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Investments in Unconsolidated Affiliates - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	May 31, 2022	May 31, 2021	May 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Nov. 01, 2019
Investments In And Advances To Affiliates [Line Items]
Impairment charge	$ 3,076,000	$ 13,739,000	$ 82,690,000
Distributions from unconsolidated affiliates	100,058,000	91,007,000	122,953,000
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates	327,381,000	233,126,000
Maximum
Investments In And Advances To Affiliates [Line Items]
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates	$ 49,495,000
Samuel Joint Venture \| Joint Venture Transactions
Investments In And Advances To Affiliates [Line Items]
Percent of ownership interest held in unconsolidated affiliates	63.00%
Additional ownership interest acquired in joint venture	31.75%			31.75%
Consolidated retained earnings undistributed earnings net of tax	$ 132,283,000	59,015,000
WAVE
Investments In And Advances To Affiliates [Line Items]
Percent of ownership interest held in unconsolidated affiliates	50.00%
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates	$ 81,149,000	$ 99,669,000
Pre-tax gain realized from the transaction			23,119,000
ArtiFlex
Investments In And Advances To Affiliates [Line Items]
Percent of ownership interest held in unconsolidated affiliates	50.00%
ClarkDietrich
Investments In And Advances To Affiliates [Line Items]
Percent of ownership interest held in unconsolidated affiliates	25.00%
Workhorse
Investments In And Advances To Affiliates [Line Items]
Percent of ownership interest held in unconsolidated affiliates	20.00%				20.00%
Serviacero Worthington
Investments In And Advances To Affiliates [Line Items]
Percent of ownership interest held in unconsolidated affiliates	50.00%
Nisshin
Investments In And Advances To Affiliates [Line Items]
Impairment charge			$ 4,236,000