NYT Mini Crossword hints & answers: Saturday, August 15, 2026

Updated: Saturday, August 15, 2026 · Hints reviewed by Omer Liban · New puzzle at 10pm ET the night before (6pm ET on weekends). · Puzzle editor: Sam Ezersky.

This page has every level of help for the NYT Mini Crossword puzzle of Saturday, August 15, 2026: 1 spoiler-free hint tier that narrow things down step by step, followed by the complete answers with explanations — each behind its own tap-to-reveal card.

One clue holding your Mini streak hostage? Check just that answer — every clue below is explained and hidden behind its own reveal.

The Mini is the NYT's free pocket crossword — usually 5×5, solvable in a minute or two. Answers below are hidden until you open them, so you can check just the one clue that's stumping you.

Mini hints (August 15, 2026)

1Today's Mini, spoiler-free

7×7 grid · 7 Across and 7 Down clues · by Sam Ezersky.
The longest answer today is 7 letters (8-Across).

Mini answers — August 15, 2026

★Two answers to get you moving

1A — Stores owned and run by their workers: COOPS
1D — Cut the ___ (cancel cable): CORD

★All the Across answers, explained

1A — Stores owned and run by their workers: COOPS
6A — "Huh, wasn't expecting that!": OHWOW
7A — Run under a faucet: RINSE
8A — Metal identifiers in the military: DOGTAGS
11A — Bit of music that plays as a podcast ends: OUTRO
12A — Font similar to Helvetica: ARIAL
13A — Leave alone: LETBE

★All the Down answers, explained

1D — Cut the ___ (cancel cable): CORD
2D — Dayton's state: OHIO
3D — Game-changing mistake for a World Cup defender: OWNGOAL
4D — Slouching is a bad form of this: POSTURE
5D — Worry about the small stuff: SWEATIT
9D — Snatch: GRAB
10D — ___ Survivor, title for each winner of "Survivor": SOLE

Next in today's routine: Sports Connections → · every game's answers on one page. New puzzle at 10pm ET the night before (6pm ET on weekends). Bookmark this page for tomorrow's hints. Or play Mini on the official site.

More of today's puzzles

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Mini — common questions

What time does the NYT Mini come out?

Unusually early: the next day's Mini is released at 10pm Eastern the evening before on weekdays, and 6pm Eastern on weekends — so 'today's' Mini has usually been available since the previous evening.

Is the NYT Mini Crossword free?

Yes — the daily Mini is free to play, unlike the full NYT Crossword which needs a Games subscription. Only the Mini archive is subscriber-gated.

How big is the Mini Crossword?

Usually a 5×5 grid with around ten clues, taking most solvers under two minutes. Saturday Minis are often larger — typically 7×7 — with a few more clues.

Previous Mini puzzles

Full Mini archive (46 puzzles) → · How to play the Mini (and get faster) →