NYT Crossword Answers Today: August 22, 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 22, 2026 covers every clue in order.

22 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 22, 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	Dish such as Germany’s hasenpfeffer	Hearty meat dish	RABBIT STEW
11	Set of 24 for a box jellyfish	Its number of eyes	EYES
15	“Hello?” follower	Question asked at home	ANYONE HOME
16	Straight-up	Genuine	REAL
17	Beset by impossible circumstances	In a desperate situation	IN EXTREMIS
18	___ noche (tonight, in Spanish)	Spanish word	ESTA
19	“Let’s talk about it afterward”	Avoids revealing the ending	NO SPOILERS
20	From scratch	Anew	ANEW
21	Haul	Drag	LUG
22	Convinced of	Sold on	SOLD ON
24	Benjamin Franklin invention of the 1780s	Eyewear	BIFOCALS
29	Hardly a luxury	Necessity	NEED
30	Fellow fellows	Brothers or colleagues	BRETHREN
31	Net alternative	Before deductions	GROSS
34	Mideast shrub with leaves that are chewed as a stimulant	Stimulant plant	QAT
35	It includes a series of stations	Travel path	ROUTE
38	“Lemme think …”	Hesitation sound	UHH
39	Irreverence, of a sort	Sarcastic attitude	SNARK
42	Name shared by the locales of University of South Carolina and the University of Missouri	City name	COLUMBIA
45	What might wind up in your mattress?	Mattress component	COIL
47	Refrain from foul language, say	Keep it clean	KEEP IT PG
48	Follow around	Trail	SHADOW
50	Portal released concurrently with Windows 95	Online service	MSN
51	Many a guest writer’s piece	Opinion article	OP-ED
52	Genetically rare feline that represents autumn in Chinese astronomy	Rare cat	WHITE TIGER
58	Tied up with?	Drawn	DREW
59	It’s commonly made upside down	Dessert	BANANA CAKE
60	___ Lydic of “The Daily Show”	Comedian’s first name	DESI
61	“This is a travesty!”	Strong complaint	I’M OUTRAGED
62	Acknowledged	Recognized	SEEN
63	“Relax, it’ll be fine”	Reassuring phrase	DON’T STRESS

NYT Crossword Down hints and answers for August 22, 2026

No.	Clue	Hint	Answer
1	“Into each life some ___ must fall”: Longfellow	A thing that happens in life	RAIN
2	Common word in Latin dating	Year designation	ANNO
3	Tournament passes?	Automatic advances	BYES
4	Analytical graphic that divides data into quartiles	Statistical chart	BOX PLOT
5	Having communication	Connected	IN TOUCH
6	She played Sandy Lester in “Tootsie”	Actress Teri	TERI GARR
7	Author Silverstein	Shel	SHEL
8	“As I see it …”	Point-of-view phrase	TO ME
9	Many members of Kuwait’s al-Sabah royal line	Royal family members	EMIRS
10	Crisco competitor	Cooking-fat brand	WESSON
11	Volume control device?	A portable reading device	E-READER
12	“Absolutely, positively!”	Definite response	YES, NO DOUBT
13	Down the hatch, perhaps	Consumed	EATEN
14	Popular topping for fish tacos	Taco topping	SLAW
23	Segment	Body part	LEG
24	Smoking events, for short	Barbecue events	BBQS
25	Major exporter of pistachios	Middle Eastern country	IRAN
26	Tidbits of Greek culture?	Crumbly cheese	FETA CHEESE
27	Francis’s successor	Pope Leo	LEO
28	Dipped (out)	Left secretly	SNUCK
32	Icebreaker, e.g.	Vessel	SHIP
33	Iconic hairstyle of Jane Fonda and Stevie Nicks	Layered haircut	SHAG
36	Support while “en pointe”	Ballet support	TOE
37	I, O, U and Y, but not A or E	Wordplay answer	ELEMENTS
40	Success in another’s field, say	Achievement away from home turf	ROAD WIN
41	Engage in tomfoolery	Fool around	KID
43	Arriviste	Ambitious newcomer	UPSTART
44	Subcompact vehicle	Small car	MINI CAR
46	Contract winner, typically	Lowest bidder	LOW BID
48	Binge	Extended spree	SPREE
49	Maker of the Hacky Sack and Hula-Hoop	Toy company	WHAM-O
51	The longer they are, the harder they’ll be to beat	Betting figures	ODDS
53	Part of	Included in	IN ON
54	Lacking slack	Tight	TAUT
55	Greenish plum variety	Type of plum	GAGE
56	Barely makes (out)	Scrapes by	EKES
57	Wine list header	Wine category	REDS

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 22, 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.