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Latest answer — August 05, 2026

6 Across

14 Across

16 Across

18 Across

22 Across

28 Across

34 Across

36 Across

39 Across

41 Across

46 Across

54 Across

58 Across

60 Across

Think of something that sits above everything else—or someone who finishes first. 👑

Scroll down for rest of crossword answers

NYT Crossword

This clue's Wednesday, August 05, 2026 appearance

Tap a square to reveal a letter.

Or reveal one clue at a time with the Hint and Answer buttons below.

Across

  1. 1With 6-Across, #1 hit
  2. 6-
  3. 12With 14-Across, ultimately fruitless
  4. 14-
  5. 15With 16-Across, beverage sold in pastel-colored cans
  6. 16-
  7. 17With 18-Across, measures of search engine optimization
  8. 18-
  9. 20With 22-Across, pocket ID holder
  10. 22-
  11. 26With 28-Across, temple services?
  12. 28-
  13. 32With 34-Across, sequestration of a greenhouse gas
  14. 34-
  15. 35With 36-Across, sparsely populated African land
  16. 36-
  17. 37With 39-Across, web crawlers, e.g.
  18. 39-
  19. 40With 41-Across, loses all one's dough
  20. 41-
  21. 43With 46-Across, Starbuck vis-à-vis Captain Ahab
  22. 46-
  23. 50With 54-Across, math that underpins computer logic
  24. 54-
  25. 57With 58-Across, member of the last undefeated N.C.A.A. Division I men's basketball team (1976)
  26. 58-
  27. 59With 60-Across, tallies attendees
  28. 60-

Down

  1. 1Michael of "Barbie"
  2. 2Alexander who served under Reagan, Nixon and Ford
  3. 3Axlike tool depicted in hieroglyphs
  4. 4City on Guanabara Bay, familiarly
  5. 5Paramount ancestor, in brief
  6. 6Apt rhyme of "clock"
  7. 7Isn't settled up
  8. 8High degree
  9. 9Word with project or peeve
  10. 10Before, in a hymnbook
  11. 11Stephen of "V for Vendetta"
  12. 12One of 25 in a track 10K
  13. 13Actress Teri
  14. 14Writer Anaïs whose name is hidden in this clue
  15. 19Capt.'s superior
  16. 20Pole tossed in a Scottish game
  17. 21Beautify
  18. 22Stone figure?
  19. 23Petri dish gels
  20. 24Company that debuted Sonic the Hedgehog
  21. 25Legal termination?
  22. 26Proverbial waste maker
  23. 27Some Deco works
  24. 29"Well, I have to save my ___" (Shrek line)
  25. 30Total guesses
  26. 31"Ooh-la-la!"
  27. 32Our "-zoic"
  28. 33Florence-to-Venice dir.
  29. 35Part of a George Washington costume (though he rarely wore one)
  30. 38Cable channel with many reruns
  31. 42Site of the 2002 and 2034 Winter Olympics
  32. 43Big success
  33. 44Actors McKellen and McShane
  34. 45Messenger ___
  35. 46Imbroglio
  36. 47Rose's lover of 1920s Broadway
  37. 48Número de Caballeros in a 1944 film
  38. 49Something that may be lent or bent
  39. 50Pen letters?
  40. 51Musical Yoko
  41. 52Sch. in Norfolk, Va.
  42. 53"Hamilton" star ___-Manuel Miranda
  43. 55Apt name for a groundskeeper?
  44. 56Word that becomes its own synonym when "p" is added to the end

