Big ___ (cuddling partner)

Editorially verified for the Aug 18, 2026

1 Across

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A couple cuddling with one person positioned behind the other.

Clue explained

SPOON is the cuddling partner who lies behind the other person and wraps around them. In the phrase “big spoon,” the term refers to that embracing role, not just to a piece of tableware.

Clue type:
Fill-in-the-blank

NYT Mini Crossword

This clue's Tuesday, August 18, 2026 appearance

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Across

  1. 1Big ___ (cuddling partner)
  2. 6Mickey Mouse's pet dog
  3. 7Foamy coffee order
  4. 8Inside information, informally
  5. 9Blue streams down a yellow emoji's face

Down

  1. 1Divide, as the check
  2. 2It comes with wings on the side
  3. 3"Get ___ town!"
  4. 4Furry animal seen swimming around a kelp forest
  5. 5Christmas carols

The answer to “Big ___ (cuddling partner)” in the New York Times Mini crossword is SPOON — a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times Mini crossword on August 18, 2026 at 1-Across. Below you'll find why that fill fits, every other answer we've recorded for this clue, and links into the puzzle it came from.

“Big ___ (cuddling partner)” answer

SPOON (5 letters)

Use the reveal tiles above to uncover the solution one letter at a time if you'd rather nudge yourself toward it than see the whole word at once. Prefer the full answer straight away? It's SPOON.

What does SPOON mean?

Reading the plain dictionary sense of SPOON is often the fastest way to see why it answers this clue.

(noun)

  • an implement consisting of a small, shallow oval or round bowl on a long handle, used for eating, stirring, and serving food
  • a thing resembling a spoon in shape

When else has “Big ___ (cuddling partner)” appeared?

New York Times Mini reuses clues across dates, sometimes with a different answer depending on the grid. Here's where this exact clue has shown up, and what the answer was each time — handy when you're checking whether today's fill is the only one.

August 18, 2026 (most recent) → SPOON. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Big ___ (cuddling partner)”?

The answer is SPOON, a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times Mini crossword on August 18, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Big ___ (cuddling partner)”?

5 letters: SPOON.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the New York Times Mini crossword on August 18, 2026, at 1-Across.

Can “Big ___ (cuddling partner)” have a different answer?

Yes — New York Times Mini sometimes reuses a clue with a different solution to fit the grid. The answers we've recorded for each date it appeared are listed above when available.

Where can I find the rest of today's NYT Mini answers?

Every clue and answer from that day's puzzle is linked above, and the full grid is on the NYT Mini answers page.

New York Times Mini Crossword is published by The New York Times; WordHint is an independent site and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the publisher.

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