NYT Crossword Answers - May 31

Target Practice

By Jeffrey Martinovic and Evan Park

Tap a square to reveal a letter.

Or reveal one clue at a time with the Hint and Answer buttons below.

Across

  1. 1Sacsayhuamán fortress builders
  2. 6Literary forerunner of Captain Hook
  3. 10Many an Alpha Beta in "Revenge of the Nerds"
  4. 14Help-wanted letters
  5. 17Fermented vegan protein
  6. 19Wrestler/actor John
  7. 20Coin with 12 stars around the border
  8. 21Align
  9. 22Home of the legendary folk hero at 116-Across
  10. 24One involved with checks and balances
  11. 26Without
  12. 27Green spaces
  13. 29Hero of Arabian tales
  14. 30In the past
  15. 31___ Mahal
  16. 32Expertise demonstrated by 116-Across in a fabled feat of precision
  17. 34Home Run ___ (annual M.L.B. event)
  18. 36D.O.J. agency
  19. 39Fuel-efficient Toyota
  20. 40Main ideas
  21. 41Athletic skill mastered by 116-Across
  22. 44W-9 fig.
  23. 45Banned substance, in sports lingo
  24. 46Diego Rivera project
  25. 48Apt name for a lawyer
  26. 49Laughed loudly
  27. 52N.C.A.A. hoops powerhouse
  28. 53Like the Statue of Liberty at night
  29. 55Beatle who sang "Yellow Submarine"
  30. 57Sailor's septet
  31. 60Go-getter's opposite
  32. 62Through
  33. 63"Drat!," in Dortmund
  34. 65"The Situation Room" airer
  35. 66Chirruping bird
  36. 67Pat down
  37. 69City sobriquet that might describe the target for 116-Across, as depicted in this puzzle
  38. 71Stuff in a puff
  39. 72She-ep?
  40. 73Home to the Burj Khalifa, in brief
  41. 74Appointments that may lead to better contacts
  42. 76Dampens
  43. 78"Whoa, ___!"
  44. 80Bel ___ cheese
  45. 81Instinctive
  46. 82Religious dissent
  47. 84$5 bill, slangily
  48. 85Actress Spacek
  49. 87Negative logic gate in electrical engineering
  50. 88Cartesian conclusion
  51. 91Composer of an overture dedicated to 116-Across
  52. 93Gets lost
  53. 96Came to a conclusion
  54. 98"Doctor ___"
  55. 99Start of an encrypted URL
  56. 103Streaker in the night sky ... or a punny description of 116-Across
  57. 106Acid
  58. 108Unprocessed, as data
  59. 109Inspiration for many seasonal festivals
  60. 110Oscar-winning 2019 film directed by Bong Joon Ho
  61. 113Smoke, perhaps
  62. 114What may begin at the end
  63. 116Legendary figure who's the subject of this puzzle
  64. 118Orchard selection
  65. 119Lot calculation
  66. 120"All's well with me"
  67. 121Human
  68. 122Masthead figs.
  69. 123Timid
  70. 124Quibbles
  71. 125Ruses

