Clue: When night owls thrive, or where the last words of the starred answers can go

Answer: AFTERDARK

Length: 9

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Similar Clues:

• Attendance check, and a hint to the puzzle theme in the first words of the starred answers (ROLLCALL with 8 letters)
• "Gosh!" (or, based on the starts of starred answers, one who is expert at solving this puzzle's theme?) (GEEWHIZ with 7 letters)
• Second letters of this puzzle's five theme answers (seen in order) (AEIOU with 5 letters)
• Choice words swapped in this puzzle's theme answers (ANDOR with 5 letters)
• Alternative words used as alternatives for each other in this puzzle's theme answers (ANDOR with 5 letters)
• Postseason gridiron game, and a hint to the puzzle theme found in starred answers (BOWL with 4 letters)
• Number of times this puzzle's theme word appears diagonally in the grid (to complete the puzzle, shade those words plus the Down answers that begin where they meet) (FOUR with 4 letters)
• When spelled out, word that follows the beginnings of the starred answers in a memorable kids' show theme song (MOUSE with 5 letters)
• What the self-contradictory words found in this puzzle's theme answers are examples of (ANTAGONYMS with 10 letters)
• Espresso order, or what each word pair in the theme answers synonymously represents (DOUBLESHOT with 10 letters)