NYT Mini Crossword Answers, August 14: Hints and clues to decode the Thursday puzzle

For thousands of puzzle enthusiasts, completing the New York Times Mini Crossword has become an integral part of their daily routine. While the larger, subscription-only NYT Crossword attracts seasoned solvers, the compact “Mini” format, updated daily, has developed its own loyal following worldwide.

On Thursday, August 14, 2025, the puzzle reset at its usual 10 p.m. Eastern Time, offering players a fresh five-by-five challenge. For those who found themselves stumped, here are the official mini crossword answers and hints for the day, carefully arranged to avoid spoilers unless you scroll past the clues.

Daily Ritual for Puzzle Fans

Unlike the flagship New York Times Crossword, which has decades of history, the Mini is designed for quick, bite-sized solving, often completed in under a minute by experienced players.


Still, brevity does not always mean simplicity. Clever wordplay, pop culture nods, and linguistic twists make the Mini just as satisfying to crack. It is also free to access, making it one of the NYT’s most popular digital word games alongside Wordle, Strands, and Connections.

Here are the Hints and answers to solve the Thursday riddle, as mentioned in a report by Parade magazine.

Hints for Thursday’s Across Clues

1 Across: Animals holding "Eat Mor Chikin" signs, in a classic ad campaign — Hint: Ends with the letter “S”

5 Across: Suffix with Beatle or Wrestle — Hint: Starts with the letter “M”

6 Across: "Au revoir!" — Hint: Starts with the letter “A”

7 Across: Ugly poster? — Hint: Ends with the letter “L”

8 Across: Be likely (to) — Hint: Starts with the letter “T”

Hints for Thursday’s Down Clues

1 Down: Core group — Hint: Starts with the letter “C”

2 Down: Vegetable combined with celery and carrot to form “mirepoix” — Hint: Ends with the letter “N”

3 Down: Handle, as a sword — Hint: Starts with the letter “W”

4 Down: "Better Call ___" (“Breaking Bad” spinoff) — Hint: Starts with the letter “S”

5 Down: Damon of “Oppenheimer” — Hint: Ends with the letter “T”

Caution: Answers Ahead

For solvers aiming to preserve the challenge, it is best to stop here. What follows are the NYT Mini crossword answers for Thursday, August 14, 2025.

Across Answers

1 Across: COWS — A nod to the famous Chick-fil-A ad campaign where cows implore customers to “Eat Mor Chikin.”

5 Across: MANIA — A high-energy suffix used in fan culture terms like “Beatlemania” and “WrestleMania.”

6 Across: ADIEU — A French farewell translating to “goodbye.”

7 Across: TROLL — In internet parlance, someone who posts inflammatory or off-topic messages; here, humorously clued as an “ugly poster.”

8 Across: TEND — Meaning to be inclined or likely to do something.

Down Answers

1 Down: CADRE — Referring to a small, core group of trained people.

2 Down: ONION — A kitchen staple and one of the three vegetables in the mirepoix base.

3 Down: WIELD — To handle or control, especially in reference to weapons like swords.

4 Down: SAUL — Referring to the television lawyer from Better Call Saul, a Breaking Bad spin-off.

5 Down: MATT — As in Matt Damon, actor in Oppenheimer.

Mini Crossword’s Global Appeal

The NYT Mini has grown into more than just a quick puzzle. For many, it’s part of a multi-game daily ritual that also includes Wordle, Connections, and Strands. The short format makes it perfect for commuting, coffee breaks, or winding down in the evening.

Its accessibility, both in terms of cost and size, has helped it attract a broad demographic, from casual solvers to competitive speed-puzzlers who post their solving times online.

A Game That Resets the Clock

One quirk of the Mini is its reset time. While most NYT word games refresh at midnight, the Mini posts a new grid at 10 p.m. Eastern. For some fans, this means tackling the puzzle at night before bed; for others in different time zones, it’s a morning ritual.

This August 14 puzzle, while not the trickiest in recent memory, blended advertising history, French vocabulary, and pop culture, keeping with the Mini’s tradition of variety.

FAQs

What time does the NYT Mini Crossword update?

The NYT Mini resets daily at 10 p.m. Eastern Time, earlier than many of the paper’s other word games.

Where can I find mini crossword answers without spoilers?

Many outlets, including the NYT itself, publish hints separately from full solutions, allowing players to get a nudge without revealing the entire answer.