Down

  1. 1"What a bummer"
  2. 2À la Enya
  3. 3Key with three flats
  4. 4Studios and penthouses: Abbr.
  5. 5"___ me!"
  6. 6Knee parts, for short
  7. 7Part of a track meet
  8. 8Per ___ (accounting term)
  9. 9Undeserved condemnation
  10. 10Watercraft that leave "rooster tails" in their wakes
  11. 11"___ home and native land!"
  12. 12Absolutely whomps, in sports lingo
  13. 13"Bear" that's not a bear
  14. 14Some red wines
  15. 15Smallest quantity of digital data
  16. 16Abandons, as a project
  17. 18Purifying filter acronym
  18. 21Eases
  19. 23Jasmine's tiger companion in "Aladdin"
  20. 25Big name in sewing machines
  21. 28Messes up
  22. 31TV host Banks
  23. 33Longtime jazz bandleader with an Egyptian-inspired name
  24. 35Where Cary Grant orders a Gibson in a classic scene from "North by Northwest"
  25. 37Magnetic unit named for an inventor
  26. 38Productive ... or a punny description of the feat performed by 116-Across?
  27. 42Many a liquor license applicant
  28. 43As of now
  29. 45Board game with ancient origins
  30. 46Gooey chocolate dessert
  31. 47Discover
  32. 50Holds forth
  33. 51Tenth, in Latin
  34. 54Small flycatchers named for their call, not their size
  35. 55Bro kin
  36. 56What 116-Across did before and after this puzzle's feat?
  37. 58Dread-full?
  38. 59Popular beverage brand
  39. 61Dr. ___
  40. 62Compete
  41. 64Bad spelling?
  42. 66Lead-in to bones or bucks
  43. 68Sunbeam
  44. 70Abandons a project, slangily
  45. 75"Oy!"
  46. 77Forwarded
  47. 79Full of tall tales
  48. 80It's better than a bogey
  49. 83Team lineup
  50. 86Like most modern TV broadcasts
  51. 89"Money-back guarantee" and "Limited-time offer"
  52. 90Self-referential
  53. 92Conductor Georg
  54. 93Snaky double curve
  55. 94Really irritated
  56. 95Main lines
  57. 96Full
  58. 97Australian city named for a scientist
  59. 100Closely following
  60. 101Gambler's combo bet
  61. 102Waves sought by surfers
  62. 104Five Pillars religion
  63. 105"Spider-Man" director Sam
  64. 107Stitcher's line
  65. 111Tee time or airtime, e.g.
  66. 112Sorts
  67. 113Corner key
  68. 115Toll
  69. 117Bucket list item?

Here are the NYT Crossword answers for Sunday, May 31, 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 31?” 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 31, 2026

The full solution for the May 31 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 Sunday, May 31.

Full NYT Crossword answer list for May 31, 2026

Every clue from the May 31 grid next to its solution — the same answers as the board above, in one plain list you can scan without tapping.

Across

#ClueAnswer
1Sacsayhuamán fortress buildersINCAS
6Literary forerunner of Captain HookAHAB
10Many an Alpha Beta in "Revenge of the Nerds"JOCK
14Help-wanted lettersSOS
17Fermented vegan proteinTEMPEH
19Wrestler/actor JohnCENA
20Coin with 12 stars around the borderEURO
21AlignSYNC
22Home of the legendary folk hero at 116-AcrossSWITZERLAND
24One involved with checks and balancesTREASURER
26WithoutSANS
27Green spacesPASTURES
29Hero of Arabian talesALIBABA
30In the pastAGO
31___ MahalTAJ
32Expertise demonstrated by 116-Across in a fabled feat of precisionMARKSMANSHIP
34Home Run ___ (annual M.L.B. event)DERBY
36D.O.J. agencyATF
39Fuel-efficient ToyotaPRIUS
40Main ideasGISTS
41Athletic skill mastered by 116-AcrossARCHERY
44W-9 fig.SSN
45Banned substance, in sports lingoPED
46Diego Rivera projectMURAL
48Apt name for a lawyerSUE
49Laughed loudlyROARED
52N.C.A.A. hoops powerhouseUNC
53Like the Statue of Liberty at nightUPLIT
55Beatle who sang "Yellow Submarine"STARR
57Sailor's septetSEAS
60Go-getter's oppositeDEADBEAT
62ThroughVIA
63"Drat!," in DortmundACH
65"The Situation Room" airerCNN
66Chirruping birdSPARROW
67Pat downFRISK
69City sobriquet that might describe the target for 116-Across, as depicted in this puzzleTHEBIGA
71Stuff in a puffAIR
72She-ep?EWE
73Home to the Burj Khalifa, in briefUAE
74Appointments that may lead to better contactsEYEEXAMS
76DampensWETS
78"Whoa, ___!"NELLY
80Bel ___ cheesePAESE
81InstinctiveGUT
82Religious dissentHERESY
84$5 bill, slangilyABE
85Actress SpacekSISSY
87Negative logic gate in electrical engineeringNOR
88Cartesian conclusionIAM
91Composer of an overture dedicated to 116-AcrossROSSINI
93Gets lostSCATS
96Came to a conclusionENDED
98"Doctor ___"WHO
99Start of an encrypted URLHTTPS
103Streaker in the night sky ... or a punny description of 116-AcrossSHOOTINGSTAR
106AcidLSD
108Unprocessed, as dataRAW
109Inspiration for many seasonal festivalsHARVEST
110Oscar-winning 2019 film directed by Bong Joon HoPARASITE
113Smoke, perhapsCURE
114What may begin at the endAFTERLIFE
116Legendary figure who's the subject of this puzzleWILLIAMTELL
118Orchard selectionPEAR
119Lot calculationAREA
120"All's well with me"IMOK
121HumanMORTAL
122Masthead figs.EDS
123TimidMEEK
124QuibblesNITS
125RusesPLOYS

