NYT Crossword Answers for May 20, 2024

Jump to: Today’s Theme | Tricky Clues

MONDAY PUZZLE — Familiarity breeds contempt, but in the case of language, it also breeds apathy. As a words’ usage shifts over centuries, its potency also fades. This means that we, usually with women and younger generations leading the charge, must redraw the boundaries of what’s considered extreme or taboo. (Wordplay’s own Deb Amlen published a brief history of insults last year, in case you’d like to revisit some barbs from biblical and medieval times).

The fighting words that reveal the theme of today’s crossword — constructed by Jack Scherban in his New York Times debut — have been traced as far back as the 1930s. I don’t think I’ve ever used them. Instead, I avoid conflict altogether by deploying the most powerful defense mechanism of all: humor. Thankfully, Mr. Scherban has included a healthy dose of that stuff in his theme, too.

Today’s Theme

A trace of snark runs through Mr. Scherban’s clues for his theme entries at 20-, 31- and 38-Across, as though to prime us to come up with an “Unfazed response to a threat” (49A) from the figures therein.

The “Beatles album character who apparently is an infantry leader” — emphasis as clued — is SERGEANT PEPPER (20A). And a “Hotels.com mascot who must be a commanding officer” is CAPTAIN OBVIOUS (31A). We get a third military rank in COLONEL SANDERS (38A). And a witty response to a possible threat from any of these charactersmight be YOU AND WHAT ARMY (49A)?

Of the words in italics in the clues, Christina Iverson, a puzzle editor for The Times, said they were “a fun way to emphasize the goofiness of the theme.” Goofy, perhaps — but clever, too.