‘Pandemonium’ NYT Mini Crossword clue Aug. 9 answer and hints

Unless you’ve read some of the greatest poems in the English language, “Pandemonium” may not be a word you’re familiar with.

This clue is one across from the Aug. 9 NYT Mini Crossword puzzle, and I’m almost certain it’s causing Pandemonium among players (wink) today. If you’re confused, you certainly aren’t alone. Below are a few hints and the answer.

‘Pandemonium’ Aug. 8 NYT Mini Crossword hints and answer

• Hint 1: It starts with an “H.”
• Hint 2: It contains two vowels.
• Hint 3: It’s another word for chaos.
• Hint 4: It’s often used when referring to destruction.

The answer to the “Pandemonium” clue is “HAVOC.” Pandemonium has a few meanings but generally refers to an uproar or chaotic situation. And havoc loosely means confusion, disorder, and general destruction. So, the two are almost synonymous with one another.

All Aug. 9 NYT Mini Crossword puzzle clues and answers

Across

• 1A Move like a kangaroo — HOP
• 4A Purple soda flavor — GRAPE
• 6A Bird used for sending messages on “House of the Dragon” — RAVEN
• 7A Oake tree-to-be — ACORN
• 8A What half-life measures, in nuclear physics— DECAY

Down

• 1D Pandemonium — HAVOC
• 2D Performance for a prima donna — OPERA
• 3D Take a ___, leave a ____ — PENNY
• 4D Mortarboard wearer — GRAD
• 5D A dash is a short one — RACE

‘Pandemonium’ clue difficulty rating

Pandemonium isn’t your average word, but I’ll admit (a little embarrassingly) that it’s one of my favorite words purely because it’s such a unique way to name a chaotic situation. It appears in the epic poem Paradise Lost, which tells the story of Adam and Eve’s fall. I highly recommend it if you haven’t read it; it’s genuinely one of the greatest poems.

My nerdiness aside, this clue is difficult, especially if you don’t know what Pandemonium means. So, I’d rate it four out of five in difficulty.

What to play after finishing the NYT Mini Crossword puzzle

If you’ve finished today’s NYT Mini Crossword, try the mini daily ones from the LA Times and the Washington Post, as they’re just as short, sweet, and sometimes frustrating. Or, if you want to add a word game to your daily repertoire, try Strands or Spelling Bee.