TikTok or Tinder NYT Crossword Clue
Crossword solvers bump into pop culture clues more often than ever now. Recently, "TikTok or Tinder" showed up as a clue in the NYT Mini Crossword, catching a lot of folks off guard. It looks simple, yet these app-related clues can take you for a spin, especially if the answer isn’t obvious right away.
Answer
The most common answer here is APP, short for application because TikTok and Tinder are both super popular apps you use on your phone
Explanation
Even if you’re staring at the grid for ages, the answer’s staring right back. The clue lists names of modern, digital platforms, and these all fall under a single word: app. Crossword writers love tossing “or” in clues to point to a category, not just explicit examples. Whenever you see clues like "TikTok or Tinder," think about the broader label that covers both here, it’s definitely “app.” Don’t trip up searching for something fancier; sometimes the simplest answers are the trickiest to spot.
Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers – August 2, 2025
If you got stuck somewhere else in today’s Mini, you’re not alone. The August 2, 2025, puzzle came packed with clever wordplay and a punchy grid. Here’s a quick run down for solvers who want to double-check their work
| TikTok or Tinder | Show |
| Lawyers' org. | Show |
| Place with Bunsen burners and beakers, in brief | Show |
| Product that can be sampled with a spray on the wrist | Show |
| Visibly muscular | Show |
| Groceries carrier | Show |
| Self-indulgent "journey" | Show |
| AOL alternative | Show |
| Things that phone users might accidentally tap on webpages | Show |
| Sports org. that now includes schools from Texas and California, strangely enough | Show |
| Hobbyists with cameras, informally | Show |
| Big name in exercise bikes | Show |
| "Solve for x" subject | Show |
| Temporary fix, so to speak | Show |
| Pres. Lincoln | Show |
| "Show me the ___" (punny request at an art museum) | Show |
| President pro ___ | Show |
| Road trip assistance, for short | Show |
About NYT Mini Crossword
Everyone thinks of the main NYT crossword as a beast, but the Mini is its little sibling—five-by-five grids, usually five across and five down clues, quick enough to hit before coffee cools. Even so, the Mini delivers a brain boost and lets puzzle fans get their fix without a marathon session. Its short form means clues are often punny or refer to tech, slang, or pop culture—the kind that throws even regulars for a loop now and then.
How to Solve a Crossword
Getting better at crosswords, especially Mini puzzles, comes down to practice and patience. Start with the easy clues don’t bother with order, just fill whatever you know for sure, then let the other answers cross over to help you with trickier ones. If you get stuck, walk away for a bit; weirdly, the right answer often jumps out when you come back. And don’t fear mistakes half of solving is guessing, checking, and swapping things until they click.
One more thing: crossword clues almost always match their answers in tense and form. If the clue is plural, so is the answer. Quotation marks? That usually means the answer’s a spoken phrase. These details help tons when you’re stumped.
Tips for NYT Mini Crosswords
Chase the low-hanging fruit first the clues you know cold.
Don’t fight the grid: wrong answers can block you, but crossing letters should help unlock the sticky spots.
Watch out for clues using “or” the answer’s usually a category or type, like “app” for TikTok or Tinder.
Use a desktop or larger screen if you can. It helps spot patterns and see the whole puzzle at once.
Get comfortable with wordplay. Minis love puns, synonyms, and twists—try to see clues from more than one angle.
