Home/Archive/May 5, 2026

NYT Crossword — May 5, 2026

Tuesday’s 16 × 15 puzzle, 79 clues. The full solution is below — answers stay masked until you reveal them, one clue or all at once.

0 of 79 revealed

1G

2O

3T

4O

5P

6I

7T

8C

9H

10H

11O

12P

13O

14N

15A

R

A

L

16H

O

O

H

A

17I

D

A

H

O

18L

A

D

Y

19F

I

N

G

E

R

20T

E

C

H

S

21L

L

A

M

A

22S

A

R

A

23H

24S

K

E

E

25P

D

26F

27S

I

M

O

28N

S

A

Y

S

29A

30R

31T

I

S

A

32N

33M

E

A

N

34S

H

E

A

35K

E

36T

37T

38L

E

S

39I

40D

41O

42H

E

A

D

43L

E

S

S

H

O

R

S

44E

M

A

N

45Y

A

M

46I

N

T

O

Y

O

U

47N

A

R

C

48M

49A

C

E

50S

N

51A

R

L

E

D

52T

53R

A

D

E

W

54I

55N

56D

57S

C

I

58R

A

S

H

59S

M

E

A

60R

61M

C

62R

63I

64B

65E

M

C

E

66E

67N

A

T

U

68R

E

H

I

K

E

69A

B

O

R

T

70E

T

U

D

E

71E

P

E

E

72T

O

T

E

S

73W

O

M

E

N

74D

E

A

F

Across

37 clues

1Tried-and-true choice, informally

5It's perfect for some musicians

10Motorcyclist's invitation

15Asia's shrinking ___ Sea

17Where Boise is

18It's a piece of cake

20Computer geeks

21Source of some South American wool

22Alaska politico Palin

25Alternative to a Word doc

27It's child's play

29Glassblower, e.g.

33One of three statistical averages

34M.L.B. stadium demolished in 2009

35Ones always blowing off steam?

39Altar promise

42It's a no-brainer

45Starchy tuber

462016 Ariana Grande love song

48Heavy, spiked club

50Bared one's teeth, say

52It's a breeze

58Sudden or impulsive, as a decision

59Lipstick blunder

61Intermittently offered fast-food pork sandwich

65Oscars host, e.g.

67It's a walk in the park

69Abandon prematurely, as a mission

70Piano exercise

71Fencing blade

73About 50.7% of all Americans

74Like typical communicators in sign language

Down

42 clues

2Not in writing, as an exam

3Magician's "Look what I did!"

4International competition in math, science and other disciplines

5Greek letter that looks like an "O" superimposed with an "I"

6Charged particles

8French sweetheart

9Prohibited in Islam

11Texas setting for 2004's "Friday Night Lights"

12Mule or burro

13"Fancy seeing you here!"

14They may be counted when taking attendance

19Bell-bottom jeans and pet rocks, in the 1970s

23Undeniable successes

26Media misinformation

28Loch ___ monster

29Like a campfire by morning, typically

30Flightless bird from South America

31Figure in a school pep rally

32Empty ___ (home after the kids go off to college)

36Chinese general on a menu

37"___ will be done"

38English facilities

40"Don't you ___!"

41How much 1990s music was issued

44Having added nutrients

49Obey, with "to"

52Pay for at a restaurant, say

53Title role for Sylvester Stallone

54"This is my first day on the job"

56Unit of information

60Like checking a dating app while you're on a date

62Fully matured

63Swedish furniture supplier

64Complaint, informally

66Arrivals in the 2016 thriller "Arrival," in brief

68___ Faire (historical event)

Click a clue for its own page with the answer and a short explanation.

Stats & info

Tuesday, May 5, 2026

16×15

Grid size

79

Total entries

36/204

Black / letter cells

5.2

Avg entry length

16 ltrs

Longest entry

Easy

Tuesday difficulty

PuzzleThe Crossword

PublishedMay 5, 2026

DayTuesday

ThemeUntitled

ConstructorMax Schlenker

EditorWill Shortz

Clue split37 across · 42 down

Longest entries

42AIt's a no-brainer16 ltrs 18AIt's a piece of cake10 ltrs 67AIt's a walk in the park10 ltrs 12DMule or burro10 ltrs 31DFigure in a school pep rally10 ltrs

Tuesday sits one notch above Monday, usually with a light theme and a few playful clues. This grid has 36 black squares and averages 5.2 letters per entry.