Philosopher who championed simple explanations

Latest answer — May 01, 2026

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NYT Crossword

This clue's Friday, May 01, 2026 appearance

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Across

  1. 1Sticks in locks
  2. 5Philosopher who championed simple explanations
  3. 10CAT or PET follower
  4. 14Element between fluorine and sodium
  5. 15Spongy exfoliator
  6. 16Body-sculpting procedure, informally
  7. 17Animals whose Aztec name translates to "turtle-rabbit"
  8. 19Talks and talks
  9. 20Prepare, in military slang
  10. 22It may be bitter
  11. 23Some winds
  12. 24Holiday that's also a Hebrew letter
  13. 25"WandaVision" co-star Elizabeth ___
  14. 27Baguettes, e.g.
  15. 28Sign of canine contentment
  16. 29Rests on one's laurels
  17. 30Storybook, say
  18. 32Announcements before giveaways?
  19. 35Like some romantic resorts
  20. 36Voids
  21. 37Authorizes
  22. 38Satellite alternative
  23. 42Retinue
  24. 43Combat sport, for short
  25. 44Company whose name comes from a term in the board game Go
  26. 45Word with thou
  27. 46A craving for snacks
  28. 49Dutch for "farmer"
  29. 51Eliminates entirely
  30. 52Skulk in the shadows
  31. 53Myosin's partner protein
  32. 54Scruff : cat :: ___ : human
  33. 55Big name in petrol
  34. 56Angle variable, in math
  35. 57ENE and WSW

Down

  1. 1Bump's place, idiomatically
  2. 2Oxygen-dependent micro-organism
  3. 3"Crazy Rich Asians," for one
  4. 4Backstabbers
  5. 5"Hunters" actress Lena
  6. 6Uncontroversial opinions
  7. 7Dorm buddy
  8. 8Underway
  9. 9Dough in tamales
  10. 10Foxy
  11. 11Plant overseas, perhaps
  12. 12Devices that come with Siri Remotes
  13. 13What a babbler makes
  14. 18Court figs.
  15. 21"Tom ___" (classic folk song that became a #1 hit in 1958)
  16. 26Place to hibernate
  17. 28Home of Swansea and Wrexham
  18. 29There are approximately 30 trillion of these in the human body
  19. 30Gluten-free grain
  20. 31Annual F.D.I.C. requirement
  21. 32Deep and full
  22. 33Lovers of homophones, say
  23. 34Impressive work
  24. 35Adjective that's synonymous with its last four letters
  25. 38Convenient
  26. 39Tiki bar staple
  27. 40What positive news coverage is for business
  28. 41Section of a dress shop
  29. 43Swag
  30. 44U.N.C.'s athletic org.
  31. 47Part of a race
  32. 48"Project Runway" judge Garcia
  33. 50"King Kong" studio

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Across

  1. 1. Sticks in locks — Answer: OARS
  2. 5. Philosopher who championed simple explanations — Answer: OCCAM
  3. 10. CAT or PET follower — Answer: SCAN
  4. 14. Element between fluorine and sodium — Answer: NEON
  5. 15. Spongy exfoliator — Answer: LOOFA
  6. 16. Body-sculpting procedure, informally — Answer: LIPO
  7. 17. Animals whose Aztec name translates to "turtle-rabbit" — Answer: ARMADILLOS
  8. 19. Talks and talks — Answer: YAPS
  9. 20. Prepare, in military slang — Answer: LOCKANDLOAD
  10. 22. It may be bitter — Answer: ALE
  11. 23. Some winds — Answer: OBOES
  12. 24. Holiday that's also a Hebrew letter — Answer: TET
  13. 25. "WandaVision" co-star Elizabeth ___ — Answer: OLSEN
  14. 27. Baguettes, e.g. — Answer: GEMS
  15. 28. Sign of canine contentment — Answer: WAG
  16. 29. Rests on one's laurels — Answer: COASTS
  17. 30. Storybook, say — Answer: MAKEBELIEVE
  18. 32. Announcements before giveaways? — Answer: SPOILERALERTS
  19. 35. Like some romantic resorts — Answer: COUPLESONLY
  20. 36. Voids — Answer: ANNULS
  21. 37. Authorizes — Answer: OKS
  22. 38. Satellite alternative — Answer: AMFM
  23. 42. Retinue — Answer: POSSE
  24. 43. Combat sport, for short — Answer: MMA
  25. 44. Company whose name comes from a term in the board game Go — Answer: ATARI
  26. 45. Word with thou — Answer: ART
  27. 46. A craving for snacks — Answer: THEMUNCHIES
  28. 49. Dutch for "farmer" — Answer: BOER
  29. 51. Eliminates entirely — Answer: ERADICATES
  30. 52. Skulk in the shadows — Answer: LURK
  31. 53. Myosin's partner protein — Answer: ACTIN
  32. 54. Scruff : cat :: ___ : human — Answer: NAPE
  33. 55. Big name in petrol — Answer: ESSO
  34. 56. Angle variable, in math — Answer: THETA
  35. 57. ENE and WSW — Answer: DIRS

