|  & 21D 1998 film thriller starring Morgan Freeman and Christian Slater (4,4) | 
            Mirror Quiz | 
            30 Oct 2025 | 
          
          
            | Difficult | 
            Eugene Sheffer | 
            22 Oct 2025 | 
          
          
            | Like a diamond, but not talc | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Like a dried-out sponge | 
            USA Today | 
            15 Oct 2025 | 
          
          
            |  & 16A 2002 novel by Janet Evanovich (4,5) | 
            Mirror Quiz | 
            20 Sep 2025 | 
          
          
            | "Rock" or "candy" start | 
            USA Today Quick | 
            19 Sep 2025 | 
          
          
            | "You're such a ___ worker!" compliment given to someone who gives it their all | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Fit term for trench plough, as it used to be | 
            The Times Mephisto | 
            07 Sep 2025 | 
          
          
            | A ____ Day's Night, Beatles film | 
            The Telegraph Cross Atlantic | 
            25 Aug 2025 | 
          
          
            | Difficult | 
            Commuter | 
            23 Aug 2025 | 
          
          
            | Granitelike | 
            Newsday | 
            21 Aug 2025 | 
          
          
            | Granitelike | 
            Newsday | 
            01 Aug 2025 | 
          
          
            | Challenging | 
            Thomas Joseph | 
            29 Jul 2025 | 
          
          
            | Opposite of 'easy' | 
            Puzzler Backwords | 
            16 Jul 2025 | 
          
          
            | Knotty | 
            Thomas Joseph | 
            15 Jul 2025 | 
          
          
            | Tough to crack | 
            Newsday | 
            11 Jul 2025 | 
          
          
            | Not easy | 
            The Telegraph Cross Atlantic | 
            25 Jun 2025 | 
          
          
            | Solid (4) | 
            Mirror Quick | 
            20 Jun 2025 | 
          
          
            | Firm; not soft (4) | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Both arduous and difficult inside (4) | 
            Mirror Cryptic | 
            20 Jun 2025 | 
          
          
            | See 5-Across | 
            New York Times Mini | 
            15 Jun 2025 | 
          
          
            | Not easy | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Extremely difficult or tricky | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | See 20 Down | 
            Mirror Quiz | 
            04 Jun 2025 | 
          
          
            | 2009 novel by Martina Cole (4,5) | 
            Mirror Quiz | 
            04 Jun 2025 | 
          
          
            | Like a coconut shell | 
            LA Times Daily | 
            03 Jun 2025 | 
          
          
            | It's difficult to understand this sort of shoulder, head or heart (4) | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | It's difficult, being inflexible (4) | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Firm | 
            The Telegraph Cross Atlantic | 
            09 May 2025 | 
          
          
            | Like a 1,000-piece monochromatic jigsaw puzzle | 
            New York Times | 
            30 Apr 2025 | 
          
          
            | Difficult or challenging | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Right though, had been arduous (4) | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Tough, like a rock | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Beatles song, A _ Day's Night (4) | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | "Die ___"; Bruce Willis movie | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Tough to do | 
            USA Today | 
            18 Apr 2025 | 
          
          
            | Like diamonds and calculus problems | 
            New York Times | 
            14 Apr 2025 | 
          
          
            | Like a C in physics? | 
            Wall Street Journal | 
            05 Apr 2025 | 
          
          
            | Solid | 
            Mirror Quick | 
            02 Apr 2025 | 
          
          
            | Much ardour inside firm | 
            Mirror Cryptic | 
            02 Apr 2025 | 
          
          
            | First hours are remarkably difficult (4) | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Easy opposite | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Air-dried boilie feels _ (4) | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Difficult | 
            Commuter | 
            01 Mar 2025 | 
          
          
            | Tough | 
            Universal | 
            25 Feb 2025 | 
          
          
            | Seemingly unsolvable, as a puzzle | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Opposite of 'easy' | 
            Puzzler Backwords | 
            16 Feb 2025 | 
          
          
            | Like petrified wood | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Dickens' times were so tough | 
            The Sun Two Speed | 
            15 Feb 2025 | 
          
