Actress Thompson of "Selma"

Crossword Answer — May 16, 2025

Answer

NYT Crossword

Friday, May 16, 2025

By August Lee-Kovach

Tap a square to reveal a letter.

Or reveal one clue at a time with the Hint and Answer buttons below.

NYT Crossword Clues

Across

  1. 1One shooting for the stars?
  2. 10Carnival treat
  3. 15One-stop shopping spot
  4. 16Ancient Greek marketplace
  5. 17"Words fail me ..."
  6. 18___ Walcott, 1992 Literature Nobelist from St. Lucia
  7. 19The "1" of 3-1-4, say
  8. 20Stave (off)
  9. 21Place
  10. 22Second sight
  11. 23Who said "Where id is, there shall ego be"
  12. 25Chase, as some flies
  13. 27"You bet!"
  14. 29Cry from a captive
  15. 31Pool owner's problem
  16. 34Noted stratovolcano that last erupted in 1707-08
  17. 35___ Unseld, 1969 N.B.A. M.V.P.
  18. 36Mad scientist's creation
  19. 40Nonprofit grp. founded during W.W. II
  20. 41"Absolutamente!"
  21. 42"Roots" surname
  22. 43Decorative work with bricks
  23. 45Essential
  24. 47Like some stories and ships
  25. 48It might grab a bite to eat
  26. 50Capture ... or abandon
  27. 53Course finale
  28. 55Bias
  29. 56Bursting (with)
  30. 57Superfast puzzle solver, of a sort
  31. 58"Bravo, me!"
  32. 60Like a person getting a massage, usually
  33. 61Sarcastic reply when someone quotes "Star Trek"
  34. 62Given to fidgeting
  35. 63Big gain with no pain

Down

  1. 1Something said before a click
  2. 2River through Santa Fe National Forest
  3. 3Flabbergasted
  4. 4W.C.s
  5. 5Ballpark fig.
  6. 6Tennis's Graf
  7. 7Remains overhead, say
  8. 8She outwitted Sherlock in "A Scandal in Bohemia"
  9. 9Aid for a hypnotist
  10. 10Wee bits
  11. 11Certain hiring bias
  12. 12Announcer's call before a potential buzzer beater
  13. 13Unsigned athlete
  14. 14Its milk is a source of chhurpi (Nepalese cheese)
  15. 24___ vu
  16. 26"Check it out!"
  17. 27Soy : Spanish :: ___ : English:
  18. 28Actress Thompson of "Selma"
  19. 30Indications of passing time
  20. 31One whose voice is a muted trombone in "Peanuts"
  21. 32Tough draw
  22. 33It crawls around the web
  23. 34"Just so u know ..."
  24. 37Earth
  25. 38Radioactive element whose name is derived from the Greek for "unstable"
  26. 39Success in a game of Battleship
  27. 44Mary-Kate and Ashley
  28. 45They may grab a bite to eat
  29. 46Chaotic
  30. 49Top of a schedule, usually
  31. 50Only Catholic U.S. president besides J.F.K.
  32. 51Lit
  33. 52Cultural attraction in L.A., with "the"
  34. 54It's a long shot
  35. 56Move, informally
  36. 57Bookkeeper, for short
  37. 59Flee

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Across

  1. 1. One shooting for the stars? — Answer: SPACESHIP
  2. 10. Carnival treat — Answer: TAFFY
  3. 15. One-stop shopping spot — Answer: MEGASTORE
  4. 16. Ancient Greek marketplace — Answer: AGORA
  5. 17. "Words fail me ..." — Answer: ICANTEVEN
  6. 18. ___ Walcott, 1992 Literature Nobelist from St. Lucia — Answer: DEREK
  7. 19. The "1" of 3-1-4, say — Answer: LOSS
  8. 20. Stave (off) — Answer: FEND
  9. 21. Place — Answer: SITE
  10. 22. Second sight — Answer: ESP
  11. 23. Who said "Where id is, there shall ego be" — Answer: FREUD
  12. 25. Chase, as some flies — Answer: SHAG
  13. 27. "You bet!" — Answer: ITIS
  14. 29. Cry from a captive — Answer: LETMEGO
  15. 31. Pool owner's problem — Answer: ALGAE
  16. 34. Noted stratovolcano that last erupted in 1707-08 — Answer: FUJI
  17. 35. ___ Unseld, 1969 N.B.A. M.V.P. — Answer: WES
  18. 36. Mad scientist's creation — Answer: DOOMSDAYMACHINE
  19. 40. Nonprofit grp. founded during W.W. II — Answer: USO
  20. 41. "Absolutamente!" — Answer: SISI
  21. 42. "Roots" surname — Answer: KINTE
  22. 43. Decorative work with bricks — Answer: LEGOART
  23. 45. Essential — Answer: MUST
  24. 47. Like some stories and ships — Answer: TALL
  25. 48. It might grab a bite to eat — Answer: TALON
  26. 50. Capture ... or abandon — Answer: BAG
  27. 53. Course finale — Answer: TEST
  28. 55. Bias — Answer: TILT
  29. 56. Bursting (with) — Answer: RIFE
  30. 57. Superfast puzzle solver, of a sort — Answer: CUBER
  31. 58. "Bravo, me!" — Answer: INAILEDIT
  32. 60. Like a person getting a massage, usually — Answer: PRONE
  33. 61. Sarcastic reply when someone quotes "Star Trek" — Answer: NERDALERT
  34. 62. Given to fidgeting — Answer: ANTSY
  35. 63. Big gain with no pain — Answer: EASYMONEY