Down

  1. 1. Bump's place, idiomatically — Answer: ONALOG
  2. 2. Oxygen-dependent micro-organism — Answer: AEROBE
  3. 3. "Crazy Rich Asians," for one — Answer: ROMCOM
  4. 4. Backstabbers — Answer: SNAKES
  5. 5. "Hunters" actress Lena — Answer: OLIN
  6. 6. Uncontroversial opinions — Answer: COLDTAKES
  7. 7. Dorm buddy — Answer: COLLEGEROOMMATE
  8. 8. Underway — Answer: AFOOT
  9. 9. Dough in tamales — Answer: MASA
  10. 10. Foxy — Answer: SLY
  11. 11. Plant overseas, perhaps — Answer: CIAASSET
  12. 12. Devices that come with Siri Remotes — Answer: APPLETVS
  13. 13. What a babbler makes — Answer: NOSENSE
  14. 18. Court figs. — Answer: DAS
  15. 21. "Tom ___" (classic folk song that became a #1 hit in 1958) — Answer: DOOLEY
  16. 26. Place to hibernate — Answer: LAIR
  17. 28. Home of Swansea and Wrexham — Answer: WALES
  18. 29. There are approximately 30 trillion of these in the human body — Answer: CELLS
  19. 30. Gluten-free grain — Answer: MILLET
  20. 31. Annual F.D.I.C. requirement — Answer: BANKAUDIT
  21. 32. Deep and full — Answer: SONOROUS
  22. 33. Lovers of homophones, say — Answer: PUNSTERS
  23. 34. Impressive work — Answer: OPUS
  24. 35. Adjective that's synonymous with its last four letters — Answer: CAPABLE
  25. 38. Convenient — Answer: ATHAND
  26. 39. Tiki bar staple — Answer: MAITAI
  27. 40. What positive news coverage is for business — Answer: FREEPR
  28. 41. Section of a dress shop — Answer: MISSES
  29. 43. Swag — Answer: MERCH
  30. 44. U.N.C.'s athletic org. — Answer: ACC
  31. 47. Part of a race — Answer: HEAT
  32. 48. "Project Runway" judge Garcia — Answer: NINA
  33. 50. "King Kong" studio — Answer: RKO

Recent NYT Crossword Answers

The last 7 days of solutions

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The answer to “Philosopher who championed simple explanations” in the New York Times crossword is OCCAM — a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on May 1, 2026, a Friday puzzle, at 5-Across. 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.

“Philosopher who championed simple explanations” answer

OCCAM (5 letters)

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 OCCAM.

Why the answer is OCCAM

OCCAM is the 5-letter solution that fits "Philosopher who championed simple explanations" in the NYT Crossword crossword on May 1, 2026 (5-Across). Use the letter tiles above if you'd rather reveal it one letter at a time.

When else has “Philosopher who championed simple explanations” appeared?

New York Times reuses clues across dates, sometimes with a different answer depending on the grid. Here's where this exact clue has shown up, and what the answer was each time — handy when you're checking whether today's fill is the only one.

May 1, 2026 (most recent) → OCCAM. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

More clues from the NYT Crossword on May 1, 2026

Stuck elsewhere in the grid? Here are some of the crossing and nearby clues from the same puzzle — tap any for its answer and explanation.

Want every clue in one place? The full New York Times answer list for May 1, 2026 is on that day's grid page, and today's live NYT Crossword answers are always one tap from the today page.

About the NYT Crossword

The New York Times crossword, edited by Will Shortz, is the most famous daily puzzle in the United States. It runs a 15×15 grid Monday through Saturday and a larger 21×21 grid on Sunday, and its difficulty deliberately ramps through the week: Monday is the most approachable, Saturday the toughest, with Thursday often reserved for a trick or twist like rebus squares. This page covers a Friday puzzle. A straight-definition entry is the kind of solid mid-grid answer that anchors the trickier crossings around it. Because the NYT reuses short, crossing-friendly words regularly, seeing them once makes them easier to spot next time.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Philosopher who championed simple explanations”?

The answer is OCCAM, a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on May 1, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Philosopher who championed simple explanations”?

5 letters: OCCAM.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the New York Times crossword on May 1, 2026 (a Friday puzzle), at 5-Across.

Can “Philosopher who championed simple explanations” have a different answer?

Yes — New York Times sometimes reuses a clue with a different solution to fit the grid. The answers we've recorded for each date it appeared are listed above when available.

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

The full grid for May 1, 2026 is on the NYT Crossword answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

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