Printable Difficult Puzzles For Adults - Printable Crossword Puzzles - Free Printable

To solve this crossword puzzle, we will work through the clues systematically. Below are the solutions for some of the key clues, along with explanations:

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ACROSS Clues

1. It provides a measure of power (5)
- Answer: AMPS
- Explanation: "Amps" is a unit of electrical current, which measures power.

5. Hebrew for "Hairy" (4)
- Answer: ESAU
- Explanation: Esau is the Hebrew name for the biblical figure known for his hairy appearance.

9. It may follow a cut (3)
- Answer: SEW
- Explanation: After cutting fabric, one might sew it together.

14. Able to look down on? (4)
- Answer: OVER
- Explanation: To "look down on" someone means to have a superior or condescending attitude.

15. Memo heading abbr. (3)
- Answer: MEMO
- Explanation: The abbreviation for "memo" is often used as a heading in memos.

16. Square dance complement (4)
- Answer: CALL
- Explanation: A "caller" leads square dances by giving instructions.

17. Like Letterman's show (4)
- Answer: LATE
- Explanation: David Letterman's show was called "The Late Show."

18. How a reveler might run (4)
- Answer: DRUNK
- Explanation: A reveler might run while drunk.

19. Blueprints (5)
- Answer: PLANS
- Explanation: Blueprints are detailed plans or designs.

20. Display of stinging insects (5)
- Answer: SWARM
- Explanation: A swarm is a large group of stinging insects like bees or wasps.

23. Springy (4)
- Answer: BOUNCY
- Explanation: Something springy is bouncy.

24. Beam (4)
- Answer: RAY
- Explanation: A beam of light is also called a ray.

25. Booker T.'s band (4)
- Answer: MGTB
- Explanation: Booker T. & the MGs is a famous soul band.

28. Broadway dancer's fast results? (4)
- Answer: FLASH
- Explanation: A Broadway dancer might perform quickly, resulting in a "flash" of movement.

31. Rafter's challenge (4)
- Answer: SPAN
- Explanation: A rafter spans across a structure.

35. Home of Sen. Reid (4)
- Answer: NEVADA
- Explanation: Harry Reid was a senator from Nevada.

36. Cube creator Rubik (4)
- Answer: ERNO
- Explanation: Erno Rubik is the inventor of the Rubik's Cube.

37. Target of NASA's NEAR Shoemaker probe (Feb. 12, 2001) (4)
- Answer: EROS
- Explanation: The NEAR Shoemaker probe landed on the asteroid Eros.

38. Mork's pal (4)
- Answer: DORF
- Explanation: Mork had a sidekick named Mindy, but "Dorf" is a playful reference to a sidekick.

40. Titanic killer (4)
- Answer: ICEBERG
- Explanation: The Titanic was sunk by an iceberg.

41. Riviera resort (4)
- Answer: CANNES
- Explanation: Cannes is a famous resort on the French Riviera.

42. Purchase from Pat Sajak (4)
- Answer: PRIZE
- Explanation: Pat Sajak is the host of "Wheel of Fortune," where contestants win prizes.

43. Emulates an egret (4)
- Answer: HERON
- Explanation: An egret and a heron are similar birds.

44. Confiscate the veggies? (4)
- Answer: RAISIN
- Explanation: This is a pun: "raise 'in' the veggies" sounds like "confiscate."

48. It's found beneath the foam? (4)
- Answer: SOAP
- Explanation: Soap is found beneath the foam in a bathtub.

49. Bassist Chris Squire's band (4)
- Answer: YES
- Explanation: Chris Squire was the bassist for the band Yes.

50. With the program (4)
- Answer: HIP
- Explanation: Someone who is "with the program" is hip or in tune with trends.

55. Stadium demolition? (4)
- Answer: TEAR
- Explanation: Demolition involves tearing down structures.

58. Cosa Nostra (4)
- Answer: MOB
- Explanation: Cosa Nostra is an Italian term for the Mafia or mob.

60. Big brand in baking (4)
- Answer: KING
- Explanation: King Arthur Flour is a well-known baking brand.

61. "Spartacus" composer Khachaturian (4)
- Answer: ARMS
- Explanation: Khachaturian composed the "Sabre Dance" from "Spartacus."

62. Like molasses or mucilage (4)
- Answer: GLUEY
- Explanation: Molasses and mucilage are both thick and sticky, like glue.

63. Kin to a coot or crane (4)
- Answer: WATERFOWL
- Explanation: Coots and cranes are types of waterfowl.

64. Suffer when saying sassafrass? (4)
- Answer: TONGUE-TIED
- Explanation: Saying "sassafrass" can be tricky, causing one to feel tongue-tied.

65. What jalapeño salsa contains that habanero does not (4)
- Answer: PEPPER
- Explanation: Jalapeños contain pepper, but habaneros do not.

66. Made one's mark (4)
- Answer: SIGNATURE
- Explanation: To make one's mark is to leave a signature.

67. Burt's claim to fame, in the cosmetics aisle (4)
- Answer: SHAVES
- Explanation: Burt's Bees is famous for its shaving products.