          
            | Unyielding | 
            The Sun Two Speed | 
            15 Feb 2025 | 
          
          
            | Difficult to get measure of land next to road (4) | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | "Die ___," action movie starring Bruce Willis that takes place over one chaotic day in an LA skyscraper | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Fooled about Romeo? Difficult to understand | 
            The Times Quick Cryptic | 
            31 Jan 2025 | 
          
          
            | "You're such a ___ worker!" compliment given to someone who gives it their all | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Darlene -, 1960 and 1961 US National Championships singles tennis tournament winner | 
            Mirror Quiz | 
            14 Jan 2025 | 
          
          
            | Like some Werther's caramels | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Like a video game set to maximum difficulty | 
            USA Today | 
            06 Jan 2025 | 
          
          
            | No easy end for one of three British kings (4) | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Word before rock or candy | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | "Live Free or Die ___" | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Die ____, Christmas film? | 
            The Telegraph Mini | 
            24 Dec 2024 | 
          
          
            | ___ Times, Charles Dickens novel set in Coketown (4) | 
            Puzzler | 
            23 Dec 2024 | 
          
          
            | It's tough, being caught outright! (4) | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Difficult | 
            Commuter | 
            21 Dec 2024 | 
          
          
            | "Die ___," movie starring Bruce Willis | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Bruce Willis action movie series, Die _ (4) | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Tough end cut off vegetable (4) | 
            The Guardian Cryptic | 
            13 Dec 2024 | 
          
          
            | Tough but had included river (4) | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Difficult | 
            The Telegraph Quick | 
            03 Dec 2024 | 
          
          
            | And 16 1854 novel by Charles Dickens featuring the character Thomas Gradgrind (4,5) | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | & 16A 1854 novel by Charles Dickens featuring the character Thomas Gradgrind (4,5) | 
            Mirror Quiz | 
            30 Nov 2024 | 
          
          
            | Difficult | 
            USA Today | 
            29 Nov 2024 | 
          
          
            | Not easy | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Tough to figure out | 
            Newsday | 
            19 Nov 2024 | 
          
          
            | Die ___, Bruce Willis film (4) | 
            Puzzler | 
            18 Nov 2024 | 
          
          
            | Solid | 
            Mirror Quick | 
            15 Nov 2024 | 
          
          
            | Both arduous and difficult inside | 
            Mirror Cryptic | 
            15 Nov 2024 | 
          
          
            | Difficult | 
            Mirror Classic | 
            07 Nov 2024 | 
          
          
            | Opposite of 60-Across, and, with 10-Across, close examination | 
            Wall Street Journal | 
            06 Nov 2024 | 
          
          
            | It's difficult to be really rigid (4) | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Labour a point, - on (4) | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Very difficult | 
            Commuter | 
            24 Oct 2024 | 
          
          
            | It's not easy to be really rigid (4) | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Far from a walk in the park | 
            USA Today | 
            21 Oct 2024 | 
          
          
            | _ Quiz, Aussie TV gameshow with specialist subjects (4) | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | More than just a little alcoholic | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Difficult | 
            Eugene Sheffer | 
            12 Oct 2024 | 
          
          
            | Word with "ship" to refer to difficult or unpleasant conditions in one's life | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Tough, like a rock | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | No gimme | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Like spiked lemonade | 
            Universal | 
            06 Oct 2024 | 
          
          
            | Like uncomfortable futons and overbaked croutons | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Very solid and unyielding | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Relentless in being difficult! (4) | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Difficult | 
            Commuter | 
            17 Sep 2024 | 
          
          
            | Difficult | 
            The Telegraph Quick | 
            10 Sep 2024 | 
          
          
            | A road built behind hospital is difficult to negotiate (4) | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Not easy at all | 
            Commuter | 
            24 Aug 2024 | 
          
          
            | Like a diamond, but not talc | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Ran discount electronic firm | 
            The Telegraph Toughie | 
            08 Aug 2024 | 
          
