Here's all New York Times Crossword answers for 22 May 2025, Thursday (05-22-25). Find all answers and solutions here.
We've also tries to explain why the answer is the correct solution for each clue.
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Clues and answers
Clues followed by answers and an explanation underneath.
1990s Israeli president Weizman : EZER
A long way away : AFAR
"FAR" is the right solution because it is a synonym for "a long way away." It conveys a great distance or remote location.
A, to a Frankfurter : EINE
"EINE" is the German word for "a," and Frankfurter is a city in Germany. So, "A, to a Frankfurter" is asking for the German word for "a," which is "EINE."
Accessory used by Woody in the “Toy Story” movies : LASSO
The answer is "LASSO" because Woody, the cowboy character in "Toy Story" movies, is often seen using a lasso as his signature accessory to catch and wrangle objects or other characters.
At home : NOT OUT
"NOT OUT" is a cricket term used when a batsman is not dismissed by the fielding team. In the context of the crossword clue "At home," "NOT OUT" can be interpreted as being safe and secure, similar to how a batsman is safe at the crease when not out.
Bath room : LOO
The term "loo" is a British slang term for a bathroom or toilet. It is a commonly used informal term for a room where one can take a bath or use the toilet.
Be brave and proud [Iran] : STAND TALL (ALL to RIAL gave STAND TRIAL)
The answer "STAND TALL" fits the clue because it means to be brave and proud. The word "ALL" can be rearranged to form "RIAL," the currency of Iran. This gives us "STAND TRIAL," which means to face a trial, linking back to the clue.
Biblical figure seen in the sauna? : ESAU
ESAU is a biblical figure known for being Harry. In a sauna, people sweat, which could be seen as being "hairy" or "harry." This play on words makes ESAU the right answer for the clue.
Bob Marley song in the Grammy Hall of Fame : ONE LOVE
The answer "ONE LOVE" fits the clue because it is a Bob Marley song that has been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
Bring into play : UTILIZE
The clue "Bring into play" is a synonym for "use". Both phrases mean to utilize or make use of something.
Brother hood? : COWL
The clue "Brother hood?" is a play on words, hinting at a brotherhood of monks who wear cowls, which are hooded robes. Therefore, the answer "COWL" fits the clue.
Call again? : RETITLE
The answer "RETITLE" to the clue "Call again?" is a play on words. In this case, "Call again" suggests naming or labeling something again, which is what "retitling" means.
Came to be : AROSE
The word "AROSE" means to come into existence or to appear, which fits the clue "Came to be."
Cardio exercise program : TAE BO
TAE BO is a cardio exercise program combining elements of taekwondo and boxing. It is a popular workout routine created by Billy Blanks in the 1990s.
Classic car inits. : REO
The initials "REO" stand for Ransom Eli Olds, the founder of the REO Motor Car Company, which produced classic cars.
Culmination : ACME
The word "culmination" means the highest point or peak of something. "Apex" is a synonym for the highest point, making it the right solution.
Damages seeker : SUER
The term "SUER" refers to someone who brings a lawsuit or seeks damages in a legal case. In a crossword context, "Damages seeker" is a clue hinting at this legal term, making "SUER" the correct answer.
Dumbledore, to Harry Potter : MENTOR
"Mentor" is the right answer because Dumbledore serves as a wise and trusted guide to Harry Potter throughout the series, providing him with advice, support, and valuable life lessons.
Einstein, notably : EMIGRE
Fed. loan group : SBA
The answer "SBA" stands for Small Business Administration, a federal agency that provides loans to small businesses.
Figs. : NOS
"NOS" is the abbreviation for "numbers" in plural form, which is a common abbreviation used in crossword puzzles.
Film editor ___ Allen : DEDE Down 1 Olympic diver’s pride, maybe
Dede Allen was a well-known film editor in the industry, making "DEDE" the correct answer for the clue "Film editor ___ Allen."
Formally picks : ANOINTS
"Formally picks" is a clue that indicates the act of choosing someone for a special role or task in a formal or official manner. "Anoints" fits this clue because it means to officially choose or appoint someone for a particular position or duty.
Framed item : PANE
French handle? : NOM
"French handle?" is a wordplay clue where "handle" is used as a verb meaning "to name." In French, "nom" means "name," so the answer "NOM" fits the clue.
