Searching for the NYT Crossword answers today? If today’s New York Times Crossword has a few clues standing in the way, this guide has everything needed to finish the puzzle.
Below, you’ll find a spoiler-light overview, followed by hints for every Across and Down clue before revealing the complete answers. Whether only one square is missing or the entire grid needs solving, today’s guide for August 10, 2026 covers every clue in order.
10 August 2026 – NYT Crossword overview
Today’s crossword offers a balanced challenge with a clever central theme that gradually becomes apparent as more of the grid is completed. Several clues rely on wordplay and misdirection, while a handful of modern abbreviations and pop culture references may slow down even experienced solvers.
The puzzle is approachable for regular crossword players but still contains enough tricky clues to make the final solve satisfying. Looking for hints first? Start with the sections below before scrolling to the complete answers.
NYT Crossword Across hints and answers for August 10, 2026
Start with the hint if you’d like to keep solving on your own. The answer is listed directly underneath.
| Clue | Hint | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1 “Planet of the ___” | Think of the primate species featured in the title. | APES |
| 5 Wood strip found in many Ikea bed supports | A narrow piece of wood used as part of a bed frame. | SLAT |
| 9 Take pleasure in | A simple verb meaning to get enjoyment from something. | ENJOY |
| 14 Size opposite of mini | The larger end of a familiar clothing-size contrast. | MAXI |
| 15 Prepares to throw a dart, say | Getting ready for an aiming-based throw. | AIMS |
| 16 Crystal-filled rock | A geological formation often prized for its sparkling interior. | GEODE |
| 17 Newspaper opinion piece | A short editorial-style article expressing a viewpoint. | OPED |
| 18 *Title of a 1990s ABC sitcom and a 1990s New Kids on the Block hit | The phrase suggests doing something one stage at a time. | STEP BY STEP |
| 20 Cereal often found with pretzels in a party snack mix | A familiar square-shaped cereal commonly used in snack mixes. | RICE CHEX |
| 22 Vertical jumping ability, in basketball lingo | A basketball player’s ability to get airborne. | UPS |
| 23 Sheep’s cry | The classic sound associated with a sheep. | BAA |
| 24 “___ to Go!,” 2024 Chappell Roan hit sometimes compared to the Village People’s “Y.M.C.A.” | Fill in the short opening word of the song title. | HOT |
| 25 Attracted to people of any gender, for short | A shortened identity-related term describing broad attraction. | PAN |
| 28 *Detailed, real-time description of events | Think of commentary that follows action as it happens. | PLAY BY PLAY |
| 33 Shape for a red-and-white striped Christmas candy | The familiar curved shape associated with a holiday sweet. | CANE |
| 34 Rodeo rope | The rope used to catch livestock in a rodeo. | LASSO |
| 35 Foggy mental state | A hazy condition in which clear thinking feels difficult. | HAZE |
| 36 Raisins, when on a celery-and-peanut-butter “log” | They represent the small decorative pieces placed along the snack. | ANTS |
| 37 Wrinkly citrus fruit | A citrus variety known for its unusually bumpy, loose skin. | UGLI |
| 38 “What a shame” | A short expression of disappointment or sympathy. | SO SAD |
| 39 Riverbank deposit | Sediment commonly left behind along a river. | SILT |
| 40 Prompted, on stage | A performer may need this when forgetting a line. | CUED |
| 41 Lyft competitor | A major ride-hailing service with a four-letter name. | UBER |
| 42 Zellweger of “Bridget Jones’s Diary” | The actress who played the title character. | RENEE |
| 43 Joint sometimes bent in protest | Think of the body part raised during a demonstration. | KNEE |
| 44 *How to tackle big writing projects, per a seminal Anne Lamott book | The phrase suggests completing a huge task piece by piece. | BIRD BY BIRD |
| 46 Go on and on and on | Talk or continue at length without stopping. | YAP |
| 47 LAX posting | Travelers may see this abbreviation on airport information. | ETA |
| 48 Frito-___ | Complete the familiar snack-brand name. | LAY |
| 49 Not just some or most | A word meaning the entire amount or group. | ALL |
| 50 Got off the ground, as a start-up company | Describes a new business that successfully began operating. | LAUNCHED |
| 55 *Many an off-road vehicle … or a literal description of the answer to each asterisked clue (including this one!) | The theme points toward repeated matching units. | FOUR BY FOUR |
| 59 Otherworldly glow | An eerie or supernatural-looking light. | AURA |
| 60 It means slow (not big!) in music | A musical direction indicating a slow tempo. | LARGO |
| 61 “Well, ___ that special!” | Complete the familiar sarcastic expression. | ISN’T |
| 62 Poetry competition | A contest where poets perform or present their work. | SLAM |
| 63 “See what I’m talkin’ ’bout?” | A casual phrase used to confirm shared understanding. | Y’KNOW |
| 64 Brooklyn basketballers … and what they swish | The NBA team shares its name with something basketball players make. | NETS |