          
            | Tough | 
            Commuter | 
            01 Aug 2024 | 
          
          
            | Difficult | 
            Mirror Classic | 
            22 Jul 2024 | 
          
          
            | Opposite of "soft" | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Tough, like a rock | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | It's tough, being deceived outright (4) | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | He crashed out before the end of race a that's bad luck! (4,6) | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | He crashed out before the end of race - that's bad luck! (4,6) | 
            The Guardian Cryptic | 
            18 Jun 2024 | 
          
          
            | Drive a ___ bargain | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | "Die ___" (Jake Peralta's favorite movie) | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Opposite of easy | 
            Puzzler Backwords | 
            09 Jun 2024 | 
          
          
            | ____ rock | 
            USA Today Quick | 
            06 Jun 2024 | 
          
          
            | Had got right through, though it was arduous (4) | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Solid ring extracted from stockpile (4) | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Difficult | 
            Mirror Classic | 
            29 May 2024 | 
          
          
            | Difficult | 
            Commuter | 
            29 May 2024 | 
          
          
            | Darlene, 1960 French Open tennis singles champion (4) | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Opposite of "soft" | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Not 40-Across | 
            Commuter | 
            16 May 2024 | 
          
          
            | Unyielding | 
            Mirror Tea Time | 
            04 May 2024 | 
          
          
            | Difficult | 
            Commuter | 
            04 May 2024 | 
          
          
            | Difficult path arduously covered (4) | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Difficult or challenging | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Like the job the outside-right had? (4) | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Rigorous description of calciferous water (4) | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Like a coconut's shell | 
            Universal | 
            16 Apr 2024 | 
          
          
            | The "H" of HB (4) | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | "48 Hours: ___ Evidence" | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Like some ciders, seltzers, and lemonades | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | ___ nut to crack | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Arduous | 
            Newsday | 
            31 Mar 2024 | 
          
          
            | Far from soft | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Exacting, not giving (4) | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | It ain't easy | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | (Rock-[___ rock] | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Like Toughie? Laughed out loud! (4) | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Containing alcohol | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | The exacting part of ?Richard III" (4) | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Being caught outright, is tough (4) | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Difficult, tough | 
            The Times Concise | 
            17 Feb 2024 | 
          
          
            | ___ Times, Charles Dickens novel set in Coketown | 
            Puzzler Backwords | 
            10 Feb 2024 | 
          
          
            | Hurry! Drop Sten on road! Difficult? (4) | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Not soft or easy (4) | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | ____ of hearing | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Not easy | 
            Commuter | 
            03 Feb 2024 | 
          
          
            | Tough vegetable, not cooked at first | 
            The Telegraph Toughie | 
            01 Feb 2024 | 
          
          
            | Rocky | 
            Thomas Joseph | 
            24 Jan 2024 | 
          
          
            | "You're such a ___ worker!" compliment given to someone who gives it their all | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Gruelling (4) | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | "Spy ___," "Weird Al" Yankovic song that's a tribute to the James Bond franchise | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Die _, Christmas movie starring Bruce Willis (4) | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | It's difficult to start off with Cliff, say (4) | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Difficult | 
            Commuter | 
            01 Jan 2024 | 
          
          
            | It’s often played in Congress | 
            Wall Street Journal | 
            30 Dec 2023 | 
          
          
            | It's often played in Congress | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Icy | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | & 14A 1854 novel by Charles Dickens featuring the character Thomas Gradgrind (4,5) | 
            Mirror Quiz | 
            17 Dec 2023 | 
          
          
            | Tough | 
            LA Times Daily | 
            15 Dec 2023 | 
          
          
            | Firm conned about contracts essentially | 
            The Guardian Cryptic | 
            12 Dec 2023 | 
          
          
            | Firm conned about contracts essentially (4) | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Tough green-leafed vegetable needing no introduction (4) | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Not easy | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | It's partly rough, arduous and difficult (4) | 
            Puzzler Cryptic | 
            23 Nov 2023 | 
          
          
            | Difficult or challenging, say | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Difficult | 
            Newsday | 
            21 Nov 2023 | 
          
          
            | Difficult | 
            The Telegraph Quick | 
            14 Nov 2023 | 
          
          
            | K) Like super tricky crosswords | 
            Family Time | 
            12 Nov 2023 | 
          
