NYT Crossword Today's Hints and Answer
May 6, 2026
NYT Crossword Yesterday's Hints and Answer
5 May 2026 · 16x15 grid · 37 Across, 42 Down
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Answers for 5 May 2026
Spoiler belowAcross
1
Tried-and-true choice, informally
GOTO
5
It's perfect for some musicians
PITCH
10
Motorcyclist's invitation
HOPON
15
Asia's shrinking ___ Sea
ARAL
16
Ruckus
HOOHA
17
Where Boise is
IDAHO
18
It's a piece of cake
LADYFINGER
20
Computer geeks
TECHS
21
Source of some South American wool
LLAMA
22
Alaska politico Palin
SARAH
24
___-Ball
SKEE
25 PDF
Alternative to a Word doc
27
It's child's play
SIMONSAYS
29
Glassblower, e.g.
ARTISAN
33
One of three statistical averages
MEAN
34
M.L.B. stadium demolished in 2009
SHEA
35
Ones always blowing off steam?
KETTLES
39
Altar promise
IDO
42
It's a no-brainer
HEADLESSHORSEMAN
45
Starchy tuber
YAM
46
2016 Ariana Grande love song
INTOYOU
47
Drug buster
NARC
48
Heavy, spiked club
MACE
50
Bared one's teeth, say
SNARLED
52
It's a breeze
TRADEWIND
57
___-fi
SCI
58
Sudden or impulsive, as a decision
RASH
59
Lipstick blunder
SMEAR
61
Intermittently offered fast-food pork sandwich
MCRIB
65
Oscars host, e.g.
EMCEE
67
It's a walk in the park
NATUREHIKE
69
Abandon prematurely, as a mission
ABORT
70
Piano exercise
ETUDE
71
Fencing blade
EPEE
72
"OMG, same!"
TOTES
73
About 50.7% of all Americans
WOMEN
74
Like typical communicators in sign language
DEAF
Down
1
Effrontery
GALL
2
Not in writing, as an exam
ORAL
3
Magician's "Look what I did!"
TADA
4
International competition in math, science and other disciplines
OLYMPIAD
5
Greek letter that looks like an "O" superimposed with an "I"
PHI
6
Charged particles
IONS
7
Roman robes
TOGAS
8
French sweetheart
CHERI
9
Prohibited in Islam
HARAM
10
Chart-topper
HIT
11
Texas setting for 2004's "Friday Night Lights"
ODESSA
12
Mule or burro
PACKANIMAL
13
"Fancy seeing you here!"
OHHEY
14
They may be counted when taking attendance
NOSES
19
Bell-bottom jeans and pet rocks, in the 1970s
FADS
23
Undeniable successes
HOMERUNS
26
Media misinformation
FAKENEWS
28
Loch ___ monster
NESS
29
Like a campfire by morning, typically
ASHY
30
Flightless bird from South America
RHEA
31
Figure in a school pep rally
TEAMMASCOT
32
Empty ___ (home after the kids go off to college)
NEST
36
Chinese general on a menu
TSO
37
"___ will be done"
THY
38
English facilities
LOOS
40
"Don't you ___!"
DARE
41
How much 1990s music was issued
ONCD
43
Pet pests
LICE
44
Having added nutrients
ENRICHED
49
Obey, with "to"
ADHERE
51
Apex
ACME
52
Pay for at a restaurant, say
TREAT
53
Title role for Sylvester Stallone
RAMBO
54
"This is my first day on the job"
IMNEW
55
"Groovy"
NEATO
56
Unit of information
DATUM
60
Like checking a dating app while you're on a date
RUDE
62
Fully matured
RIPE
63
Swedish furniture supplier
IKEA
64
Complaint, informally
BEEF
66
Arrivals in the 2016 thriller "Arrival," in brief
ETS
68
___ Faire (historical event)
REN
NYT Mini Crossword Strategy Tips
Solve the 5x5 grid faster with these techniques.
Fill-in-the-blank clues first
Clues like "___ of the century" or "Pop ___" have a single obvious answer. Solve all fill-in-the-blank clues before tackling definition or wordplay clues. They plant anchor letters throughout the grid instantly.
Use crossing letters aggressively
In a 5x5 grid, every letter is shared by one Across and one Down answer. One solved word constrains up to 5 crossing answers. Do not guess a clue in isolation when letters from other entries can confirm it.
Watch for wordplay and double meanings
Mini clues love misdirection. "Runs in the family?" could be a DNA reference, not sprinting. A question mark at the end of a clue almost always signals a pun or a non-literal meaning.
Know the common 3-letter standbys
ERA, ORE, ALE, OAR, EEL, APE, ADE, and other short words appear repeatedly in Mini grids. When a clue is vague and the crossing letters leave only 3-letter gaps, cycle through common options.
Abbreviations signal abbreviation answers
If a clue includes "Abbr.", "for short", or lists something like "Mon. or Tue.", the answer is an abbreviation. Abbreviation answers often end in odd letter combinations that would otherwise be tricky.
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