NYT Crossword Clues & Answers - May 2

Saturday, May 02, 2026

By Hannah Slovut-Einertson

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NYT Crossword Clues

Across

  1. 1Extremely ambitious projects
  2. 10Lifeless
  3. 14Bare
  4. 15Like the Asian elephant vis-à-vis the African elephant
  5. 17Handle in a theater
  6. 18Women's Basketball Hall-of-Famer ___ Beard
  7. 19Rests (on)
  8. 20Harshest punishment a website can give
  9. 22Hypnotized
  10. 23"Don't look!"
  11. 24Walk like a rhino
  12. 25Follower of box or bumper
  13. 26Drops while running, say
  14. 27___ Marzano tomato
  15. 28"Alice in Zombieland" author ___ Showalter
  16. 29Giraffes lack them (they have ossicones)
  17. 30Summer camp competitions for which teammates dress similarly
  18. 32Soft rock
  19. 34Minty candy brand
  20. 35One wrapping up a meal before eating anything?
  21. 38When tripled, a response from Hamlet to Polonius
  22. 39Winning X or O
  23. 40Common parade sight
  24. 41It's here today, but might be gone tomorrow
  25. 43Rounded up?
  26. 44"Me first ..."
  27. 45Establishment that might have a "buck-a-shuck" promotion
  28. 46Actress Donovan of "Sabrina the Teenage Witch"
  29. 47Sign on a convenience store window
  30. 49Rotisserie-roasted Turkish dish
  31. 50Flip
  32. 51Joins a union?
  33. 52"Moving on ..."

Down

  1. 1Composite numbers?
  2. 21994 compilation album for the Red Hot Chili Peppers
  3. 3How an annoying conversation might go
  4. 4Rode, in a way
  5. 5Be in a decision-making position
  6. 6"Mulan" antagonists
  7. 7"How We Do (Party)" singer Rita
  8. 8Disappearing ink?
  9. 9Be out
  10. 10Supporting structure
  11. 11Three-peating N.B.A. champs from 2000 to '02
  12. 12Preceder of Sea or horse
  13. 13Residents without a title
  14. 16Buzzed
  15. 21Pass along, online
  16. 23iPod model
  17. 25Heavenly-sounding instrument also known as a bell-piano
  18. 28Symbols of success
  19. 30Touched lovingly
  20. 31Traditional gift for a fifth anniversary
  21. 32Put up with
  22. 33Call it!
  23. 35Little girl, in Italian
  24. 36Brand whose name doubles as instructions for its product
  25. 37Formal speech
  26. 40Cutting tool with an arch
  27. 41Told a tale
  28. 42Hand grenades, informally
  29. 43"Full House" father
  30. 45Film director Johnson
  31. 48Credential for many a C.E.O.

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Across

  1. 1. Extremely ambitious projects — Answer: MOONSHOTS
  2. 10. Lifeless — Answer: FLAT
  3. 14. Bare — Answer: AUNATUREL
  4. 15. Like the Asian elephant vis-à-vis the African elephant — Answer: RARER
  5. 17. Handle in a theater — Answer: STAGENAME
  6. 18. Women's Basketball Hall-of-Famer ___ Beard — Answer: ALANA
  7. 19. Rests (on) — Answer: HINGES
  8. 20. Harshest punishment a website can give — Answer: PERMABAN
  9. 22. Hypnotized — Answer: UNDER
  10. 23. "Don't look!" — Answer: NOPEEKING
  11. 24. Walk like a rhino — Answer: PLOD
  12. 25. Follower of box or bumper — Answer: CAR
  13. 26. Drops while running, say — Answer: SWEAT
  14. 27. ___ Marzano tomato — Answer: SAN
  15. 28. "Alice in Zombieland" author ___ Showalter — Answer: GENA
  16. 29. Giraffes lack them (they have ossicones) — Answer: HORNS
  17. 30. Summer camp competitions for which teammates dress similarly — Answer: COLORWARS
  18. 32. Soft rock — Answer: SHALE
  19. 34. Minty candy brand — Answer: YORK
  20. 35. One wrapping up a meal before eating anything? — Answer: BOA
  21. 38. When tripled, a response from Hamlet to Polonius — Answer: WORDS
  22. 39. Winning X or O — Answer: TOE
  23. 40. Common parade sight — Answer: BAND
  24. 41. It's here today, but might be gone tomorrow — Answer: LATESTFAD
  25. 43. Rounded up? — Answer: DOMED
  26. 44. "Me first ..." — Answer: ILLSTART
  27. 45. Establishment that might have a "buck-a-shuck" promotion — Answer: RAWBAR
  28. 46. Actress Donovan of "Sabrina the Teenage Witch" — Answer: ELISA
  29. 47. Sign on a convenience store window — Answer: ATMINSIDE
  30. 49. Rotisserie-roasted Turkish dish — Answer: DONER
  31. 50. Flip — Answer: GOBANANAS
  32. 51. Joins a union? — Answer: WEDS
  33. 52. "Moving on ..." — Answer: SOANYWAYS

Down

  1. 1. Composite numbers? — Answer: MASHUPS
  2. 2. 1994 compilation album for the Red Hot Chili Peppers — Answer: OUTINLA
  3. 3. How an annoying conversation might go — Answer: ONANDON
  4. 4. Rode, in a way — Answer: NAGGED
  5. 5. Be in a decision-making position — Answer: STEER
  6. 6. "Mulan" antagonists — Answer: HUNS
  7. 7. "How We Do (Party)" singer Rita — Answer: ORA
  8. 8. Disappearing ink? — Answer: TEMPORARYTATTOO
  9. 9. Be out — Answer: SLEEP
  10. 10. Supporting structure — Answer: FRAMEWORK
  11. 11. Three-peating N.B.A. champs from 2000 to '02 — Answer: LALAKERS
  12. 12. Preceder of Sea or horse — Answer: ARABIAN
  13. 13. Residents without a title — Answer: TENANTS
  14. 16. Buzzed — Answer: RANG
  15. 21. Pass along, online — Answer: RESHARE
  16. 23. iPod model — Answer: NANO
  17. 25. Heavenly-sounding instrument also known as a bell-piano — Answer: CELESTA
  18. 28. Symbols of success — Answer: GOLDSTARS
  19. 30. Touched lovingly — Answer: CARESSED
  20. 31. Traditional gift for a fifth anniversary — Answer: WOOD
  21. 32. Put up with — Answer: SWALLOW
  22. 33. Call it! — Answer: HOTLINE
  23. 35. Little girl, in Italian — Answer: BAMBINA
  24. 36. Brand whose name doubles as instructions for its product — Answer: ONEADAY
  25. 37. Formal speech — Answer: ADDRESS
  26. 40. Cutting tool with an arch — Answer: BOWSAW
  27. 41. Told a tale — Answer: LIED
  28. 42. Hand grenades, informally — Answer: FRAGS
  29. 43. "Full House" father — Answer: DANNY
  30. 45. Film director Johnson — Answer: RIAN
  31. 48. Credential for many a C.E.O. — Answer: MBA

Here are the NYT Crossword answers for Saturday, May 2, 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 2?” 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 2, 2026

The full solution for the May 2 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 Saturday, May 2.

Hints for the May 2 puzzle

Not ready for the full answer? Here are lighter, spoiler-free nudges for that day's grid, above the solutions. The May 2 puzzle fell on a Saturday, 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 Saturday 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 2, 2026?

Every answer for the Saturday, May 2, 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.