Stuck on today’s NYT Crossword? We’ve got all the August 15, 2025 answers explained—plus clever clue insights to help you sharpen your crossword skills.
If the August 15, 2025 New York Times Crossword had you muttering “DOES NOT COMPUTE” (ironically, also one of today’s answers), don’t worry—you’re in good company. Today’s puzzle was a delightful mix of culture, wordplay, and sly misdirection. Let’s walk through every Across and Down so you can finally put this one to rest.
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Across
1 Like the culture depicted in Safiya Sinclair’s best-selling memoir “How to Say Babylon” : RASTA
6 English translation of the Dutch “klompen” : CLOGS
11 Robotic error message : DOESNOTCOMPUTE
15 Sooner rather than later : INTHENEARFUTURE
17 Preps for a photo shoot, say : STYLES
18 Rest areas : SPAS
19 Engage in pugilism : BOX
20 Rock alternative : PAPER
21 X, as in Mexico : BESO
22 In : CHIC
23 Touching event? : EPEE
24 Forecast : BODE
25 Some like it hot : SAUCE
26 Didn’t follow : LED
27 Itsy-bitsy : MINI
28 Like one part of the SAT : VERBAL
29 Typical yearbook photos : HEADSHOTS
31 Sisal and others : FIBERS
34 It can add up : MATH
35 A real piece of work : JOB
38 That feeling “when the world seems to shine like you’ve had too much wine” : AMORE
39 Word before piece and after peace : TIME
40 Glazier’s replacement : PANE
41 Some sky lights, in brief : UFOS
42 Person with fire power : BOSS
43 Miso soup base : DASHI
44 Director’s cry : CUT
45 One of four suits in a tarot deck : CUPS
46 Source of schadenfreude? : GERMAN
47 “Let me handle this” : ILLDOTHETALKING
50 Small businesses that generally don’t require permits : LEMONADESTANDS
51 Sensitive subject? : GSPOT
52 Figure on the $10,000 bill, the largest U.S. note ever in public circulation : CHASE
Down
1 Corrected autocorrect, say : RETYPED
2 Younger Simpson sister : ASHLEE
3 Mean mien : SNEER
4 Freight weights : TONS
5 Had one’s cake, say : ATE
6 Body of Agatha Christie’s work? : CORPSE
7 “u r freaking hilarious!” : LMFAO
8 Work with a number : OPUS
9 Eviscerate : GUT
10 Ticket exchange site since 2000 : STUBHUB
11 Banish : DISPEL
12 Like old voice mail messages : ONTAPE
13 Order in the court? : CASEDISMISSED
14 Symphony that marked the beginning of Beethoven’s “middle period” : EROICA
16 Office program : EXCEL
21 My word! : BOND
22 Saturn and Mercury : CARS
24 Favoritism : BIAS
25 First name in late-night : SETH
27 Just : MERE
28 Primary action : VOTE
29 Partner of his : HERS
30 They can be cured : HAMS
31 “On Call: A Doctor’s Journey in Public Service” memoirist, 2024 : FAUCI
32 “Nothing more for me, thank you” : IMFULL
33 Illegal musical recording, e.g. : BOOTLEG
35 Fragrant flower whose name means “gift from God” : JASMINE
36 In stock : ONHAND
37 They’re alive : BEINGS
39 Bit of attire that might accompany a cane : TOPHAT
40 Some products sold by Patagonia : PARKAS
42 “On the contrary …” : BUTNO
43 Area around a mouth : DELTA
45 Place to brood : COOP
46 Cause for stitches : GASH
48 Hits up, as on TikTok : DMS
49 P.I. : TEC
Final Thoughts
Today’s NYT Crossword was a world tour of culture, history, cheeky humor, and clever puns. From RASTA to LEMONADE STANDS, there was no shortage of variety. If you finished it without peeking, hats off—you’re in CHIC crossword shape.
