Saturday, May 23, 2026
By Kameron Austin Collins
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NYT Crossword Clues
Across
- 1They might be settled atop stools
- 8Shell, say
- 13Places to put fliers
- 15Surgical specialty, informally
- 16A boxer's might knock you out
- 18Substitute for "etc."
- 19Begrudges
- 20Old auto company based in Lansing, Mich.
- 22Jazz drummer DeRosa
- 23One of the seven depicted in the 1995 thriller "Se7en"
- 24Daytime regulars
- 26What some prisoners earn, in brief
- 27Old black-and-white police autos, to Brits
- 28___ weekend
- 29Walk on water?
- 30Top that screams "Look at me!"
- 31Clay-and-calcium-carbonate mix used in cement making
- 32"Lovely!"
- 35Chess puzzle challenge, maybe
- 36Make do
- 37Many an epithet
- 38Common con game
- 39Petite ___ (certain French partner)
- 40Epithet lead-in
- 41Bit of back-and-forth
- 42Farrow with a Pulitzer for his investigative journalism
- 44Eerie substance faked in 19th-century ghost hoaxes
- 46Bygone leaders
- 47Tourist nickname for a Southern mecca, to the chagrin of many locals
- 48Until, in Uruguay
- 49Destination for wagons, once
Down
- 1No-goodniks
- 2Sales job that Forbes magazine once dubbed "the original side hustle," informally
- 3Ancient collection of Hindu hymns
- 4Pampers
- 5Handled something poorly, say
- 6Gets even with?
- 7Tac preceder
- 8At least one
- 9Substance that undergoes change, as in a lab
- 10Magpie lookalike with black-and-white plumage
- 11Bosses (around)
- 12Gads about
- 14Figurative ability to withstand almost anything
- 17Canal blocker?
- 21Milky and iridescent
- 24Lizard predator of Africa
- 25Close call
- 27Swedish American model Porizkova
- 29Edward who wrote and illustrated "The Gashlycrumb Tinies"
- 30Foam designs, perhaps
- 31Berth places
- 3219th-century German novelist Theodor
- 33Stressors for some H.S. seniors
- 34Accessory on a pub counter
- 35Brunch beverage
- 36Standard 1L course, informally
- 37Title for some fictional lords
- 38Sugar ___
- 41Choice for the undecided
- 43Org. with a "Cryptographic Support Services" page on its website
- 45Little squirt
Crossword clues, hints, and answers
Across
- 1. They might be settled atop stools — Answer: BARBETS
- 8. Shell, say — Answer: ARMOR
- 13. Places to put fliers — Answer: AVIARIES
- 15. Surgical specialty, informally — Answer: NEURO
- 16. A boxer's might knock you out — Answer: DOGBREATH
- 18. Substitute for "etc." — Answer: YADDA
- 19. Begrudges — Answer: ENVIES
- 20. Old auto company based in Lansing, Mich. — Answer: REO
- 22. Jazz drummer DeRosa — Answer: CLEM
- 23. One of the seven depicted in the 1995 thriller "Se7en" — Answer: GREED
- 24. Daytime regulars — Answer: SOAPSTARS
- 26. What some prisoners earn, in brief — Answer: GEDS
- 27. Old black-and-white police autos, to Brits — Answer: PANDACARS
- 28. ___ weekend — Answer: SPA
- 29. Walk on water? — Answer: GANGPLANK
- 30. Top that screams "Look at me!" — Answer: LOUDSHIRT
- 31. Clay-and-calcium-carbonate mix used in cement making — Answer: MARLSTONE
- 32. "Lovely!" — Answer: FAB
- 35. Chess puzzle challenge, maybe — Answer: MATEINONE
- 36. Make do — Answer: COPE
- 37. Many an epithet — Answer: DIRTYNAME
- 38. Common con game — Answer: MONTE
- 39. Petite ___ (certain French partner) — Answer: AMIE
- 40. Epithet lead-in — Answer: AKA
- 41. Bit of back-and-forth — Answer: BANTER
- 42. Farrow with a Pulitzer for his investigative journalism — Answer: RONAN
- 44. Eerie substance faked in 19th-century ghost hoaxes — Answer: ECTOPLASM
- 46. Bygone leaders — Answer: TSARS
- 47. Tourist nickname for a Southern mecca, to the chagrin of many locals — Answer: HOTLANTA
- 48. Until, in Uruguay — Answer: HASTA
- 49. Destination for wagons, once — Answer: THEWEST
Down
- 1. No-goodniks — Answer: BADEGGS
- 2. Sales job that Forbes magazine once dubbed "the original side hustle," informally — Answer: AVONREP
- 3. Ancient collection of Hindu hymns — Answer: RIGVEDA
- 4. Pampers — Answer: BABIES
- 5. Handled something poorly, say — Answer: ERRED
- 6. Gets even with? — Answer: TIES
- 7. Tac preceder — Answer: SEA
- 8. At least one — Answer: ANY
- 9. Substance that undergoes change, as in a lab — Answer: REACTANT
- 10. Magpie lookalike with black-and-white plumage — Answer: MUDLARK
- 11. Bosses (around) — Answer: ORDERS
- 12. Gads about — Answer: ROAMS
- 14. Figurative ability to withstand almost anything — Answer: STRONGSTOMACH
- 17. Canal blocker? — Answer: HEADPHONE
- 21. Milky and iridescent — Answer: OPALINE
- 24. Lizard predator of Africa — Answer: SANDSNAKE
- 25. Close call — Answer: SCARE
- 27. Swedish American model Porizkova — Answer: PAULINA
- 29. Edward who wrote and illustrated "The Gashlycrumb Tinies" — Answer: GOREY
- 30. Foam designs, perhaps — Answer: LATTEART
- 31. Berth places — Answer: MARINAS
- 32. 19th-century German novelist Theodor — Answer: FONTANE
- 33. Stressors for some H.S. seniors — Answer: APTESTS
- 34. Accessory on a pub counter — Answer: BEERMAT
- 35. Brunch beverage — Answer: MIMOSA
- 36. Standard 1L course, informally — Answer: CONLAW
- 37. Title for some fictional lords — Answer: DARTH
- 38. Sugar ___ — Answer: MAPLE
- 41. Choice for the undecided — Answer: BOTH
- 43. Org. with a "Cryptographic Support Services" page on its website — Answer: NSA
- 45. Little squirt — Answer: TOT
Here are the NYT Crossword answers for Saturday, May 23, 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 23?” 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 23, 2026
The full solution for the May 23 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 23.
Hints for the May 23 puzzle
Not ready for the full answer? Here are lighter, spoiler-free nudges for that day's grid, above the solutions. The May 23 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.
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Frequently asked questions
What were the NYT Crossword answers on May 23, 2026?
Every answer for the Saturday, May 23, 2026 NYT Crossword is listed at the top of this page — the confirmed grid as published that day.
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