Mini Crossword August 25, 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

   3–5 letters

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

   Open only the one you want.

   1 Across — Cohort born between 1965 and 1980, for short (4)

   Cultural label for a specific age group

   5 Across — Shipping giant with a purple-and-orange logo (5)

   Global logistics company with a distinctive color scheme

   6 Across — Section at the end of a textbook (5)

   Part of a book that lists key terms

   7 Across — Dry, as the desert (4)

   Description of a dry climate or soil

   8 Across — "___ it high and let it fly" (golfer's mantra) (3)

   Golf instruction to hit the ball high

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

   Same treatment, the other way.

   1 Down — Pop, rock or jazz (5)

   Category of music that defines its style

   2 Down — Comedian Murphy (5)

   American comedian known for stand-up and film

   3 Down — Requirement (4)

   Something necessary or obligatory for success

   4 Down — Winning line in tic-tac-toe (3)

   Sequence of three identical marks in a row

   5 Down — Italy's largest automaker (4)

   Italian company that produces popular vehicles

4. 4 Hint 4: First letter of every answer

   One letter each.

   1 Across

   G… (4 letters)

   5 Across

   F… (5 letters)

   6 Across

   I… (5 letters)

   7 Across

   A… (4 letters)

   8 Across

   T… (3 letters)

   1 Down

   G… (5 letters)

   2 Down

   E… (5 letters)

   3 Down

   N… (4 letters)

   4 Down

   X… (3 letters)

   5 Down

   F… (4 letters)

5. 5 Hint 5: Where the grid opened up

   Last rung before the filled answers.

   8 Across was the shortest entry at 3 letters, and every crossing it made handed over a free letter elsewhere.

   Open the answers, clue by clue