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Across

  1. 1. With 6-Across, #1 hit — Answer: CHART. Hint: A song reaching the top spot has made this coveted list! 🎵
  2. 6. - — Answer: TOPPER. Hint: Think of something that sits above everything else—or someone who finishes first. 👑
  3. 12. With 14-Across, ultimately fruitless — Answer: LEADING. Hint: Pair this with 14-Across to describe an effort that gets nowhere. 🍎
  4. 14. - — Answer: NOWHERE. Hint: It’s the place you go when there’s no place to go. 🗺️
  5. 15. With 16-Across, beverage sold in pastel-colored cans — Answer: ARIZONA. Hint: Think of the iced tea brand famous for its tall, pastel-colored cans. 🥤
  6. 16. - — Answer: ICEDTEA. Hint: A cool, brewed beverage often served with lemon is perfect on a hot day. 🍋
  7. 17. With 18-Across, measures of search engine optimization — Answer: PAGE. Hint: Think of what a search engine evaluates when ranking a website, paired with 18-Across. 🔍
  8. 18. - — Answer: RANKS. Hint: These can describe positions in a hierarchy or rows of soldiers. 🪖
  9. 20. With 22-Across, pocket ID holder — Answer: CARD. Hint: It’s the compact item that keeps your identification conveniently tucked away. 🪪
  10. 22. - — Answer: CASE. Hint: Think of something that holds an item or a matter argued in court. ⚖️
  11. 26. With 28-Across, temple services? — Answer: HEAD. Hint: Think of the body part that houses your thoughts and sits above your shoulders. 🧠
  12. 28. - — Answer: MASSAGES. Hint: Think of relaxing hands-on treatments that ease tension 💆
  13. 32. With 34-Across, sequestration of a greenhouse gas — Answer: CARBON. Hint: Think of the element plants draw from the air and climate solutions aim to lock away 🌿
  14. 34. - — Answer: STORAGE. Hint: A place where belongings are kept when they’re not in use 📦
  15. 35. With 36-Across, sparsely populated African land — Answer: WESTERN. Hint: Picture the sparsely settled desert territory along Africa’s northwest Atlantic coast, named in tandem with 36-Across. 🏜️
  16. 36. - — Answer: SAHARA. Hint: Think of the vast African desert known for towering dunes and scorching days. 🏜️
  17. 37. With 39-Across, web crawlers, e.g. — Answer: INTERNET. Hint: Think of the vast online network where search-engine bots roam. 🌐
  18. 39. - — Answer: BOTS. Hint: Think of automated helpers that handle tasks online without human input. 🤖
  19. 40. With 41-Across, loses all one's dough — Answer: GOES. Hint: Think of the verb that pairs with “broke” to describe becoming penniless. 💸
  20. 41. - — Answer: BUST. Hint: Think of what can happen when a plan fails—or what a police officer might make. 🚓
  21. 43. With 46-Across, Starbuck vis-à-vis Captain Ahab — Answer: FIRST. Hint: Think of the shipboard rank Starbuck holds under Ahab. ⚓
  22. 46. - — Answer: MATE. Hint: Think of the chess call that ends the game when the king cannot escape. ♟️
  23. 50. With 54-Across, math that underpins computer logic — Answer: BOOLEAN. Hint: Think of the yes-or-no math that powers computer logic. 💻
  24. 54. - — Answer: ALGEBRA. Hint: This branch of mathematics uses letters and symbols to solve for unknowns. 🧮
  25. 57. With 58-Across, member of the last undefeated N.C.A.A. Division I men's basketball team (1976) — Answer: INDIANA. Hint: Think of the Hoosier State, home to the undefeated 1976 college basketball champions 🏀
  26. 58. - — Answer: HOOSIER. Hint: Think of what you’d call someone from Indiana. 🏀
  27. 59. With 60-Across, tallies attendees — Answer: COUNTS. Hint: Paired with 60-Across, this verb records how many people showed up. 🧮
  28. 60. - — Answer: NOSES. Hint: These facial features help you sniff out a scent. 👃

