NYT Crossword Answers - May 21

By Ilana Levene and Scott Hogan

C
H
I
P
E
M
M
A
S
H
A
R
D
D
U
N
E
L
O
A
N
P
A
L
E
O
C
H
E
E
S
E
D
O
G
L
I
T
H
E
S
L
I
V
E
R
F
U
R
I
E
S
P
V
C
D
E
L
I
V
E
R
Y
M
A
N
P
O
R
T
E
N
T
E
R
G
A
R
T
S
L
O
G
M
E
M
E
S
T
W
I
S
T
E
D
S
I
S
T
E
R
F
I
R
S
T
A
X
E
S
F
E
N
C
I
A
S
T
A
R
T
L
E
B
L
O
C
K
B
U
S
T
E
R
E
Y
E
I
N
T
U
N
E
L
O
N
G
E
R
L
I
B
R
E
W
I
L
D
H
O
N
E
Y
A
N
A
I
S
O
M
I
T
N
A
M
E
B
O
D
E
S
W
E
D
O
S
L
O
T

Across

  1. 1Word with chocolate or computerCHIP
  2. 5Thompson or Stone of 2021's "Cruella"EMMA
  3. 9FragmentSHARD
  4. 14Sci-fi novel with giant sandwormsDUNE
  5. 15Help for a faltering businessLOAN
  6. 16Type of hunter-gatherer dietPALEO
  7. 17"Smile for the photo, dude!"CHEESEDOG
  8. 19Able to bend smoothlyLITHE
  9. 20FragmentSLIVER
  10. 21Mythological instruments of vengeanceFURIES
  11. 22Contractor's pipe material, for shortPVC
  12. 24"Work on your enunciation, bro!"DELIVERYMAN
  13. 26OmenPORTENT
  14. 28Little bit of workERG
  15. 29"The most beautiful deception of all," per DebussyART
  16. 30Tedious workSLOG
  17. 31Much social media humorMEMES
  18. 33"That is messed up, girl!"TWISTEDSISTER
  19. 39___ and foremostFIRST
  20. 40Origin crossersAXES
  21. 42MarshlandFEN
  22. 45Org. whose officers train at Camp PearyCIA
  23. 46Cause to jump, saySTARTLE
  24. 49"Protect the quarterback, buddy!"BLOCKBUSTER
  25. 52Pupil's placeEYE
  26. 53Best way to singINTUNE
  27. 54What "sostenuto" means in musicLONGER
  28. 56Cuba ___ (drink)LIBRE
  29. 57"That's unbelievable, love!"WILDHONEY
  30. 60Diarist NinANAIS
  31. 61Leave outOMIT
  32. 62FingerNAME
  33. 63Seems to point toBODES
  34. 64"Damned if ___ ..."WEDO
  35. 65Put on a scheduleSLOT

Down

  1. 1Atlanta-based govt. agencyCDC
  2. 2"Come again?"HUH
  3. 3How some funds are heldINESCROW
  4. 4What old paint might doPEEL
  5. 5Smallest three-syllable numberELEVEN
  6. 6Tin lizzieMODELT
  7. 7Language in which "Kia ora" means "Hello"MAORI
  8. 8Director LeeANG
  9. 9Goes for the expensive option, saySPLURGES
  10. 10Sticky, as a situationHAIRY
  11. 11Nissan sedanALTIMA
  12. 12Try againREHEAR
  13. 13"That ___ ring a bell"DOESNT
  14. 18One of two on a recordSIDE
  15. 21Physicist EnricoFERMI
  16. 22Afterthought's afterthought: Abbr.PPS
  17. 23Plug-in ChevyVOLT
  18. 25Geese formationsVEES
  19. 27Cry near quittin' timeTGIF
  20. 31Colorado summer hrs.MDT
  21. 32Classic cookie cutter shapeSTAR
  22. 34Something feigned by Ferris Bueller to get out of schoolSICKNESS
  23. 35Shoshone, e.g.TRIBE
  24. 36Biblical birthright bartererESAU
  25. 37Not from withinEXTERNAL
  26. 38Depend (on)RELY
  27. 41"Get it?"SEE
  28. 42Forensics HQ in Quantico, Va.FBILAB
  29. 43Cause of some turbulent weatherELNINO
  30. 44"That's halfway decent!"NOTBAD
  31. 46Like a good poker faceSTOLID
  32. 47Look afterTENDTO
  33. 48Cry of frustrationARGH
  34. 50Marie who is the only person to win a Nobel Prize in two different science fieldsCURIE
  35. 51Ectoplasmic residueSLIME
  36. 55Many agesEONS
  37. 57"Mind. Blown."WOW
  38. 58Brooding music genreEMO
  39. 59So farYET

