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Friday, May 15, 2026

XWordHint Crossword Answers May 15, 2026 | Expert Breakdown & Tips

Master today's NYT crossword with our expert hint system. We provide synonyms, antonyms, and strategic clues to help you solve without spoiling the fun. Perfect for crossword lovers who want that satisfying "aha!" moment.

Quick Navigation - Table of Contents

Today's Puzzle Difficulty: Medium

Pro Tip: Start with the fill-in-the-blank clues - they're usually the easiest entry points!

Across Clues - Complete List

No. Clue Letters
1A 1. To the ___ (as much as possible) 4
2A 5. Electrifying people, so to speak 9
3A 14. Dog howling at night, maybe 4
4A 15. Vintage bike feature 10
5A 16. Good name for a yoga instructor? 4
6A 17. Hairy get-up 10
7A 18. Wych ___ (tree type) 3
8A 19. Miss Doolittle of "Pygmalion" 5
9A 20. Civil rights activist Williams, an associate of Martin Luther King Jr. 5
10A 21. Splits apart 7
11A 23. Annual coll. basketball competition 3
12A 25. Class for some aspiring bilinguals, in brief 3
13A 26. Led 6
14A 27. Play casually, say 5
15A 29. Like some kitchens 5
16A 30. Harps on 8
17A 33. MacMurray of "Double Indemnity" 4
18A 34. Throw in at the end 5
19A 35. Pulls off 4
20A 37. Jarring film transition to a new scene 8
21A 39. Sired 5
22A 40. Give a hand? 5
23A 41. Language of southern India 6
24A 42. Sierra, e.g. 3
25A 45. "Nasty!" 3
26A 46. Rainwater reservoir 7
27A 47. Duane ___ (New York-based pharmacy chain) 5
28A 49. Figures in "Puss in Boots" and "Hop-o'-My-Thumb" 5
29A 51. Sickly-looking 3
30A 52. "I don't care either way" 10
31A 54. Magician's accessory 4
32A 55. Use of a popular song to make a scene iconic, in film-speak 10
33A 56. "Your turn to speak" 4
34A 57. Difficult time for farmers 9
35A 58. Hot ___ 4

Across Clues - Strategic Hints

1A: "1. To the ___ (as much as possible)"

4 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the handle of a sword or dagger
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HILT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

2A: "5. Electrifying people, so to speak"

9 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LIVEWIRES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

3A: "14. Dog howling at night, maybe"

4 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a sign of something about to happen
  • Similar words include: Muscat and Oman, prognostication, portend
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OMEN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

4A: "15. Vintage bike feature"

10 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BANANASEAT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

5A: "16. Good name for a yoga instructor?"

4 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the property of having little or no contrast; lacking highlights or gloss
  • Similar words include: matte, flat, mat
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MATT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

6A: "17. Hairy get-up"

10 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: APECOSTUME

Remember this word for future puzzles!

7A: "18. Wych ___ (tree type)"

3 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that any of various trees of the genus ulmus: important timber or shade trees
  • Similar words include: elm tree, elmwood
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ELM

Remember this word for future puzzles!

8A: "19. Miss Doolittle of "Pygmalion""

5 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ELIZA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

9A: "20. Civil rights activist Williams, an associate of Martin Luther King Jr."

5 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a minor hebrew prophet (8th century bc)
  • Similar words include: Book of Hosea
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HOSEA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

10A: "21. Splits apart"

7 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that separate or cut with a tool, such as a sharp instrument
  • Similar words include: rive, adhere, cling
  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CLEAVES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

11A: "23. Annual coll. basketball competition"

3 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a luminance unit equal to 1 candle per square meter measured perpendicular to the rays from the source
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NIT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

12A: "25. Class for some aspiring bilinguals, in brief"

3 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ESL

Remember this word for future puzzles!

13A: "26. Led"

6 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that to go or travel towards
  • Similar words include: lead, maneuver, guide
  • Opposite of: unheaded, headless
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HEADED

Remember this word for future puzzles!

14A: "27. Play casually, say"

5 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that sound of strumming
  • Similar words include: thrum
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: STRUM

Remember this word for future puzzles!

15A: "29. Like some kitchens"

5 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EATIN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

16A: "30. Harps on"

8 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that to work at or to absurd length
  • Similar words include: belabour, belabor
  • Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BELABORS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

17A: "33. MacMurray of "Double Indemnity""

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FRED

Remember this word for future puzzles!

