Answers to Puzzles for Friday, December 5, 2025

Note: Not all puzzles may be available in every edition of your local newspaper, but the following solutions correspond to the set published today.

Crosswords

• USA TODAY Crossword Distributed by Andrews McMeel
• Los Angeles Times Crossword Today's puzzle by McMeel
• Daily Commuter Crossword

Sudoku

Play the USA TODAY Sudoku game for a mental workout.

Jumble

• Clues: OUTDO, COURT, FENNEL, ZEALOT
• Answer: They thought the telemarketer's approach to selling was UNCALLED-FOR
• Distributed by Tribune Content Agency

Cryptography Puzzles

Celebrity Cipher

"There's a bit of magic in everything, and then some loss to even things out." Lou Reed

Cryptoquote

"There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle." Albert Einstein

Wordplay

American state where residents enjoy large amounts of albacore and bluefin: TUNA-SEE

Other Puzzles

• Weather-themed words: WINDY, SUNNY, RAINY, CLOUDY, STORMY
• Word sets: VISITS, STARTER, REVIVES, SWERVED, DETER
• Scrabblegrams and 7 Little Words
• Word search: Playing games of chance

Analysis: Today's Puzzle Highlights

Today's puzzle edition offers a wide range of brain exercises, from crosswords to sudoku and cryptography challenges. The USA TODAY, Los Angeles Times, and Daily Commuter crosswords remain the core offerings, ensuring a variety of difficulty levels for solvers.

The Jumble puzzle provided a notable answer: UNCALLED-FOR, reflecting a clever play on words that engages both reasoning and vocabulary skills. Cryptography puzzles, including Celebrity Cipher and Cryptoquote, continue to highlight quotes from Lou Reed and Albert Einstein, blending entertainment with mental stimulation.

Wordplay sections and weather-themed word sets, along with Scrabblegrams, 7 Little Words, and word searches, provide additional layers of engagement. Overall, the selection balances logic, language, and general knowledge, maintaining the standard readers expect from these syndicated puzzles.

Sources:

• Puzzle solutions for Friday, Dec. 5, 2025