NYT Crossword hints and answer for May 17, 2026
Hints that get gradually more specific, then the answer if you need it. Nothing is revealed until you tap.
Clues140
Across65
Down75
TitleDouble Meanings
Today’s NYT Crossword clues, hints & answers
Every clue from this puzzle with a hint and the answer behind separate buttons, so you only see what you need. Click a clue for its own page.
Across
7A
Italian sparkling wine (4)
Starts with A, ends with IASTI→
11A
John ___, personification of Objectivism, for Ayn Rand (4)
Starts with G, ends with TGALT→
15A
Code for Queens-landers? (3)
Starts with L, ends with ALGA→
18A
___ polaris (6)
Starts with A, ends with AAURORA→
19A
Intl. group formed in 1945 (5)
Starts with T, ends with NTHEUN→
20A
Purple dish eaten with a spoon (8)
Starts with A, ends with LACAIBOWL→
22A
Lottery commission? (12)
Starts with D, ends with DDRAWINGBOARD→
24A
Prison terms? (8)
Starts with P, ends with SPENNAMES→
25A
Smell, e.g. (5)
Starts with S, ends with ESENSE→
26A
University of Alabama rallying cry (8)
Starts with R, ends with EROLLTIDE→
28A
29A
Shower stall? (9)
Starts with R, ends with YRAINDELAY→
31A
Slanted type: Abbr. (4)
Starts with I, ends with LITAL→
32A
Get one's feet wet? (4)
Starts with W, ends with EWADE→
36A
Dir. from St. Paul to Duluth (3)
Starts with N, ends with ENNE→
37A
Guido ___, Baroque painter from Bologna (4)
Starts with R, ends with IRENI→
38A
Automates? (7)
Starts with C, ends with SCARPALS→
42A
How mashed avocado might be served (9)
Starts with O, ends with TOVERTOAST→
45A
Acquire, in a way (5)
Starts with A, ends with XANNEX→
47A
"Yep, noticed that" (4)
Starts with I, ends with WISAW→
48A
Battle cry? (7)
Starts with W, ends with TWARRANT→
49A
PC IDs (3)
Starts with I, ends with SIPS→
52A
What regular customers pay less for? (3)
Starts with G, ends with SGAS→
53A
A good Wordle starting word, by the looks of it (5)
Starts with S, ends with ESTARE→
54A
When Memorial Day is observed (5)
Starts with I, ends with YINMAY→
55A
Grim Grimm character (4)
Starts with O, ends with EOGRE→
56A
Trounce (4)
Starts with W, ends with PWHUP→
58A
Bamboozled (3)
Starts with H, ends with DHAD→
59A
Upscale shirtmaker (4)
Starts with E, ends with NETON→
60A
Symbol of the American West (7)
Starts with S, ends with OSAGUARO→
63A
Former (7)
Starts with O, ends with EONETIME→
65A
Yellow submarine? (15)
Starts with C, ends with HCHICKENSANDWICH→
69A
Infantile (7)
Starts with B, ends with HBABYISH→
72A
Prepares (7)
Starts with R, ends with SREADIES→
73A
Put on the line (4)
Starts with R, ends with KRISK→
78A
Surname for a family of fictional Kansans (4)
Starts with G, ends with EGALE→
80A
One whose pride can be protective (4)
Starts with L, ends with NLION→
81A
"___ a stinker?" (Bugs Bunny line) (5)
Starts with A, ends with IAINTI→
82A
Affect emotionally (5)
Starts with T, ends with HTOUCH→
84A
Cologne conjunction (3)
Starts with U, ends with DUND→
86A
Freight weight (3)
Starts with T, ends with NTON→
87A
Stolen base? (7)
Starts with H, ends with THOTFOOT→
89A
Pelvic parts (4)
Starts with I, ends with AILIA→
90A
Love, in Lyon (5)
Starts with A, ends with RAMOUR→
92A
Bit of flooring for a patio, say (9)
Starts with S, ends with ESTONETILE→
94A
Blood vessel? (7)
Starts with K, ends with PKINSHIP→
96A
Page (through) (4)
Starts with L, ends with FLEAF→
99A
Org. for pugilists (3)
Starts with W, ends with CWBC→
100A
Go downhill, in a way (4)
Starts with S, ends with DSLED→
101A
Pizzeria in "Do the Right Thing" (4)
Starts with S, ends with SSALS→
102A
Fire starter? (9)
