NYT Crossword Clues & Answers - May 1

Friday, May 01, 2026

By Rena Cohen

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NYT Crossword Clues

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

Here are the NYT Crossword answers for Friday, May 1, 2026 — 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 1?” 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 1, 2026

The full solution for the May 1 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 Friday, May 1.

Hints for the May 1 puzzle

Not ready for the full answer? Here are lighter, spoiler-free nudges for that day's grid, above the solutions. The May 1 puzzle fell on a Friday, 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 Friday 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?

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Frequently asked questions

What were the NYT Crossword answers on May 1, 2026?

Every answer for the Friday, May 1, 2026 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.