NYT Mini Crossword Answers Today
By Sam Ezersky
Across
- 1Unruly crowdsMOBS
- 6This, at the beachOCEAN
- 7This, at the beachSHORE
- 8This, at the beachSAND
Down
Crossword clues, hints, and answers
Across
- 1. Unruly crowds — Answer: MOBS. Hint: Large, disorderly groups can be described this way. 👥
- 5. What "clams" and "cheddar" are slang for — Answer: MONEY. Hint: Think of what fills your wallet and pays the bills 💵
- 6. This, at the beach — Answer: OCEAN. Hint: You might hear waves rolling in from this broad seaside expanse 🌊
- 7. This, at the beach — Answer: SHORE. Hint: It’s the stretch of land where the waves come to say hello 🌊
- 8. This, at the beach — Answer: SAND. Hint: You’ll find plenty of this beneath your towel at the shore 🏖️
Down
- 1. Chocolaty coffee drink — Answer: MOCHA. Hint: Think of a cozy espresso drink blended with chocolate ☕
- 2. Pull a fast ___ (trick) — Answer: ONEON. Hint: Complete the familiar phrase for pulling a clever trick on someone. 😉
- 3. "Black" facial feature for pirate Edward Teach — Answer: BEARD. Hint: Think of the famous dark chin adornment that earned this pirate his nickname. 🏴☠️
- 4. "Auld Lang ___" — Answer: SYNE. Hint: This word completes the familiar New Year’s song about remembering old times. 🎶
- 5. Growth at the base of a tree — Answer: MOSS. Hint: Look for the soft green carpet that often gathers around a tree’s roots 🌿
Next NYT Mini update in
A new puzzle unlocks at 10 p.m. Eastern on weekdays and 6 p.m. Eastern on weekends (Sat, Aug 15, 2:20 AM UTC).
Recent NYT Mini Answers
The last 7 days of solutions
Need today's NYT Mini Crossword answers? Every across and down solution for today's puzzle — dated August 14, 2026 — is listed at the top of this page, updated the moment the new Mini goes live. The Mini is a five-by-five speed puzzle most solvers finish in a minute or two, but a single unfamiliar name or tricky clue can jam the whole grid. Whether you want to check a finished puzzle, break a deadlock, or reveal just one stubborn square, you'll find the complete clue-by-clue answers below.
Full NYT Mini Crossword answer list for today
Every clue from today's grid next to its solution — the same answers as the board above, in one plain list you can scan without tapping.
Across
| # | Clue | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Unruly crowds | MOBS |
| 5 | What "clams" and "cheddar" are slang for | MONEY |
| 6 | This, at the beach | OCEAN |
| 7 | This, at the beach | SHORE |
| 8 | This, at the beach | SAND |
Down
| # | Clue | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chocolaty coffee drink | MOCHA |
| 2 | Pull a fast ___ (trick) | ONEON |
| 3 | "Black" facial feature for pirate Edward Teach | BEARD |
| 4 | "Auld Lang ___" | SYNE |
| 5 | Growth at the base of a tree | MOSS |
Today's NYT Mini answers
Today's solution is shown above, laid out clue by clue — every Across answer followed by every Down answer, exactly as the grid reads. Because the Mini is so small, one wrong or missing letter tends to block several crossing answers at once, so if you're stuck we list each answer separately: you can reveal only the one you need and keep solving the rest yourself. The full grid is confirmed and refreshed daily as soon as the puzzle is published.
What is the NYT Mini Crossword?
The Mini is the New York Times' free, bite-size crossword — a 5×5 grid (occasionally 7×7 on weekends) with a handful of across and down clues. Launched in 2014 and edited by Joel Fagliano, it's designed to be solved in under a minute by regulars, which is exactly why it's become a daily habit for millions and a fixture of streak-keeping. Unlike the main NYT Crossword, the Mini is free to play without a Games subscription, so it draws a huge, casual audience — and a lot of “what's today's answer?” searches when a clever clue trips people up.
How the Mini differs from the full NYT Crossword
They share an editor's sensibility but play very differently:
| NYT Mini | NYT (main) Crossword | |
|---|---|---|
| Grid size | 5×5 (7×7 weekends) | 15×15 (21×21 Sunday) |
| Typical solve time | Under a minute | 5–40+ minutes |
| Difficulty | Consistent, gentle | Ramps Monday → Saturday |
| Cost | Free | Games subscription |
| Clue style | Short, punchy, modern | Wordplay, themes, misdirection |
Tips for solving the Mini faster
- Fill the corners first. Corner squares belong to both a short across and a short down answer, so nailing one instantly gives you crossing letters.
- Trust the crossings. In a 5×5, every letter is shared — if one clue stumps you, solve its crossing word and the letter appears for free.
- Read every clue before typing. With only ten or so clues, the easy ones give you enough letters to guess the hard ones.
- Watch for the modern angle. The Mini favours contemporary references; if an old-fashioned answer isn't fitting, the setter probably wants a newer one.
- Don't overthink it. The Mini rewards your first instinct far more than the Saturday puzzle does.
Browse past NYT Mini answers
Missed yesterday's Mini, or want to settle a “what was the answer?” debate? Every previous puzzle is archived on this page by date, with its full across and down solutions. The archive updates automatically each day — today's answers roll into it as the next Mini goes live — so it stays complete without spoiling the current day for solvers who haven't finished. Prefer to solve rather than peek? Use the date picker above to jump to today's puzzle, and come back to check your answers.
Browse more puzzles on the crossword solver, or use it to crack any clue from any publication.
Frequently asked questions
What are today's NYT Mini Crossword answers?
Every across and down answer for today's Mini (August 14, 2026) is listed at the top of this page, updated as soon as the puzzle is released.
What time does the NYT Mini update?
The Mini refreshes daily — typically around 10 p.m. Eastern the night before (7 p.m. Pacific) on weekdays and 6 p.m. Eastern on weekends. We post the new answers as soon as it goes live.
Is the NYT Mini Crossword free?
Yes — unlike the main NYT Crossword, the Mini is free to play without a subscription. Our answers and clues are free too.
How do I see just one answer without spoiling the rest?
Each answer is listed separately, so you can reveal only the clue you're stuck on and keep solving the rest of the grid yourself.
Where can I find past NYT Mini answers?
Every previous Mini is in the archive on this page, listed by date with full solutions and updated automatically each day.