NYT Crossword hints and answer for May 24, 2026
Hints that get gradually more specific, then the answer if you need it. Nothing is revealed until you tap.
Clues140
Across71
Down69
TitleNext, Please!
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
1A
Second attempt (4)
Starts with R, ends with OREDO→
5A
Hunk of marble, e.g. (4)
Starts with S, ends with BSLAB→
9A
Very proficient (5)
Starts with A, ends with TADEPT→
14A
What many plants do in the heat (4)
Starts with W, ends with TWILT→
18A
Neighbor of Turkmenistan (4)
Starts with I, ends with NIRAN→
19A
Word with happy or half (4)
Starts with H, ends with RHOUR→
20A
Unusual trinket (5)
Starts with C, ends with OCURIO→
21A
___ furniture (5)
Starts with P, ends with OPATIO→
22A
Stoical British guys? (15)
Starts with C, ends with SCONTROLLEDCHAPS→
25A
Creative spark, in slang (5)
Starts with I, ends with OINSPO→
27A
Sleepover challenge (4)
Starts with D, ends with EDARE→
28A
It's made with grains (7)
Starts with S, ends with TSANDART→
30A
They twist beneath the surface (4)
Starts with E, ends with SEELS→
31A
Poles support this (4)
Starts with T, ends with TTENT→
33A
Prefix with watt (4)
Starts with G, ends with AGIGA→
34A
"___ Miz" (3)
Starts with L, ends with SLES→
35A
Assortment (5)
Starts with A, ends with YARRAY→
37A
"The skin cream you're using must be Neutrogena or CeraVe!"? (14)
Starts with T, ends with YTHATSSONOTOLAY→
40A
Hollywood's Johnny (4)
Starts with D, ends with PDEPP→
41A
Stuck in the mud (5)
Starts with M, ends with DMIRED→
43A
Fitting (3)
Starts with A, ends with TAPT→
44A
Baseball legend who dated J.Lo (4)
Starts with A, ends with DAROD→
45A
Lying on (4)
Starts with A, ends with PATOP→
46A
Tai ___ (3)
Starts with C, ends with ICHI→
47A
Filthy, in slang (5)
Starts with G, ends with YGRODY→
49A
Like 2026, but not 2025 (4)
Starts with E, ends with NEVEN→
51A
Pined for an ex-boyfriend? (11)
Starts with M, ends with UMISSEDABEAU→
55A
Awl, for one (4)
Starts with T, ends with LTOOL→
57A
Richard of "Pretty Woman" (4)
Starts with G, ends with EGERE→
59A
Muscle below a delt (3)
Starts with L, ends with TLAT→
60A
[Pow!] (4)
Starts with W, ends with MWHAM→
62A
Save the Children, e.g., in brief (3)
Starts with N, ends with ONGO→
63A
Roughly (4)
Starts with O, ends with OORSO→
64A
Exasperated television producer's plea? (15)
Starts with G, ends with NGIVEMEONESEASON→
68A
’20s architecture style (4)
Starts with D, ends with ODECO→
71A
Bridal line (3)
Starts with I, ends with OIDO→
72A
They can be candied (4)
Starts with Y, ends with SYAMS→
73A
HVAC measure (3)
Starts with B, ends with UBTU→
74A
Molecule with the nucleotides G, U, A and C (3)
Starts with R, ends with ARNA→
77A
The Arabian Sea's Gulf of ___ (4)
Starts with O, ends with NOMAN→
78A
Pickle type (4)
Starts with D, ends with LDILL→
80A
Reach out to people born between July 23 and August 22? (11)
Starts with C, ends with SCONTACTLEOS→
83A
When repeated, "Oh, please" (4)
Starts with C, ends with ECOME→
84A
Phrase on a Spanish candy heart (5)
Starts with T, ends with OTEAMO→
86A
___ carte (3)
Starts with A, ends with AALA→
87A
