
SLR
4Vietnamese celebration (3)
3 letters, starts with T
Show the answer
TET
5Source of some lake-effect snow (4)
4 letters, starts with E
Show the answer
ERIE
6Swann who won four Super Bowls with the Steelers (4)
4 letters, starts with L
Show the answer
LYNN
7Sega hedgehog (5)
5 letters, starts with S
Show the answer
SONIC
8Bullpen stat (3)
3 letters, starts with E
Show the answer
ERA
9Short "... need I go on?" (3)
3 letters, starts with E
Show the answer
ETC
10Went on and on and on (6)
6 letters, starts with Y
Show the answer
YAKKED
11One who didn't get a seat (7)
7 letters, starts with A
Show the answer
ALSORAN
12Rage (3)
3 letters, starts with F
Show the answer
FAD
13"Last Week Tonight" host John (6)
6 letters, starts with O
Show the answer
OLIVER
14Formal ceremony (4)
4 letters, starts with R
Show the answer
RITE
15Task for a haunted house after Halloween? (12)
12 letters, starts with G
Show the answer
GHOSTSTORING
16Habitat for humanity (5)
5 letters, starts with E
Show the answer
EARTH
17Actress Spacek (5)
5 letters, starts with S
Show the answer
SISSY
19Satisfies one's curiosity, in a way (4)
4 letters, starts with A
Show the answer
ASKS
20Boyfriend (4)
4 letters, starts with B
Show the answer
BEAU
22One on the move (4)
4 letters, starts with G
Show the answer
GOER
26Legends (4)
4 letters, starts with L
Show the answer
LORE
28Team whose mascot's head is a baseball (4)
4 letters, starts with M
Show the answer
METS
29Skip over (4)
4 letters, starts with O
Show the answer
OMIT
30Abbr. on old phones (4)
4 letters, starts with O
Show the answer
OPER
31Primary event (6)
6 letters, starts with D
Show the answer
DEBATE
33Smoothie berry (4)
4 letters, starts with A
Show the answer
ACAI
34Teller's partner in magic (4)
4 letters, starts with P
Show the answer
PENN
35Bye line (4)
4 letters, starts with T
Show the answer
TATA
38Flirty growl (4)
4 letters, starts with R
Show the answer
RAWR
39"Only the Lonely" singer (7)
7 letters, starts with O
Show the answer
ORBISON
42Staff symbol (5)
5 letters, starts with C
Show the answer
CCLEF
44Player coached by JJ Redick (7)
7 letters, starts with L
Show the answer
LALAKER
45Resource in Minecraft and Catan (3)
3 letters, starts with O
Show the answer
ORE
47Core muscles (3)
3 letters, starts with A
Show the answer
ABS
49Toddler, slangily (6)
6 letters, starts with R
Show the answer
RUGRAT
50Brews (6)
6 letters, starts with S
Show the answer
STEEPS
52Like a large-scale tale or fail (4)
4 letters, starts with E
Show the answer
EPIC
53Tumbler (5)
5 letters, starts with G
Show the answer
GLASS
55Somali supermodel (4)
4 letters, starts with I
Show the answer
IMAN
58Get old (3)
3 letters, starts with A
Show the answer
AGE
59Numbs, as pain (7)
7 letters, starts with D
Show the answer
DEADENS
61Local lingo (6)
6 letters, starts with P
Show the answer
PATOIS
62"Despite that ... " (6)
6 letters, starts with E
Show the answer
EVENSO
63Youngest sibling's lot? (12)
12 letters, starts with L
Show the answer
LIFEOFRILING
65Likely to err (5)
5 letters, starts with I
Show the answer
INEPT
66Ballpark fig. (3)
3 letters, starts with M
Show the answer
MGR
67Scoundrel (7)
7 letters, starts with S
Show the answer
SOANDSO
69Graphic start (4)
4 letters, starts with H
Show the answer
HOLO
70__ Jima (3)
3 letters, starts with I
Show the answer
IWO
71Hidden hiccup (4)
4 letters, starts with S
Show the answer
SNAG
74Hot drink with foam art (5)
5 letters, starts with L
Show the answer
LATTE
77Ready for the laundry (6)
6 letters, starts with S
Show the answer
SOILED
79Shell game pellet (3)
3 letters, starts with P
Show the answer
PEA
80The Marlins, on scoreboards (3)
3 letters, starts with M
Show the answer
MIA
81Zurich transport (4)
4 letters, starts with T
Show the answer
TRAM
83Scheme (4)
4 letters, starts with P
Show the answer
PLAN
85Chopped down (4)
4 letters, starts with A
Show the answer
AXED
86Jean Grey's cohort (4)
4 letters, starts with X
Show the answer
XMEN
87Wind indicator (4)
4 letters, starts with V
Show the answer
VANE
88911 responders: Abbr. (4)
4 letters, starts with E
Show the answer
EMTS
89Board game played on a map (4)
4 letters, starts with R
Show the answer
RISK
92Bueno's opposite (4)
4 letters, starts with M
Show the answer
MALO
93Late __ (7)
7 letters, starts with B
Show the answer
BLOOMER
97Olympic sport since 1904 (6)
6 letters, starts with B
Show the answer
BOXING
99Luxury watchmaker bought by Citizen in 2008 (6)
6 letters, starts with B
Show the answer
BULOVA
100"Jeopardy!" creator Griffin (4)
4 letters, starts with M
Show the answer
MERV
101Laundry slide (5)
5 letters, starts with C
Show the answer
CHUTE
102__ Hall University (5)
5 letters, starts with S
Show the answer
SETON
104Included, in a way (4)
4 letters, starts with C
Show the answer
CCED
105Baltimore's __ Harbor (5)
5 letters, starts with I
Show the answer
INNER
106Bugs or badgers (4)
4 letters, starts with N
Show the answer
NAGS
109"Heated Rivalry" role for Connor Storrie (4)
4 letters, starts with I
Show the answer
ILYA
112Big Four bank name (4)
4 letters, starts with C
Show the answer
CITI
113Bank opening (4)
4 letters, starts with S
Show the answer
SLOT
115"The Batman" actress Kravitz (3)
3 letters, starts with Z
Show the answer
ZOE
117To wit, for short (3)
3 letters, starts with V
Show the answer
VIZ
118Skater Midori (3)
3 letters, starts with I
Show the answer
ITO
119Word in many California place names (3)
3 letters, starts with L
Show the answer
LOS
120DOJ division (3)
3 letters, starts with A
Show the answer
ATF
121"We'll settle this later" letters (3)
3 letters, starts with I
Show the answer
IOU
122__ sequitur (3)
3 letters, starts with N
Show the answer
NON
Today’s hints for other games
- Wordle3 hints, gentle to generous
- ConnectionsOne hint per group, groups in order
- StrandsThe theme, the spangram, then first letters
- Contexto4 hints to the secret word
- PipsEasy, Medium and Hard, one domino at a time
- Newsday CrosswordEvery clue: first letter, then the answer
- Washington Post CrosswordThe Post's daily is the LA Times puzzle
- JumbleThe four words, then the riddle
- CryptoquipA few letters, the first words, then the quip
- 7 Little WordsEvery clue: first letter, then the answer
LA Times Crossword answers, day by day
How this page works
Tap a clue for a nudge
You see how many letters the answer has and the letter it starts with. Often that is enough.
Tap again for the answer
Each answer opens on its own, so the rest of the puzzle stays yours to solve.
In a hurry?
“Show all answers” opens every clue at once, Across and Down in the paper's order.