The NYT Mini Crossword for Tuesday, August 18, 2026, delivers a compact test of vocabulary, pop culture, everyday expressions and familiar references. The five-by-five puzzle looks approachable, but a few tightly worded clues can bring even experienced solvers to a halt.
For regular New York Times Games players, The Mini is designed to be a quick daily challenge. The New York Times describes it as a smaller version of its flagship Crossword, with players filling white squares to form words that cross through the Across and Down clues.
If you are searching for NYT Mini Crossword answers today, need a hint before revealing the solution or simply want to check your completed grid, the full Tuesday, August 18 puzzle is covered below.
NYT Mini Crossword hints for August 18, 2026
Before looking at the answers, it is worth taking another shot at the clues. The Across section moves from cuddling terminology and Disney to coffee, insider information and an expressive emoji. The Down section shifts from splitting a restaurant check to transportation, slang, marine life and Christmas music.
The clue set is built around familiar words, but several entries depend on recognizing the precise sense intended by the clue. That is a classic Mini tactic: the vocabulary is rarely obscure, yet the wording can be just slippery enough to force a second look.
Across clues
1A. Big ___ (cuddling partner)
Hint: Think of the term used when one person wraps around another while cuddling.
6A. Mickey Mouse’s pet dog
Hint: One of Disney’s most recognizable canine characters.
7A. Foamy coffee order
Hint: A popular espresso drink associated with steamed and foamed milk.
8A. Inside information, informally
Hint: A short slang term for confidential or insider information.
9A. Blue streams down a yellow emoji’s face
Hint: What the emoji is shedding.
Down clues
1D. Divide, as the check
Hint: A common request when diners want to pay separately.
2D. It comes with wings on the side
Hint: Think about a mode of transportation rather than food.
3D. “Get ___ town!”
Hint: A shortened informal expression meaning “out of.”
4D. Furry animal seen swimming around a kelp forest
Hint: This marine mammal is one of the most familiar sights in kelp ecosystems.
5D. Christmas carols
Hint: A traditional word for Christmas songs.
NYT Mini Crossword answers for Tuesday, August 18, 2026
If the clues have finally beaten you, here is the complete solution.
Across answers
1A: SPOON
The answer to “Big ___ (cuddling partner)” is SPOON.
6A: PLUTO
Mickey Mouse’s pet dog is PLUTO.
7A: LATTE
The foamy coffee order is LATTE.
8A: INTEL
Inside information, informally, is INTEL.
9A: TEARS
The blue streams coming down the face of the yellow emoji are TEARS.
Down answers
1D: SPLIT
To divide the check is to SPLIT it.
2D: PLANE
The answer to “It comes with wings on the side” is PLANE.
3D: OUTTA
“Get ___ town!” is completed by OUTTA.
4D: OTTER
The furry animal swimming around a kelp forest is an OTTER.
5D: NOELS
Christmas carols are NOELS.
The complete answer grid is therefore SPOON, PLUTO, LATTE, INTEL, TEARS, SPLIT, PLANE, OUTTA, OTTER and NOELS.
Was today’s NYT Mini Crossword difficult?
The August 18 puzzle leans toward familiar language rather than obscure trivia. That makes it approachable for casual solvers, but several entries can still create friction because the clues rely on precision.
SPOON is a good example. The clue does not simply ask for an object. It uses “Big ___” to point toward the cuddling expression. INTEL similarly depends on recognizing informal vocabulary rather than looking for a conventional synonym for information.
The Down clues provide some of the cleaner entry points. PLANE, OTTER and NOELS are all strongly constrained by their clues, while OUTTA depends on recognizing conversational spelling.
The real solving advantage comes from using crossing letters. If one clue seems vague, entering an obvious answer elsewhere can quickly reduce the possibilities. That is particularly useful with short entries, where a single letter can transform the entire solving path.
Tips for solving the NYT Mini faster
The Mini rewards a different strategy from a large crossword. Speed matters, but recognizing clue construction matters just as much.
Start with clues involving proper names, common objects or straightforward definitions. Once those letters are placed, move toward slang and wordplay. Five-letter entries often become significantly easier after even two or three crossing letters are confirmed.
It is also useful to pay attention to grammatical signals. A clue asking for a plural answer can eliminate several possibilities immediately, while quotation marks often signal conversational language or a phrase rather than a literal definition.
And when an answer looks almost too obvious, do not automatically reject it. The Mini frequently relies on familiar words presented through an unexpected angle.
Today’s NYT Mini Crossword at a glance
For Tuesday, August 18, the puzzle combines Disney nostalgia, coffee culture, informal language, emojis, transportation, marine wildlife, and holiday vocabulary. That broad mix is precisely what makes the Mini effective as a daily puzzle: it can move from PLUTO to LATTE, then from INTEL to OTTER, within a handful of squares.
If you were stuck on one or two entries, there is no shame in using a hint. The objective is to finish the puzzle and move on to the next challenge.
For anyone checking the NYT Mini Crossword answers for August 18, 2026, the final list is straightforward:
Across: SPOON, PLUTO, LATTE, INTEL, TEARS.
Down: SPLIT, PLANE, OUTTA, OTTER, NOELS.
That completes Tuesday’s Mini. The next puzzle brings another fresh grid, another set of clues, and another chance to see how quickly you can clear the board.
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