diff --git a/pkgs/applications/editors/qxw/default.nix b/pkgs/applications/editors/qxw/default.nix
deleted file mode 100644
index 53cdbcfc2707..000000000000
--- a/pkgs/applications/editors/qxw/default.nix
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,32 +0,0 @@
-{ lib, stdenv, fetchurl, pkg-config, gtk2, pcre }:
-
-stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
-  pname = "qxw";
-  version = "20200708";
-
-  src = fetchurl {
-    url = "https://www.quinapalus.com/qxw-${version}.tar.gz";
-    sha256 = "1si3ila7137c7x4mp3jv1q1mh3jp0p4khir1yz1rwy0mp3znwv7d";
-  };
-
-  nativeBuildInputs = [ pkg-config ];
-  buildInputs = [ gtk2 pcre ];
-
-  makeFlags = [ "DESTDIR=$(out)" ];
-
-  patchPhase = ''
-    sed -i 's/ `dpkg-buildflags[^`]*`//g;
-            /mkdir -p/d;
-            s/cp -a/install -D/;
-            s,/usr/games,/bin,' Makefile
-  '';
-
-  meta = with lib; {
-    description = "Program to help create and publish crosswords";
-    homepage = "https://www.quinapalus.com/qxw.html";
-    license = licenses.gpl2;
-    maintainers = [ maintainers.tckmn ];
-    platforms = platforms.linux;
-    mainProgram = "qxw";
-  };
-}
diff --git a/pkgs/top-level/aliases.nix b/pkgs/top-level/aliases.nix
index d46f3ab7ec34..a01d0d55719e 100644
--- a/pkgs/top-level/aliases.nix
+++ b/pkgs/top-level/aliases.nix
@@ -984,6 +984,7 @@ mapAliases {
   quicklispPackagesFor = throw "Lisp packages have been redesigned. See 'lisp-modules' in the nixpkgs manual."; # Added 2024-05-07
   quicklispPackagesGCL = throw "Lisp packages have been redesigned. See 'lisp-modules' in the nixpkgs manual."; # Added 2024-05-07
   quicklispPackagesSBCL = throw "Lisp packages have been redesigned. See 'lisp-modules' in the nixpkgs manual."; # Added 2024-05-07
+  qxw = throw "'qxw' has been removed due to lack of maintenance upstream. Consider using 'crosswords' instead"; # Added 2024-10-19
 
   ### R ###
 
diff --git a/pkgs/top-level/all-packages.nix b/pkgs/top-level/all-packages.nix
index 6ef2cb0a9710..0934286e692b 100644
--- a/pkgs/top-level/all-packages.nix
+++ b/pkgs/top-level/all-packages.nix
@@ -32057,8 +32057,6 @@ with pkgs;
     inherit (__splicedPackages.libsForQt5) qtbase qtwebengine wrapQtAppsHook qtwayland;
   };
 
-  qxw = callPackage ../applications/editors/qxw { };
-
   rakarrack = callPackage ../applications/audio/rakarrack {
     fltk = fltk13;
   };