Down

  1. 1. Michael of "Barbie" — Answer: CERA. Hint: Think of the actor who brought the quirky Allan to life in Barbie 🎬
  2. 2. Alexander who served under Reagan, Nixon and Ford — Answer: HAIG. Hint: This general and diplomat held top national-security roles across three Republican administrations. 🏛️
  3. 3. Axlike tool depicted in hieroglyphs — Answer: ADZE. Hint: Think of the ancient Egyptian woodworking tool that resembles a small axe. 🪓
  4. 4. City on Guanabara Bay, familiarly — Answer: RIO. Hint: Think of Brazil’s vibrant coastal city, famous for Carnival and Christ the Redeemer. 🌴
  5. 5. Paramount ancestor, in brief — Answer: TNN. Hint: Think of the former country-music TV channel that eventually evolved into a Paramount-branded network. 📺
  6. 6. Apt rhyme of "clock" — Answer: TOCK. Hint: It’s the sound that pairs with a clock’s tick. 🕒
  7. 7. Isn't settled up — Answer: OWES. Hint: It describes someone who still has a bill to pay 💸
  8. 8. High degree — Answer: PHD. Hint: This advanced academic qualification can follow years of research and study 🎓
  9. 9. Word with project or peeve — Answer: PET. Hint: Think of a favorite side project or a personal annoyance. 🐾
  10. 10. Before, in a hymnbook — Answer: ERE. Hint: This old-fashioned word for “before” might appear in a traditional hymn’s poetic wording. 📖
  11. 11. Stephen of "V for Vendetta" — Answer: REA. Hint: Think of the Irish actor who played the determined Inspector Finch in this dystopian thriller. 🎬
  12. 12. One of 25 in a track 10K — Answer: LAP. Hint: Think of one circuit around the course during the race 🏃
  13. 13. Actress Teri — Answer: GARR. Hint: She charmed audiences in Young Frankenstein and Tootsie. 🎬
  14. 14. Writer Anaïs whose name is hidden in this clue — Answer: NIN. Hint: Look closely at the wording—you’ll find the writer’s surname tucked away in plain sight. 🔎
  15. 19. Capt.'s superior — Answer: ADM. Hint: Think of the abbreviated military rank that outranks a captain. 🎖️
  16. 20. Pole tossed in a Scottish game — Answer: CABER. Hint: Picture a Highland strongman hurling a hefty wooden log end over end. 🪵
  17. 21. Beautify — Answer: ADORN. Hint: Give something a decorative touch to make it more attractive. ✨
  18. 22. Stone figure? — Answer: CARAT. Hint: Think of the tiny unit used to measure a gemstone’s weight. 💎
  19. 23. Petri dish gels — Answer: AGARS. Hint: These seaweed-based gels help scientists grow microbes in the lab. 🧫
  20. 24. Company that debuted Sonic the Hedgehog — Answer: SEGA. Hint: Think of the Japanese game company behind the speedy blue mascot. 🎮
  21. 25. Legal termination? — Answer: ESE. Hint: Think of the distinctive language used in legal documents. ⚖️
  22. 26. Proverbial waste maker — Answer: HASTE. Hint: This proverb warns that rushing can lead to mistakes and wasted effort. 🐢
  23. 27. Some Deco works — Answer: ERTES. Hint: Think of the famous Art Deco illustrator whose name appears in possessive form here. 🎨
  24. 29. "Well, I have to save my ___" (Shrek line) — Answer: ASS. Hint: Shrek says this when he needs to protect his backside. 🧅
  25. 30. Total guesses — Answer: STABS. Hint: These are attempts made when you’re taking a shot in the dark. 🎯
  26. 31. "Ooh-la-la!" — Answer: SOHOT. Hint: This excited reaction praises something especially sizzling or attractive. 🔥
  27. 32. Our "-zoic" — Answer: CENO. Hint: Think of the geological era that includes humans and follows the age of dinosaurs 🦴
  28. 33. Florence-to-Venice dir. — Answer: NNE. Hint: Picture traveling from Florence to Venice: your compass would point almost straight north, with a slight tilt east 🧭
  29. 35. Part of a George Washington costume (though he rarely wore one) — Answer: WIG. Hint: Think of the famously powdered headwear associated with colonial gentlemen, even if the real man skipped it 🎩
  30. 38. Cable channel with many reruns — Answer: TBS. Hint: Think of the network famous for sitcom marathons and familiar comfort-watch reruns 📺
  31. 42. Site of the 2002 and 2034 Winter Olympics — Answer: UTAH. Hint: Think of the Mountain West state that hosted the 2002 Winter Games and is set to welcome them again in 2034 🏔️
  32. 43. Big success — Answer: FEAT. Hint: Think of an impressive accomplishment worth celebrating 🎉
  33. 44. Actors McKellen and McShane — Answer: IANS. Hint: These two distinguished performers share the same short first name 🎭
  34. 45. Messenger ___ — Answer: RNA. Hint: This genetic courier carries DNA’s instructions to the cell’s protein-making machinery 🧬
  35. 46. Imbroglio — Answer: MESS. Hint: Think of a chaotic, tangled situation where everything has become confusing. 🌀
  36. 47. Rose's lover of 1920s Broadway — Answer: ABIE. Hint: Think of the Jewish suitor in the classic stage romance about love across religious lines 💡
  37. 48. Número de Caballeros in a 1944 film — Answer: TRES. Hint: It’s the Spanish way to count the gallant gentlemen featured in this 1944 film. 🎬
  38. 49. Something that may be lent or bent — Answer: EAR. Hint: Think of the body part used for hearing that can also be tilted or offered attention. 👂
  39. 50. Pen letters? — Answer: BIC. Hint: Think of a familiar brand often printed on everyday ballpoint pens 🖊️
  40. 51. Musical Yoko — Answer: ONO. Hint: Think of the avant-garde artist famously married to John Lennon. 🎶
  41. 52. Sch. in Norfolk, Va. — Answer: ODU. Hint: This Norfolk university is known for its Monarchs and nautical spirit. 🏫
  42. 53. "Hamilton" star ___-Manuel Miranda — Answer: LIN. Hint: Think of the acclaimed creator of the musicals Hamilton and In the Heights 🎭
  43. 55. Apt name for a groundskeeper? — Answer: LON. Hint: Think of a name that sounds especially fitting for someone who cares for grassy outdoor spaces. 🌱
  44. 56. Word that becomes its own synonym when "p" is added to the end — Answer: GOO. Hint: Think of a sticky, slimy substance whose name becomes another word for the same mess when one letter is added at the end. 🫠