Starts with C, ends with RCANOPENER→
105A
Showy kind of push-up (6)
Starts with O, ends with MONEARM→
108A
Salty cheese made from sheep's milk (8)
Starts with P, ends with OPECORINO→
109A
Creature-friendly org. (5)
Starts with A, ends with AASPCA→
114A
Padlock? (8)
Starts with M, ends with SMATTRESS→
116A
Confidence men? (12)
Starts with T, ends with STRUSTBUSTERS→
118A
Rock-bottom review (8)
Starts with I, ends with SITSTINKS→
119A
1957 #1 hit for Debbie Reynolds (5)
Starts with T, ends with YTAMMY→
120A
Demonstrate complete disrespect for, in a way (6)
Starts with S, ends with TSPITAT→
121A
What a clear plastic bag is not (3)
Starts with T, ends with YTOY→
122A
"Right now!" (4)
Starts with S, ends with TSTAT→
123A
"Your point being?" (4)
Starts with O, ends with OOKSO→
124A
Roxane's beloved, in classic literature (6)
Starts with C, ends with OCYRANO→
Down
1D
Roams (about) (4)
Starts with G, ends with SGADS→
2D
Entice (4)
Starts with L, ends with ELURE→
3D
Country with many Farsi speakers (4)
Starts with I, ends with NIRAN→
4D
They often have AAA backing (4)
Starts with T, ends with STOWS→
5D
Colonial news source (5)
Starts with C, ends with RCRIER→
6D
Iconic role for Harrison Ford (3)
Starts with H, ends with NHAN→
7D
"You've Really Got ___ on Me" (1960s hit) (5)
Starts with A, ends with DAHOLD→
8D
Deck application (6)
Starts with S, ends with RSEALER→
9D
Proverbial slowpoke (6)
Starts with T, ends with ETURTLE→
10D
Iconic role for Harrison Ford (7)
Starts with I, ends with AINDIANA→
11D
Display amazement, in a way (4)
Starts with G, ends with EGAPE→
12D
Star pitcher (3)
Starts with A, ends with EACE→
13D
Mechanism for local funding (7)
Starts with L, ends with XLANDTAX→
14D
Feature of the tone-deaf (6)
Starts with T, ends with RTINEAR→
15D
___ Linda (San Bernardino suburb) (4)
Starts with L, ends with ALOMA→
16D
Verdon of "Damn Yankees" (4)
Starts with G, ends with NGWEN→
17D
In addition (4)
Starts with A, ends with OALSO→
19D
Steakhouse orders (6)
Starts with T, ends with STBONES→
21D
Alternative to a bouncy house (7)
Starts with B, ends with TBALLPIT→
23D
Direct a smile toward (6)
Starts with G, ends with TGRINAT→
27D
Fizzling out (5)
Starts with D, ends with GDYING→
30D
Erelong (4)
Starts with A, ends with NANON→
31D
Skating exhibitions (8)
Starts with I, ends with SICESHOWS→
32D
"Holy moly!" (5)
Starts with W, ends with EWOWIE→
33D
Before, in Bordeaux (5)
Starts with A, ends with TAVANT→
34D
Skin: Prefix (5)
Starts with D, ends with ODERMO→
35D
Misjudgment (7)
Starts with E, ends with YERRANCY→
39D
Japanese beer brand (5)
Starts with A, ends with IASAHI→
40D
Crazylegs Hirsch, from 1949 to 1957, informally (5)
Starts with L, ends with MLARAM→
41D
Greta Garbo, by birth (5)
Starts with S, ends with ESWEDE→
43D
T-Swift, by another nickname (3)
Starts with T, ends with YTAY→
44D
Bouncing character in "The House at Pooh Corner" (6)
Starts with T, ends with RTIGGER→
46D
Yep's opposite (3)
Starts with N, ends with WNAW→
51D
Seasoning from the ocean (7)
Starts with S, ends with TSEASALT→
53D
What some houses are built on (4)
Starts with S, ends with CSPEC→
55D
Cask wood (3)
Starts with O, ends with KOAK→
57D
Prefix with -form or -verse (3)
Starts with U, ends with IUNI→
60D
Inept sorts (8)
Starts with S, ends with SSCHLUMPS→
61D
One source of news (5)
Starts with R, ends with ORADIO→
62D
Burger toppers (6)
Starts with O, ends with SONIONS→
64D
Savings banks (7)
Starts with T, ends with STHRIFTS→
67D
"Life ___ beach" (3)
Starts with I, ends with AISA→
68D
Home for an 80-Across (3)
Starts with D, ends with NDEN→
