Perfect

Latest answer — May 27, 2026

17 Across

Absolutely flawless, with nothing left to improve ✨

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NYT Crossword

This clue's Wednesday, May 27, 2026 appearance

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Across

  1. 1He's always hard to find
  2. 6State tree of Massachusetts and North Dakota
  3. 9Popular pub pastime
  4. 14Superman is one, notably
  5. 15"O Sole ___"
  6. 16Best effort
  7. 17Perfect
  8. 18Red flag for a mortgage applicant
  9. 20November 19, 1863
  10. 22Things exchanged at an altar
  11. 23Univ. in Troy, N.Y.
  12. 24Includes in an email
  13. 27Sorcerer
  14. 30January 20, 1961
  15. 33Lennon's mate ... and onetime bandmate
  16. 34Low-lying landform
  17. 35Filming location for the archaeological dig in "Raiders of the Lost Ark"
  18. 36Musical piece with repeated themes
  19. 38Delhi lentil stew
  20. 40Not one for company
  21. 41Worship, in a way
  22. 43Osso buco meat
  23. 45See
  24. 46August 28, 1963
  25. 48Numbers that aren't entered on bowling scorecards
  26. 49Hit way up in the air, as a baseball
  27. 50"Li'l ol' me?!"
  28. 51Gossip
  29. 53Noun or verb ... or a description of 20-, 30-, or 46-Across?
  30. 58Engineering competition with two "battling" devices
  31. 61Round house
  32. 62Multiple-choice choices, maybe
  33. 63"Feliz ___ Novo!"
  34. 64"Rocky" actress Shire
  35. 65Walk-off inning, usually
  36. 66Ignited
  37. 67Big name in shapewear

Down

  1. 1Dickens's Oliver Twist, for one
  2. 2Style magnate Gucci
  3. 3Stead
  4. 4"Honey" alternative
  5. 5Tripping, perhaps
  6. 6Decorated with a raised design
  7. 7One with a fake account?
  8. 8"The ___ Prometheus," Mary Shelley's subtitle to "Frankenstein"
  9. 9"Fiddlesticks!"
  10. 10Like many wines and cheeses
  11. 11"Far out"
  12. 12"Please, no more!"
  13. 13Fine just the way things are
  14. 19Pitch-altering clamps on guitars
  15. 21Steam engine need
  16. 24Nickels and dimes
  17. 25Veer this way and that
  18. 26Gets going
  19. 27Transforms (into)
  20. 28All-powerful avatar in "Ready Player One"
  21. 29College chant accompanying "Beat Army!"
  22. 31Rapscallion
  23. 32"Sorry, do I know them?"
  24. 34Question from one smoker to another
  25. 37Salon supply
  26. 39Speedy driver, slangily
  27. 42Locker room emanations
  28. 44Friends in Cannes
  29. 47Something you do every day, say
  30. 48Sister outlet to Banana Republic
  31. 52Rotisserie rods
  32. 53Word with wine or city
  33. 54All-encompassing prefix?
  34. 552004's "___ Enchanted"
  35. 56Nickel or dime
  36. 57Elaborate trick
  37. 58Sought a seat
  38. 59Japanese sash
  39. 60When doubled, a chocolaty treat

The answer to “Perfect” in the New York Times crossword is IDEAL — a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on May 27, 2026, a Wednesday puzzle, at 17-Across. Other answers we've seen for this clue include HONE. Below you'll find why that fill fits, every other answer we've recorded for this clue, and links into the puzzle it came from.

“Perfect” answer

IDEAL (5 letters) — most recent; also seen as HONE

Reveal the solution one letter at a time with the tiles above if you'd rather nudge yourself toward it than see the whole word at once. Just want it outright? The answer is IDEAL.

Why the answer is IDEAL

Absolutely flawless, with nothing left to improve ✨

What does IDEAL mean?

Reading the plain dictionary sense of IDEAL is often the fastest way to see why it answers this clue.

(adjective)

  • satisfying one's conception of what is perfect; most suitable
  • existing only in the imagination; desirable or perfect but not likely to become a reality

Other answers for “Perfect”

New York Times has used this clue with more than one solution. Besides IDEAL, it has also been HONE. Every appearance we've indexed is listed below with the date it ran.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Perfect”?

The answer is IDEAL, a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on May 27, 2026. Other answers for this clue include HONE.

How many letters is the answer to “Perfect”?

5 letters: IDEAL. Earlier fills for this clue have also been HONE (4).

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the New York Times crossword on May 27, 2026 (a Wednesday puzzle), at 17-Across. Earlier appearances: October 9, 2025 → HONE.

Can “Perfect” have a different answer?

Yes. Besides IDEAL, New York Times has also used HONE for this clue. Every date and answer is listed above.

Where can I find the rest of this day's NYT Crossword answers?

The full grid for May 27, 2026 is on the NYT Crossword answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

New York Times Crossword is published by The New York Times; WordHint is an independent site and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the publisher.

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