          
            | Thorny | 
            Newsday | 
            10 Nov 2023 | 
          
          
            | Difficult | 
            Eugene Sheffer | 
            06 Nov 2023 | 
          
          
            | Word with copy or currency | 
            New York Times | 
            26 Oct 2023 | 
          
          
            | Opposite of "soft" | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Difficult | 
            USA Today | 
            09 Sep 2023 | 
          
          
            | Tough to break, like Jawbreakers | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Difficult | 
            The Telegraph Quick | 
            15 Aug 2023 | 
          
          
            | Difficult | 
            USA Today | 
            16 Jul 2023 | 
          
          
            | ___ pass, term for a firm rejection that was added to the Merriam-Webster dictionary in 2021 | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | "Die ___" (Jake Peralta's favorite movie) | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Difficult | 
            LA Times Daily | 
            04 Jun 2023 | 
          
          
            | "I find that ___ to believe" | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Challenging | 
            Wall Street Journal | 
            09 May 2023 | 
          
          
            | Difficult | 
            The Telegraph Quick | 
            25 Apr 2023 | 
          
          
            | Knotty | 
            Thomas Joseph | 
            06 Apr 2023 | 
          
          
            | Challenging | 
            USA Today | 
            30 Mar 2023 | 
          
          
            | Obdurate | 
            Canadiana | 
            13 Mar 2023 | 
          
          
            | ___ hat (construction worker's headgear) | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Taco shell option | 
            Universal | 
            06 Feb 2023 | 
          
          
            | Like advanced calculus | 
            Family Time | 
            02 Jan 2023 | 
          
          
            | Like some cider | 
            Wall Street Journal | 
            24 Dec 2022 | 
          
          
            | Forcefully | 
            New York Times | 
            24 Dec 2022 | 
          
          
            | Difficult | 
            USA Today | 
            15 Nov 2022 | 
          
          
            | Not soft, say | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Tough to crack | 
            Wall Street Journal | 
            26 Sep 2022 | 
          
          
            | Thorny | 
            Newsday | 
            23 Sep 2022 | 
          
          
            | Like a chestnut shell | 
            USA Today | 
            21 Aug 2022 | 
          
          
            | Difficult | 
            USA Today | 
            13 Aug 2022 | 
          
          
            | Difficult | 
            The Telegraph Quick | 
            19 Jul 2022 | 
          
          
            | Like lemonade unsuitable for kids | 
            Wall Street Journal | 
            07 Jul 2022 | 
          
          
            | Difficult | 
            The Telegraph Quick | 
            05 Jul 2022 | 
          
          
            | Difficult | 
            USA Today | 
            20 Jun 2022 | 
          
          
            | Like a rock | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Not squishy | 
            USA Today | 
            11 Jun 2022 | 
          
          
            | Tough little pieces skinned | 
            The Guardian Cryptic | 
            09 Jun 2022 | 
          
          
            | Like a C in calculus? | 
            Wall Street Journal | 
            26 May 2022 | 
          
          
            | ___-boiled, phrase meaning "tough and cynical" that was first used by Mark Twain | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Difficult for daughters to exclude guest | 
            Irish Times Crosaire | 
            09 Mar 2022 | 
          
          
            | Extremely difficult or tricky | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | #6 | 
            The Washington Post | 
            27 Jan 2022 | 
          
          
            | #6 | 
            LA Times Daily | 
            27 Jan 2022 | 
          
          
            | Tough to solve, as a crossword puzzle | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | For experts, as a game | 
            LA Times Daily | 
            28 Dec 2021 | 
          
          
            | Kind of hat used by construction workers | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Like the math problem 1,198 X 32,144 - 112 | 
            Family Time | 
            25 Oct 2021 | 
          
          
            | Bruce's "Die ___" | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Strongly alcoholic | 
            The Times Concise | 
            04 Sep 2021 | 
          
          
            | Difficult | 
            USA Today | 
            22 Jul 2021 | 
          
          
            | Solid, firm, rigid | 
            The Times Concise | 
            16 Jul 2021 | 
          
