Which words does this adult crossword use?

This is the vocabulary-led grid in the collection. Its answers move from documents and art to language and ideas, so the challenge comes from choosing the exact word, not recalling a celebrity. Expect ARCHIVE, CIPHER, IRONY and LEGACY, each clued by a short, precise definition.

Start with the mosaic

Start with the concrete objects, such as the colored-piece picture. Their crossings expose letters in the abstract answers, where two synonyms may seem possible at first. That picture is MOSAIC, and it crosses FACADE and LEGACY. LEGACY is the busiest answer, touching KERNEL, EMBARGO, ARCHIVE and MOSAIC, so it is worth settling early. The longest answers stop at seven letters (JUBILEE, EMBARGO, ARCHIVE, DILEMMA and HORIZON), and the shortest are IRONY and GENRE, five each.

Where synonyms trip you up

KERNEL is clued as the essential core of an idea, and words like core or heart might come to mind first; the letter count and the crossing from IRONY settle it. FACADE has a double meaning, the front of a building or a deceptive outward appearance, and either reading lands on the same word. EMBARGO, an official ban on trade, is the one most likely to come from the news. It suits adults who enjoy words more than trivia, word game regulars and anyone building vocabulary. For a harder search, try the hard word search or the word search for adults.

Solve on screen or on paper

Fill in the answers right here in the browser, or download the puzzle as a one-page PDF. The solved grid comes as its own answer-key PDF, which lets a host keep it hidden until the end. The printable crossword puzzles hub holds every other theme.