NYT Crossword Answers for May 23, 2026

NYT Crossword answers for May 23, 2026 are listed below by Across and Down clue.

Want hints before revealing everything? Browse clue-by-clue hints for this puzzle.

Across Answers

They might be settled atop stools View hint and explanation

BARBETS

Shell, say View hint and explanation

ARMOR

13A

Places to put fliers View hint and explanation

AVIARIES

15A

Surgical specialty, informally View hint and explanation

NEURO

16A

A boxer's might knock you out View hint and explanation

DOGBREATH

18A

Substitute for "etc." View hint and explanation

YADDA

19A

Begrudges View hint and explanation

ENVIES

20A

Old auto company based in Lansing, Mich. View hint and explanation

REO

22A

Jazz drummer DeRosa View hint and explanation

CLEM

23A

One of the seven depicted in the 1995 thriller "Se7en" View hint and explanation

GREED

24A

Daytime regulars View hint and explanation

SOAPSTARS

26A

What some prisoners earn, in brief View hint and explanation

GEDS

27A

Old black-and-white police autos, to Brits View hint and explanation

PANDACARS

28A

___ weekend View hint and explanation

SPA

29A

Walk on water? View hint and explanation

GANGPLANK

30A

Top that screams "Look at me!" View hint and explanation

LOUDSHIRT

31A

Clay-and-calcium-carbonate mix used in cement making View hint and explanation

MARLSTONE

32A

"Lovely!" View hint and explanation

FAB

35A

Chess puzzle challenge, maybe View hint and explanation

MATEINONE

36A

Make do View hint and explanation

COPE

37A

Many an epithet View hint and explanation

DIRTYNAME

38A

Common con game View hint and explanation

MONTE

39A

Petite ___ (certain French partner) View hint and explanation

AMIE

40A

Epithet lead-in View hint and explanation

AKA

41A

Bit of back-and-forth View hint and explanation

BANTER

42A

Farrow with a Pulitzer for his investigative journalism View hint and explanation

RONAN

44A

Eerie substance faked in 19th-century ghost hoaxes View hint and explanation

ECTOPLASM

46A

Bygone leaders View hint and explanation

TSARS

47A

Tourist nickname for a Southern mecca, to the chagrin of many locals View hint and explanation

HOTLANTA

48A

Until, in Uruguay View hint and explanation

HASTA

49A

Destination for wagons, once View hint and explanation

THEWEST

Down Answers

No-goodniks View hint and explanation

BADEGGS

Sales job that Forbes magazine once dubbed "the original side hustle," informally View hint and explanation

AVONREP

Ancient collection of Hindu hymns View hint and explanation

RIGVEDA

Pampers View hint and explanation

BABIES

Handled something poorly, say View hint and explanation

ERRED

Gets even with? View hint and explanation

TIES

Tac preceder View hint and explanation

SEA

At least one View hint and explanation

ANY

Substance that undergoes change, as in a lab View hint and explanation

REACTANT

10D

Magpie lookalike with black-and-white plumage View hint and explanation

MUDLARK

11D

Bosses (around) View hint and explanation

ORDERS

12D

Gads about View hint and explanation

ROAMS

14D

Figurative ability to withstand almost anything View hint and explanation

STRONGSTOMACH

17D

Canal blocker? View hint and explanation

HEADPHONE

19D

th-century German novelist Theodor View hint and explanation

FONTANE

21D

Milky and iridescent View hint and explanation

OPALINE

24D

Lizard predator of Africa View hint and explanation

SANDSNAKE

25D

Close call View hint and explanation

SCARE

27D

Swedish American model Porizkova View hint and explanation

PAULINA

29D

Edward who wrote and illustrated "The Gashlycrumb Tinies" View hint and explanation

GOREY

30D

Foam designs, perhaps View hint and explanation

LATTEART

31D

Berth places View hint and explanation

MARINAS

32D

th-century German novelist Theodor View hint and explanation

FONTANE

33D

Stressors for some H.S. seniors View hint and explanation

APTESTS

34D

Accessory on a pub counter View hint and explanation

BEERMAT

35D

Brunch beverage View hint and explanation

MIMOSA

36D

Standard 1L course, informally View hint and explanation

CONLAW

37D

Title for some fictional lords View hint and explanation

DARTH

38D

Sugar ___ View hint and explanation

MAPLE

41D

Choice for the undecided View hint and explanation

BOTH

43D

Org. with a "Cryptographic Support Services" page on its website View hint and explanation

NSA

45D

Little squirt View hint and explanation

TOT