          
            | Tough | 
            Universal | 
            08 Jul 2021 | 
          
          
            | Like some seltzers | 
            USA Today | 
            01 Jul 2021 | 
          
          
            | & 7 What an actor learns after having an erection: 'Too bad'  | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Like perplexing puzzles | 
            The Washington Post Sunday | 
            13 Jun 2021 | 
          
          
            | "___ Candy," 2005 thriller film starring Elliot Page | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Tough starters for all sides today | 
            Irish Times Crosaire | 
            08 May 2021 | 
          
          
            | Tough | 
            Premier Sunday | 
            11 Apr 2021 | 
          
          
            | A third night in action's critical  | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Difficult | 
            Newsday | 
            08 Mar 2021 | 
          
          
            | "___ Eight," 1996 movie starring Gwyneth Paltrow as Clementine | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Difficult for daughters to throw out guest | 
            Irish Times Crosaire | 
            20 Jan 2021 | 
          
          
            | 'A __ Day's Night': Beatles song | 
            The Washington Post | 
            19 Jan 2021 | 
          
          
            | "A __ Day's Night": Beatles song | 
            LA Times Daily | 
            19 Jan 2021 | 
          
          
            | Like Parmesan and pecorino | 
            New York Times | 
            10 Jan 2021 | 
          
          
            | Solid; difficult | 
            The Telegraph Quick | 
            04 Jan 2021 | 
          
          
            | Like a Saturday crossword | 
            New York Times | 
            08 Dec 2020 | 
          
          
            | ___ drive | 
            The Washington Post Sunday | 
            22 Nov 2020 | 
          
          
            | Tricky and difficult, as a puzzle | 
            Family Time | 
            19 Oct 2020 | 
          
          
            | Unyielding | 
            The Sun Two Speed | 
            17 Oct 2020 | 
          
          
            | Tough husband by a road | 
            The Sun Two Speed | 
            17 Oct 2020 | 
          
          
            | Challenging to figure out | 
            Newsday | 
            06 Oct 2020 | 
          
          
            | Granitelike | 
            Newsday | 
            06 Sep 2020 | 
          
          
            | Difficult | 
            The Washington Post | 
            04 Aug 2020 | 
          
          
            | Difficult | 
            LA Times Daily | 
            04 Aug 2020 | 
          
          
            | Challenging | 
            USA Today | 
            30 Jul 2020 | 
          
          
            | No walk in the park | 
            Wall Street Journal | 
            11 Jul 2020 | 
          
          
            | Like walnut shells | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Obstinate | 
            Newsday | 
            05 Jun 2020 | 
          
          
            | Like nails and some candy | 
            Family Time | 
            01 Jun 2020 | 
          
          
            | Difficult | 
            Eugene Sheffer | 
            30 May 2020 | 
          
          
            | Dickens' times were so tough | 
            The Sun Two Speed | 
            30 May 2020 | 
          
          
            | Opposite of 18d | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Difficult | 
            The Telegraph Quick | 
            06 Apr 2020 | 
          
          
            | Like super-complicated instructions | 
            Family Time | 
            09 Mar 2020 | 
          
          
            | "Love ___," 2021 rom-com starring Nina Dobrev and Jimmy O. Yang | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Tough, like a rock | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Another word for "difficult" | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Far from easy | 
            USA Today | 
            06 Jan 2020 | 
          
          
            | "Die ___," action film series that started in 1988 starring Bruce Willis | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | "___ Target," 1993 movie which was one of the highest-grossing action films of the '90s | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Like most clues that end with question marks | 
            Universal | 
            21 Dec 2019 | 
          
          
            | Like jawbreakers | 
            The Washington Post | 
            01 Nov 2019 | 
          
          
            | Like jawbreakers | 
            LA Times Daily | 
            01 Nov 2019 | 
          
          
            | Tough | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Tough | 
            New York Times | 
            30 Oct 2019 | 
          
          
            | Challenging | 
            Universal | 
            12 Aug 2019 | 
          
          
            | Firm in texture | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Like a rock and many a roll | 
            New York Times | 
            12 Jul 2019 | 
          
          
            | Difficult for daughters to get rid of guest | 
            Irish Times Crosaire | 
            10 Jul 2019 | 
          