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Across

  1. 1. Word with chocolate or computer — Answer: CHIP
  2. 5. Thompson or Stone of 2021's "Cruella" — Answer: EMMA
  3. 9. Fragment — Answer: SHARD
  4. 14. Sci-fi novel with giant sandworms — Answer: DUNE
  5. 15. Help for a faltering business — Answer: LOAN
  6. 16. Type of hunter-gatherer diet — Answer: PALEO
  7. 17. "Smile for the photo, dude!" — Answer: CHEESEDOG
  8. 19. Able to bend smoothly — Answer: LITHE
  9. 20. Fragment — Answer: SLIVER
  10. 21. Mythological instruments of vengeance — Answer: FURIES
  11. 22. Contractor's pipe material, for short — Answer: PVC
  12. 24. "Work on your enunciation, bro!" — Answer: DELIVERYMAN
  13. 26. Omen — Answer: PORTENT
  14. 28. Little bit of work — Answer: ERG
  15. 29. "The most beautiful deception of all," per Debussy — Answer: ART
  16. 30. Tedious work — Answer: SLOG
  17. 31. Much social media humor — Answer: MEMES
  18. 33. "That is messed up, girl!" — Answer: TWISTEDSISTER
  19. 39. ___ and foremost — Answer: FIRST
  20. 40. Origin crossers — Answer: AXES
  21. 42. Marshland — Answer: FEN
  22. 45. Org. whose officers train at Camp Peary — Answer: CIA
  23. 46. Cause to jump, say — Answer: STARTLE
  24. 49. "Protect the quarterback, buddy!" — Answer: BLOCKBUSTER
  25. 52. Pupil's place — Answer: EYE
  26. 53. Best way to sing — Answer: INTUNE
  27. 54. What "sostenuto" means in music — Answer: LONGER
  28. 56. Cuba ___ (drink) — Answer: LIBRE
  29. 57. "That's unbelievable, love!" — Answer: WILDHONEY
  30. 60. Diarist Nin — Answer: ANAIS
  31. 61. Leave out — Answer: OMIT. Hint: Sometimes it's best to skip something entirely! ✂️
  32. 62. Finger — Answer: NAME
  33. 63. Seems to point to — Answer: BODES
  34. 64. "Damned if ___ ..." — Answer: WEDO
  35. 65. Put on a schedule — Answer: SLOT

Down

  1. 1. Atlanta-based govt. agency — Answer: CDC
  2. 2. "Come again?" — Answer: HUH
  3. 3. How some funds are held — Answer: INESCROW
  4. 4. What old paint might do — Answer: PEEL
  5. 5. Smallest three-syllable number — Answer: ELEVEN
  6. 6. Tin lizzie — Answer: MODELT
  7. 7. Language in which "Kia ora" means "Hello" — Answer: MAORI
  8. 8. Director Lee — Answer: ANG. Hint: This filmmaker directed Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. 🎬
  9. 9. Goes for the expensive option, say — Answer: SPLURGES
  10. 10. Sticky, as a situation — Answer: HAIRY
  11. 11. Nissan sedan — Answer: ALTIMA
  12. 12. Try again — Answer: REHEAR
  13. 13. "That ___ ring a bell" — Answer: DOESNT
  14. 18. One of two on a record — Answer: SIDE
  15. 21. Physicist Enrico — Answer: FERMI
  16. 22. Afterthought's afterthought: Abbr. — Answer: PPS
  17. 23. Plug-in Chevy — Answer: VOLT
  18. 25. Geese formations — Answer: VEES
  19. 27. Cry near quittin' time — Answer: TGIF
  20. 31. Colorado summer hrs. — Answer: MDT
  21. 32. Classic cookie cutter shape — Answer: STAR
  22. 34. Something feigned by Ferris Bueller to get out of school — Answer: SICKNESS
  23. 35. Shoshone, e.g. — Answer: TRIBE
  24. 36. Biblical birthright barterer — Answer: ESAU
  25. 37. Not from within — Answer: EXTERNAL
  26. 38. Depend (on) — Answer: RELY. Hint: Count on someone or something to come through when you need it most 🤝
  27. 41. "Get it?" — Answer: SEE
  28. 42. Forensics HQ in Quantico, Va. — Answer: FBILAB
  29. 43. Cause of some turbulent weather — Answer: ELNINO
  30. 44. "That's halfway decent!" — Answer: NOTBAD
  31. 46. Like a good poker face — Answer: STOLID
  32. 47. Look after — Answer: TENDTO
  33. 48. Cry of frustration — Answer: ARGH
  34. 50. Marie who is the only person to win a Nobel Prize in two different science fields — Answer: CURIE
  35. 51. Ectoplasmic residue — Answer: SLIME
  36. 55. Many ages — Answer: EONS
  37. 57. "Mind. Blown." — Answer: WOW
  38. 58. Brooding music genre — Answer: EMO
  39. 59. So far — Answer: YET. Hint: Up to this point, but the story isn’t over yet 😉

Recent NYT Crossword Answers

The last 7 days of solutions

NYT Crossword 20 May 2025NYT Crossword 19 May 2025NYT Crossword 18 May 2025NYT Crossword 17 May 2025NYT Crossword 16 May 2025NYT Crossword 15 May 2025NYT Crossword 14 May 2025

Here are the NYT Crossword answers for Wednesday, May 21, 2025 — every solution for that day's 15×15 (21×21 on Sunday) puzzle, listed at the top of this page. Whether you're catching up on a puzzle you missed, settling a “what was the answer on May 21?” question, or checking a grid you finished that day, the complete clue-by-clue solution is right here. Looking for today's puzzle instead? Head to our live NYT Crossword answers page.

