Mini Crossword August 18, 2026: Clues & Answers
The written hints below were assembled automatically from the puzzle data rather than composed by an editor — accurate, just plainer than usual.
Recap
The 5 by 5 grid carried 10 clues. A1 SPOON, A6 PLUTO, A7 LATTE, A8 INTEL, A9 TEARS, D1 SPLIT, D2 PLANE, D3 OUTTA, D4 OTTER, D5 NOELS. This recap was assembled automatically from the puzzle data rather than written by an editor.
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.
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Hint 1: Grid facts
Counted off the grid.
- Grid
- 5 × 5
- Clues
- 5 across, 5 down
- Answer lengths
- 5–5 letters
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Hint 2: Across clues, with an extra nudge each
Open only the one you want.
1 Across — Big ___ (cuddling partner) (5)
Auto-generated hint: 5 letters, reading across, opening with S.
6 Across — Mickey Mouse's pet dog (5)
Auto-generated hint: 5 letters, reading across, opening with P.
7 Across — Foamy coffee order (5)
Auto-generated hint: 5 letters, reading across, opening with L.
8 Across — Inside information, informally (5)
Auto-generated hint: 5 letters, reading across, opening with I.
9 Across — Blue streams down a yellow emoji's face (5)
Auto-generated hint: 5 letters, reading across, opening with T.
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Hint 3: Down clues, with an extra nudge each
Same treatment, the other way.
1 Down — Divide, as the check (5)
Auto-generated hint: 5 letters, reading down, opening with S.
2 Down — It comes with wings on the side (5)
Auto-generated hint: 5 letters, reading down, opening with P.
3 Down — "Get ___ town!" (5)
Auto-generated hint: 5 letters, reading down, opening with O.
4 Down — Furry animal seen swimming around a kelp forest (5)
Auto-generated hint: 5 letters, reading down, opening with O.
5 Down — Christmas carols (5)
Auto-generated hint: 5 letters, reading down, opening with N.
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Hint 4: First letter of every answer
One letter each.
- 1 Across
- S… (5 letters)
- 6 Across
- P… (5 letters)
- 7 Across
- L… (5 letters)
- 8 Across
- I… (5 letters)
- 9 Across
- T… (5 letters)
- 1 Down
- S… (5 letters)
- 2 Down
- P… (5 letters)
- 3 Down
- O… (5 letters)
- 4 Down
- O… (5 letters)
- 5 Down
- N… (5 letters)
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Hint 5: Where the grid opened up
Last rung before the filled answers.
1 Across was the shortest entry at 5 letters, and every crossing it made handed over a free letter elsewhere.
Every clue from that grid, with its answer
Each clue opens on its own: the nudge first, the answer folded one level deeper.
Across
1Big ___ (cuddling partner)5
Auto-generated hint: 5 letters, reading across, opening with S.
Show answer
SPOON
6Mickey Mouse's pet dog5
Auto-generated hint: 5 letters, reading across, opening with P.
Show answer
PLUTO
7Foamy coffee order5
Auto-generated hint: 5 letters, reading across, opening with L.
Show answer
LATTE
8Inside information, informally5
Auto-generated hint: 5 letters, reading across, opening with I.
Show answer
INTEL
9Blue streams down a yellow emoji's face5
Auto-generated hint: 5 letters, reading across, opening with T.
Show answer
TEARS
Down
1Divide, as the check5
Auto-generated hint: 5 letters, reading down, opening with S.
Show answer
SPLIT
2It comes with wings on the side5
Auto-generated hint: 5 letters, reading down, opening with P.
Show answer
PLANE
3"Get ___ town!"5
Auto-generated hint: 5 letters, reading down, opening with O.
Show answer
OUTTA
4Furry animal seen swimming around a kelp forest5
Auto-generated hint: 5 letters, reading down, opening with O.
Show answer
OTTER
5Christmas carols5
Auto-generated hint: 5 letters, reading down, opening with N.
Show answer
NOELS
This grid by the numbers
- Date
- Tuesday, August 18, 2026
- Grid
- 5 × 5
- Clues
- 10 — 5 across, 5 down
- Answer lengths
- 5–5 letters
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