Our NYT Crossword Hints for May 16, 2026 puzzle will help you move through the grid if you’ve found yourself stuck on a clue. The NYT Crossword is a daily crossword that tests solvers’ knowledge and vocabulary. It’s one of the most popular crosswords in the world, known for its challenging clues and clever wordplay. The puzzle is published in the print edition of the paper and is also available online.
NYT Crossword Hints May 16, 2026
You’ll find hints for all of the crossword clues for the NYT Crossword on 5/16/26. The clues are listed below, and you can click/tap on a clue to go to its page for more detail, including definitions, but if you don’t want to be immediately spoiled, you can reveal letter by letter to still offer yourself more of a challenge before revealing the full solution.
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1A. Modern "go-to's"
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5A. Curtain for silhouetting on stage
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10A. Bird on the South Carolina state quarter
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14A. Capote or chesterfield
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15A. Emulates E.T., in a way
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17A. Roman goddess who drives a two-horse chariot
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18A. Precious self-reference
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19A. Name shared by the singer of the #1 hit "Rock Me Gently" (1974) and the first Korean American elected to the U.S. Senate (2024)
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21A. Double-___ cassowary (bird of Indonesia and Australia)
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22A. Matches with forensics
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24A. Occasions to relax and recharge
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25A. Obama's third secretary of defense (2013-15)
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26A. Gasoline brand that offered the Torch Club credit card
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27A. Aid in making salsa
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28A. Operculum, e.g.
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31A. Capital of Greenland
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32A. They're hard to pull off
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33A. Spa service, in brief
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34A. Up to snuff, facetiously
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35A. Trickles
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36A. Cup holders
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37A. Many a Porsche 911
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38A. Practical types who are often perfectionists, it's said
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39A. "Don't start with me"
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43A. Difficult effort
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44A. Cut out
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46A. Setting for Seurat's "A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte"
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48A. Cold-smoked lox
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49A. 7 up, perhaps
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50A. Gulf of ___, waters that abut Djibouti and Somaliland
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51A. Vanilla units
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52A. Spouts
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53A. Romp
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1D. Victor over Washington on 11/12/1955 in "Back to the Future, Pt. II" - and in real life
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2D. Cattle call
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3D. Went wide or long, as a tennis ball
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4D. "No closer!"
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5D. Takes off
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6D. Wind pipe?
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7D. Blight
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8D. Getting a break on Broadway?
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9D. Medleys
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10D. Marriott property with the slogan "Whatever Whenever"
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11D. Triumphs smoothly
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12D. ___ Brickowski ("The Lego Movie" protagonist)
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13D. "What this country ___ …"
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16D. Certain volleyballer
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20D. Deck
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23D. Once-popular terra-cotta figurine
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24D. Trigger hair
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27D. State in which Gulliver is discovered by the Lilliputians
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28D. Combo meal upgrade
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29D. Going back ages
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30D. ___ track
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32D. Folks who enjoy a well-aged beef?
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33D. Borderline
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35D. Echolocation systems
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36D. Element between copper and gallium on the periodic table
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37D. Spelling combinations?
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38D. They're concerned with feeding kits
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39D. Pharyngeal woe
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40D. Cynthia ___, Tony winner for "The Color Purple"
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41D. Buckled
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42D. Extend in a way
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45D. Chilly and damp
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47D. "___ noticed"
We also recommend trying your hand at the NYT Mini Crossword, which is definitely easier (on all days!) as it is a 5×5, compared to the full-sized crossword (which is 15×15, and the Sunday edition is 21×21!). New crosswords are released at 10PM ET on weekdays and 6PM ET on weekends.
The New York Times crossword was first published in The New York Times in 1942 and has been a daily feature ever since. It is known for its high level of difficulty and for its clever, often playful, clues and themes. The puzzles range in size from 15x15 grids on weekdays to larger 21x21 grids on Sundays, with varying levels of difficulty.
The New York Times crossword is created by a team of skilled puzzle constructors and editors, who work to ensure that each puzzle is both entertaining and challenging for solvers. The puzzles are often themed, with clues and answers related to a particular subject or concept, and they frequently feature wordplay and puns.
Solving the New York Times crossword has become a beloved pastime for many, and there are even competitions and clubs devoted to crossword puzzle solving. The New York Times crossword is available in print in the newspaper and online, and it has a dedicated following of loyal solvers who eagerly await each day's puzzle.
If you’re still struggling to solve your NYT crosswords, consider practicing with the Eugene Sheffer and Thomas Joseph dailies first. If you’re looking for similarly challenging crosswords, we recommend the WSJ Crossword and LA Times Crossword.
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