Fresh starts : RESETS
"Fresh starts" is a clue that indicates a need for a word that means starting over. "RESETS" is the correct answer because it means to start over or begin again.
Gradually found out : GLEANED
The word "gleaned" means to gradually collect information or insights. In the context of the clue "Gradually found out," "gleaned" fits perfectly as it describes the process of slowly acquiring knowledge or understanding.
Grp. with a hit remake of Chuck Berry’s “Roll Over Beethoven” : ELO
ELO stands for Electric Light Orchestra, and they are the group that had a hit remake of Chuck Berry's "Roll Over Beethoven."
His #4 was retired by the N.H.L.’s Bruins : ORR
The clue mentions a retired number by the NHL's Bruins, which refers to Bobby Orr, a legendary player whose number 4 was retired by the team. So, the answer is "ORR."
Home that sounds like two letters : TEPEE
The word "TEPEE" sounds like the letters "T" and "P" when pronounced, making it a home that sounds like two letters.
Hopper of Hollywood : DENNIS
"Dennis Hopper" was a well-known Hollywood actor and filmmaker, making "DENNIS" the correct answer to the clue "Hopper of Hollywood."
How some medications are taken [Jordan] : ORALLY (ALL to DINAR gave ORDINARY)
The answer "ORALLY" is derived from the wordplay in the clue. "ALL" (letters in the word "all") is placed inside "DINAR" (currency in Jordan) to give "ORDINARY," which is a synonym for "ORALLY," meaning taken by mouth.
Industry in “There Will Be Blood” : OIL
The industry in the movie "There Will Be Blood" is primarily focused on oil drilling and extraction, making "OIL" the correct answer to the clue.
It burns : ACID
The answer "ACID" is the right solution because acids have a burning sensation when they come into contact with skin or other surfaces.
Jackson who won 11 N.B.A. championships as head coach : PHIL
Phil Jackson is a former N.B.A. coach who won 11 championships, making him one of the most successful coaches in basketball history. The clue "Jackson who won 11 N.B.A. championships as head coach" is referring to Phil Jackson.
Luminous meteor [South Africa] : FIREBALL (ALL to RAND gave FIREBRAND)
The answer "FIREBALL" fits the clue "Luminous meteor [South Africa]" because a fireball is a bright meteor. The wordplay in the clue, "ALL to RAND gave FIREBRAND," indicates that changing "ALL" to "RAND" in the word "FIREBRAND" gives us "FIREBALL."
Most-applied-to college in the U.S. : UCLA
The answer is "UCLA" because it is one of the most popular and highly applied-to colleges in the United States, known for its prestigious programs and location in California.
Moths do it : FLIT
The word "FLIT" fits the clue "Moths do it" because moths are known for moving quickly and erratically from place to place, which is exactly what the word "FLIT" means - to move swiftly and lightly.
Moved slowly : INCHED
The word "inched" means to move slowly or gradually. It is commonly used to describe a slow and careful movement, making it the right solution for the clue "Moved slowly."
Name that aptly completes the missing letters in Th r _n : UMA
The missing letters in "Th r _n" spell out "U" and "M" which, when combined with the given "a," complete the name "UMA" (Thurman).
National park with a working sled dog kennel : DENALI
The answer "DENALI" fits the clue because Denali National Park in Alaska is known for having a working sled dog kennel used for transportation and patrolling the park.
Not deviating from : TRUE TO
The phrase "true to" means staying loyal or faithful to something, not deviating from it.
One who deals with a lot of bull? : TORERO
The term "bull" in the clue refers to a bullfighter, also known as a torero in Spanish. Therefore, "One who deals with a lot of bull" is a play on words that hints at the answer "TORERO."
Ones on your side [Costa Rica] : ALLIES (ALL to COLON gave COLONIES)
The answer "ALLIES" fits because it means "Ones on your side" and can be found in "Costa Rica" by taking "ALL" from "COLON" to get "COLONIES".
Opposite of 1- : BASE
The opposite of 1- is +1, which can be represented as BASE in a crossword puzzle where numbers are commonly represented in base systems.
Palladium, e.g. : ELEMENT
The answer "ELEMENT" fits the clue "Palladium, e.g." because palladium is a chemical element on the periodic table.
Parent’s blunt answer to “Why?” : I SAID SO!
The answer "I SAID SO!" is a common response from a parent when they want to assert authority and end further questioning from a child. It fits the clue "Parent’s blunt answer to 'Why?'" perfectly.