| 65 Effortlessness | A noun describing something done with little apparent difficulty. | EASE |
NYT Crossword Down hints and answers for August 03, 2026
| Clue | Hint | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Spanish love | The Spanish word for love. | AMOR |
| 2 Big ___ (nickname of baseball’s David Ortiz) | A famous nickname associated with a Red Sox legend. | PAPI |
| 3 Company bigwig | Informal term for a high-ranking corporate executive. | EXEC |
| 4 *Next to each other, like many washers and dryers | Describes two things positioned immediately beside one another. | SIDE BY SIDE |
| 5 Strut down the “RuPaul’s Drag Race” runway, say | A confident runway walk fits this verb. | SASHAY |
| 6 Lo-cal | A short way of describing food with fewer calories. | LITE |
| 7 Visa or Mastercard rival, informally | Think of another major payment-card company. | AMEX |
| 8 Small recipe amt. | A common abbreviation for a tiny measured ingredient. | TSP |
| 9 Home of the Great Pyramid | The country containing the famous pyramid complex at Giza. | EGYPT |
| 10 Loch ___ monster | Complete the name of the legendary Scottish creature. | NESS |
| 11 Scribble (down) | A quick verb for writing something hurriedly. | JOT |
| 12 Sappho’s “___ to Aphrodite” | Complete the title of the famous ancient poem. | ODE |
| 13 Slangy affirmative | A casual alternative to saying yes. | YEP |
| 19 Lifted, as one’s spirits | Describes emotions becoming more cheerful. | BUOYED |
| 21 ___ San Lucas, Mexico | Complete the well-known resort city’s name. | CABO |
| 24 Venture, as a guess | To take a chance on an uncertain idea. | HAZARD |
| 25 Pressed sandwich | A grilled sandwich traditionally associated with Italy. | PANINI |
| 26 Part of a reindeer’s rack | One individual branch of a deer’s antler structure. | ANTLER |
| 27 Prepared one’s home for a new arrival | Describes getting a house ready for someone or something new. | NESTED |
| 28 Spirited and determined | An adjective for someone energetic and persistent. | PLUCKY |
| 29 “___ Beach: The Real Orange County” (MTV reality show of the mid-aughts) | Fill in the location featured in the reality series. | LAGUNA |
| 30 Catching some Z’s | A familiar expression for getting some sleep. | ASLEEP |
| 31 Irrational fear | A strong fear that lacks a reasonable basis. | PHOBIA |
| 32 Word before printer or pointer | The same word can precede both types of computer hardware. | LASER |
| 33 *Considered individually | The theme calls for treating things one at a time. | CASE BY CASE |
| 38 In a nonobvious way | Describes something done indirectly or subtly. | SUBTLY |
| 42 “Deadpool” actor Reynolds | The first name of the actor behind the Marvel antihero. | RYAN |
| 45 Says out loud without thinking | Describes an unfiltered verbal reaction. | BLURTS |
| 47 Spot for a roller skater’s pad | A joint commonly protected by a skating pad. | ELBOW |
| 49 Best Picture winner found hiding in “and the Oscar goes to …” | Look for a famous film title embedded in the phrase. | ARGO |
| 50 “Heads, I win. Tails, you ___!” (sneaky coin flip agreement) | Complete the deliberately unfair coin-flip expression. | LOSE |
| 51 Parent’s sister | A straightforward family relationship. | AUNT |
| 52 Hawaiian storytelling dance | A traditional Hawaiian performance combining movement and storytelling. | HULA |
| 53 Times of one’s life, say | Different periods or stages can be described this way. | ERAS |
| 54 Title for Helen Mirren and Emma Thompson | A British honorific associated with both actresses. | DAME |
| 55 Take to the sky | A verb meaning to fly or become airborne. | FLY |
| 56 Acorn-bearing tree | A common tree whose nuts are acorns. | OAK |
| 57 Caterer’s coffee dispenser | A container commonly used to serve coffee at events. | URN |
| 58 Above-water sign of a shark | The part of a shark that may break the surface. | FIN |
Tips for solving the NYT Crossword
Even if today’s crossword proved difficult, a few strategies can make future puzzles much easier.
- Fill in the shortest clues first to build crossing letters.
- Skip clues that seem impossible and return later with more letters in place.
- Watch for question marks, as they often signal puns or wordplay.
- Look for common crossword abbreviations, initials, and shortened forms.
- Don’t ignore theme clues, as they often unlock multiple answers throughout the puzzle.
- Use crossing answers to verify uncertain guesses instead of forcing words that don’t fit.
Consistently solving a few puzzles each week also helps build familiarity with recurring clue styles commonly used in the NYT Crossword.
Final thoughts
The NYT Crossword for August 10, 2026 delivers another enjoyable daily challenge with a satisfying mix of straightforward clues, clever wordplay, and a memorable theme. Whether only a couple of answers were needed or the complete solution was required, hopefully this guide helped finish today’s puzzle.
Be sure to check back tomorrow for another complete set of NYT Crossword hints and answers, including spoiler-free clues followed by the full solution.
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