18A: "34. Throw in at the end"

5 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TAGON

Remember this word for future puzzles!

19A: "35. Pulls off"

4 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the federal department responsible for maintaining a national energy policy of the united states; created in 1977
  • Similar words include: answer, serve, doe
  • Opposite of: unmake
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DOES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

20A: "37. Jarring film transition to a new scene"

8 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SMASHCUT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

21A: "39. Sired"

5 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that make children
  • Similar words include: father, get, engender
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BEGAT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

22A: "40. Give a hand?"

5 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that building material used as siding or roofing
  • Similar words include: shake up, sway, waggle
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SHAKE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

23A: "41. Language of southern India"

6 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a member of the people in southeastern india (andhra pradesh) who speak the telugu language
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TELUGU

Remember this word for future puzzles!

24A: "42. Sierra, e.g."

3 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GMC

Remember this word for future puzzles!

25A: "45. "Nasty!""

3 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EWW

Remember this word for future puzzles!

26A: "46. Rainwater reservoir"

7 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a sac or cavity containing fluid especially lymph or cerebrospinal fluid
  • Similar words include: water tank, cisterna
  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CISTERN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

27A: "47. Duane ___ (New York-based pharmacy chain)"

5 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: READE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

28A: "49. Figures in "Puss in Boots" and "Hop-o'-My-Thumb""

5 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a cruel wicked and inhuman person
  • Similar words include: fiend, devil, ogre
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OGRES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

29A: "51. Sickly-looking"

3 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a computer network that spans a wider area than does a local area network
  • Similar words include: sick, pallid, wide area network
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: WAN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

30A: "52. "I don't care either way""

10 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ITSUPTOYOU

Remember this word for future puzzles!

31A: "54. Magician's accessory"

4 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a strip of land projecting into a body of water
  • Similar words include: ness, mantle
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CAPE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

32A: "55. Use of a popular song to make a scene iconic, in film-speak"

10 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NEEDLEDROP

Remember this word for future puzzles!

33A: "56. "Your turn to speak""

4 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that (cricket) the division of play during which six balls are bowled at the batsman by one player from the other team from the same end of the pitch
  • Similar words include: terminated, all over, o'er
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OVER

Remember this word for future puzzles!

34A: "57. Difficult time for farmers"

9 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DRYSEASON

Remember this word for future puzzles!

35A: "58. Hot ___"

4 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a state of confusion and disorderliness
  • Similar words include: kettle of fish, raft, mint
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MESS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

Down Clues - Complete List

No. Clue Letters
1D 1. Big name in meal prep kits 8
2D 2. "Tell me!" 9
3D 3. Line of attack? 9
4D 4. Cause of a boom 3
5D 5. Material for the blue eyebrows on the mask of Tutankhamen, in brief 5
6D 6. Mother of Don Juan 4
7D 7. Here goes nothing! 9
8D 8. Brian of ambient music 3
9D 9. Part of a bass in a jug band 7
10D 10. : 4
11D 11. Get new life out of 5
12D 12. Eponym for a lounge chair 5
13D 13. "I can't believe that price" bargain 5
14D 15. Made hay? 5
15D 19. Uniform 4
16D 22. Puma rival 6
17D 24. Setting for the graphic novel series "Persepolis" 4
18D 27. Transition 5
19D 28. Competitor of the early Chevrolet 490 6
20D 30. "Sticks" 9
21D 31. Dangerous ocean phenomenon 9
22D 32. Edible algae dubbed "green caviar" 9
23D 34. Break the ice? 4
24D 36. Knockouts 8
25D 38. Blind followers, informally 7
26D 39. Friend of Nancy Drew 4
27D 41. Moor 5
28D 42. Daily ___ 5
29D 43. Element of a poetry analysis, maybe 5
30D 44. Baseball's Stengel 5
31D 46. Sing like Michael Bublé 5
32D 48. Threads 4
33D 50. Food item whose name comes from the Greek for "turn" 4
34D 53. Occasion that may involve fine china 3
35D 54. Common end to an address 3

Down Clues - Strategic Hints

1D: "1. Big name in meal prep kits"

8 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HOMECHEF

Remember this word for future puzzles!

2D: "2. "Tell me!""

9 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: IMALLEARS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

3D: "3. Line of attack?"

9 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LETMEATEM

Remember this word for future puzzles!