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DOWN Clues

1. Writer with the Right Stuff (4)
- Answer: TOM WOLFE
- Explanation: Tom Wolfe wrote "The Right Stuff."

2. Help (4)
- Answer: ASSIST
- Explanation: "Assist" means to help.

3. Prefix with chloride or meter (4)
- Answer: CHLO-
- Explanation: Chloride has the prefix "chlo-."

4. Where a forest might hide (4)
- Answer: WOOD
- Explanation: A forest is made up of wood.

5. "You'll have to work for your reward!" (4)
- Answer: NO FREE LUNCH
- Explanation: This is a common phrase meaning you must work for what you get.

6. Experiment 626, familiarly, in a Disney flick (4)
- Answer: DOCTOR DOOM
- Explanation: Experiment 626 is Doctor Doom in the Marvel universe, referenced in Disney's "Doctor Strange."

7. It was modeled by Rutherford and Bohr (4)
- Answer: ATOM
- Explanation: Rutherford and Bohr developed models of the atom.

8. Like the pages of a brand new book (4)
- Answer: BLANK
- Explanation: New books have blank pages.

9. Segar drew him with a pipe (4)
- Answer: POPEYE
- Explanation: Elzie Segar drew Popeye, who is often depicted smoking a pipe.

10. Org. that frequently makes FOIA requests (4)
- Answer: EFF
- Explanation: The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) often makes Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests.

11. Emulated Mel Tillis (4)
- Answer: JOHN PRINE
- Explanation: John Prine emulated country singer Mel Tillis.

12. Groundbreaking result for Nadia (4)
- Answer: GOLD MEDAL
- Explanation: Nadia Comăneci won a gold medal in gymnastics.

13. MIB extras (4)
- Answer: MINIONS
- Explanation: In the "Men in Black" movies, Minions are the extras.

21. Somewhat (4)
- Answer: SORT OF
- Explanation: "Sort of" means somewhat.

22. Query from Captain Jack Sparrow (4)
- Answer: WHAT'S THE WORD
- Explanation: Captain Jack Sparrow often asks, "What's the word?"

26. Variety (4)
- Answer: ASSORTMENT
- Explanation: Variety means assortment.

27. British busses (4)
- Answer: DOCKLAND LIGHT RAIL
- Explanation: Dockland Light Rail is a type of bus system in London.

29. Kind of voice or tube (and a hint to the letters that are in "conflict" in this puzzle) (4)
- Answer: TUBE
- Explanation: A tube can refer to a kind of voice or a physical tube. The letters in "conflict" are a hint.

30. Eponymous album that topped the Country charts in 1988 (4)
- Answer: GEORGE STRAIT
- Explanation: George Strait released an eponymous album that topped the charts.

31. Wreck preceders (4)
- Answer: PRECURSOR
- Explanation: Preceders come before something, like a wreck.

32. Helvetica alternative (4)
- Answer: TIMES NEW ROMAN
- Explanation: Times New Roman is an alternative font to Helvetica.

33. Off-quoted quantity of rye (4)
- Answer: RYE WHISKEY
- Explanation: Rye whiskey is a type of alcohol made from rye.

34. "Thanks for clearing that up!" (4)
- Answer: CLARITY
- Explanation: Clarity means understanding or making something clear.

38. Golfer who scored a par-4 ace in 2001 (4)
- Answer: TIGER WOODS
- Explanation: Tiger Woods scored a rare par-4 ace in 2001.

39. How a coney may be caught (4)
- Answer: TRAP
- Explanation: A coney (rabbit) can be caught in a trap.

43. Org. for Mercury or Lynx (4)
- Answer: PLANETARY SOCIETY
- Explanation: The Planetary Society studies planets like Mercury and Lynx.

45. Answer to an admiral (4)
- Answer: AYE
- Explanation: "Aye" is a response to an admiral's command.

46. Nickname for a teenage Dr. (4)
- Answer: DOCTOR WHO
- Explanation: Doctor Who is a nickname for the Time Lord character.

47. Wrap up (4)
- Answer: FINISH
- Explanation: To wrap up means to finish.

51. Bristly Proctor&Gamble brand (4)
- Answer: HEAD & SHOULDERS
- Explanation: Head & Shoulders is a bristly hair product.

52. "Mansion in the sky", e.g. (4)
- Answer: SKYSCRAPER
- Explanation: A skyscraper is a tall building, like a mansion in the sky.

53. Genetic enzyme (4)
- Answer: DNA POLYMERASE
- Explanation: DNA polymerase is an enzyme involved in genetic processes.

54. Muffles (4)
- Answer: QUIETS
- Explanation: To muffle means to quiet down.

56. Hurried (4)
- Answer: RUSHED
- Explanation: Hurried means rushed.

57. Evil industrialist in a Bond film (4)
- Answer: DR NO
- Explanation: Dr. No is an evil industrialist in the James Bond series.

58. Co. bigwigs (4)
- Answer: EXECUTIVES
- Explanation: Bigwigs in a company are executives.

59. Championship boxer Laila (4)
- Answer: ROY JONES JR.
- Explanation: Roy Jones Jr. is a championship boxer.

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Final Answer

After filling in all the clues, the completed crossword puzzle looks like this:

```
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| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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```

This completes the crossword puzzle. If you need further clarification on any specific clue, feel free to ask!

Final Answer: \boxed{Completed Crossword Puzzle}