WaPo Mini Crossword Answers Today
Friday’s Daily
By Pete Muller & Frank Longo
Across
Down
- 1Cheri of "Scary Movie"OTERI
- 2See 8-AcrossFLOOR
- 4SinceASOF
Crossword clues, hints, and answers
Across
- 1. Word before or after day — Answer: OFF. Hint: It can precede or follow “day” in familiar phrases. 📅
- 4. Book in which you might find both 6- and 7-Across — Answer: ATLAS. Hint: A reference volume filled with maps of places around the world. 🗺️
- 6. East Asian setting of the 2025 Netflix film "The Great Flood" — Answer: SEOUL. Hint: This South Korean capital serves as the film’s setting. 🎬
- 7. University of Maine's home — Answer: ORONO. Hint: The university’s main campus is in this Maine town. 🎓
- 8. With 2-Down, elevator's most frequent stop, often — Answer: FIRST. Hint: It’s the building level closest to the main entrance and a common elevator destination. 🛗
Down
- 1. Cheri of "Scary Movie" — Answer: OTERI. Hint: This actress played reporter Gail Hailstorm in the horror-comedy spoof series. 🎬
- 2. See 8-Across — Answer: FLOOR. Hint: Its meaning is supplied by the intersecting clue at 8-Across. 🔗
- 3. Roman equivalents of satyrs — Answer: FAUNS. Hint: In Roman mythology, these woodland creatures accompany the god of nature and music. 🐐
- 4. Since — Answer: ASOF. Hint: Think of a phrase meaning “from a particular time onward.” 🕰️
- 5. What allows a mail carrier to push through? — Answer: SLOT. Hint: It’s the narrow opening designed to receive letters without opening the door. ✉️
Recent WaPo Mini Answers
The last 7 days of solutions
Need today's Washington Post Mini Crossword answers? Every across and down solution for today's puzzle — dated August 21, 2026 — is listed at the top of this page, updated the moment the new grid goes live. The WaPo Mini is a quick, free bite-size puzzle you can finish in a minute, but a single unfamiliar clue can jam the whole thing. Whether you're checking a finished grid, breaking a deadlock, or want to reveal just one square, the complete clue-by-clue answers are below.
Full WaPo 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
Down
| # | Clue | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cheri of "Scary Movie" | OTERI |
| 2 | See 8-Across | FLOOR |
| 3 | Roman equivalents of satyrs | FAUNS |
| 4 | Since | ASOF |
| 5 | What allows a mail carrier to push through? | SLOT |
Today's Washington Post Mini answers
Today's solution appears above, laid out clue by clue — every Across answer followed by every Down answer, exactly as the grid reads. Because a Mini is so small, one missing letter tends to block several crossing answers at once, so we list each answer separately: reveal only the one you need and keep solving the rest yourself. The grid is confirmed and refreshed daily as soon as the puzzle is published.
What is the Washington Post Mini Crossword?
The Washington Post Mini is the paper's free, quick-solve crossword — a small grid with a handful of across and down clues, designed to be finished in about a minute. Like other minis, it's built for a fast daily hit rather than a long sit-down solve, with clean, contemporary clues that lean on general knowledge and current culture. It's free to play online, which gives it a broad, casual audience — and a steady stream of “what's today's answer?” searches whenever a clever clue trips solvers up.
How the WaPo Mini compares to other mini crosswords
All the minis share the same speedy DNA, with small differences in flavour:
| WaPo Mini | NYT Mini | LA Times Mini | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grid size | Small (~5×5) | 5×5 (7×7 weekends) | Small |
| Solve time | About a minute | Under a minute | About a minute |
| Cost | Free | Free | Free |
| Clue style | Clean, modern | Punchy, current | Straightforward |
Tips for solving the WaPo Mini faster
- Fill the corners first. Corner squares sit on both a short across and a short down clue, so one gives you crossing letters immediately.
- Trust the crossings. In a grid this small, every letter is shared — solve a stumper's crossing word and the letter appears for free.
- Read all the clues first. With only a handful of clues, the easy ones give you enough letters to guess the hard ones.
- Go with your first instinct. Minis reward quick, direct answers rather than overthinking.
- Use the solver for one square. Our crossword solver reveals a single clue's answer from your known letters, without spoiling the rest.
Browse past WaPo Mini answers
Every previous Washington Post Mini is archived on this page by date, with its full across and down solutions. It's the quickest way to check yesterday's grid or settle a “what was the answer?” question. 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.
Browse more puzzles on the crossword solver, or use it to crack any clue from any publication.
Frequently asked questions
What are today's Washington Post Mini Crossword answers?
Every across and down answer for today's Mini (August 21, 2026) is listed at the top of this page, updated as soon as the puzzle is released.
Is the Washington Post Mini free?
Yes — it's free to play online each day, and our answers and clues are free too.
How do I reveal just one answer?
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.
How is the WaPo Mini different from the NYT Mini?
They're very similar quick-solve grids; the main difference is the editorial voice and clue selection. If you solve one, you'll feel right at home with the other.
Where can I find past WaPo Mini answers?
Every previous Mini is in the archive on this page, listed by date with full solutions, updated automatically each day.



