Today’s NYT Mini includes clues about beaches, money, coffee and pirates.
Key answers include MOBS, MONEY, OCEAN, MOCHA and BEARD.
Another NYT Games puzzle arrives tomorrow with fresh clues.
The NYT Mini Crossword is back with another quick word challenge for Friday, August 14, 2026. The small puzzle brings a new set of clues every day. Some answers are easy to spot, while others need a little more thought.
Today’s puzzle uses simple words from everyday life. The clues cover unruly crowds, money slang, beaches, coffee, tricks, pirates, New Year traditions and trees. The mix keeps the grid short but interesting.
The NYT Mini Crossword Answers below can help finish the puzzle without giving away every answer at once. Hints come first, followed by the answers and a simple explanation for each clue.
1 Across: Unruly crowds
Answer: MOBS
MOBS means large groups of people acting in a wild or disorderly way.
5 Across: What “clams” and “cheddar” are slang for
Answer: MONEY
“Clams” and “cheddar” are both casual slang words for money.
6 Across: This, at the beach
Answer: OCEAN
An OCEAN is the large body of salt water often seen beside a beach.
7 Across: This, at the beach
Answer: SHORE
The SHORE is the land that runs along the edge of the sea or ocean.
8 Across: This, at the beach
Answer: SAND
SAND is the loose material commonly found across the surface of a beach.
Also Read: Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for August 13, 2026
1 Down: Chocolaty coffee drink
Answer: MOCHA
A MOCHA is a coffee drink made with chocolate and usually milk.
2 Down: Pull a fast ____ (trick)
Answer: ONE ON
“Pull a fast one on” means to trick someone or play a clever trick.
3 Down: “Black” facial feature for pirate Edward Teach
Answer: BEARD
Edward Teach was called Blackbeard because of his famous dark BEARD.
4 Down: “Auld Lang ____”
Answer: SYNE
SYNE completes the famous New Year song title “Auld Lang Syne.”
5 Down: Growth at the base of a tree
Answer: MOSS
MOSS is a small green plant that can grow on or around the base of trees.
Friday’s puzzle has a nice mix of familiar words and common phrases. The three beach clues make one part of the grid especially easy to connect. OCEAN, SHORE and SAND all point toward the same setting.
The other clues take a different route. MONEY uses slang, while MOCHA points to a popular coffee drink. MOBS describes an unruly crowd, and ONE ON completes a common phrase about pulling a trick.
The pirate clue adds a small history reference. Edward Teach, better known as Blackbeard, gives the clue its answer through his famous BEARD. The final two clues bring in New Year celebrations and nature with SYNE and MOSS.
The Mini is part of NYT Games, which also includes other daily word and puzzle challenges. The short format makes the Mini a popular choice for a quick daily brain workout.
Today’s NYT Mini Crossword brings a simple mix of words, phrases and familiar references. The clues may look short, but a few answers can take extra thought before they click.
The complete answers include MOBS, MONEY, OCEAN, SHORE, SAND, MOCHA, ONE ON, BEARD, SYNE and MOSS.
Another fresh puzzle awaits tomorrow, with a new set of clues ready for another quick challenge. NYT Games will bring another chance to test vocabulary, word knowledge and solving skills.