NYT Crossword Answers Today: August 18, 2026

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 18, 2026 covers every clue in order.

18 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.

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NYT Crossword Across hints and answers for August 18, 2026

Start with the hint if you’d like to keep solving on your own. The answer is listed directly underneath.

No.	Hint	Answer
1	Give someone assistance	HELP
5	Dickens character with an especially memorable name	URIAH
10	Animal homes	DENS
14	Soothing plant used in skin care	ALOE
15	Mean or unpleasant	NASTY
16	“I witnessed it”	I SAW
17	Famous Beethoven piano composition	MOONLIGHT SONATA
18	Abbreviation for secretary	SEC.
20	Responsible for the problem	AT FAULT
22	“___” — a response to a call, perhaps	AMA
25	Latin for “god”	DEUS
28	European currency, briefly	EUR.
29	Song from La La Land	CITY OF STARS
32	Muscles at the front of the upper arms, briefly	ABS
35	Old-fashioned	OLDEN
36	Motion picture	MOVIE
37	Short excerpt from a video	CLIP
38	Actor Gosling, familiarly	RYAN
39	TV series about a young woman in a colorful sitcom world	DARIA
40	Mountain resort destination, perhaps	ALTA
41	Reports from newspapers and broadcasters	NEWS MEDIA
43	Requested, as a product	ORDER
44	A sunny day may have plenty of it	SUN
45	Lullaby sign-off, perhaps	SWEET DREAMS
47	Dungeons & Dragons, for short	D&D
48	Notices	SEES
49	Singer’s affirmative response	YEE
50	Branch of mathematics involving variables and equations	ALGEBRA
54	“Best ___”	TOP
56	Song from The Phantom of the Opera	MUSIC OF THE NIGHT
57	Take it easy	LAZE
58	Extremely greedy	RAPACIOUS
59	Massachusetts town associated with the Berkshires	LENOX
60	For the ___ time	UMPTEENTH
61	Spanish surname associated with the painter José María Sert	SERT

NYT Crossword Down hints and answers for August 18, 2026

No.	Hint	Answer
1	Meat often used in a sandwich	HAM
2	Rock band fronted by Jeff Lynne	ELO
3	British bathroom	LOO
4	Uses a writing instrument	PENS
5	French definite article	LE
6	Statistical function abbreviation	UNICDF
7	Newspaper, informally	RAG
8	Suffix meaning “somewhat”	-ISH
9	Telecommunications company abbreviation	AT&T
10	Short for hysteria	HYST.
11	Rock musician Ronnie	DIO
12	Plural of “NA” in some contexts	NAS
13	“___” — a phrase associated with a time of day	ALL DAY
14	Words associated with a request or command	BITEME
15	Two-letter preposition	AT

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 18, 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.