NYT Crossword — August 21, 2026
Friday’s 15 × 15 puzzle, 68 clues. The full solution is below — answers stay masked until you reveal them, one clue or all at once.
0 of 68 revealed
1L
2A
3M
4A
5A
6M
7B
8E
9R
10A
11L
12E
13S
14A
R
I
D
15B
O
O
T
Y
C
A
L
L
16S
17B
A
N
D
18C
O
C
H
A
M
P
I
O
N
19E
M
I
L
20E
21S
C
O
N
E
22T
A
O
23L
A
M
E
L
24O
25E
S
C
26L
E
N
T
27S
I
A
28Y
O
29M
30O
31F
U
S
E
32C
R
33A
S
H
I
34N
35G
O
U
T
36T
H
E
A
T
E
R
G
E
E
37K
38M
E
A
T
B
A
L
L
S
U
39B
40B
41R
A
S
H
42M
E
R
43R
A
44J
45H
E
A
D
46P
47H
48I
49R
O
50C
O
C
O
51E
D
T
52H
O
I
S
53T
54D
E
S
K
S
55W
H
E
56R
E
I
T
S
A
57T
58S
A
L
T
59S
O
D
A
R
N
C
U
T
E
60A
W
O
L
61G
E
T
S
T
H
E
A
X
62R
A
G
E
Across
33 cluesDown
35 cluesClick a clue for its own page with the answer and a short explanation.
Stats & info
Friday, Aug 21, 202615×15
Grid size
68
Total entries
36/189
Black / letter cells
5.6
Avg entry length
11 ltrs
Longest entry
Hard
Friday difficulty
PuzzleThe Crossword
PublishedAug 21, 2026
DayFriday
ThemeThemeless
ConstructorAdryel W. Robles Ojeda
EditorWill Shortz
Clue split33 across · 35 down
Longest entries
32ALosing control emotionally, in slang11 ltrs36ADrama club enthusiast11 ltrs38AItalian hero?11 ltrs9D"Sinners" director, 202511 ltrs24DGrand Canyon lookout whose name suggests visitors' reactions11 ltrs
Friday puzzles run themeless, so the fill leans on long open entries and wordplay clues rather than a central gimmick. This grid has 36 black squares and averages 5.6 letters per entry.