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The August 14, 2025, NYT Mini Crossword blends pop culture, food, and wordplay in a quick, fun grid.
Clues range from Chick-fil-A ads to “Breaking Bad” spinoffs, keeping variety fresh.
NYT Games offers a daily boost of challenge and satisfaction.
A new day means a fresh challenge from the NYT Mini Crossword. This daily five-by-five puzzle packs wit, culture, and quick-thinking into a compact grid. It’s the lighter sibling of the full New York Times crossword - shorter in size but sharp in style.
The NYT Mini has become a daily ritual for many. It’s fast to play, yet still full of satisfying “aha” moments. Some clues are simple. Others twist meaning or call back to cultural moments. When a clue stalls progress, a quick nudge or answer can bring back the flow.
Today, August 14, 2025, the puzzle brings a mix of advertising nostalgia, culinary terms, and TV nods. Here’s a look at each clue, its answer, and a short explanation to keep the solving energy alive.
1A Clue: Animals holding “Eat Mor Chikin” signs, in a classic ad campaign
Answer: Cows
Explanation: Refers to the Chick-fil-A ads where cows humorously encourage eating chicken instead of beef.
5A Clue: Suffix with Beatle or Wrestle
Answer: Mania
Explanation: A suffix meaning craze or enthusiasm, as in Beatlemania or WrestleMania.
6A Clue: “Au revoir!”
Answer: Adieu
Explanation: French for “goodbye,” often used for a more final or formal farewell.
7A Clue: Ugly poster?
Answer: Troll
Explanation: Wordplay on “poster,” meaning someone who posts online - often to provoke or annoy.
8A Clue: Be likely (to)
Answer: Tend
Explanation: Means to incline toward something happening or being done.
1D Clue: Core group
Answer: Cadre
Explanation: A small, trained group central to an organization or movement.
2D Clue: Vegetable combined with celery and carrot to form “mirepoix”
Answer: Onion
Explanation: A base flavor ingredient in many dishes, paired with carrot and celery in classic French cooking.
3D Clue: Handle, as a sword
Answer: Wield
Explanation: To hold and use a weapon or tool effectively.
4D Clue: “Better Call ___” (“Breaking Bad” spinoff)
Answer: Saul
Explanation: Refers to Saul Goodman, the lawyer character who stars in the prequel series.
5D Clue: Damon of “Oppenheimer”
Answer: Matt
Explanation: Actor Matt Damon, part of the film’s ensemble cast.
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This puzzle moves at an easy pace for those familiar with its mix of language and culture. Movie buffs pick up Matt and Saul quickly. Food lovers get Onion from the mirepoix reference. The advertising clue with Cows is a memorable nod to a long-running campaign.
Even the trickier clues balance difficulty with fairness. “Ugly poster?” needs a quick shift in thinking - from a printed poster to an online troublemaker. “Tend” may seem vague at first, but it becomes clear once the surrounding letters fall into place.
The grid’s design encourages flow. One solved answer unlocks starting letters for the next, giving solvers momentum. The blend of pop culture, food, and language makes the experience lively without dragging.
The NYT Mini works because it stays fresh. Each day’s set of clues feels distinct. Cultural references mix with general knowledge, so different players shine at different points. A clue about French food might stump one solver but delight another. A TV reference might work the opposite way.
Most importantly, it’s approachable. A single short session can deliver a satisfying moment of victory. That balance between challenge and speed keeps players coming back daily.
Today’s NYT Mini Crossword is another example of how much fun can fit into such a small space. A few clever clues, a few easy wins, and the grid is complete. It’s a mini mental workout that brings a quick spark of accomplishment. Today’s puzzle shows once again why NYT Games remains a favorite for quick, clever challenges.
In just a few minutes, a grid of words offers both fun and accomplishment. With each clue solved, the mind feels sharper and the day a little brighter. Tomorrow will bring a new set of clues, new answers, and new chances to connect letters into meaning.
Also Read – Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for August 13, 2025