4D: "4. Cause of a boom"

3 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that explosive consisting of a yellow crystalline compound that is a flammable toxic derivative of toluene
  • Similar words include: trinitrotoluene
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TNT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

5D: "5. Material for the blue eyebrows on the mask of Tutankhamen, in brief"

5 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LAPIS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

6D: "6. Mother of Don Juan"

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: INEZ

Remember this word for future puzzles!

7D: "7. Here goes nothing!"

9 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: VACANTLOT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

8D: "8. Brian of ambient music"

3 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ENO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

9D: "9. Part of a bass in a jug band"

7 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a tub in which clothes or linens can be washed
  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: WASHTUB

Remember this word for future puzzles!

10D: "10. :"

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ISTO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

11D: "11. Get new life out of"

5 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that use again after processing
  • Similar words include: reprocess, recycle
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: REUSE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

12D: "12. Eponym for a lounge chair"

5 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that united states designer noted for an innovative series of chairs (1907-1978)
  • Similar words include: Charles Eames
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EAMES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

13D: "13. "I can't believe that price" bargain"

5 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an advantageous purchase
  • Similar words include: bargain, slip, buy
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: STEAL

Remember this word for future puzzles!

14D: "15. Made hay?"

5 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that make into a bale
  • Similar words include: bale
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BALED

Remember this word for future puzzles!

15D: "19. Uniform"

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
  • Similar words include: evening, even out, yet
  • Opposite of: uneven, odd
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EVEN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

16D: "22. Puma rival"

6 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ADIDAS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

17D: "24. Setting for the graphic novel series "Persepolis""

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a theocratic islamic republic in the middle east in western asia; iran was the core of the ancient empire that was known as persia until 1935; rich in oil
  • Similar words include: Persia, Islamic Republic of Iran
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: IRAN

Remember this word for future puzzles!

18D: "27. Transition"

5 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the act of changing smoothly from one state or situation to another
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SEGUE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

19D: "28. Competitor of the early Chevrolet 490"

6 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MODELT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

20D: "30. "Sticks""

9 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a remote and undeveloped area
  • Similar words include: back country, boondocks, hinterland
  • Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BACKWOODS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

21D: "31. Dangerous ocean phenomenon"

9 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ROGUEWAVE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

22D: "32. Edible algae dubbed "green caviar""

9 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SEAGRAPES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

23D: "34. Break the ice?"

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the process whereby heat changes something from a solid to a liquid
  • Similar words include: melting, thawing, melt
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: THAW

Remember this word for future puzzles!

24D: "36. Knockouts"

8 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a very attractive or seductive looking woman
  • Similar words include: mantrap, knockout, beauty
  • Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: STUNNERS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

25D: "38. Blind followers, informally"

7 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SHEEPLE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

26D: "39. Friend of Nancy Drew"

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BESS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

27D: "41. Moor"

5 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TIEUP

Remember this word for future puzzles!

28D: "42. Daily ___"

5 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an insignificant student who is ridiculed as being affected or boringly studious
  • Similar words include: cranch, travail, moil
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GRIND

Remember this word for future puzzles!

29D: "43. Element of a poetry analysis, maybe"

5 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the basic unit of length adopted under the systeme international d'unites (approximately 1.094 yards)
  • Similar words include: time, metre, beat
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: METER

Remember this word for future puzzles!

30D: "44. Baseball's Stengel"

5 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CASEY

Remember this word for future puzzles!

31D: "46. Sing like Michael Bublé"

5 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that sing softly
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CROON

Remember this word for future puzzles!

32D: "48. Threads"

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that informal terms for clothing
  • Similar words include: threads, togs, dud
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DUDS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

33D: "50. Food item whose name comes from the Greek for "turn""

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a greek sandwich: sliced roast lamb with onion and tomato stuffed into pita bread
  • Similar words include: gyroscope
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GYRO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

34D: "53. Occasion that may involve fine china"

3 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a beverage made by steeping tea leaves in water
  • Similar words include: afternoon tea, Camellia sinensis, teatime
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TEA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

35D: "54. Common end to an address"

3 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: COM

Remember this word for future puzzles!

Expert Solving Strategies

Start Smart

Begin with fill-in-the-blank clues and short 3-4 letter words. These are your foundation.

Decode the Clues

Question marks indicate wordplay or puns. "Maybe" suggests multiple interpretations.

Use Cross-References

Let intersecting letters guide you. One correct answer unlocks several others.

Build Vocabulary

Common crossword words repeat. Learning them speeds up future solving.

Today's Puzzle Stats

35 Across Clues
35 Down Clues
70 Total Clues

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Last updated: May 15, 2026 at 06:45 AM

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