Mini Crossword August 12, 2026: Clues & Answers

Mini Crossword hints, one rung at a time

Five rungs, from grid facts to a nudge per clue. The recap above already summed the grid up, so this ladder is here for anyone replaying it fresh rather than as a spoiler shield.

1. 1 Hint 1: Grid facts

   Counted off the grid.

   Grid

   5 × 5

   Clues

   5 across, 5 down

   Answer lengths

   4–5 letters

2. 2 Hint 2: Across clues, with an extra nudge each

   Open only the one you want.

   1 Across — Caitlin Clark's league, for short (4)

   Professional women's basketball league abbreviation

   5 Across — Odysseus's hiding place when entering the city of Troy (5)

   Ancient Greek warfare tactic involving concealment

   7 Across — Hawaiian "hi" (5)

   Traditional Hawaiian greeting expression of friendship

   8 Across — Personal opinions, in modern parlance (5)

   Subjective views in casual contemporary language

   9 Across — Where a nuthatch hatches (4)

   Tree cavity or structure for birds to lay eggs

3. 3 Hint 3: Down clues, with an extra nudge each

   Same treatment, the other way.

   1 Down — "Come again?" (4)

   Phrase used to ask someone to repeat themselves

   2 Down — Hall-of-Fame pitcher ___ Ryan (5)

   Legendary baseball pitcher with a Hall of Fame career

   3 Down — Unloaded? (5)

   Financially depleted or empty of funds

   4 Down — What a phoenix rises from (5)

   Remains of something burned, often symbolic

   6 Down — The "E" of NE (4)

   Directional term that completes a common compass abbreviation

4. 4 Hint 4: First letter of every answer

   One letter each.

   1 Across

   W… (4 letters)

   5 Across

   H… (5 letters)

   7 Across

   A… (5 letters)

   8 Across

   T… (5 letters)

   9 Across

   N… (4 letters)

   1 Down

   W… (4 letters)

   2 Down

   N… (5 letters)

   3 Down

   B… (5 letters)

   4 Down

   A… (5 letters)

   6 Down

   E… (4 letters)

5. 5 Hint 5: Where the grid opened up

   Last rung before the filled answers.

   1 Across was the shortest entry at 4 letters, and every crossing it made handed over a free letter elsewhere.

   Open the answers, clue by clue