Skip to main content

Mini Crossword Hints — July 18, 2026

Open one clue at a time. Each row moves from gentle nudge to stronger help without revealing the full answer.

Play puzzle firstAnswer key
All hints
10 clues
Spoiler-light

Across

1 Across: ___ Pet (sprouting figurine)Hint
  1. Hint 1: Think of a novelty item you water to grow a green 'fur' coat.
  2. Hint 2: It's a terracotta figurine famous for its sprouting seed hair, often advertised on TV.
  3. Hint 3: A planter-pet whose grassy hair you trim, starts with C.
5 Across: Hold on tightlyHint
  1. Hint 1: This is about grip, not clothing fabric.
  2. Hint 2: Think of what you do when you refuse to let go of something, like clinging to a railing.
  3. Hint 3: To hold on very tightly, starts with C.
6 Across: One-sixteenth of a poundHint
  1. Hint 1: This is a small unit of weight measurement.
  2. Hint 2: There are sixteen of these in a pound, like on a kitchen scale.
  3. Hint 3: A small weight unit, starts with O.
7 Across: Las ___, Nevada gambling cityHint
  1. Hint 1: This is a famous desert city known for casinos.
  2. Hint 2: It's the city often called 'Sin City,' home to the Strip.
  3. Hint 3: The Nevada gambling hub, starts with V.
8 Across: Biblical garden of paradiseHint
  1. Hint 1: This is a place from a well-known creation story.
  2. Hint 2: It's the paradise where Adam and Eve lived according to the Bible.
  3. Hint 3: The biblical earthly paradise, starts with E.

Down

1 Down: Given a hint, as a crossword solverHint
  1. Hint 1: This describes someone who's gotten some help solving a puzzle.
  2. Hint 2: Think of what happens when you're given a clue to help figure something out.
  3. Hint 3: Having received assistance solving, starts with C.
2 Down: It lets a door swingHint
  1. Hint 1: This is a small metal part found on doors and cabinets.
  2. Hint 2: It's the pivoting mechanism that lets a door swing open and closed.
  3. Hint 3: The mechanical joint for swinging doors, starts with H.
3 Down: Of the ancient Peruvian empireHint
  1. Hint 1: This relates to a famous South American civilization.
  2. Hint 2: Think of the ancient empire centered in Peru, known for Machu Picchu.
  3. Hint 3: Describing that ancient Peruvian civilization, starts with I.
4 Down: Long, long timeHint
  1. Hint 1: This is an expression for a very extended period of time.
  2. Hint 2: People often say this when something feels like it's taken forever.
  3. Hint 3: A very long stretch of time, starts with A.
5 Down: Small sheltered bayHint
  1. Hint 1: This is a coastal geographic feature.
  2. Hint 2: Think of a tiny, protected inlet where boats might anchor safely.
  3. Hint 3: A small sheltered inlet, starts with C.

Use hints slowly

Reveal the first hint, try the grid again, then come back only if the crossing letters still do not move.

See answers

July 18, 2026 Mini Crossword hints FAQ

Are these hints for the July 18, 2026 Mini Crossword?
Yes. Every clue on this page is for the July 18, 2026 puzzle, with three progressive hints each — from a gentle nudge to a stronger push, but never the full answer.
Is this the NYT Mini hints page?
No. This is an independent daily mini crossword. It is not affiliated with, authorized by, sponsored by, or endorsed by The New York Times.
What is the difference between hints and the answer key?
Hints move you toward the answer one step at a time so you can still solve it yourself. If you want to see a solution outright, the answer key at /answers/2026-07-18 reveals one answer at a time.