NYT Crossword Clues & Answers - May 25

Monday, May 25, 2026

By Anthony Grubb

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NYT Crossword Clues

Across

  1. 1Jokes (around)
  2. 5Not very spicy
  3. 9Super 8 or Red Roof Inn
  4. 14Paper cut?
  5. 15Big name in laptops
  6. 16Public relations concern
  7. 17Steamy segment in a movie
  8. 19Fruit that makes your lips pucker
  9. 20Tennis skirt feature
  10. 21Lack of light
  11. 23Locale for a plastic flamingo
  12. 26Yoga studio essential
  13. 27De-tension center?
  14. 30Variety of chili that can reach a Scoville score of 1+ million
  15. 36European ski destination
  16. 38Volcanic spew
  17. 39Sample collected by Ancestry.com
  18. 40Daily Planet reporter Lois
  19. 41Show the ropes
  20. 43"___ sesame!"
  21. 44Comfortable
  22. 46Anguish
  23. 47Manage, as a bar
  24. 48California national park known for its dryness
  25. 51Pigs' digs
  26. 52Number starting a countdown
  27. 53Sitting on
  28. 55Bring dishonor upon
  29. 60"I'm sleepy" signals
  30. 64Ancient Mexican empire
  31. 651980s hit with the lyric "Me mind on fire, me soul on fire" ... or how one might describe 17-, 30- and 48-Across?
  32. 68Back of a car or front of an elephant
  33. 69Orchestral woodwind
  34. 70Place of buzziness?
  35. 71Most watches have three of these
  36. 72Japanese electronics giant
  37. 73An estimated 25% of modern phone calls

Down

  1. 1Seaweed in an underwater forest
  2. 2Revered figure
  3. 3Go off the deep end?
  4. 4Incredible bargain
  5. 5Kraft ___ & Cheese
  6. 6Lead-in to maker or breaker
  7. 7Give, but expect back
  8. 8Experienced during sleep
  9. 9Frothy drink often served with boba
  10. 10A ladybug landing on you is considered a good one
  11. 11Opposite of wild
  12. 12Alter ___ (other selves)
  13. 13Camera shop purchase
  14. 18Adult male deer
  15. 22A hardened criminal might have a long one
  16. 24"Yeah, yeah"
  17. 25Missing part of the Great Sphinx of Giza
  18. 27Leafy lunch order
  19. 28Piece of armadillo armor
  20. 29Common sleep disorder
  21. 31Item worn over the shoulders
  22. 32"The ___ thickens ..."
  23. 33Vocal cords, informally
  24. 34Happening
  25. 35Singer Newman with the hit "You've Got a Friend in Me"
  26. 37Chair or pew
  27. 42Coke or Pepsi
  28. 45Gimmicky routines
  29. 49Dried poblanos used in mole sauce
  30. 50Toy on a string
  31. 54Trails
  32. 55Relaxing soak
  33. 56Book just after Ezekiel, alphabetically
  34. 57Flabbergast
  35. 58Patch up
  36. 59Drifter in search of work
  37. 61What to do with egg whites when making meringue
  38. 62Luminous stellar explosion
  39. 63Women in ___ (educational advocacy group)
  40. 66Colossal quantity
  41. 67"Yoo-hoo!"