Recent NYT Crossword Answers

The last 7 days of solutions

NYT Crossword 4 August 2026NYT Crossword 3 August 2026NYT Crossword 2 August 2026NYT Crossword 1 August 2026NYT Crossword 31 July 2026NYT Crossword 30 July 2026NYT Crossword 29 July 2026

The answer to “-” in the New York Times crossword is TOPPER — a 6-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on August 5, 2026, a Wednesday puzzle, at 6-Across. Other answers we've seen for this clue include NOWHERE, ICEDTEA, RANKS, CASE, MASSAGES, STORAGE, SAHARA, BOTS, BUST, MATE, ALGEBRA, HOOSIER, NOSES, LLION, BATE, CROSS, RRIER, OVER, RTGAGE, RLWANTS, TEE, TEEL, RATS, GANT, DOGF, RASS, ELKN, BOWL, GNUY, FANTASY, NTARY, OFAGE, MYSTERY, EBENDING, PIECE, RODEO, THOUGHTS, DEGREE, ABOUT, DENIM, STRAP, PEELS, FACED, NOTES, and FIRES. 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.

“-” answer

TOPPER (6 letters) — most recent; also seen as NOWHERE, ICEDTEA, RANKS, CASE, MASSAGES, STORAGE, SAHARA, BOTS, BUST, MATE, ALGEBRA, HOOSIER, NOSES, LLION, BATE, CROSS, RRIER, OVER, RTGAGE, RLWANTS, TEE, TEEL, RATS, GANT, DOGF, RASS, ELKN, BOWL, GNUY, FANTASY, NTARY, OFAGE, MYSTERY, EBENDING, PIECE, RODEO, THOUGHTS, DEGREE, ABOUT, DENIM, STRAP, PEELS, FACED, NOTES, FIRES

Reveal the solution one letter at a time with the tiles above if you'd rather nudge yourself toward it than see the whole word at once. Just want it outright? The answer is TOPPER.

Why the answer is TOPPER

Think of something that sits above everything else—or someone who finishes first. 👑

Other answers for “-”

New York Times has used this clue with more than one solution. Besides TOPPER, it has also been NOWHERE, ICEDTEA, RANKS, CASE, MASSAGES, STORAGE, SAHARA, BOTS, BUST, MATE, ALGEBRA, HOOSIER, NOSES, LLION, BATE, CROSS, RRIER, OVER, RTGAGE, RLWANTS, TEE, TEEL, RATS, GANT, DOGF, RASS, ELKN, BOWL, GNUY, FANTASY, NTARY, OFAGE, MYSTERY, EBENDING, PIECE, RODEO, THOUGHTS, DEGREE, ABOUT, DENIM, STRAP, PEELS, FACED, NOTES, and FIRES. Every appearance we've indexed is listed below with the date it ran.

More clues from the NYT Crossword on August 5, 2026

Stuck elsewhere in the grid? Here are some of the crossing and nearby clues from the same puzzle — tap any for its answer and explanation.

Want every clue in one place? The full New York Times answer list for August 5, 2026 is on that day's grid page, and today's live NYT Crossword answers are always one tap from the today page.

About the NYT Crossword

The New York Times crossword, edited by Will Shortz, is the most famous daily puzzle in the United States. It runs a 15×15 grid Monday through Saturday and a larger 21×21 grid on Sunday, and its difficulty deliberately ramps through the week: Monday is the most approachable, Saturday the toughest, with Thursday often reserved for a trick or twist like rebus squares. This page covers a Wednesday puzzle. A straight-definition entry is the kind of solid mid-grid answer that anchors the trickier crossings around it. Because the NYT reuses short, crossing-friendly words regularly, seeing them once makes them easier to spot next time.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “-”?

