The Art of Childlike Creativity: Coloring Outside the Lines.

The Thursday crossword puzzle in The New York Times features a theme of synonyms, with the same word in each theme entry offered twice, and the answer being an unrelated noun or verb that can be split into two parts, each part being a synonym for the clue. The constructors, Adam Wagner and Brooke Husic, worked hard on the puzzle, considering dozens of options for every corner of the grid and cluing with exquisite care. The crossword is a good challenge for those who love wordplay and are just tiptoeing into Thursday-level territory.