Saturday, July 25, 2026

Solutions to yesterday's Spy Sudoku puzzles

Yesterday's Spy Sudoku keyword: EYING
4x4 (EYING - Y): GEN Y
6x6 (EYING + D): DYEING

Thanks,
--Dave

 

New Word Sudoku (Paraprosdokian Sudoku!) Puzzles for Saturday, 7/25/2026

One morning I shot an elephant in my pajamas … How he got in my pajamas I’ll never know.
A paraprosdokian is wordplay where the latter part of a statement forces you to reinterpret the first part. The phrase intentionally leads you in one direction—misleads you into thinking one way—and then abruptly changes direction, ending with the unexpected twist. The origin of the word is Greek, meaning "against expectation."

Most of the statements in these weekly blog posts are actual paraprosdokians; you might possibly dispute a few. But since they’re still fun plays on words, I’m sharing them anyway.

Because paraprosdokians come in two parts, I present each part as a separate quote, each revealed by solving its own set of word Sudoku puzzles.

AVOWED
6x6 Word Sudoku Puzzle
Each row, column, 2x3 rectangle and set of circled cells contains the letters in the word exactly once

FLYING
6x6 Word Sudoku Puzzle
Each row, column, 2x3 rectangle and set of circled cells contains the letters in the word exactly once

THRUMS
6x6 Word Sudoku Puzzle
Each row, column, 2x3 rectangle and set of circled cells contains the letters in the word exactly once
Copy circled letters to the corresponding numbered cells in the quote grid to spell out the quote



DATIVE
6x6 Word Sudoku Puzzle
Each row, column, 2x3 rectangle and set of circled cells contains the letters in the word exactly once

WRONGS
6x6 Word Sudoku Puzzle
Each row, column, 2x3 rectangle and set of circled cells contains the letters in the word exactly once

PHYLUM
6x6 Word Sudoku Puzzle
Each row, column, 2x3 rectangle and set of circled cells contains the letters in the word exactly once
Copy circled letters to the corresponding numbered cells in the quote grid to spell out the quote


Solutions first thing in the morning.

Thanks,
--Dave

 

Solutions to Friday's Word Sudoku Puzzles

Yesterday's 5x5 Hidden Word Sudoku puzzle was based on the letters in CMO + IX (COMIX) and the 7x7 Hidden Word Sudoku puzzle was based on the letters in H FOB + SIX (BOXFISH).
The Saturday paraprosdokian in a bit.

Thanks,
--Dave

 

Friday, July 24, 2026

Spy Sudoku for 7/24/2026: EYING

Add a letter. Drop a letter. Solve the Sudoku puzzles to discover the hidden words.

Today’s keyword is EYING.
Drop "Y" and use the remaining letters to solve the 4x4 puzzle.
Add "D" to the keyword to supply the letters to solve the 6x6 puzzle.

Today’s hidden words may be unfamiliar; Sudoku logic will reveal them!
-Y
+D
Solutions tomorrow morning.

Thanks,
--Dave

 

Solutions to yesterday's Spy Sudoku puzzles

Yesterday's Spy Sudoku keyword: BRICK
4x4 (BRICK - K): CRIB
6x6 (BRICK + E): BICKER

Thanks,
--Dave

 

New Word Sudoku Puzzles for Friday, 7/24/2026

CMO + IX
5x5 Hidden Word Sudoku Puzzle
Each row, column and enclosed shape contains these letters exactly once
The hidden word spells out in the shaded cells


H FOB + SIX
7x7 Hidden Word Sudoku Puzzle
Each row, column and enclosed shape contains these letters exactly once
The hidden word spells out in the shaded cells

Solutions first thing in the morning.

Thanks,
--Dave

 

Solution to Thursday's Word Sudoku Puzzle

Yesterday's 10x10 Hidden Word Sudoku puzzle was based on the letters in NBC GOAT + SIX (CASTING BOX).

New puzzles in a bit.

Thanks,
--Dave

 

Thursday, July 23, 2026

Spy Sudoku for 7/23/2026: BRICK

Add a letter. Drop a letter. Solve the Sudoku puzzles to discover the hidden words.

Today’s keyword is BRICK.
Drop "K" and use the remaining letters to solve the 4x4 puzzle.
Add "E" to the keyword to supply the letters to solve the 6x6 puzzle.

Today’s hidden words should be familiar to most players.
-K
+E
Solutions tomorrow morning.

Thanks,
--Dave

 

Solutions to yesterday's Spy Sudoku puzzles

Yesterday's Spy Sudoku keyword: BORAX
4x4 (BORAX - X): BOAR
6x6 (BORAX + C): BOXCAR

Thanks,
--Dave

 

New Word Sudoku Puzzle for Thursday, 7/23/2026

NBC GOAT + SIX
10x10 Hidden Word Sudoku Puzzle
Each row, column and 2x5 rectangle contains these letters exactly once
The hidden word spells down the diagonal

Solution first thing in the morning.

Thanks,
--Dave

 

Solution to Wednesday's Word Sudoku Puzzle

Yesterday's 8x8 Hidden Word Sudoku puzzle was based on the letters in N FUEL + SIX (INFLUXES).

A new puzzle in a few hours.

Thanks,
--Dave

 

Wednesday, July 22, 2026

Spy Sudoku for 7/22/2026: BORAX

Add a letter. Drop a letter. Solve the Sudoku puzzles to discover the hidden words.

Spy Sudoku is a new word game based on Word Sudoku. Each day, you're given a 5-letter word, and told which letter to take away or add, to solve a 4x4 and 6x6 Word Sudoku puzzle. Most of the week, the hidden words are ones you'll probably recognize—common and familiar. But Fridays and Sundays, you'll encounter unfamiliar words—no worries, the logic of Sudoku will lead you to the answers, and you'll learn some new words!

