Universal Crossword October 23, 2025 Answers

1. Gross 5. Call offering you a free vacation, probably 9. Comic book artist Kubert 13. Branch of 1-Down 14. Smooth strides 16. Something as old as time, sometimes 17. Easter symbol 18. AI trying to blend in with society? 20. ___-nighter 21. Channel popular among '80s teens 22. Apartment documents 23. What homesick tulip farmers do? 27. Roll of cash 28. Gen ___ (typical 21-Across viewer) 29. Cable car 33. Ho Chi Minh City, before 1976 36. Like fine wines 39. A, in Spain 40. Gains muscle, perhaps ... or a hint to this puzzle's theme 43. List shortener 44. ___ mortals 45. Some dental work 46. Qatari capital 48. Audit agcy. 50. The "E" in ESL: Abbr. 51. Smaug and Sauron, say? 57. Takes care of 60. Tour grp. for troops 61. Grain in Cheerios 62. Styles in which certain outdoorsy clothes are trimmed? 65. The 12 men in "12 Angry Men" 66. Book ID 67. Bottled spirit 68. Start of a children's story 69. Gnat or rat 70. Observance before Easter 71. Dreyer's, on the East Coast

1. Faith in which Mecca is the holiest city 2. Hot food with a cold-sounding name 3. Big red button, often 4. Happy cry 5. A deadly sin, or an animal 6. Curving outward 7. Like Usain Bolt's last name 8. Unenthusiastic reply 9. "Finally!" 10. Dollops 11. Burn balm 12. New York team that writes a check on "Bobby Bonilla Day" 15. Robinhood option 19. Nickname that drops -orah 21. Mordor volcano 24. Droops 25. Save the day 26. Egg (on) 30. Hit the beach? 31. Bravo host Cohen 32. Easter service 33. Went over the limit, say 34. Corolla or Corvette 35. 180 degrees from SSW 37. Lead-in to "Pen" 38. Totally finished, in slang 41. Chicago pub? 42. Bone near the funny bone 47. Not at school 49. Confine 52. "Call ___ hunch ..." 53. Word before "Beach" or "Island" 54. It may be frozen or liquid 55. Prideful guy in "Pride and Prejudice" 56. Eyelid concerns 57. "Freudian" mistake 58. "Or ___!" 59. Wanes 63. Disney frame 64. A, in France 65. Java