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Across

  1. 1. Jokes (around) — Answer: KIDS
  2. 5. Not very spicy — Answer: MILD
  3. 9. Super 8 or Red Roof Inn — Answer: MOTEL
  4. 14. Paper cut? — Answer: EDIT
  5. 15. Big name in laptops — Answer: ACER
  6. 16. Public relations concern — Answer: IMAGE
  7. 17. Steamy segment in a movie — Answer: LOVESCENE
  8. 19. Fruit that makes your lips pucker — Answer: LEMON
  9. 20. Tennis skirt feature — Answer: PLEAT
  10. 21. Lack of light — Answer: DARKNESS
  11. 23. Locale for a plastic flamingo — Answer: LAWN
  12. 26. Yoga studio essential — Answer: MAT
  13. 27. De-tension center? — Answer: SPA
  14. 30. Variety of chili that can reach a Scoville score of 1+ million — Answer: GHOSTPEPPER
  15. 36. European ski destination — Answer: ALPS
  16. 38. Volcanic spew — Answer: ASH
  17. 39. Sample collected by Ancestry.com — Answer: SALIVA
  18. 40. Daily Planet reporter Lois — Answer: LANE
  19. 41. Show the ropes — Answer: TEACH
  20. 43. "___ sesame!" — Answer: OPEN
  21. 44. Comfortable — Answer: ATEASE
  22. 46. Anguish — Answer: WOE
  23. 47. Manage, as a bar — Answer: TEND
  24. 48. California national park known for its dryness — Answer: DEATHVALLEY
  25. 51. Pigs' digs — Answer: STY
  26. 52. Number starting a countdown — Answer: TEN
  27. 53. Sitting on — Answer: ATOP
  28. 55. Bring dishonor upon — Answer: BESMIRCH
  29. 60. "I'm sleepy" signals — Answer: YAWNS
  30. 64. Ancient Mexican empire — Answer: AZTEC
  31. 65. 1980s hit with the lyric "Me mind on fire, me soul on fire" ... or how one might describe 17-, 30- and 48-Across? — Answer: HOTHOTHOT
  32. 68. Back of a car or front of an elephant — Answer: TRUNK
  33. 69. Orchestral woodwind — Answer: OBOE
  34. 70. Place of buzziness? — Answer: HIVE
  35. 71. Most watches have three of these — Answer: HANDS
  36. 72. Japanese electronics giant — Answer: SONY
  37. 73. An estimated 25% of modern phone calls — Answer: SPAM

Down

  1. 1. Seaweed in an underwater forest — Answer: KELP
  2. 2. Revered figure — Answer: IDOL
  3. 3. Go off the deep end? — Answer: DIVE
  4. 4. Incredible bargain — Answer: STEAL
  5. 5. Kraft ___ & Cheese — Answer: MAC
  6. 6. Lead-in to maker or breaker — Answer: ICE
  7. 7. Give, but expect back — Answer: LEND
  8. 8. Experienced during sleep — Answer: DREAMT
  9. 9. Frothy drink often served with boba — Answer: MILKTEA
  10. 10. A ladybug landing on you is considered a good one — Answer: OMEN
  11. 11. Opposite of wild — Answer: TAME
  12. 12. Alter ___ (other selves) — Answer: EGOS
  13. 13. Camera shop purchase — Answer: LENS
  14. 18. Adult male deer — Answer: STAG
  15. 22. A hardened criminal might have a long one — Answer: RAPSHEET
  16. 24. "Yeah, yeah" — Answer: WHATEVER
  17. 25. Missing part of the Great Sphinx of Giza — Answer: NOSE
  18. 27. Leafy lunch order — Answer: SALAD
  19. 28. Piece of armadillo armor — Answer: PLATE
  20. 29. Common sleep disorder — Answer: APNEA
  21. 31. Item worn over the shoulders — Answer: SHAWL
  22. 32. "The ___ thickens ..." — Answer: PLOT
  23. 33. Vocal cords, informally — Answer: PIPES
  24. 34. Happening — Answer: EVENT
  25. 35. Singer Newman with the hit "You've Got a Friend in Me" — Answer: RANDY
  26. 37. Chair or pew — Answer: SEAT
  27. 42. Coke or Pepsi — Answer: COLA
  28. 45. Gimmicky routines — Answer: SHTICKS
  29. 49. Dried poblanos used in mole sauce — Answer: ANCHOS
  30. 50. Toy on a string — Answer: YOYO
  31. 54. Trails — Answer: PATHS
  32. 55. Relaxing soak — Answer: BATH
  33. 56. Book just after Ezekiel, alphabetically — Answer: EZRA
  34. 57. Flabbergast — Answer: STUN
  35. 58. Patch up — Answer: MEND
  36. 59. Drifter in search of work — Answer: HOBO
  37. 61. What to do with egg whites when making meringue — Answer: WHIP
  38. 62. Luminous stellar explosion — Answer: NOVA
  39. 63. Women in ___ (educational advocacy group) — Answer: STEM
  40. 66. Colossal quantity — Answer: TON
  41. 67. "Yoo-hoo!" — Answer: HEY

Here are the NYT Crossword answers for Monday, May 25, 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 25?” 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 25, 2026

The full solution for the May 25 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 Monday, May 25.

Hints for the May 25 puzzle

Not ready for the full answer? Here are lighter, spoiler-free nudges for that day's grid, above the solutions. The May 25 puzzle fell on a Monday, 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 Monday 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 25, 2026?

Every answer for the Monday, May 25, 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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