NYT Crossword Clues & Answers - May 22

Friday, May 22, 2026

By Gene Louise De Vera

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NYT Crossword Clues

Across

  1. 1Guns, so to speak
  2. 7Prefix with American
  3. 11Charcuterie spread
  4. 15Footnote phrase
  5. 16Sherwood, e.g.
  6. 18Qualifier to an embarrassing question
  7. 20Location for some osteoarthritis
  8. 21___-Saint-Michel (French commune on a tidal island)
  9. 22Saps
  10. 23Sign of desperation
  11. 24Consider as one's residence
  12. 27Mrs. Addams, to Mr. Addams
  13. 29Val who played Iceman in "Top Gun"
  14. 30Guimarães greeting
  15. 33"Neato!"
  16. 35"Brooklyn Nine-Nine" character ___ Linetti
  17. 36Genre for Blackpink and Twice
  18. 37Counteract negativity using lavish generosity
  19. 40Former boy band with the members Harry, Liam, Louis, Niall and Zayn, familiarly
  20. 41Bit of marginalia
  21. 42Dealt with
  22. 43Weight plate units: Abbr.
  23. 44Place to get "pawmpered," say
  24. 46Case for military police
  25. 47Like the Millennium Problems of the Clay Mathematics Institute
  26. 49Suffix with peace but not war
  27. 51Philosopher William of ___
  28. 55Product for manscaping
  29. 56Assuming that
  30. 57More sizzle than steak
  31. 61Infamous chess trap that ends the game in two moves
  32. 62Contents of a kitchen rack
  33. 63Bump on a lid
  34. 64Thin board
  35. 65What some streakers are charged with?

Down

  1. 1Woodpeckers' peckers
  2. 2"Really, my pleasure"
  3. 3"Sticky" birthday treats?
  4. 4Tahari or Saab of fashion
  5. 5Blame (on)
  6. 6Symbol used in summation
  7. 7Classical piece said to be the inspiration for Chopin's "Fantaisie-Impromptu"
  8. 8Kepler-22b or Kepler-186f, e.g.
  9. 9Calypso cousin
  10. 10Flat, say
  11. 11Zest
  12. 12Highlight ___
  13. 13___ fussy (can be very flexible)
  14. 14Some airport data, in brief
  15. 17Carnivora or Lagomorpha
  16. 19Word with rock or medicine
  17. 24When doubled, a fluffy Chinese dog
  18. 25Hilton competitor
  19. 26Is
  20. 28Went (for)
  21. 30Workplace with few barriers
  22. 31Became tarnished
  23. 32Lhasa ___
  24. 33"I heard you the first time! Geez!"
  25. 34Wrapping material in mummification
  26. 36Had no doubt
  27. 38Deep-fried side dish, familiarly
  28. 39Unexciting, as a party
  29. 44Catamounts
  30. 45Like some readers
  31. 48Young's partner in accounting
  32. 50Rich soil deposit
  33. 51Saps
  34. 52Stop the bleeding, say
  35. 53Sicken with sweetness
  36. 54Fit
  37. 56Sacred bird to the Egyptians
  38. 58Info on Zillow: Abbr.
  39. 59___-El (Superman)
  40. 60Shout at a Greek wedding

