NPR Sunday Puzzle (Mar 29, 2026): If the Shoe Fits...

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Mar 29, 2026): If the Shoe Fits...

Q: Name some tools used by shoemakers. After this word place part of a shoe. The result will be the subject of a famous painting. What is it?

Take the resulting subject, remove the 6th, 8th and 10th letters and add an O. Rearrange to get something else pictured in that painting.

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Mar 22, 2026): Animals and Habitats

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Mar 22, 2026): Animals and Habitats

Q: Name an animal. The first five letters of its name spell a place where you may find it. The last four letters of this animal will name another animal -- but one that would ordinarily not be found in this place. What animals are these?

Remove two consecutive letters that are an element, rearrange the remaining letters to name part of another animal.

Edit: Remove LI and rearrange to get TALONS

A: STALLION --> STALL, LION

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Mar 15, 2026): Films and Food

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Mar 15, 2026): Films and Food

Q: Think of a popular movie franchise with many sequels. Hidden in consecutive letters inside its name is a food. Replace that food with a single letter and you'll get another popular film franchise. What films are these?

I started with Scream but replacing "cream" with a single letter didn't go anywhere. Then I came up with the intended film series.

Edit: My hint was "didn't go anywhere" which hinted toward "to boldly go where no man (or one) has gone before"

A: STAR TREK - TART + H = SHREK

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Mar 8, 2026): Dynamic Duos

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Mar 8, 2026): Dynamic Duos

Q: Name a famous musical duo. Remove four consecutive letters of the duo's name and phonetically you'll name a famous nonmusical duo. Who are they?

I can think of another duo that ties the two duos together.

Edit: I was thinking of Maverick and Goose who sang You've Lost That Loving Feelin' in Top Gun. They also flew a plane together.

A: RIGHTEOUS BROTHERS --> WRIGHT BROTHERS

Lapel Pin (Proposed Design)

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Mar 1, 2026): Famous 20th Century Writer

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Mar 1, 2026): Famous 20th Century Writer

Q: Name a famous 20th century writer. Remove the last two letters of the first name and the last letter of the last name. The result will name a clothing material. What is it?

Contrary to what Will might think, we've seen a version of this before.

Edit: "Version" sounds like "virgin" and "Will" sounds like "wool". This puzzle was very similar to a puzzle from January 2017.

A: VIRGINIA WOOLF --> VIRGIN WOOL

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Feb 22, 2026): Get Out Your Secret Decoder Rings

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Feb 22, 2026): Get Out Your Secret Decoder Rings

Q: Name something you don't want to have at night using two words (3,5). Shift each of the letters of the second word nine spaces later in the alphabet. If your count reaches the end of the alphabet, continue counting from the start. The result will name a famous singer.

Too soon?

Edit: This singer was in the spotlight recently.

A: BAD SLEEP --> BAD BUNNY

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Feb 15, 2026): Ian and his Friend

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Feb 15, 2026): Ian and his Friend

Q: A man said to a friend: "I'm thinking of a 9-letter word that contains my name, Ian ("I-A-N"), embedded somewhere inside it. If you replace my 3-letter name with your 4-letter name, you'll get a familiar word in 10 letters." What are the two words, and what is the name of Ian's friend?

Take the even letters of the second word and rearrange to name something associated with this --> ❤️

Edit: The even letters anagram to PULSE

A: APPL(IAN)CE --> APPL(ESAU)CE

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Feb 8, 2026): Weightloss

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Feb 8, 2026): Weightloss

Q: Name something in 7 letters that's designed to help you lose weight. Insert the letters EP somewhere inside this word to get a two-word phrase naming things that are likely to add weight. What words are these?

Take the letters in the longer phrase. Replace the middle letter with a T and rearrange to get something else that can work against weightloss.

Edit: APPETITES

A: PILATES --> PIE PLATES

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Feb 1, 2026): Two Hooved Animals and an Actress

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Feb 1, 2026): Two Hooved Animals and an Actress

Q: Think of two hooved animals. Take all the letters of one of them and the last three letters of the other, mix them together, and you'll get the first and last names of a famous actress. Who is it?

I was initially convinced it had to do with a dromedary and Drew Barrymore.

Edit: My hint was "initially". Take Drew Barrymore's initials (D.B.) and reverse them (B.D.)

A: DEER + (spring*)BOK --> BO DEREK

*Note: There are many African antelope that would work (Blesbok, Bontebok, Bosbok, Duikerbok, Gemsbok, Grysbok, Klipbok, Reitbok, Rhebok/Reebok, Springbok, Steenbok/Steinbok and Waterbok)