NYT Crossword

Mole, e.g.

Archive answer — August 20, 2026

26 Down

Scroll down for the rest of the crossword answers

Clue explained

“SPY” is the published 3-letter fill for 26 Down. Use the crossing letters in the grid below to verify how it fits.

Clue type:
Crossword fill

NYT Crossword

This clue’s Thursday, August 20, 2026 appearance

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Crossword solution grid

Select a square to hide or reveal its letter in the 15 by 15 crossword grid.

Or reveal one clue at a time with the Hint and Answer buttons below.

Across

39 clues
  1. 1Sound like heaven
  2. 5Game of observation for travel
  3. 11Ad free
  4. 14Brief in pants
  5. 15Correct thoroughly
  6. 16Bad feel
  7. 17Try to place connoisseurs?
  8. 19Cells in compound
  9. 20Checks with style
  10. 21To cop
  11. 22Competition, for starters
  12. 24York ___
  13. 26Place recording
  14. 27Signals over game
  15. 29Maturity approaching
  16. 31Crows to relatives
  17. 32Free booze
  18. 33Confidentiality of letters?
  19. 37"Done well"
  20. 38Short for "info flight"
  21. 39Sponge bath
  22. 40Nothing doing
  23. 41Say "minus C"
  24. 42Set off
  25. 43Practice Japanese
  26. 45Equal roughly
  27. 46Into light
  28. 49Nags about noise?
  29. 51Land of Spot
  30. 52On-off signs
  31. 53Lines some over draw
  32. 57For repentance some feel
  33. 58Details insignificant contests
  34. 61Spending limits it
  35. 62Forum discussion, popular once
  36. 63Cut short
  37. 64Rock-___
  38. 65Out with ate, ate, ate
  39. 66Website gift custom

Down

39 clues
  1. 1URL starter
  2. 2Asian sea currently undergoing replenishment efforts
  3. 3Civil rights icon Parks
  4. 4Shift the gears of, in a way ... or a hint to this puzzle's Across clues
  5. 5ID in some data breaches
  6. 6Elite H.S. class covering the Constitution
  7. 7Visionary … or what you'll need to return to when solving this puzzle's Down clues
  8. 8Loads
  9. 9Babe in the Hundred Acre Wood
  10. 10One advocated for by the National Prison Project
  11. 11Whittled (down)
  12. 12Biblical mount
  13. 13It's worth remembering!
  14. 18"No idea"
  15. 23Distinctive expression ... or a hint to this puzzle's Across clues
  16. 25Feature of San Francisco's Lombard Street
  17. 26Mole, e.g.SPY
  18. 27Firm
  19. 28Like many cricket fields
  20. 30Plan to contribute to, for short
  21. 31One of 1,909 for Willie Mays, for short
  22. 34"___ the Explorer"
  23. 35Some distance away
  24. 36Declare
  25. 38"Oh no! A mouse!"
  26. 39What the second number indicates in men's jeans sizes
  27. 41Univ. with an annual Mystery Hunt
  28. 42Eager response to "Wanna join?"
  29. 44Goes nuts for
  30. 46Around
  31. 47Garden-variety
  32. 48Wasn't paying attention
  33. 50Lauder of cosmetics
  34. 52Designer Cassini
  35. 54"I don't really care / If ya think I'm strange / I ___ gonna change": Joan Jett
  36. 55N.F.L. commentator Collinsworth
  37. 56Arthur Ashe Courage Award, e.g.
  38. 59Letter after chi
  39. 60The "S" of E.S.T.: Abbr.

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Every clue links to a dedicated answer page. Use the list below to scan the complete fill without opening the interactive board.

Across

  1. 1. Sound like heaven

    Answer: HARP

  2. 5. Game of observation for travel

    Answer: SAFARI

  3. 11. Ad free

    Answer: PSA

  4. 14. Brief in pants

    Answer: TROU

  5. 15. Correct thoroughly

    Answer: SPOTON

  6. 16. Bad feel

    Answer: AIL

  7. 17. Try to place connoisseurs?

    Answer: TASTINGROOM

  8. 19. Cells in compound

    Answer: RNA

  9. 20. Checks with style

    Answer: PLAID

  10. 21. To cop

    Answer: OWN

  11. 22. Competition, for starters

    Answer: ATEAM

  12. 24. York ___

    Answer: NUEVA

  13. 26. Place recording

    Answer: STUDIO

  14. 27. Signals over game

    Answer: HORNS

  15. 29. Maturity approaching

    Answer: RIPER

  16. 31. Crows to relatives

    Answer: RAVENS

  17. 32. Free booze

    Answer: DRY

  18. 33. Confidentiality of letters?

    Answer: NDAS

  19. 37. "Done well"

    Answer: BRAVO

  20. 38. Short for "info flight"

    Answer: ETA

  21. 39. Sponge bath

    Answer: LOOFA

  22. 40. Nothing doing

    Answer: IDLE

  23. 41. Say "minus C"

    Answer: MEH

  24. 42. Set off

    Answer: DEFRAY

  25. 43. Practice Japanese

    Answer: REIKI

  26. 45. Equal roughly

    Answer: ONPAR

  27. 46. Into light

    Answer: CUSSAT

  28. 49. Nags about noise?

