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Friday, August 21, 2026

XWordHint Crossword Answers August 21, 2026 | Expert Breakdown & Tips

Master today's NYT crossword with our expert hint system. We provide synonyms, antonyms, and strategic clues to help you solve without spoiling the fun. Perfect for crossword lovers who want that satisfying "aha!" moment.

Quick Navigation - Table of Contents

Today's Puzzle Difficulty: Challenging

Pro Tip: Start with the fill-in-the-blank clues - they're usually the easiest entry points!

Across Clues - Complete List

No. Clue Letters
1A 1. Leader in a robe called a kasaya 4
2A 5. Some malty offerings 9
3A 14. Jejune 4
4A 15. Coupling rings? 10
5A 17. Come (together) 4
6A 18. One sharing gold 10
7A 19. Remy's brother in "Ratatouille" 5
8A 21. High tea treat 5
9A 22. Mathematician Terence, winner of the 2006 Fields Medal 3
10A 23. ___ Ball, 2021 N.B.A. Rookie of the Year 6
11A 25. Key for getting out 3
12A 26. Gave temporarily 4
13A 27. One-named pop star with Monkey Puzzle Records 3
14A 28. ___ tov (Jewish festival) 3
15A 30. Advantageous 5
16A 32. Losing control emotionally, in slang 11
17A 36. Drama club enthusiast 11
18A 38. Italian hero? 11
19A 40. Bold 5
20A 42. Étendue bleue 3
21A 43. Hindi for "reign" 3
22A 45. Focus of a concussion protocol 4
23A 46. N.L. East team, on scoreboards 3
24A 49. Especially ornate 6
25A 51. Mass. summer setting 3
26A 52. Jack up 5
27A 54. School units 5
28A 55. In place? 10
29A 58. Stuff in shakers 4
30A 59. "Aww!" 10
31A 60. Target of a search party 4
32A 61. Is canned 9
33A 62. Word repeated before "against the dying of the light" in a Dylan Thomas poem 4

Across Clues - Strategic Hints

1A: "1. Leader in a robe called a kasaya"

4 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a tibetan or mongolian priest of lamaism
  • Similar words include: genus Lama
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LAMA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

2A: "5. Some malty offerings"

9 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AMBERALES

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3A: "14. Jejune"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that lacking sufficient water or rainfall
  • Similar words include: desiccated, desiccate, waterless
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ARID

Remember this word for future puzzles!

4A: "15. Coupling rings?"

10 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BOOTYCALLS

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5A: "17. Come (together)"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an unofficial association of people or groups
  • Similar words include: banding, set, dance orchestra
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BAND

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6A: "18. One sharing gold"

10 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: COCHAMPION

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7A: "19. Remy's brother in "Ratatouille""

5 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the boy whose upbringing was described by jean-jacques rousseau
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EMILE

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8A: "21. High tea treat"

5 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that small biscuit (rich with cream and eggs) cut into diamonds or sticks and baked in an oven or (especially originally) on a griddle
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SCONE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

9A: "22. Mathematician Terence, winner of the 2006 Fields Medal"

3 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an adherent of any branch of taoism
  • Similar words include: Taoist
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TAO

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10A: "23. ___ Ball, 2021 N.B.A. Rookie of the Year"

6 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LAMELO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

11A: "25. Key for getting out"

3 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ESC

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12A: "26. Gave temporarily"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a period of 40 weekdays from ash wednesday to holy saturday
  • Similar words include: loan, impart, Lententide
  • Opposite of: borrow
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LENT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

13A: "27. One-named pop star with Monkey Puzzle Records"

3 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SIA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

14A: "28. ___ tov (Jewish festival)"

3 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: YOM

Remember this word for future puzzles!

15A: "30. Advantageous"

5 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OFUSE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

16A: "32. Losing control emotionally, in slang"

11 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ___________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CRASHINGOUT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

17A: "36. Drama club enthusiast"

11 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ___________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: THEATERGEEK

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18A: "38. Italian hero?"

11 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ___________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MEATBALLSUB

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19A: "40. Bold"

5 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that offensively bold
  • Similar words include: nervy, cheeky
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BRASH

Remember this word for future puzzles!

20A: "42. Étendue bleue"

3 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that denoting a quantity consisting of 1,000 items or units
  • Similar words include: 1000, m, one thousand
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MER

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21A: "43. Hindi for "reign""

3 letters Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that british dominion over india (1757-1947)
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RAJ

Remember this word for future puzzles!

22A: "45. Focus of a concussion protocol"

4 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
  • Similar words include: lead, manoeuvre, caput
  • Opposite of: foot, rear
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HEAD

Remember this word for future puzzles!