And on Sundays, you'll also be challenged to solve a 5x5 puzzle spelling out an anagram of the 5-letter word. I believe this is unique: I haven't seen anyone else providing 5x5 Word Sudoku puzzles.

I've constructed several years of daily puzzle sets I hope to syndicate. I'd love your feedback! Please use the blog comment feature to let me know what works for you, and what doesn't.

Today’s keyword is BORAX.
Drop "X" and use the remaining letters to solve the 4x4 puzzle.
Add "C" to the keyword to supply the letters to solve the 6x6 puzzle.

Today’s hidden words should be familiar to most players.
-X
+C
Solutions tomorrow morning.

Thanks,
--Dave

 

Solutions to yesterday's Spy Sudoku puzzles

Yesterday's Spy Sudoku keyword: BOINK
4x4 (BOINK - I): KNOB
6x6 (BOINK + D): BODKIN

Thanks,
--Dave

 

New Word Sudoku Puzzle for Wednesday, 7/22/2026

N FUEL + SIX
8x8 Hidden Word Sudoku Puzzle
Each row, column and 2x4 rectangle contains these letters exactly once
The hidden word spells down the diagonal


Solution tomorrow morning.

Thanks,
--Dave

 

Solution to Tuesday's Word Sudoku Puzzle

Yesterday's 9x9 Hidden Word Sudoku puzzle was based on the letters in NOVATE + SIX (VEXATIONS).

A new puzzle in a few hours.

Thanks,
--Dave

 

Tuesday, July 21, 2026

Spy Sudoku for 7/21/2026: BOINK

Add a letter. Drop a letter. Solve the Sudoku puzzles to discover the hidden words.

Today’s keyword is BOINK.
Drop "I" and use the remaining letters to solve the 4x4 puzzle.
Add "D" to the keyword to supply the letters to solve the 6x6 puzzle.

Today’s hidden words should be familiar to most players.
-I
+D
Solutions tomorrow morning.

Thanks,
--Dave

 

Solutions to yesterday's Spy Sudoku puzzles

Yesterday's Spy Sudoku keyword: BUNKO
4x4 (BUNKO - U): KNOB
6x6 (BUNKO + S): BUNKOS

Thanks,
--Dave

 

New Word Sudoku Puzzle for Tuesday, 7/21/2026

NOVATE + SIX
9x9 Hidden Word Sudoku Puzzle
Each row, column and 3x3 square contains these letters exactly once
The hidden word spells down the diagonal

Solution first thing in the morning.

Thanks,
--Dave


(A reminder that weekday puzzles in 2026 are based on words or phrases containing at least two of the letters in SIX, a puzzle form I call Missing Letter, Hidden Word Sudoku. Please see my amazon puzzle page www.bit.ly/WordSudokuBooks for a series of nine puzzle collections of this form that span the entire alphabet.)

 

Solutions to Monday's Word Sudoku Puzzles

Yesterday's 4x4 Hidden Word Sudoku puzzle was based on the letters in NU + IX (UNIX) and the 6x6 Hidden Word Sudoku puzzle was based on the letters in NATO + SX (TAXONS).

A new set of puzzles in a few hours.

Thanks,
--Dave

 

Monday, July 20, 2026

Spy Sudoku for 7/20/2026: BUNKO

Add a letter. Drop a letter. Solve the Sudoku puzzles to discover the hidden words.

Today’s keyword is BUNKO.
Drop "U" and use the remaining letters to solve the 4x4 puzzle.
Add "S" to the keyword to supply the letters to solve the 6x6 puzzle.

Today’s hidden words should be familiar to most players.
-U
+S
Solutions tomorrow morning.

Thanks,
--Dave

 

Solutions to yesterday's Spy Sudoku puzzles

Yesterday's Spy Sudoku keyword: MUCIN
4x4 (MUCIN - M): UNCI
6x6 (MUCIN + O): CONIUM
5x5: CUMIN

Thanks,
--Dave

 

New Word Sudoku Puzzles for Monday, 7/20/2026

NU + IX
4x4 Hidden Word Sudoku Puzzle
Each row, column and 2x2 square contains these letters exactly once
The hidden word spells out in the shaded cells

NATO + SX
6x6 Hidden Word Sudoku Puzzle
Each row, column and 2x3 rectangle contains these letters exactly once
The hidden word spells down the diagonal
Solutions first thing in the morning.

Thanks,
--Dave

 

Solution to the Sunday Challenge Word Sudoku Puzzle

Yesterday’s Sunday Challenge AEIOU 12x12 Hidden Word Sudoku Puzzle was based on the letters in LOCATE PUN + SIX (EXCULPATIONS).
New puzzles in a bit.

Thanks,
--Dave

 

Sunday, July 19, 2026

Spy Sudoku for 7/19/2026: MUCIN

Add a letter. Drop a letter. Solve the Sudoku puzzles to discover the hidden words.

Today’s keyword is MUCIN.
Drop "M" and use the remaining letters to solve the 4x4 puzzle.
Add "O" to the keyword to supply the letters to solve the 6x6 puzzle.
Solve the 5x5 to discover a keyword anagram.

Today’s hidden words may be unfamiliar; Sudoku logic will reveal them!
-M
+O
Solutions tomorrow morning.

Thanks,
--Dave

All puzzles and text contained in this blog are copyright © 2008-2026, David H. Thompson. All rights reserved. Please tell your puzzle-loving friends to follow this blog. Thank you!

 

Solutions to yesterday's Spy Sudoku puzzles

Yesterday's Spy Sudoku keyword: BLUEY
4x4 (BLUEY - B): YULE
6x6 (BLUEY + R): BURLEY

Thanks,
--Dave