          
            | Challenging | 
            Newsday | 
            12 Jun 2019 | 
          
          
            | Bruce Willis starrer action film franchise "Die ___" | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Firm, rigid | 
            The Times Concise | 
            15 Apr 2019 | 
          
          
            | Like walnut shells | 
            New York Times | 
            27 Mar 2019 | 
          
          
            | Solid, firm, rigid | 
            The Times Concise | 
            12 Mar 2019 | 
          
          
            | Demanding key allowing smooth access? Yet denying entry to soldiers?  | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Word before cash or copy | 
            USA Today | 
            28 Feb 2019 | 
          
          
            | Challenging | 
            Premier Sunday | 
            24 Feb 2019 | 
          
          
            | Like boozy cider | 
            Universal | 
            04 Feb 2019 | 
          
          
            | & 11 Soap's less effective with this sort of raw hatred  | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Like a rock and many a roll | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Like jawbreakers | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Word before cash or copy | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Like boozy cider | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Challenging | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Like walnut shells | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Challenging | 
            Thomas Joseph | 
            12 Dec 2018 | 
          
          
            | Difficult | 
            Universal | 
            06 Nov 2018 | 
          
          
            | Unsentimental | 
            The New Yorker | 
            05 Nov 2018 | 
          
          
            | Difficult; rigid | 
            The Telegraph Quick | 
            18 Sep 2018 | 
          
          
            | It's not easy to express surprise on avenue | 
            Irish Times Crosaire | 
            08 Aug 2018 | 
          
          
            | Causing head-scratching | 
            Universal | 
            22 Jul 2018 | 
          
          
            | Merciless | 
            Canadiana | 
            16 Jul 2018 | 
          
          
            | Challenging | 
            LA Times Daily | 
            05 Jul 2018 | 
          
          
            | Challenging | 
            The Washington Post | 
            05 Jul 2018 | 
          
          
            | "Die ___: The Nakatomi Heist," 2019 board game based on the eponymous 1988 action film | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Were Dickens' times this tough? | 
            The Sun Two Speed | 
            24 Jun 2018 | 
          
          
            | Strong and difficult to break | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Difficult | 
            The Times Concise | 
            27 May 2018 | 
          
          
            | Like diamonds | 
            The Washington Post Sunday | 
            06 May 2018 | 
          
          
            | Word with cash or candy | 
            The Washington Post | 
            27 Apr 2018 | 
          
          
            | Word with cash or candy | 
            LA Times Daily | 
            27 Apr 2018 | 
          
          
            | Dickens' times were this tough! | 
            The Sun Two Speed | 
            14 Apr 2018 | 
          
          
            | Fare not appropriate for soldiers?  | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Like verified facts | 
            Universal | 
            14 Mar 2018 | 
          
          
            | Difficult; severe | 
            The Times Concise | 
            19 Feb 2018 | 
          
          
            | Solid, rigid | 
            The Times Concise | 
            25 Jan 2018 | 
          
          
            | Challenging | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Causing head-scratching | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Word with cash or candy | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Difficult | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Difficult | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Unyielding | 
            The Times Concise | 
            21 Nov 2017 | 
          
          
            | Tough to learn | 
            LA Times Daily | 
            08 Nov 2017 | 
          
          
            | Tough to learn | 
            The Washington Post | 
            08 Nov 2017 | 
          
          
            | Difficult to remove top from UK's tallest building | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Difficult or challenging | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Part 3 of today's quote | 
            Canadiana | 
            09 Oct 2017 | 
          
          
            | Solid or difficult to do | 
            Irish Times Simplex | 
            30 Sep 2017 | 
          
          
            | The opposite of "Soft" | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | High on the Mohs scale | 
            USA Today | 
            26 Aug 2017 | 
          
          
            | Difficult | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Like a tough nut to crack | 
            Universal | 
            31 Jul 2017 | 
          
          
            | Arduous | 
            Newsday | 
            23 Jul 2017 | 
          
          
            | Solid, unlike a piece of cake | 
            The Telegraph Cryptic | 
            02 Jul 2017 | 
          
