NYT Crossword Answers Today: August 20, 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 20, 2026 covers every clue in order.

20 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 20, 2026

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

No.	Clue	Hint	Answer
1	Sound like heaven	Heavenly-sounding instrument	HARP
5	Game of observation for travel	Adventure involving wildlife viewing	SAFARI
11	Ad free	Public-service messages, briefly	PSA
14	Brief in pants	Trouser abbreviation	TROU
15	Correct thoroughly	Completely accurate	SPOT ON
16	Bad feel	Feel unwell	AIL
17	Try to place connoisseurs?	Where experts sample	TASTING ROOM
19	Cells in compound	Biological material	RNA
20	Checks with style	Patterned fabric	PLAID
21	To cop	Take or acquire	OWN
22	Competition, for starters	A team in a competition	A TEAM
24	York ___	Spanish word completing the name	NUEVA
26	Place recording	Where music is made	STUDIO
27	Signals over game	Referee’s sounds	HORNS
29	Maturity approaching	Becoming more mature	RIPER
31	Crows to relatives	Bird-related answer	RAVENS
32	Free booze	Complimentary alcohol	DRY
33	Confidentiality of letters?	Agreement protecting correspondence	NDAS
37	“Done well”	Praise for a job	BRAVO
38	Short for “info flight”	Estimated arrival abbreviation	ETA
39	Sponge bath	Bathing item	LOOFA
40	Nothing doing	No action	IDLE
41	Say “minus C”	Express subtraction	MEH
42	Set off	Pay for or reimburse	DEFRAY
43	Practice Japanese	Japanese martial/art practice	REIKI
45	Equal roughly	Be approximately equivalent	ON PAR
46	Into light	Verbal attack	CUSS AT
49	Nags about noise?	Complains about a sound	NEIGH
51	Excludes	Small island, literally	ISLET
53	Lines some over draw	Trace over	TRACE
57	For repentance some feel	Regret	RUE
58	Details insignificant contests	Splits hairs	SPLIT HAIRS
61	Spending limits it	Spending ceiling	CAP
62	Forum discussion, popular once	Early online discussion platform	USENET
63	Cut short	Snip	SNIP
64	Rock-___	Music genre prefix	ALT
65	Out with ate, ate, ate	Ate excessively	PIGGED
66	Website gift custom	Online marketplace	ETSY

NYT Crossword Down hints and answers for August 20, 2026

No.	Clue	Hint	Answer
1	URL starter	Web address prefix	HTTP
2	Asian sea currently undergoing replenishment efforts	Shrinking inland sea	ARAL
3	Civil rights icon Parks	Rosa	ROSA
4	Shift the gears of, in a way … or a hint to this puzzle’s Across clues	Change direction	PUT IN REVERSE
5	ID in some data breaches	Social Security identifier	SSN
6	Elite H.S. class covering the Constitution	Advanced government course	AP GOV
7	Visionary … or what you’ll need to return to when solving this puzzle’s Down clues	Looking ahead	FORWARD THINKING
8	Loads	Lots	A TON
9	Babe in the Hundred Acre Wood	Winnie-the-Pooh character	ROO
10	One advocated for by the National Prison Project	Prisoner	INMATE
11	Whittled (down)	Reduced	PARED
12	Biblical mount	Mountain associated with Moses	SINAI
13	It’s worth remembering!	Famous reminder	ALAMO
18	“No idea”	Casual response	IDUNNO
23	Distinctive expression … or a hint to this puzzle’s Across clues	Phrase or saying	TURN OF PHRASE
25	Feature of San Francisco’s Lombard Street	Famous road feature	ESS
26	Mole, e.g.	Spy	SPY
27	Firm	Solid	HARD
28	Like many cricket fields	Shape	OVAL
30	Plan to contribute to, for short	Retirement contribution plan	IRA
31	One of 1,909 for Willie Mays, for short	Baseball statistic	RBI
34	“___ the Explorer”	Cartoon character	DORA
35	Some distance away	Far off	AFAR
36	Declare	State	SAY
38	“Oh no! A mouse!”	Frightened cry	EEK
39	What the second number indicates in men’s jeans sizes	Measurement	LENGTH
41	Univ. with an annual Mystery Hunt	Massachusetts university	MIT
42	Eager response to “Wanna join?”	Enthusiastic acceptance	DO I
44	Goes nuts for	Loves	EATS UP
46	Around	Approximately	CIRCA
47	Garden-variety	Ordinary	USUAL
48	Wasn’t paying attention	Fell asleep	SLEPT
50	Lauder of cosmetics	Estée	ESTEE
52	Designer Cassini	Fashion designer	OLEG
54	“I don’t really care / If ya think I’m strange / I ___ gonna change”: Joan Jett	Lyric completion	AIN’T
55	N.F.L. commentator Collinsworth	Sports broadcaster	CRIS
56	Arthur Ashe Courage Award, e.g.	ESPY award	ESPY
59	Letter after chi	Greek letter	PSI
60	The “S” of E.S.T.: Abbr.	Standard	STD

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 20, 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.