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New York Times, Tuesday, May 5, 2026

Author:
Max Schlenker
Editor:
Will Shortz
Blog:
It's a no-brainer
TotalDebut
15/5/2026
SunMonTueWedThuFriSat
0010000
ScrabDebutFlowFresh
1.65351.843%
Max Schlenker

This puzzle:

Rows: 15, Columns: 16 Words: 79, Blocks: 36 Missing: {JQVXZ} Spans: 1 This is the debut puzzle for Mr. Schlenker. Grid flow: 51.8 Tuesday freshness: 81%
1
G
2
O
3
T
4
O
5
P
6
I
7
T
8
C
9
H
10
H
11
O
12
P
13
O
14
N
15
A
R
A
L
16
H
O
O
H
A
17
I
D
A
H
O
18
L
A
D
Y
19
F
I
N
G
E
R
20
T
E
C
H
S
21
L
L
A
M
A
22
S
A
R
A
23
H
24
S
K
E
E
25
P
D
26
F
27
S
I
M
O
28
N
S
A
Y
S
29
A
30
R
31
T
I
S
A
32
N
33
M
E
A
N
34
S
H
E
A
35
K
E
36
T
37
T
38
L
E
S
39
I
40
D
41
O
42
H
E
A
D
43
L
E
S
S
H
O
R
S
44
E
M
A
N
45
Y
A
M
46
I
N
T
O
Y
O
U
47
N
A
R
C
48
M
49
A
C
E
50
S
N
51
A
R
L
E
D
52
T
53
R
A
D
E
W
54
I
55
N
56
D
57
S
C
I
58
R
A
S
H
59
S
M
E
A
60
R
61
M
C
62
R
63
I
64
B
65
E
M
C
E
66
E
67
N
A
T
U
68
R
E
H
I
K
E
69
A
B
O
R
T
70
E
T
U
D
E
71
E
P
E
E
72
T
O
T
E
S
73
W
O
M
E
N
74
D
E
A
F
© 2026, The New York Times5/5/26 ( No. 27,937 )
Across
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
Alternative to a Word doc : PDF
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

Answer summary:
2 unique to this puzzle, 1 unique to Modern Era but used previously.

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