The answer is TOPPER, a 6-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on August 5, 2026. Other answers for this clue include NOWHERE, ICEDTEA, RANKS, CASE, MASSAGES, STORAGE, SAHARA, BOTS, BUST, MATE, ALGEBRA, HOOSIER, NOSES, LLION, BATE, CROSS, RRIER, OVER, RTGAGE, RLWANTS, TEE, TEEL, RATS, GANT, DOGF, RASS, ELKN, BOWL, GNUY, FANTASY, NTARY, OFAGE, MYSTERY, EBENDING, PIECE, RODEO, THOUGHTS, DEGREE, ABOUT, DENIM, STRAP, PEELS, FACED, NOTES, and FIRES.

How many letters is the answer to “-”?

6 letters: TOPPER. Earlier fills for this clue have also been NOWHERE (7), ICEDTEA (7), RANKS (5), CASE (4), MASSAGES (8), STORAGE (7), SAHARA (6), BOTS (4), BUST (4), MATE (4), ALGEBRA (7), HOOSIER (7), NOSES (5), LLION (5), BATE (4), CROSS (5), RRIER (5), OVER (4), RTGAGE (6), RLWANTS (7), TEE (3), TEEL (4), RATS (4), GANT (4), DOGF (4), RASS (4), ELKN (4), BOWL (4), GNUY (4), FANTASY (7), NTARY (5), OFAGE (5), MYSTERY (7), EBENDING (8), PIECE (5), RODEO (5), THOUGHTS (8), DEGREE (6), ABOUT (5), DENIM (5), STRAP (5), PEELS (5), FACED (5), NOTES (5), FIRES (5).

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the New York Times crossword on August 5, 2026 (a Wednesday puzzle), at 6-Across. Earlier appearances: August 5, 2026 → NOWHERE; August 5, 2026 → ICEDTEA; August 5, 2026 → RANKS; August 5, 2026 → CASE; August 5, 2026 → MASSAGES; August 5, 2026 → STORAGE; August 5, 2026 → SAHARA; August 5, 2026 → BOTS; August 5, 2026 → BUST; August 5, 2026 → MATE; August 5, 2026 → ALGEBRA; August 5, 2026 → HOOSIER; August 5, 2026 → NOSES; July 19, 2026 → LLION; July 19, 2026 → BATE; July 19, 2026 → CROSS; July 19, 2026 → RRIER; July 19, 2026 → OVER; July 19, 2026 → RTGAGE; July 19, 2026 → RLWANTS; July 6, 2025 → TEE; June 8, 2025 → TEEL; June 8, 2025 → RATS; June 8, 2025 → GANT; June 8, 2025 → DOGF; June 8, 2025 → RASS; June 8, 2025 → ELKN; June 8, 2025 → BOWL; June 8, 2025 → GNUY; April 24, 2025 → FANTASY; April 24, 2025 → NTARY; April 24, 2025 → OFAGE; April 24, 2025 → MYSTERY; April 24, 2025 → EBENDING; April 24, 2025 → PIECE; March 26, 2025 → RODEO; March 26, 2025 → THOUGHTS; March 26, 2025 → DEGREE; March 26, 2025 → ABOUT; March 16, 2025 → DENIM; March 16, 2025 → STRAP; March 16, 2025 → PEELS; March 16, 2025 → FACED; March 16, 2025 → NOTES; March 16, 2025 → FIRES.

Can “-” have a different answer?

Yes. Besides TOPPER, New York Times has also used NOWHERE, ICEDTEA, RANKS, CASE, MASSAGES, STORAGE, SAHARA, BOTS, BUST, MATE, ALGEBRA, HOOSIER, NOSES, LLION, BATE, CROSS, RRIER, OVER, RTGAGE, RLWANTS, TEE, TEEL, RATS, GANT, DOGF, RASS, ELKN, BOWL, GNUY, FANTASY, NTARY, OFAGE, MYSTERY, EBENDING, PIECE, RODEO, THOUGHTS, DEGREE, ABOUT, DENIM, STRAP, PEELS, FACED, NOTES, and FIRES for this clue. Every date and answer is listed above.

Where can I find the rest of this day's NYT Crossword answers?

The full grid for August 5, 2026 is on the NYT Crossword answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

Crossword Clues

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