NYT Crossword May 16 2026 Answers (5/16/26)

Our NYT Crossword May 16, 2026 answers guide should help you finish today’s crossword if you’ve found yourself stuck on a crossword clue. The NYT Crossword is a daily puzzle 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 New York Times and is also available online.

NYT Crossword May 16, 2026 Answers

If you need help solving the NYT Crossword on 5/16/26, we’ve listed all of the crossword clues below so you can find the answer(s) you need. You can search for the clue and then select the appropriate clue to get the answer. We have done it this way so that if you’re just looking for a handful of clues, you won’t spoil other ones you’re working on!

Looking for answers to another NYT Crossword puzzle? Check out our archive of NYT Crossword Answers. Our NYT Crossword Hints for May 16, 2026 are also available if you prefer not to be immediately spoiled.

« May 15 2026 Answers

#	Clue
1A	Modern "go-to's"
5A	Curtain for silhouetting on stage
10A	Bird on the South Carolina state quarter
14A	Capote or chesterfield
15A	Emulates E.T., in a way
17A	Roman goddess who drives a two-horse chariot
18A	Precious self-reference
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)
21A	Double-___ cassowary (bird of Indonesia and Australia)
22A	Matches with forensics
24A	Occasions to relax and recharge
25A	Obama's third secretary of defense (2013-15)
26A	Gasoline brand that offered the Torch Club credit card
27A	Aid in making salsa
28A	Operculum, e.g.
31A	Capital of Greenland
32A	They're hard to pull off
33A	Spa service, in brief
34A	Up to snuff, facetiously
35A	Trickles
36A	Cup holders
37A	Many a Porsche 911
38A	Practical types who are often perfectionists, it's said
39A	Don't start with me!
43A	Difficult effort
44A	Cut out
46A	Setting for Seurat's "A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte"
48A	Cold-smoked lox
49A	7 up, perhaps
50A	Gulf of ___, waters that abut Djibouti and Somaliland
51A	Vanilla units
52A	Spouts
53A	Romp
1D	Victor over Washington on 11/12/1955 in "Back to the Future, Pt. II" - and in real life
2D	Cattle call
3D	Went wide or long, as a tennis ball
4D	"No closer!"
5D	Takes off
6D	Wind pipe?
7D	Blight
8D	Getting a break on Broadway?
9D	Medleys
10D	Marriott property with the slogan "Whatever Whenever"
11D	Triumphs smoothly
12D	___ Brickowski ("The Lego Movie" protagonist)
13D	"What this country ___ …"
16D	Certain volleyballer
20D	Deck
23D	Once-popular terra-cotta figurine
24D	Trigger hair
27D	State in which Gulliver is discovered by the Lilliputians
28D	Combo meal upgrade
29D	Going back ages
30D	___ track
32D	Folks who enjoy a well-aged beef?
33D	Borderline
35D	Echolocation systems
36D	Element between copper and gallium on the periodic table
37D	Spelling combinations?
38D	They're concerned with feeding kits
39D	Pharyngeal woe
40D	Cynthia ___, Tony winner for "The Color Purple"
41D	Buckled
42D	Extend, in a way
45D	Chilly and damp
47D	"___ noticed"

More NYT Crossword Answers

If you’re looking for solutions from other puzzles, check out:

You can also browse our full NYT Crossword Answers archive for even more puzzles!

We also recommend trying your hand at the NYT Mini Crossword, which is definitely easier (on all days!) as it is 5×5, compared to the full‑sized New York Times Crossword (which is 15×15, and the Sunday edition is 21×21!). If you want something in between, the NYT Midi Crossword offers between a 9×9 and 11×11 grid with a medium‑level challenge that bridges the gap between the Mini and the full puzzle—making it a great option for players looking to level up. 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.

NYT Crossword (Main Grid) — Image via NYT Crossword

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.