Careful, this might be hot! NYT Crossword Clue

By Emre Parlak / May 20, 2026

Crossword Answer

1 ? M

2 ? I

3 ? C

Hint

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Drag letters from the pool into “Your Answer”, then reorder them to match the solution.

Your Answer 3 Letter

Current guess: —

Letter Pool

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Hint 1

hint

Reveal Hint

Think of the tool that amplifies your voice when you're on stage.

Hint 2

meaning

Reveal Hint

A ??? is a device used to amplify or record sound, particularly in performances or broadcasts.

Hint 3

explanation

Reveal Hint

The clue uses a play on words, suggesting something that might be 'hot' in terms of popularity or activity. '???' is short for microphone, which can be 'hot' when it's live or in use, often in performance contexts.

Hint 4

another clue

Reveal Hint

Open ___ night, Amp input label, Piece of equipment that's checked by tap-tap-tapping it, What might help someone be loud and clear?, Device built into most laptops

NYT Crossword May 20 2026 Answers

Tap a cell to show its letter

1 ? T
2 ? I
3 ? K
4 ? I
5 ? B
6 ? A
7 ? R
8 ? E
9 ? M
10 ? B
11 ? O
12 ? S
13 ? S
14 ? H
? A
? T
? E
? R
? A
? D
? E
15 ? V
? I
? E
? N
? N
? A
16 ? O
? F
? F
? Y
? E
? A
? R
? E
17 ? L
? E
? C
? T
? I
? O
? N
18 ? O
? T
? I
? S
19 ? O
? D
? I
? N
20 ? R
? O
? O
? D
21 ? G
? U
22 ? C
23 ? C
? I
24 ? R
? E
25 ? C
? A
? N
? T
? S
26 ? S
27 ? O
? U
? P
? O
? F
? T
28 ? H
? E
? D
? A
? Y
29 ? E
? R
? R
30 ? N
? O
? L
? O
31 ? T
? A
32 ? T
33 ? E
34 ? R
35 ? A
? C
? E
36 ? R
? B
37 ? Y
? O
38 ? M
39 ? C
? L
? A
? R
? A
40 ? L
? A
? S
? E
? R
41 ? H
? O
42 ? D
? A
43 ? K
? I
? N
44 ? V
? I
45 ? S
46 ? U
? A
? L
? E
? F
47 ? F
? E
? C
? T
48 ? S
49 ? A
50 ? G
? E
? O
? I
? L
51 ? A
? L
? E
? A
? P
52 ? P
? I
? E
? R
53 ? G
? T
54 ? O
? S
55 ? L
? O
56 ? B
57 ? S
58 ? I
? S
? N
? T
59 ? T
? H
? A
? T
? S
60 ? P
61 ? E
? C
? I
? A
? L
62 ? C
? L
? E
? E
? S
? E
63 ? R
? E
? C
? K
? O
? N
? S
? O
64 ? Y
? E
? S
? D
? A
? D
65 ? A
? S
? S
? E
? N
? T
? S

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15A

European city that “waits for you,” in a Billy Joel tune Crossword Clue

16A

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18A

Redding who sang “(Sittin’ on) The Dock of the Bay” Crossword Clue

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24A

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29A

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30A

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31A

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35A

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37A

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39A

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40A

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43A

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48A

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51A

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52A

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53A

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55A

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58A

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62A

John in the sketch “The Fish-Slapping Dance” Crossword Clue

63A

“Seems right,” folksily Crossword Clue

64A

Words a teenager might say with an eye roll Crossword Clue

65A

Says OK Crossword Clue

Down

Mustachioed president who succeeded another mustachioed president in 1909 Crossword Clue

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With deftness Crossword Clue

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Careful, this might be hot! Crossword Clue

10D

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11D

Word with ring or roll Crossword Clue

12D

Hoity-toity one Crossword Clue

13D

Smooths, in a way Crossword Clue

14D

“___ boy!” Crossword Clue

17D

Old Italian money Crossword Clue

22D

Musical notation that means “with vigor” Crossword Clue

23D

Boardroom bigwig, in brief Crossword Clue

25D

Spot to drink a matcha with a Manx Crossword Clue

26D

Ocean prey for a 27-Down Crossword Clue

27D

Ocean predator of a 26-Down Crossword Clue

28D

Big to-do Crossword Clue

32D

Be in charge, informally Crossword Clue

33D

Protagonist of “That ’70s Show” Crossword Clue

34D

Speech full of invective Crossword Clue

36D

Went back (to), as a prior state Crossword Clue

38D

Epitome of slowness Crossword Clue

42D

Director Guillermo ___ Toro Crossword Clue

45D

Expressed frustration, maybe Crossword Clue

46D

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47D

Atlanta athlete Crossword Clue

48D

Risqué Crossword Clue

49D

Walkway for newlyweds Crossword Clue

50D

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54D

“___ Noche en Miami” (Bad Bunny song) Crossword Clue

56D

Low voice Crossword Clue

57D

___-mo Crossword Clue

59D

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60D

Lenovo products, informally Crossword Clue

61D

Just get (by) Crossword Clue

Clue Analysis

The 3-letter answer to “Careful, this might be hot!” in the NYT Crossword May 20 2026 is MIC.

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Your Questions, Answered by Experts.

At Daze Puzzle, we understand that every clue is a puzzle within a larger puzzle. Our team of dedicated human experts and puzzle lovers solves these challenges daily to help you succeed. Below, we answer common questions about this specific clue.

A: The most common and recent 3-letter answer for "Careful, this might be hot!" is MIC.

A: The clue uses a play on words, suggesting something that might be 'hot' in terms of popularity or activity. 'Mic' is short for microphone, which can be 'hot' when it's live or in use, often in performance contexts.

A: This clue was last seen in the NYT Crossword on May 20, 2026.

A: A mic is a device used to amplify or record sound, particularly in performances or broadcasts.

A: Open ___ night, Amp input label, Piece of equipment that's checked by tap-tap-tapping it, What might help someone be loud and clear?, Device built into most laptops

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Careful, this might be hot! NYT Crossword Clue

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