Down

#ClueAnswer
1"What a bummer"ITSSAD
2À la EnyaNEWAGE
3Key with three flatsCMINOR
4Studios and penthouses: Abbr.APTS
5"___ me!"SEZ
6Knee parts, for shortACLS
7Part of a track meetHEAT
8Per ___ (accounting term)ANNUM
9Undeserved condemnationBADRAP
10Watercraft that leave "rooster tails" in their wakesJETSKIS
11"___ home and native land!"OUR
12Absolutely whomps, in sports lingoCREAMS
13"Bear" that's not a bearKOALA
14Some red winesSYRAHS
15Smallest quantity of digital dataONEBIT
16Abandons, as a projectSCRAPS
18Purifying filter acronymHEPA
21EasesSUBSIDES
23Jasmine's tiger companion in "Aladdin"RAJAH
25Big name in sewing machinesSINGER
28Messes upERRS
31TV host BanksTYRA
33Longtime jazz bandleader with an Egyptian-inspired nameSUNRA
35Where Cary Grant orders a Gibson in a classic scene from "North by Northwest"BARCAR
37Magnetic unit named for an inventorTESLA
38Productive ... or a punny description of the feat performed by 116-Across?FRUITFUL
42Many a liquor license applicantCLUBOWNER
43As of nowYET
45Board game with ancient originsPARCHEESI
46Gooey chocolate dessertMUDPIE
47DiscoverUNEARTH
50Holds forthORATES
51Tenth, in LatinDECIMUS
54Small flycatchers named for their call, not their sizePEWEES
55Bro kinSIS
56What 116-Across did before and after this puzzle's feat?TAKEABOW
58Dread-full?ANGSTY
59Popular beverage brandSNA
61Dr. ___DRE
62CompeteVIE
64Bad spelling?HEX
66Lead-in to bones or bucksSAW
68SunbeamRAY
70Abandons a project, slangilyBAGSIT
75"Oy!"YEESH
77ForwardedSENTOVER
79Full of tall talesLYING
80It's better than a bogeyPAR
83Team lineupROSTER
86Like most modern TV broadcastsINHD
89"Money-back guarantee" and "Limited-time offer"ADSPEAK
90Self-referentialMETA
92Conductor GeorgSOLTI
93Snaky double curveSSHAPE
94Really irritatedCHAFED
95Main linesAORTAS
96FullENTIRE
97Australian city named for a scientistDARWIN
100Closely followingTRUETO
101Gambler's combo betPARLAY
102Waves sought by surfersSWELLS
104Five Pillars religionISLAM
105"Spider-Man" director SamRAIMI
107Stitcher's lineSEAM
111Tee time or airtime, e.g.SLOT
112SortsILKS
113Corner keyCTRL
115TollFEE
117Bucket list item?MOP

Hints for the May 31 puzzle

Not ready for the full answer? Here are lighter, spoiler-free nudges for that day's grid, above the solutions. The May 31 puzzle fell on a Sunday, 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 Sunday 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 31, 2026?

Every answer for the Sunday, May 31, 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.

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