Crossword Roundup: Words of the Year 2022

In the sample clues below, the links take you to the explanations in our series for beginners. The name of the smuggler is often linked to an interview with him, in case you want to know these people better.

After releasing a challenging American-style puzzler, it's time for our other end-of-the-year tradition. This is the one where we see if words from various dictionaries of the year are actually used enough to show up in the crossword.

First, the MODE GOBLIN from Oxford isn't the one I met, but the METAVERSE finalist is there in this Times clue…

9a A virtual world with an aversion to the police? (9)[ pun: cryptic definition ][ definition: virtual world ]

… and in this one from Paul:

13a Where the virtual reality experienced, you don't like the New York Museum of Art? (9)[pun: cryptic definition][definition: where virtual reality has been experienced]

Likewise, it's a no for Collins' PERMACRISIS and a yes for one of their finalists…

16a Scandal: Tories for example expelled? (9) [pun intended: what the Tories are an example of + synonymous with "exit" ][definition: scandal]

… namely, Tees' PARTYGATE, a clue noted here at time. There's a lot to be said for Cambridge's approach of announcing words that have attracted more searches than usual. When HOMER appeared in Wordle (as a baseball term), some UK solvers wanted to check if proper nouns had started to appear. HOMER is of course an old crossword friend, and it seems over 10 months have passed since our Guide to Encrypted Crosswords for Wordle Enthusiasts.

I'm glad the New Yorker repeated last year's explosion of puzzles in a December issue. The print edition came out today with a surprising cover; there are online versions. I had a quick chat with Liz Maynes-Aminzade, the magazine's puzzles and games editor:

Hello Liz. Last year, the riddles spilled over into the non-riddle parts of the magazine, including a hidden acrostic in a theater review. This year they also integrated the cover. Is any part of the publication prohibited for puzzles? But, as far as playing around with the magazine's format and confusing some of its signature features, I think it's all on the table!

The...