23A: "46. N.L. East team, on scoreboards"

3 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the 21st letter of the greek alphabet
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: PHI

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24A: "49. Especially ornate"

6 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that fanciful but graceful asymmetric ornamentation in art and architecture that originated in france in the 18th century
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ROCOCO

Remember this word for future puzzles!

25A: "51. Mass. summer setting"

3 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: EDT

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26A: "52. Jack up"

5 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that lifting device for raising heavy or cumbersome objects
  • Similar words include: wind, run up, lift
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HOIST

Remember this word for future puzzles!

27A: "54. School units"

5 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a piece of furniture with a writing surface and usually drawers or other compartments
  • Similar words include: desk
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: DESKS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

28A: "55. In place?"

10 letters Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: WHEREITSAT

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29A: "58. Stuff in shakers"

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a compound formed by replacing hydrogen in an acid by a metal (or a radical that acts like a metal)
  • Similar words include: common salt, salinity, saltiness
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SALT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

30A: "59. "Aww!""

10 letters Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: __________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SODARNCUTE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

31A: "60. Target of a search party"

4 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that one who is away or absent without leave
  • Similar words include: truant
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AWOL

Remember this word for future puzzles!

32A: "61. Is canned"

9 letters Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GETSTHEAX

Remember this word for future puzzles!

33A: "62. Word repeated before "against the dying of the light" in a Dylan Thomas poem"

4 letters Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a feeling of intense anger
  • Similar words include: ramp, fad, furor
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RAGE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

Down Clues - Complete List

No. Clue Letters
1D 1. Names 6
2D 2. Language spoken by Jesus 7
3D 3. Place for a quick stop 8
4D 4. Puzzle 5
5D 5. La ti do, musically 3
6D 6. Bovine sounds 4
7D 7. Sport similar to pétanque 5
8D 8. Character 5
9D 9. "Sinners" director, 2025 11
10D 10. Apogee 4
11D 11. Where a serviette is laid 3
12D 12. Haut monde 6
13D 13. ___ Crosley, author of 2008's "I Was Told There'd Be Cake" 6
14D 16. Impudent sort 4
15D 20. Paris's Champs-___ 7
16D 24. Grand Canyon lookout whose name suggests visitors' reactions 11
17D 26. Some baroque instruments 5
18D 29. Diamond wear 4
19D 31. Metal tube in a nuclear reactor 7
20D 33. Jazz musician Jamal 5
21D 34. Neighbor of Colo. 3
22D 35. Mass unit 4
23D 37. First filmmaker to receive the Order of Culture in Japan 8
24D 39. Unprocessed inventory 7
25D 40. One might leave you unprotected at night 6
26D 41. What kid-friendly games typically are 6
27D 44. What big crowds do 6
28D 45. Fells 4
29D 47. Hang-up 5
30D 48. Something raised in a meeting 5
31D 50. Julio ___ Chávez (boxing legend) 5
32D 52. Possessive pronoun 4
33D 53. "Cheerio" 4
34D 56. Snitch 3
35D 57. Neighbor of Ark. 3

Down Clues - Strategic Hints

1D: "1. Names"

6 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a brief description given for purposes of identification
  • Similar words include: tag, recording label, mark
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LABELS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

2D: "2. Language spoken by Jesus"

7 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a semitic language originally of the ancient arameans but still spoken by other people in southwestern asia
  • Similar words include: Aramaic script
  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ARAMAIC

Remember this word for future puzzles!

3D: "3. Place for a quick stop"

8 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MINIMART

Remember this word for future puzzles!

4D: "4. Puzzle"

5 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that mix up or confuse
  • Similar words include: puddle, muddle
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ADDLE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

5D: "5. La ti do, musically"

3 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the elementary stages of any subject (usually plural)
  • Similar words include: first principle, ABCs, alphabet
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ABC

Remember this word for future puzzles!

6D: "6. Bovine sounds"

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the sound made by a cow or bull
  • Similar words include: low, moo
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MOOS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

7D: "7. Sport similar to pétanque"

5 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that italian bowling played on a long narrow dirt court
  • Similar words include: bocci, boccie
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BOCCE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

8D: "8. Character"

5 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that (anthropology) the distinctive spirit of a culture or an era
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ETHOS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

9D: "9. "Sinners" director, 2025"

11 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ___________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RYANCOOGLER

Remember this word for future puzzles!

10D: "10. Apogee"

4 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the highest level or degree attainable; the highest stage of development
  • Similar words include: meridian, top, vertex
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ACME

Remember this word for future puzzles!

