‘Esoteric’ NYT Mini Crossword Clue August 16, Answers and Hints

It’s not often that I’m completely stumped by an NYT crossword, but today’s “esoteric” clue was about as challenging as word games get. This clue is from the August 16th NYT Mini Crossword puzzle, and if you don’t know what esoteric means and are as stuck as I was, use the hints (and answers) below to help.

‘Esoteric’ NYT Mini Crossword Clue August 16 Hints and Answer

• Tip 1: It starts with an “A.”
• Tip 2: It contains three vowels.
• Tip 3: It rhymes with mundane.
• Tip 4: It’s also the name of a hit League of Legends Netflix series.

The answer to the clue “Esoteric” is “ARCHAEOLOGY.” Esoteric is an older word used to describe knowledge that is limited to a small group or aids in being understood or designed for the specially initiated. Arcane, which is a synonym of esoteric, means something known only to a few people and often shrouded in mystery. After today, we have at least two more interesting words to add to our vocabulary.

NYT Aug 16 Mini Crossword Puzzle: All Clues and Answers

About

• 1A Senegal’s neighbor to the east—MALI
• 5A ___ Allen White, star of the TV series “The Bear”—JEREMIE
• 7A Take a trip –ESCAPE
• 8A What is longer in the morning and evening than in the afternoon?SHADOWS
• 9A Voices under altos—TENORS
• 10A No longer in the Drafts folder—SENT

Down

• 1D Locks (with)—MESH
• 2D Esoteric-ARCHAEOLOGY
• 3D Give false hope to—LEAD THROUGH
• 4D Ship to the land—IMPORT
• 5D “Sure you___!”—JOKE
• 6D Conifers with red berries—YEW TREES

NYT crossword clue difficulty ‘Esoteric’

This was definitely one I had to solve to understand the whole riddle. Even then I didn’t really understand how “arcane” fit in, because I didn’t know what esoteric meant until I looked up both words. If you were as confused as I was, this clue would be impossible; I would call it a five out of five in trouble.

Best puzzles to play after the NYT Mini Crossword

If you finished the August 16 NYT Mini Crossword puzzle, why not try the mini crosswords from the LA Times and the Washington Post? Or, for something a little different, try the word games from the NYT, Strands, or Spelling Bee.