Down

  1. 1. Something said before a click — Answer: SMILE
  2. 2. River through Santa Fe National Forest — Answer: PECOS
  3. 3. Flabbergasted — Answer: AGASP
  4. 4. W.C.s — Answer: CANS
  5. 5. Ballpark fig. — Answer: EST. Hint: Think about the time zone often associated with the West Coast! 🕒
  6. 6. Tennis's Graf — Answer: STEFFI
  7. 7. Remains overhead, say — Answer: HOVERS
  8. 8. She outwitted Sherlock in "A Scandal in Bohemia" — Answer: IRENE
  9. 9. Aid for a hypnotist — Answer: PENDULUM
  10. 10. Wee bits — Answer: TADS
  11. 11. Certain hiring bias — Answer: AGEISM
  12. 12. Announcer's call before a potential buzzer beater — Answer: FORTHEWIN
  13. 13. Unsigned athlete — Answer: FREEAGENT
  14. 14. Its milk is a source of chhurpi (Nepalese cheese) — Answer: YAK
  15. 24. ___ vu — Answer: DEJA
  16. 26. "Check it out!" — Answer: GOSEE
  17. 27. Soy : Spanish :: ___ : English: — Answer: IAM
  18. 28. Actress Thompson of "Selma" — Answer: TESSA
  19. 30. Indications of passing time — Answer: TICKS
  20. 31. One whose voice is a muted trombone in "Peanuts" — Answer: ADULT
  21. 32. Tough draw — Answer: LOSEATURN
  22. 33. It crawls around the web — Answer: GOOGLEBOT
  23. 34. "Just so u know ..." — Answer: FYI
  24. 37. Earth — Answer: DIRT
  25. 38. Radioactive element whose name is derived from the Greek for "unstable" — Answer: ASTATINE
  26. 39. Success in a game of Battleship — Answer: HIT
  27. 44. Mary-Kate and Ashley — Answer: OLSENS
  28. 45. They may grab a bite to eat — Answer: MOLARS
  29. 46. Chaotic — Answer: UNTIDY
  30. 49. Top of a schedule, usually — Answer: LINEA
  31. 50. Only Catholic U.S. president besides J.F.K. — Answer: BIDEN
  32. 51. Lit — Answer: AFIRE
  33. 52. Cultural attraction in L.A., with "the" — Answer: GETTY
  34. 54. It's a long shot — Answer: TREY
  35. 56. Move, informally — Answer: RELO
  36. 57. Bookkeeper, for short — Answer: CPA
  37. 59. Flee — Answer: LAM

The answer to “Actress Thompson of "Selma"” in the New York Times crossword is TESSA — a 5-letter word. This clue ran in the New York Times crossword on May 16, 2025, a Friday puzzle, at 28-Down. If it's the entry standing between you and a clean grid, that's the word you need — and below you'll find why it fits, plus links to the day's other clues if more than one square is giving you trouble.

“Actress Thompson of "Selma"” answer

TESSA (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 TESSA.

Why the answer is TESSA

TESSA is the 5-letter solution that fits "Actress Thompson of "Selma"" in the NYT Crossword crossword on May 16, 2025 (28-Down). Use the letter tiles above if you'd rather reveal it one letter at a time.

When else has “Actress Thompson of "Selma"” 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 before, and what the answer was each time — handy if you landed here from a puzzle on another date.

May 16, 2025 (this puzzle) → TESSA. We haven't indexed an earlier appearance of this exact clue yet.

More clues from the NYT Crossword crossword on May 16, 2025

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 16, 2025 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 “Actress Thompson of "Selma"”?

The answer is TESSA, a 5-letter word. It appeared in the New York Times crossword on May 16, 2025.

How many letters is the answer to “Actress Thompson of "Selma"”?

5 letters: TESSA.

Where did this clue appear?

In the New York Times crossword on May 16, 2025 (a Friday puzzle), at 28-Down.

Can “Actress Thompson of "Selma"” 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 16, 2025 is on the NYT Crossword answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

NYT Crossword Answers NYT Mini Crossword Answers NYT Crossword Answers — May 16 Wordle Hint Today Connections Hint Today Strands Hint Today Quordle Hint Today Contexto Hint Today Spotle Hint Today Pips Hint Today Jumble Answers Today 7 Little Words Answers