NYT Crossword Answers Today: August 28, 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 28, 2026 covers every clue in order.

28 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 28, 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 Across: “Oh, what the hell”	A phrase expressing reckless resignation	SCREW IT
8 Across: Mythical figure in “Doctor Faustus”	Legendary beauty associated with Troy	HELEN
13 Across: Worrier’s words	Anxious phrase expressing doubt	I HOPE NOT
15 Across: Like a parkour practitioner	Able to move quickly and easily	AGILE
16 Across: Politician’s response, maybe	A reply that avoids giving a direct answer	NONANSWER
18 Across: Step in the shower	What you might do with soap and water	RINSE
19 Across: Christian ___	A historical period in music and culture	ERA
20 Across: Beamed over	Sent somewhere instantly	TELEPORTED
22 Across: “Would ya look at that …”	An expression of amazement or surprise	WELL WELL WELL
25 Across: Milieu for bathyspheres, with “the”	Deep underwater environment	DEEPS
26 Across: “Ignorance is bliss,” e.g.	An old familiar saying	OLD SAW
29 Across: Compañeras	Female friends or companions in Spanish	AMIGAS
31 Across: Rabbit’s title	Name used by Br’er Rabbit	BRER
32 Across: Lead-in to field or fifties	Prefix that can precede “field” or “fifties”	MID
34 Across: Big house	A large residence or estate	MANOR
35 Across: ___ polo (sport played in Pakistan)	The animal associated with this unusual polo variant	YAK
36 Across: Asteroids system	Classic video game manufacturer/system	ATARI
38 Across: Flame proof?	What remains after something burns	ASH
39 Across: ___ collar	A traditional style associated with Eton	ETON
41 Across: Yellow-and-black ideogram	Familiar cheerful face symbol	SMILEY
42 Across: World’s second-most-populous island	Large Japanese island	HONSHU
44 Across: Hosting, informally	Acting as the master of ceremonies	MCING
45 Across: They might raise your kids	Safety equipment that can help children grow taller in a car	BOOSTER SEATS
49 Across: “Easy-peasy!”	A phrase meaning something is very easy	IT’S A BREEZE
52 Across: Customizable avatar for Nintendo games	Nintendo character you can personalize	MII
53 Across: Natural exfoliant	A rough-textured bath sponge	LOOFA
54 Across: Houdini specialty	What the famous escape artist was known for	ESCAPE ACT
57 Across: Flower in a Whitman poem written as an elegy for Lincoln	Flower from Walt Whitman’s famous Lincoln elegy	LILAC
58 Across: Kim Cattrall’s role on “Sex and the City”	Cattrall’s character	SAMANTHA
59 Across: Move stealthily	Sneak along quietly	SLINK
60 Across: Setting for an uphill climb	A low transmission setting	LOW GEAR

NYT Crossword Down hints and answers for August 28, 2026

Clue	Hint	Answer
1 Down: Certain elastic band	Tough connective tissue	SINEW
2 Down: Washing the dishes, e.g.	A household task	CHORE
3 Down: Brazilian soccer star known for his dribbling flair	Famous Brazilian footballer	RONALDINHO
4 Down: Org. that might do some spring cleaning?	U.S. environmental agency	EPA
5 Down: Actress Ming-Na of “Mulan”	Actress’s surname	WEN
6 Down: Shoe fitting concerns	Parts of the foot important when fitting shoes	INSTEPS
7 Down: Golf bag attachments	Items commonly attached to a golf bag	TOWELS
8 Down: Frequent collaborator with Bill Murray	Actor and filmmaker who often worked with Murray	HAROLD RAMIS
9 Down: Members of a Gen Z subculture with online origins	Young women associated with an internet-born subculture	E-GIRLS
10 Down: Screen capture?	Something that can collect on a screen	LINT
11 Down: Choice word	Word meaning another option	ELSE
12 Down: Sine qua non	Something absolutely necessary	NEED
14 Down: Something read at a table	A poker player’s tell	TELL
17 Down: Overhaul	Completely redo or renovate	REWORK
21 Down: Creator of the Hawaiian Islands, in myth	Hawaiian demigod associated with creating the islands	PELE
23 Down: Building block	Popular toy construction piece	LEGO
24 Down: “Our luck has turned!”	Phrase celebrating a reversal of fortune	WE ARE SO BACK
27 Down: Blend	Combine thoroughly	AMALGAMATE
28 Down: Word with live or chicken	A word that can precede both “live” and “chicken”	WIRE
29 Down: Residency org.	Organization associated with medical residencies	AMA
30 Down: Brewing stuff	Material used in the brewing process	MASH
31 Down: Outlaw	Prohibit officially	BAN
33 Down: Unprofessional letters?	Initials suggesting a do-it-yourself approach	DIY
35 Down: “The thing is …”	Conversational phrase introducing an explanation	YOU SEE
37 Down: Sticking point	A pointed part or obstacle	TINE
40 Down: Lightning conductor?	A figure associated with lightning	THOR
41 Down: Rock subgenre portmanteau	A combination of screamo and another rock style	SCREAMO
43 Down: Jazz aficionado, e.g.	A fan of a basketball team whose initials match the clue’s wordplay	NBA FAN
44 Down: Spirit seen on el Día de los Muertos	Mexican alcoholic spirit	MEZCAL
46 Down: The 12th crew member in “Ocean’s Twelve”	Character played by Julia Roberts	TESS
47 Down: Women’s Basketball Hall-of-Famer Penicheiro	Basketball legend’s first name	TICHA
48 Down: Electric instrument played on Stevie Wonder’s “Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours”	Stringed electric instrument	SITAR
49 Down: Afflictions	Problems or illnesses	ILLS
50 Down: Work like a dog	Labor very hard	TOIL
51 Down: Star turns at a concert	Solo performances by musicians	SOLI
55 Down: Print maker	Animal’s foot can leave one	PAW
56 Down: Subj. with two A.P. exams	School subject often abbreviated this way	ENG

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 28, 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.