Mini Crossword August 17, 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 — Brownie ingredients (4)

   Common baking components

   5 Across — Gym rep on leg day (5)

   Exercise for building leg strength

   6 Across — "Silly" stuff (5)

   Modeling material for kids

   7 Across — Stand for a painter (5)

   Artist's support structure

   8 Across — Bonnie and ___, classic crime couple (5)

   Notorious outlaw partner

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

   Same treatment, the other way.

   1 Down — = (5)

   Mathematical symbol for equivalence

   2 Down — Courageous (5)

   Describing someone with great heart

   3 Down — Fenced in, as a private community (5)

   Security feature for private areas

   4 Down — What "each of us already has, all we need to do is find it," per Diane von Furstenberg (5)

   Famous designer's advice on self-expression

   5 Down — Contractor's detail, for short (4)

   Blueprint detail from a contractor

4. 4 Hint 4: First letter of every answer

   One letter each.

   1 Across

   E… (4 letters)

   5 Across

   S… (5 letters)

   6 Across

   P… (5 letters)

   7 Across

   E… (5 letters)

   8 Across

   C… (5 letters)

   1 Down

   E… (5 letters)

   2 Down

   G… (5 letters)

   3 Down

   G… (5 letters)

   4 Down

   S… (5 letters)

   5 Down

   S… (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