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Mini #323 · Wednesday

Our Mini Crossword Hints — August 19, 2026

Step-by-step hints for Mini #323, our own daily mini crossword. Looking for the New York Times Mini? That’s a different puzzle, published on nytimes.com.

Play puzzle firstAnswer key
All hints
10 clues
Spoiler-light

Across

1 Across: Big brass instrument that oompahs in a marching bandHint
  1. Hint 1: Think about the brass section of a marching band and its lowest, loudest instrument.
  2. Hint 2: This instrument wraps around the player's body and produces deep, booming notes.
  3. Hint 3: It's the largest brass instrument, providing the bass sound in a band, starts with T.
5 Across: Tool for smoothing wrinkles from clothesHint
  1. Hint 1: This is a household appliance used on laundry day.
  2. Hint 2: You heat it up and press it against fabric to remove creases.
  3. Hint 3: A hot metal appliance for pressing clothes, starts with I.
6 Across: A routine you do without thinkingHint
  1. Hint 1: Think about behaviors that become automatic over time.
  2. Hint 2: It's something you do so often it becomes second nature, like biting your nails.
  3. Hint 3: A repeated behavior done without conscious thought, starts with H.
7 Across: Middle Eastern country with capital TehranHint
  1. Hint 1: This is a country you'd find on a map of the Middle East.
  2. Hint 2: Its capital city is Tehran, and it's known for its ancient Persian heritage.
  3. Hint 3: A nation in the Middle East whose capital is Tehran, starts with I.
8 Across: Mild exclamation like 'darn!'Hint
  1. Hint 1: This is a word people say when something mildly annoying happens.
  2. Hint 2: It's a softer, more polite version of a curse word, like when you stub your toe.
  3. Hint 3: A mild expression of frustration or surprise, starts with D.

Down

1 Down: Sparkly crown worn by a princessHint
  1. Hint 1: This is something a princess or queen might wear on her head.
  2. Hint 2: It's a smaller, often bejeweled version of a crown.
  3. Hint 3: A jeweled headpiece worn by royalty, starts with T.
2 Down: Relating to the city, not the countryHint
  1. Hint 1: This word describes anything related to cities and city life.
  2. Hint 2: It's the opposite of 'rural,' describing metropolitan areas.
  3. Hint 3: An adjective meaning city-related, starts with U.
3 Down: Cartoon sound of a bouncing springHint
  1. Hint 1: Think of the sound effect used in cartoons for something springy.
  2. Hint 2: It's the noise you'd hear when a spring or trampoline bounces someone up.
  3. Hint 3: A cartoonish word for a bouncing spring sound, starts with B.
4 Down: Tiny picnic pestHint
  1. Hint 1: This tiny creature is often seen crawling toward food at outdoor gatherings.
  2. Hint 2: It's a small insect that marches in lines toward crumbs or sugar.
  3. Hint 3: A small insect that loves picnics, starts with A.
6 Down: Played hide-and-seek and tucked awayHint
  1. Hint 1: Think about what you did during a childhood game of hide-and-seek.
  2. Hint 2: This is the past tense of concealing yourself somewhere.
  3. Hint 3: The action of concealing oneself, starts with H.

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

Before you open a hint

Mini #323 has ten clues, so this page holds 30 hints. Hint 1 points you at the idea, hint 2 narrows it down, and hint 3 all but gives it away. On this date, all ten third hints name the answer's first letter.

Short answers have the fewest possible fills, so they make a good start. The three-letter slots are 4-Down and 6-Down; the four-letter slots are 1-Across, 5-Across, 7-Across and 8-Across; the five-letter slots are 6-Across, 1-Down, 2-Down and 3-Down.

Clues to try first

  • Some clues lean on a name or title, such as 7-Across, “Middle Eastern country with capital Tehran”; if one is unfamiliar, work its crossing answers first.

More for August 19, 2026

Rather see the grid first? Play Mini #323. When you're done, the answer key reveals one answer at a time, and the printable copy is there for paper solvers. The day before, Mini #322 (August 18, 2026), opens with 1-Across, “Send a document over a phone line”; the day after, Mini #324 (August 20, 2026), opens with 1-Across, “Similar or related”.

August 19, 2026 Mini Crossword hints FAQ

Are these hints for the August 19, 2026 Mini Crossword?
Yes. Every clue on this page is from our own August 19, 2026 puzzle, with three hints each, from a gentle nudge to a strong push. The answers themselves are on the answer key page.
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/2026-08-19 reveals one answer at a time.