11D: "11. Where a serviette is laid"

3 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the upper side of the thighs of a seated person
  • Similar words include: lap covering, circuit, overlap
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LAP

Remember this word for future puzzles!

12D: "12. Haut monde"

6 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a group or class of persons enjoying superior intellectual or social or economic status
  • Similar words include: elite group, elite
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ELITES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

13D: "13. ___ Crosley, author of 2008's "I Was Told There'd Be Cake""

6 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SLOANE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

14D: "16. Impudent sort"

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a person regarded as arrogant and annoying
  • Similar words include: snob, prig, snoot
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: SNOT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

15D: "20. Paris's Champs-___"

7 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ELYSEES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

16D: "24. Grand Canyon lookout whose name suggests visitors' reactions"

11 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ___________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: OOHAAHPOINT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

17D: "26. Some baroque instruments"

5 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a substance for packing a joint or coating a porous surface to make it impervious to gas or liquid
  • Similar words include: luting, lute
  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: LUTES

Remember this word for future puzzles!

18D: "29. Diamond wear"

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
  • Similar words include: manus, baseball glove, paw
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: MITT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

19D: "31. Metal tube in a nuclear reactor"

7 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: FUELROD

Remember this word for future puzzles!

20D: "33. Jazz musician Jamal"

5 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: AHMAD

Remember this word for future puzzles!

21D: "34. Neighbor of Colo."

3 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a long projecting or anterior elongation of an animal's head; especially the nose
  • Similar words include: bill, snout, beak
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: NEB

Remember this word for future puzzles!

22D: "35. Mass unit"

4 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a metric unit of weight equal to one thousandth of a kilogram
  • Similar words include: g, gramme, gm
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: GRAM

Remember this word for future puzzles!

23D: "37. First filmmaker to receive the Order of Culture in Japan"

8 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that japanese filmmaker noted for blending japanese folklore with western styles of acting (1910-1998)
  • Similar words include: Akira Kurosawa
  • Pattern: ________
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: KUROSAWA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

24D: "39. Unprocessed inventory"

7 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an accumulation of jobs not done or materials not processed that are yet to be dealt with (especially unfilled customer orders for products or services)
  • Similar words include: reserve, stockpile
  • Pattern: _______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BACKLOG

Remember this word for future puzzles!

25D: "40. One might leave you unprotected at night"

6 letters 💭 Category: General Knowledge

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: BEDHOG

Remember this word for future puzzles!

26D: "41. What kid-friendly games typically are"

6 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RATEDE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

27D: "44. What big crowds do"

6 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that the act of jostling (forcing your way by pushing)
  • Similar words include: shove, jostling
  • Pattern: ______
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: JOSTLE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

28D: "45. Fells"

4 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that make or shape as with an axe
  • Similar words include: hew out, hew
  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HEWS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

29D: "47. Hang-up"

5 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that a period of time spent in military service
  • Similar words include: limp, tour of duty, preventive
  • Opposite of: unhitch
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HITCH

Remember this word for future puzzles!

30D: "48. Something raised in a meeting"

5 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that an important question that is in dispute and must be settled
  • Similar words include: topic, cut, issuance
  • Opposite of: recall
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: ISSUE

Remember this word for future puzzles!

31D: "50. Julio ___ Chávez (boxing legend)"

5 letters 💭 Category: Proper Noun

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: _____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: CESAR

Remember this word for future puzzles!

32D: "52. Possessive pronoun"

4 letters 💭 Category: Abbreviation

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: HERS

Remember this word for future puzzles!

33D: "53. "Cheerio""

4 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ____
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TATA

Remember this word for future puzzles!

34D: "56. Snitch"

3 letters 💭 Category: Wordplay

Solving Hints:

  • Think of something that any of various long-tailed rodents similar to but larger than a mouse
  • Similar words include: blackleg, lowlife, give away
  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: RAT

Remember this word for future puzzles!

35D: "57. Neighbor of Ark."

3 letters 💭 Category: Common Word

Solving Hints:

  • Pattern: ___
Click to reveal answer (spoiler alert!)
Answer: TEX

Remember this word for future puzzles!

Expert Solving Strategies

Start Smart

Begin with fill-in-the-blank clues and short 3-4 letter words. These are your foundation.

Decode the Clues

Question marks indicate wordplay or puns. "Maybe" suggests multiple interpretations.

Use Cross-References

Let intersecting letters guide you. One correct answer unlocks several others.

Build Vocabulary

Common crossword words repeat. Learning them speeds up future solving.

Today's Puzzle Stats

33 Across Clues
35 Down Clues
68 Total Clues

More NYT Crossword Help

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Last updated: August 21, 2026 at 04:06 AM

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