69D
Printing technique that uses wax (5)
Starts with B, ends with KBATIK→
70D
Garlicky spread (5)
Starts with A, ends with IAIOLI→
74D
Packed like sardines, say (5)
Starts with I, ends with LINOIL→
75D
It's a wrap (5)
Starts with S, ends with ESTOLE→
76D
Passed, as bad checks (5)
Starts with K, ends with DKITED→
79D
Brian in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (3)
Starts with E, ends with OENO→
81D
Experienced a bit of turnover? (3)
Starts with A, ends with EATE→
83D
Mary ___, "The Boating Party" artist (7)
Starts with C, ends with TCASSATT→
85D
Sweet, in Seville (5)
Starts with D, ends with EDULCE→
87D
Schmooze (6)
Starts with H, ends with BHOBNOB→
88D
Back in the day (4)
Starts with O, ends with EONCE→
90D
Malady (7)
Starts with A, ends with TAILMENT→
91D
Do something because of (7)
Starts with R, ends with OREACTTO→
93D
A score (6)
Starts with T, ends with YTWENTY→
95D
Pollster Lou or singer Emmylou (6)
Starts with H, ends with SHARRIS→
97D
Polar wear (6)
Starts with A, ends with KANORAK→
98D
Discussion sites (6)
Starts with F, ends with SFORUMS→
103D
___ Beach, Calif. (5)
Starts with P, ends with OPISMO→
104D
Hoarse (5)
Starts with R, ends with YRASPY→
105D
Fail to mention (4)
Starts with O, ends with TOMIT→
106D
Intl. group formed in 1949 (4)
Starts with N, ends with ONATO→
107D
Online marketplace with personalized gifts (4)
Starts with E, ends with YETSY→
108D
"Hey there!" (4)
Starts with P, ends with TPSST→
110D
Awaken (4)
Starts with S, ends with RSTIR→
111D
Creature-friendly org. (4)
Starts with P, ends with APETA→
112D
Prefix in many Ocean Spray drink names (4)
Starts with C, ends with NCRAN→
113D
Regarding (4)
Starts with A, ends with OASTO→
115D
Reggae relative (3)
Starts with S, ends with ASKA→
117D
Gamecocks' sch. (3)
Starts with U, ends with CUSC→
How to solve the NYT Crossword
Fill the grid so that every Across and Down answer matches its clue. Numbered squares mark where answers begin. Theme answers, usually the longest entries, share a twist that the puzzle's title or a revealer clue explains. Thursday puzzles are known for rebus squares and other tricks that bend the normal rules.
Want the full method? Read our NYT Crossword strategy and tips, or check how to play the NYT Crossword on the hub.
NYT Crossword tips for tomorrow
- Start with Monday-level clues. Even on a Saturday, a handful of clues are straightforward. Find them and build outward from the crossings.
- Hunt for the revealer. A clue that references other entries or ends in "?" often explains the theme. Solving it first unlocks the long answers.
- Respect the day of the week. Thursday means tricks like rebus squares; Friday and Saturday mean long, clever fill with misleading clues.
Done for today? Try The Mini, The Midi, LA Times Crossword, all with hints first and answers behind a reveal.
Previous NYT Crossword puzzles
NYT Crossword FAQ
How many clues are in the NYT Crossword for May 17, 2026?+
140 clues: 65 Across and 75 Down. The puzzle was constructed by Derrick Niederman and edited by Will Shortz.
What are some answers in today’s NYT Crossword?+
For example: Snag (GLITCH); Italian sparkling wine (ASTI); John ___, personification of Objectivism, for Ayn Rand (GALT).
What time does the NYT Crossword come out?+
The next day's puzzle is released at 10:00 pm Eastern Time Monday to Friday and at 6:00 pm on Saturdays and Sundays.
Where can I find past NYT Crossword answers?+
Every puzzle in our archive has its own page with all Across and Down answers, plus a page for each clue. Click any date above.
