Our NYT Crossword Hints for May 31, 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 31, 2026
You’ll find hints for all of the crossword clues for the NYT Crossword on 5/31/26. 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. Sacsayhuamán fortress builders
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6A. Literary forerunner of Captain Hook
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10A. Many an Alpha Beta in "Revenge of the Nerds"
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14A. "Help wanted" letters
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17A. Fermented vegan protein
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19A. Wrestler/actor John
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20A. Coin with 12 stars around the border
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21A. Align
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22A. Home of the legendary folk hero at 116-Across
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24A. One involved with checks and balances
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26A. Without
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27A. Green spaces
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29A. Hero of Arabian tales
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30A. In the past
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31A. ___ Mahal
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32A. Expertise demonstrated by 116-Across in a fabled feat of precision
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34A. Home Run ___ (annual M.L.B. event)
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36A. D.O.J. agency
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39A. Fuel-efficient Toyota
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40A. Main ideas
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41A. Athletic skill mastered by 116-Across
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44A. W-9 fig.
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45A. Banned substance, in sports lingo
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46A. Diego Rivera project
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48A. Apt name for a lawyer
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49A. Laughed loudly
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52A. N.C.A.A. hoops powerhouse
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53A. Like the Statue of Liberty at night
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55A. Beatle who sang "Yellow Submarine"
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57A. Sailor’s septet
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60A. Go-getter's opposite
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62A. Through
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63A. "Drat!," in Dortmund
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65A. "The Situation Room" airer
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66A. Chirruping bird
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67A. Pat (down)
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69A. City sobriquet that might describe the target for 116-Across, as depicted in this puzzle
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69A. City sobriquet that might describe the target for 116-Across, as depicted in this puzzle
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71A. Stuff in a puff
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72A. She-ep?
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73A. Home to the Burj Khalifa, in brief
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74A. Appointments that may lead to better contacts
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76A. Dampens
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78A. 'Whoa, ___!'
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80A. Bel ___ cheese
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81A. Instinctive
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82A. Religious dissent
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84A. $5 bill, slangily
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85A. Actress Spacek
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87A. Negative logic gate in electrical engineering
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88A. Cartesian conclusion
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91A. Composer of an overture dedicated to 116-Across
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93A. Gets lost
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96A. Came to a conclusion
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98A. "Doctor ___"
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99A. Start of an encrypted URL
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103A. Streaker in the night sky … or a punny description of 116-Across
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106A. Acid
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108A. Unprocessed, as data
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109A. Inspiration for many seasonal festivals
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110A. Oscar-winning 2019 film directed by Bong Joon Ho
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113A. Smoke, perhaps
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114A. What may begin at the end
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116A. Legendary figure who's the subject of this puzzle
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118A. Orchard selection
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119A. Lot calculation
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120A. "All's well with me"
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121A. Human
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122A. Masthead figs.
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123A. Timid
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124A. Quibbles
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125A. Ruses
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1D. "What a bummer!"
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2D. À la Enya
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3D. Key with three flats
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4D. Studios and penthouses: Abbr.
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5D. ___ me!
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6D. Knee parts, for short
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7D. Part of a track meet
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8D. Per ___ (accounting term)
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9D. Undeserved condemnation
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10D. Watercraft that leave "rooster tails" in their wakes
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11D. "___ home and native land!"
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12D. Absolutely whomps, in sports lingo
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13D. "Bear" that's not a bear
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14D. Some red wines
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15D. Smallest quantity of digital data
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16D. Abandons, as a project
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18D. Purifying filter acronym
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21D. Eases
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23D. Jasmine's tiger companion in "Aladdin"
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25D. Big name in sewing machines
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28D. Messes up
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31D. TV host Banks
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33D. Longtime jazz bandleader with an Egyptian-inspired name
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35D. Where Cary Grant orders a Gibson in a classic scene from "North by Northwest"
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37D. Magnetic unit named for an inventor
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38D. Productive … or a punny description of the feat performed by 116-Across?
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42D. Many a liquor license applicant
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43D. As of now
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45D. Board game with ancient origins
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46D. Gooey chocolate dessert
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47D. Discover
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50D. Holds forth
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51D. Tenth, in Latin
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54D. Small flycatchers named for their call, not their size
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55D. Bro kin
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56D. What 116-Across did before and after this puzzle's feat?
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58D. Dread-full?
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59D. Popular beverage brand
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59D. Popular beverage brand
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61D. Dr. ___
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62D. Compete
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64D. Bad spelling?
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66D. Lead-in to bones or bucks
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68D. Sunbeam
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70D. Abandons a project, slangily
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75D. "Oy —!"
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77D. Forwarded
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79D. Full of tall tales
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80D. It's better than a bogey
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83D. Team lineup
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86D. Like most modern TV broadcasts
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89D. "Money-back guarantee" and "Limited-time offer"
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90D. Self-referential
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92D. Conductor Georg
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93D. Snaky double curve
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94D. Really irritated
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95D. Main lines
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96D. Full
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97D. Australian city named for a scientist
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100D. Closely following
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101D. Gambler's combo bet
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102D. Waves sought by surfers
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104D. Five Pillars religion
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105D. "Spider-Man" director Sam
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107D. Stitcher's line
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111D. Tee time or airtime, e.g.
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112D. Sorts
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113D. Corner key
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115D. Toll
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117D. Bucket list item?
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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