    Answer: NEIGH

  29. 51. Land of Spot

    Answer: ISLET

  30. 52. On-off signs

    Answer: OKS

  31. 53. Lines some over draw

    Answer: TRACE

  32. 57. For repentance some feel

    Answer: RUE

  33. 58. Details insignificant contests

    Answer: SPLITSHAIRS

  34. 61. Spending limits it

    Answer: CAP

  35. 62. Forum discussion, popular once

    Answer: USENET

  36. 63. Cut short

    Answer: SNIP

  37. 64. Rock-___

    Answer: ALT

  38. 65. Out with ate, ate, ate

    Answer: PIGGED

  39. 66. Website gift custom

    Answer: ETSY

Down

  1. 1. URL starter

    Answer: HTTP

  2. 2. Asian sea currently undergoing replenishment efforts

    Answer: ARAL

  3. 3. Civil rights icon Parks

    Answer: ROSA

  4. 4. Shift the gears of, in a way ... or a hint to this puzzle's Across clues

    Answer: PUTINREVERSE

  5. 5. ID in some data breaches

    Answer: SSN

  6. 6. Elite H.S. class covering the Constitution

    Answer: APGOV

  7. 7. Visionary … or what you'll need to return to when solving this puzzle's Down clues

    Answer: FORWARDTHINKING

  8. 8. Loads

    Answer: ATON

  9. 9. Babe in the Hundred Acre Wood

    Answer: ROO

  10. 10. One advocated for by the National Prison Project

    Answer: INMATE

  11. 11. Whittled (down)

    Answer: PARED

  12. 12. Biblical mount

    Answer: SINAI

  13. 13. It's worth remembering!

    Answer: ALAMO

  14. 18. "No idea"

    Answer: IDUNNO

  15. 23. Distinctive expression ... or a hint to this puzzle's Across clues

    Answer: TURNOFPHRASE

  16. 25. Feature of San Francisco's Lombard Street

    Answer: ESS

  17. 26. Mole, e.g.

    Answer: SPY

  18. 27. Firm

    Answer: HARD

  19. 28. Like many cricket fields

    Answer: OVAL

  20. 30. Plan to contribute to, for short

    Answer: IRA

  21. 31. One of 1,909 for Willie Mays, for short

    Answer: RBI

  22. 34. "___ the Explorer"

    Answer: DORA

  23. 35. Some distance away

    Answer: AFAR

  24. 36. Declare

    Answer: SAY

  25. 38. "Oh no! A mouse!"

    Answer: EEK

  26. 39. What the second number indicates in men's jeans sizes

    Answer: LENGTH

  27. 41. Univ. with an annual Mystery Hunt

    Answer: MIT

  28. 42. Eager response to "Wanna join?"

    Answer: DOI

  29. 44. Goes nuts for

    Answer: EATSUP

  30. 46. Around

    Answer: CIRCA

  31. 47. Garden-variety

    Answer: USUAL

  32. 48. Wasn't paying attention

    Answer: SLEPT

  33. 50. Lauder of cosmetics

    Answer: ESTEE

  34. 52. Designer Cassini

    Answer: OLEG

  35. 54. "I don't really care / If ya think I'm strange / I ___ gonna change": Joan Jett

    Answer: AINT

  36. 55. N.F.L. commentator Collinsworth

    Answer: CRIS

  37. 56. Arthur Ashe Courage Award, e.g.

    Answer: ESPY

  38. 59. Letter after chi

    Answer: PSI

  39. 60. The "S" of E.S.T.: Abbr.

    Answer: STD

The answer to “Mole, e.g.” in the NYT Crossword is SPY — a 3-letter word. It appears in our available data for August 20, 2026 at 26-Down. Below you can reveal the fill one letter at a time, check the full puzzle, and open every related clue page.

“Mole, e.g.” answer

SPY(3 letters)

Prefer a nudge first? Use the letter tiles above to hide and reveal individual characters, or use the focused grid to confirm the crossing letters.

Why does SPY fit?

SPY is the published 3-letter answer at 26-Down. The highlighted path in the puzzle shows exactly where the entry sits.

When else has “Mole, e.g.” appeared?

The same clue can return on another date, sometimes with a different fill. These are the matching appearances in the recent published records available through the Answers API.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Mole, e.g.”?

The answer is SPY.

How many letters are in the answer?

3 letters: SPY.

When did this clue appear?

It appears in the NYT Crossword for August 20, 2026 at 26-Down.

Can this clue have a different answer?

Yes. Crossword clues may be reused with a different fill depending on the grid. Recent matching appearances are listed above when available.

Where can I find the rest of this day’s answers?

Open the NYT answers page for August 20, 2026 for the full grid and every clue.

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