NYT Crossword answers for May 21, 2025

The full solution for the May 21 NYT Crossword is shown above, laid out clue by clue — every Across answer followed by every Down answer, exactly as that day's grid read. Each answer is listed separately, so you can check just the clue you were stuck on and leave the rest. This is the confirmed grid as published on Wednesday, May 21.

Full NYT Crossword answer list for May 21, 2025

Every clue from the May 21 grid next to its solution — the same answers as the board above, in one plain list you can scan without tapping.

Across

#ClueAnswer
1Word with chocolate or computerCHIP
5Thompson or Stone of 2021's "Cruella"EMMA
9FragmentSHARD
14Sci-fi novel with giant sandwormsDUNE
15Help for a faltering businessLOAN
16Type of hunter-gatherer dietPALEO
17"Smile for the photo, dude!"CHEESEDOG
19Able to bend smoothlyLITHE
20FragmentSLIVER
21Mythological instruments of vengeanceFURIES
22Contractor's pipe material, for shortPVC
24"Work on your enunciation, bro!"DELIVERYMAN
26OmenPORTENT
28Little bit of workERG
29"The most beautiful deception of all," per DebussyART
30Tedious workSLOG
31Much social media humorMEMES
33"That is messed up, girl!"TWISTEDSISTER
39___ and foremostFIRST
40Origin crossersAXES
42MarshlandFEN
45Org. whose officers train at Camp PearyCIA
46Cause to jump, saySTARTLE
49"Protect the quarterback, buddy!"BLOCKBUSTER
52Pupil's placeEYE
53Best way to singINTUNE
54What "sostenuto" means in musicLONGER
56Cuba ___ (drink)LIBRE
57"That's unbelievable, love!"WILDHONEY
60Diarist NinANAIS
61Leave outOMIT
62FingerNAME
63Seems to point toBODES
64"Damned if ___ ..."WEDO
65Put on a scheduleSLOT

Down

#ClueAnswer
1Atlanta-based govt. agencyCDC
2"Come again?"HUH
3How some funds are heldINESCROW
4What old paint might doPEEL
5Smallest three-syllable numberELEVEN
6Tin lizzieMODELT
7Language in which "Kia ora" means "Hello"MAORI
8Director LeeANG
9Goes for the expensive option, saySPLURGES
10Sticky, as a situationHAIRY
11Nissan sedanALTIMA
12Try againREHEAR
13"That ___ ring a bell"DOESNT
18One of two on a recordSIDE
21Physicist EnricoFERMI
22Afterthought's afterthought: Abbr.PPS
23Plug-in ChevyVOLT
25Geese formationsVEES
27Cry near quittin' timeTGIF
31Colorado summer hrs.MDT
32Classic cookie cutter shapeSTAR
34Something feigned by Ferris Bueller to get out of schoolSICKNESS
35Shoshone, e.g.TRIBE
36Biblical birthright bartererESAU
37Not from withinEXTERNAL
38Depend (on)RELY
41"Get it?"SEE
42Forensics HQ in Quantico, Va.FBILAB
43Cause of some turbulent weatherELNINO
44"That's halfway decent!"NOTBAD
46Like a good poker faceSTOLID
47Look afterTENDTO
48Cry of frustrationARGH
50Marie who is the only person to win a Nobel Prize in two different science fieldsCURIE
51Ectoplasmic residueSLIME
55Many agesEONS
57"Mind. Blown."WOW
58Brooding music genreEMO
59So farYET

Hints for the May 21 puzzle

Not ready for the full answer? Here are lighter, spoiler-free nudges for that day's grid, above the solutions. The May 21 puzzle fell on a Wednesday, and with the New York Times crossword that matters: the grid gets harder as the week goes on, from an easy Monday to a fiendish Saturday, with a large themed puzzle on Sunday. So a Wednesday grid tells you how much misdirection to expect — and if a clue that day seemed to make no sense, the weekday is usually the reason. Use the hints for the trickiest clues, then reveal the answers above only if you need them.

Looking for a different day?

Prefer to solve rather than peek? The play button opens the puzzle so you can try that day's grid yourself, then come back to check your answers. Stuck on a single clue from any puzzle, our crossword solver reveals just that answer from your known letters.

Frequently asked questions

What were the NYT Crossword answers on May 21, 2025?

Every answer for the Wednesday, May 21, 2025 NYT Crossword is listed at the top of this page — the confirmed grid as published that day.

Where can I find today's NYT Crossword answers?

Today's live puzzle is on our NYT Crossword answers today page, updated the moment each new grid goes live.

How do I look up a different date?

Use the previous/next links above to step day by day, or open the today page to browse the full dated archive.

NYT Mini Crossword Answers Wordle Hint Today Connections Hint Today Strands Hint Today Quordle Hint Today Contexto Hint Today Spotle Hint Today Minute Cryptic Answer Today Pips Hint Today Jumble Answers Today 7 Little Words Answers 4 Little Words Answers