Part of many a smartphone upgrade : TRADE-IN
"TRADE-IN" is the right solution because when upgrading a smartphone, many people choose to trade in their old phone to offset the cost of the new one.
See 5- : … EVERYTHING
The answer to "See 5-" is "... TOP" because when you combine the word "See" with the number 5, it forms the word "See" followed by the word "TOP," which is a common phrase meaning to look at something or someone's upper part.
Seeded #1, say : ON TOP
The answer "ON TOP" is the right solution because when a team is seeded #1 in a tournament, they are placed at the top of the bracket or ranking.
Son of Adam and Eve : ABEL
The answer "ABEL" is correct because Abel is the son of Adam and Eve according to the Bible.
Square : EVEN
The word "square" can be used to describe someone who is old-fashioned or uncool. "DORK" is a slang term that can also be used to describe someone who is uncool or socially awkward, making it a fitting answer for the clue.
Square one : NERD
The answer "NERD" fits the clue "Square one?" because a "nerd" is often associated with being intelligent and starting at the beginning or "square one" in terms of social status or coolness.
Sr.’s test : GRE
The abbreviation "Sr." stands for "Senior," which typically refers to an older person. "GRE" is a standardized test commonly taken by seniors or older individuals for graduate school admissions.
Stentorian sort : YELLER
Studs, stags and steers : HES
The answer "HES" is the abbreviation for the pronoun "hes," which is a term used for males, fitting the clue "Studs, stags, and steers," which are all male animals.
Study secondarily : MINOR IN
"Study secondarily" is a cryptic clue where "Study" is the definition and "secondarily" is the indicator to take the second letters of the word. Therefore, the answer "MINOR IN" fits as it means to study a particular subject as a secondary focus.
Support for a tumbler : MAT
The answer "MAT" is the right solution because a mat provides support for a tumbler, such as a yoga mat supporting someone doing a tumbler exercise.
Target as an audience : CATER TO
"CATER TO" means to specifically appeal to or satisfy a particular audience, making it the right solution for the clue "Target, as an audience."
Telegram or CapCut : APP
The answer is "APP" because both Telegram and CapCut are examples of mobile applications, commonly known as apps.
Travel around : ROVE
The word "rove" means to travel around without a fixed destination, making it a suitable answer for the clue "Travel around."
Ubiquitously [Korea] : ALL OVER (ALL to WON gave WON OVER)
The answer "ALL OVER" is derived from the word "ALL" changing to "WON," which gives "WON OVER," meaning "Ubiquitously [Korea]."
Where things get heated : OVEN
The answer "OVEN" fits the clue "Where things get heated" because an oven is a common household appliance that is used for baking and cooking food by applying heat.
With 11-Down and 58-, aphorism about the effect of sudden wealth … or a hint to the answers to the starred clues : MONEY …
The answer "MONEY" fits with the clue because the phrase "With 11-Down and 58-" refers to combining two other answers to form a common phrase or saying related to sudden wealth, which is often associated with money.
___ user : END
The answer "END" fits the clue "___ user" because when you "end" something, you are no longer a user of it.
“Look what ___!” : I DID
The phrase "Look what I did!" is a common expression to show pride or accomplishment in something one has achieved. Therefore, the answer "I DID" fits the clue "Look what ___!" as it completes the phrase.
“No doubt about it” : YEP
The answer "YEP" is a casual way of expressing agreement or certainty, similar to saying "No doubt about it." Both phrases convey a sense of confidence or affirmation.
“Star Trek” pilot : SULU
"SULU" is the right answer because Sulu is the character who piloted the starship Enterprise in the original "Star Trek" series.
“That’s the pits!” : UGH!
The expression "UGH!" is commonly used to convey disappointment or disgust, making it a fitting response to the exclamation "That's the pits!" which also expresses a negative sentiment.
“True Lies” director James : CAMERON
James Cameron is a well-known director who directed the movie "True Lies," making "CAMERON" the correct answer for the clue.
“We’re out of the woods” : IT’S SAFE
The phrase "We're out of the woods" means that a dangerous or difficult situation has passed, so "IT'S SAFE" is the right solution as it conveys the idea of being in a secure or out of danger.
“Who _?” : ISN’T
The phrase "Who isn't?" is often used to express surprise or disbelief. It implies that the person in question is not doing something expected or is not who they are believed to be.