          
            | As a rock | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Newspaper's sure misled about Republican | 
            The Telegraph Toughie | 
            04 May 2017 | 
          
          
            | Opposite of soft | 
            Family Time | 
            30 Apr 2017 | 
          
          
            | High on the Mohs scale | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Like a tough nut to crack | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Tough to learn | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Solid, firm | 
            The Times Concise | 
            04 Nov 2016 | 
          
          
            | A____ lesson | 
            Canadiana | 
            12 Sep 2016 | 
          
          
            | With 60-Down, gotten by great effort | 
            New York Times | 
            08 Jul 2016 | 
          
          
            | ‘Unsentimental' had her dead wrong   | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Hurry _____(Skip's command) | 
            Canadiana | 
            06 Jun 2016 | 
          
          
            | Not easily solved | 
            Universal | 
            20 May 2016 | 
          
          
            | Tough to inflict damage with only half the final number  | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Type of candy or cider | 
            Universal | 
            05 Jan 2016 | 
          
          
            | Type of candy or cider | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | With 60-Down, gotten by great effort | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Piece of pottery that's not square  | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Nearly unsolvable | 
            Universal | 
            04 Dec 2015 | 
          
          
            | Tough to solve | 
            Wall Street Journal | 
            22 Sep 2015 | 
          
          
            | Like some facts and stuff | 
            LA Times Daily | 
            16 Aug 2015 | 
          