Sister of Osiris (4)
Starts with I, ends with SISIS→
88A
Actress Ryan of the "Star Trek" franchise (4)
Starts with J, ends with IJERI→
90A
"Me?!" (3)
Starts with M, ends with IMOI→
91A
Like milk that isn't worth crying over (5)
Starts with S, ends with TSPILT→
93A
Warning after a slice (4)
Starts with F, ends with EFORE→
94A
Good name for a salon specializing in mani-pedis? (14)
Starts with F, ends with LFIRSTCLASSNAIL→
98A
Floppy hat (5)
Starts with B, ends with TBERET→
99A
Aromatherapist's workplace (3)
Starts with S, ends with ASPA→
100A
Common forecast in Portland (4)
Starts with R, ends with NRAIN→
101A
Struggling to decide (4)
Starts with T, ends with NTORN→
102A
Musical group? (4)
Starts with C, ends with TCAST→
103A
Princess Leia or Hester Prynne (7)
Starts with H, ends with EHEROINE→
105A
Visitor center handouts (4)
Starts with M, ends with SMAPS→
107A
City west of Montreal (6)
Starts with O, ends with AOTTAWA→
110A
Worship (5)
Starts with A, ends with EADORE→
111A
Loading the dishes and unloading the dishes, e.g.? (15)
Starts with D, ends with SDISSONANTCHORES→
116A
Agitated (5)
Starts with R, ends with DRILED→
117A
Selfish person (5)
Starts with T, ends with RTAKER→
118A
Coin, commonly (4)
Starts with D, ends with KDISK→
120A
Pen ___ (corresponding pair) (4)
Starts with P, ends with SPALS→
121A
Like the strawberry champagne in Bruno Mars's "That's What I Like" (5)
Starts with O, ends with EONICE→
122A
Neuter's partner (4)
Starts with S, ends with YSPAY→
123A
Tibetan oxen (4)
Starts with Y, ends with SYAKS→
Down
1D
White bed, perhaps (4)
Starts with R, ends with ERICE→
2D
Love god (4)
Starts with E, ends with SEROS→
3D
Stance that resembles a ballerina on one leg (10)
Starts with D, ends with EDANCERPOSE→
4D
Using Tinder, Bumble, Hinge, etc. (9)
Starts with O, ends with SONTHEAPPS→
5D
"The Conners" and "The Jeffersons" (5)
Starts with S, ends with SSHOWS→
6D
Common palindromic text (3)
Starts with L, ends with LLOL→
7D
"___ Lang Syne" (4)
Starts with A, ends with DAULD→
8D
"Relax. Calm yourself" (7)
Starts with B, ends with EBREATHE→
9D
One of two found on résumés? (6)
Starts with A, ends with TACCENT→
10D
"Of course!" (3)
Starts with D, ends with HDUH→
11D
Distinct period (3)
Starts with E, ends with AERA→
12D
Domino dot (3)
Starts with P, ends with PPIP→
13D
Add at no extra cost (6)
Starts with T, ends with NTOSSIN→
14D
Sorcerer's stick (4)
Starts with W, ends with DWAND→
15D
"We're toast!" (10)
Starts with I, ends with RITSALLOVER→
16D
Experts in body language? (10)
Starts with L, ends with SLIPREADERS→
17D
Foot, cutesily (6)
Starts with T, ends with YTOOTSY→
21D
Something a child takes a swing at (6)
Starts with P, ends with APINATA→
23D
Count (on) (4)
Starts with R, ends with YRELY→
24D
Really not look forward to (5)
Starts with D, ends with DDREAD→
29D
Earlier (3)
Starts with A, ends with OAGO→
32D
Ruler in Russian history (4)
Starts with T, ends with RTSAR→
33D
Finished (7)
Starts with G, ends with EGOTDONE→
35D
President in 1800 (5)
Starts with A, ends with SADAMS→
36D
Knot again (5)
Starts with R, ends with ERETIE→
37D
Windy City paper, with "the" (4)
