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Mini #328 · Monday

Our Mini Crossword Hints — August 24, 2026

Step-by-step hints for Mini #328, 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
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Across

1 Across: In the middle ofHint
  1. Hint 1: Think about position — this word describes being surrounded by something.
  2. Hint 2: It's a preposition meaning 'in the center of' or 'surrounded by' a group or situation.
  3. Hint 3: Meaning 'in the middle of', this word starts with A.
5 Across: Exact genetic copyHint
  1. Hint 1: This is a science and biology term for a genetic duplicate.
  2. Hint 2: Think of a laboratory-made identical copy of a living thing, like sheep Dolly.
  3. Hint 3: Meaning an exact genetic copy, this word starts with C.
6 Across: Troy's famous beauty of Greek mythHint
  1. Hint 1: This is a name from ancient Greek mythology tied to the Trojan War.
  2. Hint 2: She was said to have 'the face that launched a thousand ships'.
  3. Hint 3: This mythical beauty's name starts with H.
7 Across: Put forth, as effortHint
  1. Hint 1: This word is about applying effort or energy toward something.
  2. Hint 2: Think of a verb meaning to make a strong physical or mental effort.
  3. Hint 3: Meaning to apply effort, this word starts with E.
8 Across: Quick, or a period of not eatingHint
  1. Hint 1: This word has two meanings — one about speed, one about eating habits.
  2. Hint 2: Think of a religious or health practice where you go without food for a set time, or being rapid.
  3. Hint 3: Meaning speedy or a period without eating, this word starts with F.

Down

1 Down: Amazon's voice assistantHint
  1. Hint 1: This is the name of a well-known smart speaker's voice assistant.
  2. Hint 2: You might say this name aloud to ask a smart speaker to play music or check the weather.
  3. Hint 3: Amazon's voice assistant's name starts with A.
2 Down: Small burrowing animals, or skin spotsHint
  1. Hint 1: This word can describe either small underground animals or spots on your skin.
  2. Hint 2: Think of small mammals that dig tunnels in gardens, or the term for skin marks that doctors sometimes check for changes.
  3. Hint 3: Meaning small burrowing critters or skin spots, this word starts with M.
3 Down: Not moving; sluggishHint
  1. Hint 1: This word describes a lack of movement or energy.
  2. Hint 2: Think of a synonym for sluggish, motionless, or lacking activity.
  3. Hint 3: Meaning not moving or lazy, this word starts with I.
4 Down: Ding in a car doorHint
  1. Hint 1: This is a term for minor damage you might notice on a vehicle's exterior.
  2. Hint 2: Picture a small dip or indentation left after something bumps into a car's surface.
  3. Hint 3: Meaning a small dip or mark from an impact, this word starts with D.
5 Down: Kitchen boss?Hint
  1. Hint 1: This is a playful title for someone in charge of cooking.
  2. Hint 2: Think of the person who runs a professional kitchen and creates the menu.
  3. Hint 3: Meaning the head cook, this word 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

Before you open a hint

Mini #328 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 four-letter slots are 1-Across, 8-Across, 4-Down and 5-Down; the five-letter slots are 5-Across, 6-Across, 7-Across, 1-Down, 2-Down and 3-Down.

Clues to try first

  • 5-Down, “Kitchen boss?”, ends in a question mark, which in crosswords usually signals wordplay.
  • Some clues lean on a name or title, such as 6-Across, “Troy's famous beauty of Greek myth”; if one is unfamiliar, work its crossing answers first.

More for August 24, 2026

Rather see the grid first? Play Mini #328. 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 #327 (August 23, 2026), opens with 1-Across, “Pleads earnestly”; the day after, Mini #329 (August 25, 2026), opens with 1-Across, “Block a drain”.

August 24, 2026 Mini Crossword hints FAQ

Are these hints for the August 24, 2026 Mini Crossword?
Yes. Every clue on this page is from our own August 24, 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/2026-08-24 reveals one answer at a time.