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 31, 2026 covers every clue in order.
31 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 31, 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: Part of a dance | A basic movement in choreography | STEP |
| 5 Across: Sch. with the Daily Bruin newspaper | A Los Angeles university | UCLA |
| 9 Across: Slightly intoxicated | A little drunk | TIPSY |
| 14 Across: Fancy | Stylish or luxurious | LUXE |
| 15 Across: Worms and such on hooks | What anglers use to attract fish | BAIT |
| 16 Across: Be of the same mind | Have matching opinions | AGREE |
| 17 Across: Redding with two posthumous Grammys | Famous soul singer’s first name | OTIS |
| 18 Across: “Sesame Street” character who was once sung to sleep by Andrea Bocelli | The famous red Muppet | ELMO |
| 19 Across: Ransacks | Searches thoroughly or loots | LOOTS |
| 20 Across: One who regularly drops things | Someone notoriously clumsy | BUTTERFINGERS |
| 23 Across: The : English :: ___ : French | French definite article | LES |
| 24 Across: Letter after sigma | Greek letter | TAU |
| 25 Across: One dining on Friskies | A pet that eats the cat-food brand | CAT |
| 28 Across: Role for Selena Gomez on “Only Murders in the Building” | Gomez’s character | MABEL |
| 31 Across: Umbrella-shaped sea creature | A marine animal with trailing tentacles | JELLYFISH |
| 34 Across: Director DuVernay | Filmmaker Ava | AVA |
| 35 Across: Pathetic | Pitiful or sad | SAD |
| 36 Across: Examine at length | Study carefully | PERUSE |
| 37 Across: Took shots first, then paid for them later | A bar-tab phrase | RAN A TAB |
| 40 Across: Clothing sizes for shorter women | Women’s petite sizes | PETITES |
| 41 Across: Ski in zigzags | Move down a slope from side to side | SLALOM |
| 42 Across: “Far out!” | A slang expression of approval | RAD |
| 43 Across: Tetra- minus one | Four minus one | TRI |
| 44 Across: Newlyweds’ getaway | A post-wedding vacation | HONEYMOON |
| 46 Across: Owl sounds | Nocturnal bird calls | HOOTS |
| 48 Across: Actress de Armas | Ana de Armas | ANA |
| 49 Across: 401(k) relative | Another retirement account | IRA |
| 50 Across: “Need an ark? I Noah guy,” e.g. | A play on words | PUN |
| 51 Across: “Tell everyone!” … or what to do with the starts of 20-, 31- and 44-Across? | An instruction to share information | SPREAD THE WORD |
| 58 Across: Inuit for “house” | A traditional Inuit shelter | IGLOO |
| 60 Across: Italian hello | Italian greeting | CIAO |
| 61 Across: Et ___ (and others: Lat.) | Latin plural meaning “and others” | ALIA |
| 62 Across: Tennis locale | Where a tennis match is played | COURT |
| 63 Across: Pre-Easter observance | The Christian period before Easter | LENT |
| 64 Across: R-rated, maybe | Mature or risqué | RACY |
| 65 Across: A cube has 12 of them | Straight-line parts of a cube | EDGES |
| 66 Across: Petrol brand | A gas-station brand | ESSO |
| 67 Across: Easter egg decorating supplies | Coloring materials for eggs | DYES |
NYT Crossword Down hints and answers for August 31, 2026
| Clue | Hint | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Down: Mess maker | An untidy person | SLOB |
| 2 Down: Attire for the Sugar Plum Fairy | A ballet costume | TUTU |
| 3 Down: Off-ramp | A way to leave a highway | EXIT |
| 4 Down: Pulverizing tool | Used with a mortar to crush ingredients | PESTLE |
| 5 Down: Alternatives to Lyfts | Other rideshare services | UBERS |
| 6 Down: Baby whale | A young whale | CALF |
| 7 Down: In finite supply | Limited in quantity | LIMITED |
| 8 Down: Lacking a musical key | Describes music without a tonal center | ATONAL |
| 9 Down: A ___ as old as time | A familiar expression about a timeless story | TALE |
| 10 Down: Composer Stravinsky | The Russian composer’s first name | IGOR |
| 11 Down: Ham on an antipasto platter | An Italian cured meat | PROSCIUTTO |
| 12 Down: Solidify | Become firm | SET |
| 13 Down: “You called?” | A response to hearing one’s name | YES |
| 21 Down: Sinuous swimmer | A snake-like aquatic creature | EEL |
| 22 Down: Swallowed hard | Gulped | GULPED |
| 26 Down: Aver | Assert or state confidently | ASSERT |
| 27 Down: Graduate student’s project | A major academic paper | THESIS |
| 28 Down: ___ P. Johnson (gay rights activist) | The activist Marsha | MARSHA |
| 29 Down: Island of Arthurian legend | Legendary island | AVALON |
| 30 Down: Fruit-resembling mollusk | A long, yellowish slug | BANANA SLUG |
| 31 Down: The “one” of a one-two | A boxing punch | JAB |
| 32 Down: So far | Up to now | YET |
| 33 Down: Part of the week that workers look forward to: Abbr. | The end of the workweek | FRI |
| 35 Down: Lunch item that might be made with cold cuts, in slang | Informal word for a sandwich | SAMMIE |
| 38 Down: Ginger ___ | A common soft drink | ALE |
| 39 Down: Cup-and-ball or yo-yo | A children’s plaything | TOY |
| 40 Down: Deep-dish vessel | A kitchen container | PAN |
| 42 Down: Support staff for a rock band | Touring crew members | ROADIES |
| 45 Down: Soothsayer | A person who predicts the future | ORACLE |
| 46 Down: Tint | A shade or color | HUE |
| 47 Down: “To victory!” | A rallying cry meaning forward | ONWARD |
| 50 Down: Part of an Instagram post | A visual element commonly uploaded | PHOTO |
| 52 Down: Skin opening | A tiny opening in the skin | PORE |
| 53 Down: Goes bad | Spoils or decays | ROTS |
| 54 Down: Gets bronzed at the beach | Develops a tan | TANS |
| 55 Down: Brand with “anti-aging” products | A skincare brand | OLAY |
| 56 Down: Bibimbap base | The staple grain in the Korean dish | RICE |
| 57 Down: Pages on a desk calendar | They represent individual dates | DAYS |
| 58 Down: “Rocks” at a bar | Chilling cubes for drinks | ICE |
| 59 Down: Lead-in to forbid or forsaken | A word appearing before both | GOD |
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 31, 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.
Leave a Reply