Starts with T, ends with BTRIB→
38D
Trouble ___ (4)
Starts with S, ends with TSPOT→
39D
Only U.S. state whose flag features a different design on each side (the back is a beaver!) (6)
Starts with O, ends with NOREGON→
41D
N.H.L. star Connor ___ (7)
Starts with M, ends with DMCDAVID→
42D
"Awful! Awful! Awful!" (8)
Starts with I, ends with TIHATEDIT→
47D
Relative of an alpaca (7)
Starts with G, ends with OGUANACO→
48D
Accessory used in some stretches (8)
Starts with Y, ends with LYOGABALL→
50D
Paleo- : old :: ___ : new (3)
Starts with N, ends with ONEO→
52D
Pharmacist Lilly (3)
Starts with E, ends with IELI→
53D
She may have a little lamb (3)
Starts with E, ends with EEWE→
54D
Sailor's opener (4)
Starts with A, ends with YAHOY→
56D
Feline that a neighbor may find (7)
Starts with L, ends with TLOSTCAT→
61D
Note to staff (4)
Starts with M, ends with OMEMO→
64D
They're toast (6)
Starts with G, ends with SGONERS→
65D
Supervillain in "Fantastic Four" comics (7)
Starts with M, ends with NMOLEMAN→
66D
XXX-XX-XXXX ID (3)
Starts with S, ends with NSSN→
67D
Away from the office (3)
Starts with O, ends with TOUT→
68D
OB/GYN, e.g. (3)
Starts with D, ends with CDOC→
69D
Online reference with many faces (10)
Starts with E, ends with AEMOJIPEDIA→
70D
Miniature photo gallery (10)
Starts with C, ends with LCAMERAROLL→
74D
Touristy destination (10)
Starts with R, ends with ARESORTAREA→
75D
Bête ___ (5)
Starts with N, ends with ENOIRE→
76D
Insider, in spy lingo (5)
Starts with A, ends with TASSET→
79D
So-called "Land of a Million Elephants" (4)
Starts with L, ends with SLAOS→
81D
Follow closely (4)
Starts with T, ends with LTAIL→
82D
Individual account? (9)
Starts with L, ends with YLIFESTORY→
85D
Spray, in a way (4)
Starts with M, ends with TMIST→
89D
"It was my best effort" (6)
Starts with I, ends with DITRIED→
91D
Wrap name (5)
Starts with S, ends with NSARAN→
92D
Parts of card-swiping machines (7)
Starts with P, ends with SPINPADS→
94D
G flat's equivalent (6)
Starts with F, ends with PFSHARP→
95D
Pink-slip (3)
Starts with C, ends with NCAN→
96D
Misinformed, say (6)
Starts with L, ends with OLIEDTO→
97D
"Stop!" (6)
Starts with N, ends with ENOMORE→
98D
Place for miniature boats (4)
Starts with B, ends with HBATH→
102D
Arrogant (5)
Starts with C, ends with YCOCKY→
104D
Sources of lead or gold (4)
Starts with O, ends with SORES→
106D
Cut quickly (4)
Starts with S, ends with PSNIP→
108D
Half of a fortnight (4)
Starts with W, ends with KWEEK→
109D
Invites (4)
Starts with A, ends with SASKS→
112D
"Mean Girls" character Janis ___ (3)
Starts with I, ends with NIAN→
113D
Jet ___ (3)
Starts with S, ends with ISKI→
115D
It may request that you remove your coat, in brief (3)
Starts with T, ends with ATSA→
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 24, 2026?+
140 clues: 71 Across and 69 Down. The puzzle was constructed by David Steinberg and edited by Will Shortz.
What are some answers in today’s NYT Crossword?+
For example: Second attempt (REDO); Hunk of marble, e.g. (SLAB); Very proficient (ADEPT).
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.