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Across

  1. 1. Guns, so to speak — Answer: BICEPS
  2. 7. Prefix with American — Answer: MESO
  3. 11. Charcuterie spread — Answer: BRIE
  4. 15. Footnote phrase — Answer: ETALII
  5. 16. Sherwood, e.g. — Answer: OAKFOREST
  6. 18. Qualifier to an embarrassing question — Answer: ASKINGFORAFRIEND
  7. 20. Location for some osteoarthritis — Answer: KNEE
  8. 21. ___-Saint-Michel (French commune on a tidal island) — Answer: MONT
  9. 22. Saps — Answer: DOLTS
  10. 23. Sign of desperation — Answer: SOS
  11. 24. Consider as one's residence — Answer: CALLHOME
  12. 27. Mrs. Addams, to Mr. Addams — Answer: TISH
  13. 29. Val who played Iceman in "Top Gun" — Answer: KILMER
  14. 30. Guimarães greeting — Answer: OLA
  15. 33. "Neato!" — Answer: OHCOOL
  16. 35. "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" character ___ Linetti — Answer: GINA
  17. 36. Genre for Blackpink and Twice — Answer: KPOP
  18. 37. Counteract negativity using lavish generosity — Answer: KILLWITHKINDNESS
  19. 40. Former boy band with the members Harry, Liam, Louis, Niall and Zayn, familiarly — Answer: ONED
  20. 41. Bit of marginalia — Answer: NOTE
  21. 42. Dealt with — Answer: SEENTO
  22. 43. Weight plate units: Abbr. — Answer: KGS
  23. 44. Place to get "pawmpered," say — Answer: PETSPA
  24. 46. Case for military police — Answer: AWOL
  25. 47. Like the Millennium Problems of the Clay Mathematics Institute — Answer: UNSOLVED
  26. 49. Suffix with peace but not war — Answer: FUL
  27. 51. Philosopher William of ___ — Answer: OCCAM
  28. 55. Product for manscaping — Answer: NAIR
  29. 56. Assuming that — Answer: IFSO
  30. 57. More sizzle than steak — Answer: ALLBARKANDNOBITE
  31. 61. Infamous chess trap that ends the game in two moves — Answer: FOOLSMATE
  32. 62. Contents of a kitchen rack — Answer: SPICES
  33. 63. Bump on a lid — Answer: STYE
  34. 64. Thin board — Answer: SLAT
  35. 65. What some streakers are charged with? — Answer: TASERS

Down

  1. 1. Woodpeckers' peckers — Answer: BEAKS
  2. 2. "Really, my pleasure" — Answer: ITSNOTHING
  3. 3. "Sticky" birthday treats? — Answer: CAKESICLES
  4. 4. Tahari or Saab of fashion — Answer: ELIE
  5. 5. Blame (on) — Answer: PIN
  6. 6. Symbol used in summation — Answer: SIGMA
  7. 7. Classical piece said to be the inspiration for Chopin's "Fantaisie-Impromptu" — Answer: MOONLIGHTSONATA
  8. 8. Kepler-22b or Kepler-186f, e.g. — Answer: EARTHLIKEPLANET
  9. 9. Calypso cousin — Answer: SKA
  10. 10. Flat, say — Answer: OFF
  11. 11. Zest — Answer: BRIO
  12. 12. Highlight ___ — Answer: REEL
  13. 13. ___ fussy (can be very flexible) — Answer: ISNT
  14. 14. Some airport data, in brief — Answer: ETDS
  15. 17. Carnivora or Lagomorpha — Answer: ORDER
  16. 19. Word with rock or medicine — Answer: FOLK
  17. 24. When doubled, a fluffy Chinese dog — Answer: CHOW
  18. 25. Hilton competitor — Answer: OMNI
  19. 26. Is — Answer: MEANS
  20. 28. Went (for) — Answer: SOLD
  21. 30. Workplace with few barriers — Answer: OPENOFFICE
  22. 31. Became tarnished — Answer: LOSTLUSTER
  23. 32. Lhasa ___ — Answer: APSO
  24. 33. "I heard you the first time! Geez!" — Answer: OKOK
  25. 34. Wrapping material in mummification — Answer: LINEN
  26. 36. Had no doubt — Answer: KNEW
  27. 38. Deep-fried side dish, familiarly — Answer: TOTS
  28. 39. Unexciting, as a party — Answer: DEAD
  29. 44. Catamounts — Answer: PUMAS
  30. 45. Like some readers — Answer: AVID
  31. 48. Young's partner in accounting — Answer: ERNST
  32. 50. Rich soil deposit — Answer: LOESS
  33. 51. Saps — Answer: OAFS
  34. 52. Stop the bleeding, say — Answer: CLOT
  35. 53. Sicken with sweetness — Answer: CLOY
  36. 54. Fit — Answer: ABLE
  37. 56. Sacred bird to the Egyptians — Answer: IBIS
  38. 58. Info on Zillow: Abbr. — Answer: RMS
  39. 59. ___-El (Superman) — Answer: KAL
  40. 60. Shout at a Greek wedding — Answer: OPA

Here are the NYT Crossword answers for Friday, May 22, 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 22?” 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 22, 2026

The full solution for the May 22 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 22.

Hints for the May 22 puzzle

Not ready for the full answer? Here are lighter, spoiler-free nudges for that day's grid, above the solutions. The May 22 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 22, 2026?

Every answer for the Friday, May 22, 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.

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