          
            | Like dried cement | 
            USA Today | 
            05 Aug 2015 | 
          
          
            | Herculean | 
            New York Times | 
            19 Jul 2015 | 
          
          
            | Tough to figure out | 
            Newsday | 
            07 Jul 2015 | 
          
          
            | Tough | 
            LA Times Daily | 
            07 Jul 2015 | 
          
          
            | See 3 Down | 
            The Telegraph Toughie | 
            26 Jun 2015 | 
          
          
            | Brain-busting | 
            New York Times | 
            30 Apr 2015 | 
          
          
            | Like steel | 
            Premier Sunday | 
            29 Mar 2015 | 
          
          
            | Stern | 
            LA Times Daily | 
            06 Feb 2015 | 
          
          
            | Stony | 
            Newsday | 
            29 Jan 2015 | 
          
          
            | Tough | 
            Eugene Sheffer | 
            26 Jan 2015 | 
          
          
            | Herculean | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Difficult | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Tough to solve | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Stony | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Like steel | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Like dried cement | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Stern | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Like some facts and stuff | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Tough to figure out | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Nearly unsolvable | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Tough | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Tough to solve | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Brain-busting | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Difficult road across part of the beach  | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Posing a challenge | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Like some cider | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | No walk in the park | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Brainbusting | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Kiss "(You Make Me) Rock ___" | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Not squishy | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Word before candy or copy | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Not like pie? | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Tough to crack | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Very challenging | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Not a walk in the park | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Tough to solve | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Like a Saturday crossword | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | High on the Mohs scale | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Tough to crack | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Ready to get down, in a way | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Definitely not child's play | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | No piece of cake | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Challenging | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Eddie Vedder "___ Sun" | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Kind of rock or candy | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | You might give this to someone you don't like | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Fast companion | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Brain-busting | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Like a rock | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Difficult | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Like some copies and courts | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Fatiguing | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Firm | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Mind-boggling | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | High on the Mohs scale | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Like some copies and courts | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Granitelike | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | No walk in the park | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Flinty | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | 10 on the Mohs scale | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Like some ciders | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Obdurate | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Tricky | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Fast partner | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | No piece of cake | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Like a diamond | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Like a Saturday crossword | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | ___ as a diamond | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Rock-like | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Difficult | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Word with copy or candy | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Not a walk in the park | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Kind of rock or candy | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Verifiable, as facts | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Difficult | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Bad, like luck | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Tough | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Like corundum | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Troublesome | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Fast partner | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | "A ___ Day's Night" | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Verifiable, as facts | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | No picnic | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Like a rock | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | No picnic | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Like some facts | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Rocklike | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Knotty | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Obdurate | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Unlike a gut course | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Demanding | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Obdurate | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Like some facts | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Like some crosswords | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Tough to solve | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Unlike a picnic? | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Like a Friday crossword | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Sort of ware | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Steellike | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Compact | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Partner of fast | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Forcefully | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Firmly formed | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Unlike a picnic? | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Fast companion | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | High on the Mohs scale | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Tough | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | High up on the Mohs scale | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Not a breeze | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | "A __ Day's Night" | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Mohs scale adjective | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Not liquidy | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Unyielding | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | No picnic | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Unyielding | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Hardly a no-brainer | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | How you may find this puzzle | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Word that can precede the first word of the six longest puzzle answers | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Mohs scale adjective | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Unyielding | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Word that can precede the first word of the six longest puzzle answers | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Rocky | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Impenetrable | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | "A __ Day's Night" | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Undeniable, as facts | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Intently | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Thorny | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Like some cider | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Brain-busting | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Stony | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Difficult | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Undeniable, as facts | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Like a rock | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Verifiable, as facts | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Like some hats or knocks | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Partner of fast | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | With 57-Across, a nautical command | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Stony | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | No piece of cake | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Like some heads | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | No piece of cake | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Like some cider | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Knotty | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | "A ___ Day's Night" | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Copy type | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Tough | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Word with candy or copy | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Word with boil or line | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Like some candy | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Kind of coal | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Difficult to solve | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Word with labor or candy | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | With 1-Across, mule | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Obdurate | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Difficult | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Construction hat construction | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Obdurate | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Not quickly solved | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Like whiskey, as opposed to wine | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Challenging | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Arduous | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Granitelike | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Type of cider | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Nearly unsolvable | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Stony | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Like a rock | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Rough | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Stony | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Strongly alcoholic | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | The __ Rock Cafe is planning a new emphasis on live music | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Not a no-brainer | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Like some candy | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Brain busting | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Tough | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Like nails? | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Like this crossword, to some | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Like nails | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Word before labor or tack | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Like some candy or crosswords | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Fast companion | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Bad, like luck | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Nearly unsolvable | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Lead-in to hat or headed | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Like this crossword? | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Adamantine | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Like some candy | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Brainbusting | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | High on the Mohs' scale | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | No walk in the park | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Like nails? | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Like a Friday crossword | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Like Hannah's heart, in song | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Boiled descriptive | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | _ Nosed: tough | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Like the puzzle? | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Like #4 pencils | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | ___ labor | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Rocky | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Fermented | 
            New York Times | 
            21 Nov 1993 | 
          
          
            | Fermented | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Unyielding | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Subjected to induration | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Dickens's "___ Times" | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | "___ Candy," T. Williams book | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Somewhat high on the Mohs' scale | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Adamant | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | "___ Copy," TV program | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | ___ as nails | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | No picnic | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Beatles' "A ___ Day's Night" | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Adamantine | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Steely | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Exacting | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Rigid | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Merciless | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Strongly alcoholic | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Unrelenting | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Puzzling | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Demanding | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Unfeeling | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Like a diamond | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Darlene of tennis fame | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | ___ Ridden (1958 Epsom winner) | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | "A ___ Day's Night," Beatles song | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Kind of cash or times | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Far from flabby | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Like some puzzles | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Times or tack | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Kind of sauce or luck | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Kind of sauce | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Toothbrush rating | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Word with tack or line | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | ___ as a rock | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Spikenard. | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Severe. | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Demanding | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Uphill. | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Unsentimental. | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Firm. | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Solid and compact. | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Vermont poet, Walter ___. | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | What this puzzle is. | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Without pity | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Troublesome. | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Like a diamond. | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Compact. | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Calloused. | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | With vigor. | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Unfeeling. | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Trying. | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Powerful. | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Difficult. | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | ___ sauce. | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Obdurate. | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Like anthracite. | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Adamantine. | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Exacting. | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Rigorous. | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Kind of sauce. | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Steely. | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Knotty. | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Intense. | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Adamant. | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Physically fit for exertion. | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Like most themeless puzzles | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Difficult to deal with. | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Arduous. | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Unyielding. | 
             | 
             | 
          
          
            | Compact and solid. | 
             | 
             |