Mini Crossword August 15, 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

   7 × 7

   Clues

   7 across, 7 down

   Answer lengths

   4–7 letters

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

   Open only the one you want.

   1 Across — Stores owned and run by their workers (5)

   Business model with worker ownership

   6 Across — "Huh, wasn't expecting that!" (5)

   Expression of surprise or shock

   7 Across — Run under a faucet (5)

   Clean with water flow quickly

   8 Across — Metal identifiers in the military (7)

   Military identification tags for personnel

   11 Across — Bit of music that plays as a podcast ends (5)

   Music segment at a podcast's end

   12 Across — Font similar to Helvetica (5)

   Typeface similar to Helvetica font

   13 Across — Leave alone (5)

   Leave something or someone be

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

   Same treatment, the other way.

   1 Down — Cut the ___ (cancel cable) (4)

   Cut the television connection

   2 Down — Dayton's state (4)

   State in the Midwest region

   3 Down — Game-changing mistake for a World Cup defender (7)

   Critical error in team sports

   4 Down — Slouching is a bad form of this (7)

   Proper alignment of the body

   5 Down — Worry about the small stuff (7)

   Fret about minor issues excessively

   9 Down — Snatch (4)

   Seize or take hold quickly

   10 Down — ___ Survivor, title for each winner of "Survivor" (4)

   Title for a Survivor winner

4. 4 Hint 4: First letter of every answer

   One letter each.

   1 Across

   C… (5 letters)

   6 Across

   O… (5 letters)

   7 Across

   R… (5 letters)

   8 Across

   D… (7 letters)

   11 Across

   O… (5 letters)

   12 Across

   A… (5 letters)

   13 Across

   L… (5 letters)

   1 Down

   C… (4 letters)

   2 Down

   O… (4 letters)

   3 Down

   O… (7 letters)

   4 Down

   P… (7 letters)

   5 Down

   S… (7 letters)

   9 Down

   G… (4 letters)

   10 Down

   S… (4 letters)

5. 5 Hint 5: Where the grid opened up

   Last rung before the filled answers.

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

   Open the answers, clue by clue